Flight Safety Information - March 21, 2022 No.056 In This Issue : Incident: Meraj A306 at Tehran on Mar 19th 2022, runway excursion on rejected takeoff : Incident: Gulf A321 at Lahore on Mar 18tth 2022, on short final to supposedly closed runway : Incident: Swift B733 at Dayton on Mar 17th 2022, dropped tyre on departure : Incident: Alliance AT72 at Jabalpur on Mar 12th 2022, overran runway on landing : New Bermuda Airline Coral Jet Seeks A320 Captains Amid AOC Application : JetBlue, American Airlines, and Southwest pilots are suing the CDC over the federal mask mandate, saying it ignores scientific studies showing it is 'ineffective' : Boeing ex-pilot's trial starts on fraud charges over 737 Max : Polar express: How airlines are plotting a new route to Asia : Molokai man pleads guilty to assaulting flight attendant : Chinese airliner crashes with 132 aboard in country's south : ISASI 2022 - Brisbane Australia - Call for Papers Incident: Meraj A306 at Tehran on Mar 19th 2022, runway excursion on rejected takeoff A Meraj Airlines Airbus A300-600, registration EP-SIG performing flight IJ-4805 from Tehran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Istanbul (Turkey) with 260 passengers and 12 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Imam Khomeini's runway 29R at about 13:10L (07:40Z) when the crew received a fault indication for the brakes and rejected takeoff at low speed, the aircraft veered left off the left side of the runway before coming to a stop with the left main gear on soft ground. The runway needed to be closed for about 2 hours. The aircraft was able to depart for the flight about 13.5 hours later. Imam Khomeini Airport confirmed the occurrence stating the aircraft departed the runway shortly before takeoff for unknown reasons. The Aviation Herald received information that a brakes fault indication prompted the crew to reject takeoff from runway 29R a few seconds after initiating the takeoff roll, the aircraft subsequently veered left off the runway. A burst tyre may have caused the runway excursion. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f64374c&opt=0 Incident: Gulf A321 at Lahore on Mar 18tth 2022, on short final to supposedly closed runway A Gulf Air Airbus A321-200, registration A9C-CC performing flight GF-764 from Bahrain (Bahrain) to Lahore (Pakistan), was on final approach to Lahore's runway 18R descending through about 600 feet AGL at about 14:19L (09:19Z) when the aircraft performed a side step to runway 18L due to belief runway 18R had been closed for maintenance work. The aircraft went around from almost over the runway 18L threshold, climbed back to 4000 feet, positioned for another approach to runway 18R, that was still available at that Friday time, and landed on that runway 18R about 15 minutes after the go around. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f640d52&opt=0 Incident: Swift B733 at Dayton on Mar 17th 2022, dropped tyre on departure A Swift Air Boeing 737-300, registration N397SW performing flight WQ-257 from Dayton,OH to Newark,NJ (USA), departed Dayton's runway 24R and continued to Newark for a safe landing on runway 04R about 90 minutes after departure. The FAA however reported: "AIRCRAFT LOST A TIRE DURING DEPARTURE, DAYTON, OH.", the damage to the aircraft was unknown and the occurrence rated an incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f62b761&opt=0 Incident: Alliance AT72 at Jabalpur on Mar 12th 2022, overran runway on landing An Alliance Air Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration VT-AIW performing flight 9I-617 from Delhi to Jabalpur (India) with 55 passengers and 5 crew, landed on Jabalpur's runway 24 at about 13:13L (07:43Z) but overran the end of the runway. The crew attempted to steer the aircraft to the left and stopped the aircraft off the left edge of the pavement of the runway end safety area in gravel about 60 meters past the runway end. There were no injuries. The damage to the aircraft is being assessed. The airline reported the aircraft "shot off" the runway by about 10 meters. India's DGCA is investigating. According to a passenger video, that surfaced on Mar 14th 2022, the aircraft was on a correct profile for approach to runway 24, however, floated along the runway and touched down after the last fixed distance marker of the touch down zone markings opposite direction (runway 06) about 1400 meters (4600 feet) down the runway with only about 580 meters (1900 feet) landing distance remaining. On Mar 17th 2022 India's AIB reported the aircraft overran the runway and received minor damage. The occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated by India's AIB. