Flight Safety Information - January 3, 2022 No. 001 In This Issue : Incident: Vueling A320N at Barcelona on Jan 1st 2022, bird strike : Incident: Delta B763 at Madrid on Jan 1st 2022, engine shut down in flight : Incident: KLM B739 at Amsterdam on Jan 2nd 2022, rejected takeoff due to door indication : Incident: Gol B738 near Petrolina on Dec 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Flybondi B738 at Posadas on Dec 31st 2021, cracked windshield : Incident: Westjet B738 near Winnipeg on Dec 27th 2021, first officer incapacitated : Incident: Spicejet DH8D at Rajkot on Dec 30th 2021, took off without clearance : 2 SpiceJet pilots temporarily suspended for taking off without ATC nod : Report: Pilot induced oscillations caused B777 tailstrike on landing : Cathay Pacific sacks two aircrew for breaching COVID-19 rules : Telecoms Reject Another 5G Delay, Offer To Modify Airport Deployment (Updated) : Why are so many people bringing guns to the airport? : 2021 WAS SAFEST YEAR FOR FLYING SINCE 2017 : Cathay Pacific cancels longhaul cargo flights for seven days : New 5G frequencies could jam critical flight instruments : Kenya Airways and South African Airways to form new airline to launch in 2023 : Jet maker Safran plans 12,000 hires in 2022 as air traffic recovers : Philippine Airlines exits US bankruptcy : United, Spirit offer higher pay to on board staff during January : White House directs NASA to extend International Space Station operations through 2030 : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Vueling A320N at Barcelona on Jan 1st 2022, bird strike A Vueling Airbus A320-200N, registration EC-NAY performing flight VY-8309 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was climbing out of Barcelona's runway 07R when the crew stopped the climb at about 5000 feet reporting a bird strike and decided to return to Barcelona. The aircraft landed safely on runway 02 about 20 minutes after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration EC-MBE reached Amsterdam with a delay of about 2 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service after about 12 hours on the ground. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f28c505&opt=0 Incident: Delta B763 at Madrid on Jan 1st 2022, engine shut down in flight A Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N173DZ performing flight DL-127 from Madrid,SP (Spain) to New York JFK,NY (USA), was climbing through FL140 out of Madrid's runway 36L when the crew stopped the climb due to an engine (CF6) failure, shut the engine down and returned to Madrid for a safe landing on runway 32L about 20 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Madrid about 29 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f28c305&opt=0 Incident: KLM B739 at Amsterdam on Jan 2nd 2022, rejected takeoff due to door indication A KLM Boeing 737-900, registration PH-BXT performing flight KL-1125 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Copenhagen (Denmark), was accelerating for takeoff from runway 24 when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed advising ATC they did have a door open indication twice. The aircraft returned to the apron. A replacement Boeing 737-900 registration PH-BXO reached Copenhagen with a delay of 2.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 9 hours after the rejected takeoff. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f28c0e5&opt=0 Incident: Gol B738 near Petrolina on Dec 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight A Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-800, registration PR-GXM performing flight G3-1875 from Juazeiro Do Norte,CE to Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil) with 182 people on board, was climbing through FL230 out of Juazeiro Do Norte when the crew reported the right hand engine (CFM56) had failed and proceeded to shut the engine down. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Petrolina,PE (Brazil) for a safe landing about 35 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Petrolina about 21 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f280e85&opt=0 Incident: Flybondi B738 at Posadas on Dec 31st 2021, cracked windshield A Flybondi Boeing 737-800, registration LV-HKN performing flight FO-5121 from Posadas,MI to Buenos Aires Newbery,BA (Argentina), was climbing out of Posadas when the crew stopped the climb at about FL230 reporting a cracked windshield and returned to Posadas for a safe landing on runway 01 about 45 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Posadas about 16 hours after landing back. Argentina's JST is looking into the occurrence, that may be related to a bird strike on departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f27d104&opt=0 Incident: Westjet B738 near Winnipeg on Dec 27th 2021, first officer incapacitated A Westjet Boeing 737-800, registration C-FUSM performing flight WS-656 from Calgary,AB to Toronto,ON (Canada), was enroute at FL370 about 70nm northeast of Winnipeg when the first officer became ill and was unable to continue duties. A deadheading Westjet captain assumed the duties of the first officer, the aircraft turned around and diverted to Winnipeg for a safe landing about 40 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported the first officer was taken to a local hospital for assessment. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f275d31&opt=0 Incident: Spicejet DH8D at Rajkot on Dec 30th 2021, took off without clearance A Spicejet de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration VT-SUQ performing flight SG-3703 from Rajkot to Delhi (India), departed Rajkot's runway without clearance for takeoff. While in the climb ATC queried the crew who stated there had been a mistake. The aircraft climbed to FL250 and continued to Delhi without further incident. India's DGCA have opened an investigation into the occurrence. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2883e2&opt=0 2 SpiceJet pilots temporarily suspended for taking off without ATC nod Two SpiceJet pilots have been temporarily suspended by DGCA for taking off from Gujarat’s Rajkot without the mandatory clearance from ATC. The SpiceJet pilots of Rajkot-Delhi flight have been suspended pending an inquiry into the lapse. Two SpiceJet pilots have been temporarily suspended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for taking off from Gujarat’s Rajkot without the mandatory clearance from the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) on December 30, officials familiar with the matter said on Sunday. The pilots of Rajkot-Delhi flight have been off-rostered pending an inquiry into the lapse, by the aviation regulator, they added. “The crew has been off rostered, meaning they will not be allowed to fly till the enquiry is over and appropriate enforcement action taken if required,” a DGCA official said on condition of anonymity. According to officials, the two pilots onboard flight no SG-3703 took off from Gujarat at around 9.30 am on December 30 without taking the requisite clearance from the ATC. The flight landed in Delhi at 11.15 am. As per standard operating procedures (SOPs), an aircraft has to take multiple permissions from ATC before taking off from an airport. It needs to take permission to push back from the aircraft stand. Then, it has to take permission before starting the engines. Then, it has to take permission to stand in the line up, and then a final permission is given for take off. “An enquiry is being held to ascertain the reasons for the lapse and based on the outcome, appropriate action shall be taken against those found irresponsible,” DGCA director general Arun Kumar said. “Pilots have been off rostered pending an inquiry,” a SpiceJet spokesperson said, seeking anonymity. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/2-spicejet-pilots-temporarily-suspended-for-taking-off-without-atc-nod-101641148224994.html Report: Pilot induced oscillations caused B777 tailstrike on landing Status: Final Date: Tuesday 11 December 2018 Time: 14:54 Type: Boeing 777-333ER Operator: Air Canada Registration: C-FITW MSN: 35298/638 First flight: 2007-05-22 (11 years 7 months) Total airframe hrs: 54543 Cycles: 6815 Engines: 2 General Electric GE90-115B Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 17 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 376 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 393 Aircraft damage: Substantial Aircraft fate: Repaired Location: Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG) ( Hong Kong) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Toronto-Pearson International Airport, ON (YYZ/CYYZ), Canada Destination airport: Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG/VHHH), Hong Kong Flightnumber: AC015 Narrative: Air Canada flight AC15, a Boeing 777-300ER, suffered a tailstrike while landing on runway 07R at Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport. The captain was the Pilot Monitoring (PM) and the Initial Operating Experience Training Captain for the first officer. The crew anticipated an arrival and landing on runway 07L, however, there was a runway change to 07R. The weather was as expected with a wind velocity from 350 degrees at 12 knots. The aircraft intercepted the ILS and was stabilised on the approach to runway 07R, on the correct descent profile with the autopilot engaged through 1000 ft. The FO disengaged the autopilot after descending through 500 ft. Following the reversion to manual flight, the approach profile became approximately half a dot above the glideslope. At approximately 200 ft the aircraft entered into series of minor lateral roll deviations followed by a pronounced roll, first to the left and then to the right in response to the pilot’s control inputs. In response to the increasing unstable oscillations neither pilot called for or initiated a go around, nor did the other two crew members in the cockpit. At the runway contact point, the aircraft was rolling left and then right with a high rate of descent and a nose high pitch attitude. This resulted in a hard landing with the right main landing gear contacting the runway followed by the left main gear while the aft lower fuselage contacted the runway surface. The aircraft bounced with the right-hand main landing gear contacting the runway first. The aircraft bounced again, landing on the nose gear followed by both main gears. After the runway contact and initial bounce there was no call for a go around and after touch down from the subsequent bounce the PM removed the PF's hand from the thrust levers and selected reverse thrust. There was no formal transfer of control and there was a further distraction when a beverage container was dislodged from the PF's holder and dropped on to the floor and the PF bent forward to retrieve it. The aircraft then completed the landing roll and continued to the parking stand. The flight crew had recorded the descent and landing using a GoPro or similar action cam mounted on the left hand cockpit side window (without authorization from the airline). The crew voluntarily provided the footage for the investigation. Probable Cause: Causes: An unstable approach developed due to pilot induced lateral rolling oscillations which coupled with a high rate of descent resulted in an abnormal runway contact. Contributing Factors: 1) Stabilised Approach Criteria The late recognition by the PM that the stabilised approach criteria after the second (500 ft) arrival gate was outside the required tolerances. 2) Pilot Flying PIO Onset Recognition The over controlling (high gain) by the PF resulted in PIO. There is no requirement for PIO onset recognition or recovery actions in the operator’s training procedures. 3) Go Around Decision - The late recognition by the PM that the aircraft was in an unstable flight condition that should have resulted in an "unstabilised" or a "go around" call from the PM and required an immediate go around. - The PF did not initiate a go around when the aircraft was in a PIO condition. 4) Pilot Flying Loss of Situational Awareness Task saturation with the lateral oscillation and high gain corrections resulted in the high descent rate up to the runway contact point. 5) Pilot Monitoring Loss of Situational Awareness Any decision to go around during the bounce was impeded due to the "startle effect", which delayed any response or action. Accident investigation: cover Investigating agency: AAIA Hong Kong Status: Investigation completed Duration: 3 years Accident number: 05-2021 Download report: Final report Classification: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20181211-0 Cathay Pacific sacks two aircrew for breaching COVID-19 rules HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said on Saturday two of its aircrew whom have tested positive for the Omicron variant were sacked for breaching medical surveillance regulations. Cathay said five of its aircrew had tested positive following their return to Hong Kong from duty, and investigation into the cases had indicated a serious breach of protocols by some of those individuals. "Failure to comply with medical surveillance regulations will lead to disciplinary procedures. Two of the individuals are no longer employed by Cathay Pacific," the carrier said in a statement. It gave no further details. The regulations include spending a period quarantining at home after flying. "The actions of these individuals are extremely disappointing, as they undermine the otherwise exemplary dedication and compliance shown by our over 10,000 aircrew," Cathay said, adding it would work closely health authorities to reinforce public health protection. Hong Kong's health officials said on Friday the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has made its way past some of the world's toughest COVID-19 restrictions, with the city reporting its first cases outside its strict quarantine system. The government said on Saturday it was investigating eight additional Omicron cases. (https://bit.ly/3EK3UV8) https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/cathay-pacific-sacks-two-aircrew-143404573.html Telecoms Reject Another 5G Delay, Offer To Modify Airport Deployment (Updated) Verizon and AT&T say they’ll turn down the power of 5G broadband signals near major airports of their choosing for six months but otherwise the rollout of the much-anticipated system will go ahead as planned on Jan. 5. In a scathing letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson released by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, AT&T CEO John Stankey and Verizon’s Hans Vestberg chided the government officials for what they characterized as an eleventh-hour request to prevent widespread flight restrictions when they’ve had at least a year to prepare for 5G. The FAA has concerns that 5G signals that operate in a frequency range as close as 220 MHz to the band used by radar altimeters will disrupt the function of some altimeters. The devices accurately measure the final 200 feet of altitude in aircraft conducting instrument approaches and using autoland. It has prepared NOTAMs banning the use of radar altimeter-dependent avionics and procedures that will be issued anywhere it believes the 5G signals could make radar altimeters unreliable. In a letter to AT&T CEO John Stankey and Verizon’s Hans Vestberg on Dec. 31, Dickson and Buttigieg implored the executives to give them another couple of weeks to pull together a plan they hoped would blunt the worst potential effects of unleashing 5G. But the telecom executives responded they they’ve already accommodated the aviation community’s concerns with a costly one-month delay of the rollout and they’re not prepared to delay it any longer. They did, however, offer to modify the rollout to implement modifications similar to those imposed by the French government on 5G providers surrounding major airports there. “That approach—which is one of the most conservative in the world—would include extensive exclusion zones around the runways at certain airports,” Stankey and Vestberg said. “The effect would be to further reduce C-band signal levels by at least 10 times on the runway or during the last mile of final approach and the first mile after takeoff.” The modifications would be left in place until July. Dickson and Buttigieg wanted the two weeks to draft regulations to support phased-in implementation of 5G near so-called “priority airports” across the country. After the two weeks are up, the 5G rollouts could go ahead everywhere except in “buffer zones” around those priority airports. The goal was to prevent a massive domino effect of delays and cancellations if weather requires the use of radar altimeter-reliant equipment and procedures at those key facilities and they are not available. The agency also wants to expedite Alternative Means of Compliance (AMOC) that will allow at least some aircraft with interference-resistant radar altimeters to operate where 5G is present. “From the beginning of our discussions, our overarching goal has been to protect flight safety, while ensuring that 5G deployment and aviation operations can co-exist,” the letter says. “We believe this proposal advances this goal and avoids substantial disruptions to aviation operations—and to the flying public—in the short term.” The letter does not touch on what the long-term solution(s) to 5G interference might be but pundits speculate it revolves around who will pay to retrofit older aircraft with more modern altimeters that are shielded against the interference. Stankey and Vestberg responded that they were not about to turn over control of the pace and structure of the rollout to the FAA when they already have the full blessing of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency responsible for assigning radio spectrum. The telecoms have always claimed the interference fear is overblown and noted that U.S. aircraft routinely fly to France with FAA approval despite the existence of 5G there and in 40 other countries. The FCC has also maintained that there is no evidence the interference is an issue. That’s in direct disagreement with the findings of a study by the Radio Technical Committee for Aeronautics (RTCA), which first flagged the issue more than a year ago. It said there are tens of thousands of older radar altimeters at risk of interference from 5G. https://tinyurl.com/324dx7tp Why are so many people bringing guns to the airport? We get it. After so long off the road, a lot of air travelers are out of practice when it comes to remembering what is allowed or not allowed in carry-on bags. So we recommend reviewing the Transportation Security Administration’s 3-1-1 liquids rule explainer and the agency’s What Can I Bring web tool before your next trip. Baby food and bread? TSA says yes. Selfie sticks? Sewing machines? Yes, and Yes. Snow globes? It depends. And what about firearms and ammunition? Frequent travelers will say that’s a trick question. The rule is — and has always been — no guns are allowed in carry-ons. (You knew that, right?) But for some reason, this year a surprising number of travelers have been overlooking that rule. In mid-October, in a year when fewer overall passengers have been traveling due to the pandemic, TSA reported that its officers had found 4,495 firearms at airport security checkpoints. That, TSA said, not only exceeded the previous record of 4,432 firearms found at checkpoints in the full calendar year of 2019, but it also established a 20-year record. And there were still three months left in the calendar year. Guess what happened next? You probably won’t be surprised to learn that the tally of firearms found at airport checkpoints nationwide has continued to ratchet up. On December 21, TSA shared that its officers had already found more than 5,700 firearms at airport checkpoints nationwide this year. “And about 85% of those [firearms] were loaded,” TSA spokesman R. Carter Langston told TPG. Many passengers traveling during the Christmas holiday also brought their guns along. TSA said its officers stopped guns on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas. So, when TSA releases its official end-of-year firearm count, sometime in January, it’s a sure bet that the tally will be quite a bit higher. What’s fueling the flurry of firearms at airport checkpoints this year? There are a variety of theories about what’s behind the uptick in passengers arriving at airport checkpoints with firearms in their carry-on bags. But “the general consensus seems to be that we have far more leisure passengers traveling who are not as familiar with the rules,” says aviation security expert Jeff Price. “They think they can either circumvent the rules or that the rules do not apply to them because they might have a concealed carry permit.” Or, he says, it may be because they aren’t frequent flyers. “They aren’t in the habit of checking to make sure they don’t have a firearm on them when they go to the airport, as a much more experienced flyer does.” Adding to the rise in guns at airports is the fact that more people in the United States have guns. There has been a spike in firearm sales since the start of the pandemic. And most (5.4 million) of the 7.5 million people who bought guns between January 2019 and April 2021 lived in homes that didn’t have guns before, according to a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Check what you’re packing Firearms are allowed in checked baggage, but only if they’re unloaded, packed in a locked, hard case separate from any ammunition, and declared to the airline. Passengers who show up at a TSA checkpoint with a gun in a pocket, a purse, a