Flight Safety Information - February 24, 2022 No.039 In This Issue : Incident: American A320 at Aruba on Feb 23rd 2022, cargo smoke indication : Incident: Swiss BCS1 near Geneva on Feb 22nd 2022, brakes problem : Incident: ANA B789 at Singapore on Feb 17th 2022, engine shut down in flight : Will This United Pilot Be the Next FAA Administrator? :Flight diverted to Sunport after public urination, obscenities fly : Pilot Shortage: Recruiting From The Entire Pool : 4 more flights from India to Ukraine amid safety concerns : Air India rushes Dreamliner B-787 to Ukraine to evacuate nationals amid standoff with Russia : Raytheon says it may not ship around 70 engines to Airbus in first quarter : Airbus delivers 142 commercial aircraft to China in 2021 : Position Available: Safety Evaluator Incident: American A320 at Aruba on Feb 23rd 2022, cargo smoke indication An American Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N105UW performing flight AA-534 from Aruba (Aruba) to Philadelphia,PA (USA), was climbing out of Aruba when the crew stopped the climb at about 11500 feet due to a cargo smoke indication. The crew believed it was a false indication, yet, wanted to return with emergency services on stand by, they would stop on the runway for a check by fire services. The aircraft landed safely back on Aruba's runway 11 about 22 minutes after departure. Following the inspection by emergency services the aircraft taxied to the apron. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f51591a&opt=0 Incident: Swiss BCS1 near Geneva on Feb 22nd 2022, brakes problem A Swiss Bombardier C-Series CS-100, registration HB-JBE performing flight LX-1082 from Geneva (Switzerland) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was enroute at FL320 about 30nm southwest of Stuttgart (Germany) when the crew decided to return to Geneva. The aircraft landed safely back on Geneva's runway 22 about 65 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the captain announced they were returning to Geneva due to a technical issue with the brakes, which would cause the aircraft to remain on the ground in Frankfurt. A replacement CS-100 registration HB-JBB reached Frankfurt with a delay of about 2 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f5147b2&opt=0 Incident: ANA B789 at Singapore on Feb 17th 2022, engine shut down in flight An ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-9, registration JA896A performing flight NH-801 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Singapore (Singapore), was on approach to Singapore's runway 02L when one of the engines (Trent 1000) failed and needed to be shut down. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. A passenger reported the crew announced one of the engines was shut down. The return flight NH-802 was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Singapore standing Feb 23rd 2022. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f5140fd&opt=0 Will This United Pilot Be the Next FAA Administrator? Steve Dickson is leaving behind a legacy focused heavily on safety as the departing Federal Aviation Administration Administrator. Dickson announced his resignation last week, leaving the aviation industry buzzing about who would replace the former Delta pilot in perhaps one of the most critical regulatory positions on the globe. “We operate the safest aerospace system in the world, we want to make sure that it stays that way,” Dickson said in a farewell video last Friday. That pretty much summarizes the task ahead for Dickson’s replacement who will face unparalleled challenges coming out of the pandemic. So who should succeed Dickson and tackle the issues? At least four names are being mentioned, according to aviation sources. The names include Deborah Hersman, the former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board; Bradley Mims, deputy administrator of the FAA; Sully Sullenberger, the US Airways hero pilot who was confirmed in December to be the U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization board, the United Nations air safety body,. And then there is John Boccieri, a United Airlines pilot and former U.S. Congressman from Ohio. A Washington insider, who asked not to be named, said that Josh Earnest, a former spokesman for President Barack Obama and now United Airlines chief communications officer, is likely advocating with White House officials for an appointment that United approves. Dickson was a former Delta Air Lines pilot. Delta and United pilots are the two largest groups in the Air Line Pilots Association, the powerful pilots’ union. Todd Insler, chairman of the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, is an advocate for Boccieri. “The position of administrator is complex,” Insler said. “It deals not only with piloting and the certification of pilots, commercial and other pilots, but also with manufacturers, government and thousands of FAA employees. It needs to be filled by someone who checks more than one box and who is a known quantity.” Insler said Boccieri is not only a former U.S. Congressman, but is also a Cleveland-based