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f5e26ad&opt=0 New Bermuda Airline Coral Jet Seeks A320 Captains Amid AOC Application The positions are for pilots and first officers willing to relocate to Bermuda. A fresh new airline looking to take flight from Bermuda is currently seeking qualified pilots and first officers. Upstart airline Coral Jet has submitted an application to the Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority for an air operator’s certificate in advance of a planned 2022 launch. New venture The startup plans to commence in the second quarter of 2022 out of the Atlantic island's L.F. Wade International Airport. The only airport of the Bermuda Islands serves the capital of Hamilton, and potential routes are expected to be announced following the issuance of the aircraft operating certificate (AOC). Coral Jet has already begun its search for staff who are willing to be based in Bermuda. The Royal Gazette reports that the airline is currently looking for Captains and First Officers for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. The positions are offered as full-time roles for currently certified flight crew. "We are looking for a few select individuals with time on the Airbus A320 family of aircraft to help us launch what will become Bermudas home based airline operating to Canada, United States, and the Caribbean carrying both passengers and cargo." The airline has advertised. Bermuda Applicants are required to be currently qualified in A320 aircraft. Qualified crew members are encouraged to apply, and applicants are encouraged to have an 'adventurous spirit and the willingness to experienced "so much more" in Bermuda. Hopefully, giving us a little sneak peek into the branding and mantra of the new airline. Requirements for the new roles. Applicants for Capitan positions are required to be rated to fly the A320 type of airplane and hold a valid flight medical certificate. Additionally, applicants must have 5,000 hours of total flying experience, 1,000 of which must have been on a commercial airline, and 500 hours of flying experience in command. First officers have slightly fewer requirements with only 2500 hours of total flying experience, 1000 hours of which must have been on the same type of aircraft. All applicants, however, must still be proficient in English and be willing to relocate to Bermuda. Preference is given to candidates with backgrounds in training and ETOPS, an acronym that stands for “Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards.” The system was designed in the 1980s to ensure the safety of crew and passengers flying in twin-engine planes on transatlantic and other routes without immediate access to a diversion airport. Preference is given to candidates with ETOPS and training backgrounds. The first ETOPS certification rating was given to Trans World Airlines in 1985 to fly their twin-engine 767 transatlantic from Boston to Paris. The certification allowed the twin-engine aircraft to fly no more than 120 minutes flying time away from the nearest airport suitable for an emergency landing. Potential routes for Coral Jet. Canada-based aerospace company Flyht, who recently signed a large contract with the airline, said Coral Jet would serve North America and had plans to increase its fleet. A spokesman for Duke Aviation Holding Company, a significant shareholder in Coral Jet’s parent company, however, declined to give details on when the airline would start operations, saying instead: “Management focus right now is on obtaining the AOC from the BCAA. We think it would be most appropriate to talk once that milestone has been reached.” Bermuda's L.F. Wade International Airport is currently one of several that offers US Customs and Immigration preclearance, making the US a highly likely destination. The preclearance process enables US-bound passengers to clear Customs in Bermuda, therefore arriving in the US from Bermuda as a domestic flight. https://simpleflying.com/coral-jet-seeks-a320-captains-aoc-application/ JetBlue, American Airlines, and Southwest pilots are suing the CDC over the federal mask mandate, saying it ignores scientific studies showing it is 'ineffective' 10 pilots working at JetBlue, American Airlines and Southwest are suing the CDC over the federal mask mandate. Pilots at major US airlines, including JetBlue and American, are suing the CDC over mask rules. The suit claims the federal mask mandate ignores scientific studies showing it is "ineffective." Claimants also alleged it posed a risk to the health of pilots, "imperiling aviation safety." A group of pilots who work for major US airlines is suing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over the federal transportation mask mandate. The 10 pilots work for commercial airlines including JetBlue, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, according to the lawsuit. In the filing, the pilots alleged that the CDC acted "without providing public notice or soliciting comment." The mask mandate applies to public transportation, including commercial aircraft. It was extended on March 10 for 30 days, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The rule will stay in effect through April 18, at the earliest. "This revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science," the TSA said in a statement. The pilots have alleged that the federal policy "ignored countless scientific and medical studies and articles showing that face masks are totally ineffective in reducing coronavirus spread but are harmful to human health in at least 68 ways." They further alleged that they had "serious concerns about the