Flight Safety Information - May 23, 2022 No.098 In This Issue : Incident: American B738 at Charlotte on May 19th 2022, temporary runway excursion on rejected takeoff : Incident: India A20N at Mumbai on May 19th 2022, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Lingus A333 near Dublin on May 17th 2022, aft door seal issues : Incident: Piedmont E145 near Asheville on May 19th 2022, electrical smell of smoke in cockpit : Mental health of pilots under scanner after plane crash in China : CHINA SEEKS INFORMANTS TO IMPROVE AVIATION SAFETY : IBAC Looks To Expansion as IS-BAO Turns 20 : Saudia Private Aviation achieves IS-BAO registration : LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH: ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES TO INCREASE BUENOS AIRES & SAO PAULO FLIGHTS : Bombardier Introduces Global 8000 Aircraft, the Flagship for a New Era in Business Aviation : FlightSafety To Train Cargo Drone Pilots : Airbus business jet sales are rising despite the Ukraine crisis and a lockdown in China, report says Incident: American B738 at Charlotte on May 19th 2022, temporary runway excursion on rejected takeoff An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N917NN performing flight AA-775 from Charlotte,NC to Miami,FL (USA) with 172 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Charlotte's runway 18L when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed (about 40 knots over ground). The aircraft veered temporarily left off the runway, rolled over grass and returned onto the runway surface. The crew advised they did not need assistance and just needed to vacate the runway. The aircraft returned to the apron. A number of aircraft on final approach to runway 18L needed to go around as result of the runway excursion. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N893NN reached Miami with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Charlotte about 23 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f91dd2c&opt=0 Incident: India A20N at Mumbai on May 19th 2022, engine shut down in flight An Air India Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-EXM performing flight AI-639 from Mumbai to Bangalore (India), was climbing out of Mumbai's runway 27 when the crew received a right hand engine (LEAP) stall indication combined with excessive EGT indications. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Mumbai for a safe landing on runway 27 about 25 minutes after departure. A replacement Airbus A320-200N registration VT-EXQ reached Bangalore with a delay of 3.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Mumbai about 38 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f91eaf2&opt=0 Incident: Lingus A333 near Dublin on May 17th 2022, aft door seal issues An Aer Lingus Airbus A330-300, registration EI-DUZ performing flight EI-105 from Dublin (Ireland) to New York JFK,NY (USA) with 237 people on board, was enroute at FL310 about 240nm west of Dublin about to enter Oceanic Airspace when the crew decided to return to Dublin. About 15 minutes after turning around the aircraft descended normally to FL150 then FL100 and entered a hold to burn off fuel. The aircraft landed safely back on Dublin's runway 10R about 2.5 hours after departure. A replacement A330-300 registration EI-FNG reached New York with a delay of about 5.5 hours. The airline reported the aircraft returned due to a technical issue. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f92ab47&opt=0 Incident: Piedmont E145 near Asheville on May 19th 2022, electrical smell of smoke in cockpit A Piedmont Airlines Embraer ERJ-145 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N638AE performing flight AA-6034 from Charlotte,NC to Fort Wayne,IN (USA), was climbing out of Charlotte about 50nm northeast of Asheville,NC (USA) and about 20nm south Tri-Cities Airport,TN (USA) when the crew stopped the climb at FL260 repporting smell of smoke, an electrical smell in the cockpit. Due to weather the aircraft diverted to Asheville for a safe landing on runway 17 about 20 minutes after leaving FL260. After landing the crew reported they had some smoke in the cockpit but never could find the source of the smoke. Tower advised no smoke was seen from the aircraft. The aircraft positioned from Asheville to Roanoke,VA (USA) after about 13.5 hours on the ground. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f91ee50&opt=0 Mental health of pilots under scanner after plane crash in China An anonymous survey of 1,848 pilots in 2015 found 12.6% suffered from depression while 4.1% experienced suicidal thoughts. How would you feel about getting on a flight knowing that the pilot had been having suicidal thoughts? If you’re a regular passenger, you’ve probably already done it. Few things in aviation evoke greater horror than the prospect of a pilot who deliberately drives a plane into the ground. That’s what happened, notoriously, with Germanwings Flight 9525 in 2015, when 150 were killed after the first officer locked the captain out of the cockpit and steered the plane into an Alpine mountain. It’s such an alarming prospect that some suspected pilot suicides remain hotly disputed, as with the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 soon after departure from New York in 1999. Intentional crashing is among the theories posited for the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in 2014, though no conclusion has been made. Now that possibility hangs over the fate of China Eastern Airlines Corp. Flight 5735, which may have had its controls pushed into a deliberate