Flight Safety Information April 8, 2020 - No. 071 In This Issue Boeing making new 737 MAX software updates to address computer issue Incident: Southwest B737 at Atlanta on Mar 30th 2020, flame out of engine reported by other crew Boeing 737-800 (WL) - Ground Damage (Malaysia) Incorrectly-sized parts found after Icelandair 757 gear collapse Hundreds of Airline Employees Test Positive for COVID-19 Regulators Issue AD for Gulfstream's G500 and G600 Airbus A330-800 Gets Upgraded ETOPS Certification China's AG600 airplane prepped for sea tests GE Wins U.S. License to Supply Engines for New Chinese Aircraft Korean Air puts 70 percent of staff on leave Call for Nominations For 2020 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award The USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Has Moved Online! Boeing making new 737 MAX software updates to address computer issue WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - Boeing Co said late on Tuesday it will make two new software updates to the grounded 737 MAX's flight control computer as it works to win regulatory approval to resume flights after it was grounded following two fatal crashes in five months. The planemaker said one issue involves hypothetical faults in the flight control computer microprocessor, which could potentially lead to a runaway stabilizer, while the other issue could potentially lead to disengagement of the autopilot feature during final approach. Boeing said the software updates will address both issues. The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it is in contact with Boeing as it "continues its work on the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-making-737-max-software-225054422.html Back to Top Incident: Southwest B737 at Atlanta on Mar 30th 2020, flame out of engine reported by other crew A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N465WN performing flight WN-1910 from Atlanta,GA to Cleveland,OH (USA), had been cleared to line up runway 26L and wait for departure. The crew of another aircraft, an Endeavor Canadair CRJ-900 registration N924XJ performing flight DL-5029 from Atlanta to Gulfport,MS (USA), taxiing for departure from runway 26L reported a 6 inches to one foot flame came out of the left hand engine (CFM56) when the Soutwest applied engine thrust to taxi onto the runway. The Southwest crew requested to return to the apron, the other crew reported now with the engine on idle they didn't observe any flame, the Southwest crew shut the left engine down and vacated the runway. The occurrence aircraft was able to depart for the flight about 40 minutes later. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d591f54&opt=0 Back to Top Boeing 737-800 (WL) - Ground Damage (Malaysia) Date: 07-APR-2020 Time: Type: Boeing 737-800 (WL) Owner/operator: Malaysian Airlines Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Kuala Lumpur Airport - Malaysia Phase: Taxi Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737 was damaged at Kuala Lumpur Airport after tow truck became wedged below the fuselage. No injuries reported. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/234862 Back to Top Incorrectly-sized parts found after Icelandair 757 gear collapse Investigators have found incorrectly-sized components on the landing-gear assembly of an Icelandair Boeing 757-200 which suffered a main landing-gear collapse at Reykjavik earlier this year. Icelandic investigation authority RNSA has recommended specific safety checks on four aircraft serviced by Landing Gear Technologies, to ensure that parts which have undergone undersizing work still mate properly. Examination of the 757 showed that the side strut of the landing gear had detached from the shock strut. The two are connected by a swivel. RNSA says threads in the swivel twice underwent undersizing, during maintenance work in 2008 and 2019. This reduction in the diameter of the swivel threads was permitted but required a special undersized nut to be manufactured. Investigators' initial measurements, however, showed the nut from the landing-gear was "too large" for the undersized swivel threads, says RNSA. Investigators found the main gear side strut detached from the shock strut Flight FI529, operated by the 20-year old TF-FIA, had been arriving from Berlin on 7 February. Cockpit-voice recordings show the crew was "not aware of any problems" before the landing, and flight-data recorder information revealed no abnormal loading during touchdown. The flare was normal and the jet initially touched down on its right, then left, main landing-gear. But as the nose was de-rotating an "abnormal sound" was heard and the jet listed to the right, its right-hand engine striking the runway before the nose-gear made contact. Investigators found that the swivel nut and an associated washer were missing from the immediate scene, and were located near the aircraft's touchdown point. A locking bolt for the nut was also found to have sheared. Full analysis work on the swivel and nut has been delayed by US travel restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, but RNSA has made interim safety recommendations to Icelandair and its associate operator Cabo Verde Airlines regarding landing-gear checks. Landing Gear Technologies has yet to comment on RNSA's preliminary findings. