Flight Safety Information - December 24, 2021 No. 256 In This Issue : Incident: Swift B734 near Cologne on Dec 22nd 2021, loss of cabin pressure : Incident: SriLankan A333 near Colombo on Dec 23rd 2021, hydraulic fault : Incident: PIA B772 near Muscat on Dec 23rd 2021, cargo fire indication : Accident: Malu S360 near Shabunda on Dec 23rd 2021, impacted ground in bad weather : Incident: Gol B738 near Salvador on Dec 18th 2021, cargo fire indication : Airlines cancel holiday flights due to omicron impacts on crews : A Career Flight Attendant on the Wildest Bad Behavior She's Seen In-Flight: Urination, Strip Teases & More : NASA's Silent Supersonic Jet X-59 Spotted On Its Way To Texas : How to watch NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launch on Christmas : mba is currently seeking USA-based IOSA Flight Auditors! : Position Available - Internal Evaluation Program Evaluator I : Director of Safety – Bloomington, MN : PhD Research Survey Request Incident: Swift B734 near Cologne on Dec 22nd 2021, loss of cabin pressure A Swiftair Boeing 737-400 on behalf of DHL, registration EC-NMK performing freight flight QY-8842 from Cologne (Germany) to Madrid,SP (Spain), was climbing out of Cologne when the crew stopped the climb at FL290 due to the problems with the cabin pressure and subsequently initiated an emergency descent to FL090 due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft diverted to and landed safely in Brussels about 50 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Brussels about 43 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f215b15&opt=0 Incident: SriLankan A333 near Colombo on Dec 23rd 2021, hydraulic fault A SriLankan Airbus A330-300, registration 4R-ALQ performing flight UL-606 from Colombo (Sri Lanka) to Sydney,NS (Australia), was enroute at FL330 about 400nm southeast of Colombo when the crew decided to return to Colombo due to the failure of the yellow hydraulic system indicating both low pressure and low quantity. The aircraft landed safely back in Colombo about one hour later. The aircraft remained on the ground for almost 16 hours, then departed again and is estimated to reach Sydney with a delay of about 21 hours. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f2159c9&opt=0 Incident: PIA B772 near Muscat on Dec 23rd 2021, cargo fire indication A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration AP-BGZ performing flight PK-9739 (dep Dec 22nd) from Multan (Pakistan) to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), was enroute at FL380 about 60nm west of Muscat (Oman) when the crew received a cargo fire indication, turned the aircraft around and diverted to Muscat for a safe landing about 20 minutes later. The indication was identified false, the aircraft continued the journey after about 4 hours on the ground and reached Jeddah with a delay of about 4 hours. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f2156ca&opt=0 Accident: Malu S360 near Shabunda on Dec 23rd 2021, impacted ground in bad weather A Malu Aviation Shorts 360, registration 9S-GPS performing a flight from Goma to Shabunda (DR Congo) with 6 passengers and 3 crew, was on approach to Shabunda just before noon local time (about 10:00Z) when the aircraft impacted ground in Keisha village about 8nm (15km) outside the airport in bad weather. 2 passengers and 3 crew died in the accident, the other occupants were injured, there are reports of up to 6 people having been taken to hospitals (unclear however, whether occupants or also including people on the ground). The airline confirmed their Shorts 360 tail number 9S-GPS was involved in the accident, the owner of the company was operating the aircraft himself. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f2146b7&opt=0 Incident: Gol B738 near Salvador on Dec 18th 2021, cargo fire indication A Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-800, registration PR-GTC performing flight G3-1512 from Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP to Joao Pessoa,PB (Brazil) with 185 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 20nm southwest of Salvador,BA (Brazil) when the crew received a fire indication for the forward cargo hold. The crew diverted to Salvador for a safe landing on runway 10 about 19 minutes after leaving FL370. Brazil's CENIPA reported the indication was determined false. The aircraft returned to service after about 26 hours on the ground. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f20f07d&opt=0 Airlines cancel holiday flights due to omicron impacts on crews The transportation industry has been bracing for pre-pandemic-level crowds this holiday season, but now two major U.S. airlines have been forced to proactively cancel some Christmas Eve flights due to the fast-spreading omicron variant of COVID-19. As of Thursday evening, United Airlines has proactively cancelled 112 flights for Christmas Eve. "The nationwide spike in omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," United said in a statement. "As a result, we've unfortunately had to cancel some flights and are notifying impacted customers in advance of them coming to the airport." "We're sorry for the disruption and are working hard to rebook as many people as possible and get them on their way for the holidays," the airline added. And it's not just United that's feeling the impact of the variant on crews. Delta Air Lines also proactively canceled around 90 flights for Christmas Eve. The airline says the "flight cancellations are due to a combination of issues, including but not limited to, potential inclement weather in some areas and the impact of the omicron variant." "Delta teams have exhausted all options and resources -- including rerouting and substitutions of aircraft and crews to cover scheduled flying -- before canceling around 90 flights for Friday," Delta said in a statement to ABC