nosedive ahead of its crash on March 21, the Wall Street Journal reported this week. For all the understandable alarm that such incidents attract, the solution is almost certainly to be more open about mental health, not more restrictive. Of roughly a billion commercial aircraft trips carried out since the 1970s, pilot suicide has only been suggested in eight crashes. The far greater risk is that the culture of aviation is preventing pilots from being honest about their state of mind and thus allowing depression and other disorders to fester without sufferers seeking the treatment they need. Commercial pilots are among the few professionals who must pass medical tests, typically taken annually, to certify their ongoing fitness for work. They’ll include physical checks of eyesight and hearing, as well as asking if pilots have experienced mental health issues or seen a psychologist. “Pilots have this reluctance toward reporting” their mental health, says Corrie Ackland, a psychologist at the University of New South Wales who’s studying the issue. “It’s not easy to become a pilot. They do a lot to achieve success, and to carry out an action that may very well jeopardize their medical is a risk they’re not prepared to take.” It’s not hard to see the problem with this setup. Ideally, pilots having mental health issues should be seeking out help and declaring it to their employer — but they’re far less likely to do so if it might end their careers. Even more intrusive ways of checking someone’s mental state are easy to hack. Those wanting to conceal depression will know that when asked: “In the past two weeks, how often have you felt little pleasure in doing things?” the answer to give is: “Not at all.” Also read: ‘Told to do by someone in cockpit’: Report says China Eastern plane crash was likely intentional Compare anonymous surveys of aviators to ones where their identities are disclosed, and it’s clear that a taboo is fully in place. One self-reported questionnaire conducted by New Zealand pilots while renewing their medical certificates found that just 1.9% suffered from depression, levels far lower than those reported among the general population. An anonymous survey of 1,848 pilots conducted in the wake of the Germanwings crash, however, found 12.6% suffered from depression and 4.1% had experienced suicidal thoughts within the past two weeks. While that might sound worryingly high, it’s pretty much in line with levels in the general population and, in particular, high-stress occupations. It’s hardly surprising that pilots suffer from mental health problems. Separation from family and non-work social networks, disrupted sleep, and irregular work hours all come with the territory. Add to the mix a reluctance to seek help, and it’s remarkable rates of depression aren’t even higher. Exacerbating the problem is the sheer stress of the job itself. Most flights occur without incident, but that’s because pilots need to be meticulous in following procedures while having the mental flexibility to troubleshoot in real time. Even then, increasingly sophisticated systems make the job harder because the machines they fly are more complex and difficult to understand. In his book “No Man’s Land,” Captain Kevin Sullivan details the numerous computer failures he had to wrestle with when Qantas Flight 72 plunged towards the earth over Western Australia in 2008. The second part of the book outlines the aftermath — the severe mental trauma he faced after landing his stricken aircraft. The former U.S. naval pilot ended up retiring from commercial aviation as a result. Few pilots face events as dramatic as QF72, but strict deadlines, tight budgets and job insecurity amplify the impact of even minor incidents. Most don’t write a book about their experience or get the level of peer or corporate support Sullivan received. Airlines are understandably paranoid about all aspects of safety, including mental health. The problem is, the current stigma around addressing the topic clearly isn’t serving those ends. The pilot who crashed Germanwings Flight 9525 had a history of depression that was known to the airline, but didn’t proactively disclose a serious deterioration in his mental condition four months before the crash — something the accident report attributed in part to his fear of losing his license. A simple solution may be to do more to promote indefinite leave, and even retirement or temporary redeployment to ground duties for pilots facing mental health issues. Solid guarantees by airlines that a self-report won’t end an aviator’s career in the skies would encourage sufferers to find the help they need. The medical profession itself may have useful lessons, having pushed back against laws requiring mandatory reporting of mental health issues to regulators so that such action is only taken in the rare cases where patients might be at risk. That suggests a far more honest approach to the problem, and one that will minimize the risk that pilots see the best solution as trying to conceal and repress their true state of mind. If you want to treat depression, the first and most useful step is usually to start talking about it. That’s a lesson the aviation industry would do well to heed. https://theprint.in/opinion/mental-health-of-pilots-under-scanner-after-plane-crash-in-china/967334/ CHINA SEEKS INFORMANTS TO IMPROVE AVIATION SAFETY Two accidents within two months have rattled the Chinese aviation industry, with CAAC calling on frontline workers to report any lapses in safety, Following two accidents within two months, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will be seeking out "whistleblowers" across the industry to highlight potential safety oversights. Protections for whistleblowers As reported by Reuters, the document posted on May 19 has seen CAAC urge its frontline employees and management officials to report any findings to airlines, preventing future incidents. "It is of great necessity that we fully mobilize the vast number of frontline personnel - for them to be willing and dare to be a safety' whistle blower', which would also be crucial in reversing the current unfavorable situation and maintain the stable operations of the industry safety," wrote CAAC in Thursday's statement. CAAC has assured that whistleblowers will be rewarded and have their identities protected through confidentiality agreements. China holds one of the highest aviation safety records worldwide, significantly lower than the worldwide average of 0.57 accidents per million commercial departures, with zero reported in 2021. China Eastern Airlines While the initial investigation of the China Eastern crash in March points towards a deliberate act, two accidents within two months has seen a drastic response from CAAC to improve safety measures. Improving standards On March 21, a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800, flight MU5735, crashed into the mountains of Guangxi, killing all 132 onboard. While initial investigations point towards a deliberate crash, the accident was the first fatal accident in the country for over a decade, bringing an end to 100 million flying hours without a major civil aviation accident. Less than two months later, Tibet Airlines flight 9833 experienced a runway excursion, with the Airbus A319-100 catching on fire, injuring 36 of the 122 passengers onboard. The two accidents within a short space of time rattled the Chinese aviation industry, with an apparent hark back to China's dismal aviation safety record from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. Following multiple hijackings and accidents within several decades, China set out to drastically reform its aviation industry, increasing pilot training, offering free safety management courses for its air traffic control personnel, and completely overhauling its aviation regulations with the help of Boeing and the FAA. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Chrystal Zhang, an associate professor and specialist in Chinese aviation policies at RMIT University, explained the importance of the country's aviation reform during its period of rapid growth. "The government had realized that safety should be the priority of the operation of the whole industry," Zhang said. "That kind of impact on the society, the confidence of people traveling and also the economic development, which was the goal of the government at the time, was negative." Shortages of trained pilots and air traffic control led the country to tighten regulations on creating new low-cost carriers while it beefed up its safety measures. Air China Boeing 747-8 China's three major carriers face constant oversight by the Chinese State Council to ensure safety measures are being met. Current safety measures China's state council currently oversees the operation of the country's three major carriers, Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, providing strict enforcement of aviation regulations. Additionally, CAAC regulates the aviation market and manages flight safety, with the structured and devolved regional administrations able to effectively utilize their powers to ensure safety standards are being met at airlines across the country. "In the aviation community, people tend to talk about this dilemma that if you focus too much on the profit, you perhaps could overlook the safety requirements. That kind of tension always exists," added Zhang. China's commitment to aviation safety has seen it develop into one of the most influential civil aviation authorities worldwide, notably being the first country to ground the Boeing 737 MAX the day following the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302, in turn leading to international groundings of the aircraft. Despite the reapproval of the type across the West, China has yet to approve the 737 MAX's return to service. While the two recent accidents may have shaken up CAAC and the Chinese Government, the recently implemented measures of working alongside aviation crews on the frontline may provide vital feedback to ensure the country's civil aviation sector remains one of the safest. https://simpleflying.com/china-aviation-safety-informants/ IBAC Looks To Expansion as IS-BAO Turns 20 Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC, Booth L88) has released its first update to the standard in four years. It is also expanding the breadth of its portfolio and building on its advanced programs and support network. IS-BAO program director Andrew Karas said the most recent IS-BAO update was designed to “lean out” some of the content and provide clarity as the industry has evolved, including additional information on night vision goggle operations and stabilized approaches for helicopters. Other changes geared toward fixed-wing aircraft involve visual approach risk and best practices surrounding circle-to-land. In addition, the update further addresses the use of cellphones and other electronic devices in the flight deck, Karas said. IBAC previously would update IS-BAO annually, but while the 16-member Standards Board will still meet every year, changes will now shift