Flight Safety Information - December 1, 2021 No. 239 In This Issue : Incident: Biman Bangladesh B738 at Cox Bazar on Nov 30th 2021, cow strike : Incident: Lufthansa A320 at Sofia on Nov 28th 2021, rejected takeoff due to bird strike : Incident: Easyjet A320 near Bristol on Nov 28th 2021, loss of cabin pressure : Canadair CRJ-200ER - Runway Excursion (Russia) : Ex-airline employee sentenced for stealing guns from bags : COVID-19 Canada travel rules: Canada's vaccination requirement for travel is now in effect : CDC expanding surveillance at 4 major US airports to look for Omicron : ‘Unruly passenger’ at the Colorado Springs Airport taken into custody by police Tuesday : Woman arrested after trying to take gun through security at Charleston airport : Air Force awards contract for spaceborne weather data : Qatar Airways CEO says Airbus should admit to A350 surface flaws : NASA details intent to replace the International Space Station with a commercial space station by 2030 : ESASI session, 'FocusOn : Position Available: Analyst, Safety/Flight Operations Quality Assurance Incident: Biman Bangladesh B738 at Cox Bazar on Nov 30th 2021, cow strike A Biman Bangladesh Boeing 737-800, registration S2-AEQ performing flight BG-438 from Cox Bazar to Dhaka (Bangladesh) with 94 passengers and 6 crew, departed Cox Bazar's runway 35 at 17:35L (11:35Z) when just after becoming airborne a part of the aircraft hit two cows on the runway killing both cows. The aircraft initially continued the climb, levelled off at FL100 (usually the flight cruises at FL180) and continued to Dhaka. The aircraft performed a low approach to Dhaka's runway 14 about 62 minutes after departure, positioned for another approach to runway 14 and landed safely on runway 14 about 10 minutes after the low approach. The aircraft is still on the ground in Dhaka about 23 hours after landing in Dhaka. Cox Bazar Airport confirmed the aircraft hit two cows, the cows were subsequently found dead on the runway. According to local media reports either a wing of the aircraft or its main gear struck the cows. Local police reported the right hand wing struck the cows. Dhaka Airport reported the aircraft had problems with its landing gear afterwards. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f0ffc2a&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa A320 at Sofia on Nov 28th 2021, rejected takeoff due to bird strike A Lufthansa Airbus A320-200, registration D-AIUM performing flight LH-1429 from Sofia (Bulgaria) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was accelerating for takeoff from Sofia's runway 27 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 100 knots over ground) and slowed safely. The crew advised ATC no assistance was needed, they would return to the apron, they did have a bird strike. The aircraft taxied to the apron. The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked onto other flights. A passenger reported the captain announced three birds had hit the aircraft. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f0e8c2d&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet A320 near Bristol on Nov 28th 2021, loss of cabin pressure An Easyjet Airbus A320-200, registration G-EZUK performing flight U2-6816 from Jersey,CI to Glasgow,SC (UK), had been scheduled for Nov 27th, but departed the following day with a delay of 29 hours only with callsign EZY9816. The aircraft was enroute at FL360 about 60nm south of Bristol,EN (UK) when the crew initiated an emergency descent due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft levelled off at FL100 about 6 minutes later (average rate of descent 4333fpm) and diverted to Bristol Airport for a safe landing on runway 27 about 35 minutes after leaving FL360. A replacement Airbus A320-200 registration G-EZUS reached Glasgow with a total (including departure) delay of 33.5 hours. Ground observers reported the aircraft made a loud whining noise prompting a radar website to claim the RAM Air Turbine (RAT) had deployed suggesting an electrical problem. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Bristol due to cabin pressure problems. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Bristol about 19 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f0e76f0&opt=0 Canadair CRJ-200ER - Runway Excursion (Russia) Date: 01-DEC-2021 Time: 02:32 LT Type: Canadair CRJ-200ER Owner/operator: UVT Aero Registration: VQ-BOQ MSN: 7613 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 35 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Location: Chelyabinsk Airport (CEK/USCC) - Russia Phase: Landing Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Kazan International Airport (KZN/UWKD) Destination airport: Chelyabinsk Airport (CEK/USCC) Narrative: UVT Aero flight RT567, a CRJ-200ER, suffered a runway excursion after landing at Chelyabinsk Airport. The aircraft came to a stop 20-25 meters from the side of the runway. There was no damage. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/270109 Ex-airline employee sentenced for stealing guns from bags ST. LOUIS (AP) — A former Southwest Airlines baggage handler was sentenced Tuesday to six months in prison after pleading guilty to knowingly possessing or receiving stolen guns. Federal prosecutors said Mark Hunter of St. Louis was charged after a passenger traveling through St. Louis Lambert International Airport reported that a pistol had been reported stolen from his luggage. Federal agents investigated and found seven reported thefts of guns from luggage checked on Southwest over a five-month period in 2020. After comparing Southwest scheduling records of baggage employees and the dates of the thefts, investigators focused on Hunter, who admitted to stealing five guns from checked bags, according to prosecutors. Hunter faces three years of supervised release after his prison time, prosecutors said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-airline-employee-sentenced-stealing-003856391.html COVID-19 Canada travel rules: Canada's vaccination requirement for travel is now in effect As of Nov. 30, everyone age 12 and older will need to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to travel from Canadian airports and trains, including VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains. This policy came into effect on Oct. 30 but until the end of November, there was a "transition period" where proof of a negative PCR test with 72 hours of travel was accepted for individuals who were not fully vaccinated. This alternative will not be accepted moving forward. What if you can't get vaccinated? At a press conference earlier this month, Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, explained that if, for example, someone is medically unable to be vaccinated, they need to contact the airline or rail company they are travelling with to submit the required information. Travellers with exemptions will have to submit a temporary exemption form, signed by a doctor or nurse practitioner, and provide a valid negative PCR COVID-19 test result. Operators will be required to report exemptions granted. In January 2022, travel rules will expand again Additional travels limits for individuals who are not fully vaccinated will come into effect on Jan. 15, 2022. As of that date, some people who are currently exempt from entry requirements will only be allowed to enter Canada if they are fully vaccinated. These groups include: Individuals travelling to reunite with family (unvaccinated children under 18 years of age will retain exemption if travelling to reunite with an immediate or extended family member who is a Canadian, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act); • International students who are 18 years old and older; • Professional and amateur athletes; • Individuals with a valid work permit, including temporary foreign workers (outside of those in agriculture and food processing); • Essential service providers, including truck drivers. Canada has also expanded the list of COVID-19 vaccines that considers individuals fully vaccinated for the purposes of travel to or within Canada. As of Nov. 30, this includes vaccines from Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing. https://www.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-canada-travel-rules-vaccination-193502546.html CDC expanding surveillance at 4 major US airports to look for Omicron Travelers arrive for flights at Newark Liberty International Airport on November 30, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. The United States, and a growing list of other countries, has restricted flights from southern African countries due to the detection of the COVID-19 Omicron variant last week in South Africa. Stocks in the travel and airline industry have fallen in recent days as fears grow over the spread and severity of the variant. (CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding surveillance at four major international airports to keep an eye out for the Omicron variant of coronavirus in travelers, the agency's director said Tuesday. Dr. Rochelle Walensky told a White House Covid-19 briefing that the CDC is expanding surveillance with XpresCheck, a testing service at airport terminals, to the following four places: -- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport -- John F. Kennedy International Airport -- Newark Liberty International Airport -- San Francisco International Airport She noted they are four of the busiest international airports in the country. The Biden administration imposed new restrictions on travel from eight southern African countries, including South Africa, late last week. Omicron was first reported by South African health authorities. But Delta Air Lines, with headquarters and major operations in Atlanta, said it plans to continue its Atlanta-Johannesburg flights. United Airlines also said it does not plan to scale back service between Newark and Johannesburg and will restart its route to Cape Town, also in South Africa, next week as planned. This new effort is actually an expansion of a biosurveillance program first launched in September that provided testing for travelers arriving from India at JFK, Newark and San Francisco, according to XpresSpa Group, the parent company of XpresCheck. With the emergence of the Omicron variant, safety is on would-be air travelers minds. "CDC is evaluating how to make international travel as safe as possible," Walensky said. That includes "critical partner testing closer to the time of flights and considerations around additional post-arrival testing and self-quarantine," she said. Additionally, top US government officials are currently considering requiring everyone who enters the United States to be tested the day before their flight and having all travelers — including US citizens and permanent residents — test again after returning home, regardless of vaccination status, sources familiar with the thinking tell CNN. Officials were deliberating Tuesday night and no final decisions have been made, but they could be announced as soon as this week. Currently, vaccinated travelers are required to test three days before their departure. This move under consideration would shorten that timeline to one day. Regarding the expanded surveillance, "this program allows for increased Covid testing for specific international arrivals," Walensky said, "increasing our capacity to identify those with Covid-19 on arrival to the United States and enhancing our surveillance for the Omicron variant." She said