bag, a shoe, a boot, or in any carry-on item may be cited and/or arrested by local police and fined up to $13,910 by TSA, which will also revoke a scofflaw’s PreCheck privileges. Bottom line: “Bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint represents a costly mistake and an unnecessary risk to TSA employees and fellow travelers,” says TSA’s Langston. https://thepointsguy.com/news/airports-guns/ 2021 WAS SAFEST YEAR FOR FLYING SINCE 2017 81 people lost their lives in four fatal air accidents worldwide last year, compared with 1.3 million who died on the roads Far fewer people died in aviation tragedies in 2021 than in the previous year, a review of air safety reveals. Dutch aviation safety consultancy To70 reports that 81 people lost their lives in four fatal accidents worldwide last year – compared with 299 fatalities in five crashes in 2020. Relative to the level of flying, it was the safest year worldwide since 2017, with only one accident involving a passenger jet. On 9 January 2021, Sriwijaya Air flight SJ182 took off from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, heading for Pontianak on the island of Borneo. But the Boeing 737-500 crashed into the Java Sea shortly after departure, with the loss of all 62 passengers and crew. The accident, which happened close to where Lion Air flight 610 came down on 29 October 2018, was blamed on a fault with the 26-year-old aircraft’s auto throttle. The three other fatal accidents involved small passenger propellor planes in commercial services. On 2 March 2021, 10 people died when a Let 410 belonging to South Sudan Supreme Airlines crashed in South Sudan. The accident was blamed on a mechanical problem. The same aircraft type was involved in the third crash, on 12 September in Russia. Four people died when the Aeroservice Let 410 undershot the runway at Kazatjinskoje in Siberia and struck trees during an approach in poor visibility. Twelve people, including the captain, survived. On 23 December in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a Shorts 360 belonging to Malu Aviation crashed shortly after take-off from the eastern town of Shabunda. There were 34 non-fatal accidents in 2021, one fewer than the previous year. The fatal accident rate for large aeroplane in commercial air transport is one in 5.3 million, compared with one in 3.7 million in 2020. It is the lowest fatal accident rate since 2017. Adrian Young, who compiled the review, called 2021 “another very difficult year for civil aviation”. He said: “The continuing Covid crisis has resulted in the bankruptcy of over a dozen airlines this year. Two flag-carriers were among the casualties; Air Namibia and Alitalia. “Many airlines and airports are carrying loans or have taken on additional debt to support themselves. Airports and their suppliers have also seen a marked drop in flights, passengers and revenue. “Issues relating to refresher training following long periods of absence, working in a period of underload – ie not enough stimuli or motivation to perform optimally – and mental health issues are all factors that the industry is striving to tackle.” Mr Young warned that aviation incident data suggest that that unpreparedness or unfamiliarity following periods of inactivity is affecting flight safety. “We hope that the efforts to minimise the new threats posed to civil aviation by that crisis are sufficiently suppressed by the initiatives being taken across the industry,” he said. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/air-safety-plane-crashes-2021-b1985244.html Cathay Pacific cancels longhaul cargo flights for seven days Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong Int'l) has confirmed it has suspended all long-haul cargo flights for seven days until January 6, 2022, after Hong Kong announced tightened quarantine requirements for crew members. “In light of additional and more stringent quarantine requirements for Hong Kong-based cargo crew, Cathay Pacific Cargo will pause all long-haul (Transpacific, Europe, South-west Pacific, Riyadh, and Dubai World Central) freighter and cargo-only passenger flights with immediate effect for a period of seven days, up to January 6. We sincerely apologise for the disruption caused. We will be working with customers to mitigate the disruption as much as possible. In addition, we are working with the relevant stakeholders on plans beyond January 6 and will communicate further on these as soon as possible,” the airline said in a statement in response to a query from ch-aviation. According to Flightradar24 ADS-B data, Cathay Pacific cancelled at least 15 flights between December 30 and January 1, including to Brisbane Int'l, Sydney Kingsford Smith, Perth Int'l, and Melbourne Tullamarine (Australia); Auckland Int'l (New Zealand); Los Angeles Int'l, Chicago O'Hare, and San Francisco, CA (USA); Vancouver Int'l (Canada); Manchester Int'l (UK); Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (Israel); Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (Thailand); and Kaohsiung (Taiwan). Citing an internal memo to staff, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported Cathay Pacific was activating “closed-loop operations” for cargo crew, which required staff to volunteer for lengthy stints away from home for up to several weeks. “We cannot transition to closed-loop operations overnight and we need to take a breather to fully consider all dependencies, including hotel room availability, which is critical,” Director of Flight Operations, Chris Kempis, was quoted. “As a result, we are stopping all 747 and cargo-only passenger flight layover operations with immediate effect for a period of seven days and planning to restart these during the course of the day on January 6th,” the note said. Kempis said the airline would press ahead with plans to send crew overseas to Los Angeles and reactivate its United States pilot base. Cargo crew initially only had to hotel quarantine for three days after arriving in Hong Kong, but this has now been extended to seven days, while cargo flights are required to implement "closed-loop" operations. SCMP earlier reported that a quarantine-exempt Cathay Pacific cargo pilot has been confirmed as the first carrier of the Omicron variant to enter Hong Kong. The airline also sacked three cargo pilots for becoming infected with COVID-19 during a layover in Frankfurt Int'l. This lead to more than 150 other Cathay Pacific employees being sent to a government quarantine facility for three weeks. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/111251-cathay-pacific-cancels-longhaul-cargo-flights-for-seven-days New 5G frequencies could jam critical flight instruments by John Herron, Guest Opinion Telecom companies engaged in an aggressive battle over new frequency licenses for 5G service that attracted nearly $100 billion at a Federal Communications Commission auction earlier this year.[1] But there’s a problem. The C-band frequencies, if deployed for 5G service, will interfere with aircraft radar altimeters and this creates a “major risk” to aviation safety. Radar altimeters, also known as radio altimeters, are the only sensor onboard aircraft providing pilots a direct and precise measurement of height over terrain and obstacles.