Flight Safety Information - January 5, 2022 No. 003 In This Issue : Incident: American A319 at Columbus on Jan 3rd 2022, blew tyre on landing : Accident: LANHSA JS31 at Roatan on Jan 4th 2022, gear collapse on landing causes runway excursion : Incident: Azul A20N at Sao Paulo on Dec 29th 2021, slat failure : Beechcraft A100 King Air - Hard Landing (Arkansas) : South Korean stealth fighter makes emergency 'belly landing' : Internal Qantas Memo Flags Errors By Out-Of-Practice Pilots : Pakistan says ICAO withdaws safety objection after pilot scandal : Biden hails 5G wireless deal averting aviation safety crisis : MC-21-300 Aircraft Receives Type Certificate from Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency : The world's safest airline for 2022 revealed : Booze Ban: Airlines That Operate Dry International Flights : TAMARACK PETITIONS NTSB TO RECONSIDER CRASH CAUSE : EASA seeks new techniques to detect air-data failure and control-law errors : FAA Expands Pilot Training Evaluations : 25 Veterans To Get A Leg-Up In Aviation Careers With $300K Grant : Alaska Airlines Launches Program for Aspiring Black Pilots : U.S. carrier Allegiant Air to buy 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets -sources : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: American A319 at Columbus on Jan 3rd 2022, blew tyre on landing An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N829AW performing flight AA-1492 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to Columbus,OH (USA), landed on Columbus' runway 28L when a tyre blew causing also damage to the gear door and a hydraulic line. The aircraft slowed safely. The aircraft is still on the ground in Columbus about 25 hours after landing. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT BLEW A TIRE ON LANDING DAMAGING GEAR DOOR AND HYDRAULIC LINE, COLUMBUS, OH.", the damage was "UNKNOWN" and the occurrence rated an incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2a83fd&opt=0 Accident: LANHSA JS31 at Roatan on Jan 4th 2022, gear collapse on landing causes runway excursion A LANHSA British Aerospace Jetstream 3101, registration HR-AYY performing a flight from an unknown point of origin to Roatan (Honduras), landed on Roatan's runway 07 at about 13:00L (19:00Z) but suffered the collapse of the right hand main gear and subsequently veered off the runway coming to rest on soft ground off the runway. There were no injuries, all occupants were safely taken off the aircraft. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2a7c5a&opt=0 Incident: Azul A20N at Sao Paulo on Dec 29th 2021, slat failure An Azul Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200N, registration PR-YRV performing flight AD-9187 from Cruz,CE to Sao Paulo Congonhas,SP (Brazil) with 162 passengers and 6 crew, was on approach to Congonhas Airport when the crew received a "SLAT FAIL" message prompting the crew to stop the descent at 6000 feet and divert to Sao Paulo Viracopos Airport where the aircraft landed safely about 40 minutes later. The aircraft returned to service about 26 hours later. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f29922e&opt=0 Beechcraft A100 King Air - Hard Landing (Arkansas) Date: Tuesday 28 December 2021 Time: 11:53 Type: Beechcraft A100 King Air Operator: Sky-Bound Aviation LLC Registration: N93GT MSN: B-179 First flight: 1974 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Helena-Thompson-Robbins Airport, AR (HEE) ( United States of America) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Private Departure airport: Helena-Thompson-Robbins Airport, AR (HEE), United States of America Destination airport: Camilla Mitchell County Airport, GA (KCXU), United States of America Narrative: A Beechcraft A100 King Air, registration N93GT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in a hard landing accident at Thompson-Robbins Airport (KHEE/HEE), Arkansas. There were no injuries. Preliminary information indicates the aircraft experienced an auto feather related problem while climbing through 2000ft. The crew decided to return but the aircraft landed very hard, resulting in extensive damage to the left wing. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20211228-1 South Korean stealth fighter makes emergency 'belly landing' Seoul, South Korea (CNN)The pilot of a South Korean F-35A jet fighter made an emergency "belly landing" at an air base on Tuesday after its landing gear malfunctioned due to electronic issues, a South Korean Air Force spokesperson said. According to experts, the "belly landing" -- touching down with landing gear retracted -- was an unprecedented event for the $100 million US-designed stealth fighter now in use or on order by more than a dozen countries. "The jet did an emergency landing as the landing gear did not extend. This would mean the jet did the 'belly landing,'" said a South Korean military official, who would not confirm whether the aircraft suffered any damage in the incident. Even if it did, it would demonstrate superb flying skills by the pilot, whom officials said walked away from the landing, according to a South Korean military official. "A gear-up landing on the F-35 may be quite difficult and dangerous because of the angle of attack the aircraft has on approach to touchdown," said David Cenciotti, a former Italian air force officer and editor of The Aviationist blog. "The F-35 lands really fast. It's not an F-16, 18 or 111," said Peter Layton, a former Australian air force officer now at the Griffith Asia Institute, referring to older, less sophisticated military aircraft than the F-35. "I'm very surprised the emergency gear down systems didn't work, or weren't used," he said. Layton also expressed surprise that the South Korean pilot didn't eject, "but clearly they did the right thing," he said. An investigation into the incident was underway, South Korean officials said. South Korea received its first US-made F-35 in 2019 as part of an initial order of 40 of the single-engine jets, according to the plane's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. South Korea's new aircraft carrier could look like a mini HMS Queen Elizabeth South Korea's new aircraft carrier could look like a mini HMS Queen Elizabeth Versions of the F-35 are also flown by the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as US allies and partners including Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands and Israel. More countries have orders in for the jet. Tuesday's accident is the first for a South Korean F-35, but the jets have been involved in at least eight other incidents, according to records kept by crowdsourced website F-16.net. The most recent of those was the loss of a British F-35, which crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in November. The pilot ejected safely from that plane. In May 2020, the pilot ejected safely when a US Air Force F-35 crashed on landing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The Air Force attributed the crash to a variety of a factors involving the pilot and the plane's systems. In April 2019, a Japanese F-35 crashed into the Pacific Ocean off northern Japan, killing its pilot. The Japanese