Flight Safety Information - July 12, 2022 No.133 In This Issue : Boeing 717-2K9 - Taxiway Excursion (Australia) : Incident: Korean A332 near Baku on Jul 9th 2022, engine vibrations : The Next Generation of Aviation Safety : Pete Buttigieg says airlines can't 'keep the Baby Boomer generation in the cockpit indefinitely' to prevent a pilot labor shortage : Pilots and Cabin Crew Told Not to Check-in Luggage at Heathrow Because There’s Too Great a Risk it Will Go Missing : Air Canada Bans Pets From Traveling In Cargo, Blames Flight Delays : Frontier Airlines Won't Raise Its Bid For Spirit Airlines : Airlines Just Cut 25,000 Flights From The Global August Schedule : Aircraft leasing company with 34 jets being held hostage by Putin takes $1.6 billion hit : Private Jet Charter Demand Holds Steady Despite Rising Prices : POSITION AVAILABLE: Chief Investigator of Accidents Boeing 717-2K9 - Taxiway Excursion (Australia) Date: 11-JUL-2022 Time: 09:20 UTC Type: Boeing 717-2K9 Owner/operator: QantasLink Registration: VH-NXH MSN: 55055/5014 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Category: Incident Location: Rockhampton Airport (ROK/YBRK), QLD - Australia Phase: Taxi Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Brisbane International Airport, QLD (BNE/YBBN) Destination airport: Rockhampton Airport, QLD (ROK/YBRK) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: QantasLink flight QF1798 suffered a taxiway excursion from Taxiway Bravo after arriving at Rockhampton. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/280272 Incident: Korean A332 near Baku on Jul 9th 2022, engine vibrations A Korean Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration HL8228 performing flight KE-9956 from Istanbul (Turkey) to Seoul (South Korea) with 215 passengers and 10 crew, was enroute at FL330 about 220nm westnorthwest of Baku (Azerbaijan) when the crew decided to divert to Baku due to the right hand engine (PW4168) showing vibrations beyond limits. The aircraft drifted down to FL200 and landed safely on Baku's runway 16 about 80 minutes later. Passengers reported there were excessive vibrations and a burning odour in the cabin. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Baku about 21 hours after landing. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4fb77c4a&opt=0 The Next Generation of Aviation Safety These aviation leaders are at the center of making flight safer for everyone By Melanie Stawicki Azam Robert L. Sumwalt III (’14,’18) spent nearly 15 years at the National Transportation Safety Board, investigating high-profile accidents around the county, but it was a plane crash he saw as a teenager in his hometown that inspired his career path. “I literally got into aviation by accident,” Sumwalt says. “I was a senior in high school. I heard about a plane crash by the local airport, and so I went by there.” The experience didn’t make the Columbia, South Carolina, native afraid of flying. Instead, it lead him to earn his pilot’s license as a teen, spend hours in the library reading NTSB aircraft accident reports in college, then become involved in safety work as an airline pilot. His lifelong interest in accident investigation led Sumwalt to a prominent career at the National Transportation Safety Board. Serving under four presidents, Sumwalt was a NTSB member since 2006 and served as chairman from 2017 until he retired in June 2021. “I love flying, but I had this burning desire to try and give something back,” says Sumwalt, who was a pilot for 32 years, including 24 years with Piedmont Airlines and US Airways. “Safety was something that I was always interested in, so I think it was just a natural progression.” Now, the renowned leader in aircraft accident investigation has returned to his alma mater to lead Embry-Riddle’s new Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety, as its executive director and a Distinguished Fellow in Aviation Safety. “I LITERALLY GOT INTO AVIATION BY ACCIDENT. I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. I HEARD ABOUT A PLANE CRASH BY THE LOCAL AIRPORT, AND SO I WENT BY THERE.” — ROBERT SUMWALT “Robert Sumwalt’s deep knowledge of aerospace safety issues, and his professionalism and commitment to excellence make him an ideal leader of this much-needed new enterprise,” University President P. Barry Butler said in announcing Sumwalt’s hiring. Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that hiring Sumwalt to run the center is one more step toward fulfilling the board’s vision “for Embry-Riddle to become preeminent in both aviation and aerospace research, as well as education.” For Sumwalt, it is a chance to continue his work in aviation safety with future industry leaders in newly emerging aerospace technologies and ultimately continue to find ways to make the world safer for travelers. “We’ve had a very good safety record over the last decade or so in commercial aviation in this country, but not necessarily globally,” Sumwalt says. “There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done. We want to be a global leader in enhancing safety.” Robert Sumwalt Setting a New Course for Aviation Safety and Innovation The Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety’s work will focus on three areas – research, academics and professional education – says Sumwalt, who started in his new role on Jan. 4. Safety