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/incorrectly-sized-parts-found-after-icelandair-757-gear-collapse/137764.article Back to Top Hundreds of Airline Employees Test Positive for COVID-19 Union leaders are calling on airlines to keep flight attendants safe Hundreds of airline employees have tested positive for coronavirus. Now, union leaders for Southwest and American airlines are demanding the companies do more to protect their crews. Hundreds of airline employees have tested positive for coronavirus. Now, union leaders for Southwest and American airlines are demanding the companies do more to protect their crews. "Flight attendants are in a high-risk position while providing the essential service of travel. Our risk factors seem to be increasing. This is unacceptable," said Lyn Montgomery, president of TWU Local 556, the union of Southwest Airlines flight attendants. The union represents more than 17,000 flight attendants. Last month, Montgomery said she sent a list of demands to Southwest Airlines including masks and gloves for flight attendants, social distancing on board and thermal scanning in airports. In a video released this week, Montgomery urged Southwest Airlines to bring in cleaning crews to sanitize tray tables and armrests. She said she's asked the Federal Aviation Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to assist. Out of more than 60,000 employees, Southwest said "far less than 1%" -- or 600 -- have contracted coronavirus. "The safety and well-being of Southwest's Employees and Customers is our uncompromising priority, and Southwest continues to implement measures to maintain our aircraft cabins, airport locations, and work centers to the highest standards, while following all CDC guidelines, during this unprecedented time," a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, based in Euless, said it's been told about 100 American Airlines flight attendants have tested positive for COVID-19. The APFA represents 28,000 flight attendants. APFA President Julie Hedrick released the following statement. "APFA has been pushing the Company since January to be proactive in their approach to COVID-19 and the associated dangers. We have consistently advocated for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all of our Flight Attendants to be available on every aircraft, for social distancing between passengers and crew jump seats, for thermal scanning in the airports, and to receive immediate notification of Flight Attendants who have tested positive for the virus. Flight Attendants are aviation's first responders who are transporting medical personnel and supplies into COVID-19 hotspots, and they need to be treated and protected as such." American Airlines also released a statement. "We are in regular communication with the CDC and follow their guidance for essential workers - which includes commercial air travel - who may been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Our guidance to all team members is to regularly monitor themselves for symptoms - even if they don't think they've been exposed - and to not come to work if they are not feeling well." https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/hundreds-of-airline-employees-test-positive-for-covid-19/2347418/ Back to Top Regulators Issue AD for Gulfstream's G500 and G600 Directives focus on the aircraft's flight control system. The FAA said it received at least 30 reports about the aircraft's flight control computer. Credit: Gulfstream Aerospace Both the FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently issued an airworthiness directive to operators of Gulfstream's fly-by-wire G500/600 series aircraft, after Gulfstream identified the potential for a hard landing following an in-service incident in unstable air. As soon as the company identified the potential safety issue, Gulfstream notified all operators and published operational guidance to mitigate the hazard via an update to the aircraft flight manual (AFM). The FAA said it had received at least 30 reports of issues with the Gulfstream's flight control computer, a system involved in the issue. The FAA categorized the Gulfstream directive as, "an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adoption." EASA's ruling-categorized as an emergency AD-detailed the situation "in which the [Gulfstream's] alpha limiter (based on angle of attack indicator) engaged in the landing flare in unstable air while on approach. Analysis indicates that this may occur on other aeroplanes. This condition, if not corrected, could limit pilot pitch authority during a critical phase of flight near the ground, possibly resulting in a high-rate-of-descent landing and consequent loss of control of the aeroplane on landing." The FAA's directive explained that "the FCC commanded flight control surfaces into damped by-pass mode (surface shutdown). During the investigation of these events, it was discovered that the existing GVI and GVII airplane flight manuals, in most cases, allow continued flight after a surface shutdown, and the GVI airplane flight manual allows takeoff with an inboard spoiler shutdown. The [Gulfstream's] FCC commanding of a surface into damped by-pass mode is the protection provided against flight-control hydraulic-force fights and flight control surface hard-over events. If flight is continued after a flight control surface shutdown, the airplane is left without protection against flight control surface hard-over and force fight events on the remaining, operable flight control surfaces...in addition, certain other system failures will result in the loss of FCC protection against flight control surface hard-overs and force-fights. Loss of flight control surface protection could lead to loss of structural integrity of the airplane and loss of control of the airplane." EASA offered no reason for why the European community categorized the Gulfstream AD as an emergency, when the FAA did not suggest a similar state of urgency. A Gulfstream spokesman told Flying, "The distinction is one of terminology. The emergency AD process followed by EASA is equivalent to the immediately adopted AD process the FAA used. Both allow the regulator to bypass the public comment period and publish more quickly." https://www.flyingmag.com/story/aircraft/g500-g600-flight-control-ad/ Back to Top Airbus A330-800 Gets Upgraded ETOPS Certification The Airbus A330-800 just obtained European approval for Extended Twin-Engined Operations (ETOPS) of 180 minutes. With this, Airbus finally got the ETOPS 180 for both members of its A330neo family. A330-800 The A330-800 received its ETOPS 180 min certification from EASA. Photo: Airbus What does it mean to have this certification? Firstly, Airbus obtained ETOPS-180 for the A330-900 