military blamed that crash on spatial disorientation, "a situation in which a pilot cannot sense correctly the position, attitude, altitude, or the motion of an airplane," according to the journal Military Medicine. Lockheed Martin says the F-35 "is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe." https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/05/asia/south-korea-f-35-fighter-jet-belly-landing-intl-hnk-ml/index.html Internal Qantas Memo Flags Errors By Out-Of-Practice Pilots Some formerly grounded Qantas pilots getting back in the air have lost their shine, according to a leaked confidential internal memo. That memo says some grounded pilots “have lost recency and experienced a subsequent reduction in cognitive capacity.” A leaked Qantas memo suggests out-of-practice pilots are now making errors. Out-of-practice pilots making some rookie errors Nine Entertainment’s Matt O’Sullivan broke the story overnight after obtaining a memo written by Qantas’ fleet operations boss, Captain Alex Scamps. He says some out-of-practice pilots are making basic errors that aren’t necessarily dangerous but reflect a recent lack of flying. The memo identifies errors such as commencing take-off procedures with the park brake set, misidentification of altitude as airspeed, incorrectly setting cockpit switches, repeated unstable approaches, and a general lack of situational awareness. “Routine items that used to be completed with a minimum of effort now occupy more time and divert attention away from flying the aircraft,” the memo read. “Combined with reduced flying across the network, we recognize a flow-on effect for flight crew’s focus and familiarity with the operation.” Qantas had parked many of its planes, leaving many pilots temporarily out of work. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Qantas checks and balances pick up the problems The memo also referenced an infamous incident last year when the wheels on a Qantas jet taking off wouldn’t retract after the ground crew failed to remove two gear pins before pushing back. However, this incident could be categorized as an engineering error rather than a pilot error. “Things that come as second nature now take a bit longer when you are not doing it every day,” Strategic Aviation Solutions Chairman Neil Hansford told ABC Radio on Wednesday. Mr Hansford suggested things were not quite as problematic at Qantas as a quick scan of the memo would suggest. He praised the airline for retaining its check and training captains and simulator facilities throughout the travel downturn. Now, as those captains put out-of-practice pilots through their license renewal process, they are seeing mistakes made. “It’s a two-crew operation,” Mr Hansford notes. “Everything you do is checked by the person beside you. The person flying is checked by the non-flying pilot. Don’t over-estimate the safety concerns (in the memo).” Qantas retained its top captains (pictured) who are now seeing errors when training up other pilots. Ingrained cultural issues at Qantas causing trouble? The Strategic Aviation Solutions Chairman says the errors are being picked up in training rather than on actual passenger flights. But Mr Hansford points to some ingrained cultural issues at Qantas that drive troublemaking behavior, such as, say, leaking memos. “One of the problems at Qantas is you’ve got a group of people who believe they’re elite. They still don’t understand Qantas isn’t owned by the government (anymore), and there’s not just a bottomless pit to throw money at their avarice. “A bit more loyalty from the Qantas pilots, a bit more commitment to doing their job properly, and this story wouldn’t exist.” Ouch. A Qantas spokesperson said getting pilot skills and muscle memory back up to scratch was a complicated process. “We recognized very early that we needed to think differently about pilot recency, currency, and refamiliarisation programs, and so we designed an enhanced return-to-work program fit for the unprecedented challenge facing our industry,” the Nine Entertainment report cites the spokesperson saying. “Safety is our number one priority, and all of the data shows that our pilots are coming back with the skills and confidence to do their job safely.” Alex Scamps, who also moonlights as Chairman of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, acknowledges it isn’t easy to pick for pilots to immediately pick up where they left off 18 months ago. He adds Qantas will support pilots and put safety and compliance ahead of benchmarks such as on-time performance at all times. https://simpleflying.com/qantas-leaked-memo-pilot-error/ Pakistan says ICAO withdaws safety objection after pilot scandal KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has said Pakistan’s civil aviation regulator has resolved significant safety concerns that arose from a 2020 scandal over fake pilot licences, Pakistani authorities said on Wednesday. Pakistan grounded 262 airline pilots in June 2020 after they were suspected of cheating on mandatory licence tests - a scandal that tainted Pakistan’s aviation industry and its flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which European and U.S. aviation regulators barred from there territories. "It has withdrawn its objection on significant safety concerns,” a spokesman for Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Saifullah Khan, said, referring to the ICAO. A representative of the ICAO, a U.N. aviation agency, was not immediately available for comment. The scandal came to light following the crash of a PIA plane in May 2020 in the city of Karachi, in which 97 people were killed. L1N2SY0JB Pakistani officials accused 262 pilots, a vast majority of whom were flying commercial aircraft, of having someone else take their mandatory exams for qualifying as a pilot. Following the scandal, the ICAO asked Pakistan to undertake immediate corrective action and suspend the issuing of any new pilot licences. A nine-member ICAO committee carried out a 10-day audit in Pakistan, which was concluded in early December. Pakistan's aviation authority distributed a statement it said came from the ICAO stating: “The Committee determined that the actions taken by Pakistan had successfully resolved significant safety concerns." Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has said it hoped it could resume licensing pilots in February. PIA issued a statement citing chief executive Arshad Malik as welcoming the ICAO conclusion as a positive development for aviation in Pakistan, which would pave the way for the resumption of PIA flights to Britain and the rest of Europe. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/pakistan-says-icao-withdaws-safety-objection-after-pilot-scandal-2022-01-05/ Pakistani airlines cleared to fly to EU, US after international safety audit: CAA The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said on Wednesday that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had lifted all restrictions on the body which would allow Pakistani airlines to resume operations to Europe, the United States and the United Kingdom. PCAA spokesperson Saifullah Khan said the ICAO had lifted the ban on the authority from issuing new licenses to pilots as well as restrictions on Pakistani airlines barring them to fly to Europe, the US and the UK. Khan said that the global aviation body had also withdrawn all safety objections against the PCAA and had expressed satisfaction over the measures taken to address important safety issues. In a letter addressed to PCAA Director General Khaqan Murtaza, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the ICAO referred to the "significant safety concern" that was issued on September 18, 2020 and the subsequent audit conducted from Nov 20 to Dec 10, 2021. "During the audit, the ICAO team reviewed the corrective actions taken and related evidence presented by Pakistan to address the significant safety concern regarding the licensing of the state, specifically in relation to the examinations conducted by the PCAA and by delegated or designated training organisations prior to the issuance of licenses and ratings," the letter said. It stated that the ICAO validation committee reviewed the actions and relevant evidence validated in Pakistan and determined that the action taken had successfully resolved the significant safety concern. The letter, written by the deputy director of the Monitoring and Oversight Air Navigation Bureau, thanked the DG and his team for assisting the ICAO audit team and appreciated Pakistan's active commitment towards achieving the body's safety objectives. On June 30, 2020, the European Union had suspended the authorisation for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate in the bloc for six months. The move had followed the grounding of 262 pilots whose licences Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had termed “dubious”. PIA was informed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in December 2020 that the ban wouldn't be lifted until a safety audit of PCAA was carried out. The agency extended the ban in April 2021 and directed PCAA to get its safety audit done by ICAO. The audit team arrived in Pakistan on Dec 7 and completed its investigation in the next few days. The PCAA director general had subsequently told the participants of a meeting of the Senate Sub-Committee on Aviation that the ban was expected to be lifted soon as the ICAO's validation committee had cleared a safety audit report after which the significant safety concerns would be gradually eased out. https://www.dawn.com/news/1667782/pakistani-airlines-cleared-to-fly-to-eu-us-after-international-safety-audit-caa Biden hails 5G wireless deal averting aviation safety crisis WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden hailed a deal between wireless carriers and U.S. regulators that will allow the deployment of new 5G wireless in two weeks and averted an aviation safety crisis. AT&T (T.N) and Verizon Communications (VZ.N) agreed late Monday to delay C-Band wireless spectrum deployment until Jan. 19 but won key assurances that they will be able to start service this month, according to a Transportation Department letter seen by Reuters. The delay came after pressure from the White House, aviation unions and a threat by airlines to file suit to block the deployment that could have disrupted thousands of daily flights. Biden said the "agreement ensures that there will be no disruptions to air operations over the next two weeks and puts us on track to substantially reduce disruptions to air operations when AT&T and Verizon launch 5G on January 19th." The aviation industry and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have raised concerns about potential interference of 5G with sensitive aircraft electronics like radio altimeters that could disrupt flights. Verizon Chief Executive Hans Vestberg told employees Tuesday in an email that it sees no aviation safety issue with 5G, but said the FAA "intended to disrupt an already difficult time for air travel if we move ahead with our planned activation... We felt that it was the right thing to do for the flying public, which includes our customers and all of us, to give the FAA a little time to work out its issues with the aviation community." U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator chief Steve Dickson told AT&T and Verizon in a letter Monday, seen by Reuters, the agencies will not seek any further delays in deployment of 5G wireless service beyond Jan. 19 absent any "unforeseen aviation safety issues." The agreement "will give us additional time and space to reduce the impacts to commercial flights," they wrote. The attached "final term sheet" said unless "unforeseen aviation safety issues" arise the U.S. agencies "will not seek or demand any further delays of C-Band deployment, in whole or in part, including a delay of return to routine operations." Airlines for America, a group representing American Airlines (AAL.O), FedEx Corp (FDX.N), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and others, had been preparing to file suit late Monday absent a delay, industry officials told reporters. A wireless industry official told Reuters the deal gives them assurances they will be able to begin deployment this month. AT&T and Verizon had agreed Sunday to adopt exclusion zones for six months around some airports in a bid to mirror safeguards adopted by France, but had rejected Buttigieg's request for a delay of up to two weeks. The letter said that by Friday regulators will provide the carriers "with a list of no more than 50 priority airports that they would propose to be subject to the C-Band exclusion zones" that AT&T and Verizon had proposed Sunday. Additional requests may be made for "voluntary surgical mitigation measures at any individual airport" but AT&T and Verizon "shall have sole discretion to determine if any requested mitigations, adjustments or alterations will be made." AT&T and Verizon won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum in an $80-billion auction last year. In total, Verizon paid $52.9 billion for the spectrum, including incentive payments and clearing costs, to reach more than 100 million Americans, while AT&T paid $23.4 billion. AT&T and Verizon in November initially agreed to delay the deployment by 30 days to Jan. 5 after the FAA raised safety concerns and the carriers adopted voluntary precautionary measures for six months. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-outlines-deal-with-att-verizon-over-5g-delay-letter-2022-01-04/ MC-21-300 Aircraft Receives Type Certificate from Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency • The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) has issued a Type Certificate for MC-21-300 passenger aircraft to Irkut Corporation. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) has issued a Type Certificate for MC-21-300 passenger aircraft to Irkut Corporation (part of the United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec State Corporation. The Type Certificate confirms the MC-21-300 compliance with the certification requirements established for civil aircraft. At the same time, the Federal Air Transport Agency has issued the Design Organization Certificate to Irkut Corporation in relation to the MC-21 aircraft. “The issuance of a Type Certificate for MC passenger aircraft is the result of work carried out by the Federal Air Transport Agency, the Aviation Register of Russia and accredited certification centers. This is the first important stage in the development of the latest domestic aviation technology. The Federal Air Transport Agency is ready to continue work on expanding the operating conditions of the aircraft and optimizing the structures, including remotorization for the domestic PD-14 engine. "- said Alexander Neradko, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency. The MС-21-300 is a new generation medium-range aircraft with 163 to 211 seats. It is designed for the most popular segment of passenger air transportation and embodies the latest developments in aviation engineering. "The obtaining of the Type Certificate from the Federal Air Transport Agency is the most important event for the MC-21 project and the aviation industry. The document confirms that the aircraft is ready for mass production and sales. The aircraft is modern, beautiful, and literally world-class, with a large number of design innovations and the largest cabin among its peers. I'm sure both airlines and passengers will appreciate it," noted Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation. The MC-21 is the world’s first mid-range aircraft to be fitted with composite wings. Composites make about 40%. "Actually, thanks to the MC-21, we have experienced a technological revolution in the Russian aircraft industry. New materials for the manufacture of the wing have been developed and produced. The design, production and testing of aggregates made of composites has been mastered. Advanced technologies of modular assembly production have been introduced. The participants in the MC-21 cooperation were united by an information environment that provides digital design and production. The aircraft is intended for the most popular market segment. In the next 20 years, Russia alone is forecasted to need 800+ new aircraft of this size. After proving the aircraft’s outstanding performance in the domestic market, we will go to the international market," said Yury Slyusar, director general of UAC. Since 2021, it is only domestic materials that are used to make wings of the MC-21-300 aircraft. The first Russian-made composite wing was installed on the MC-21-300 in July 2021. In December 2021, the first MC-21-300 with the Russian-made composite wings commenced the flight tests. “In 2022, we will focus our efforts on expanding the type certificate for the MC-21-300 aircraft. First of all, we will complete the certification of an aircraft with a wing made of Russian composite materials. We will also test the airliner in high altitude conditions, strong crosswinds, low and high temperatures. This will allow “Rossiya” Airlines to operate the MS-21-300 in any geographic zones," stated Andrey Boginsky, director general of Irkut Corporation. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/commercial-airline/press-release/21251828/rostec-mc21300-aircraft-receives-type-certificate-from-russias-federal-air-transport-agency The world's safest airline for 2022 revealed • World's safest airline: Air New Zealand takes first place on the annual list of the safest airlines around the globe from AirlineRatings.com. (CNN) — The past year has proved to be yet another incredibly difficult one for airlines as the slump in air travel continued throughout 2021 due to the impact of the ongoing pandemic. Even now, two years after Covid-19 was first brought to the world's attention, there are still far fewer flights and passengers taking to the skies. The virus has also continued to dominated conversations around air safety, leading to some significant changes in the annual list of the world's safest airlines from AirlineRatings.com, an airline safety and product review website. This year, Air New Zealand has come out on top on the annual safety table, which monitors 385 carriers from across the globe, measuring factors such as the airlines' crash and serious incident records, the age of their aircraft, as well as Covid-19 protocols and operational innovation. Top ranking Qantas has lost the top spot on AirlineRatings.com's list of the world's safest airlines. The flag carrier airline for New Zealand was awarded first place "due to its excellent incident record, number of cockpit innovations, pilot training and very low fleet age," according to Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of the Australian-based website. Etihad Airways took second place, while Qatar Airways came in third, with Singapore Airlines and TAP Portugal achieving fourth and fifth place respectively. Noticeably missing from the top five is Qantas, which held the title of world's safest airline from 2014 to 2017, as well as 2019 to 2021 (no clear winner could be found in 2018). Australia's flag carrier takes seventh place this time due to a "slight increase in incidents coupled with the fleet age." In October 2021, a Qantas Boeing traveling from the Australian city of Perth to Adelaide in Western Australia was diverted due to a fuel imbalance, in an occurrence classified as a "serious incident." "The last two years have been extremely difficult for airlines with Covid-19 slashing travel and Airline Ratings editors have particularly focused on the lengths airlines are undertaking to retrain pilots ahead of a return to service," explains Thomas. "Air New Zealand is a leader in this field with comprehensive retraining." The airline also received praise for being a world leader in operational safety advancements over the past four decades. Its various initiatives include recently becoming one of the first airlines in the world to trial the use of Assaia Apron AI technology to improve its aircraft turn times. "Air New Zealand has excelled across the broad safety spectrum never losing sight of the smallest detail while caring for its flight crews who have worked under significant stress," Thomas tells CNN Travel. On some occasions, AirlineRatings has chosen to simply name its winner, before listing the rest of the top airlines alphabetically. But the website has recently opted to rank each of the top 20 airlines in numerical order, revealing some significant movement from year to year. For example, Emirates was at number five on the 2021 list, but the UAE airline has been listed at 20th place this year, while Southwest Airlines was ranked 13th in 2021, but is not included in the new top 20 for 2022. AirlineRatings.com has also produced a list of the world's safest budget airlines, which are listed alphabetically as they are ranked equally, once again. The top 10 safest low-cost airlines are: Allegiant Air, easyJet, Frontier Airlines, Jetstar Group, Jetblue, Ryanair, Vietjet Air, Volaris, Westjet and Wizz Air. AirlineRatings.com's safest airlines for 2022: 1. Air New Zealand 2. Etihad Airways 3. Qatar Airways 4. Singapore Airlines 5. TAP Air Portugal 6. SAS 7. Qantas 8. Alaska Airlines 9. EVA Air 10. Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic 11. Cathay Pacific Airways 12. Hawaiian Airlines 13. American Airlines 14. Lufthansa 15. Finnair 16. KLM 17. British Airways 18. Delta Air Lines 19. United Airlines 20. Emirates https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-safest-airlines-2022/index.html Booze Ban: Airlines That Operate Dry International Flights Like a dry wedding or a month-long detox program, the idea of a dry flight fills some prospective passengers with horror. But several airlines don’t serve alcohol on their flights. Primarily, this is to abide by home country cultural and legal norms. But is foregoing inflight alcohol a reason not to fly with these airlines? No-alcohol-Airlines Saudia Airlines is one of the best-known airlines that only operate dry flights. Skipping inflight alcohol is an issue for some passengers In the United States, several airlines recently temporarily stopped serving alcohol on domestic flights. They said bad passenger behavior was on the rise, and alcohol was fuelling it. The tide is slowly turning on that ban, but it shone a spotlight on the nexus between flying and drinking. For many people, getting on a flight later in the day and being served a miniature bottle of bottom-shelf spirits in a plastic cup with ice of unknown origins is a longstanding habit. Like wanting a crappy inflight meal, the inflight drinks service is a product of both tradition and marketing. For most people, foregoing alcohol on shorter flights isn’t a drama, but it can be different for longer flights. Despite experience and evidence saying alcohol consumption on long-haul flights dehydrates the body and contributes to jetlag, many people consider several drinks integral to the long-haul inflight experience. However, plenty of airlines out there don’t serve alcohol during flights. Some are short-haul domestic carriers. Others have more extensive networks. In this article, we will look at airlines that do not inflight alcohol on their international operations. No-alcohol-Airlines Sharjah-based Air Arabia is another airline to ban inflight alcohol. Cultural and legal conventions dictate inflight alcohol bans The airlines that do ban inflight alcohol tend to be from Islamic countries. That’s fair enough, given Islamic cultures frown on alcohol consumption. Airlines that completely ban alcohol include Afriqiyah Airways, Air Arabia, Ariana Afghan, Biman Bangladesh, Iran Air, Jazeera Airways, Kuwait Airways, Mahan Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, and Tunisair. Some of these airlines have limited international operations, and there are others you may not choose to fly for reasons other than their drinks policy. However, several are decent airlines with solid safety records and a reputation for decent inflight service. Simple Flying’s Chris Loh took a couple of flights on Saudia around two years ago. He noted their no alcohol policy but praised the alternatives like guava and mango juice. He said the overall food and beverage service was solid and he enjoyed his economy class flight. Of the dry airlines with international operations, Saudia’s network is among the most far-reaching. Their flights go as far as the United States, Asia, and Europe. Like other Saudia Arabia-based airlines, Saudia is explicit about its alcohol policy. “Saudia does not serve or permit passengers to carry or drink alcoholic beverages on its flights,” the airline says in its terms and conditions. No-alcohol-Airlines Dry airlines must skip the obligatory glass of wine in their food and beverage promotional photos. Airlines upfront about their alcohol bans Sharjah-based AirArabia also makes its stance on alcohol quite clear, saying, “smoking and alcohol are prohibited onboard Air Arabia aircraft.” Air Arabia doesn’t fly quite as far as Saudia does, but its fleet of narrowbody Airbus jets will get you to Europe, well into southeast Asia, and Africa. Another well-known airline with a no-alcohol policy is Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The airline’s conditions of carriage (the contract you enter into with an airline when you buy a ticket to fly on them) say: “You are not allowed to consume alcohol aboard an aircraft (whether purchased as duty-free or otherwise obtained).” Jazeera Airways is another Gulf airline with a no-alcohol policy. While that’s not necessarily a problem on a short local flight, the thought of a six-hour Jazeera Airways flight to London on a squeezy Airbus A320 without a drink could be a deal-breaker for some. No-alcohol-Airlines Jazeera Airways is another Gulf airline that doesn’t serve alcohol inflight. Alcohols bans and rules vary by airline Like all regions, the Gulf region isn’t homogenous. Hardline positions in places like Saudi Arabia don’t necessarily carry through to neighboring nations. The big Gulf airlines like Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad do serve alcohol inflight and like most western long-haul airlines, use it as a key marketing tool. Although, in the case of airlines like Emirates, many would argue the commercial penalties involved in not serving booze inflight outweigh at-home cultural sensitivities surrounding alcohol. The big three Gulf airlines are exclusively international airlines. They don’t have to differentiate between domestic and international markets. Some airlines take a two-pronged approach. They ban alcohol on domestic flights that cater to a mostly local market while still serving alcohol on longer international flights that cater to a more mixed market. Malaysia Airlines doesn’t serve alcohol on flights within three hours flying time of its Kuala Lumpur hub. Turkish Airlines doesn’t serve alcohol on domestic flights but does on international flights. They are among the airlines with global aspirations that have to cater to global market preferences no matter how distasteful they may be on home soil. No-alcohol-Airlines Turkish Airlines serves alcohol on international flights but not on domestic flights. Some airlines have a BYO alcohol policy Unusually, a couple of airlines will let you bring your own (BYO) alcohol onboard. Normally, BYO and flying is a no-no, but both Royal Brunei Airlines and Egyptair allow it on their flights. Both countries are Islamic. Brunei is a dry country, but non-Muslim passengers can bring their own alcohol onboard international flights and consume it inflight. However, any leftovers will get confiscated on arrival into Bandar Seri Begawan. While alcohol is available within Egypt, that country’s flag carrier doesn’t provide alcohol on any of its flights. But Egyptair is generally fine with you picking up a bottle of something at the duty-free shop and bringing it onboard. However, staying off the booze while flying long-haul could be the best travel decision you ever made. Sure, you might miss the anesthetizing effect of alcohol on long-haul flights, but we all know it’s not a great thing to do. The bottles of water served on dry airlines might be boring, but they’ll probably have you landing at your destination airport in far better shape. https://simpleflying.com/no-alcohol-airlines/ TAMARACK PETITIONS NTSB TO RECONSIDER CRASH CAUSE WINGLET MAKER DISPUTES FINDINGS IN 2018 JET CRASH The maker of a system of winglets and automated control surfaces cited by the NTSB as the probable