safety implications" of the mask mandate in relation to unruly passenger behavior incidents caused by mask policies. The lawsuit stated: "As pilots for major airlines, we have seen up close and personal the chaos in the sky created by the FTMM (Federal Transportation Mask Mandate), with thousands of reports to the Federal Aviation Administration of 'unruly' passenger behavior since the FTMM took effect Feb. 1, 2021." The pilots alleged that nearly all of the "chaos" related to masks and that 2021 was the "worst year on record for buffoonish behavior on planes." According to the FAA, there were 4,290 mask-related incidents reported in 2021. And more than 75% of the FAA's unruly incidents in 2021 arose from people vehemently refusing to wear masks. Since January last year, the agency proposed fines of more than $682,000 against unruly passengers. The suit also claims the CDC ignores that the mask mandate "impairs pilots' health" and subsequently imperils aviation safety. "Wearing a mask before and during flight causes us numerous medical deficiencies," the suit alleged. "Extended wearing of a mask, which has become a part of routine life, has led to the emergence of 'mask fatigue.' Mask fatigue is defined as the lack of energy that accompanies, and/or follows prolonged wearing of a mask." The pilots claimed that, as a result, they were morally and legally obligated to act. They requested that the court vacate the mask requirement, remove all signs informing passengers of the requirement to wear a mask from all airports, transportation hubs, and other locations worldwide, as well as compensate all legal costs and fees. JetBlue, American Airlines, and Southwest did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours. https://www.businessinsider.com/jetblue-american-airlines-southwest-pilots-sue-cdc-federal-mask-mandate-2022-3 Boeing ex-pilot's trial starts on fraud charges over 737 Max A former Boeing test pilot is on trial on charges of misleading regulators about the Boeing 737 Max, the model that was involved in two deadly crashes FORT WORTH, Texas -- A federal prosecutor said Friday that a former Boeing test pilot lied to regulators about changes to a critical flight-control system on the 737 Max to reduce the cost of pilot training and save the company tens of millions of dollars. However, a defense lawyer said Boeing engineers kept Mark A. Forkner in the dark about changes to the system, which played a role in two crashes that killed 346 people. Forkner went on trial in U.S. district court in Fort Worth on four charges of fraud. He is the only person facing criminal charges in the case, which brought widespread condemnation to Boeing. As the trial started with jury selection and opening statements, Forkner spoke only briefly, when the judge asked for his plea. “I am not guilty,” he said, standing and turning to face the jury. Based on court filings by both sides, the trial is likely to feature testimony from technical experts and also internal Boeing communications to shed light on discussions about the Max inside the company. Prosecutors will also attempt to use Forkner's own text messages against him, especially one in which he said, “So I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly)." “The defendant had contempt for these regulators, and he mocked these regulators,” prosecutor Scott Armstrong told jurors, adding that as Forkner learned more about changes to the flight-control system called MCAS, “He doubled down on the lies.” Defense attorney David Gerger said his side will show jurors that Boeing engineers withheld information from Forkner. And it wasn't Forkner who set out to save the company money by minimizing pilot-training requirements, that objective came down directly from Boeing's board of directors, he said. The opening statements came after the selection of a jury of 11 men and one woman, plus four alternates. An American Airlines pilot was dismissed; so was a man who said he had flown several times on Boeing Maxes. Judge Reed O'Connor made it clear there was no way to disqualify every potential juror who had read or seen news accounts about the Boeing Max. He quizzed several people whether they could set aside their notions of the issue and focus on evidence that will be presented when testimony starts on Monday. Until he left in 2018, Forkner was Boeing's chief technical pilot for the Max, which gave him a key role in evaluating the differences between the Max and previous 737s, and deciding how much training pilots needed to fly the new version. According to the indictment, Forkner knew about changes that made a key flight-control system activate more often than originally planned, but he withheld that knowledge from Federal Aviation Administration regulators. As a result, information about the new flight-control system, MCAS, was deleted from an FAA report and airplane manuals. Most pilots didn't know about it. MCAS activated on faulty sensor readings minutes before crashes in 2018 off the coast of Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia. It repeatedly pushed the noses of the planes down, and pilots were unable to regain control. The