News. "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their holiday travel plans. Delta people are working hard to get them to where they need to be as quickly and as safely as possible on the next available flight." Airlines for America (A4A), the group that lobbies on behalf of all major U.S. airlines, is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to shorten the quarantine time for fully vaccinated individuals, saying the omicron surge may create "significant" disruptions. "The omicron surge may exacerbate personnel shortages and create significant disruptions to our workforce and operations," Nick Calio, A4A's CEO, said in a letter on Thursday to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. Calio proposed the isolation period to be shortened to five days from symptom onset for breakthrough infections. "In turn, those individuals would be able to end isolation with an appropriate testing protocol," Calio wrote. The letter comes after Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, both A4A members, also asked for isolation periods for fully vaccinated individuals to be shortened. https://www.yahoo.com/gma/airlines-cancel-holiday-flights-due-012011809.html A Career Flight Attendant on the Wildest Bad Behavior She's Seen In-Flight: Urination, Strip Teases & More With the holiday season upon us, airline employees are prepared to accommodate record travel numbers as many people brave the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to get quality time with their loved ones as 2021 comes to a close. But with tensions and anxiety at an all-time high due to the current state of the world, career flight attendant Sara Nelson explains in an episode of the PEOPLE Every Day podcast that unruly and disruptive behavior on planes is currently "off the charts." "It is exponentially higher than any other year in aviation history, and I can't really blame it on COVID," she explains. "I think that we have to recognize that there's been two different narratives during this pandemic that have kept people in a state of anxiety because they don't know what to believe." Having spent 25 years in air travel, Nelson has seen plenty of bad behavior, but never on this level and never with this frequency, from what she hears from other flight attendants: "Every single day, they're having people maybe not rise to the level of needing to be reported, but being really combative in their language, and just... refusing to comply with instructions without a lot of interference and a lot of attempts to deescalate situations." Nelson is president of The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents more than 50,000 workers across 17 airlines, and she is worried that this increased stress is affecting employees who are just trying to do their job while also putting their own health at risk. "The danger there is that they become hesitant in conducting their safety responsibilities and that's the last thing we need," she says. "In addition to the fact that we just don't want people going to work in that hostile environment, we just cannot accept this as a new norm, and we have to do everything we can to stop it." The main source of conflict she sees is mask refusal, followed by bad behavior as a result of inebriation. On top of that, Nelson reveals that 61% of recent incidents also include racial, gender and homophobic slurs, often directed at staff members. "We're seeing people have to take more abuse based on who they are, or who they love, or what they look like than maybe ever before," she says; she recalls the story of one Black flight attendant who was so affected by a racist incident, she was scared to leave her house. "She was followed by these people when she got off the plane and when she went home, she felt so unsafe that she couldn't leave her home for five days," Nelson says. "And it has taken her months and months to even be able to talk about this incident." These types of occurrences were once rare, Nelson says, but they are unfortunately becoming a regular event. Flight attendants now wake up wondering if their uniform will be a sign of leadership and authority or a target for attack. Some of the crazier incidents she's seen recently have included a passenger spitting into the mouth of a child and others protesting by urinating all over the plane — and regarding the latter, Nelson says she's "surprised that we don't have video of the urination because the number of reports that we get from flight attendants [about that] are just more than you would ever imagine." Prior to COVID, Nelson's craziest incident was an unruly passenger during an overnight flight from Las Vegas to Chicago. "First, he was smoking in the bathroom, then he was trying to open the back door," she recalls. "Then he also decided it was a good idea to urinate all over the back galley, and then he did a strip tease for the people in the back." To take care of the issue, Nelson channeled the teacher she planned to become before taking her current job. "I said to him, 'Listen, if you don't sit down and keep your hands to yourself right now, we're going to land in Des Moines and that's where you're going to spend the rest of your time. But if you stay quiet and in this seat, we'll go to Chicago and you're going to go off in handcuffs there,'" she says. "Somehow that teacher voice did the trick and he stopped. And when we got to Chicago, police came on and escorted him off in handcuffs." For passengers who find travel stressful, Nelson advises that they prepare for their flight before arriving to the airport, reading up on anything to know ahead of time online. She also suggests acknowledging your flight attendants upon boarding and creating a human interaction. "Just say thank you, because they're away from their families and they've been through hell for the last two years," she adds. "That extra kindness will go a long way to setting the tone for your flight and making sure that they know that you have their back." https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/career-flight-attendant-wildest-bad-225742821.html NASA's Silent Supersonic Jet X-59 Spotted On Its Way To Texas And it's designed to transform the supersonic aircraft industry. Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works-built QueSST is anticipating an eventful 2022. The experimental X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology aircraft Skunk Works is building for NASA, is currently on its way to the company's plant in Fort Worth, Texas to undergo structural testing ahead of a planned first flight next year. According to The Drive, the plan is to truck the X-59 to its Texas plant for structural tests before bringing it back to the U.S. Air Force's Plant 42 in Palmdale, California where it was under construction since 2018. It will undergo its first round of flight testing at the site known for hosting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter assembly line. Commercial supersonic aircraft has always been characterized by unsettling noises and vibrations. Such issues can be a hindrance to military training involving supersonic aircraft. Silencing these booms could be favorable during combat operations. The X-59 was specifically designed to transform aviation and reduce sonic booms to a barely-audible sonic thump. It comprises a thin 30-foot-long nose that lowers the sound of the sonic boom when the jet surpasses the speed of sound at 767 mph (1,235 km/h). That structural design will allow it to reach supersonic speeds soon after takeoff. Heralding a new era for supersonic flights Earlier, NASA had released a short clip that showed the piecing together of various parts of the X-59's fuselage and its wings. "We’ve now transitioned from being a bunch of separate parts sitting around on different parts of the production floor to an airplane," Jay Brandon, NASA chief engineer for the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD) project, had said. The new single-seat plane X-59 will be 99.7 feet long, 29.5 feet wide (30 m by 9 m), and will cruise at an altitude of 55,000 feet (16.7 km) while moving at a speed of Mach 1.4, or 925 mph (1,488 km/h). One of its more peculiar features is the lack of a forward-facing window. Instead, it will rely on a NASA-developed eXternal Vision System (XVS). Only around 10% of the design is entirely new. According to NASA, landing great from an Air Force F-16 fighter, a cockpit canopy from a NASA T-38 trainer, a propulsion system part from a U-2 spy plane and a control stick from an F-117 stealth fighter are among the repurposed parts to be used on NASA's newest airplane. According to NASA's official timeline, the X-59's first flight is expected sometime next year. The initial flight testing, which will demonstrate things like the basic airworthiness of the aircraft, is expected to take nine months and run into 2023. After checkout and envelope expansion flights, Lockheed will deliver the X-59 to NASA. NASA will then conduct test flights within the supersonic test range above NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center and Edwards Air Force Base in California. Starting in 2024, X-59 will fly over select U.S. cities and public feedback will be invited during the Community Response Study phase. https://interestingengineering.com/nasas-silent-supersonic-jet-x-59-spotted-on-its-way-to-texas How to watch NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launch on Christmas NASA's $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope is set to launch to space on Christmas Day. Why it matters: The JWST is designed to capture the light of some of the first galaxies that coalesced after the Big Bang, learn more about how stars form, peer into the atmospheres of alien planets and more. How to watch: The telescope — which is considered the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope — is expected to take flight from Kourou, French Guiana at 7:20 a.m. ET on Christmas Day. You can watch the launch live via NASA TV starting at 6 a.m. ET. Between the lines: Getting the JWST to the launch pad has been a long time coming. The project has been decades in the making with technical and budgetary delays that caused the cost of the telescope to balloon over time. What's next: The launch is just the beginning for the JWST and the nervous scientists and engineers working with the mission on Earth. After launch, the large telescope will need to unfurl in space, deploying its large heat shield, mirrors and instruments over the course of weeks as it makes its way out about 1 million miles from Earth. That great distance will mean that the JWST won't be eligible to be serviced in the way the Hubble Space Telescope after it got to space. Go deeper: NASA's next great space telescope has arrived https://www.yahoo.com/news/watch-nasas-james-webb-space-120044580.html Apply Now! mba is currently seeking USA-based IOSA Flight Auditors! Do you have over 5 years of aviation experience, 2 years’ experience in Flight Operations, and have completed Auditor Training? Then submit your resume to mba@mba.aero for an opportunity to join our IOSA Audit Team! *IOSA is a registered trademark of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Internal Evaluation Program Evaluator I LAS VEGAS, NV /SAFETY & SECURITY – COMPLIANCE /FULL-TIME Summary Perform evaluations in accordance with department schedule and special evaluations as directed by the Director of Internal Evaluations. Visa Sponsorship Available: No Minimum Requirements A combination of Education and Experience will be considered. Must be authorized to work in the US as defined by the Immigration Act of 1986. Must pass a Criminal Background Check. Education: High School Diploma/GED Years of Experience: Minimum one (1) year of working knowledge of SMS, DOD principles, and