Flight Safety Information [November 26, 2020] [No. 239] In This Issue : Mil Mi-8MTV-1 - Ground Collision (Russia) : ANAC Brazil follows FAA and lifts grounding of 737 MAX : More airlines requiring pre-flight COVID-19 tests as Americans travel for Thanksgiving : Dutch Trial Over Downed Malaysia Airlines Flight Set for February : Volga-Dnepr Grounds Antonov 124 Fleet Following Crash : Keyhole wasps may threaten aviation safety : ICAO highlights green aviation opportunities arising from pandemic : FAA REQUIRES PIPER WING INSPECTIONS : JetBlue’s First A321LR Completes Maiden Flight In Hamburg : American Airlines Facing Flight Attendant Shortage After Furloughing Nearly 8,000 Crew : NASA gives big moon mission to Alabama company Mil Mi-8MTV-1 - Ground Collision (Russia) Date: 25-NOV-2020 Time: Type: Mil Mi-8MTV-1 Owner/operator: Russian Customs Registration: RF-38376 C/n / msn: 96064 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Volgograd International Airport (URWW) - Russia Phase: Taxi Nature: Departure airport: Destination airport: Volgograd Airport (VOG/URWW) Narrative: The aircraft impacted a lighting mast while taxiing on the apron at Volgograd International Airport, Russia. The tail boom broke and rotor blades were severed in the accident. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=245180 ANAC Brazil follows FAA and lifts grounding of 737 MAX The Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) decided to unground the Boeing 737 MAX on November 25, 2020. The decision followed long independent work to reauthorize the operation of the aircraft in Brazil. ANAC withdrew the Emergency Airworthiness Directive that had restricted the operation of the 737 MAX in Brazil after agreeing with theFAA evaluation for all necessary technical and regulatory elements that were carried out to address the safety issues. The FAA Directive of Airworthiness, released on November 20, was adopted by ANAC and has automatic force in Brazil. GOL Linhas Aéreas, the only 737 MAX operator in Brazil, will now implement, under supervision, the necessary requirements to return the operations of their Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2020/11/26/anac-brazil-follows-faa-and-lifts-grounding-of-737-max/ More airlines requiring pre-flight COVID-19 tests as Americans travel for Thanksgiving Travel experts said Wednesday could be one of the busiest travel days for Thanksgiving week. And for some, the planning started three days ago with a COVID-19 test. Right now there is no state requirement to get COVID-19 tested for flying in and out of Sea-Tac International Airport but many destinations do have requirements, which is travel experts said more and more airlines are partnering with testing companies to offer pre-flight COVID-19 testing. Hawaiian Airlines partnered with a Shoreline testing company called US BioTek Laboratories for pre-flight COVID-19 testing. Their CEO Jack Frausing said they have been in business for 20 years doing mostly allergy antibody testing - so this was a natural fit. “We were not doing this before it was our obligation to help out,” Frausing said. Their lab offers nasal swab and mouth swab testing and are turning their results around in 36 hours. And they’ve been busy with an influx of passengers booking tests. “We are getting a lot of worried passengers on the phone, making sure their test is accurate and that they will get their result in time," Frausing said. Hawaiian Airlines joins American and Alaska airlines in now offering the pre-flight testing. Each airline has links on their websites with details, including pricing and testing locations. The pre-flight testing is offered 72 hours in advance of a passenger flights. KOMONews caught up with long time travel analyst Steve Danishek, President of Seattle-based TMA Travel today. He said Hawaii and California are the two of the most popular flight destinations departing out of Sea-Tac International and the pre-flight testing options through the airlines makes sense – especially for Hawaii travelers. Back in October Hawaii lifted its 14 day quarantine restriction, if travelers tested negative within 72 hours of their final flight destination to their state. Danishek said some airlines are letting passenger pay with their frequent flier miles. He anticipates as more people either need to travel or others who chose to travel for other reasons including holiday travel, over this kind of testing will become the norm for other airlines too. “All airlines are going to have some type of testing so you’re negative when you get on the plane or off the plane,” Danishek said. While Danishek thinks pre-flight testing will become the norm industry wide- he said it will give way to another new norm coming to airline travel in 2021 – and it will be linked to when a COVID-19 vaccine is available to the public nationwide. “As vaccines come in and more people are vaccinate you see passengers just use a vaccine card to show you are not infected