Flight Safety Information May 28, 2020 - No. 107 In This Issue Crash: PIA A320 at Karachi on May 22nd 2020, impacted residential area during final approach Incident: Volga Dnjepr A124 at Krasnojarsk on May 27th 2020, lightning strike Incident: Allegiant A320 at Allentown on May 22nd 2020, rejected takeoff due to bird strike Pakistan Jet Grazed Runway at 327 KPH Without Landing Gear Cockpit voice recorder found in debris of Pakistan crash Investigators scour Pakistan air crash site for clues and cockpit voice recorder How HEPA filters in aircraft help protect passengers from Covid-19 Hong Kong Customs Finds Cocaine Hidden in Spare Aircraft Engine Boeing resumes production of its troubled 737 Max airplane Starr introduces usage-based aviation insurance Thai AirAsia Considers Merger SpiceJet converts three Bombardier Q400 passenger aircraft into freighters Boeing resumes low-rate 737 MAX jet production with workplace safety in mind American Airlines says to cut management and support staff by 30% Witness ProSafeT's Comprehensive SMS Solution GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Crash: PIA A320 at Karachi on May 22nd 2020, impacted residential area during final approach, both engines failed as result of a gear up touchdown A PIA Pakistan International Airlines A320-200, registration AP-BLD performing flight PK-8303 from Lahore to Karachi (Pakistan) with 91 passengers and 8 crew, had aborted the approach to Karachi due to problems with extension of the (nose) landing gear (in fact, when the crew read the landing clearance for runway 25L back the sounds of a master warning can be heard) and performed a go around. While on a left downwind for a second approach to runway 25L, about abeam the threshold of runway 25L the crew requested to turn left immediately reporting they had lost both engines (CFM56) and repeatedly declaring Mayday about 5 minutes after the go around, the RAT (RAM Aír Turbine) deployed. Tower cleared the aircraft to land on either runway 25 (25L or 25R). The aircraft lost height and impacted a residential area called Model Colony, featuring concrete multistorey buldings on second final approach east of the aerodrome (presumably while on final approach to runway 25L) and burst into flames at about 14:40L (09:40Z). On the ground, near position N24.9116 E67.1881 about 1350 meters/0.74nm short of the runway threshold, five multistorey houses - including the Allied School Airport Campus - are being reported to have been de-roofed and set ablaze, debris is distributed over the streets. Two passengers survived with injuries, the bodies of 89 passengers and all 8 crew were recovered from the crash site, 4 people on the ground were injured. A number of houses were damaged, none of the houses destroyed, a number of vehicles in the streets were damaged or destroyed. Rescue and Recovery Rescue and recovery services are on crash site. Emergency services were able to put the fires out about 5 hours after the crash. The airline reported the aircraft carried 90 passengers and 8 crew. So far no information is available whether there are survivors. Saying anything more would be premature. On May 23rd 2020 the airline released a list containing 91 passenger names. Jinnah Medical Center reported around 12:30Z, that 15 bodies and 8 injured people (unclear whether the injured were occupants of the aircraft or people on the ground) were taken to the center. Local videos show one of the passengers, a well known chairman of a bank, being pulled out of the wreckage with injuries but in stable condition. The family of another occupant of the aircraft tweeted their family member was alive but injured having survived the accident. Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority have declared emergency for Karachi Airport. The Health Department of Sindh confirmed two passengers survived the accident. So far 66 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, 5 of them were already identified. In the morning of May 23rd 2020 Pakistan's Armed Forces (PAF) reported two passengers survived and were rescued, 97 bodies were recovered. 25 houses affected by the impact were cleared and their residents accomodated various places with the assistence of civil administration. Rescue Operations are still in progress. On May 23rd 2020 Pakistan's Ministry of Health reported two surviving passengers and 97 bodies, 19 of which have been identified already. On Ma 24th 2020 Pakistan's Ministry of Health reported all 97 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, there had been two survivors amongst the passengers, 4 people on the ground were taken to hospitals with burns. 19 houses, 10 cars and 3 motor cycles were damaged in the accident. On May 24th 2020 Pakistan's Aviation Minister reported the first phase of rescue and recovery is completed. It is a miracle that no life on the ground was lost. Now the assessment of damage of the affected houses, vehicles and other property on the ground is underway, the federal government will bear the cost for these repairs. On May 24th 2020 the airline reported all bodies were recovered from the crash site, there had been two survivors amongst the passengers. On May 24th 2020 Karachi Commissioner leading the commission to assess the property damages stated none of the houses was completey destroyed or damaged, in most cases upper parts of the houses were damaged when the concrete structure was hit by the aircraft. Fortunately the structures mostly remained intact. The investigation Pakistan's Safety