Flight Safety Information - April 20, 2021 No. 080 In This Issue : Incident: ANA B788 near Novosibirsk on Apr 19th 2021, captain incapacitated : Incident: American A321 at Dallas on Apr 16th 2021, multiple lightning strikes : Russia to decide whether to quit the International Space Statio : Two Years On: The Fall Of Jet Airways : Hong Kong To Loosen Cargo Pilot COVID-19 Rules : UK – AVIATION RECRUITMENT FIRM SEES SPIKE IN DEMAN : POSITION AVAILABLE: Manager, Internal Evaluation Program Incident: ANA B788 near Novosibirsk on Apr 19th 2021, captain incapacitated An ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-8, registration JA814A performing flight NH-216 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan), was enroute at FL410 about 360nm northeast of Novosibirsk (Russia) when the first officer declared emergency reporting the commander showed indications of a stroke with sudden headache and facial asymmetry and decided to divert to the nearest aerodrome. The aircraft turned around, descended to FL400 and diverted to Novosibirsk where the aircraft landed safely on runway 34 about one hour after leaving FL410. A medical neurological resuscitation team took care of the commander and took him to the local hospital with a suspected stroke. The aircraft is still on the ground in Novosibirsk about 3 hours after landing. Rosaviatsia reported later the day the commander became unconscious as result of a "pre-stroke". The crew decided to divert to Novosibirsk. The commander was taken to a hospital. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e61fd48&opt=0 Incident: American A321 at Dallas on Apr 16th 2021, multiple lightning strikes An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N540UW performing flight AA-665 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to Charlotte,NC (USA), was climbing out of Dallas Ft. Worth's runway 17R when the aircraft received a number of lightning strikes prompting the crew to stop climb at about 13,000 feet, descend to 10,000 feet and subsequently returned to Dallas Ft. Worth for a safe landing on runway 17R about one hour after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE LIGHTNING STRIKES, QUITMAN, TX.", stated the aircraft received unknown damage and rated the occurrence an incident. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Dallas Ft. Worth about 72 hours (3 days) after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e624d4f&opt=0 Russia to decide whether to quit the International Space Station The International Space Station has its name for a reason. The orbiting laboratory has hosted astronauts from all over the globe during its many years in operation. As new hardware has been installed on the spacecraft, its capabilities have grown, and a great deal of science is carried out there. Over the years, the two main partners that keep the space station going are the United States (NASA) and Russia (Roscosmos). Now, one of those partners is weighing the heavy decision to back out. Hint: It’s not NASA. As Russia’s TASS news agency reports, Russian officials have decided that it’s time for the country to decide on a pull-out of the International Space Station. The decision will reportedly be made after a technical inspection and survey of the spacecraft itself, some number crunching, and a risk assessment. Simply put, Russia no longer believes the space station is suitable for long-term research efforts, and as of 2025, it may no longer feel comfortable sending its scientists there. There seems to be at least a little bit of information getting lost in translation from the original Russian reports and what is being reported on some news sites. Some outlets are saying that Russia has already decided on leaving the station while others quote Russian officials as saying that they’re still weighing the decision. Whatever the case, it’s clear that Russia is no longer “all in” on the ISS and it blames that feeling on the technical status of the spacecraft itself. Russia has conducted risk assessments for the spacecraft in the recent past and some of the country’s top specialists have predicted the “failure of numerous elements on board the ISS” after the year 2025. The country has already agreed to cooperate with NASA and its other partners on the ISS project through at least 2024, at which point it may decide that enough is enough. A statement from Roscosmos doesn’t offer much assurance either way: “We have 2024 as an agreed time limit with our partners on the work of the ISS. After that, decisions will be made based on the technical condition of the station’s modules, which have mostly worn out their service life, as well as our plans to deploy a next-generation national orbital service station.” It would be interesting to see what NASA would do if their main ISS partner decides to back out of the program in 2025. The spacecraft has spent over two decades in space, gradually growing as NASA and Russia expanded it, added more scientific equipment, and tested various modules for usability. Many new discoveries have been made during its time in space, but nobody would argue that it’s the most modern machine orbiting Earth. Leaks have popped up repeatedly, especially on the Russian side of the spacecraft. Eventually, it’ll need to be totally replaced, but nobody really knows when that will happen. For the time being, it’s still the go-to for scientists needing to work in microgravity. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/russia-decide-whether-quit-international-031732894.html Two Years On: The Fall Of Jet Airways This weekend marked two years since Jet Airways ceased all operations and went into bankruptcy. Once India’s second-largest airline and popular international carrier, the company struggled with growing losses and increasing competition. However, after 18 months on the ground, October 2020 saw a group win the chance to revive the carrier. So let’s find about more about Jet Airways’ history and its future. History Jet Airways was founded in 1993 by travel industry veteran Naresh Goyal. The airline aimed to be a full service carrier and attract lucrative corporate clients and premium cabin travelers. The carrier started with just four leased Boeing 737s (an aircraft that would have a long history with the airline) and became a scheduled airline in 1995, once government restrictions were lifted. Post-1995, Jet Airways saw rapid growth as the cost of flying came down considerably amid new competition. The Mumbai-based airline placed its first order for 10 737s (four -400s and six -800s) in 1996, kicking off its fleet expansion. In the two years that followed, Jet grew its presence in the domestic market and became a recognizable presence. Jet Airways Boeing 737-400 Jet Airways quickly became a competitor to state-owned Indian Airlines and ushered in premium services. Photo: aeroprints.com via Wikimedia Commons By the early 2000s, Jet Airways had firmly become a major domestic airline and was only second to market leader Indian Airlines. With a fleet of 30 aircraft, a market share of over 20%, and 195 daily flights across India, things only were only looking up for the new airline. However, the events of 2001 and falling demand meant that Jet would register its first loss since its founding. In 2004, the airline began flying its first international services to South Asia, kicking off with a route from Chennai to Colombo. The next year saw Jet launch its inaugural service to London Heathrow using A340s, a route that would become its signature service for decades to come. However, the rest of the decade began to pose problems for Jet, ones that would threaten its future. Troubles The troubles for Jet Airways began in 2006, when low-cost carriers like Air Deccan, IndiGo, and SpiceJet first emerged on the scene. While there was no response at first, the low-cost model quickly began competing with the airline’s premium-based philosophy. With lower fares and growing networks, these carriers posed a risk to Jet’s dominant market position. To counter the rise of budget airlines, Jet purchased Air Sahara in 2007 for nearly $200 million at the time. The move helped stave off competition for a brief period and saw Jet become the biggest airline in India by passengers carried in 2010. However, this did not last for too long and losses continued to grow. 2012 saw an interesting change for the once-booming airline: an investment from Etihad. The Abu Dhabi-based airline invested $379 million in exchange for 24% of Jet Airways. The deal saw both airlines plan to synergize their networks and fleets to better serve passengers to India, the Middle East, and beyond. Mixed fleet By 2012, Jet Airways had established itself as a major international airline and operated a unique fleet of aircraft. While domestic and medium-haul operations were all handled by 737-800s, long-haul flights saw various aircraft in use. The carrier operated a mixed fleet of Airbus A330-200s and -300s for European flights and the Boeing 777-300ER for flights to London, Canada, and other destinations. However, this strategy of operating several widebody types proved to be challenging and expensive for Jet Airways. By 2014, as losses grew, the airline began selling or leasing its A330s to airlines like Etihad and Turkish Airlines to shore up its finances. To better its efficiency, Jet Airways heavily invested in the 737 MAX program, ordering a whopping 225 jets, and bought 10 787-9s. However, as we’ll see, these changes came too little, too late for the airline, which was hurtling toward bankruptcy. Failure By 2017, it was becoming clear that Jet Airways was in trouble. The airline reported hundreds of millions in yearly losses and began scaling back its operations from unprofitable markets. Despite trying to switch to a