United 737 first officer and a vice commander of the Pittsburgh Air Reserve base. “His resume shows he is qualified and competent,” Insler said. “We need someone who knows the ins and outs of government and the ins and outs of safety,” Insler said. Industry officials say whoever takes the top FAA job, it will be imperative to carry on Dickson’s work. “We can’t squander the momentum” that comes from Dickson’s work, said Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots. “This is about ensuring that aviation safety comes first and the commercial interests follow,” Tajer said. “The trend has been set and it must be bolstered. We’ve learned that too cozy a relationship with commercial interests can only lead to tragedy.” Dickson’s two and a half years on the job may have been among the toughest ever for an FAA administrator. He battled Boeing. He battled Covid and disruptive passengers and anti-maskers. He battled cellphone giants AT&T and Verizon on the rollout of 5G cell phone service, perilously close to airports. He may be winning all three battles, but it is clear that none have ended. Two weeks before Dickson announced his planned departure, AT&T CEO John Stankey appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box. Stankey said the Federal Communications Commission “told the FAA, we don’t consider your concerns to be valid and you should go back and do the things you need to do to address them. “When we get to the spectrum transitions and we’ve displaced somebody who’s a current occupant and in part of the spectrum band, there’s always dynamics that go on,” he said. Perhaps the final straw for Dickson was the concept that aviation safety and faster video game processing are equal tenants of the spectrum. In any case, he will be gone March 31. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/united-pilot-next-faa-administrator-175000190.html Flight diverted to Sunport after public urination, obscenities fly Feb. 23—Part of Southwest Airlines' slogan is: "Low fares. Nothing to hide." One passenger apparently took the second part a little too seriously during a flight over New Mexico on Friday. The man, who allegedly exposed himself, urinated in a corner and tried to fight two flight attendants, got a first-class ticket to jail when the plane was diverted to the Albuquerque International Sunport. Samson Hardridge, who is 33 or 34 years old, is charged in federal court with interference with flight crew members and attendants in the Feb. 18 incident. Hardridge's attorney did not respond to a request for comment. According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court: Hardridge was a passenger on a Southwest flight from Dallas to Burbank, California, when he got up to use the bathroom, which was occupied. A flight attendant asked him to wait in the aisle and, Hardridge, with his hands in his pants and a question of his own, asked if she wanted to see his genitals, "to which they declined." Hardridge then went to the galley door and began to urinate "in the corner of the aircraft" before the flight attendant told him that was not allowed. Hardridge became "very hostile," yelling and threatening two flight attendants, calling them "dumb (expletive)." The flight attendants asked Hardridge to clean up his urine and, as he continued to yell, told him to go back to his seat. The flight attendants "feared for their safety and that of the flight" due to Hardridge's unpredictable behavior and alerted the pilot, who landed the plane in Albuquerque. https://www.yahoo.com/news/flight-diverted-sunport-public-urination-041300949.html Pilot Shortage: Recruiting From The Entire Pool “At United, we’re convinced that the root of the problem is that it costs over $100,000 and takes five or more years to obtain all the training to become eligible to fly for a major airline,” said Scott Kirby, CEO at United Airlines in a recently published opinion piece titled “The truth about the pilot shortage.” Well, that is pretty rich—pardon the pun—for someone who chose not to become an airline pilot despite receiving free flight training and a Bachelor degree when he joined the U.S. Air Force in the late 1980s. The military service pathway is still available today and it is now opened to women as well. Except for nepotism, it continues to be the most reliable way to get a pilot resume at the top of the pile without accumulating debt. Learning to fly is not cheap—and never was. However, the $100,000 price tag Kirby cites was first floated more than a decade ago. Apparently, numbers pulled out of thin air are inflation proof. Interestingly, the $100K number is higher than United’s own tuition fee at the newly minted United Aviate Academy. For a cool $89,000, 10 months of training, 18 months “building hours” with industry partners, and two years at one of its regional airline partners, United promises candidates to be at the top of the priority list when a position as First Officer opens up. No timeline on that. And there lies the root cause of our recruiting troubles. Pay your money, commit to years of training and low pay employment, and