Flight Safety Information - April 20, 2022 No.078 In This Issue : Incident: Rwandair CRJ9 at Entebbe on Apr 20th 2022, runway excursion on landing : Incident: Finnair A321 at Larnaca on Apr 17th 2022, bird strike : Incident: Comair B738 at Johannesburg on Apr 19th 2022, possible tail scrape on departure : Incident: Spirit A320 near Denver on Apr 14th 2022, smoke in cockpit : Japanese pilots rose in near-record numbers to meet challenges by Chinese aircraft : Acting FAA Administrator: Industry Boom Creating New Career Paths, Safety Standards : Ukraine receives fighter planes, aircraft parts to bolster air force : Call for Nominations For 2022 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Incident: Rwandair CRJ9 at Entebbe on Apr 20th 2022, runway excursion on landing A Rwandair Canadair CRJ-900, registration 9XR-WI performing flight WB-464 from Nairobi (Kenya) to Entebbe (Uganda) with 60 people on board, landed on Entebbe's runway 17/35 at 05:31L (02:31Z) but veered off the runway and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground. There were no injuries, the damage to the aircraft needs to be assessed. The airline reported the flight suffered a runway excursion due to bad weather. All passengers and crew disembarked safely. Uganda's Civil Aviation Authority reported the secondary runway 12/30 remains operational. Efforts are underway to remove the CRJ from the main runway. An investigation has been initiated. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f7ada98&opt=0 Incident: Finnair A321 at Larnaca on Apr 17th 2022, bird strike A Finnair Airbus A321-200, registration OH-LZT performing flight AY-1928 from Larnaca (Cyprus) to Helsinki (Finland), departed Larnaca's runway 04 when an engine (V2533) ingested a bird. In the absence of abnormal indications the crew continued the climb. After levelling off at cruise level FL340 the crew decided to return to Larnaca for a safe landing on runway 04 about one hour after departure. A passenger reported there had been some strange buzzing sound from an engine during takeoff. About half an hour later the crew announced they were returning to Larnaca due to a bird strike on departure. The airline confirmed a bird strike on departure, the aircraft is currently being inspected. The passengers were taken to hotels and commenced their journey the following day. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Larnaca for about 50 hours, then positioned back to Helsinki. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f7a6a11&opt=0 Incident: Comair B738 at Johannesburg on Apr 19th 2022, possible tail scrape on departure A Comair Boeing 737-800, registration ZS-ZWY performing flight MN-399/BA-6399 from Johannesburg (South Africa) to Mauritius (Mauritius) with 152 passengers and 6 crew, departed Johannesburg's runway 21R and was climbing out when the crew requested to level off at FL110 due to some technical problem. The crew subsequently requested to enter a hold to burn off fuel to reduce the mass to the maximum landing mass, they requested FL100 due to being unpressurized. The aircraft descended to FL100, later FL090 and entered holds. The aircraft returned to Johannesburg for a safe landing on runway 21L about 85 minutes after departure. Passengers reported the crew indicated the aircraft tail might have contacted the runway surface on departure. The aircraft remained on the ground in Johannesburg for about 2.5 hours, then departed again for the flight as MN-399A. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f7a6733&opt=0 Incident: Spirit A320 near Denver on Apr 14th 2022, smoke in cockpit A Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N655NK performing flight NK-1722 from Chicago,IL to Las Vegas,NV (USA), was enroute at FL360 about 130nm northeast of Denver,CO (USA) when the crew donned their oxygen masks reporting smoke in the cockpit and decided to divert to Denver. The aircraft landed safely on Denver's runway 26 about 25 minutes after leaving FL360. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3.5 hours, then continued the journey and reached Las Vegas with a delay of about 3.5 hours. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f7a4f11&opt=0 Japanese pilots rose in near-record numbers to meet challenges by Chinese aircraft CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Japanese fighter pilots responded to challenges by Chinese military aircraft during fiscal year 2021 at a pace second only to a record set five years earlier, according to data from Japan’s Ministry of Defense. Japan scrambled fighters into its air defense identification zone 1,004 times, including 722 sorties to intercept approaching Chinese drones, fighters, bombers and surveillance planes, according to data released Friday. Another 266 sorties responded to Russian aircraft and 16 to miscellaneous aircraft, the data said. The identification zone is the buffer used to identify aircraft before they reach a country’s territorial airspace. In the third quarter, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, Japanese pilots flew more intercepts than in any quarter since before 2014. The fiscal year in Japan runs from April 1 to March 31. In fiscal year 2021, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force launched fighters 722 times to intercept approaching Chinese drones, fighters, bombers and surveillance planes, according to the Defense Ministry. In fiscal year 2021, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force launched fighters 722 times to intercept approaching Chinese drones, fighters, bombers and surveillance planes, according to the Defense Ministry. (Ashley Taylor/U.S. Air Force) During fiscal 2016, a peak year for airborne challenges, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force launched 1,168 sorties in response to approaching aircraft, including 851 times for Chinese aircraft alone, the ministry said. A sortie is a single mission by a single plane. “We take this matter seriously and will continue paying close attention,” a spokesman for Japan’s Joint Staff told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. “We