more efficient fleet, the growing costs also became a major issue for the carrier. Low-cost airlines had significantly reduced Jet’s domestic presence, while Air India and foreign carriers ate into profitable routes like London and Singapore. In all, the airline needed a major funding boost and reset to succeed. Despite all the issues, Jet’s loyal corporate clients remained with the airline until the very end and helped them survive the last few years. However, by 2019, all the issues came to a head for Jet Airways. At the start of 2019, Jet Airways began to see its aircraft repossessed by lessors and most vendors requiring payment before services. This led to some dramatic scenes around the world, including Jet aircraft being blocked by unpaid parties. This forced the airline to scale back its flights significantly, with reduced crew and planes. On April 17th, 2019, Jet Airways officially grounded all flights and ceased operations until further notice. After 26 years of flying, the carrier had finally gone bankrupt and looked to have little chance of coming back. Or so we thought. Coming back soon? The year after Jet collapsed saw the airline enter bankruptcy court as investors hoped to recover some funds. At the same time, the owners opened up bids for the airline to interested parties. While carriers like Etihad and major companies showed interest at first, nothing was ever formalized. However, 18 months after the collapse and at the height of the pandemic, one group won the chance to revive Jet Airways. Led by Kalrock Capital and entrepreneur Murari Lal Jalan, this consortium won the bid and will take over Jet Airways. Their plan is currently under review by the bankruptcy court, but the group has indicated that Jet will return as a full-service airline with narrowbodies. However, the revival is taking longer than anticipated and could drag into the end of 2021 or into 2022. Regardless, the colorful journey of Jet Airways does not seem to be over just yet and this year could mark the second coming of this carrier. https://simpleflying.com/jet-airways-fall-two-years/ Hong Kong To Loosen Cargo Pilot COVID-19 Rules Hong Kong is adjusting its rules for airline crew quarantine when it comes to cargo pilots. The Special Administrative Region will lift a 14-day quarantine requirement for Hong Kong-based crew if they are fully vaccinated (with exceptions). Announced on Friday, this new policy will allow Cathay Pacific to boost its freighter and cargo-only flights, having previously been constrained by quarantine rules for its pilots. Vaccinated cargo crew can skip quarantine The government of Hong Kong has eased its quarantine measures for cargo crews as of Friday, April 16th. According to Freight Waves, pilots and other onboard personnel who are fully vaccinated are now exempt from a 14-day quarantine upon their return to Hong Kong. There is one exception to this new policy, however, as it excludes aircrews that have had a layover in the UK or South Africa. Prior to this recent change, the one quarantine exemption in place for freighter crews was for those making stops in Anchorage, Alaska. Now, however, this has also been extended to six countries: Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand – countries where transmission is considered to be low-risk. However, despite the quarantine waiver, crews must stay away from local communities during these layovers. Welcome news for Cathay Pacific For Cathay Pacific and its cargo operations, this is much-welcomed news. Previously, pilots and aircrew would have had to stay in a hotel for two weeks after returning from overseas duty. Following the 14 days of quarantine would be seven days of medical surveillance. For Cathay Pacific’s passenger operations, this has meant duty periods as long as 49 days for some crew members. This consists of a three-week work period followed by two weeks of quarantine and another two weeks of time off. Cathay Pacific Cargo will benefit by being able to increase its freighter and cargo-only passenger operations, gradually restoring a full freighter schedule. The LoadStar notes that the airline has had to cut 25% of its cargo capacity since the aircrew quarantine requirement came into effect on February 20th. The policy even had the effect of raising the airline’s monthly cash burn by some $50 million. Cathay Pacific operates 20 Boeing 747 freighters – 14 of these are the newer -8F, with the other six being -400Fs. These freighters, in addition to a sizeable, all-widebody passenger fleet, made Cathay the fifth-largest air cargo carrier by volume before the health crisis. “We welcome the government’s announcement…These changes enable us to increase our freighter and cargo-only passenger flight operations with immediate effect and gradually restore our full freighter schedule. We are reviewing crew resources for May and will announce our freighter schedule as