the CDC is also working with the airlines "to collect passenger information that can be used by CDC and local public health jurisdictions to enhance contact tracing and post-arrival follow-up should a case be identified in a traveler." Coordinating locally and globally The CDC is keeping in close touch with state and local health officials, she said. "We are holding regular, even daily calls, with local county and state health officials and our public health partners. These calls include state, county and city health officials, state epidemiologists, laboratory directors and partners from public health organizations," Walensky said. "And we are continuously working closely with our public health partners, both here in America and around the world." https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/cdc-omicron-us-airports-surveillance/index.html ‘Unruly passenger’ at the Colorado Springs Airport taken into custody by police Tuesday COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Colorado Springs Police took a man into custody Tuesday morning after they received calls for an unruly passenger at the Colorado Springs Airport. Officers responded to the gate at the airport and escorted the man to the baggage claim to his belongings. That’s when the man reportedly ‘became aggressive and struck one of the officers causing injury, then struck and pushed a second officer backwards”. A taser was used and the suspect was taken into custody for the assaults on the officers. The suspect was identified by police as 26-year-old James Brush. The HSI and FBI are currently reviewing this case for possible federal protection for the suspects’ action during the flight. https://www.kktv.com/2021/12/01/unruly-passenger-colorado-springs-airport-taken-into-custody-by-police-tuesday/ Woman arrested after trying to take gun through security at Charleston airport CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Officials at Charleston International Airport (CHS) on Tuesday arrested a woman employed at the airport Dunkin’ Donuts for attempting to bring a gun through security. According to the report, a TSA agent noticed the gun in a clear purse as it was going through the x-ray machine. The owner of the purse — identified as Amari Ancrum (18) — was pulled aside and said that she worked inside the airport. She claimed that she found the gun the day before and forgot to take it out of her purse. The gun was a Taurus 9mm with a magazine inserted. The magazine had 11 rounds and an empty chamber. Officers ran a check on the gun and discovered that it had been reported as stolen out of North Charleston. A witness, who also works at the airport and was with Ancrum when she found the gun said that Ancrum planned to sell it. Ancrum was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful carrying of a handgun. She was also stripped of her airport badge. https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/charleston-county-news/person-arrested-after-trying-to-take-gun-through-security-at-charleston-airport/ Air Force awards contract for spaceborne weather data HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – A recently awarded $19.3 million contract will support a constellation of high-tech weather satellites capable of observing precipitation and storm structures from space. As part of the agreement, Boston-based meteorological intelligence company Tomorrow.io will provide the Aerospace Management Systems Division, headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base, with three-dimensional global weather and ocean data. This data can be used to enhance numerical weather modeling, machine learning programs, and near-term forecast capabilities. “Global environmental data is essential to effective mission planning and execution of air and ground operations,” said John Dreher, materiel leader, Weather Systems Branch. “This satellite constellation partnership with Tomorrow.io will give Air Force weather operators a vastly improved awareness of current and forecasted weather conditions.” According to Lt. Col. Andrew Travis, chief of staff meteorology, Weather Systems Branch, a number of Next-Generation Radar, or NEXRAD, systems are providing weather coverage in the United States and select locations overseas. These systems currently provide updates on precipitation type, intensity, storm dynamics, freezing levels, and severe weather indication, which is critical for weather forecasters, air traffic controllers, and pilots to ensure aviation safety, he said. “Despite some radar coverage in Europe and parts of Asia, large swaths of the globe, including over oceans and polar regions, lack weather-sensing capabilities,” he said. “This new constellation can help close the sensing gap in those areas.” Currently, NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement satellite is the only spaceborne radar to measure precipitation from space. With one satellite, hourly global precipitation coverage is impossible, as it takes numerous orbits around the Earth to sample the entire globe, said Travis. However, with a constellation of satellites, global sampling can be completed in regular time intervals. “Not only can this global precipitation coverage improve Air Force weather forecasts, but it can also enhance climate monitoring capabilities, like extreme rainfall and disaster area identification,” he said. “It can also be used to monitor a number of other conditions, like ground and terrain environments, which could be useful to other government agencies. There are truly a wide range of applications for this new capability.” The team awarded the contract utilizing a Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, award through the AFVentures Strategic Funding Increase, or