the FAA SAS DCTs. Preferred Requirements • Bachelor's degree in a related field. • FAA Commercial Pilot or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Airframe & Powerplant Certificate, or Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. • One (1) year of auditing experience. • Working knowledge of IOSA standards and recommended practices. • Work experience in 14 CFR 121 air carrier operations; stations, training, quality control, maintenance, operations, safety, or a combination thereof. • Previous experience maintaining and enhancing corporate safety standards and safe operational practices. Job Duties • Performs scheduled and special evaluations, including identifying and defining issues, reviewing and analyzing evidence, and documenting findings and concerns. • Collects objective evidence necessary to substantiate findings or concerns. • Prepares evaluation reports. • Recommends solutions to findings or concerns. • Monitors the development and implementation of corrective action plans. • Maintains and updates internal evaluation files. • Verifies the implementation of solutions and corrective action plans. • Other duties as assigned. Physical Requirements The Physical Demands and Work Environment described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. Office - While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, see, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, keyboard, printer, and phone. May be required to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 20 lbs. May be required to work various shifts/days in a 24-hour situation. Regular attendance is a requirement of the role. Exposure to moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phones, printers, and foot traffic), temperature and light fluctuations. Ability to work in a confined area as well as the ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time. Some travel may be a requirement of the role. COVID-19 Vaccination National Mandate Allegiant requires all team members to complete a record in Allegiant’s Vaccination Tracking Tool. Team Members may opt to provide records documenting their fully vaccinated status or agree to comply with weekly COVID-19 testing and reporting. Requests for medical and religious exemptions for those who cannot be vaccinated will be considered with substantiating documentation. Essential Services Provider Allegiant as a national air carrier is deemed an essential service provider during declared national and state emergencies. Team Members will be required to report to their assigned trip or work location during national and state emergencies unless prohibited by local, state or federal order. EEO Statement Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran For more information, see https://allegiantair.jobs People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. APPLY HERE Director of Safety – Bloomington, MN Who Are We: Life Link III is a premier, nationally recognized air medical transport company, known for our clinical excellence, superior aviation program, and reliable response in providing care to critically ill or injured patients. Our priority is to do everything possible to give every patient their best chance for the best possible outcome – demonstrated by our unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients while on-board safe, state-of-the-art aircraft. We continually focus on innovation and work to put cutting edge technology and education in the hands of our flight medical crew, pilots, mechanics, operational control specialists and communication specialists so we can provide uncompromising care to the communities we serve. We do this work while living out our core values of safety, customer focus, excellence, integrity, innovation, and collaboration. Position Summary: At Life Link III, we believe that safety is interwoven in everything we do. We look at our leaders as agents of change, investing their talents to push the boundaries of the status quo and strive for excellence in air medical transport. The Director of Safety is a key leadership position and ideal for an experienced visionary, looking to utilize their experience and skill set in safety and apply to an industry-leading air medical program. This position engages directly with Life Link III’s CEO, Board of Directors, consortium members, while also serving as a trusted resource and safety advocate for all employees. The primary focus of the Director of Safety is the promotion of a strong safety culture and prevention of harm to people, property, and the environment. The Director of Safety will be expected to lead in areas of Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. To accomplish this, the Director of Safety will provide technical assistance in identifying, evaluating, and controlling hazards in a variety of contexts throughout the organization. The Director of Safety is responsible for the continuous development & implementation of the Life Link III Safety Management System (SMS) and administration of Life Link III Safety Management Programs (SMPs). The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader who embodies the mission and values of Life Link III. Position Highlights: · Under the direction outlined by the SMS – assist in implementation, management, modification, and additions to SMP · SMP implementation, oversight, management, and training, including day-to-day management of the following components: · Hazard Recognition - identify conditions or actions that may cause injury, illness, or property damage · Inspections/Audits - assess safety and health risks associated with equipment, materials, processes, facilities, or abilities · Fire Protection - reduce fire hazards by inspection, layout of facilities and processes, and design of fire detection and suppression systems · Regulatory Compliance - ensure that mandatory safety and health standards