soon as possible.” -Cathay Pacific via The Load Star The airline adds that it is “acutely aware” of the impact these measures have had on its partners and shippers, thanking them for their patience and continued support. FedEx will also benefit FedEx will also be happy with this news. Reuters reported that the shipping company relocated many of its Hong Kong domiciled pilots to San Francisco so they wouldn’t be isolated from their families. A memo stated that the company would cover hotel costs and out-of-pocket expenses for pilots and their families in San Francisco while at the same time continuing to pay their housing allowances in Hong Kong. This move was implemented to allow Hong Kong-based crew members to see their families after finishing a trip. With the change in Hong Kong policy, these pilots can be re-located once again from San Francisco back to Hong Kong. https://simpleflying.com/hong-kong-to-loosen-cargo-pilot-covid-19-rules/ UK – AVIATION RECRUITMENT FIRM SEES SPIKE IN DEMAND Staffing Match, a specialist in aviation recruitment, reported demand is spiking for baggage handlers, ramp agents and check-in staff. The company is seeing increases in hiring at Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester. Confirmation that international travel can resume on 17 May has yet to be granted. However, given that many new recruits have been out of action for the past year, early demand for resources has begun in order to allow for training. “While it’s certainly encouraging to see confidence currently returning for the UK’s aviation industry after what has been an incredibly tough year, the challenge now is getting enough staff on board and re-trained in a short time frame,” said Dan Carlin, Staffing Match business director. “Airports and airlines can’t simply flick a switch and return to pre-pandemic levels of flights, so the fact that we are currently seeing recruitment of front-of-house staff ramp up is a promising sign,” Carlin said. “We will, of course, have to wait and see what happens closer to the government’s May deadline, but signs are certainly looking promising at the moment.” https://www2.staffingindustry.com/eng/Editorial/Daily-News/UK-Aviation-recruitment-firm-sees-spike-in-demand-57400 Manager, Internal Evaluation Program 1. Minimum Qualifications a. At least 3 years of auditing experience with a Part 121 airline, in either maintenance or flight operations b. At least 2 years of supervisory/managerial experience c. US citizen or have the legal right to accept employment in the United States d. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite e. Possess strong leadership, written, verbal and interpersonal skills f. Must be able to work with a variety of personalities and conduct professional interviews g. Ability to organize own work, while working under pressure to meet tight deadlines h. Must be detail oriented i. Ability to maintain professional conduct at all times j. Ability to maintain confidentiality k. Must be a self-starter 2. Preferred Qualifications a. Bachelor’s degree or higher in aviation or safety-related field b. FAA license, such as a Commercial Pilot’s License, an Airframe and Powerplant License (A&P), or Dispatcher license c. IOSA familiarity d. Safety Management System (SMS) familiarity e. Technical writing experience f. Knowledge and/or experience with Q-Pulse 3. Authorities a. Develop and maintain processes for the Internal Evaluation Program, approved by the Director of Safety, to include authoring procedures in airline manuals b. Develop and maintain an IEP auditor training curriculum, approved by the Director of Safety, ensuring auditors are trained and qualified to conduct IEP audits as assigned 4. Duties and Responsibilities a. Coordinate with the Director of Safety to establish and maintain an auditing schedule and required checklists b. Assign IEP audits to trained and qualified IEP auditors to ensure completion of all audits in a timely and accurate manner c. Supplement the conduct of scheduled audits d. Conduct Special Audits as assigned by the Director of Safety e. Ensure the IEP Auditor position is staffed by an appropriately qualified individual f. Conduct initial and recurrent auditor training g. Develop and manage audit and finding processes within the Q-Pulse system h. Assist operational departments regarding responses to audit outputs in Q-Pulse i. Assist in the development of processes for IEP-related SMS activity j. Facilitate completion of the Swift Air IOSA Conformance Report according to IOSA requirements k. Participate in FAA, IOSA, and DoD audits as requested by the Director of Safety l. Attend industry meetings as appropriate to maintain currency with industry best practices related to the Internal Evaluation Program 5. Reporting Chain a. The Manager, IEP reports directly to the Director of Safety APPLY to Safety Director at: ecates@flyiaero.com Curt Lewis