Investigation Board (SIB) have formed a commission to investigate the crash. On May 23rd 2020 Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority reported in a press conference that both black boxes (Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder) have been recovered. The crew of the flight had not indicated any trouble or requested emergency services for their first approach. On May 23rd 2020 Pakistani media are reporting quoting sources within the Civil Aviation Authority, that the aircraft touched down on the runway with retracted gear during their first approach, climbed again and positioned for another approach. Ground observers reported sparks from the aircraft when it touched the ground. Later in the afternoon/evening local time Pakistani media reported scrape marks were found on the runway indicating that one engine had contacted the runway first, then some distance later the second engine, too, with both engines now scraping over the runway until the aircraft became airborne again. On May 23rd 2020 Karachi Airport reported based on CAA inspection report that the runway inspection revealed scrape marks of the left engine start 4500 feet down the runway, the right engine scrape marks begin 5500 feet down the runway. About 6000-7000 feet past the runway threshold the scrape marks end. On May 23rd 2020 the airline's engineering department reported the aircraft had last been checked on Mar 21st 2020 and had flown 8 sectors since, the last sector before the accident flight was on May 21st 2020. The left hand engine had been installed on the airframe on Feb 25th 2019, the right hand engine on Mar 27th 2019. All three landing gear struts were installed on Oct 18th 2014. The aircraft had accumulated 47,124 hours in the 16 years since it was built in 2004. On May 24th 2020 Pakistan's media quote a CAA official speaking on condition of anonymity that the aircraft made two attempts to land. During the first approach it appears the landing gear was still retracted when the aircraft neared the runway, the pilot had not indicated any anomaly or emergency, emergency services thus did not respond and did not foam the runway as would be done in case of a gear malfunction. The marks on the runway between 4500 feet and 7000 feet down the runway suggest the engines made contact with the runway surface, it is possible that the engines were damaged during that contact with the runway surface leading even to possibly fire. On May 24th 2020 a spokesman of the airline said, the landing gear had not been (partially or fully) lowered prior to the first touch down. The crew did not call out the standard operating procedures for an anomaly and no emergency was declared. Most likely the crew was not mentally prepared for a belly landing and went around when they realized the engines were scraping the runway. On May 26th 2020 it became known, the data module of the cockpit voice recorder has not been found so far, only the housing had been recovered. The FDR including data module is about to be taken to Paris for read out by BEA whose investigators arrived in Karachi on May 26th 2020. Authorities are hopeful to find the CVR's data module during removal of the wreckage from the crash site. On May 26th 2020 a spokesman of the airline reported only the cover of the CVR has been recovered so far. Residents of Model Colony are being urged to hand over any aircraft components found in their houses. On May 26th 2020 evening the BEA reported their investigators are still on site, the FDR has not yet left Pakistan, the CVR has not been recovered. On May 28th 2020 the BEA tweeted the CVR data module was recovered today. Pakistan's CAA requested the BEA to read out the black boxes. Other information A ground observer reported the aircraft suddenly became silent in its final seconds of flight. Pakistan's Planespotters report, the aircraft "attempted a belly landing", went around and subsequently crashed. Their photos of the last moments of the aircraft in flight show scrape marks on both engines and the RAT deployed. On May 23rd 2020 one of the surviving passengers reported in a first televised interview, that the aircraft had touched down on first approach and went around. The other surviving passenger reported the aircraft shuddered just before impact. On May 23rd 2020 there are claims, not suported by ATC recordings, that the aircraft suffered a landing gear failure on first approach but continued the approach for a low approach. While going around near the end of the runway the aircraft received bird strikes resulting in first reduction of engine power and subsequent loss of engine power. On May 24th 2020 Pakistan's Dunya TV Station aired a video of a runway inspection of runway 25L, driving in westerly direction of runway 25L, showing the scrape marks, also see the original video below (that became available some time later). A few screenshot of that coverage produced by HistoryOfPIA below. The aircraft was scheduled to land at 14:45L (09:45Z). Metars: OPKC 221100Z 23014KT 7000 NSC 35/24 Q1004 NOSIG= OPKC 221030Z 22014KT 7000 NSC 35/24 Q1004 NOSIG= OPKC 220955Z 24011KT 7000 NSC 35/24 Q1004 NOSIG= OPKC 220925Z 24011KT 7000 NSC 35/24 Q1004 NOSIG= OPKC 220825Z 24012KT 7000 NSC 36/24 Q1005 NOSIG= OPKC 220755Z 22012KT 7000 NSC 36/24 Q1005 NOSIG= OPKC 220725Z 24012KT 7000 NSC 35/24 Q1005 NOSIG= OPKC 220655Z 22011KT 7000 NSC 35/24 Q1006 NOSIG= http://avherald.com/h?article=4d7a6e9a&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Volga Dnjepr A124 at Krasnojarsk