Flight Safety Information - December 6, 2021 No. 242 In This Issue : Incident: Qatar A359 near Karachi on Dec 3rd 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Condor A321 near Frankfurt on Dec 5th 2021, smoke in cockpit : Passenger exits Southwest Airlines plane while aircraft is taxiing to gate in Phoenix, officials say : 18-year-old arrested at Bloomington airport with unloaded gun and ammunition in bag : NTSB Reports Wreckage of Missing Plane Found in Arkansas : Boeing in no rush to fix B787 snags : Air Canada Cargo received its first Boeing 767-300ER converted aircraft : Hydrogen aircraft project sets sights on transatlantic flight : Out of 17,726 registered pilots in India, 2,764 are women; the highest percentage in the world : Aviation facility in Goodyear welcomes first class of aspiring pilots Monday : The NASA-China space race is about to go nuclear : Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) announces fourth consecutive Safety Dividend : PhD Research Survey Request Incident: Qatar A359 near Karachi on Dec 3rd 2021, engine shut down in flight A Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900, registration A7-ALH performing flight QR-817 from Hong Kong (China) to Doha (Qatar), was enroute at FL400 about 220nm eastsoutheast of Karachi (Pakistan) still in India's airspace when the crew descended the aircraft to FL360 and set course towards Karachi. About 10 minutes later, now 130nm eastsoutheast of Karachi the crew decided to shut an engine (Trent XWB) down due to engine oil issues and to divert to Karachi for a safe landing on runway 07R about 30 minutes after leaving FL360. The aircraft is still on the ground in Karachi about 23 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f127a36&opt=0 Incident: Condor A321 near Frankfurt on Dec 5th 2021, smoke in cockpit A Condor Airbus A321-200, registration D-AIAF performing flight DE-1462 from Leipzig (Germany) to Las Palmas,CI (Spain) with 172 people on board, was enroute at FL340 about 40nm west of Frankfurt/Main (Germany) when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and decided to divert to Frankfurt. The aircraft landed safely on Frankfurt's runway 25C about 20 minutes after leaving FL340. A replacement Boeing 757-300 registration D-ABOI departed Frankfurt about 3 hours after D-AIAF had landed and reached Las Palmas with a delay of 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Frankfurt about 9 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f134c0e&opt=0 Passenger exits Southwest Airlines plane while aircraft is taxiing to gate in Phoenix, officials say The incident happened Saturday morning on Flight 4236 from Colorado Springs. A passenger exited a Southwest Airlines plane through a rear door while the aircraft was taxiing to a gate at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, officials said. The incident happened Saturday morning on Flight 4236 from Colorado Springs. The captain stopped the plane and notified Air Traffic Control, the airline said in a statement Saturday afternoon. "Local authorities responded to the situation and shortly after the flight continued to its designated gate with all remaining customers and crew," the statement read. The passenger who exited the aircraft was not identified and it's not clear if they face any charges. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/passenger-exits-southwest-airlines-plane-aircraft-taxiing-gate-phoenix-rcna7648 18-year-old arrested at Bloomington airport with unloaded gun and ammunition in bag An 18-year-old man was arrested after screeners found an unloaded gun and ammunition in his bag while checking in for a flight at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington. Prosecutors said the man entered the security screening area Friday with a bag ahead of a scheduled flight. TSA screeners found a 9mm handgun (unloaded, with no serial number), magazines, and ammo in the bag, prosecutors said. The 18-year-old told authorities he didn't know the gun was in his bag, prosecutors said. The man did not have a valid Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card, prosecutors said. The man faces six criminal counts, including aggravated trespassing into a restricted area with a weapon. He was being held on $50,000 bond after making an initial court appearance over the weekend. https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2021-12-05/18-year-old-arrested-at-bloomington-airport-with-unloaded-gun-and-ammunition-in-bag NTSB Reports Wreckage of Missing Plane Found in Arkansas The National Transportation Safety Board says the wreckage of a missing airplane flying from Minden, Louisiana, to Clarksville, Arkansas, has been found in southwestern Arkansas. GLENWOOD, Ark. (AP) — The wreckage of a missing airplane flying from Louisiana to Arkansas was found Saturday in southwestern Arkansas, according to the National Transportation Board. The wreckage of the single engine aircraft, identified as a Cessna 182, was found near the unincorporated community of Bonnerdale in Hot Spring County after being reported missing on Friday, according to NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson. One person, the pilot, was on board according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Rick Breitenfeld, who said the aircraft had departed Minden Airport in Minden, La., en route to Clarksville Municipal Airport in Clarksville, Ark.. Both the NTSB and FAA referred questions about whether the pilot survived to local authorities. Officials with the Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately return a phone call for comment. The crash site between Glenwood and Hot Springs is on the southeastern edge of the Ouachita National Forest, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) southwest of Little Rock. Knudson said an NTSB investigator was to arrive Sunday to begin an investigation into the crash. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arkansas/articles/2021-12-04/ntsb-reports-wreckage-of-missing-plane-found-in-arkansas Boeing in no rush to fix B787 snags Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) says it will take all the time it needs to sort out snags in its B787 production even though this continues to delay deliveries, underlining that none of the issues to be fixed present a flight safety concern regarding the in-service fleet. The manufacturer, in a statement shared with ch-aviation, was reacting to US news reports quoting Boeing customers that B787 deliveries may only resume by April 2022. As a result, several carriers were studying extending leases or returning to service B777-300(ER)s that had been grounded during the pandemic, reported Leeham News. “We are completing comprehensive inspections and associated rework across B787 production and within the supply chain while holding detailed, transparent discussions with the FAA, suppliers and our customers. “Work continues in our production facility and rates will continue to be dynamic as we focus on eliminating travelled work and prioritise resources to support our inspection and rework efforts. “We are taking the time needed to ensure the highest levels of quality, and while these efforts will continue to impact deliveries, we’re confident this is the right approach to drive stability and first-time quality across our operations and to position the programme for the long term as market demand recovers. “None of the issues have been determined to present a safety of flight concern with respect to the active in-service fleet,” Boeing said. As reported, Boeing in May halted deliveries of the B787 just two months after restarting them following a five-month hiatus. The Seattle Times last month quoted an internal FAA memo indicating that Boeing engineers were discovering more and more manufacturing defects as they were taking the B787s apart. Amongst the latest concerns were minuscule gaps discovered at the joins of large fuselage sections, the forward pressure bulkhead, and in the structure surrounding the passenger and cargo doors. These defects were thought to be present in more than 1,000 Dreamliners. While not considered an immediate safety concern, they could cause premature ageing of the airframe, the FAA memo said. Earlier in the year, Boeing had detected defects in the composite material during fabrication. The production and delivery delays have left Boeing with more than USD25 billion of Dreamliners in its inventory, according to a recent report by The Washington Post. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/110416-boeing-in-no-rush-to-fix-b787-snags Air Canada Cargo received its first Boeing 767-300ER converted aircraft Air Canada has welcomed the first of its converted Boeing 767-300ER aircraft for Air Canada Cargo into its fleet, marking a return to freighters for the airline. The aircraft will be based in its Toronto cargo hub, which is undergoing a renovation that will reinforce its role as the cornerstone of Air Canada’s modern global cargo network. Air Canada Cargo is Canada’s largest provider of air cargo services as measured by cargo capacity, with a presence in over 50 countries and hubs in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago, London, and Frankfurt. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada temporarily converted several Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft by removing the passenger seats and allowing for additional cargo to be loaded in the cabin. Air Canada is also one of only a handful of passenger carriers worldwide to ever record over $1 billion in annual revenue from its cargo portfolio, which connects hundreds of destinations across five continents using Air Canada’s domestic and international passenger flights, as well as through cargo-only flight options. In addition to welcoming newly converted Boeing 767-300ER freighters, Air Canada Cargo is expanding and diversifying to include a number of new services, including Rivo, an emerging presence in the online retail sector. Air Canada Cargo also has a unique partnership with Drone Delivery Canada to help commercialize their technology. https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/12/air-canada-cargo-received-its-first-boeing-767-300er-converted-aircraft/ Hydrogen aircraft project sets sights on transatlantic flight The UK government has announced details of a winner of its “FlyZero” funding initiative to develop decarbonised aviation technologies. The winning project aims to develop a midsize zero-emissions aircraft capable of completing non-stop transatlantic flights. The aircraft is being designed to carry 279 passengers at the same speed and comfort as today’s airliners. Its 54m wingspan carries two turbofan engines powered by hydrogen combustion. The liquid hydrogen fuel is stored in cryogenic fuel tanks at around -250°C in the aft fuselage and two small tanks along the forward fuselage. These smaller tanks also help keep the aircraft balanced as the fuel burns off, eliminating the need for additional aerodynamic structures. The design has a range of 