and have been vaccinated," Danishek said. https://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/more-airlines-requiring-pre-flight-covid-19-tests-as-americans-travel-for-thanksgiving Dutch Trial Over Downed Malaysia Airlines Flight Set for February AMSTERDAM (CN) — The long-awaited trial of four men accused of downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 six years ago will start in February, the District Court of The Hague ruled Wednesday. The ruling was one of dozens of decisions announced by Presiding Judge Hendrik Steenhuis, bringing the preliminary part of the trial, which began in March, to a close. Four men, three Russian and one Ukrainian, have been charged with murder for allegedly providing the Buk missile said to have shot down the flight, known as MH17, which was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014. The Netherlands has taken on the prosecution of tragedy in part because a majority of the victims were Dutch. “It is clear that the defense has made many requests to the court,” Steenhuis said Wednesday in a high-security courtroom near Schiphol airport, where the flight took off from. Only Russian suspect Oleg Pulatov is represented by counsel, though he is not in the custody of Dutch authorities. He remains in Russia, which does not allow its citizens to be extradited. The three other men charged — Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko — are not represented by counsel and will be tried in absentia. The court rejected all of the defense’s requests regarding so-called alternative scenarios for the cause of the crash, on the grounds that if the prosecution fails to prove the airplane was shot down by Russian-backed separatists from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, Pulatov would be acquitted anyway. “Not all information receives consideration and conclusions,” Steenhuis said. The defense has suggested that it was possible the Boeing 737 was shot down by a Ukrainian fighter jet or from a Buk missile controlled by the Ukrainian military, possibilities which were ruled out by the Dutch-led Joint Investigative Task Force, or JIT. The Dutch legal system is an inquisitorial system where the court is involved in the investigation of the crime, as opposed to the U.S. adversarial system where two sides present competing evidence before an impartial judge or jury. Lawyers indicated in September that Pulatov wanted to address the court. Steenhuis said Wednesday that the court has plenty of questions for him, but that he will have to make himself available to the court if he wishes to testify. “The court will not deviate from the regular procedure,” The judge said, rejecting the defense’s offer to submit questions in writing. The court did allow further investigation into some witnesses, including members of the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, which is based in the western Russia city of Kursk. The JIT concluded that the brigade provided the Buk missile at the heart of the case. Previous requests from the Dutch public prosecution service to speak with service members in the unit have been rejected by the Russian government, but Steenhuis said that perhaps authorities will decide differently now that the request is coming from a Russian citizen. Months before the crash, Russia annexed Crimea, a peninsula extending from Ukraine’s southern coast, following the overthrow of the pro-Russian government in the Eastern European country. Russia would later obstruct the 10 countries whose citizens were killed in the crash from creating an international tribunal at the United Nations. The Hague court also ruled Wednesday on requests from lawyers for the relatives of the victims, who want the court to provide more information to them. Steenhuis said the lawyers may have access to one copy of the approximately 40,000-page case file. The remaining investigation questions do not have to be addressed before the trial on the merits can start next year, the court concluded. In the last block of hearings, the defense argued that the case was moving too quickly. But Steenhuis said Wednesday that the court had “largely adopted” the schedule proposed by the defense in June and was unwilling to delay the trial, which is scheduled to start on Feb. 1, 2021. https://www.courthousenews.com/dutch-trial-over-downed-malaysia-airlines-flight-set-for-february/ Volga-Dnepr Grounds Antonov 124 Fleet Following Crash In the wake of a spectacular runway excursion earlier this month, Russian cargo airline Volga-Dnepr has grounded its fleet of Antonov An-124 aircraft. According to the airline, the grounding is a proactive and pre-emptive decision made in-house. On Friday, November 13, a Volga-Dnepr An-124 (registered as RA-82042) was due to fly from Novosibirsk to Vienna, carrying 84 tonnes of spare car parts. As Simple Flying reported, the Antonov successfully took off. But at around 1800 feet MSL, all contact with the aircraft was lost. The Antonov