you may or may not hit the jackpot. It is not an investment; it is a high-stakes gamble. Compare that to the medical field. It takes hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition fees, eight years of academic education, and three to seven years of residency with low pay and lousy shifts before doctors-to-be can become fully fledged doctors. Yet, this STEM occupation yielding wages comparable to piloting for a major airline attracts so many people that med school selection committees turn down 60 percent of all applicants (half of them women) annually. Why? The industry only trains the people it needs according to forecast. In other words, if you get accepted into med school and make it through, you will win the jackpot. Likewise, many countries use a controlled pathway to commercial pilot training to match graduations to national needs. Here, the FAA issues around 6000 original ATP certificates annually regardless of the job market. Our reputation for taking the money and squashing the “dream” is well-deserved and a repellent. The rigid seniority system that allows a money-happy Captain to turn into a starving Relief First Officer following a few bad senior management decisions is not helping either. Until we improve the probability for a positive return-on-investment, potential candidates will continue to steer away no matter how loud we scream “pilot shortage,” how many scholarships we offer, and how cheap we make the training. Kirby touches on an additional recruiting challenge, diversity. “Only 19.6 percent of United’s pilots are women or people of color,” he says. What he cleverly avoids saying is that less than 7 percent of United’s pilots are women. By wrapping up men of color with women percentages, it doesn’t look that bad. That is until you realize that there are approximately 35 million American men of color (11 percent of the population) versus 167 million American women of all races (51 percent of the population). And United is not really working at closing the gender gap. Its much-publicized intention to balance recruitment using a 50 percent diversity intake does not reflect the composition of the American population. Women will have to share the stated 50 percent diversity quota with men of color. Why? An Army research published in 2014 found that flight crews with at least one woman on board have fewer crashes. You’d think that such factual data would drive a safety-obsessed industry to engage and recruit women as a priority. The reluctance to do so is grounded in our history and existing workforce. Although men of color traditionally faced hiring discrimination in the airlines, women were simply “not allowed to apply” until the mid-1970s. The corporate culture has not changed much since Richard J. Ferris, UAL CEO at the time, famously declared in spite, “It is now possible for a flight attendant to get a pilot pregnant,” after losing yet another hiring discrimination lawsuit. Most airlines still do not recognize or celebrate the March 8 anniversary of the world’s first female pilot license. What has changed is who we need to attract. According to recent research, two-thirds of millennials still think it is easier for men to get ahead. By the same percentage, they say that needs to change. The very social fabric of our industry is a repellent for them. The time has come to deal with it if we want to improve our attractiveness. Mireille Goyer is a passionate aviation enthusiast, an airline transport pilot, a training expert, an author and an award-winning diversity and inclusion advocate. She is president of the Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide. The 12th annual edition of Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) takes place March 7-13, 2022. The week serves as a call to address gender imbalance in the air and space industry. https://www.avweb.com/insider/pilot-shortage-recruiting-from-the-entire-pool/ 4 more flights from India to Ukraine amid safety concerns The development comes amid concerns over safety of more than 20,000 Indians who live in different parts of Ukraine. An Air India special ferry flight – a Dreamliner B-787 aircraft – left for the Boryspil International Airport in Ukraine on Tuesday morning. Four more flights are operating from India to Ukraine amid heightened tensions with Russia, the Indian High Commission in Ukraine has said in a tweet, amid concerns over the safety of over 20,000 citizens. Apart from these, three special Air India flights are flying between Tuesday and Saturday - the first one left on Tuesday morning. The development comes after the embassy last week advised Indian students and other citizens whose stay is not essential to leave Kyiv temporarily amid growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. “In view of the continued high level of tensions and uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, additional flights are being organised,” read the latest notification by the Indian Embassy. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/4-more-flights-from-india-to-ukraine-amid-safety-concerns-101645511236867.html Air India rushes Dreamliner B-787 to Ukraine to evacuate nationals amid standoff with Russia With a capacity of over 200 seats, the plane is supposed to land back in Delhi tonight. Reportedly, around 20,000 Indians including students live in Ukraine. A Dreamliner B-787 aircraft was deployed by Air India last night to bring back stranded Indian nationals from Ukraine which faces an invasion from Russia. With a capacity of over 200 seats, the plane is supposed to land back in Delhi tonight. Reportedly, around 20,000 Indians including students live in Ukraine. Air India had earlier announced on February 18 that it would fly three Vande Bharat Mission flights between India and Ukraine. The planes will fly in and out of Boryspil International Airport which is also Ukraine's largest airport in Kyiv, the conflicted country's capital, and are scheduled for February 22, 24, and 26. This is in addition to other airlines like Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways, and more continuing their operations, after the cap on the number of flights and seats between the two countries was lifted to accelerate evacuation of Indians. Air India will also operate flights PS1395 and PS393 from Kyiv to Delhi on February 25 and 27 and March 6. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) recently also announced additional Air India flights from Ukraine to help those who wish to return to India. The announcement comes in the wake of the Kremlin recognising two separatist-held regions in eastern Ukraine after Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered troops to march in those areas. Any attempts to establish peace in the region were further decimated by Putin signing mutual aid and friendship agreements with rebel leaders of those regions. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/amidst-rising-tensions-air-india-sends-special-planes-to-ukraine-to-evacuate-indian-nationals-8146341.html Raytheon says it may not ship around 70 engines to Airbus in first quarter Feb 23 (Reuters) - Raytheon Technologies Corp said on Wednesday its Pratt and Whitney unit may not ship around 70 engines to Airbus SE in the first quarter of 2022 due to casting shortages. "Pratt will probably not ship... let's call it 70 engines to Airbus, because of the casting shortages that we're seeing," Raytheon Chief Executive Greg Hayes said at the Barclays Industrial Conference. Hayes' comments confirm pressure on supply chains as Airbus raises production. Reuters reported in January that aircraft due for delivery in 2022 were already estimated a few months late, with a risk of some deliveries drifting into 2023. Forgings and castings are among the items most severely hit in the aerospace supply chain and have relatively long lead times. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/raytheon-says-may-not-ship-162321654.html Airbus delivers 142 commercial aircraft to China in 2021 BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Airbus delivered a total of 142 commercial aircraft to the Chinese market in 2021, Airbus China said Wednesday. China remained Airbus' largest single-country market globally. Commercial aircraft deliveries in the country accounted for more than 23 percent of Airbus' global deliveries in 2021, according to Airbus China. The delivery volume also marks a year-on-year increase of more than 40 percent compared with its deliveries in the Chinese market in 2020. Among the 142 commercial aircraft delivered to the Chinese market, 130 are single-aisle aircraft and 12 are widebodies. By the end of last year, around 2,100 Airbus commercial airplanes were serving in the Chinese civil aviation market. Meanwhile, more than 330 Airbus helicopters were serving in the Chinese market, according to data from Airbus China. According to Airbus' forecast in November 2021, the global commercial aircraft market is expected to recover to the pre-COVID-19 level between 2023 and 2025, led by the single-aisle aircraft segment. China will be a vital engine for the recovery of the global civil aviation market. The country's continuously growing market would need around 8,200 new commercial aircraft over the 2020-2040 period, accounting for more than 20 percent of the global demand. By 2025, the total sum of China's certified civil transport airport will exceed 270, said the development plan for China's civil aviation industry during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). Then, China is expected to see its annual air passenger volume reach 930 million, and the country's civil aviation industry is expected to handle up to 17 million flights annually, said the plan issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. http://english.news.cn/20220223/2199704fde2944c5ad8906a339dd7c68/c.html Position Available: Safety Evaluator Job Description At Republic Airways, our vision is to be America’s regional airline of choice, and our 6,000 associates work together each day to achieve that by providing a safe, clean and reliable flying experience. Whether the role is on the aircraft or in the office, every person at