Flight Safety Information - January 7, 2021 No. 005 In This Issue : Incident: Delta A359 near Cardiff on Jan 6th 2021, the seal at the door : Incident: PSA CRJ9 at Charlotte on Jan 5th 2021, gear indication at cruise level : Incident: Kalitta B763 at Los Angeles on Jan 3rd 2021, wingtip damage discovered after flight : ASN Accident Statistics Highlight Need for More Work on Runway Excursions, Conflict Zones : DOL Judge Awards Airline Pilot $500,000 in Compensatory Damages in AIR21 Whistleblower Retaliation Case : FBI And FAA Investigate New York Aircraft Crash Threat : Airlines move flight crews to DC airport hotels to avoid Trump protest : EASA Moves Ahead with SMS for Repair Stations : Pilatus Aircraft Delivers 100th PC-24 Jet : FAA issues rules for supersonic jet flight testing in the US : SpaceX's Starship SN9 prototype fires its engines for the 1st time : MITRE - AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (SMS) - Course : SCSI Online SMS Certificate Courses : Call for Papers – ISASI 2021 : 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Incident: Delta A359 near Cardiff on Jan 6th 2021, the seal at the door A Delta Airlines Airbus A350-900, registration N504DN performing flight DL-75 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Atlanta,GA (USA), was enroute at FL380 about 30nm northeast of Cardiff,WL (UK) when the crew decided to return to Amsterdam due to a door seal advising they preferred Amsterdam to burn off fuel. While the aircraft was on approach to Amsterdam ATC inquired about their "loose door", the crew reaffirmed it was not a loose door, just a door seal, everything was intact and no assistance was needed. The aircraft landed safely on Amsterdam's runway 06 about 50 minutes after the decision to return. The aircraft remained on the ground in Amsterdam for about 90 minutes, then departed again and is currently enroute over the Atlantic Ocean. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL75/history/20210106/1245Z/EHAM/KATL http://avherald.com/h?article=4e1705d7&opt=0 Incident: PSA CRJ9 at Charlotte on Jan 5th 2021, gear indication at cruise level A PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-900 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N599NN performing flight AA-5648 from Charlotte,NC to Omaha,NE (USA), had just reached cruise FL320 when the crew decided to return to Charlotte reporting a gear indication. On approach to Charlotte the crew explained they believed it was just a proximity switch, they had lowered the landing gear in the meantime and received three greens, nonetheless they wanted emergency services in stand by. The aircraft landed safely on runway 36C about 50 minutes after departure and taxied to the apron. A replacement CRJ-900 registration N596NN reached Omaha with a delay of 2:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Charlotte about 16.5 hours after landing back. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL5648/history/20210106/0011Z/KCLT/KOMA http://avherald.com/h?article=4e1702cf&opt=0 Incident: Kalitta B763 at Los Angeles on Jan 3rd 2021, wingtip damage discovered after flight A Kalitta Air Boeing 767-300 freighter, registration N760CK performing flight K4-1820 from San Francisco,CA to Los Angeles,CA (USA), departed San Francisco's runway 28R and completed a seemingly uneventful flight with a landing on Los Angeles' runway 25L about one hour after departure. The FAA reported however: "AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED HAVING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING TIP, LOS ANGELES, CA." and stated the damage was unknown. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 29 hours before returning to service. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/CKS1820/history/20210103/1524Z/KSFO/KLAX http://avherald.com/h?article=4e16efd5&opt=0 ASN Accident Statistics Highlight Need for More Work on Runway Excursions, Conflict Zones The international airline industry in 2020 suffered eight fatal accidents resulting in 314 fatalities, both of which are below the industry’s five-year average, according to statistics released today by the Aviation Safety Network (ASN). Included in the 2020 totals are two events in which airliners were inadvertently shot down, killing 182 passengers and crew. Eight fatal accidents are the fewest on record for a full year. The safest year in aviation history was 2017 with 10 fatal accidents and 44 lives lost. The global COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the aviation industry in 2020, causing a significant drop in the number of flights operated. Industry studies suggest that worldwide air traffic in 2020 was about half of that in 2019. Just over 19 million flights were operated last year, which is about the same number as were flown in 1999, when ASN registered 43 fatal accidents resulting in 689 fatalities. Major improvements have been made in aviation safety over the past 20 years, but significant challenges remain, and two of those were underscored in 2020: approach and landing accidents and commercial flights over conflict zones. Runway excursion accidents in Turkey and India resulted in 23 fatalities. “These two runway excursion accidents highlight the fact that much still needs to be done to prevent overruns and to make sure runway environments follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations,” said ASN CEO Harro