[2] As 5G cell towers pop up in front yards without notice to homeowners,[3] we are learning 5G does not live up to the hype for ordinary consumers. The Government Accountability Office informs us 5G deployments produce “only modest performance improvements in many areas.”[4] Tech publications tell us 5G phones achieve slower speeds than 4G phones in most cities and “right now appear essentially worthless,”[5] which explains why wireless carriers pursued this frequency spectrum with such vigor. Study reveals “major risk” to aviation safety RTCA,[6] a technical guidance and advisory body to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), analyzed how transmitting these new wireless frequencies from 5G base stations would affect aircraft. “The results [of] this report reveal a major risk that 5G telecommunications systems in the 3.7 – 3.98 GHz band will cause harmful interference to radar altimeters on all types of civil aircraft – including commercial transport airplanes; business, regional and general aviation airplanes; and both transport and general aviation helicopters … including the possibility of catastrophic failures leading to multiple fatalities, in the absence of appropriate mitigations.” it concluded in a Report submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).[7] Professional pilot associations, airline management associations and others wrote a joint letter to the FCC: “The results of the [RTCA study] clearly indicate that this risk is widespread and has the potential for broad impact to aviation operations in the United States, including the possibility of catastrophic failures leading to multiple fatalities, in the absence of appropriate mitigations.”[8] United States Representative Peter DeFazio, a long-time aviation safety advocate and Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, realizes the implications. “[The RTCA’s] findings are alarming; they not only align with earlier research identifying harmful effects of 5G networks to radio altimeters, but they reflect a clear need for the FCC to return to the drawing board with this premature plan,” he said in a letter to the FCC. He continued, “[w]e must never take a chance with aviation safety – and at no point should commercial interests be placed above it.” As a former military pilot trained in low level adversary tactics, I realize the importance of a fully functioning and reliable radar altimeter. Whether a mechanical failure or due to radio frequency interference, a broken radar altimeter or erroneous readings can be unforgiving. Failed radar altimeter, system malfunctions, and a B737 crash Radar altimeter antennas are positioned on the belly of airplanes to transmit and receive signals downward and provide precise height data to pilots and other critical aircraft systems. The serious nature of faulty radar altimeter information is exemplified by a B737 crash during an approach to Runway 18R at Amsterdam Airport ten years ago. During the approach, a radar altimeter failure triggered the auto-throttle system to prematurely reduce the engine thrust lever as if the aircraft was landing, which caused the aircraft to crash about a mile short of the runway, resulting in a loss of aircraft, 120 injuries and nine fatalities.[9] A recipe for disaster From an aviation perspective, accurate and reliable radar altimeter information is critical for situational awareness, flight path management, controlled flight into terrain prevention and overall safe flight operations. A reliable radar altimeter is essential when conducting approaches in low visibility conditions to airports while descending at about 600 to 800 feet per minute. One critical scenario impacted is the loss of radar altimeter information during a windshear escape maneuver. There are many others, particularly in the training environment. For military operations, accurate radar altimeter information is crucial for low level military operations. Other flight operations impacted include helicopter training and helicopter operations at night or near mountains, low-level firefighting operations, remotely piloted drone operations, air ambulance flights, and more. This is a recipe for disaster and should be of particular concern to local elected officials and residents who live beneath flight paths near airports and low altitude military training routes because responsibility for reviewing 5G permit applications lies with local governments.[10] There is a deep concern about the potential impact on aviation safety. A letter from 21 aviation organizations to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg conveys “The aviation industry has analyzed the 5G service rules and firmly believes that these new systems will create a public safety hazard. … Simply, we will not be able to maintain the current level of public safety without additional support from the Biden-Harris Administration and the implementation of short-term mitigations by the cellular industry.” As warnings about this aviation risk are contemplated, aviation industry experts should consider the wireless industry’s influence as it pertains to wireless radiation and potential health effects. In 2019, Representative DeFazio wrote a letter to the FCC asking how the agency determined 5G technology was safe. The FCC responded it was considering all the evidence …. However, a court ruling last summer by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Environmental Health Trust v. FCC found the FCC ignored evidence of health effects to humans and wildlife and the court ordered the FCC to reconsider the scientific evidence especially in the current 5G environment where wireless networks have become ubiquitous. The risk of harmful interference to radar altimeters from 5G C-band signals cannot be mitigated by the aviation industry alone. Responsibility falls upon the telecom industry to reconsider 5G spectrum deployment strategies or adjust 5G transmitting locations near airports to mitigate the risk. Until then, the FCC should delay deployment of 5G using this spectrum until these aviation safety issues are resolved. ____________________ John Herron is an airline pilot and was a legislative affairs representative and labor negotiator for airline pilots. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a Juris Doctorate from the Temple University School of Law. He now resides in Pensacola where he was a Navy flight instructor. ______________________ [1] A Record-Breaking 5G Spectrum Auction Is Nearly Done. What It Means for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, by Nicholas Jasinski, Barron’s, Jan 12, 2021, at https://www.barrons.com/articles/a-record-breaking-5g-spectrum-auction-is-nearly-done-what-it-means-for-at-t-verizon-and-t-mobile-51610476201 (The licenses of for grabs – in the so-called C-Band – cover about 280 megahertz of spectrum falling between 3.3 GHz and 4.2 GHz. That counts as mid-band spectrum, which offers an attractive trade-off between connection speed and range); C-Band auction nears the $80B mark, by Joe Dyton, Connected Real Estate Magazine, Jan 7, 20201, at https://connectedremag.com/das-in-building-wireless/cbrs/c-band-auction-surpasses-78b-mark/; Auction 107: 3.7 GHz Service, at https://www.fcc.gov/auction/107; 5G Auction Shatters Record as Bidding Tops $69 Billion, by Drew FitzGerald, The Wall Street Journal, Dec 23, 2020 (Each bid is swathed in secrecy until the auction process ends. Analysts expect big names like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. to walk away with a large share of the licenses to match assets that rival T-Mobile US Inc. captured with its February takeover of Sprint.), at https://www.wsj.com/articles/5g-auction-shatters-record-as-bidding-tops-66-billion-11608731335; [2] RTCA Announces New White Paper on 5G Interference Impact on Radar Altimeter Operations, Oct 8, 2020, at https://www.rtca.org/news/rtca-announces-new-white-paper-on-5g-interference-impact-on-radar-altimeter-operations/; RTCA Sees ‘Widespread’ Risks to Aviation in Plan for Shared Radio Frequency Spectrum – Opening the spectrum to 5G telecommunications could interfere with radar altimeter operations, report says, by Linda Werfelman, Flight Safety Foundation, Oct 29, 2020, at https://flightsafety.org/asw-article/rtca-sees-widespread-risks-to-aviation-in-plan-for-shared-radio-frequency-spectrum/. [3] Pensacola man upset after 5G cell tower installed in his front lawn, WEAR-TV, Dec 24, 2020, at https://weartv.com/news/local/pensacola-man-shocked-to-find-5g-cell-tower-installed-in-his-front-lawn (“I came out to check out the mail, and there’s a new pole in town … I’m just very upset that I wasn’t notified and that’s not right.”); More 5G woes: Poles installed feet away from Pensacola resident’s front door, WEAR-TV, Jan 21, 2021, at https://weartv.com/news/local/more-5g-woes-pole-installed-feet-away-from-residents-front-door (“They’ve been pretty much unresponsive to everything … they say their hands are tied by state law and leave it at that.”). [4] 5G Wireless Capabilities and Challenges for an Evolving Network, Government Accountability Report GAO-21-26SP, Executive Summary, at https://www.gao.gov/assets/720/710861.pdf. For a discussion of radio frequency spectrum, see pages 5-6 and Figure 2: Electromagnetic spectrum. Other 5G challenges addressed by the GAO include spectrum available and efficiency, cybersecurity, privacy and location aggregators and data aggregators, and health effect risks from increased radio frequency (RF) radiation exposure. Id., at pages 26-45. The privacy aspects of this technology are addressed by Harvard Professor Shoshana Zuboff in The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. In this seminal work, Zuboff details how Verizon, AT&T and others are shifting their business models from fee-for-service to data harvesting for profit – similar to Google and Facebook before them. The health issues will be argued before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals next week at a hearing in Environmental Health Trust v. FCC, No. 20-1025 (D.C. Cir. July 27, 2020), where the FCC’s decision not to update its RF exposure limits is being challenged. [5] AT&T’s current 5G is slower than 4G in nearly every city tested by PCMag, by Jon Brodkin, ARS Tehnica, Sep 8, 2020 [DOWNLOAD COPY]; The 5G lie: The network of the future is still slow, by Geoffrey Flower, The Washington Post, Sep 8, 2020 “… across most of America in 2020, a 5G phone does diddly squat.” “The majority of Americans think 5G means ‘a faster and more reliable connection’ … My median download speed on AT&T was 32 Mbps with the 5G phone and 34 Mbps on the 4G one. On T-Mobile, I got 15 Mbps on the 5G phone and 13 Mbps on the 4G one. Verizon’s limited 5G network wasn’t available in my test area.” “When I asked executives at the networks about speed, they acknowledged a truth their advertisements carefully omit. ‘Our experience initially is as good or better than our 4G LTE experience’ … 5G is …. only as good as 4G.” [6] RTCA, at https://www.rtca.org/about/. [7] Assessment of C-Band Mobile Telecommunications Interference Impact on Low Rang Radar Altimeter Operations, RTCA Paper No. 274-20/PMC-2073, Oct 7, 2020, at Executive Summary page i, https://www.rtca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SC-239-5G-Interference-Assessment-Report_274-20-PMC-2073_accepted_changes.pdf. Table 5-1 at pages 10-11, provides examples of operational impacts due to radar altimeter failures, the phase of flight, and a risk severity analysis for each. “In the most extreme cases, loss of situational awareness may lead to an occurrence of Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), which is nearly always a devastating event resulting in aircraft hull loss and a high likelihood of loss of life or severe injuries to the flight crew and passengers,” at page 9. [8] Aviation Groups Call for Halt of FCC Spectrum Auction Affecting Radar Altimeters, Dec 7, 2020, at https://www.rtca.org/news/aviation-groups-call-for-halt-of-fcc-spectrum-auction-affecting-radar-altimete/. Pilot unions include the Air Line Pilots Association, International, and airline management associations include Airlines for America, Cargo Airline Association and Regional Airline Association. Many other aviation groups are included in this letter. [9] The Dutch Safety Board Report: Crashed during approach, Boeing 737-800, near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, 25 February 2009, May 2010, at https://catsr.vse.gmu.edu/SYST460/TA1951_AccidentReport.pdf. A subsequent investigation into The Dutch Safety Board investigation further exemplifies the critical nature of radar altimeters that provide faulty input to aircraft auto-flight systems, and other issues that contributed to the deadly accident. Here’s a link to the New York Times article breaking the story (How Boeing’s Responsibility in a Deadly Crash ‘Got Buried’, by Chris Hamby, NY Times, Jan 20, 2020); the release of the study the next day (Report of the Flight Crew Human Factors Investigation, Conducted for The Dutch Safety Board into the Accident of TK1951, Boeing 737-800 Near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, February 25, 2009); and a follow-up article in the New York Times (A Decade Later, Dutch Officials Publish a Study Critical of Boeing, by Chris Hamby, NY Times, Jan 21, 2020). [10] Pensacola’s Use of rights-of-way by wireless communications facilities. PMC 11-4-182 was sponsored by former Mayor Ashton Hayward and passed without any meaningful deliberation by City Council on Jan 11, 2018. Also, former Mayor Hayward submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission on June 8, 2018 to limit local authority over city controlled public rights-of-way. This was done without the advice and consent of City Council. The FCC mentioned Pensacola and Hayward’s support three times in FCC Order 18-133 – a federal regulation opposed by every state and municipal association that supports local authority. Also, former Mayor Ashton Hayward wrote a guest opinion with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr promoting the benefits of 5G. “Instead of relying on those large, 200-foot towers that marked 4G deployment of the past, 5G will run mostly on new ‘small cells,’ which can be no larger than a small backpack and attach to existing light poles,” ,” they wrote (PNJ, Sept. 24, 2018). The former Mayor either misunderstood 5G infrastructure, misrepresented it, or parroted the telecom industry pitch. The 5G “macrocell towers” being erected are 200 to 400 feet tall with extremely powerful electric support equipment. “Small cell poles” are 32 to 50 feet tall (anything but small) and transfer large amounts of data to alleviate the macrocell towers. But they only cover 250 to 750 feet, so Pensacola will probably need hundreds and perhaps thousands of these cell poles. The combined size of the antenna and supporting electrical equipment is 28 cubic feet as described in Florida’s small cell statute, or the size of a large refrigerator. 