on May 27th 2020, lightning strike A Volga Dnjepr Antonov AN-124-100, registration RA-82078 performing flight VI-3469 from Vatry (France) to Krasnojarsk (Russia), was on approach to Krasnojark when the aircraft received a lightning strike. The crew continued for a safe landing on Krasnojarsk's runway 29. A post flight inspection revealed the nose radome had been dented. Metars: UNKL 271800Z 29004MPS 9999 SCT042CB 06/05 Q1019 R29/190055 NOSIG RMK QFE739= UNKL 271730Z 28004MPS 9999 SCT047 07/04 Q1019 R29/190055 NOSIG RMK QFE739= UNKL 271700Z 28004MPS 9999 SCT037CB 07/04 Q1019 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE739= UNKL 271630Z 29004MPS 9999 -SHRA SCT026CB 07/04 Q1019 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271600Z 26004MPS 9999 SCT038CB 07/04 Q1019 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271530Z 25004MPS 9999 BKN041 07/04 Q1019 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271500Z 27003MPS CAVOK 07/04 Q1019 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271430Z 27004MPS CAVOK 07/04 Q1018 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271400Z 26003MPS 9999 SCT043 07/04 Q1018 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271330Z 25003MPS 9999 SCT040CB 07/05 Q1018 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271300Z 31003MPS 9000 -SHRA BKN027CB 07/04 Q1018 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271230Z 27003MPS 9999 SCT033CB 08/04 Q1018 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE738= UNKL 271200Z 26004MPS 9999 -SHRA SCT023CB 07/04 Q1017 R29/290050 NOSIG RMK QFE737= http://avherald.com/h?article=4d7e64be&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Allegiant A320 at Allentown on May 22nd 2020, rejected takeoff due to bird strike An Allegiant Air Airbus A320-200, registtration N222NV performing flight G4-271 from Allentown,PA to Saint Petersburg,FL (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from runway 06 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed reporting a bird strike about one quarter down the runway. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. A replacement A320-200 registration N230NV reached Saint Petersburg with a delay of 2.5 hours. The FAA reported the aircraft sustained minor damage. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d7e5808&opt=0 Back to Top Pakistan Jet Grazed Runway at 327 KPH Without Landing Gear Alan Levin (Bloomberg) - A deadly plane crash in Pakistan is prompting questions about how the crew could touch down without landing gear when their sophisticated jetliner was bristling with equipment to prevent pilots from doing just that. After an abrupt descent that had unnerved air-traffic controllers, the pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines Corp. jet on Friday briefly put the aircraft on the runway without the landing gear, grinding along on its two engines at a speed of more than 327 kilometers (203) miles) per hour, according to preliminary data. The pilots aborted the landing attempt, climbing back into the sky, but reported shortly afterward they'd lost power. The Airbus SE A320 apparently glided into a neighborhood as pilots were attempting to return to the same runway, killing 97 of 99 people aboard. "It is unbelievable to me that an airline crew on a jet like an Airbus, with all the warning systems, would attempt to land the plane without the gear extended," said John Cox, an aviation safety consultant who formerly flew the A320 as a U.S. airline pilot. In addition to checklists designed to make sure pilots don't attempt to touch down without the landing gear, the jetliner has multiple warning systems designed to alert crews if they somehow forget or the gear aren't working. "The airplane is not happy that you're this close to the ground without the gear extended," said Cox, who is president of consulting company Safety Operating Systems. It's not yet clear why the two jet engines quit after functioning well enough for about two minutes to lift them about 3,000 feet (915 meters) above the runway. Engines have become so reliable that losing two at the same time is almost always because of some common factor, such as damage from hitting a runway or a problem with the fuel supply. Regardless, the bizarre landing attempt - which was carried out without any indication from the crew that they'd had an emergency during their initial descent - either triggered the accident or was a catalyst that worsened the situation, according to Cox and others who have studied crashes. A Pakistan International spokesman declined to comment on "incomplete information." An Airbus spokesman referred queries to Pakistani authorities. Civil aviation spokesman Abdul Sattar Khokhar didn't respond to a call on his mobile phone. As Flight 8303 from Lahore approached Karachi's Jinnah International Airport last Friday afternoon, air-traffic controllers were concerned that it wasn't descending on the proper path, according to a report cited by Sky News. A controller cautioned the pilots that they were "high" and urged them to adjust, according to the leaked preliminary report. Turn Back "We are comfortable. We can make it," the pilot can be heard telling the controller, according to a recording of Karachi's air-traffic radio posted on the LiveATC.net website. Twice as the plane neared the runway, a controller told pilots to turn and break off their approach, according to the report. Again, the pilot declined, responding on the radio he was "comfortable" and was prepared to land