then turned back towards the runway with smoke coming from one engine. It was later found, debris from a fractured turbine damaged cabling. Among other things, it took out the communications system. In a statement, Volga-Dnepr said the Captain decided to return to Novosibirsk because of “technical issues” with the plane. Footage shows the Antonov having difficulties braking, and it overshot the runway by some distance. As the aircraft leaves the runway and hits snow, the nosegear breaks off, leaving the Antonov’s nose down in the dirt and snow. As to the “technical issues,” parts of the plane’s cowling and fragments from engine two fell to the ground following what seems to be an uncontained engine failure. A fractured turbine caused damage to the wing. Debris from that damaged the inboard left wing slats and parts of Antonov’s fuselage’s left side. Volga-Dnepr An-124s grounded with immediate effect Now Alex Lennane in The LodeStar is reporting on a letter sent by Konstantin Vekshin, newly installed Chief Commercial Officer at Volga-Dnepr, to Russian aviation. In that letter, Mr Vekshin says Volga-Dnepr is taking it upon themselves to ground the AN-124. He calls the decision to do so considered and well thought out. “We want to be proactive and pre-emptive and demonstrate that we are a responsible airline where safety comes first. “We have not received any official notifications or service directives yet, and there are no preliminary conclusions, so we have to suspend the entire AN-124 fleet with immediate effect.” Volga-Dnepr operates a fleet of 12 Antonov An-124s with an average age of 26.9 years. The plane involved in the incident, RA-82042, has been with Volga-Dnepr since July 1991. The grounding leaves Volga-Dnepr without planes big enough to service much of its cargo market niche. Volga-Dnepr is a world leader in the unique, oversize, and heavy cargo market. Their Antonovs are a familiar sight at airports around the world. “We don’t care how much revenue we will miss. It’s not even relevant right now. Safety is more important than any potential benefits from the peak season”, says Mr Vekshin. Volga-Dnepr wants authorities to pick up the pace The Chief Commercial Officer also piled the pressure on Russia’s aviation safety bodies and Antonovs, suggesting they were dragging their feet on the investigation. “We need to hear from the Russian aviation authority and from the manufacturer of the engines, which we think is now overdue. We need to see the directives and the results of the investigation,” he said. Mr Vekshin says they know what happened with the Antonov. But Volga-Dnepr wants to know why it happened and how to prevent another incident like this down the track. He acknowledges this will take time but says time is of the essence. “Hopefully, this (the investigation) will be a question of weeks, but it has to be as perfect as possible, so guesswork on timing is not good enough. “Public safety and airworthiness go beyond politics. We need to work together to tackle this; the market needs it. The AN-124 offers a very important service.” https://simpleflying.com/volga-dnepr-antonov-124-fleet-grounded/ Keyhole wasps may threaten aviation safety Over a period of 39 months, invasive keyhole wasps (Pachodynerus nasidens) at the Brisbane Airport were responsible for 93 instances of fully blocked replica pitot probes—vital instruments that measure airspeed—according to a study published November 25 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Alan House of Eco Logical Australia and colleagues. As noted by the authors, the results underscore the importance of risk-mitigating strategies, such as covering pitot probes when aircraft arrive and setting up additional traps to intercept the wasps. Interactions between aircraft and wildlife are frequent and can have serious financial and safety consequences. But the risk posed by wildlife when aircraft are on the ground is much less understood, and specific threats posed by insects have not been quantified before. In the new study, House and his colleagues investigated the possible role of keyhole wasps in obstructing pitot probes at Brisbane Airport. A total of 26 wasp-related issues were reported at the airport between November 2013 and April 2019, in conjunction with a series of serious safety incidents involving pitot probes. In its native range in South and Central America and the Caribbean, the wasp is known to construct nests using man-made cavities, such as window crevices, electrical sockets, and of course, keyholes. The researchers used 3-D-printing technology to construct a series of replica pitot probes, which they mounted at four locations at the airport. All nests in these probes were made by keyhole wasps, and peak nesting occurred in the summer months. Nesting success (i.e., the proportion of nests producing live adults) was optimal between 24 and 31°C, and probes with apertures of more than 3 mm in diameter were preferred. The majority