to a “needs-based approach,” he said. IBAC director-general Kurt Edwards explained that operators were concerned that annual updates became complicated because they required constant changes to their practices. They asked that rather than constant change, IBAC consider updating the program when changes are more critical. “The experience over the last 20 years is such that we probably don't have to do this as often as annually. It could be maybe two years or three years. It just will depend upon what we're learning and what develops in the industry,” Edwards added. In addition to accumulating changes on a more periodic basis, based on the urgency of the changes, IBAC is changing the approach to how it numbers the updates. Rather than tying the updates to a year, IBAC labeled the new update the 20th edition in recognition of the milestone anniversary of IS-BAO. Going forward, the editions will increase sequentially from there. The IS-BAO Standards Board met in October to cull through four years’ worth of operator and auditor input in developing the update, Karas noted. He said the changes involving helicopter operations were among the more significant in the update. “We’ve started incorporating a more focused standard to specific rotary-lane operations,” he said. Edwards added, “The helicopter community is something we've been trying to emphasize much more recently.” While working with organizations such as Helicopter Association International has helped IBAC expand its outreach, “relative to fixed-wing operators, I think we have a lot of progress to make and it's something we are certainly working on.” As far as extending its reach, IBAC in January unveiled an IS-BAO program for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), naming Cartersville, Georgia-based Phoenix Air Unmanned as the first to receive registration. Phoenix Air Unmanned, a sister company to IS-BAO-registered charter aircraft operator Phoenix Air Group, worked with IBAC on a pilot program to include RPAS. IBAC teamed up with the Unmanned Safety Institute to develop and implement an auditor training program for the IS-BAO RPAS. The program was developed to accommodate some of its participating operators that have begun using RPAS vehicles, as well as standalone operators that have sought out best practices and safety management systems, Karas said. He noted that the move is in keeping with IBAC’s goal to evolve with the industry and technological development. “We're adopting that with this sector,” he added. The RPAS standards were developed through an advisory board that represents a range of industry professionals, Joby Aviation among them. IBAC said it is adapting the program to ensure it will be relevant and applicable to RPAS now and in the future. A key to the implementation is professionally trained and credentialed auditors, IBAC added. “The business aviation industry is filled with highly experienced and knowledgeable operations and maintenance personnel coming from traditional piloted aircraft backgrounds. However, the RPAS operational environment is relatively new with fewer industry experts,” Karas said. “As with any successful safety program, well trained and qualified auditors are essential.” Along with RPAS, IBAC is maturing its Progressive Stage 3 (PS3) tier for IS-BAO that was rolled out in 2020. IS-BAO PS3 enables operators to advance their Stage 3 safety system, share data, mentor, and share best practices with others, IBAC said. The program was designed to provide additional pathways for continuous improvement and builds a more customized approach to auditing. Instead of the traditional three-year audit, PS3 involves one-day audits every year over three years. “This allows the operator a little bit more flexibility in their audit schedule and they can tailor their audit requirements to how that best suit them,” Karas said. Nearly two dozen operators have signed on to PS3 or are onboarding. “One of the great things about the program is that it really brings together these operators with mature safety management systems that are fully committed to continuous improvement and to sharing their experiences to learn lessons from others,” Edwards said. Individuals from these operators get together monthly to discuss safety issues. “It’s been a very good forum for all of these folks,” he said. Meanwhile, IBAC has been working to expand its Program Support Affiliate (PSA) network as more operators enter the network and capacity becomes constrained. PSAs can provide a range of services from documentation and SMS support to training and auditing help. “A lot of new owners are coming into the industry and standing up flight departments,” Karas noted, saying IBAC is seeing a need for “support in the documentation, in the manuals, emergency response plans, and, overall items for starting up a flight department.” Edwards added, “When you have the manufacturer saying to you that probably one-third of their customers are now new to the industry, there's a fundamental need for that type of service to help people understand what they need to be doing in terms of operating an aircraft.” Preparing for this growth and new technologies is central to IBAC as it celebrates the 20th anniversary of IS-BAO. Edwards said the “first priority over the next 20 years would be focusing on the uptake in the small operator community, specifically how can we help them bring this about?” He also stressed the need to build its reputation outside of North America to draw in more of the international community, which is part of its mission of attending shows such as EBACE. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-05-22/ibac-looks-expansion-bao-turns-20 Saudia Private Aviation achieves IS-BAO registration Saudia Private Aviation, the top-tier international luxury flight services and ground handling provider has announced its operation has reached Stage 1 registration for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). The IS-BAO is developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and its member associations and is a recommended voluntary code of best practices designed to help flight operations (fixed- and rotor-wing) achieve high levels of safety and professionalism in their operations around the world. IS-BAO is a safety standard recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Doc 10004, Global Safety Plan. The Stage 1 confirms that the SMS infrastructure is established and that safety management activities are appropriately targeted. The Saudia Private Aviation (SPA) operation chose IS-BAO’s new FlightPlan Stage 1 package to facilitate this achievement. This includes a special credentialed implementor to streamline the pre-audit process and simplify the pathway to IS-BAO Stage 1. Mr. Mohammed Sindi, manager of product and FBO Services for SPA said, “We are truly very proud to have registered as an IS-BAO operator and reach Stage 1 with our safety management system. We worked hard for months to make sure all standards were met, although SPA was already very well established to such a degree that it made the execution easier. “We are creating a culture that continually strives to make operations safer by identifying areas where better risk management can be achieved.” Mr. Osama Alahdal, general manager of commercial and services for SPA said, “Our achievement of IS-BAO Stage 1 is a valuable tool that will help us foster trust, safety and professionalism, boost the quality of our work further and help communicate our high standards to our clients. “The entire SPA organization should be very proud of this achievement,” commented Andrew Karas, Director of IS-BAO. “As a voluntary international standard, it represents their commitment to safety, and we look forward to working with them on their journey to the next stage.” SPA runs the largest Private Aviation Terminal (FBO) in Saudi Arabia in Jeddah where it is headquartered. The company has lounges and a presence across the major cities of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Dammam, Medina and NEOM. SPA is always keen to raise the level of services they provide to their esteemed clients, including the best competitive prices. SPA is well on the way to becoming an organization that encourages a safe and transparent operational environment. In addition to IS-BAO, SPA has already achieved GACAR (General Authority of Civil Aviation Regulation) Part 121, GACAR Part 151 for Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH), IS-BAH Stage1 for JED and RUH, EASA, and has started the process to obtain GACAR Part 145 and GACAR Part 125. https://www.businessairportinternational.com/news/fbos/saudia-private-aviation-achieves-is-bao-registration.html LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH: ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES TO INCREASE BUENOS AIRES & SAO PAULO FLIGHTS The airline will offer more flights in time for the winter holidays in Brazil and Argentina. Ethiopian Airlines is set to bolster its Latin American schedule by adding more flights to São Paulo and Buenos Aires. From July 1st, the African carrier will operate an additional flight per week to both destinations, taking it to four weekly services. Ethiopian Airlines ups flights to Brazil and Argentina As international air travel bounces back, Ethiopian Airlines will increase the frequency of its services to Brazil and Argentina over the summer. The airline currently flies to São Paulo (GRU) and Buenos Aires (EZE) three times a week from its base at Addis Ababa (ADD). Starting on July 1st, the carrier will add one more weekly flight to this service, which stops at São Paulo first before continuing to Buenos Aires. Ethiopian presently operates this flight on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and will now add a Friday service. São Paulo and Buenos Aires are currently Ethiopian's only two South American destinations. Photo: byeangel via Wikimedia Commons The full schedule is as follows: ET 506 - Departs Addis Ababa at 10:05, arrives in São Paulo at 16:15. ET 506 - Departs São Paulo at 17:30, arrives in Buenos Aires at 20:25. ET 507 - Departs Buenos Aires at 21:55, arrives in São Paulo at 00:30(+1). ET 507 - Departs São Paulo at 01:45(+1), arrives in Addis Ababa at 19:45(+1). Demand for tickets on this route shoots up over July due to the winter school holidays in Brazil and Argentina. Ethiopian will offer up 1,080 weekly seats per leg once it ups its schedule to four flights per week. Served by the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Ethiopian Airlines flights to São Paulo and Buenos Aires are conducted by its fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The airline has 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, of which 19 are the 787-8 type. The airline's 787-8s offer seating for 270 passengers in a two-class configuration - 24 in business class and 246 in economy. Ethiopian received its first 787-8 Dreamliner in 2012 and has since turned its eye to the larger 787-9 variety. Ethiopian's 787-8s have been busy serving its US network, which has seen a resurgence in business travel. Last