Ranter. “International aviation provides critical economic and social connectivity, but the global nature of aviation can put it at risk when flights overfly conflict zones,” said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi. “All countries must adhere to established ICAO guidance on aircraft flying through conflict zones. It is the responsibility of the state to provide timely risk information to airlines during military conflict and to close its airspace if necessary.” The ASN statistics are based on all worldwide fatal commercial aircraft accidents (passenger and cargo flights) involving civil aircraft of which the basic model has been certified for carrying 14 or more passengers. The Aviation Safety Network is an independent organisation located in the Netherlands. Founded in 1996, its goal is to provide everyone with a professional interest in aviation with up-to-date, complete and reliable authoritative information on airliner accidents and safety issues. ASN is an exclusive service of Flight Safety Foundation. The figures have been compiled using the airliner accident database of the Aviation Safety Network, the internet leader in aviation safety information. The Aviation Safety Network uses information from authoritative and official sources. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2021/01/06/asn-accident-statistics-highlight-need-for-more-work-on-runway-excursions-conflict-zones/ DOL Judge Awards Airline Pilot $500,000 in Compensatory Damages in AIR21 Whistleblower Retaliation Case In a decision finding that Delta violated the anti-retaliation provision of the AIR21 whistleblower protection law, Judge Morris awarded pilot Karlene Petit $500,000 in compensatory damages for emotional distress, humiliation, and reputational harm. Delta Pilot Suffers Retaliation for Raising Safety Concerns While working as a first officer for Delta, Petit reported safety concerns, including inadequate flight simulator training, deviation from line check evaluation procedures, pilot fatigue, and inadequate training and falsification of training records. Soon after Petit raised her concerns, Delta grounded her from flying and referred her for a mental health evaluation. Delta’s selected psychiatrist diagnosed Petit with bipolar disorder, precluding her from maintaining the medical certificate necessary to operate commercial aircraft. The psychiatrist that Delta retained to evaluate Petit conducted no interviews in making his determination and failed to consult with the physician that had determined for several years that Petit was mentally fit to fly. After the diagnosis, Petit sought another examination from a panel of physicians at the Mayo Clinic. Those physicians submitted a unanimous report concluding that Petit had no mental health impairment. Twenty-one months later, Delta reinstated Petit to flight status, after inflicting significant harm to Petit’s reputation and career considerably. In his decision, Judge Morris held that Delta’s referral of Petit for a mental health evaluation was an adverse action in violation of the AIR21 whistleblower protection law because it placed at issue her career and livelihood. Formally questioning a pilot’s mental fitness stigmatizes that pilot in the eyes of the close-knit aviation community. Judge Morris also concluded that Petit’s submission of the safety complaint was a contributing factor in Delta’s decision to refer her for a mental health evaluation. Evidence Warranting Award of $500,000 in Compensatory Damages In determining an appropriate award of compensatory damages, Judge Morris surveyed awards under AIR21 and other whistleblower protection laws and found that compensatory damages are typically low, ranging from $3,000 to $100,000. He found that a higher award was warranted in Petit’s case because the retaliation was egregious and will continue to inflict harm for the remainder of Petit’s career. Judge Morris cited these factors in support of a $500,000 compensatory damages award: The length of time Petit was unable to fly for Delta due to the retaliation – nearly two years; The cruelty of informing Petit on Christmas Eve of Delta’s finding that she suffered from bipolar disorder; The strain of multiple psychological tests Petit was subjected to because Delta wrongly diagnosed her with a mental health disorder; The permanent damage to Petit’s reputation as a pilot, regardless of the ALJ’s findings, including permanent records in her FAA medical file that could create special reporting requirements to the FAA; Delta’s reporting the medical results that included the diagnosis to the FAA, in direct violation of Petit’s contract with the company and after the Mayo Clinic doctors had cleared her. Further, Judge Morris found that throughout the years-long process during which Delta retaliated and Petit attempted to clear her record, Petit reasonably feared that her career as a pilot was over. She had worked tirelessly to become a successful pilot and had a lifelong passion for aviation, and the prospect of losing the career and position that she had worked so hard to achieve caused her to suffer severe mental distress and suffering. And due to the staffing structure in the airline industry, Petit will continue to work under the supervision of many of the Delta employees who retaliated in the first place, and will continue to be the subject of gossip and speculation about her ability to fly, regardless of the results of the case. Therefore, the retaliation will likely harm Petit’s future prospects of promotion, and Delta’s retaliation will cause permanent harm to her career and reputation. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/dol-judge-awards-airline-pilot-500000-compensatory-damages-air21-whistleblower FBI And FAA Investigate New York Aircraft Crash Threat The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the sources of a pre-recorded message broadcast to air traffic controllers in New York on Monday this week. The message, spoken by a robotic voice, threatened to fly a plane into the US Capitol on Wednesday in revenge for the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. 9/11 style threats Air traffic controllers in the New York area received a chilling message on Monday this week. A pre-recorded announcement, broadcast on dedicated air traffic control frequencies, made a threat to fly a plane into the Capitol in a 9/11 style attack. The message, obtained exclusively by CBS News, contains a robotic voice saying, “We are flying a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday. Soleimani will be avenged.” The threat came one year to the day since Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed by a drone strike ordered by President Trump. Iranian officials have long vowed revenge for the attack. FBI, TSA, FAA, and NTSC investigate Since the broadcast, Newsweek has reported that the FBI, FAA, and TSA are working alongside the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to investigate the situation. According to their reports, as well as the announcement being heard on ATC frequencies, it was also received in the cockpit of a passenger plane traveling from San Juan to New York JFK. As well as this, a report issued by the Department of Homeland Security said that the identical message was heard on JetBlue’s flight 2304. We’ve reached out to JetBlue for confirmation of this and will add their statement once it is received. Overall, feedback from officials suggests that they are not taking the threat overly seriously. There is definite skepticism that Iran would undertake any sort of attack on the US, and investigations are instead targeting domestic groups. So far, the investigation has identified that the broadcast was made from a location in the United States, with the DHS report stating, “It is assessed that the technician responsible has radio modifying experience and is transmitting somewhere within 20NM of the radio tower in North Sea, NY.” Bad timing The timing of the threat couldn’t be worse, as today is the day Joe Biden’s electoral college win will be certified during a joint session of Congress. The Washington DC area was already bracing for a certain level of controlled chaos, with a protest rally expected to be held at The Ellipse. While the threat of an attack is largely thought to be fake, the news won’t come as much solace to New Yorkers who remember the events of 2001. The FBI told CBS that it takes all threats to public safety seriously. Air traffic controllers have been instructed to report any further threats or any aircraft deviating from its planned flight path. https://simpleflying.com/new-york-aircraft-crash-threat/ Airlines move flight crews to DC airport hotels to avoid Trump protest • American Airlines and United Airlines flight crews will overnight at hotels away from central Washington, D.C. • Airlines took similar steps during the presidential election in November. • United also moved crews to airport hotels in Atlanta. Airlines are moving flight crews to hotels outside of central Washington, D.C., to avoid the protests at the U.S. Capitol, airlines and a major labor union said. American Airlines started booking crews overnighting in Washington to airport hotels on Tuesday and plans to do the same on Wednesday at a minimum, said Curtis Blessing, an American Airlines spokesman. United Airlines flight attendants will also be staying at airport hotels this week, while those at Alaska Airlines were told to avoid downtown Washington D.C., said Taylor Garland, spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents cabin crews at those airlines and more than a dozen others. The decisions were made before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday afternoon. United crews overnighting in Atlanta are also staying at airport hotels this week. Airlines had moved crews out of central Washington, D.C., on Election Day in November because of concerns about demonstrations and potential logistical issues. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/06/trump-protest-american-airlines-moves-flight-crews-to-dc-airport-hotels.html EASA Moves Ahead with SMS for Repair Stations Following up on a notice of proposed amendment (NPA) published for comment last year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an official regulatory opinion with its plan to adopt regulations requiring certain Part 145 repair stations to have safety management systems (SMS). The rules would apply to maintenance organizations that maintain airliners and turbine business aircraft. The final rules are slightly revised, based on EASA's consideration of some 2,650 comments submitted in response to the NPA this summer. To limit the impact on small Part 145 facilities, the application of SMS provisions would be commensurate with the size of the organization and the complexity of the operations. Some respondents, mainly from the U.S. (where repair station SMS is currently applicable only on a voluntary basis), would have liked to see SMS not mandatory and are concerned about its impact on bilateral agreements. The agency expressed disappointment that “A significant number of comments did not address the safety management principles although this was the very essence of this rulemaking project.” Compliance would be required within one year after the date the final rule is published. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-01-06/easa-moves-ahead-sms-repair-stations Pilatus Aircraft Delivers 100th PC-24 Jet European fractional-share provider Jetfly Aviation has taken delivery of the 100th Pilatus PC-24 light jet produced since the first PC-24 entered service in February 2018. Jetfly operates a fleet of 51 PC-12 turboprops and PC-24s. So far, the worldwide PC-24 fleet has logged more than 33,500 hours. Powered by two Williams International FJ44-4A turbofans, the PC-24 can seat up to 10 passengers in a flat-floor cabin with volume of 501 cu ft. Current models are equipped with a “modular in-flight catering facility” or forward galley. An enclosed lavatory with an externally serviced vacuum-operated toilet is also standard. A unique PC-24 feature is the large rear cargo door, measuring 51 by 49 inches; the baggage area is accessible in flight. Avionics are Honeywell’s Epic system, branded as the Pilatus Advanced Cockpit Environment and featuring four 12-inch displays and cursor-control device interfaces. Operators can fly to many airports, as the PC-24 is approved to fly to smaller airports and on grass, gravel, and snow surfaces. Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service is a longtime PC-12 operator that also flies a fleet of PC-24s. “All our customers without exception have been impressed by the quality of the PC-24 and the incredible performance of this aircraft,” said Jetfly CEO Cédric Lescop. “After two years of operation, our customers are still enthusiastic about their acquisition, which is a sign to us of the success of this new aircraft program, which is well on the way to becoming another market bestseller, just like the PC-12.” “We hit the bullseye with the PC-24,” said Pilatus chairman Oscar Schwenk. “I’m very encouraged by such high demand. We’re already sold out for 2021, but the order book is open for deliveries from 2022 onward. Investment in the PC-24 helps us to secure jobs at our Swiss site on a long-term basis. We are also working on further optimizations.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-01-05/pilatus-aircraft-delivers-100th-pc-24-jet FAA issues rules for supersonic jet flight testing in the US The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued new final rules to help pave the way for the re-introduction of supersonic commercial flight. The U.S. airspace regulator's rules provide guidance for companies looking to gain approval for flight testing of supersonic aircraft under development, which includes startups like Boom Supersonic, which has just completed its sub-scale supersonic demonstrator aircraft and hopes to begin flight testing it this year. Boom, which is in the process of finalizing a $50 million funding round and has raised around $150 million across prior fundraising efforts, rolled out its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator jet in October. This test aircraft is smaller than the final design of its Overture passenger supersonic commercial airliner, but will be used to prove out the fundamental technologies in flight that will then be used to construct Overture, which the company is targeting for a 2025 rollout with airline partners. Other startups, including Hermeus, are also pursuing supersonic flight for commercial use. Meanwhile, SpaceX and others focused on spaceflight like Virgin Galactic are exploring not only supersonic flight, but how point-to-point flight that includes part of the trip at the outer edge of Earth's atmosphere might reduce flight times dramatically and turn long-haul flights into much shorter, almost regional trips. The FAA's rules finalization comes in under the wire as the agency prepares for a transition when current U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao moves aside for incoming Biden pick Pete Buttigieg. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/faa-issues-rules-supersonic-jet-175708423.html SpaceX's Starship SN9 prototype fires its engines for the 1st time SN9 has roared to life. A test launch could follow soon. SpaceX has fired up its newest Starship prototype for the first time. The SN9 vehicle's three engines lit up for about one second today (Jan. 6) at 5:07 p.m. EST (2200 GMT) during a static-fire test at SpaceX's South Texas facilities, near the Gulf Coast village of Boca Chica. Static fires, in which rocket engines blaze while a vehicle remains anchored to the ground, are a routine preflight checkout. And SN9 ("Serial No. 9") will indeed get off the ground soon, if all goes according to plan: SpaceX is prepping the vehicle for a test flight that's expected to be similar to the epic one made last month by its predecessor. SpaceX's SN9 Starship prototype conducts its first static-fire test, on Jan. 6, 2021, in this footage captured by SPadre.com On Dec. 9, SN8 — which was powered by three of SpaceX's next-generation Raptor engines, as SN9 is — performed the Starship program's first-ever high-altitude hop, soaring about 7.8 miles (12.5 kilometers) into the South Texas skies. (Three previous single-engine prototypes have flown as well, but they all reached a maximum altitude of about 500 feet, or 150 meters.) SN8 didn't stick its landing and exploded in a dramatic fireball. But the vehicle hit pretty much every other milestone that SpaceX had laid out, leading company founder and CEO Elon Musk to declare the flight a big success. SpaceX is developing Starship to take people and payloads to the moon, Mars and other distant destinations — and, eventually, to take over all of the company's spaceflight needs. The system consists of two elements: a 165-foot-tall (50 m) spacecraft called Starship and a giant first-stage booster known as Super Heavy. Both Starship and Super Heavy will be fully and rapidly reusable, Musk has said. Super Heavy will come back down to Earth for vertical landings after getting Starship aloft, as the first stages of SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets already do. But Starship's touchdowns will be even more precise than those of the Falcons, ideally occurring directly on the launch stand to improve turnaround time, Musk announced recently. The Starship spacecraft, meanwhile, will make many roundtrips between Earth and Mars, or whatever other destination has been targeted. The vehicle just needs the roughly 30-engine Super Heavy to get off our relatively bulky planet; the final, six-engine Starship will be powerful enough to launch itself off the surfaces of the moon and Mars, Musk has said. Today's static fire was captured on video by dedicated Starship watchers like the tourism site Spadre.com, which webcasts live Starship views on YouTube. It may not be the only such test performed by SN9 before it takes flight. For example, SN8 conducted four static fires over the course of more than a month ahead of its high-altitude hop. https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-sn9-first-static-fire Call for Papers – ISASI 2021 Aug 30 – Sept 2, 2021 With “Staying Safe: Moving Forward” as our theme, we are excited to announce that ISASI 2021 will be a VIRTUAL EVENT. This will be a fully interactive platform so attendees can engage in a Q&A session and provide feedback. If you have no experience with this type of presentation do not be concerned, we will be providing assistance on the technical and delivery aspects once papers are selected. While many of the papers chosen for ISASI 2020 are expected to be on the program, the 2021 Committee is inviting interested individuals to submit abstracts for papers that address NEW investigations or technology. Presentation topics that support the theme may include, but are not limited to: • Recent accident/incident investigations of interest. • Novel investigation techniques for aircraft, helicopter, and drone accidents. • Data investigation methods, techniques and future developments. • Airport investigation methods and techniques. • Future investigator selection criteria and training needs. • Future of aircraft data capture and retrieval and protection of safety information. • Future developments in underwater wreckage recovery. • Future evolution of Family Assistance. Abstracts should include the author’s current CV [1 page only please] and be sent to isasi2021papers@shaw.ca Important dates: March 20th, 2021 – Last date for receipt of abstracts. May 8th, 2021 – Presenters informed of acceptance and provided with additional instructions. May 22nd, 2021 – Draft program for the 2021 Seminar Technical Program will be published. July 10th, 2021 – Last date for receipt of completed paper and PowerPoint presentation. Any papers not received by this date will be removed from the program and replaced by another speaker. If you have questions related to the paper topics or any other inquiries about the program, please contact the ISASI 2020 Program Chair at avsafe@shaw.ca 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Registration Now Open ** With over 500 registrants in just 10 days - the sponsors have extended the free registration to the first 1000 registrants ** 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference 15 to 18 March 2021 1500 to 2000 GMT daily via Zoom (0700 to 1200 PST) Four online days of powerful talks given by industry and subject matter experts. Registration is open and FREE for the first 1000 registrants. https://www.aircraftcabinair.com/ Following on from the success of the 2017 and 2019 Aircraft Cabin Air Conferences, the 2021 conference will be an essential four-day free modular online event via Zoom. Providing an in-depth overview or update for all those seeking to understand the subject of contaminated air, the flight safety implications, the latest scientific and medical evidence investigating the contaminated air debate and the emerging solutions available to airlines and aircraft operators. The 2021 conference will be the biggest conference ever held on the issue. Who should participate? Airline Management - Aircraft Manufacturers - Safety equipment providers - Health & Safety Regulators - Maintenance Companies - Airline Safety Departments - Air Accident Investigators- Crew & Unions - Policy Makers- Press & Media - Aircraft Insurers - Leasing Companies - Scientists - Occupational Health Professionals - Academics & Researchers - Engineers Register Curt Lewis