of nests were constructed in one area of the airport. The proportion of grassed areas within 1000 m of probes was a significant predictor of nesting, and the nest volume in pitot probes may determine the sex of emerging wasps. According to the authors, P. nasidens poses a significant risk to aviation safety, and further work is warranted to develop strategies for controlling or eradicating persistent populations of this adaptable, inventive, and highly mobile species. The authors add: "We hope this research will bring attention to a little known but serious issue for air travel in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Having found its way across the Pacific Ocean, there is no reason to doubt that it could spread to other parts of Australia. The consequences of not managing this clever but dangerous pest could be substantial." https://phys.org/news/2020-11-keyhole-wasps-threaten-aviation-safety.html ICAO highlights green aviation opportunities arising from pandemic ICAO’s Aviation Green Recovery Seminar is showcasing the concrete measures in place to promote an open and inclusive environmentally sustainable future for international air transport, and will provide a forum for discussion on how the world’s green aviation future can be shaped. MONTREAL - ICAO’s Aviation Green Recovery Seminar is continuing at the UN aviation agency this week, exploring the ongoing work by ICAO and the aviation community towards green recovery. The event is showcasing the concrete measures in place to promote an open and inclusive environmentally sustainable future for international air transport, and will provide a forum for discussion on how the world’s green aviation future can be shaped ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu opened the seminar, and reassured its speakers and guests that governments are continuing to collaborate with industry and civil society on the current ICAO environmental work programme and its priorities. “This includes all activities to limit and reduce aviation’s impacts on climate change, and the ongoing research into long-term targets for global CO2 produced by international flights,” she noted. She also highlighted September’s ICAO Stocktaking Seminar on in-sector CO2 reductions as a good example of how momentum is being maintained in an effective and inclusive manner during COVID-19, and applauded its strong focus on innovation and determining a more sustainable path for air transport as it reconnects the world. Participants to the seminar will be beginning discussions on the proposed near-, mid-, and long-term actions needed to ensure a greener recovery, and future, for international aviation. “To do so you will need to holistically assess the technology, financing, infrastructure, policy, and many other perspectives this work engages,” Dr. Liu emphasized. Drawing attention to the continued reliance of the world on air transport to move perishable foods, medical supplies, and other urgent goods to where the world needs them most, Dr. Liu further noted that “the air transport network is still being highly relied upon by countries during the pandemic, and that its benefits would continue to support societies and economies everywhere.” “How greenly and sustainably the aviation engine will deliver these benefits for future generations is the challenge before us today.” https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/icao-highlights-green-aviation-opportunities-arising-from-pandemic FAA REQUIRES PIPER WING INSPECTIONS 11,476 AIRCRAFT AFFECTED, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 28 Wing spar corrosion in a hard-to-reach area of certain Piper PA–28 and PA–32 models could cause a fatal failure, and the FAA requires inspections by borescope, access panel installation, wing removal, or other approved means within 12 months or 100 hours. An airworthiness directive that will take effect December 28 requires wing spar inspections for 11,476 Piper PA-28 and PA-32 models in the U.S. registry. Photo by Chris Rose. The directive published November 23 as a final rule with an effective date of December 28 was prompted by reports of corrosion found “in an area of the main wing spar not easily accessible for inspection,” the FAA wrote. Within 12 months of the effective date, or 100 hours time-in-service, whichever comes first, both left and right main spars must be visually inspected, and “all necessary corrective actions” taken to address any corrosion that is discovered. Repeat inspections will be required every seven years thereafter, and aircraft owners have the option to install access panels on the bottom of each wing, use a borescope fed through an existing access point, or complete the inspection in conjunction with a fuel tank installation or other major repair that requires wing removal. The FAA estimates the cost of each inspection at two hours of labor, or $170, with an optional cost of $730 (including parts and labor) to install access panels