(B2) La défense belge a annoncé ce mardi (9 mars) la décision d’immobiliser temporairement une partie de sa flotte d’avions de combat F-16
F-16 (© NGV / Archives B2)La décision vient d’être annoncée aujourd’hui. Mais l’incident remonte il y a plus d’un mois, le 11 février dernier, quand un F-16 de la base de Florennes connait des problèmes de moteur au décollage. Le pilote doit alors effectuer un atterrissage contrôlé de précaution.
En cause une brûlure de tuyère
Une enquête est ensuite diligentée par le directorat de la sécurité aérienne (ASD – Aviation Safety Directorate) de la Défense. Et la cause déterminée : « une brûlure de tuyère (nozzle burn through) ». La rupture de matériau provoque, « en raison de la température élevée, la fonte d’un certain nombre de pièces qui peuvent se détacher » explique la défense belge. Le moteur de l’avion concerné est alors démonté et envoyé à l’entreprise de maintenance Patria BEC.
Une série d’avions concernés
Au cours de l’enquête, les investigateurs remarquent un problème avec la goupille de charnière. Une goupille qui « fait partie d’un collier mobile sur l’échappement qui est contrôlé selon le régime du moteur ». Après vérification approfondie de l’ensemble de la flotte, on découvre « qu’un nombre important de moteurs présentent des phénomènes similaires ». Le temps de réparation est estimé à 5 jours ouvrables par moteur. Et cela risque de durer. Car il y a « une pénurie des pièces de rechange sur le marché ».
Les industriels avertis
Tous les partenaires du club F-16 et les constructeurs ont été informés. Le constructeur de moteur Pratt &Whitney, l’avionneur Lockheed Martin et l’US Air Force ont indiqué, sur la base de ces informations, que « des mesures correctives devraient être prises immédiatement sur les moteurs concernés ». La question de savoir si d’autres pays rencontrent le même problème « fait actuellement l’objet d’une enquête ».
La surveillance du ciel assurée
Le système de « Quick reaction Alert » au-dessus de l’espace aérien belge et néerlandais reste « opérationnel » assure la défense belge. Les « mesures nécessaires » sont prises pour fournir aux F-16 en opération « les moteurs de remplacement nécessaires ».
(NGV)
NB : hasard du calendrier, la commission défense de la Chambre va débattre, ce mercredi (9 mars), des déboires du successeur attendu du F-16, le F-35. Plusieurs députés demandent d’examiner quel serait le coût d’un retrait du programme. Retrait plutôt hypothétique, et demandé surtout par les députés de l’opposition (Chrétiens-démocrates francophones du CDH, Verts, et gauche du PTB). En tout cas, cet incident freine un peu les velléités des partisans (s’il en restait encore) de la prolongation des F-16.
Cet article La flotte des F-16 belges quasi à l’arrêt. Problème de moteur est apparu en premier sur B2 Le blog de l'Europe géopolitique.
Une opération coup de poing a été lancée hier par la gendarmerie nationale à Béjaia. c’est suite aux protestations des habitants de la région de Boulimate, que les éléments de la gendarmerie nationale ont réagi. Cette opération a mené à l’arrestation de plusieurs individus, dont des femmes, au niveau de ces lieux de débauche. Selon […]
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Summary
En fin de mandat, le Représentant spécial du secrétaire général, et chef de bureau des Nations Unies pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest et le Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas a été reçu en audience ce lundi 08 mars par le ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la coopération, Aurélien Agbénonci.
Au cours de la rencontre avec le chef de la diplomatie béninoise, le désormais ex chef de bureau des Nations Unies pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest et le Sahel a encouragé le Bénin à veiller à l'organisation d'élections apaisées et crédibles.
F. A. A.
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SUMMARY
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.
OPERATIONAL REMARKS
The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.
Update on COVID-19 measures
Activities have been impacted by COVID-19 and measures undertaken by the OM to ensure the safety and duty of care of its Mission members and compliance with measures set by the host country authorities. The Mission is continuing to keep the situation under review, in close contact with the OSCE Secretariat and the Chairpersonship. Following the host country’s recommendations, the observers are adhering to distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities.
OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS
Persons crossing the border
The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:
The average number of entries/exits increased from 6,930 to 7,319 per day at both BCPs compared to last week.
During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 307 per day for both BCPs. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.
Responding to the COVID-19 situation, the host country closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March 2020. Among the exceptions of persons allowed to cross the border (which entered into force on 19 March) are Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons holding passports or identification documents proving permanent residence in certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. In addition, reportedly, due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19, starting from 10 April 2020, the organized passenger transport commuting between the non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region of Ukraine and the Russian Federation was temporarily suspended and restored from 25 June.
Persons in military-style outfits
During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border was 15, compared to four last week; seven persons crossed into the Russian Federation while eight persons crossed into Ukraine. These individuals crossed the border on foot.
Families with a significant amount of luggage
The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, seven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while 17 families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when six families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and five families were observed crossing into Ukraine.
Bus connections
Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (322 compared to 297 observed during the previous week). There were 169 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 153 bound for Ukraine. Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the “irregular” route “Sevastopol” was noted.
On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses did not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.
Trucks
During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (724 compared to 849 during the previous reporting week); 394 at the Gukovo BCP and 330 at the Donetsk BCP, 383 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation, and 341 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in Armenia, Belarus, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, and trucks with “LPR” plates.
The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight increase in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (36 compared to 30 during the previous reporting week). These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane. All trucks underwent systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavorable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.
Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP increased from 137 to 160. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 160 trucks (100 per cent) were bound for Ukraine.
Minivans
The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[1] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (130 compared to 198 observed during the previous week); 81 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 49 into Ukraine.
Trains
The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 27 occasions; the OTs assessed that 15 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 12 trains were travelling to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).
Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP.
Other observations
The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. The OTs observed vehicles with Belarusian, Georgian, and Lithuanian licence plates, and vehicles with “DPR” plates too.
On 5 March at 13:55, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a group of nine brand-new ambulances, all “Gazel” models, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation without licence plates and parking at the customs control area. The OT noticed only one driver inside each vehicle. All the vehicles underwent customs control procedures and left for Ukraine at 15:55.
On 8 March at 10:46, the OT at the BCP Donetsk observed a Russian Federation police minivan, also a “Gazel” model, arriving at the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. At 11:02, the police vehicle drove back towards the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to observe any other details from its position.
For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 2 February 2021 to 9 March 2021, please see the attachment here.
[1] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles that correspond to driving licence C1).