Flight Safety Information March 24, 2020 - No. 060 In This Issue Incident: Westjet B736 at Calgary on Mar 17th 2020, loss of cabin pressure Incident: American A319 at Norfolk on Mar 22nd 2020, bird strike FAA issues emergency AD following Vietnam Airlines A321 uncontained IAE V2533 engine failure Flexjet Opting To Ferry Pilots Aboard Own Fleet AirAsia pilot exits from cockpit window after feared Covid-19 passengers sit near cockpit GE Aviation lays off 2,600 employees as demand for commercial engines wanes in crisis Former American Airlines exec: $50B government infusion to the airline industry isn't the answer New Alitalia will have initial fleet of 25-30 aircraft - sources American estimates over 500 pilots to take early retirement, union says Boeing closes its Moses Lake 737 Max airplane-storage operations Soyuz rocket to launch 34 OneWeb internet satellites today The.USC Aviation Safety & Security Program..Has Moved Online! Incident: Westjet B736 at Calgary on Mar 17th 2020, loss of cabin pressure A Westjet Boeing 737-600, registration C-GXWJ performing flight WS-493 from Winnepeg,MB to Calgary,AB (Canada) with 37 people on board, was descending from FL400 through about FL290 towards Calgary when the aircraft lost cabin pressure, the passenger oxygen masks deployed and the cabin altitude warning activated. The crew increased the descent and advised ATC, however, without declaring PAN or Mayday. The aircraft landed safely in Calgary about 20 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported maintenance replaced the outflow valve as well as the passenger oxygen generators and returned the aircraft to service. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/WJA493/history/20200317/1710Z/CYWG/CYYC http://avherald.com/h?article=4d4e2ddf&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American A319 at Norfolk on Mar 22nd 2020, bird strike An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N725UW performing flight AA-1625 from Charlotte,NC to Norfolk,VA (USA), was in the flare for landing on Norfolk's runway 05 when two birds impacted the aircraft and an according odour developed on board of the aircraft. The crew continued landing, the aircraft rolled out without further incident and taxied to the apron. The FAA reported the aircraft received damage to the #1 engine (CFM56). The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Norfolk about 30 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1625/history/20200322/1134Z/KCLT/KORF http://avherald.com/h?article=4d4e1dcd&opt= Back to Top FAA issues emergency AD following Vietnam Airlines A321 uncontained IAE V2533 engine failure The U.S. FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive following an uncontained engine failure of an IAE V2533-A5 engine of an Airbus A321. On March 18, Vietnam Airlines flight VN920, an Airbus A321-231, powered by IAE V2533-A5 model turbofan engines, experienced an uncontained high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage disk failure on takeoff from Ho Chi Minh City-Tan Son Nhat Airport in Vietnam. The flight crew aborted the takeoff. As a result of this occurrence, the FAA issued an emergency AD on March 21, 2020, requiring removal from service of affected HPT 1st-stage disks with specific part numbers, installed on IAE V2500 engine models. The FAA considers this an interim action as the root cause of this incident is still under investigation. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2020/03/22/faa-issues-emergency-ad-following-an-iae-v2533-uncontained-engine-failure-on-an-airbus-a321-in-vietnam/ Back to Top Flexjet Opting To Ferry Pilots Aboard Own Fleet This story is part of AIN's continuing coverage of the impact of the coronavirus on aviation. Flexjet is implementing a new policy in light of the Covid-19 outbreak to use its own fleet to ferry the fractional operator's pilots and other flight crewmembers. Flexjet crews have regularly flown aboard commercial airlines from their home base to reach their flight assignment destination, but Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci said, "Given the threat posed by the novel coronavirus and the illness Covid-19, we felt it was in the best interests of our owners and flight crews to take this risk out of the equation and transport our flight crews on our own aircraft." Flexjet added that the decision also enables it to comply with CDC-recommended group size limits of no more than 10 people. Named Project Lift, the Flexjet initiative applies to all U.S. domestic flights, as well as internationally bound flights that are still permitted. The operator has established a shuttle system involving seven strategically located hubs around the country to ferry its pilots and crewmembers. In addition, the operator recently had MRO provider and sister company Constant Aviation treat the Flexjet fleet with MicroShield 360, a protective coating that kills 99.99 percent of pathogens. Ricci further said he is offering to help others in the industry to design safety measures. "Decisions about safety can never be made based on their impact on the bottom line," said Ricci. "There's no doubt that this will have a cost impact on Flexjet, but it's the right thing to do for our employees and it's the right thing to do for our owners as we move ahead through this global crisis." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-03-23/flexjet-opting-ferry-pilots-aboard-own-fleet Back to Top AirAsia pilot exits from cockpit window after feared Covid-19 passengers sit near cockpit Pilots of an AirAsia Pune-Delhi flight chose to use the plane's secondary gate to exit after a few passengers who were feared to be infected with COVID-19 travelled sitting in the first row. The passengers were later tested negative. However, as a precautionary measure, the flight's crew have isolated themselves for 14 days. The incident happened at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on March 20. Pilots of an AirAsia Pune-Delhi flight chose to use the plane's secondary gate to exit after a few passengers who were feared to be infected with COVID-19 travelled sitting in the first row. The passengers were later tested negative. However, as a precautionary measure, the flight crew has isolated themselves for 14 days. The incident happened at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on March 20. "There was a case reported of suspected COVID-19 passengers aboard I5-732, Pune to New Delhi on March 20, seated in Row 1. The passengers were subsequently screened and tested negative," an AirAsia India spokesperson said. "As a safety measure after landing, the aircraft was parked at a remote bay and the suspected passengers disembarked from the front door. All other passengers, escorted by the crew, disembarked from the rear door of the aircraft," the spokesperson said. The Spokesperson further said, "The crew in the cockpit self-quarantined till the cabin environment near the primary exit was ascertained to be safe. The Captain elected to disembark from the secondary exit using a secure trestle, given the close proximity of the seats from the cockpit. The aircraft was fumigated and thorough disinfection and deep cleaning were carried out." "Our crew are well trained for incidents of this nature and we would like to put on record our appreciation for their dedication in continuing to serve passengers with the utmost care in the current conditions," the Spokesperson added. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/airasia-pilot-cockpit-window-coronavirus-1658640-2020-03-23 Back to Top GE Aviation lays off 2,600 employees as demand for commercial engines wanes in crisis General Electric will lay off about 2,600 employees, or 10% of the U.S. workers in its aviation business, a repercussion from the coronavirus crisis and a resulting slowdown in commercial air travel. With much of travel halted in attempts to prevent the spread of the virus, airlines such as United and Delta have cut capacity by 60% and 70% respectively. That has prompted the staff reduction at GE Aviation, GE Chairman and CEO Larry Culp announced Monday. "The aviation industry is feeling the impact of this global pandemic most acutely," he said in a message to GE employees. Other GE divisions are facing adjustments, too, Culp said. GE Healthcare is attempting to boost production of ventilators, patient monitors, mobile X-ray systems and other equipment needed to help diagnose and treat COVID-19 patients, he said. At the same time, GE Healthcare faces reduced demand for equipment used in elective procedures. "I know our business teams are working hard to understand our new realities," Culp said. Stocks fall despite Fed move:Federal Reserve expands lending programs to support faltering financial markets In addition to the reduction in GE Aviation's U.S. workforce of 26,000, about 50% of its maintenance, repair and overhaul employees will be furloughed for 90 days. "The rapid contraction of air travel has resulted in a significant reduction in demand as commercial airlines suspend routes and ground large percentages of their fleets," Culp said. "As a result, GE Aviation is announcing several steps that, while painful, preserve our ability to adapt as the environment continues to evolve." GE Aviation, which has 52,000 employees worldwide and also makes engines for military aircraft, had previously begun a hiring freeze, canceled salaried merit increases, reduced non-essential spending, and instituted "a significant decrease in its contingent workforce," Culp said. Additionally, starting April 1, GE Aviation CEO David Joyce, who is also a GE vice chairman, will forgo half of his salary. Culp said he would forgo the remainder of his salary for 2020, also. Culp said he expected these actions to save the company $500 million to $1 billion in 2020. "With regard to our financial position, our company is sound," he said. "However, what we don't know about the magnitude and duration of this pandemic still outweighs what we do know." https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2020/03/23/ge-cuts-aviation-jobs-boosts-production-covid-19-medical-equipment/2898688001/ Back to Top Former American Airlines exec: $50B government infusion to the airline industry isn't the answer It won't be enough money to keep airlines in business. The government is closing in on a $50 billion infusion of emergency aid to the airline industry in light of the extraordinary decrease in demand for air travel following the onset of COVID-19. While well-intentioned, the proposed package is insufficient to ward off catastrophic airline failures. Many people reference the terrorist attacks of 9/11 as a basis of comparison to the destructive force of COVID-19. No question, these attacks wreaked havoc on the country and the air transportation industry. Most major carriers were forced to seek bankruptcy protection in the months and years that followed. However, COVID-19 is nothing like 9/11. Airlines are grounding hundreds of aircraft, cutting schedules upwards of 30% domestically and 75% internationally. Those numbers will most certainly increase in the coming weeks. While 9/11 resulted in a complete shutdown of the commercial air transportation system for several days, COVID-19 will likely lead to a more prolonged period of massive reductions of airline service. And, when service returns, it will likely be much more gradual as passengers overcome their fear of social interaction. No airline can sustain the devastating impact of the virus. Most industries in the country will suffer debilitating financial consequences from the effects of the virus. Understandably, it is difficult to weigh the financial, economic and public value of one industry against the value of another. That said, the airline industry is perhaps the single most important spoke in the economic wheel of our country and it is imperative that we maintain a healthy, vibrant commercial air transportation system. The question is how to best protect this industry against the crippling effects of COVID-19. One thing is certain: A race to the steps of the bankruptcy court is not the answer. A bankruptcy filing is a powerful business tool, but works only if the debtor has the cash flow required to remain in business while it reorganizes its affairs and has the capacity to develop and implement a viable business plan. Commercial airlines cannot fulfill either threshold. With a prolonged slowdown, they won't have the necessary cash and they certainly won't have the wherewithal to reorganize their business in the midst of the crisis and an unknown future. Likewise, a one-time $50 billion government bailout is not the answer. Given the rapidly changing environment that directly impacts air travel, it is simply not possible to calculate the financial support required to maintain airline solvency. Nor is it feasible to expect Congress to approve multiple appropriations to prop up individual airlines after they burn through their allocated share of the first $50 billion. The solution: A carefully crafted longer-term arrangement between the airlines and the government whereby commercial airlines would receive assurance of continued economic support during the pendency of the crisis. Without such an assurance, airlines will inevitably end up in Chapter 11 after exhausting the initial cash infusion. In exchange, Congress should rightly demand a number of concessions from airline management. Prohibitions on stock buybacks, limits on executive compensation, essential air service commitments, employee pension funding, honoring health care benefits, and restrictions on overseas aircraft maintenance - are all fair game. It is rarely wise to use taxpayer money to assist public companies, but this is no time to debate the propriety or wisdom of entangling government and private enterprise. These are grave times and drastic measures are needed immediately to save the airline industry from certain demise. Gary Kennedy served as general counsel of American Airlines during the years following 9/11 and is the author of Twelve Years of Turbulence, the Inside Story of American Airlines' Battle for Survival. He wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News. https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/03/23/former-american-airlines-exec-50b-government-infusion-to-the-airline-industry-isnt-the-answer/ Back to Top New Alitalia will have initial fleet of 25-30 aircraft - sources MILAN, March 23 (Reuters) - The Italian government plans to take control of loss-making carrier Alitalia in a month or so, creating a new company that will have an initial fleet of 25-30 aircraft, union sources said on Monday. Before the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the carrier, which is run by a state-appointed administrator, was operating a fleet of 113 aircraft . Alitalia was not immediately available for comment. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-italy-alitalia/new-alitalia-will-have-initial-fleet-of-25-30-aircraft-sources-idUSL8N2BG6T3 Back to Top American estimates over 500 pilots to take early retirement, union says American Airlines pilots can bid for early retirement Monday through Wednesday, the union told its members. American Airlines estimates more than 500 pilots will take early retirement, according to a message the Allied Pilots Association sent to members. The APA, which represents nearly 14,000 American Airlines Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAL) pilots, negotiated an agreement with the company last week that gives pilots three voluntary options that would shave costs for the airline - early retirement, short-term leave and extended leave. The APA opened the bidding process for early retirement Monday. Bidding for early retirement, which is being offered to pilots 62 or older, is open through 5 p.m. Central Standard Time on Wednesday. Early retirement awards should be known by Friday afternoon, the APA told members. If pilots choose early retirement, they will receive approximately 60 percent of their pay in addition to medical and travel benefits until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 65, said APA spokesperson Captain Jason Goldberg. "The company has stated that a minimum of 563 pilots will be offered this package, although it's not mandatory for any pilot," Goldberg said. "APA considers this a good faith effort to help American cut costs during the short term, while preserving value for our pilots." Here's a breakdown of American's early retirement estimations, also called Voluntary Permanent Leave of Absence, according to the APA. After early retirement leaves are awarded, the union will then begin the bidding process for short-term and extended leave. To read more about details of those options, see this story. American employs 3,415 pilots in Dallas-Fort Worth, according to its website. The agreement American reached with pilots is separate from agreements reached with other employees. Other than reservations employees who are dealing with high call volume, American offered nearly all its employees two unpaid, voluntary options last week: early out and voluntary leave of absence. The deadline for employees to apply for these two options was extended to midnight March 30, a company spokesperson said. https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2020/03/23/american-airlines-pilots-early-retirement.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo Back to Top Boeing closes its Moses Lake 737 Max airplane-storage operations Boeing has temporarily halted all operations at its sprawling Moses Lake campus, where it's storing more than 200 grounded 737 Max jets, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stan Deal said on Monday. In a memo to BCA staff, Deal revealed that in addition to pausing production for 14 days at the company's airplane manufacturing facilities in Seattle, Everett and other parts of the Puget Sound region, activities at Boeing's Moses Lake complex in central Washington are being wound down for two weeks. "The situation continues to evolve daily, and we are working quickly with health authorities to take actions that best protect our people as the spread of the coronavirus accelerates in Washington state," Deal said in his message to staff. Boeing has more than 300 workers at its Moses Lake campus preparing for the 737 Max recovery effort. Deal said that only a small contingent of Boeing employees would remain there and at its various other sites to continue essential work, which he said included the security and proper storage of finished commercial airplanes. The Max - once Boeing's best-selling jet - was grounded globally in March 2019 after two crashes killed 346 people. Boeing kept making the jets at a reduced rate for months last year and then flew them to Moses Lake for storage. The site has become the temporary home to more than 200 parked 737 Max jets since then. Boeing has upgraded its Moses Lake complex, partly to prepare for flight testing. The jets are lined up beside each other on Boeing and other leased property at Grant County International Airport, which was a former B-52 bomber base. The state Department of Health says 18 people have COVID-19 in Grant County, and one person has died. Boeing added hundreds of workers to its Moses Lake workforce, promising bonuses, to help safely store the parked 737 Maxes and prepare and manage them for an eventual return to service that has yet to materialize. The aircraft are cared for by workers daily in low-moisture, desert-like conditions. The jets await upgrades and recertification when the Federal Aviation Administration approves changes to their flight-control systems after flight tests and other verification efforts. Since the coronavirus outbreak has crippled major airlines around the world, several carriers have now started to park their aircraft fleets, defer future deliveries or outright cancel 737 Max orders - and they can do it without penalty because delivery deadlines were missed. In his message, Deal addressed potential employee worries. "I know there are uncertainties ahead with our many of our customers in all parts of the world