in the lower wing skin near the left and right spars. The FAA noted that unknown additional costs could be incurred depending on what the inspection reveals. The AD published November 23 follows a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking issued in August that expanded the scope of a previous notice of proposed rulemaking published in November 2017. The August supplement expanded the scope of the 2017 proposal to apply to certain serial-numbered Piper models PA–28-140; PA–28-150; PA–28-160; PA–28-180; PA–28-235; PA–32-260, and PA–32-300 airplanes. “After the [2017] NPRM was issued, Piper revised its service information to add a minimum thickness dimension for the top inboard wing skin and to include procedures for reapplying corrosion preventive compound if removed during the inspection,” the final rule states. “Also, at the request of some commenters, the FAA replaced the proposal in the NPRM to install access panels for the visual inspection with optional access methods: The use of existing access panels, installation of access panels, accessing the area during a concurrent inspection, or using a borescope through existing holes or openings. In the SNPRM, the FAA proposed to inspect the left and right main wing spar for corrosion, and, if corrosion is found, take all necessary corrective actions.” https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/november/24/faa-requires-piper-wing-inspections JetBlue’s First A321LR Completes Maiden Flight In Hamburg JetBlue’s first A321LR has completed its maiden flight from the Airbus facility in Hamburg. The aircraft, which is yet to be fully painted, made the first of many test flights yesterday, in anticipation of delivery. JetBlue plans on deploying the aircraft on transatlantic routes to London and Europe starting as soon as next summer. First flight The first A321LR destined for JetBlue made its maiden flight yesterday, flying from Airbus’ Hamburg production facility. The aircraft flew circuits over the airport, flying at various altitudes including near 12,000 feet for low-altitude testing. The test flight lasted just over two and a half hours, circling over the Hamburg facility and briefly crossing the Polish border. JetBlue’s first A321LR will carry the registration N4022J when delivered to the carrier in the coming months. For production and test flights, the plane is registered as D-AVXF, according to AIB Family. The new aircraft will likely undertake a series of more test flights in the coming weeks. Painted tail and engines While the aircraft might be already flying, it is yet to make it to the paint shop, which is usually one of the last steps before delivery. However, the test flight gave us a chance to see the gorgeous new tail livery and blue Pratt & Whitney engines in action. JetBlue is introducing a slightly tweaked livery to mark its first transatlantic services next year, known as “Streamers.” The current crisis has forced JetBlue to defer delivery of many aircraft, including inducting its first A321LRs. The first aircraft will likely be delivered in 2021, with the first London flights expected to be next summer at the earliest. JetBlue still confident in the market While many airlines have scaled back their long-term plans, JetBlue remains committed to its plans for transatlantic services to London next year. While flights were supposed to begin this year, the current crisis resulted in a one year delay. However, JetBlue still has exciting plans to shake up the market when it does start flying across the pond. While the new A321LR’s will feature a new ‘Mint’ business class cabin, CEO Robin Hayes has also noted the “JetBlue effect” causing lower prices, saying, “The big opportunity for us in Europe is that we can come in, and we can significantly reduce the price. And so we actually think that will be a stimulant to getting people to fly again, because they’re going to look at this amazing product, they’re going to look at the price point and probably do double-take, thinking ‘am really I’m going to get business class for that?’” It’s clear that JetBlue’s transatlantic services (which could even reach Italy next) are primed to shake up the market next year. The test flight of the airline’s first A321LR only further cements the timeline for eventual flights. https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-first-a321lr-flight/ American Airlines Facing Flight Attendant Shortage After Furloughing Nearly 8,000 Crew American Airlines is facing a staffing “debacle” and will be short of frontline employees over the holiday weekend warned the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) which represents flight attendants at the Dallas Forth Worth carrier on Wednesday. The shortage comes nearly two months after American involuntarily furloughed nearly, 8000 flight attendants along with 11,000 other employees after federal payroll support dried up. The flight attendant union warned its members were “exhausted” and