are determined to protect our territorial land and airspace no matter what.” Japanese government spokespeople customarily speak to the media on condition of anonymity. Chinese aircraft are actively gathering information on Japanese defenses, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said at a press conference on Friday. “Chinese aircraft are diversified and sophisticated,” he said. “China seems to be rapidly promoting the development of drones.” The Air Self-Defense Force flew 725 sorties in fiscal 2020, the ministry said. Japan released its data as China conducted air and naval training near Taiwan on Friday in response to “wrong signals” sent by the United States, according to Bloomberg. A delegation of six U.S. lawmakers, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., arrived in Taiwan on Thursday to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and declare their support, The Associated Press reported the next day. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China was prepared “to take strong measures” to safeguard its territorial integrity, AP reported Saturday. The U.S. supports Taiwan, a self-governing democracy. Since 1979, the U.S. has adhered to a “One China” policy that acknowledges Beijing’s view that it has sovereignty over Taiwan but considers the island’s status as unsettled. China regards the island as a renegade province that must eventually be brought back in line, by force if necessary. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2022-04-19/japanese-pilots-respond-to-chinese-military-aircraft-5730447.html Acting FAA Administrator: Industry Boom Creating New Career Paths, Safety Standards Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen Embry-Riddle alumnus Billy Nolen (’07), who was recently named the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) acting administrator, visited the Daytona Beach Campus last week to share industry insights with students. From working as a military and commercial airline pilot to heading up safety programs at airlines in Australia and Canada, Billy Nolen (’07) has had a varied and eventful career in aviation. “Everything I learned as an Eagle served me in good stead,” said the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alumnus, who most recently was appointed Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Nolen shared his experiences and answered questions from students, faculty and staff about the current state and future outlook of the aerospace industry at an April 14 presentation held at Embry-Riddle’s College of Aviation as part of Aviation Week 2022 on the Daytona Beach Campus. “It’s really exciting to see the work being done here,” Nolen said. “I’m honored to be a part of a university that does so much for the aviation industry.” Aviation Innovation and Safety Emerging technologies have given rise to an increased demand for skilled workers in aviation and aerospace, Nolen said, pointing to the FAA’s Women in Aviation Advisory Board and Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force as efforts to reach and recruit more young people. “We’re looking to inspire today and tomorrow’s generation,” he said. “We need a talented, diverse workforce from all backgrounds.” From the commercial space travel boom to the continued development of urban air mobility vehicles and other “drone” innovations, the industry is evolving at a rapid rate, he added. “There is no more exciting time to be in aviation than we face today,” Nolen said. “We are seeing a great deal of innovation all at once.” However, safety remains the key, he said, with the FAA focused on running the safest, most effective aerospace system in the world. “Everything is looked at through the lens of safety,” he said. “We want to make sure we have good controls in place.” Nolen has more than 33 years of experience in aviation safety. Starting as a pilot, he served in the U.S. Army, where he flew both airplanes and helicopters while working as a safety officer. In 1989, he started his career as a pilot with American Airlines, where he moved into holding safety leadership positions. After American Airlines, he served as senior vice president of safety, security and operations with Airlines for America. He later moved to Australia, where he served as executive manager of Group Safety & Health for the Qantas Group. Then he worked as Vice President of Safety, Security and Quality at WestJet in Calgary, Alberta, before coming to the FAA. As air traffic bounces back from the pandemic and space launches continue to increase, Nolen said he is delighted to see how many students are pursuing aviation careers at Embry-Riddle. “We know it’s not just a degree,” he said. “It’s membership in a big family.” https://news.erau.edu/headlines/acting-faa-administrator-industry-boom-creating-new-career-paths-safety-standards Ukraine receives fighter planes, aircraft parts to bolster air force Ukraine has received fighter planes and aircraft parts to bolster its air force in the face of Russia’s invasion, the Pentagon said Tuesday (19 April), declining to specify the number of aircraft or their origin. The announcement comes a week after US President Joe Biden unveiled an $800 million military aid package for Kyiv, including heavier equipment such as howitzers, as fighting escalates in eastern Ukraine. The moves indicate a change in attitude in the West, which had initially refused to provide Ukraine with heavy armaments to avoid action Russia could consider direct involvement in the conflict. Ukrainian forces “right now have available to them more fixed-wing fighter aircraft than they did two weeks ago,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday. “Without getting into what other nations are providing, they (Ukrainian forces) have received additional platforms and parts to be able to increase their fleet size,” he said. Kirby did not specify the type of aircraft delivered to the Ukrainian military, which had been pleading for warplanes for weeks, but suggested that they were Russian-made. “Other nations who have experience with