topics include traditional and emerging technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, safety management systems, data analytics, and new training systems, such as virtual and augmented reality tools. “Future progress in air transportation, commercial space and urban air mobility will depend upon safety advances and the collaborative efforts of Embry-Riddle with its industry and government partners,” says Sumwalt. Further, the center will also examine cutting-edge aerospace developments, such as advanced air mobility technologies, human-machine interfaces and high-tech options for enhancing safety investigations. “It’s listening to the stakeholders – to industry and the government – and asking, ‘What is it that you need that you’re not currently getting?’” Sumwalt says. “And then seeing if we can fill those needs.” Success Through Collaboration One of the keys to the center’s success will be collaboration, says Sumwalt, and drawing on the university’s existing resources at all its campuses, which include locations around the U.S. and world. “By collaborating across our three campuses and listening to our stakeholders, we want to find out if there are areas where we can enhance our already excellent safety-related academic programs,” he says. The university also has expert faculty members in the field of aviation safety, in specialties like safety management systems and accident investigation, across campuses, he says. That gives students, professionals and corporate partners the flexibility to pick which campus is more convenient for them or which modality – in person or online – works best for their needs. Dr. Barbara Holder and Robert Sumwalt One of his colleagues and collaborators is the center’s second-in-command and chief scientist, Dr. Barbara Holder, who recently joined Embry-Riddle as a presidential fellow. In acknowledging the expertise she brings to her new role, Sumwalt says, “Her research in the aviation domain focuses on the interrelationship between human cognition, design and activity as it applies to automation, procedures, training and operational decision-making.” Holder will also provide insight into the student perspective through her role as associate professor in the College of Aviation in Daytona Beach. Sumwalt regularly meets with College of Aviation deans from all three university campuses, plus two officials from the Robertson Safety Institute on the Prescott Campus. “The Robertson Safety Institute is a great center in Prescott, and both residential campuses have crash labs,” Sumwalt says. “It would give someone the opportunity to customize the location of where he or she wants to take these courses.” The Center for Aviation & Aerospace will also be conducting research related to key safety issues and programs. “We’re still putting the structure in place, but we have already submitted seven research proposals to the FAA and an industry partner that we are looking to be funded, and we will continue to generate research proposals,” he says. Research will focus on identifying innovative solutions to key safety challenges working in collaboration with industry and government partners. “When we talk about research, I think it’s important that our research be relevant, rigorous and impactful,” Sumwalt says. “We want to make sure our research is independent and let the results fall out wherever they are.” Increasing Aerospace Safety Education Options Sumwalt, who earned a Master of Aeronautical Science degree with concentrations in aviation/aerospace safety systems and aviation human factors in 2014 from Embry-Riddle, is also looking to increase educational opportunities in aviation safety through the center. He knows the value of continuing one’s education and wants to increase access for students, including working professionals. “I was working full-time at the NTSB at the time, so there would not have been the opportunity for me to take time off and get a master’s degree,” says Sumwalt, who also was awarded an honorary doctorate from Embry-Riddle in 2018. “Had it not been for the Worldwide structure, I would not have been able to get my graduate degree, so I am thankful for that.” He recalls taking a class in accident investigation but deliberately did not reveal his position at the NTSB because he didn’t want to be treated differently. “It really hit me at a perfect time because the things I was learning in class I could directly apply to my job as an NTSB board member and vice versa,” he says. Besides traditional academics, Sumwalt also wants to enhance the center’s educational offerings through professional education courses. “We are working with an already robust professional education program in safety and business-related courses,” Sumwalt says. “So, we are looking at ways to enhance that program, based on the needs that are out there.” A rendering of the new Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety For the Next Generation For Sumwalt, leading the Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety is a fitting culmination of a lifetime dedicated to aerospace safety. His experiences range from chairing the Air Line Pilots Association’s Human Factors and Training Group and co-founding the association’s critical incident response program to spending eight years as a consultant to NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System. He