5250NM, meaning that it could fly from London to San Francisco, Delhi, Beijing, Vancouver, Mexico City, or Rio de Janeiro without stopping, or to Auckland, Sydney, or Honolulu with just one stop to refuel. This would allow a network of long-range journeys to be established without demanding new hydrogen refuelling infrastructure at so many international airports. When hydrogen is consumed in a fuel cell, the only by-product is water, making it the focus of much R&D as a clean, energy- dense and versatile future fuel for energy, transport, heating, and other applications. The project is funded through the £15m publicly funded FlyZero project, which is led by the Aerospace Technology Institute, based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. Designs for the aircraft have been shared ahead of the fourth meeting of the Jet Zero Council on 7 December, which marks International Civil Aviation Day. The UK government aims to reach net-zero CO2 emissions for domestic flights by 2040. “The Aerospace Technology Institute’s pioneering research highlights the potential for hydrogen in realising zero-carbon global connectivity,” said Jet Zero Council CEO Emma Gilthorpe. “This ground-breaking green technology looks set to play a critical role in decarbonising flight and through the work of the Jet Zero Council, the UK aviation sector is exploring all avenues to ensure we protect the benefits of flying for future generations while cutting the carbon cost.” Chris Gear, FlyZero project director, said: “At a time of global focus on tackling climate change, our midsize concept sets out a truly revolutionary vision for the future of global air travel keeping families, businesses, and nations connected without the carbon footprint. This new dawn for aviation brings with it real opportunities for the UK aerospace sector to secure market share, highly skilled jobs and inward investment while helping to meet the UK’s commitment to fight climate change.” The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who will chair the Jet Zero Council, said: “This pioneering design for a liquid-hydrogen- powered aircraft, led by a British organisation, brings us one step closer to a future where people can continue to travel and connect but without the carbon footprint.” The Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, added: “These designs could define the future of aerospace and aviation. By working with industry, we are showing that truly carbon-free flight could be possible with hydrogen a front-runner to replace conventional fossil fuels.” “Fuelling planes sustainably will enable the public to travel as we do now, but in a way that doesn’t damage the planet. It will not only help us to end our contribution to climate change, but also represents a huge industrial opportunity for the UK.” Separately, eight companies have got the green light to go ahead with their sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) developments from the government’s “Green Fuel, Green Skies” competition. British Airways has announced that it will become the first airline to use SAF produced on a commercial scale in the UK, sourcing the fuel from Phillips 66’s Humber Refinery in Lincolnshire. The refinery uses waste fats, oils, and greases as feedstock for its SAF. British Airways has agreed to purchase enough SAF to reduce its lifecycle CO2 emissions by nearly 100,000 tonnes. https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2021/12/hydrogen-aircraft-project-sets-sights-on-transatlantic-flight/ Out of 17,726 registered pilots in India, 2,764 are women; the highest percentage in the world • The news comes at a time when the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association had recently accused the government’s Air India of actively discriminating against women pilots. NEW DELHI: India has a total of 17,726 registered pilots out of which the number of women pilots is 2,764. Globally, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, around 5 percent of pilots are women. In India, the share of women pilots is significantly higher - at over 15 percent, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation VK Singh said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday. The percentage of female pilots in India is twice as high as in most Western countries, including the United States and Australia, a report said. However, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association had recently accused the government’s Air India of actively discriminating against women pilots. According to a report, the association said that the Upgradation List excluded the names or misspelled the names of a few women pilots who took maternity leaves, thereby amounting to a denial of due service benefits like Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and adversely affecting their seniority. Meanwhile, the minister said that the Women in Aviation International (WAI) - India Chapter conducts many awareness programs across the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, industry, and leading women aviation professionals, with a special focus on young schoolgirls, especially from low-income families. According to a press statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and its associated organisations have taken a number of steps to promote the training of pilots in the country. These include issuing award letters for nine new Flying Training Organisations (FTO) at five airports of Airports Authority of India (Belagavi, Jalgaon, Kalaburagi, Khajuraho, and