STRATFI, pilot program. STRATFI is a Department of Defense initiative focused on securing large-scale, strategic capabilities. “It was challenging and rewarding to execute PEO Digital’s first-ever STRATFI SBIR award with a tight deadline,” said Capt. Scott Campbell, contracting officer, Weather Systems Branch. “Our mission-focused business leaders worked swiftly and innovatively to get the job done. I was fortunate and very happy to be a part of this exciting and successful experience.” The division is also working with personnel from the Commercial Weather Data Pilot program to explore if other commercial data can supplement or even replace existing government sources. It is also performing space weather impact analyses, as well as researching the affect the data has on existing terrestrial numerical weather modeling capabilities. Since 2017, Congress has appropriated funding to the Commercial Weather Data Pilot program in an effort to build the commercial weather industry’s support to the DOD and Department of Commerce with a focus on space-based environment monitoring. Following the contract, division personnel are working with other Air Force organizations to develop a plan for integrating the data into the Air Force Weather Virtual Private Cloud. Tomorrow.io expects to begin launching satellites in their weather intelligence platform by the end of 2022. https://www.afmc.af.mil/Home/Article/2856942/air-force-awards-contract-for-spaceborne-weather-data/ Qatar Airways CEO says Airbus should admit to A350 surface flaws LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) -The head of Qatar Airways on Tuesday called on Airbus to admit that it had a problem with flaws on the surface of its A350 jets and ruled out buying freighter planes from the European company, effectively handing a potential deal to rival Boeing. Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker confirmed that the Gulf airline had grounded 20 of the long-range A350 jets in a months-long dispute over paint and other surface damage that has also prompted the airline to halt further deliveries. "Qatar Airways cannot sit with its arms folded and legs crossed. We need to solve it. Airbus has made a very large dent in our widebody operations," Al Baker said. "It is a serious matter; we don't know if it is an airworthiness issue; we also don't know that it is not an airworthiness issue. The real cause of it has not been established by Airbus," he told The Aviation Club in London. "Now they have, at last, accepted that there are other airlines, several of them that have the same condition." A Reuters investigation published on Monday found that at least five other airlines had raised concerns over surface flaws since the A350 entered service and that in at some cases damage extended below paint to a layer of lightning protection. Airbus, https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/costly-airbus-paint-flaw-goes-wider-than-gulf-2021-11-29 which until recently maintained that the problem was confined to Qatar Airways, has said the plane is safe and that it understands the root cause of the problem. An Airbus spokesperson said it had nothing to add to earlier statements. On Monday, Airbus confirmed it was looking at updating the lightning system to a more flexible material called Perforated Copper Foil, a move first reported by Reuters. "They have acknowledged that they are working to find a solution, which means they still don't have a solution," Al Baker said on Tuesday, adding the Airbus problems were worse than current production flaws faced by the Boeing 787. "And they don't have a solution because they still don't know why it is happening. You know it is always better when there is a problem to admit, not to put your customer in a corner and blame them for something which is actually your own problem." NO AIRBUS FREIGHTER DEAL Al Baker suggested that any plans to replace the A350 anti-lightning system, known as Expanded Copper Foil, with a new material may require certification. Airbus declined comment. Qatar's national carrier has said it is progressively grounding its 53 A350s on orders from its regulator, until reasons for what witnesses describe as the blistered and pock-marked appearance of some the aircraft can be confirmed. The Qatar Civil Aviation Agency has declined comment. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has said that there is "no indication that the paint and protection degradation" affects the structure or safety of the A350. So far Qatar Airways is the only airline to ground the jets. Al Baker was also asked about a possible purchase of Boeing 777X freighter aircraft to replace the airline's current fleet of 34 dedicated cargo planes, following his recent comments that Qatar was looking at an "attractive proposition from Boeing". Asked if this would close the door on buying the new A350 freighter, he said "yes". Asked if the order could reach around 50 freighters, he said nearly, without giving more details. A spokesperson for Boeing declined comment. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/qatar-airways-ceo-says-airbus-152409932.html NASA details intent to replace the International Space Station with a commercial space station by 2030 NASA's auditing body, the Office of Audits, has produced a report detailing the agency's commitment to replacing the International Space Station (ISS) with one or more commercial space stations once the orbiting lab is retired. Despite still being scheduled for 2024, all indications are that the ISS's operational life will be extended to 2030, which is when the agency is assuming it'll be able to hand off human occupation of an on-orbit science facility to a private company. This audit basically details the current costs of maintenance and operation of the ISS, and also explains why it thinks that there will still be an essential need for a research facility that can provide a test bed for prolonged human exposure to space, as well as for development and demonstration of tech key to helping people explore deep space, including the establishment of a more permanent presence on the moon and exploration of Mars. The conclusion is that NASA hopes to see a commercial station operation by 2028 in order to give a period of two years of overlap before the anticipated retirement and de-orbiting of the ISS. That timeline presents clear risks, however, in part because of "limited market demand, inadequate funding, unreliable costs estimates and still-evolving requirements." The good news is that recently a lot of companies seem to be interested in pursuing the development of commercial orbital destinations. A partnership between Nanoracks, its parent company Voyager Space,and Lockheed Martin aims to produce one by 2027. Blue Origin hopes to launch its Orbital Reef station with Sierra Space and Boeing by 2030 at the latest, while Axiom is already progressing with its plan to send up modules that will attach to the ISS before separating and self-orbiting as its own station by 2028. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nasa-details-intent-replace-international-212732726.html The next ESASI session, 'FocusOn…Protected Information', will take place on Tuesday 7 December 2021 from 13:00 to 14:30 (UK Time & UTC). If you are interested in joining this free event, please send an email to registrations@esasi.eu to obtain a link to the meeting and details of Zoom meeting good practices. The full programme will be posted on the ESASI website soon. https://esasi.eu/focuson We are looking forward to meeting you on the 7th of December, Best regards Steve Hull IEng FRAeS FISASI Analyst, Safety/Flight Operations Quality Assurance Job Locations US-TX-Irving ID 2021-4254 Category Safety/Security Position Type Regular Full-Time Overview Who we are: Would you like to work for a stable, secure, and fast-growing airline where you will be stimulated, challenged, and have the opportunity to develop your career? If so, read on! Come and work with the best of the best at Envoy Air where you will join a team committed to providing outstanding service. We offer: · Amazing employee flight privileges within the American Airlines global network · Training and development programs to take your career to the next level · Comprehensive health and life benefits (subject to location) Responsibilities How will you make an impact? Responsibilities · Assist in the continued development of the FOQA Program · Support Manager of Flight Safety with the daily administration of the FOQA Program · Coordinate FOQA data collection with Maintenance Planning · Manage data processing and storage (including processing by the analysis system) and screen the data for accuracy and integrity · Track external media and aircraft recording conditions to maintain un-interrupted flow of data · Interface with senior management, ALPA and FAA representatives · Work with engineers and vendors to troubleshoot and diagnose problems, evaluating and implementing actions · Assist Manager of Flight Safety with data analysis as assigned · Create monthly preparation of FOQA trend analysis reports for FOQA Monitoring Team (FMT) · Support Manager of Flight Safety with facilitation of FMT meeting · Present FOQA information to various internal and external groups such as senior management, pilots, industry, and government agencies · Contributes to internal newsletters as well as external safety related publications, communicating significant trends to internal and external audiences · Maintain records of FOQA corrective action items · Performs administrative functions as assigned to maintain program efficiency · Others tasks as assigned · Requires planned and unplanned overnight travel Qualifications Who are we looking for? Requirements · Minimum age: 18 · Bachelor Degree or equivalent amount of Commercial Aviation work experience · Ability to effectively use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, WBAT, Intelex and PowerPoint · Possess the legal right to work in the United States · Ability to read, write, fluently speak and understand the English language · Experience with data analysis and trending preferred · Experience in working effectively under extreme deadline pressure preferred · Knowledge and proficiency in the Austin Digital EMS software, Google Earth, and CEFA flight animation preferred · Possession of a Commercial Pilot, Dispatcher or A&P Certificate is preferred Please note: The description is intended to provide a brief overview of the position. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, expectations, and skills required of those in this position. Duties and expectations may be subject to change at any time. Envoy Air is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled. Envoy Air Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, provides regional flight service to American Airlines under the American Eagle brand and ground handling services for many American Airlines Group flights. The company was founded in 1998 as American Eagle Airlines, Inc., following the merger of several smaller regional carriers to create one of the largest regional airlines in the world. Envoy is headquartered in Irving, Texas, with hubs in Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago and Miami, with a large ground handling operation in Los Angeles. Connect with Envoy on Twitter @EnvoyAirCareers, on Instagram @EnvoyAirCareers, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/envoyaircareers and Facebook.com/EnvoyPilotRecruitment. Curt Lewis