those kinds of aircraft have been able to help them get more aircraft up and running,” Kirby said. He underscored that while the United States had helped with the shipment of some parts, it had “not transported whole aircraft.” Kyiv has asked its Western partners to provide MiG-29 fighter jets that its pilots already know how to fly, and which a handful of Eastern European countries have. A possible transfer of such aircraft from Poland was discussed in early March, before the United States poured cold water on the plan, fearing Russia would see it as direct engagement by NATO in the war. US rejects Poland's offer to give it Russian-made fighter jets for Ukraine The United States rejected a surprise offer by NATO ally Poland to transfer its Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets to a US base in Germany as a way to replenish Ukraine’s air force in its defense against invading Russian forces. Reportedly, Slovakia is currently considering donating its entire fleet of MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine, in exchange of air policing by other NATO nations. Bulgaria also has MIG-29 fighters, but has said it needs them for its own protection. Moldova has sold to the US back in 1997 29 nuclear-capable MIG-29 in an effort by both governments to ensure that these dual-use military weapons do not fall in to the hands of rogue states. The former Soviet republic still has 6 MIG-29, but has said it will not sell them to Ukraine. More aid The United States and the European Union announced Tuesday they would continue sending aid to Ukraine. Biden met via video call with the leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Romania, Poland, Italy, Canada, Japan and the European Commission. Biden, allies discuss new security guarantees for Ukraine The United States, France and other allies discussed how to provide security guarantees to Ukraine during and after the war with Russia, a French presidency official said on Tuesday (19 April) as Moscow launched an all-out assault on eastern Ukraine. They reached a “broad consensus on the need to increase pressure on the Kremlin,” the Italian government said. In particular, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to “ongoing provision of security, economic, and humanitarian assistance,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. Speaking on his visit this month to Kyiv, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson “underscored the critical need for further military support to Ukraine in the face of a major Russian offensive in the Donbas and ongoing attacks elsewhere,” Downing Street said. The first shipments of the latest US military aid package have already arrived at Ukraine’s borders, with US media reporting Tuesday that Washington was already working to approve another $800 million package for Kyiv. NATO soldiers are slated to train their Ukrainian counterparts to use the newly delivered howitzers. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the howitzer training would take place outside Ukraine. While the handling of US howitzers is not fundamentally different to that of the howitzers the Ukrainian military has already used, those Washington has sent use 155-millimeter shells — common in NATO countries — while Ukraine still uses Russian-made 152-millimeter shells. The United States has previously trained Ukrainian forces on Switchblade drones. Russia has formally complained to the United States over its military aid to Ukraine, warning of “unpredictable consequences” if shipments of advanced weaponry go forward, US media reported last week. Russia warns US to stop arming Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns of nuclear threat Russia has warned the United States that there will be “unpredictable consequences” if Washington keeps arming Ukraine, The Washington Post reported on Friday (15 April). https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/ukraine-receives-fighter-planes-aircraft-parts-to-bolster-air-force/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 28, 2022 CONTACT: Philip Barbour, 205-939-1700, 205-617-9007 Call for Nominations For 2022 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. The Award is scheduled to be presented during Flight Safety Foundation’s annual International Air Safety Summit this fall. Presented annually since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study, or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers, and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners may be resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. The Award Committee, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient. Please help us identify and honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-to-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/. Nominations will be accepted through June 3, 2022. For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see www.ltbaward.org. About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back more than 75 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956 her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., in close association with The Flight Safety Foundation, established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. For the past 65 years, this distinguished award recognizing outstanding achievements in aviation safety worldwide has been presented at Flight Safety Foundation’s International Aviation Safety Seminar. In 2013, The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed as an independent non-profit charitable organization composed of members of the Award Board, the aviation community, and the Barbour family. In addition to the annual presentation of the award, in 2019 the Foundation initiated a scholarship program that supports worthy students pursuing professional aviation studies. As the Foundation broadens its scope, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to recognize those who significantly contributed to aviation safety. For more information on the Foundation, the award, and past winners, visit http://LTBAward.org Curt Lewis