Lilabari) with rationalised land charges, etc., digitization of approval processes at the regulator DGCA and greater empowerment of Flying Instructors, etc. These measures are likely to enhance the flying hours at FTOs and the number of Commercial Pilot Licenses issued per annum. These will benefit all aspiring pilots, including women pilots. https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2021/dec/06/out-of-17726-registered-pilots-in-india-2764-are-women-the-highest-in-the-world-2392433.html Aviation facility in Goodyear welcomes first class of aspiring pilots Monday PHOENIX — A new aviation training facility in the West Valley will welcome its first class of aspiring pilots Monday, the Arizona Commerce Authority announced. The United Aviate Academy, which is a subsidiary of United Airlines, is a 340,000-square-foot facility at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport that is set to provide resources, equipment and accommodations to aspiring pilots, the ACA said in a press release. “I am elated that United Airlines has chosen Goodyear to expand its pilot training program, United Aviate Academy,” Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord said in the release. “The Phoenix Goodyear Airport has a longstanding tradition of excellence in aviation training, and we are excited to see United continuing that legacy.” She added that the announcement and plans for expansion will continue to support aviation industry employment in the growing community. The facility represents an investment of more than $10 million and the production of hundreds of jobs, according to the release. It currently serves as a home to multiple businesses, including Lux Air Jet Centers and an aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul business. https://ktar.com/story/4793938/aviation-facility-in-goodyear-welcomes-first-class-of-aspiring-pilots-monday/ The NASA-China space race is about to go nuclear Recently, NASA and the United States Department of Energy put out a call for industry to propose designs for a nuclear power plant that could be deployed on the moon within the decade, according to Science Alert. In the meantime, Interesting Engineering reports that China has completed a design for its own lunar-based nuclear reactor. The two news items suggests that both sides of the current space race are very serious about returning to the moon and developing Earth's nearest neighbor in a big way. The Chinese lunar nuclear reactor is described as being capable of generating a full megawatt of electricity. According to Live Science, NASA requires that the lunar nuclear power plant generate just 40 kilowatts of power for 10 years, fit inside a 12-foot long by 18-foot-wide rocket, and weigh no more than 13,200 pounds. Presumably, if the moon base requires more than 40 kilowatts of power, more power plants can be launched and deployed ready for use. By going nuclear, both NASA and the Chinese recognize that an immense amount of power is required to operate in space in a big way. The systems that keep astronauts alive and keep their experiments running require power; the more astronauts; the more power. If one adds systems that support commercial activities, such as lunar mining, then the proper conclusion is that solar alone is not the answer. Nuclear power is the key to opening space to a wide variety of human activity, for both scientific exploration and commercial development. Nuclear power also has the advantage over solar power, whether space based, or Earth bound, in that it runs 24/7. Solar power systems need battery backups when sunlight is blocked. NASA is also studying nuclear power for spacecraft, especially those that would voyage to Mars and points beyond. The space agency has considered nuclear rockets since the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications (NERVA) program in the 1960s. NERVA ended when it became clear that NASA would not send humans to Mars any time soon. Now that Mars is back on the agenda, nuclear rockets, which would use a nuclear reactor to superheat exhaust from the back of a spacecraft, are also back. A nuclear thermal rocket could send humans and their supplies to Mars much more quickly than a spacecraft with conventional rocket engines. Thus, astronauts voyaging to Mars will spend less time exposed to the radiation-drenched environment of deep space. Just as nuclear power is experiencing a renaissance for space operations, the technology is being given a second look on Earth. Nuclear power has gotten bad press after high-profile accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima. More enlightened environmentalists have concluded that nuclear power should be part of a solution that transitions human civilization away from dependence on fossil fuels. Bill Gates, the billionaire philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, is partly financing a nuclear power plant that uses new technology to be built in Wyoming by 2028. The nuclear power plant will use liquid sodium instead of water to cool the reactor. The technology reduces the risk of an explosion or a meltdown. It also produces less nuclear waste. Modern civilization, whether on Earth or in space, requires an immense amount of energy to operate. As technology advances, civilization will require even more power. Nuclear technology is available in the near term to provide that power, whether to run air conditioners in homes on Earth or to keep environmental systems operating on a lunar base or a spacecraft voyaging