on runway 25-Left. At no point did the pilots say they had a problem with their landing gear or any other type of emergency, according to the radio calls. Approaching a runway with such a rapid descent, which often leads to higher-than-recommended speeds, is a harbinger of danger, according to decades of warnings from investigative agencies such as the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the nonprofit Flight Safety Foundation. After the controllers finally cleared the plane to land - despite their earlier warnings - the pilot replied, "Roger." In the background, the sound of a cockpit warning chime can be heard. Too Much Energy The jetliner was well above the normal speed as it neared the runway, said Jeffrey Guzzetti, the former chief accident investigator for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. It was traveling at roughly 250 miles an hour at about 1,000 feet above the ground, according to the tracking website, Flightradar24. That's more than 50 miles per hour faster than is typical for jets like the A320, Guzzetti said. "They have too much energy for a normal landing," he said. It not only increases the chances of skidding off the runway, but puts additional pressure on the pilots to slow the big jet and can lead to other things going wrong. Flightradar24's data suggests that the jet was traveling at 375 kilometers (233 miles) per hour when it reached the runway and slowed to about 327 kilometers per hour as it lifted off. The data hasn't been validated by investigators. The airline said Thursday that the cockpit voice recorder, a key to piecing together the events, had been found in the debris from the wreckage. The flight data recorder was located earlier. While it's possible that in the chaos and confusion they might have have forgotten about the landing gear, it's still puzzling, according to Guzzetti and Cox. Computer System The A320's on-board computer system issues both a warning sound and illuminates a light to draw attention to a text message if the gear isn't out as the plane nears the ground. A separate safety system designed to prevent aircraft from inadvertently striking the ground also senses when the gear isn't deployed before landing. Its recorded voice repeatedly says "Too low, gear" if the problem continues. Before-landing check lists also require crews to verify that the plane's instruments show the gear is locked into place. "It's very unusual in modern transport category aircraft to have a no-gear landing, just because the checklist and the warnings that go off," Guzzetti said. At about 2:34 p.m., the plane slammed onto the runway. Its engines left a series of black smudge marks, starting at 4,500 feet from the start of the landing strip, according to video of the runway broadcast by news outlets. It shows three separate patches, as if the plane skipped into the air between impacts. "Going around," a pilot on the jet told controllers, the term for aborting a landing and taking off again. The plane climbed about 3,000 feet, but couldn't hold its altitude, according to the radio transmissions and flight data. "Sir, we have lost engines," a pilot said. Then, 30 seconds later, he said, "Mayday. Mayday. Mayday." Seconds later, the plane hit the ground. https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/pakistan-jet-grazed-runway-at-327-kph-without-landing-gear Back to Top Cockpit voice recorder found in debris of Pakistan crash ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Search teams on Thursday recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage of a Pakistani airliner that crashed into a city neighbourhood last week killing 97 people on board, a spokesman for the airline said. The Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 crashed on Friday into a residential district of the port city of Karachi. Two people on board survived. Flight PK8303, from the eastern city of Lahore to Karachi, came down about a kilometre short of the runway as it was making a second attempt to land. "The search resumed this morning and the voice recorder was found buried in the debris," spokesman Abdullah H. Khan said in a statement. "The cockpit voice recorder recovery will help a lot in the investigation." The flight data recorder had already been found. Pakistani officials and Airbus investigators are collecting evidence at the site as they try to determine the cause of the country's worst airline disaster in years. Under international aviation rules, French investigators from the BEA - the French air safety investigation authority for civil aviation - have joined the Pakistan-led probe because the 15-year-old Airbus jet was designed in France. The BEA said in a statement the two recorders would be examined at its laboratory just outside Paris. It issued a photograph of one of them on Twitter showing that it appeared to be intact inside its crash-resistant shell and metal base. The plane's CFM56 engines are expected to be a focus of the investigation after the pilot reported both had failed shortly after the plane made an initial, unsuccessful attempt to land. The engines were made by CFM International, a joint-venture of France's Safran and General Electric, and are among the most widely used and reliable in the airline industry. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-airplane-crash/cockpit-voice-recorder-found-in-debris-of-pakistan-crash-idUSKBN2341CD Back to Top Investigators scour Pakistan air crash site for clues and cockpit voice recorder KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - A team of Pakistani and French investigators on Wednesday sifted through the wreckage of a Pakistani airliner that crashed in the southern city of Karachi last Friday, searching for clues around what caused the worst airline disaster in the country in years. Investigators were also hunting for the Airbus A320 jet's cockpit voice recorder, said a spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). "The flight data recorder has been found; the cockpit voice recorder is still being traced," PIA's spokesman told Reuters. Earlier, the spokesman told media the black box had been found and it contained both the data and voice recorder. Parts of the wreckage of the A320 were removed from the site on Wednesday after extracting them from building rubble in the densely populated area where the PIA jet crashed, residents and eyewitnesses said. PIA flight PK 8303, flying from the eastern city of Lahore crashed roughly a kilometre short of the airport runway, killing 97 of the 99 people on board. Under international aviation rules, French investigators from the BEA - the French air safety investigation authority for civil aviation - have joined the Pakistan-led probe because the 15-year-old Airbus jet was designed in France. Their arrival was initially hampered by widespread travel bans in force to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The French team and technical representatives of Airbus and engine maker Safran had to be flown in on an Airbus A330-900 test plane. The French team is now helping Pakistani authorities search for the cockpit voice recorder and examining the fuselage, which ploughed between buildings and was partly buried under rubble. There have been no reported deaths on the ground. Particular focus will be on the plane's CFM56 engines, one of which plunged into the side of a building, according to a person close to the investigation. The engines were made by CFM International, a joint-venture of France's Safran and General Electric, and are among the most widely used and reliable in the airline industry. The pilot reported both engines had failed shortly after the plane bounced and scraped along the runway in a failed initial landing attempt. He made no reference to a landing gear problem as the aircraft followed what appeared to be a steeper-than-usual descent, according to people close to the probe. Video showed the wheels extended on the second, fatal attempt to land. Safety experts stress it is too early to say what caused the crash. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-airplane-crash/investigators-scour-pakistan-air-crash-site-for-clues-and-cockpit-voice-recorder-idUSKBN2332YB Back to Top How HEPA filters in aircraft help protect passengers from Covid-19 Fear among air passengers that the coronavirus could spread in flights has kept seats empty in many routes, since domestic airlines restarted operations from May 25. But, can the virus spread board an airplane ? Not really, say airlines, aircraft manufacturers - both Airbus and Boeing - and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Modern aircraft protects passengers from viruses - thanks to HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, they say. HEPA aircraft filtration systems offer a level of performance similar to those used to keep air clean in hospital surgical rooms. The filter removes 99.99 per cent of dust particles and airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria. A constant downward wash of air at 1 metre/sec reduces the risk of cross-contamination. All the air in the cabin is fully filtered and renewed every 2-3 minutes, AirAsia said in its social media page. How HEPA filters work Air from the cabin is cleaned in the AC unit and in its HEPA filters; this clean recycled air is then mixed with fresh air from outside in the mixing unit and the pure, clean air is then passed into the cabin and circulates downwards to repeat the process, said IATA. HEPA filters are effective at trapping microscopic particles as small as bacteria and viruses, IATA said in a paper, Cabin air quality - Risk of communicable diseases transmission, published in 2018. The paper was assembled from information provided by Airbus, Boeing and Pall Corporation. The cabin air system is designed to operate most efficiently by delivering approximately 50 per cent outside air and 50 per cent filtered, recirculated air. This normally provides 15-20 cubic feet of total air supply per minute per person in economy class. The total air supply is essentially sterile and particle-free, said IATA. According to Airbus, HEPA filters remove 99.99 per cent of particulate and organic matter, including microbes, from the air which is recirculated. Boeing says most airplanes offer extremely clean air thanks to HEPA filters, which catch particulates down to the size of viruses. However, HEPA filters are not equipped to filter gaseous molecules. By increasing the humidity and adding new filtration technologies, studies show that the number of passengers experiencing the symptoms associated with dryness can be reduced, says a backgrounder on Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Despite all the assurances, it will take time for people to overcome fear. A lot of awareness need to be created assuring safety of passengers on board, said an aviation expert. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/how-hepa-filters-in-aircraft-help-protect-passengers-from-covid-19/article31694247.ece Back to Top Hong Kong Customs Finds Cocaine Hidden in Spare Aircraft Engine Hong Kong Customs officers detected one of the city-state's largest seaborne cocaine smuggling incidents in a unique operation involving a shipping container transporting an aircraft engine. According to customs officials, it was the first time smugglers had attempted to use an aircraft engine to hide the illegal narcotics and it resulted in the largest seizure in eight years. Through a risk assessment and data analysis, the customs officers selected a 20-foot container arriving from Ecuador for inspection. The manifest declared that it contained an aircraft engine. During the examination of the container and its contents at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound customs officers, with the assistance of government aircraft engineers, dismantled the aircraft engine leading to the discovery of multiple suspicious metal components in the middle of the engine. The cocaine was wrapped in soundproof materials and had been placed in eight metal components in the engine. Hong Kong Customs seized about 217 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $246 million. It was the largest seaborne cocaine seizure since 2012. An investigation is ongoing. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/brief-hong-kong-seizes-cocaine-in-unique-seaborne-smuggling-operation Back to Top Boeing resumes production of its troubled 737 Max airplane The plane has yet to be cleared by the FAA to return to passenger service Boeing said it would resume manufacturing the troubled 737 Max airplane after a nearly five-month hiatus. The aerospace company said it would restart production "at a low rate as it implements more than a dozen initiatives focused on enhancing workplace safety and product quality." The Boeing 737 Max has been grounded since March 2018 following two fatal crashes that killed a total of 346 passengers and crew members. Boeing continued to manufacture the airplane, but in December 2019, the company announced plans to halt production at its Renton, Washington manufacturing plant. The FAA has yet to clear the airplane to return to passenger service. Investigators have discovered numerous software glitches, apart from the MCAS flight control system that has been identified as the cause of the fatal crashes. Boeing said that during the temporary suspension, the company's mechanics and engineers worked together to "standardize work packages" and revamp the "kitting process" to ensure that employees have everything they need to build the airplane. "We've been on a continuous journey to evolve our production system and make it even stronger," said Walt Odisho, vice president and general manager of the 737 program, in a statement. "These initiatives are the next step in creating the optimal build environment for the 737 MAX." Boeing said last year that it doesn't expect the 737 Max to fly again until at least "mid-2020." Air travel is being upended by COVID-19, with the major carriers having reduced service due to a drop-off in demand. Boeing recently announced it would be laying off nearly 7,000 employees as the novel coronavirus continues to hammer the airline industry. The Chicago-based airplane manufacturer - the biggest exporter in the US - had already announced it would trim its workforce by around 10 percent. https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/27/21272478/boeing-737-max-resumes-production Back to Top Starr introduces usage-based aviation insurance Starr Insurance Companies has announced the launch of Starr Gate, a general aviation policy for pilots who rent aircraft. The policy includes usage-based pricing and a tool that can improve pilots' skills. "Until now, pilots did not have real flexibility in their insurance coverage and often paid for coverage they didn't need," Starr said. However, the insurer said that Starr Gate "has established a way for pilots to pay for coverage based on when they are flying." The program also includes the ability to access CloudAhoy, a third-party, cloud-based pilot analytics tool, for a potential discount on premiums. "This product is a significant innovation for Starr," said Maurice R. Greenberg, chairman and CEO of Starr Insurance Companies. "For the thousands of pilots around the US, it's a smarter way to get coverage. We're leveraging technology to enhance safety and tailor coverage to match the market's actual needs." "Starr Gate is better aligned with a pilot's skills and flight time," said Jim Anderson, senior vice president of Starr Aviation. "With CloudAhoy data, we can write coverage in high definition. It's customized insurance that can make you a better pilot." Starr Gate policyholders will get access to CloudAhoy scoring at no additional cost. Starr said the scoring could help improve pilots' skills by matching their performance with thousands of other pilots. "Giving pilots the flexibility to buy on-demand coverage could not have come at a better time as we begin to emerge from this public health crisis," Anderson said. "Qualified pilots can obtain coverage for when they fly. If you're not flying now, apply for the coverage you need when you do start to fly again." Starr Gate is available directly to pilots through an iPad app, accessible in the Apple App Store, as well as through insurance brokers. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/starr-introduces-usagebased-aviation-insurance-223441.aspx Back to Top Thai AirAsia Considers Merger With its "fortune hanging in the balance", the chief of Thai AirAsia (TAA) says it may merge with another low-cost carrier (LCC) to clamp down on pricing wars once flights eventually resume in the country. If Thailand does not resume tourism activities by July, TAA's chairman said next year the company would begin laying off employees, downsizing the company and its fleet to keep its business alive. Local aviation has suffered considerably over the past few months because of the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions on international and domestic air travel, including the total shutdown of Phuket's airport. Some 40% of TAA's revenue had previously come from flights in southern Thailand passing through Phuket airport. "TAA is burning about 1.2 billion baht per month during the lockdown when the 60-aircraft fleet of TAA is left stranded at airports," said Tassapon Bijleveld, executive chairman of SET-listed Asia Aviation Plc (AAV). Mr Tassapon, a major shareholder with 40.52% of AAV, which is the owner of TAA, told the Bangkok Post he already had a conversation with other airlines about the possibility of a merger, but cannot disclose any details as there's not yet a concrete plan, and other conditions are needed to accelerate this decision. Thailand has seven LCCs, but in his opinion three operators are sufficient for the competition in this market. "A merger is possible if aviation in Thailand resumes with the same old fiery price wars, as now we have more limited revenue sources," said Mr Tassapon. He admitted AAV is anticipating unprecedented losses this year. Though domestic air services have taken off since May, the load factors have not been good, as only those required to travel did so, not leisure travellers. While international guests are expected to return in October, starting with an Asian wave, European guests will need another two years for a full recovery, said Mr Tassapon. He said the operation cost of each domestic flight has risen by 15-20%, mainly attributed to hygiene safety standards, but the average revenue decreased because of limited seat allocation to comply with physical distancing rules. To avoid losses for each flight, airfares should price their tickets at 1,200-1,400 baht, up 15-20% from the usual rate of about 1,000 baht, said Mr Tassapon. "If TAA can fly from 20 to 60 jets by the second half of this year, we can survive 2020 as other cost reductions have been implemented, and we expect a better performance after the second quarter," he said. TAA reported total revenue in the first quarter of 9.4 billion baht, down by 19% year-on-year, with a net loss of 671 million baht. The salary cut and furlough initially planned for March to September is likely to extend to December, including a 75% cut of his own salary and 25% from the pay of more than 1,000 pilots. But he insisted TAA will not lay off any of its 6,000 employees, nor shrink the fleet and operation size as other airlines are doing. Mr Tassapon said when tourism and the economy bounce back, TAA should come back faster and stronger than its peers as its fleet and staff will be at full force. "I'm optimistic that if TAA can recover 30% of local passengers, we'll have more liquidity to run the business, following the 5-billion-baht soft loan the airline is expecting to receive soon," he said. Thai AirAsia X, the long-haul LCC of AirAsia group, anticipates to serve local passengers on international routes linked to South Korea and Japan first when all restrictions are lifted and it is safe to travel. This brand has 13 aircraft. "Our passengers keep talking about their future travel plans," said Mr Tassapon. We preserved air traffic rights in prime destinations that we can utilise right away if the situation demands it." But if there's still no sign of tourism activities in Thailand by July, the aviation industry here will crater, triggering unavoidable layoffs, bankruptcies or mergers and acquisitions, he said. Mr Tassapon said TAA has been thinking about restructuring the company by downsizing the business and network, but this strategy is spared for the worst-case scenario only. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/news/21139964/thai-airasia-considers-merger Back to Top SpiceJet converts three Bombardier Q400 passenger aircraft into freighters The three converted Q400 cargo planes will primarily be used for operations to smaller towns and cities Private airline SpiceJet has converted three of its Bombardier Q400 passenger aircraft into freighters. With the addition of these three cargo planes, SpiceJet now has a dedicated fleet of eight freighter aircraft. The three converted Q400 cargo planes will primarily be used for operations to smaller towns and cities. "Our cargo operations are doing extremely well and to address the increased demand we have converted three Q400 passenger aircraft into freighters," said Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh. "These are our old 78-seater Q400s and have a cargo capacity of 8.5 tonnes each. These smaller cargo planes are perfectly suited for operations to tier 2 and 3 cities and to remote and hilly areas in the North-East, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh." SpiceJet's cargo network spans over 25 international destinations most of which it added during the Covid-19 lockdown period. "We see tremendous potential in the cargo business and will continue to expand in the times to come," said Singh. The carrier transported over 12,000 tonnes of cargo on more than 1,690 flights since the nation-wide lockdown began