indictment does not blame the crashes on Forkner, but his lawyers said he would not be facing criminal charges if the crashes had not occurred. “The investigation could have landed on Boeing, or its senior executives who were once ‘subjects’ but now are witnesses at trial,” the defense lawyers wrote in a filing. Fear of being associated with the crashes caused witnesses “to curry favor with the prosecution,” they said. The list of witnesses for the prosecution includes three Boeing employees, government experts, and representatives from two big Boeing customers: Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. The defense could call more than two dozen current or former Boeing employees, including several test pilots and Curtis Ewbank, an engineer who quit after alleging that his bosses rejected safety improvements to the Max on cost grounds. Forkner is listed as a potential witness. Boeing reached a settlement with federal officials to avoid prosecution for conspiracy. The company paid a $244 million fine as part of the January 2021 agreement. Separately, families of passengers who died in the crashes are asking another federal judge in Fort Worth to undo the Boeing settlement and consider criminal charges against the company and top executives, who they say put profit above safety. Family members argue that Chicago-based Boeing rushed a new version of the 737 into production because European rival Airbus was far ahead of it in developing a more fuel-efficient plane. MCAS was added to the Max to accommodate new, larger engines on the 50-year-old 737 design. “The 737 has had its day,” said Adrian Toole, a British man whose daughter Joanna died in the second Max crash. “The whole thing should have been scrapped, and they should have put a new plane on the drawing board.” https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/boeing-pilots-trial-starts-fraud-charges-737-max-83533149 Polar express: How airlines are plotting a new route to Asia (CNN) — The closure of Russian airspace to some international carriers, including many in Europe, has forced airlines to seek alternate routes. For some flights, such as those linking Europe and Southeast Asia, that's especially problematic since Russia, the world's largest country, stands directly in between. The problem is best illustrated by Finnair's flight from Helsinki to Tokyo. Before the invasion of Ukraine, planes from Finland's national carrier would take off and quickly veer into the airspace of neighboring Russia, crossing it for over 3,000 miles. They would then enter China near its northern border with Mongolia, fly in its airspace for about 1,000 miles, before entering Russia again just north of Vladivostok. Finally, they'd cross the Sea of Japan and turn south towards Narita Airport. The journey would take just under nine hours on average and cover nearly 5,000 miles. The last such flight departed on February 26. The next day, Russia barred Finland from using its airspace, forcing the temporary cancellation of most of Finnair's Asian destinations, including South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many airlines traversed Russian airspace. By that point, however, the airline's route planners had long been at work to find a solution. "We made the first very rough calculation about two weeks before the actual closure of the airspace," says Riku Kohvakka, manager of flight planning at Finnair. The solution was to fly over the North Pole. Instead of heading southeast into Russia, planes would now depart Helsinki and go straight north, heading for the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, before crossing over the pole and Alaska. Then they would veer towards Japan flying over the Pacific, carefully skirting Russian airspace. That's not as straightforward as before: The journey now takes over 13 hours, covers approximately 8,000 miles, and uses 40% more fuel. Safety first Finnair started flying via the polar route to Japan on March 9. So, how does an airline completely redesign one of its longest flights in just over a week? "All major airlines have their own computerized flight planning system, which they use to plan routes and change them," explains Kohvakka. In the software, the airspace of specific countries can be crossed out and waypoints can be manually inserted to help it calculate alternative routes. The next step is a new operational flight plan, which tells the crew what the planned route is, how much fuel they need, how much the plane can weigh and so on. "From experience, we knew we had two possibilities: one via the north, and one via the south," says Kohvakka. In addition to the polar route, Finnair can also reach Japan by flying south of Russia -- over the Baltics, Poland, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan to China, Korea and then to Japan. It's longer, but if wind conditions are particularly favorable it can be used, resulting in a similar flight time. Then, fuel consumption data, together with navigational fees, is used to estimate the cost for the flight. "After that, we need to check what kind of terrain we are flying over. For example, to see if the elevation