5G technology key to Pensacola’s growth, Sep. 24, 2018, at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2018/09/24/5-g-technology-key-pensacolas-growth-guestview/1410527002/. See also Florida’s Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act, F.S. 337.401(7)(a), et seq. See also Comprehensive Pensacola Ordinance and State Law Analysis by telecommunications attorney Andrew Campanelli, Jan 14, 2021, which will be presented to the Mayor, City Council and City Staff this week. Available at https://www.dropbox.com/s/m0wui8rbk2bb0d7/Pensacola%20FL%20Ordinance%20Review_Final.pdf?dl=0. Kenya Airways and South African Airways to form new airline to launch in 2023 A potential partnership between Kenya Airways and South African Airways appears to be a done deal. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced during an address to the nation on New Year’s Eve that the airlines will combine operations to form a new carrier, Pan-African Airline, with operations expected to begin in 2023. The partnership came about as both airlines sought options to expand their global coverage as well as stem the massive losses each has incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to The Standard, Uhuru said the alignment will help “To boost tourism, trade, and social engagement; and to bolster continental integration.” Want more aviation news, reviews and tips sent to your inbox? Sign up for TPG’s daily newsletter According to one aviation industry observer, a merger offers both carriers the best chance to stay solvent. “Both of these airlines were struggling financially before COVID-19, so you know they’re hanging by a thread,” noted John E. DiScala, the founder and editor-in-chief of Johnny Jet. “I think it’s a great idea to keep them both afloat.” A big question that remains unanswered at the moment is what this means for the airline’s network partnerships. South African Airways is part of Star Alliance, the biggest international alliance of airlines. Kenya Airways belongs to SkyTeam. There has been no information released about which network the new airline will be part of. That decision will obviously impact a number of travelers who want to learn if they will be able to redeem Delta or United miles when Pan-African Airline debuts. Back in September, Reuters reported Kenya Airways said in a statement, “It is not a merger but a partnership that seeks to re-organise (sic) KQ and SAA assets into an ecosystem that will make the South African and Kenyan aviation sector more competitive.” Kenya Airways has suffered dire financial losses since the coronavirus crisis upended global air travel. It reported losses of more than $333 million in 2020, and lost more than $100 million in the six-month period that ended June 30, 2021. South African Airways only recently resumed operations last September after grounding all commercial and cargo flights since September 2020. But even before the pandemic, SAA was hemorrhaging cash. Since 2018, the airline had amassed close to $1 billion in losses. It took an infusion of cash from the government to keep the country’s national carrier in operation. It is believed that the deal to combine operations and form Pan-African Airline was finalized during Uhuru’s two-day visit to South Africa last month. https://thepointsguy.com/news/kenya-south-african-airways-partnership/ Jet maker Safran plans 12,000 hires in 2022 as air traffic recovers PARIS (Reuters) - Jet engine maker Safran believes the worst of the crisis in aviation caused by COVID-19 is over, and plans to hire 12,000 people worldwide this year to build its capacity back up, its chief executive told a French newspaper. "Today air traffic is recovering, the placing of orders is dynamic, the tempo is increasing. The worst is behind us. I am very confident," Olivier Andries told the Figaro. "We are in the process of coming out of the crisis and we've decided to relaunch our hiring, with 12,000 hires planned in 2022, of which 3,000 will be in France," he was quoted as saying. Safran is the world's third largest aerospace contractor and with General Electric it co-produces engines for Airbus and Boeing aircraft. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Safran, along with most other players in the sector, reduced capacity and cut some jobs in response to the sharp downturn in orders from airlines. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jet-maker-safran-plans-12-082211563.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall Philippine Airlines exits US bankruptcy Philippine Airlines has said it has emerged from bankruptcy after a US court approved its plan to slash up to $2 billion in debt and obtain additional capital. The national carrier of the Philippines had filed for bankruptcy in the United States in September, seeking relief from creditors as it tried to survive the devastation unleashed on the airline industry by the coronavirus pandemic. Its court-approved reorganisation plan includes a $2 billion debt reduction and additional liquidity of $505 million from its main shareholder, PAL said in a statement Friday. It also has the option to obtain up to $150 million in additional financing from new investors. "PAL has streamlined operations with a reorganised fleet and is now better capitalised for future growth," the airline added. Air travel in the Philippines collapsed by more than 75 percent in 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus, according to government data. From 60 million domestic and international passengers in 2019, traffic plunged to just over 13 million in 2020. PAL said in September it had cancelled more than 80,000 flights, wiping out $2 billion in revenue, and let go of more than 2,000 employees. As borders reopen and travel restrictions ease, the airline said it will resume regular flights, including to cities in mainland China and Australia. https://www.yahoo.com/news/philippine-airlines-exits-us-bankruptcy-050911982.html United, Spirit offer higher pay to on board staff during January (Reuters) - United Airlines and Spirit Airlines Inc are bumping up pay for on board staff as they scramble to keep schedules intact after U.S. airlines were hammered by a week of mass cancellations. While Spirit's flight attendants are receiving double pay on any work through Jan. 4, according to their union, United is offering triple time for pilots who pick up extra trips during January, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The holiday season has been marred by delayed or canceled flights, causing chaos at most U.S. airports as sick staff and fear of contracting COVID-19 