transporting medical and surgical supplies, sanitisers, face masks, coronavirus rapid test kits and IR thermometers. SpiceJet has aggressively expanded its international cargo network operating cargo flights to and from Sudan, South Korea, Cebu, Huangzhou, Tashkent, Baghdad, Cambodia, Guangzhou, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Colombo, Dubai, Kabul, Myanmar, Sharjah, Male, Kuala Lumpur, Ukraine, Nepal, Indonesia and other places. It had launched dedicated cargo arm SpiceXpress in September 2018. SpiceJet operated the country's first cargo-on-seat flight on April 7 carrying vital supplies in the passenger cabin and belly space. Since then, the airline has been regularly deploying its B737 and Q400 passenger aircraft to carry cargo in the passenger cabin. https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/spicejet-converts-three-q400-passenger-aircraft-into-freighters-120052800357_1.html Back to Top Boeing resumes low-rate 737 MAX jet production with workplace safety in mind Boeing says it has resumed 737 MAX production at its factory in Renton, Wash., with more than a dozen initiatives implemented to enhance product quality and workplace safety amid the coronavirus pandemic. Production was suspended in January, due to the worldwide grounding of narrow-body 737 MAX jets in the wake of two catastrophic crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. When the pandemic spread in March, Boeing temporarily extended the shutdown to wide-body jet production as well. During the shutdown, mechanics and engineers collaborated to standardize work packages in each position of the factory. Boeing says employees should have everything they need to build the airplane at their fingertips. "The steps we've taken in the factory will help drive our goal of 100 percent quality for our customers while supporting our ongoing commitment to workplace safety," Scott Stocker, vice president of 737 Manufacturing, said today in a news release. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to sign off on Boeing's fixes and clear 737 MAX planes to fly again later this year, and 737 production will gradually ramp up from its current low rate. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-resumes-low-rate-737-222921261.html Back to Top American Airlines says to cut management and support staff by 30% (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc must reduce its management and support staff by about 30% and may have to cut frontline employees as it downsizes due to the coronavirus outbreak, showed a letter to employees made public on Wednesday. All major U.S. airlines have said they will need to shrink in the fall, once U.S. government payroll aid that bans involuntary job cuts expires on Sept. 30. Competitor United Airlines Holdings Inc has also said it will need to reduce its management and administrative staff by about 30%. Despite the bailout and other liquidity raises, American must "plan for operating a smaller airline for the foreseeable future," Executive Vice President of People and Global Engagement Elise Eberwein said in the letter. American, with over 100,000 employees, will offer voluntary options before implementing involuntary reductions if there is not enough take-up, she said. Once it has reduced its management ranks, the company will turn to frontline employees including flight attendants and pilots, who will receive fresh voluntary leave and early retirement options in June with the aim of avoiding involuntary furloughs. "This is a goal, though, not a commitment, and a stretch goal at that," Eberwein said, adding the company will be working with unions in coming weeks and months. American has said it is accelerating fleet retirement and expects to fly roughly 100 fewer aircraft in the summer of 2021. Nearly 40,000 employees have already opted for temporary voluntary leave or early retirement. Earlier, American Chief Executive Doug Parker said the airline hoped to avoid furloughs and rejected speculation that it or another major U.S. carrier will have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to the coronavirus crisis. https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-says-cut-management-022404878.html GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your opinions and attitudes about stress and mental health. This research started almost two years ago. The purpose of this study is to examine mental health issues in aviation, specifically Part 121 airline pilots. During this study, you will be asked to complete a brief online survey about your opinions on various life circumstances, stress, and mental health topics. This study is expected to take approximately 15 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must possess an FAA issued Airline Transport Certificate (ATP) and you must also be currently working as a pilot for a Part 121 air carrier that is headquartered within the United States. Participation in this study is voluntary and data will be collected anonymously, stored confidentially, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. We sincerely appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study, as it is another small but important step towards increasing safety in aviation. Please click on the link below to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZG6M6L For more information, please contact: Tanya Gatlin - Student Researcher Gatlint1@my.erau.edu 281-924-1336 Dr. Scott Winter - Faculty Advisor winte25e@erau.edu 386-226-6491 Curt Lewis