cause of a fatal 2018 crash petitioned the board to reconsider its findings on January 3. The NTSB determined that asymmetric activation of the left-side automated control surface designed to alleviate loads induced by winglets installed with Tamarack's Active Technology Load Alleviation System probably caused a fatal crash in November 2018. Tamarack disputed that conclusion. Tamarack Aerospace Group noted in its petition that the NTSB final report on the 2018 crash of a Cessna Citation in Indiana was issued four business days after the company filed its own report to the investigation. Tamarack remains a party to the investigation of this crash because the Cessna Citation was equipped with Tamarack's winglets and Active Technology Load Alleviation System (ATLAS), a malfunction of which was found by the NTSB to be the probable cause of the crash. Tamarack, in its petition, asserts that the investigation ignored the findings presented by Tamarack on October 26, including a different theory of the crash sequence and cause that attributes the apparently uncommanded roll to failures in the attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) and/or the autopilot, which disconnected outside of the bank angle and roll rate parameters that would trigger that event by design. "There is nothing in the public docket or the Final Accident Report that addresses this system anomaly or any other information contained in the submission," Tamarack noted in the petition, a copy of which was provided to AOPA. "Given that the accident occurred 35 months prior to the date of publication of the Final Accident Report, it is difficult to comprehend the NTSB's apparent rush to judgment in publishing its Report a mere 4 business days after receiving valid questions and a credible theory of the accident in Tamarack's supplemental party submission." Tamarack further requested "the opportunity to make a verbal/oral presentation to the Board and for the presentation to be recorded and made available in the public docket." Federal regulations governing the NTSB preclude reconsideration of findings based on "positions previously advanced," though Tamarack asserted in its petition that, "Given the exceedingly short timeframe between Tamarack's submission of its supplemental party submission and the NTSB’s publication of its Final Accident Report, [49 CFR] § 845.32(b) is not applicable." The lone pilot and two passengers of the ATLAS-equipped Citation died in the 2018 crash shortly after departure while climbing to an assigned altitude of 10,000 feet. The investigation determined that the flight, in instrument meteorological conditions, reached a maximum altitude of 6,100 feet before rolling out of control, descending into terrain at high velocity. The pilot made a mayday call reporting he was "unable to gain control of the aircraft" during the 35 seconds between the onset of the roll and impact. NTSB investigators noted witness marks on the bellcrank of the left-side Tamarack active camber surface (TACS) that led them to conclude that automated control surface, an integral part of ATLAS, was deflected in a trailing-edge-up position on impact. "Additional damage on the TACS inboard hinge fitting, consistent with overdeflection in the trailing-edge-up direction, was also consistent with the TACS being in a trailing-edge-up position at the time of ground impact," the NTSB report states. "Examination of the left TCU [TACS Control Unit] showed contact marks on the ram guide housing and on the extend hard stop plate, which were consistent with the actuator being at a maximum extension position at the time of ground impact. These marks are not expected during normal operation of the actuator. The evidence indicates that the left TACS was in a position consistent with full trailing edge up position at the time of ground impact." Tamarack asserted in its petition that the NTSB reached inconsistent conclusions regarding the degree and timing of the TACS deflection, and that the witness marks cited by investigators were made during the impact, not while the aircraft was still airborne. Tamarack's position on this point is not completely inconsistent with the NTSB findings, which also attribute the witness marks in question to impact forces; the principal difference between the positions is the timing of when and how those marks were made, and whether the active control surface was deflected while the aircraft was still airborne. Tamarack noted evidence of multiple witness marks corresponding to different control surface deflection angles, and added that given what is known about the impact sequence, "it is possible that the left-hand actuator was subjected to more than one impact…. It is also probable that the high energy contact marks on the extension hard stop within the left-hand actuator were caused during the impact, as the left-hand TACS was forced to an extreme trailing edge up deflection with sufficient force to cause multiple structural failures in multiple elements of the TACS installation." Tamarack noted in its petition that the final NTSB report does not indicate why the Citation's autopilot disconnected at a bank angle of 30 degrees, short of the 45-degree threshold at which that system was designed to disconnect: "If the autopilot did not disconnect due to bank angle or roll rate, ATLAS could not have caused the autopilot to disconnect. Critically, the Final Report does not identify the specific probable cause why the autopilot disconnected." The NTSB confirmed via email on January 4 that it has received the petition for reconsideration, and the board will, as the relevant regulation requires, "review the petition to determine if it introduces new evidence or if it shows that the NTSB’s findings are erroneous. If either of those two conditions is met, the petition will be considered by the Board, which will vote to accept or reject the petition, in whole or in part." Preliminary findings from the Indiana crash investigation, along with five reports of uncommanded rolls by ATLAS-equipped Cessna Citations submitted to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2018 and 2019, prompted the FAA to ground all 91 Citations then equipped with ATLAS winglets on May 24, 2019. Tamarack filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2019. The FAA approved an alternative method of compliance on July 10, 2019, that allowed ATLAS-equipped aircraft to resume flying once they were in compliance with two service bulletins, only one of which had been completed on the 2018 accident aircraft; the second was issued after the crash. Tamarack continued operation—and ATLAS installations—while working through the bankruptcy process that culminated, with all creditors paid in full, in August; Tamarack reported in September that 50 additional ATLAS installations had been completed during the bankruptcy. Tamarack has since begun installing ATLAS retrofits on Beechcraft King Airs, fitting the fuel-saving modifications to turboprops for defense-related missions, as AOPA Editor at Large Tom Horne reported in the January issue of AOPA Pilot, Turbine Edition. "Tamarack's concern for safe aviation and truth triggered its formal request that the NTSB reconsider its questionable determination," the company states in the petition. "Tamarack responds in its demand for a reconsideration by the NTSB that the 'undetermined reasons' cited by the NTSB’s report were indeed undetermined because objective forensic evidence cited in our supplemental party submission to the NTSB, all before the Final Report was released, was either ignored or misinterpreted." Federal regulations require that other parties to the investigation (including, in this case, the aircraft and avionics manufacturers) be provided copies, with proof of service attached to the petition, and that any party served may file comments "no later than 90 days after service of the petition." The regulation does not impose a deadline on the NTSB, nor does it require the board to modify its findings. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/january/04/tamarack-petitions-to-reconsider-crash-cause EASA seeks new techniques to detect air-data failure and control-law errors Europe’s safety authority is initiating research efforts aimed at developing new methods to detect multiple air-data probe failures, as well detect errors in the flight-control laws of fly-by-wire systems. While checks and comparisons on air-data probes are part of modern aircraft logic – and can result in data rejection – the European Union Aviation Safety Agency says that recent safety incidents have highlighted the risks of simultaneous adverse effects on air-data sources. Common-mode influences could consistently affect two or more air-data sources, says EASA, but remain undetected by system cross-checks. This could result in incorrect information – on airspeed, angle-of-attack, or other crucial parameters – being fed to flight-control systems. While significant efforts have been made to characterise icing and raise qualification standards, the systems remain vulnerable to such events as maintenance errors, bird strikes, and volcanic ash emission. “The project aims to further develop the understanding of such failure mechanisms, and to develop solutions,” says EASA, adding that it will improve the authority’s certification standards and support evaluation of new aircraft design. Pitot-static system-c-Airbus EASA is looking at enhanced monitoring of crucial air-data systems EASA is also looking, in a related project, to research real-time error detection within complex flight-control laws “Flight-control laws are becoming increasingly complex,” it says. “Having dissimilar control laws to compare and address the integrity aspect and detect errors is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to achieve.” Its proposed research project will focus on normal-mode laws. EASA says modern flight-control law reliance is primarily based on “rigorous” assurance processes to establish confidence in the disciplined development of such laws, and limitation of the likelihood of errors that could affect aircraft safety. “However, development assurance can only minimise the system development risk,” it says. “An additional difficulty is that errors may remain latent until they occur.” The research, for which EASA has published a call for tender, will investigate introduction of control-law monitors to detect errors. “Potential control law errors should be identified, and their criticality needs to be determined,” it says. “Multiple monitors to detect such errors should be proposed without taking into account the necessary effort entailed.” https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/easa-seeks-new-techniques-to-detect-air-data-failure-and-control-law-errors/147003.article FAA Expands Pilot Training Evaluations New guidance builds on lessons learned from the 737 Max reapproval. The change outlines how line pilots are to be used during Flight Standardization Board evaluations for transport-category airplanes. [Credit: Adobe Stock] The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established new protocols designed to improve how pilot training for new aircraft is evaluated during certification. The protocols were created to satisfy the mandate set forth by the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act of 2021 (ACSAA) and will be implemented by the Flight Standardization Board (FSB). Following Section 128 of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act of 2021, “the FSB’s procedures must now include the use of air carrier pilots of varying levels of experience for transport airplane type certification projects.” The ACSAA was signed into law in December of 2020 as part of a larger appropriations bill. The bill gave the FAA one year to draw its new FSB policy. According to the updated policy released on December 27, 2021, the air carrier line pilots will come from both domestic and foreign carriers and will work alongside test pilots during flight standardization board evaluations for air transport aircraft. These operational evaluations are what the FAA uses when certifying larger aircraft to determine minimum training and pilot type ratings. High-Profile Test Case The Aircraft Evaluation Division successfully used these procedures during the Boeing 737 MAX’s reapproval effort. Prior to the grounding of the 737 Max and the re-evaluation of the training requirements for the aircraft, the FAA’s goal during the FSB process was to develop the training protocols for air carriers it regulated. More often than not, the pilots used during this training came from U.S. carriers and did not necessarily represent a full range of experience or skill levels of the pilots who might someday fly the aircraft, as pilot training requirements are not globally universal. During the examination of the 737 Max training, aviation officials determined that utilizing a broader, more diverse field of pilots would produce better results. The policy does not specify how many pilots will be used, nor provide specific requirements for experience level they must present prior to reporting for duty, however, the policy states: “All identified FSB test subjects must be trained, current (in accordance with the appropriate regulatory requirements), and proficient in the base aircraft, if applicable.” https://www.flyingmag.com/faa-expands-pilot-training-evaluations/ 25 Veterans To Get A Leg-Up In Aviation Careers With $300K Grant The Ray Foundation, founded in 1963 by James and Joan Ray, has awarded $300,000 to the UND (University of North Dakota) Aerospace Foundation to cover the costs of private pilot training for military veterans. The Ray Foundation’s mission is to support “programs and organizations, primarily within the field of aviation, that develop life skills such as honesty, work ethic, self-confidence, and self-discipline in young adults.” The training will be conducted at the UND Phoenix Flight Training Center in Phoenix, beginning as early as next month. The Ray Foundation/UND Foundation program is designed to help veterans launch a career in aviation, as funding through the GI Bill only applies to advanced flight training. After receiving their private pilot certificates, program participants can continue to receive financial assistance for their training for advanced ratings under the GI Bill, including commercial pilot and flight instructor credentials. The funding is expected to cover roughly 80 percent of the cost of the private pilot certificate for up to 25 veterans. The UND Phoenix Flight Training Center is an FAA-certified Part 141 flight school located at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. UND Phoenix is approved to train veterans and their eligible dependents using VA education benefits in the state of Arizona. In addition to providing verification of their military service and eligibility for VA benefits, applicants will also need to supply an FAA first- or second-class medical certificate and a signed letter of intent to continue training at UND-affiliated Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s Airway Science Technology Associate in Applied Science (AAS) program in Mesa, Arizona. There is also an interview required, which can be in person or virtual, and applicants must be willing to relocate to Mesa for up approximately 24 months to complete the program. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/25-veterans-to-get-a-leg-up-in-aviation-careers-with-300k-grant/ Alaska Airlines Launches Program for Aspiring Black Pilots • True North aims to create a direct path for African-American students seeking airline careers. True North will allow aspiring black pilots a direct path to the airlines. Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) announced Friday that the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State University have been chosen as the first schools to participate in the company’s new True North Pilot Pathway Program. The program was designed by a group of African-American pilots to make becoming a pilot more accessible and to clear a more direct path for their careers. Both schools are HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities). About True North True North is a development program for future pilots that lends a hand in the training and placement of pilots. As the program launches, it will fund flight lab fees for four students (two from each school), from post-instrument though R-ATP. Throughout the program students will have access to internship and mentorship opportunities with Alaska pilots. Students who complete the True North pilot program are offered guaranteed first officer positions with Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. The True North Program has been established to help Alaska meet the carrier’s goal of increasing racial diversity at all levels to 30 percent by 2025. “Education and opportunity transform the lives of talented young people. I am excited Alaska will help bring brilliant minds and the next generation into aviation,” said Constance von Muehlen, COO of Alaska Airlines. “We look forward to meeting the future of our company through this program.” University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Heidi M. Anderson said the program eliminates one of the big hurdles that prospective pilots face. “Often the barrier to students entering this in-demand, well-paying career is the expense of the flight training,” Anderson said in a statement. “This partnership will ensure any student who comes to UMES and wants to be a pilot, will be able to pursue their course regardless of their financial situation.” Delaware State aviation program director Lt. Col. Michael Hales agreed. “This partnership agreement between Del State and Alaska Airlines is an industry game changer,” Hales said in a statement. “For the first time in recent history there is an opportunity for students to have their flight lab fees paid for beginning as early as their sophomore year.” Alaska Airlines hopes to bring additional schools into the program in the future. The airline said that the program’s first students will be selected early this year. https://www.flyingmag.com/alaska-airlines-launches-program-for-aspiring-black-pilots/ U.S. carrier Allegiant Air to buy 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets -sources SEATTLE/PARIS (Reuters) -Allegiant Air is poised to order 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets worth $5 billion at list prices, people familiar with the matter said, rejecting offers by traditional supplier Airbus as the no-frills carrier seeks to capture a boom in post-pandemic U.S. tourism. The surprise deal stems a series of setbacks for Boeing Co and overturns the airline's previous strategy of picking up second-hand jets at bargain prices, which had helped it accumulate over 100 jets built by Boeing's European rival. The switch of suppliers is the third such airline defection in as many weeks, this time working in Boeing's favor after the U.S. planemaker lost hard-fought medium-haul contests to Airbus at Dutch KLM https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-wins-dominant-share-air-france-klm-jet-purchase-sources-2021-12-16 and Australia's Qantas https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-wins-order-renew-qantas-fleet-sources-2021-12-15. Such "flips" are rare due to the cost of retraining pilots, but reflect fierce competition for new business as the aerospace industry seeks to recover from its worst-ever recession. Boeing, Airbus and Allegiant Air, a unit of Allegiant Travel Co, all declined to comment. The deal is the latest sign of accelerated growth among "ultra-low-cost" carriers that combine rock-bottom fares with optional charges. Carriers like these are expected to emerge in a position of relative strength from the COVID-19 pandemic. "The leisure market is coming back in droves relative to the business market," said one of the people familiar with Allegiant's plans. ORDER RACE The Las Vegas-based carrier operates a total of 122 A319 or A320 jets, only 13 of which were ordered directly from Airbus, according to European data. The 737 MAX planes will help Allegiant's growth strategy and replace aging aircraft over the coming years, though it will continue to be an Airbus operator. The order comes after a contest waged at least partially between the 737 MAX 7 and the Airbus A220, two of the people said, though some larger 8200 variants may also be involved. "This is huge. Allegiant was in line to order the A220," Leeham Co analyst Scott Hamilton said, adding that the outcome suggested Allegiant had received a "screaming deal" from Boeing as well as the ability to get deliveries more quickly. The new Boeing planes would replace retired jets and feed Allegiant's growth plans over the coming years. Mexico's Viva Aerobus in December announced a commercial alliance with Allegiant to offer flights between the United States and Mexico. The deal, which is likely to be counted in December's orders for Boeing, caps a tight annual order race with Airbus. Boeing bounced back from a safety crisis to sell some 700 MAX through end-November, only to lose two of the industry's most widely watched contests to rival Airbus at Qantas and various subsidiaries of Franco-Dutch group Air France-KLM. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/exclusive-u-carrier-allegiant-air-210229292.html 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