back in January. At that point, the European company said that the certification is "a testimony to the aircraft's design and systems maturity." It also allows Airbus to look for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for ETOPS 285 minutes. If Airbus were to obtain this certification, the A330neo family would have the option to serve new direct 'non-limiting' routings. As it was reported by FlightGlobal, EASA certified the A330-800 in mid-February. After that, it granted clearance on 2 April. Now operators of the A330-800 (we will come back to that), "will be able to traverse a straighter, quicker and more fuel-efficient path, and also have access to more - and possibly better equipped - en-route diversion airports if needed," as Airbus said back in January. This means that if a -800 loses an engine in the middle of the ocean, its new ETOPS guarantees that it can fly up to 180 minutes to the nearest airport. One final thing: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hasn't granted its ETOPS to the A330neo family as of now. Will this improve A330-800 sales? The A330-800 is a fine airplane. But it is not competing - commercially - with its biggest brother, the A330-900. As of right now, only three airlines worldwide have firm orders for this widebody jet. Kuwait Airways, which is going to be the launching airline of the model, has ordered eight. If all goes to plan (who knows these days?), the Kuwaiti carrier will receive its first -800 in the third quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the other two clients are Uganda Airlines (with two) and Air Greenland, with just one. In comparison, the -900 has over 300 firm orders and it is becoming one of the main widebodies for Airbus nowadays. So, will the ETOPS-180 authorization improve the commercial appeal of the -800? Given the current state of affairs, the simple answer is no. Sadly, for Airbus and airlines around the world, now is not the time to buy new aircraft. And this is more evident with long-haul airplanes as it is widely known that the international market will take a few years to bounce back. But, in case that changes, let's see what the A330-800 is all about. Meet the A330-800 According to Airbus, the A330-800 can carry up to 406 passengers (typically 257). It has a range of 8,150nmi or 15,094 kilometers. This airplane is designed towards range and distance, while its bigger brother is weighted towards passengers. On the other hand, the A330-900 can carry up to 440 passengers (on average 287 passengers) with a range of 7,200nmi or 13,334 kilometers. The aircraft is based on the popular A330-200. It also "delivers significant improvements in terms of efficiency, while also launching the eye-catching Airspace cabin that will redefine the quality of in-flight experience passengers can come to expect," said Airbus. Finally, the A330-800 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. https://simpleflying.com/airbus-a330-800-etops-certification/ Back to Top China's AG600 airplane prepped for sea tests AVIC's amphibious aircraft to conduct first maritime test flight this year as planned, despite epidemic fears A sea-based test flight will be another milestone in the AG600's development, and the Covid-19 outbreak does not seem to have had any major impact on the project. China will soon have a large amphibious airplane that will capable of covering all of the South China Sea, The Global Times reported. The AG600 is preparing in Hubei Province to conduct its first maritime test flight this year as planned, despite the novel coronavirus epidemic, officials said. The AG600 is undergoing status adjustment and design optimization in Jingmen, Hubei, as all members of its development team at state-owned Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) have returned to work after the epidemic in the province began to ease, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. "The aircraft is ready to start test flight subject training," Lu Yang, deputy head of the Zhuhai base test flight center under AVIC's subsidiary China Aviation Industry General Aircraft, told CCTV. It is scheduled to make its maiden flight at sea this year, CCTV reported. Sea-based test flights are more challenging than those conducted over land, lakes or rivers because of factors like the complexity of the sea situation and the corrosive ocean environment, a military expert told the Global Times. The AG600 conducted its land-based maiden flight in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, in December 2017 and its first water-based test flight over a reservoir in Jingmen in October 2018, reports said. A sea-based test flight will be another milestone in the plane's development, and the Covid-19 outbreak does not seem to have had any major impact on the project, the expert said. The amphibious aircraft is expected to be delivered by 2022, the Xinhua News Agency reported. About the size of a Boeing 737, the AG600 can fight forest fires, undertake water rescues, monitor the maritime environment and carry out patrol missions. When deployed from Sanya, Hainan Province, the AG600 can reach any location in the South China Sea thanks to its endurance of 12 hours and ability to take off and land on water, reports said. https://asiatimes.com/2020/04/chinas-ag600-airplane-prepped-for-sea-tests/ Back to Top GE Wins U.S. License to Supply Engines for New Chinese Aircraft GE Aviation, a unit of General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE), and joint venture partner Safran Aircraft Engines, have been given a license by the Trump administration to supply jet engines for the new C919 Chinese passenger jet, according to a Reuters report. CFM International, the joint venture company, was chosen by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) to supply its LEAP-1C engines for the narrow-body jet set to begin service in 2021. The report quoted a GE spokeswoman as saying, "We received notification that GE Aviation has license approval for engines for the C919." In February, Bloomberg