being “pushed to the max” as a result of staffing shortages. As a result of long sit-times, flight attendants were also being exposed to COVID-19, the union claimed, with pandemic-related sick leave running much higher than had been anticipated. Along with United and Delta Air Lines, American has previously claimed that rates of COVID-19 infection amongst its flight attendant workforce are significantly lower than the general population. Flight attendants, however, say longer working days and multiple legs have “greatly increased potential exposure” to the novel Coronavirus. “Flight Attendants are being rescheduled, worked into Reserve off days, and treated as if they are expendable,” the union blasted, saying the “easy” answer was to bring back some furloughed flight attendants sooner than had been planned. After APFA complained its members were working fatigue-inducing trips, a spokesperson for the American Airlines said it was working closely with the union to “resolve any issues” they may have. But on Wednesday, the union again complained that management was ignoring feedback it was providing and was now facing a staffing debacle because of a “poorly thought-out scramble to combine wide-body and narrow-body flying.” Last week, American’s senior manager for communications and contract administration Keith McCarty told furloughed flight attendants that the airline was hopeful it could start recalling staff in the first quarter of 2021. Such a move, however, would rely on a number of factors including the widespread rollout of vaccines and the extension of a federal payroll program. Despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for American’s to avoid travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, over two million people passed through U.S. airports last weekend. Passenger numbers, however, remain down by about 60 to 65 per cent on the same period last year. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2020/11/26/american-airlines-facing-flight-attendant-shortage-after-furloughing-nearly-8000-crew/ NASA gives big moon mission to Alabama company NASA has asked Huntsville contractor Teledyne Brown Engineering to build two more of the adapters for the next two SLS rockets. President Trump may be leaving office, but NASA is staying on course with the president’s plan to return American astronauts to the moon. On Nov. 12, a little over a week after the election, a Huntsville, Ala., company said it has won an $85 million NASA contract modification to build key parts of two future moon rockets. NASA awarded the contract extension to Teledyne Brown Engineering for two more of what are called Launch Vehicle Stage Adapters (LVSAs) for the Artemis II and Artemis III moon missions. The cone-shaped LVSAs connect the core section of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to its cryogenic propulsion stage, and Teledyne said they are the largest parts of the current version of SLS being built in Huntsville. In the Artemis program NASA has developed, Artemis I would be an un-crewed launch of SLS to test the new rocket’s ability to get an Orion capsule to the moon and into lunar orbit. Artemis II would be a second orbit-only mission in 2023, this time with astronauts aboard the Orion capsule. Artemis III would carry “the first woman and next man,” as NASA puts it, to the moon for a landing and weeklong stay. That would happen in 2024 in the Trump administration’s vision, which would have been the last year of a second Trump term had it occurred. “(Teledyne Brown Engineering) is thrilled to be a part of the monumental Artemis spaceflight moon missions, providing its second and third LVSA units, which further solidify our prominence in designing and building spaceflight hardware,” Jan Hess, president of Teledyne Brown Engineering said Nov. 12. “We are proud to continue our decades long partnership with MSFC, where our teams have worked tirelessly to help propel our nation beyond the Earth’s gravity.” How big are these rocket parts? They are roughly 30 feet in diameter by 30 feet tall and consist of 16 Aluminum-Lithium alloy panels, Hess said. President-elect Biden has named his own transition team to prepare for the handover of space policy from Trump’s administration to his own. That team has not spelled out the incoming president’s priorities for space yet, but some analysts believe Biden will continue the moon mission but push its timetable out a few years. That could make the first woman’s walk on the moon in 2028 instead of 2024. The rocket hardware isn’t Huntsville’s only role in the moon mission. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in the city is leading the program to develop the lander that will take astronauts to the lunar surface, and Dynetics in Huntsville is leading one of three teams competing to build the lander itself. https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2020/11/nasa-gives-big-moon-mission-to-alabama-company.html Curt Lewis