are satisfied · Maintain knowledge and awareness of all safety components of the FAA, OSHA (MN, WI, and Federal), EPA, airport authority, CAMTS, EMSRB, WI DHS, and others as applicable · Serves as the safety liaison for regulatory and accreditation site surveys · Health Hazard Control - control hazards such as noise, chemical exposures, radiation, or biological hazards that can create harm · Ergonomics - improve the workplace based on an understanding of human physiological and psychological characteristics, abilities, and limitations · Hazardous Materials Management - ensure that dangerous chemicals and other products are procured, stored, and disposed of in ways that prevent fires, exposure to or harm from these substances. · Environment - control hazards that can lead to undesirable releases of harmful materials into the air, water, or soil · Accident and Incident Investigations - determine the facts related to an accident or incident based on witness interviews, site inspections and collection of other evidence · Record keeping - maintain safety and health information to meet government requirements, as well as to provide data for problem solving and decision making · Review incident reports of a safety nature · Track, trend, and analyze data to identify concerns · Appropriately triage risk of concerns identified and proposes actionable plans for correction · Assist in development and regularly review site emergency plans for all Life Link III locations, including, but not limited to hangars, crew quarters, administrative offices, supply rooms · Emergency Response-Manage, administer, and facilitate the exercise of Life Link III’s Emergency Response plan. · Collaborates and engages across all departments and with external stakeholders for plan accuracy and plan updates. · Facilitates across departments for drill planning, drill execution, and evaluation. · Manage, administer, and provide training for the emergency notification software platform. · Security - identify and implement design features and procedures to protect facilities and businesses from threats that introduce hazards · Identify opportunities, gap analysis, and facilitate cross departmental collaboration about SMP · Training - provide employees and managers with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize hazards and perform their jobs safely and effectively · Provide content for annual safety training for all Life Link III locations including, but not limited to, hangars, crew quarters, administrative offices, supply rooms. Document and provide senior leaders updates about annual training · Attend new employee orientations and provide an overview and expectations of safety at Life Link III · Participate in safety education to external stakeholders such as hospitals, law enforcement, and EMS agencies · Collaborate with Marketing and Outreach to coordinate consistent messaging of a safety nature to external stakeholders · Coordinate with Clinical Services, Operations, Human Resources, or others as needed to assure that action plans are carried out when appropriate · Create, maintain, and updates policies as appropriate · Outline and update procedures appropriately to reflect current practices · Coordinate and lead safety sub-committee meetings · Coordinate the enterprise safety meeting · Ensure accountability and consistency of area and base representatives and/or designees · Lead the selection of base safety representatives, provide work direction and feedback · Maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders · Provide safety related education and/or materials as requested or needed · Promote a culture of safety through collaboration and partnerships that maximize the success of the program · Serve as a liaison on a wide range of safety related issues, and partner with content experts to ensure quality in the guidance given. What We Are Looking For: · Bachelor's degree in safety, industrial engineering, quality or emergency management, aeronautics, registered nursing or similar · 7+ years of experience in coordinating safety and loss prevention activities in a setting translatable to the services provided by Life Link III · Professional or equivalent safety certification (i.e. ASP or CSP) · Proven success collaborating across an organization to implement change · Experience leading collaborative teams, committees, or other working groups with internal and external stakeholders · 5+ years demonstrated leadership progression in enterprise-wide safety role(s) · Ability to adjust tasks quickly as circumstances dictate · Ability to communicate clearly and effectively · Ability to travel on short notice within the Life Link III system · Ability to respond to emergency events with limited notice Preferred Qualifications: · Master’s Degree preferred · Experience with rotor and/or fixed wing operations · Emergency Medical Services experience · Certification(s) in CPPS and ARM What We Offer: · We are committed to developing your talents through engaging work and access to an annual Professional Development Fund · Opportunity to grow · Competitive salary · Competitive Health Benefits · Employer Matching HSA on qualified plans · Employer Matching Retirement Plan with no vesting schedule · Competitive Paid Time Off to foster a work/life balance · To Apply Please Go to https://www.lifelinkiii.com/careers/job-openings/ Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements: To maintain the health and well-being of our fellow co-workers and the patients we serve; all Life Link III employees are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 prior to their first day of employment. Compliance/HIPAA: Must perform work in the manner prescribed by documented work process in order to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations, accreditation standards and laws that apply, 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