month, simple Flying explored this in detail with Ethiopian Airlines' USA Regional Director, Samson Arega. The African carrier has 19 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. Boardroom upheaval Africa's largest carrier recently underwent wholesale changes to its leadership structure, which included the departure of long-time CEO Tewolde GebreMariam. GebreMariam had to step down earlier than planned due to health issues, announcing his departure on March 23rd. By March 26th, Ethiopian had already appointed a new group CEO, with former COO Mesfin Tasew Bekele stepping up. https://simpleflying.com/ethiopian-airlines-to-increase-buenos-aires-sao-paulo-flights/ Bombardier Introduces Global 8000 Aircraft, the Flagship for a New Era in Business Aviation • Bombardier’s new Global 8000 aircraft stands alone as the world’s fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet, innovatively crafted with the industry’s smoothest ride, healthiest cabin, and lowest cabin altitude • With its innovative Smooth Flex Wing and super-efficient Passport engines, the Global 8000 jet features a top speed of Mach 0.94 – the fastest business jet in the skies • The Global 8000 aircraft will be the only true four-zone cabin business jet to have a range of 8,000 nautical miles, unlocking even more city pairs than ever before • Current Global 7500 operators will be able to retrofit their aircraft to experience the incredible performance enhancements on the Global 8000 aircraft GENEVA, May 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier today unveiled the newest member of its industry-leading business jet portfolio with the introduction of the Global 8000 aircraft, the world’s fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet, innovatively crafted with the industry’s healthiest cabin for safety, comfort and performance beyond compromise. With an industry-leading range of 8,000 nautical miles and an unbeatable top speed of Mach 0.94, the Global 8000 aircraft is the ultimate all-in-one business aircraft, offering customers a unique blend of outstanding performance married with the smoothest ride and an uncompromising passenger experience – the absolute leader in the long-range class. “Today, Bombardier solidifies once more its position as the leader in business aviation with the newest member of the industry-leading Global family,” said Éric Martel, Bombardier’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Global 8000 aircraft leverages the outstanding attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft, providing our customers with a flagship aircraft of a new era. We remain unmatched, which for an innovation-focused team like us, is great.” Some of the impressive performance capabilities of the new Global 8000 aircraft were witnessed as early as May 2021, following a demonstration flight with a Global 7500 flight test vehicle. The aircraft, accompanied by a NASA F/A-18 chase plane, repeatably achieved speeds in excess of Mach 1.015, a key step in enabling a maximum Mach operating speed (MMO) of M0.94 and becoming the fastest business jet in the world and the fastest in civil aviation since the Concorde. During the demonstration flight, the aircraft also became the first Transport Category airplane to fly supersonic with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The discerning Global 8000 business jet also features the healthiest cabin in the industry, with the lowest cabin altitude in its class of 2,900 feet when flying at 41,000 ft. It is also equipped with Bombardier’s Pũr Air and advanced HEPA filter technology for the cleanest cabin air and the fastest fresh air replacement. The Global 8000 aircraft is the only true four-zone cabin business jet to have a range of 8,000 nautical miles – and it more than delivers even when it comes to comfort. With its spacious four personalized suites ergonomically designed to maximize space and freedom of movement, the Global 8000 aircraft also incorporates the revolutionary features introduced on the Global 7500 aircraft that dramatically improve passenger comfort, including the Soleil circadian lighting system to help combat jet lag. Coupled with the innovative Nuage seat with the first-ever zero gravity position, passengers will arrive at their destinations revitalized and refreshed. An exemplary commitment to detail is assured on the new Global 8000 aircraft, including an available Principal Suite with a full-size bed and a stand-up shower in the En-suite. Revolutionary cabin entertainment control and connectivity, the intuitive nice Touch CMS and OLED touch dial, Bombardier’s l’Opéra directional audio sound system and available 4K monitor, also ensures passengers will receive an unrivalled cabin experience. In the cockpit, the Global 8000 aircraft features the renowned Bombardier Vision flight deck with its next generation fly-by-wire technology and blend of cutting-edge avionics with exceptional ergonomics and aesthetics for remarkable comfort and control. Performance-wise, the new Global 8000 aircraft can efficiently transport customers to a wide variety of destinations both faster and farther than ever before. And with its exceptional class-leading range and short-field performance, even more exclusive city pairs are now achievable, including Dubai-Houston, Singapore-Los Angeles, London-Perth and many others. Expected to enter service in 2025, the Global 8000 aircraft development is ongoing, and the program is progressing to plan. And for current Global 7500 operators, the incredible performance enhancements on the