at any point of the route requires special planning, in case we lose an engine or pressurization -- something that is always considered when preparing a flight," Kohvakka says. Once the new route is approved, the focus shifts to aircraft equipment and the associated processes and regulations. Among them is one called ETOPS ("Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards"), which dates back to the 1950s, when aircraft engines were less dependable and more prone to failing. ETOPS is a certification provided to aircraft that determined how far a plane with only two engines could fly from the nearest airport, in case it needed an emergency landing due to engine failure. "We need to have a suitable airport where we can divert to within a certain time limit," says Kohvakka. The regulation was initially set to 60 minutes, but as airplanes grew more dependable, it was gradually extended. Just a few weeks ago, Finnair was operating under the widely adopted ETOPS 180 rule, which meant that its twin-engine aircraft could fly up to three hours away from the nearest airport at any time. The new Arctic route, however, flies over very remote areas, where airports are few and far between. As a result, the airline had to apply for an extension of that protocol to 300 minutes, meaning the Airbus A350-900s it uses to fly to Japan can now stray as far as five hours away from the nearest airport, while still meeting all international regulations and safety protocols. Cold War route Japan Airlines' London to Tokyo service before and after the start of the conflict. Airlines routinely deal with closure of airspace, for example during spacecraft launches and military drills, and prior conflicts have curtailed or halted flight over Afghanistan, Syria, and Pakistan. A closure of this magnitude, however, has not occurred since Cold War times. Because overflight rights are negotiated between nations rather than individual airlines, Russia and Finland secured an agreement only in 1994, two years after the Soviet Union disintegrated. Previously, Finnair, like most other European airlines, did not fly over the Soviet Union at all. When it began operations to Tokyo in 1983, it also flew across the North Pole and Alaska. "So this route is not totally new to us," says Kohvakka. Finnair was the first airline to fly the route nonstop, using DC-10 aircraft, whereas most others at the time had a refueling stop in Anchorage. The new route increases fuel consumption by a whopping 20 tons, making the flights environmentally and financially challenging. For that reason Finnair is prioritizing cargo, where demand is stronger, and limiting passenger capacity to just 50 seats (the Airbus A350-900s used on the flights could carry up to 330 people). "The extra trip length will make fewer flights economically viable," says Jonas Murby, an aviation analyst at Aerodynamic Advisory. "They become very dependent on a high mix of premium passengers and high-yield cargo; this in an environment where overall demand for travel along these routes is still relatively low. I doubt this will be a widely adopted strategy." Japan Airlines is so far the only other airline using the polar route for its flights between Europe and Japan. The London to Tokyo service now flies over Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Iceland, which has increased the average flight time from just over 12 hours to about 14 hours and 30 minutes, according to Flightradar24. Northern lights The A350 is said to be particularly resilient to cold temperatures. An extra four hours of flight time also has an impact on passengers and crew, further increasing costs. "Usually we fly to Japan with a crew of three pilots," explains Aleksi Kuosmanen, deputy fleet chief pilot at Finnair, who is also a captain on the new flights. "Now we operate it with four pilots. We have a specific flight crew bunk where we can sleep and have a rest, and we have also increased the number of meals." Passengers have reacted cheerfully to the new route, according to Kuosmanen. "I would say that people were enthusiastic," he said. "Many were asking at what time we would be going across the pole and if northern lights were expected." diploma Finnair is giving out "diplomas" and stickers to certify passengers have flown over the North Pole. There's also an advantage to having a 300-seater capped at just 50 passengers: "I had a stroll through the cabin during the night and... let's say, they had space." Finnair is also giving out stickers and "diplomas" that certify to passengers that they have flown over the North Pole. Technically, the polar route doesn't pose any extra safety risks. "Cold weather is probably the first thing that comes to mind, and it's true that there are regions with cold air masses at high altitude, but we're fairly used to this when we fly northern routes to Tokyo in the Russian airspace anyway," says Kuosmanen. One issue could be that the fuel temperature becomes too low, but the A350 is particularly resilient against cold air, Kuosmanen says, which makes it ideal for the route. There are other minor quibbles. For example, satellite voice communications