as they drastically reduce their flying and park their airplanes. The situation is dynamic and may be one of the toughest that we have faced in a generation," Deal said in his message. "But one thing is clear, the heart of our company is our people. By taking action now and being ready to resume production on April 8, we will come out of this in a position to continue meeting the needs of our customers, suppliers and partners with safety, quality and integrity at the forefront," Deal said. Boeing on Monday said 32 company employees across its global workforce of 160,000 have confirmed cases of COVID-19. One employee died over the weekend. The jet maker said it does not know where its employees contracted the virus. Of the 32 infected workers, 25 of them are based in the Puget Sound area, where Boeing more than 70,000 employees. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/03/23/boeing-closes-its-moses-lake-737-max-airplane.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo Back to Top Soyuz rocket to launch 34 OneWeb internet satellites today. Here's how to watch online. Liftoff is set for 1:06 p.m. EDT (1706 GMT). Update for 1:23 p.m. EDT: A Soyuz rocket has successfully launched 34 OneWeb internet satellites into orbit. They will be deployed into their initial orbits over the next several hours. Read our full story here. An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch more than 30 new OneWeb internet satellites into orbit today (March 21) and you can watch it all live online. The Russian-built Soyuz 2.1b rocket is scheduled to launch 34 OneWeb broadband satellites into orbit at 1:06 p.m. EDT (1706 GMT) from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. You'll can watch the liftoff live here at Space.com, courtesy of a OneWeb Facebook feed, or directly via the company's Facebook page. Today's launch will mark the third flight for OneWeb's internet satellite constellation and the second this year. The first six satellites launched in February 2019, with another 34 satellites lifting off last month. Ultimately, OneWeb aims to launch at least 650 satellite into low Earth orbit to form a constellation designed to provide internet service to customers around the world. But OneWeb has a long way to go before reaching that goal. Today's launch will bring the constellation up to 74 satellites. OneWeb has dedicated the launch to the late Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who became the first person ever to walk in space 55 years ago this month. Leonov died last October at age 85. OneWeb is just one of several companies working to build a megaconstellation of broadband internet satellites. SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk, has already launched 360 satellites for its Starlink constellation and aims to loft at least 12,000 for its baseline constellation. Amazon has plans for its own network, called Project Kuiper, but has not yet begun launches. Today's launch calls for the Soyuz 2.1b booster to launch OneWeb's satellites into a polar orbit 280 miles (450 kilometers) above Earth. The satellites will eventually head to a final orbit 745 miles (1,200 km) above Earth. https://www.space.com/soyuz-oneweb-3-internet-satellites-launch-webcast.html Back to Top TheUSC Aviation Safety & Security ProgramHas Moved Online! The following upcoming courses will take plane in our virtual WebEx classrooms. Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance Knowledge and understanding of human factors in the realm of aviation safety with a focus on the role of the maintainer. March 30 - April 3, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Incident Investigation/Analysis For managers and supervisors who may be required to investigate, implement, or review safety findings and recommendations resulting from aviation incidents. April 6-10, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 More classes will move online soon. If you want to take a specific class online, or have any questions, please contact us. Earn Credit for FlightSafety Master Technician-Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn elective credits towards FlightSafety International's Master Technician-Management Program • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Gas Turbine Accident Investigation • Helicopter Accident Investigation • Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance • Safety Management for Ground Operations Safety • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness Earn Credit for FlightSafety Master Technician-Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn two points toward completing the application for the National Business Aviation Certified Aviation Manager Exam. • Aviation Safety Management Systems • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Aircraft Accident Investigation • SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems For further details, please visit our website or use the contact information below. Email: aviation@usc.edu Telephone: +1 (310) 342-1345 Curt Lewis