Republic contributes to our success and our family-oriented work environment. Since our founding in 1974, we’ve grown to become the world’s largest operator of the Embraer 170/175 jet, flying more than 1000 flights daily for our partners, American Airline, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Beyond our operations, we’re focused on sharing our time, talents and treasures with our community—both locally and globally. Join Republic Airways where you will find opportunities, reach new heights and be part of something bigger than yourself. Republic Airways, opportunity elevated. #WhyRepublic POSITION PURPOSE Conducts internal evaluations of operational divisions to ensure adherence to federal regulations, company policies and procedures. Conducts aircraft damage investigations, tracks regulatory correspondence and completes special projects as assigned. ESSENTIAL DUTIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Conducts internal evaluations of operational divisions to ensure compliance with federal regulations as well as company policies and procedures. Communicates company policies/procedures, Federal Aviation Regulations and other Standards including but limited to International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audits (IOSA) standards, Department of Defense Standards etc. facilitating fair resolutions and imparting quality expertise to all operational departments. Coordinates Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Safety Assurance System (SAS) inspections conducted by the FAA Coordinates IOSA conducted by appointed Audit Organization Coordinates DOD inspections conducted by the DOD Communicates with external audit organizations, the FAA and DOD Identifies, tracks, and solves quality and safety concerns, issues or hazards (this includes, but not limited to, interviews, reviews of past evaluation/audit records and compliance data for trends) Reviews changes to applicable regulations in order to recommend appropriate actions to ensure company compliance. Ensure adherence to all Safety and Security regulations Develops and maintains Data Analysis Group key performance indicators, and continuous improvement initiatives for data analysis and visualization. Provides technical leadership to team and department members. Leads through example; monitors, influences and trains others. OTHER DUTIES Performs data analysis on aircraft ground damage to identify trends & systemic causes of aircraft damage. Participates in investigations of aircraft ground damage. Leads investigations into company controllable damage and participates in conference calls for codeshare partner damages. Contributes to the development of SMS training modules for all company associates covered under SMS. Responsible for the continuous improvement of Republic’s Safety Management System Assists with development of SMS structured risk assessment and safety assurance processes, including facilitating Data Analysis Groups Participates in special projects including but not limited to: special request audits, Codeshare meetings and initiatives, Safety Management System (SMS) implementation, monthly safety newsletter and manual reviews using SAS tools. Performs various other duties as assigned. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE. Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years of Aviation experience required. Knowledge of the Code of Federal Regulations for Title 14 and 49 and associated regulatory materials. Knowledge in aviation safety systems including, but not limited to: Safety Management System (SMS), System Safety, Safety Assurance System (SAS) and IOSA. Skills in Microsoft Office applications is a must. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree in an aviation or safety related discipline is preferred. At least 3 years of previous experience in aviation. Airframe and Powerplant, Dispatch License or Pilot’s License is preferred. Previous auditing and evaluating experience. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. DECISION MAKING Makes decisions and determines best methods to solve problems by referring to established precedents and policies. Decisions tend to be medium range and of medium significance with moderate consequences. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move about the work environment. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Work in an open air hangar and outdoor weather conditions occasionally. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Travel up to 15% of the time, including overnight stays. Equal Opportunity Employment and Disability Accommodations Republic Airways is committed to achieving a diverse workforce by providing equal employment opportunities to all Associates and applicants, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type with regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are committed to providing applicants and Associates reasonable accommodation to enable the individual to perform the essential duties of the job. If you require accommodation, please contact Human Resources. Curt Lewis