Global 8000 will be retrofittable when the aircraft enters into service in 2025. The introduction of the new Global 8000 aircraft has been a carefully planned investment that further strengthens Bombardier’s impressive portfolio of industry-defining business jets. Development to date has been included in previously disclosed investment figures. All further development costs will be included in Bombardier’s capex, which remains in line with its 2025 objectives. About Bombardier Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing, and servicing the world's most exceptional business jets. Bombardier’s Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance, and reliability. Bombardier has a worldwide fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments, and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in special-mission roles. Headquartered in Montréal, Québec, Bombardier operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The company’s robust customer support network includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China, and an Australian facility opening in 2022. For corporate news and information, including Bombardier’s Environmental, Social and Governance report, visit bombardier.com. Learn more about Bombardier’s industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com. Follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. Bombardier, Bombardier Vision, Global, Global 7500 and Global 8000 are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/23/2448167/0/en/Bombardier-Introduces-Global-8000-Aircraft-the-Flagship-for-a-New-Era-in-Business-Aviation.html FlightSafety To Train Cargo Drone Pilots Flight training giant FlightSafety International reached an agreement to develop a state-of-the-art training program for the unmanned air vehicle pilots of Dronamics, the Bulgaria-based unmanned cargo airline. FlightSafety also hopes to expand the agreement to include training for Dronamics maintenance and dispatch personnel. "We’re well known in the market for our long-standing OEM relationships,” said Nate Speiser, FlightSafety's executive v-p for sales and marketing. “Being on the ground floor of the unmanned flight industry with Dronamics is proof of our focus on the future as well.” Dronamics was started in 2014 by brothers Svilen and Konstantin Rangelov, and the company has announced partnerships with DHL and Hellmann for same-day, middle-mile cargo delivery services in Europe and Australia. Ambitions for the future include becoming the first long-range cargo drone airline. “For us at Dronamics, safety is the foundation of successful operations. This is why we are partnering with FlightSafety International to offer ongoing support in training for our pilots and engineers,” said Sergio Oliveira e Silva, the company’s COO. “As we accelerate toward our first commercial flights later this year, FlightSafety will ensure our remote pilots are always trained to maintain the highest standards in operational excellence and safety.” FlightSafety and Dronamics have joint plans to co-develop an academy to meet the training requirements of the airline. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2022-05-23/flightsafety-train-cargo-drone-pilots Airbus business jet sales are rising despite the Ukraine crisis and a lockdown in China, report says • The company has made five business jet orders in 2022, four of which include its latest A220 model. • The A220 made no sales in 2021, as business travel was difficult during the pandemic, per Bloomberg. • The uptick in corporate jet sales are occurring despite more recent setbacks such as the Ukraine war. Sales of Airbus's latest business jet are rising, following a difficult period during the pandemic, Bloomberg reported. The company has received five business jet orders in 2022, four of which include its latest A220 model, Benoit Defforge, the global head of Airbus Corporate Jets, told the outlet. The company hopes to make five to ten long-term sales of the plane, Defforge said. There were no sales of the jet in 2021, despite six commitments in 2020, Bloomberg reported. Airbus did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours. The aviation industry, already reeling from the pandemic, took another major hit earlier this year when Russia invaded Ukraine, as sanctions curtailed Western business with Russia. Despite that, air travel has been steadily recovering as countries ease their COVID-19 restrictions on overseas arrivals. Defforge told Bloomberg that Airbus is looking towards the Middle East for business opportunities, with challenges still abound for markets in the US and China. "We had to face headwinds during the last 12 to 18 months," he said. "We anticipate in the Middle East a real opportunity for the coming years." There are more than 60 Airbus business jets operating in the Middle East, many around a decade old, so new sales could be made there to replace the older fleet, Lefforge told Bloomberg. The US is a more difficult market but a rebound in travel offers hope, Defforge added. Defforge said another challenging market is China, due to its resurgence of COVID-19 cases and its subsequent lockdown measures. Still, while loosened restrictions and holiday bookings are helping leisure travel rebound, business travel is proving more stubborn. By the end of Q4 in 2022, US travel is expected to be at 55% of pre-pandemic levels, according to a Deloitte study. https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-uptick-business-jet-sales-despite-ukraine-crisis-china-lockdown-2022-5 Curt Lewis