don't cover the whole Arctic region, so crews have to rely on HF radio, a technology that is almost 100 years old. In addition to that, there are areas with strong magnetic radiation to be considered during the flight. "We have a good old magnetic compass in the aircraft, in addition to several modern navigational aids, and it went a little bit haywire while we were flying over the magnetic North Pole," says Kuosmanen. (This causes no harm to the aircraft at all). Overall, from a pilot standpoint, the polar route makes things more interesting, but doesn't fundamentally alter the job. "The polar area is probably where every pilot who flies long-haul wants to operate," says Kuosmanen. "But once one is well prepared and well briefed, it's just another day at the office." https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/north-pole-air-route/index.html Molokai man pleads guilty to assaulting flight attendant A Molokai man has pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew members and assaulting a flight attendant on a flight from Honolulu to Hilo last year. Steven Sloan Jr., 33, entered the plea Thursday before Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Seabright. According to court documents and information presented in court, Sloan was a passenger on Hawaiian Airlines Flight 152, which had been in the air for about 15 minutes at about 7:30 a.m. Sept. 23 when he punched the flight attendant, who was walking from the front of the plane to the rear to collect trash. The attendant approached row six and collected trash from the left side of the aisle before turning his attention to the right side when Sloan punched the victim in the chest. “The victim, who did not know Sloan, was shocked as the blow was unexpected,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu. Seeing that Sloan was “upset or agitated,” the victim tried to cover his body and move away from Sloan. Sloan stood up so he and the flight attendant were face to face in the aisle and pulled his right arm back as if he were going to punch the victim again, according to court documents. Then Sloan hit the victim on the back left side of his head. Fearing for his safety and the safety of the other two flight attendants and the other passengers, especially a woman sitting next to Sloan, the victim advised the other flight attendants to abandon their normal flight duties and monitor the doors of the plane in case Sloan went for the doors, according to the release. The captain was advised of what was happening and decided to return the flight to Honolulu, where Sloan was arrested. Sloan was held at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu before he was released on $25,000 unsecured bond on Oct. 26, court records show. Sloan is set to be sentenced Aug. 4. He is facing maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for the charge of interference with flight crew members. For the assault charge, he faces one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. “Crimes committed on an aircraft while in flight can imperil the safety of all those on board,” said U.S. Attorney Clare Connors of the Hawaii District. “This prosecution demonstrates the potential federal criminal consequences of assaulting a flight crew member.” Honolulu FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill said the agency takes such crimes seriously. “The flight crew has a right to feel safe aboard an aircraft while also performing their duties,” he said. The case was investigated by the FBI and state Department of Public Safety — Sheriff Division and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Ching. https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2022/03/molokai-man-pleads-guilty-to-assaulting-flight-attendant/ Chinese airliner crashes with 132 aboard in country's south BEIJING (AP) — A China Eastern Boeing 737-800 with 132 people on board crashed in the southern province of Guangxi on Monday, officials said. The Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a statement the crash occurred near the city of Wuzhou in Teng county. The flight was traveling from Kunming in the western province of Yunnan to the industrial center of Guangzhou along the east coast, it added. There was no immediate word on numbers of dead and injured. The plane was carrying 123 passengers and nine crew members, the CAAC said, correcting earlier reports that 133 people had been on board. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out effort” to be made in the rescue operation, for post-crash arrangements to be handled appropriately and potential safety hazards investigated to ensure complete civil aviation flight safety. People’s Daily reports that 117 rescuers have already arrived at the crash site. Guangxi fire department is organizing 650 rescuers who are heading to the site from three directions. The CAAC said it had sent a team of officials, and the Guangxi fire service said work was underway to control a mountainside blaze ignited by the crash. Satellite data from NASA showed a massive fire just in the area of where the plane went down at the time of the crash. Calls to China Eastern offices were not immediately answered. State media said local police first received calls from villagers alerting the crash around 2:30 p.m. (0630 GMT). Guangxi provincial emergency management department said contact with the plane was lost at 2:15 p.m. (0615 GMT). Chicago-based Boeing Co. said it was aware of the initial reports of the crash and was “working to gather more information.” Boeing stock dropped over 8% in pre-market trading early Monday. Shanghai-based China Eastern is one of China’s top three airlines, operating scores of domestic and international routes serving 248 destinations. China Eastern's flight No. 5735 had been traveling at around 30,000 feet when suddenly, just after 0620 GMT, the plane entered a deep dive at its cruising altitude speed of 455 knots (523 mph, 842 kph), according to data from flight-tracking website FlightRadar24.com. The data suggests the plane crashed within a minute and a half of whatever went wrong. The plane stopped transmitting data just southwest of the Chinese city of Wuzhou. The aircraft was delivered to China Eastern from Boeing in June 2015 and had been flying for more than six years. Boeing began delivering the 737-800 to customers in 1997 and delivered the last of the series to China Eastern in 2020. It made over 5,200 of the narrow-body aircraft, a popular, single-aisle commuter plane. The twin-engine, single aisle Boeing 737 is one of the world’s most popular planes for short and medium-haul flights. China Eastern operates multiple versions of the common aircraft, including the 737-800 and the 737 Max. The deadliest crash involving a Boeing 737-800 came in January 2020, when Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard accidentally shot down a Ukraine International Airlines flight, killing all 176 people on board. The 737 Max version was grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes. China’s aviation regulator cleared that plane to return to service late last year, making the country the last major market to do so. China’s last deadly crash of a civilian jetliner was in 2010. https://www.yahoo.com/news/state-media-report-crash-chinese-082919657.html ***************** Date: Monday 21 March 2022 Time: 06:22 UTC Type: Boeing 737-89P (WL) Operator: China Eastern Airlines Registration: B-1791 MSN: 41474/5453 First flight: 5 June 2015 (6 years 10 months) Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-7B26E Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: 9 Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: 123 Total: Fatalities: / Occupants: 132 Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: Tengxian, Guangxi ( China) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Kunming Wujiaba International Airport (KMG/ZPPP), China Destination airport: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN/ZGGG), China Flightnumber: MU5735 Narrative: China Eastern Airlines flight 5735, a Boeing 737-800, crashed in a mountain range in Tengxian, Guangxi, China. The aircraft departed Kunming Wujiaba International Airport at 05:15 UTC on a domestic passenger service to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. ADS-B flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft at 29,100 feet, flying along Airway 599 towards Guangzhou. ADS-B data released by Flightradar24 suggest the descent started between 06:20:43 and 06:20:59. Altitude datapoint show the descent stopped about 06:22:00 around 7400 feet and the aircraft climbed to about 8600 feet before the aircraft again entered a steep descent. The last recorded datapoint was at 06:22:35 at 3225 feet. CCTV footage and dashcam appears to show the aircraft in an extremely steep descent before it crashed in a wooded mountainous area. The location where the descent from 29100 feet was initiated, coincides with the point where flight MU5735 began its descent (also from 29100 feet), the day before the accident. https://aviation-safety.net/database/cache/2022/cached-20220321-0.html ISASI 2022 Brisbane Australia Current Challenges for Aviation Safety Call for Papers ISASI 2022 will b e a fully interactive "hybrid” conference for delegates to meet either face to face at the Pullman Hotel King George Square Brisbane Australia or to register and participate “ on line August 30 to September 1 , 2022 The committee welcome s the offer of presentations that will address the challenges for contemporary aviation safety in the new normal including: · Recent accident/incident investigations. · Novel and new investigations techniques. · Data investigation and analysis. · Future technological developments for aviation safety. · Investigator training and contemporary selection criteria. · Wreckage recovery and analysis. · Developments in analysis and understanding of human performance with specific reference to pandemics. Abstracts should include the author’s current short CV and be sent to ISASI2022@isasi.org or if you have any questions pmayes@isasi.org April 20th Closing date for receipt of abstracts May 30th Presenters informed of successful selection and instructions for final papers issued July 20th Completed paper and power point presentation required Curt Lewis