cited a Dow Jones report saying there was opposition in the Trump administration to grant the license, with fears the Chinese could reverse-engineer the engines. President Trump, however, later indicated he supported the deal, tweeting on Feb. 18, "I want China to buy our jet engines, the best in the World...." LEAP engine The LEAP family of engines was launched in December 2009, when COMAC selected CFM as the supplier for the 150-passenger C919 project. At the time, COMAC forecast there would be more than 2,000 C919 aircraft built over a 20-year period after its launch. Since its first LEAP engine orders in 2011, CFM has delivered over 19,000 worth more than $275 billion at list price. In 2019, CFM delivered 1,736 LEAP engines, up from 1,118 in 2018. A competitor to the Boeing (NYSE: BA) 737Max, the C919 entering into the market should give a boost to GE Aviation, which provided about 35% of GE's total revenue in 2019. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/ge-wins-u.s.-license-to-supply-engines-for-new-chinese-aircraft-2020-04-07 Back to Top Korean Air puts 70 percent of staff on leave South Korea's flag carrier Korean Air will put 70 percent of its 19,000 staff on furlough, it said, as it scrambles to cope with the coronavirus pandemic that has brought global aviation to a standstill. The airline industry is among the sectors worst hit by the virus and the ensuing travel restrictions, with thousands of flights cancelled, routes cut, and companies facing financial turmoil. Korean Air is the flagship of the Hanjin group, one of the multifaceted, family-controlled conglomerates known as chaebols that dominate business in South Korea and played a key part in its rise to become the world's 12th-largest economy. Most of its staff will go on leave from April 16 for six months in response to "deteriorating business circumstances", Korean Air said in a statement. According to normal South Korean practice, the workers will receive 70 percent of their normal pay, with most of it -- reportedly up to 90 percent -- funded by a government scheme for industries in need of special assistance due to the coronavirus. Korean Air's labour union agreed to participate as part of a "burden-sharing" initiative, the company said -- executives have also agreed to take pay cuts. The furlough measure comes after a months-long battle for control of the company between members of its founding Cho family. Cho Hyun-ah, who had made global headlines for a "nut rage" scandal when she forced a taxiing plane back to the gate over a bag of macadamia nuts, sought to oust her brother Cho Won-tae from the chairmanship. The brother fended off the challenge, winning 56.67 percent support in a shareholder vote last month. The Hanjin group was in financial trouble long before the coronavirus outbreak wreaked havoc on airline finances worldwide -- subsidiary Hanjin Shipping was once one of the world's top 10 container lines, but went bankrupt in 2017. https://www.yahoo.com/news/korean-air-puts-70-percent-staff-leave-021710493.html Back to Top Call for Nominations For 2020 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. The Award is scheduled to be presented during the 73nd Annual International Air Safety Summit, taking place Oct. 19-21 in Paris, France. Presented since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners of the Award can be submitted one additional time for consideration. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back 75 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In the years following, her husband, Rev. Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. The Award Board, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient. Please help us honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/. Nominations will be accepted until May 10, 2020. For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see www.ltbaward.org. About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956, her husband, Rev. Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and their son, Cliff, established the Award in her honor. For nearly 65 years, this long distinguished award has recognized those responsible for crowning achievements in aviation safety worldwide. The Award was established through early association with the Flight Safety Foundation and from its founding has enjoyed a rich history of Award Board members, nominees and Award recipients. In 2013, the non-profit Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed from members of the Award Board, the aviation community and the Barbour family. As the foundation plans to broaden the scope of its intent, with great purpose, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to spotlight those champions who pioneer breakthroughs in flight safety. For more information on the foundation, the award, and past winners, visit http://LTBAward.org Back to Top TheUSC Aviation Safety & Security ProgramHas Moved Online! The following upcoming courses will take plane in our virtual WebEx classrooms. Gas Turbine Accident Investigation Skills and knowledge to examine the involvement of turbine engines in fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft accidents. May 4-8, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Software Safety Philosophies and methods of developing software, analyzing software, and managing a software safety program. May 11-14, 2020 4 Days Tuition: $2125 SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems Managing and implementing aviation security measures at medium to small size aircraft operators, all airports, and Indirect Air Carriers, with emphasis on risk assessment and cyber security. May 11-15, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Safety Management Systems for Managers Providing Managers and Supervisors an understanding of the principles of an SMS and a clear vision of the role of the manager May 27-28, 2020 1.5 Days Tuition: $1025 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 Photo Credit: PFC Brendan King, USMC Curt Lewis