to Mars. Will environmentalist opposition arise against nuclear systems in space as it has on Earth, inhibiting their development? Antinuclear activists have protested rocket launches that included fissile material, as they did in 1997 when the Cassini space probe launched with 72 pounds of plutonium 238 that provided power for its mission to Saturn. No doubt similar protests can be expected when a nuclear reactor and its fuel are launched to the moon. However, as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists pointed out, once nuclear power plants are deployed in space, either at a moon base or on a spacecraft voyaging to Mars, they would present no danger to humans on Earth. The debate over nuclear power in space will occur, just as it has on Earth and will have to be engaged. https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-china-space-race-nuclear-150008539.html posted on December 6, 2021 08:00 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) announces fourth consecutive Safety Dividend One of the initial long-term goals of BASC continues to reward high achieving business flight departments! BASC was designed to be a highly desired partner with world-class business flight departments that strive for excellence in Safety Management and Compliance. Coincidentally, BASC was also conceptualized to be of high value and provide for ease of budgeting. The Safety Dividend provision was implemented at the founding of BASC to return a portion of the members’ annual investment when organizational performance provided that opportunity. Although a “for profit” entity, no reason could be found not to share and reward excellence, loyalty, achievement, continuous improvement and safety culture. Any current BASC Full-Service member, that has been with the organization for six months or greater, will be awarded a Safety Dividend in December 2021. This is a significant achievement as this award to clients was achieved despite significant infrastructure investments including a new FAA 14 CFR Part 5 Compliance Checklist, BASC Slack Chanel, and RampInspectionPrograms.com website. Founder and President, Rick Malczynski, shared, “This is a great achievement for the BASC membership. We knew from the beginning that having a “killer” program was key, but what we also learned over the years was that treating our end users with respect, honesty, and transparency was the foundation of our previous successes. BASC Nation members, often get labelled as an “industry disrupter,” and it is actually one of the highest compliments we receive. It is a pretty cool concept, when you just do your best, work with the savviest professionals in the industry, and treat everyone the way you wish to be treated…everyone grows together…and has a great time doing it! I could not be more enthused and proud regarding BASC and what the members have accomplished.” Malczynski further commented, “2021 was an awesome year for us! Given current industry conditions and trends, the sustained growth was a given. We realized years ago that the frontline team members in corporate aviation are the most knowledgeable regarding actual SMS application in the aviation industry…so we listened to them! Our partnerships with amazing innovators like Quality Resources and Advanced Aircrew Academy, have helped insure that BASC members anticipate, adapt, and meet or exceed changing requirements in a fast-paced and dynamic operating environment. Personally, working with teams of professionals that have mastered the concepts, processes, and execution of SMS, is extremely fulfilling. Observing team after team transitioning from ‘checking boxes’ to continuous improvement and operational excellence is amazing! I guarantee 2022 will be a banner year!” ### About the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (AviationConsortium.com, LLC or BASC): Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BASC serves as a logical partner for SMS, regulatory, and operational excellence verification for high performing business aviation organizations. BASC was founded in 2016 and accepted the first member in January of 2017. For more information, visit http://www.aviationconsortium.com PhD Research Survey Request This survey aims to understand whether a gap exists between the regulatory authorities' expectation of Crew Resource Management training curriculum (FAA outlines this in AC 120-51E) and the current training offerings across all facets of the industry. If a gap does exist, the study aims to understand which topics are under or inaccurately trained, measure the baseline level of understanding of these topics, and the perception of relevance-to-safety by industry pilots. To make it easy, I’ve created a posting that you’re welcome to modify and personalize or completely ignore and make your own. :) ----------------- Calling all pilots: A pilot and Ph.D. student is conducting cognitive science research on Crew Resource Management. Would you please help them by taking this survey? https://forms.gle/pkXH3cH1BYbvSoGz5 It’s 34-questions of mostly multiple-choice and shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. Your input is anonymous and very much appreciated! Participation in this survey aids in the ongoing research on aviation human performance, human factors, and safety culture. -------------- Thank you, in advance, for your support. Kimberly Perkins Captain I Researcher I Writer Ph.D. Student University of Washington Doctoral Research: The Impact of Cognitive Biases on Aviation Safety Curt Lewis