grow. Coupled with the prospect of dealing with unruly passengers, many pilots and cabin crew are even forgoing overtime incentives. That hesitancy, combined with bad weather and tight staffing, has led to over 8,000 flight cancellations over the past eight days, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. "All flight attendants, regardless of how you have obtained your pairing, will be receiving 200% pay for any pairing that touches Dec. 28 through Jan. 4," the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said in a statement. The union represents about 4,000 flight attendants at Spirit Airlines, according to the carrier's latest annual filing. Earlier this year, Florida-based Spirit Airlines was forced to cancel nearly 3,000 flights due to bad weather and staffing shortages. JetBlue Airways Corp said in a customer note on Thursday that 75% of its crew is based in the U.S. Northeast, a region that has been hit hard by COVID-19 infections. The carrier has already cut its schedule through Jan. 13 by about 1,280 flights. Alaska Air Group Inc said while the pandemic had hit its operations, the vast majority of cancellations and delays were due to bad weather. The airline last week agreed to offer some benefits such as instituting pay protections in case of any reassignments on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, the AFA said. Hawaiian Airlines said it had not offered new incentives to its crew for working during the holiday period. SkyWest Airlines said its operations continued to be hit due to weather and the Omicron variant, which is spreading rapidly and causing record-breaking cases across the United States. CNBC first reported United's pay plans. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/united-spirit-offer-higher-pay-181211416.html White House directs NASA to extend International Space Station operations through 2030 But the outpost's other partners have to sign on as well. The White House has given NASA a New Year's Eve "go" to continue operations on board the International Space Station through 2030, granting the orbital outpost a six-year life extension. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson was directed by the Biden-Harris administration to work with the agency's partners, including the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Russia's federal space corporation Roscosmos, to enable the International Space Station's use throughout the rest of this decade. "I'm pleased that the Biden-Harris administration has committed to continuing station operations through 2030," said Nelson in a statement posted to NASA's website on Friday (Dec. 31). "The International Space Station is a beacon of peaceful international scientific collaboration and for more than 20 years has returned enormous scientific, educational and technological developments to benefit humanity." Earlier funded for use for through 2024, NASA has been seeking ways to hand over its day-to-day operations of the space station to commercial entities in order to free up appropriations for its Artemis program of crewed lunar exploration. "The United States' continued participation on the ISS will enhance innovation and competitiveness, as well as advance the research and technology necessary to send the first woman and first person of color to the moon under NASA's Artemis program and pave the way for sending the first humans to Mars," said Nelson. The extension will also provide more time to ensure a seamless handover of low Earth orbit research and commercial activities from the International Space Station to new private outposts. NASA has recently entered into agreements with companies to develop commercial space stations either as a free-flying platforms or, as in one case, as a temporary extension to the International Space Station before separating on its own. First established in 1998, the International Space Station has been home to a continuous series of expedition crews for more than 21 years. As a microgravity laboratory, the station has hosted more than 3,000 research investigations from over 4,200 researchers across the world. Nearly 110 countries and areas have participated in activities aboard the space station, including more than 1.5 million students per year in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) outreach activities. ESA has previously voiced support for extending operations through 2030, and JAXA has certified that its Kibo laboratory and related components are capable of supporting activities until then. Roscosmos has proposed leaving the partnership in 2025 in favor of deploying its own space station but at the same time has recently attached a new multipurpose laboratory module ("Nauka") and a new docking port ("Prichal') to its segment of the International Space Station. Then there are the growing tensions between U.S. and Russia on more earthly matters, though the space station partnership has survived similar past challenges. Prior to the White House's direction, Congress considered legislation to continue use of the space station through 2030. Bills introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate garnered bipartisan support but did not reach a vote. "As more and more nations are active in space, it's more important than ever that the United States continues to lead the world in growing international alliances and modeling rules and norms for the peaceful and responsible use of space," Nelson said. https://www.space.com/white-house-international-space-station-2030-extension GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY My name is Jason Starke, and I am a doctoral student at Northcentral University. I am conducting a research study to determine if the effects of servant leadership are positively related to employee participation in the organization’s safety management system through positive commitment to the organization. I am recruiting individuals who meet all these criteria: 1. Are 18 years of age or older. 2. Are employed by an organization that conducts business aviation operations under 14 CFR 135. 3. Are employed by an organization that is registered to the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). 4. Are employed as a flight crew member (cockpit or cabin) and/or as an aircraft mechanic. If you decide to participate in this study, you will be asked to do the following activities: 1. Complete an online survey for 15 minutes. During these activities, you will be asked questions about: · Your age, gender, and race. · Your current job role in the organization, how many years you have served in that role across your career, and how many years you have served with your current organization. · Servant leadership characteristics of your immediate supervisor or manager. · Your current level of commitment to your organization. · Your perception of the degree to which certain safety behaviors and safety management activities are part of your job responsibilities. If you are interested in participating in this study, please click this link: https://ncu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5nC84XvifID4jtQ If you have questions, please contact me at J.Starke8609@o365.ncu.edu. Thank you! Jason Starke Curt Lewis