also served as a freelance transportation safety analyst for CBS News and has written extensively on aerospace safety matters. Sumwalt’s many honors include the Flight Safety Foundation-Boeing Aviation Safety Lifetime Achievement Award, the Flight Safety Foundation’s Laura Taber Barbour Award and the Air Line Pilots Association’s Air Safety Award. Now, he is looking forward to being able to share that knowledge with the next generation and build on it as the industry changes. “The opportunity to stand up a center for aviation and aerospace safety is an absolutely phenomenal opportunity and one that I’m extremely excited about,” Sumwalt says. https://lift.erau.edu/the-next-generation-of-aviation-safety/ Pete Buttigieg says airlines can't 'keep the Baby Boomer generation in the cockpit indefinitely' to prevent a pilot labor shortage US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg testifies at a Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies hearing on the 2023 budget for the Department of Transportation, in Washington DC, on April 28, 2022. • Secretary Buttigieg said he doesn't support raising the retirement age of US commercial pilots. • When asked about it on Fox News, Buttigieg said the nation needs a "new generation" of pilots. • He said adding more "qualified" fliers will help combat shortages caused by Baby Boomers retiring. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Sunday that US airlines will need a "new generation of qualified pilots" to fill a potential labor gap caused caused by Baby Boomers retiring from the profession. During an interview with "Fox News Sunday," host Mike Emanuel asked Buttigieg if he would support raising the retirement age of commercial pilots to 67, up from the current age of 65 set by a 2007 law passed by Congress. Emanuel cited a June report from NBC News detailing that by 2029, no one from the Baby Boomer generation — people born between 1946 and 1964 — will be able to legally fly a commercial aircraft, causing a possible labor shortage. "These retirement ages are there for a reason and the reason is safety," Buttigieg said. "I'm not going to be on board with anything that could compromise safety. Now, what's clearly the case is we need to cultivate, train, and support a new generation of qualified pilots." He continued: "The answer is not to keep the Baby Boomer generation in the cockpit indefinitely. The answer is to make sure that we have as many and as good pilots ready to take their place — to have a stronger pipeline." To do so, Buttigieg said his department is backing Federal Aviation Administration programs that support high school and university curriculum that helps students get into the aviation industry. "Ultimately, it'll be for the airlines and those employers to hire and retain excellent talent," Buttigieg said, adding that it's "an issue we're seeing across the aviation sector — across the transportation sector at large — the importance of having competitive pay, great job quality, so we can bring in and keep the people that are going to be needed to power America's transportation sector." Buttigieg's remarks come as airports and airlines around the country — and the world — have managed a slew of flight cancellations and delays, as well as chaos at baggage claims and security checkpoints over the last few months. Travel disruptions have been blamed, in part, on labor shortages and staffing issues at major airports and across various airlines. June was a particularly bad month for travel in the US, according to data from flight-tracker site FlightAware. In the days leading up to the Juneteenth holiday weekend, nearly a third of all scheduled flights within, into, or leaving the US experienced a delayed arrival. Since then, flight cancellations and delays have calmed slightly. "We've seen some improvement over the course of this summer, but still not at an acceptable level in terms of performance, cancellation, and delays," Buttigieg said on Sunday. https://www.businessinsider.com/pete-buttigieg-airlines-baby-boomer-pilots-retire-2022-7 Pilots and Cabin Crew Told Not to Check-in Luggage at Heathrow Because There’s Too Great a Risk it Will Go Missing Pilots and cabin crew flying out of Heathrow airport in West London have been told to avoid checking-in any luggage on flights they are working on because there is too great a risk that their bags will go missing. The dire warning from major Heathrow-based airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic came as the airport operator continues to experience problems with its baggage handling system that is resulting in thousands of bags not making their flights. On Monday, Heathrow airport admitted that “service levels have not been acceptable” and that passengers had been forced to endure “long queue times, delays for passengers with reduced mobility, bags not travelling with passengers or arriving late”. “We want to apologise to any passengers who have been affected by this,” the airport said in a statement while insisting that the vast majority of passengers had received a “good level of service”. The apology came just hours after Heathrow told airlines to cancel more than 60 flights at the last minute because the airport doesn’t have enough capacity to deal with the predicted number of passengers expected to pass through Heathrow on Monday. A spokesperson said the cancellations only impacted airlines using Terminal 3 and Terminal 5. “We apologise for the impact to travel plans and we are working closely with airlines to get affected passengers rebooked onto other flights,” the airport said in an emailed statement. Despite reports of massive queues for security screening that have frequently stretched outside terminal buildings, the airport insisted that it is on track to have as many security officers this summer as before the pandemic. But a spokesperson said a lack of airline-employed ground handling staff “can pose a risk to the smooth running of operations”. British Airways is currently offering a £1,000 sign-on bonus for some ground handling roles in a bid to relieve severe staffing shortages. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2022/07/11/pilots-and-cabin-crew-told-not-to-check-in-luggage-at-heathrow-because-theres-too-great-a-risk-it-will-go-missing/ Air Canada Bans Pets From Traveling In Cargo, Blames Flight Delays Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, just made an announcement that will have a significant impact on air travelers with large pets this summer. “Until September 12, animals will no longer be able to travel in the hold of the aircraft,” Air Canada wrote on Twitter. “You’re welcome to bring your cat or small dog in the cabin with you provided it is small enough to stand, turn around, and lie down in its carrier under the seat in front of you,” Air Canada explains on its website. “Just make sure to let us know in advance, as space is sometimes limited.” The airline further explains that the policy change was needed “Due to longer than usual airport delays, and for the safety and comfort of your pet.” It must be pointed out, however, that current bookings for pets to travel in a plane’s baggage compartment will be honored. Chaos In Airports Around The World When travel was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines and airports laid off scores of employees, and thousands of pilots took early retirement packages. Now that travel restrictions have been lifted and people are traveling again, airlines and airports find themselves short-staffed, particularly when it comes to pilots. Making matters worse, a large number of commercial airline pilots continue to retire. The problem is that airlines continue to book flights, only to cancel them at the last moment due to staffing shortages. For instance, data from flight analytics firm masFlight shows that U.S. airlines canceled roughly 1,400 flights between last Friday and Monday, according to The Hill. Furthermore, in the last month, U.S. airlines canceled more than 18,000 flights, including nearly 1,000 flights in the 3 days after the holiday weekend. That said, data from flight tracking service FlightAware shows that Air Canada currently leads the world in flight delays, according to the CBC. For example, FlightAware’s data shows that 65 percent of Air Canada’s flights arrived late last Tuesday. Toronto’s Pearson Airport took the top spot for airports with the most flight delays last Tuesday, CBC reports. That distinction stems from it being the only airport where more than half of all flights were delayed. Even when flights aren’t canceled, travelers must still contend with long lines and problems retrieving luggage. Indeed, passengers at airports from Toronto to Frankfurt have been posting photos on social media of piled-up luggage near baggage belts, according to Reuters. Pets carried in the cargo hold of airplanes require extra attention, which, in turn, takes time and manpower. It is expected that Air Canada’s temporary ban on pets traveling in a plane’s cargo hold will help streamline the baggage loading and unloading process. Traveling By Air Canada With Pets It should be noted that small animals will still be allowed in the cabins of most Air Canada flights — as long as they can lie down in a carrier under the seat in front of the passenger. That option, however, does come at a cost. Bringing a pet in the cabin of an Air Canada flight will cost $50 for flights within Canada and the U.S. (excluding Hawaii). It will cost an additional $100 for international flights. “This [policy] does not affect trained service animals,” Air Canada told CBC. A spokesperson also added that the airline often places an embargo on pets traveling in the cargo hold on select routes during certain times of the year, “particularly for destinations where there is extreme heat,” according to CBC. You can learn more about traveling with your pet on Air Canada here. https://www.travelawaits.com/2780317/air-canada-no-pets-in-cargo-luggage/ Frontier Airlines Won't Raise Its Bid For Spirit Airlines Let’s take a look at the latest development in the ongoing bidding war for Spirit Airlines. As the Spirit Airlines takeover saga continues, Frontier Airlines CEO, Barry Biffle, has confirmed that the airline will not be increasing its offer any further. In a letter to Spirit, Biffle advised that the airline’s most recent proposal will be its “last, best and final offer.” Biffle also indicated that should Spirit accept the offer on the table from rival JetBlue, Frontier would waive its right to match the bid. The letter stated, "In line with our recent discussions, Frontier does not intend to propose any further modifications to the financial terms of the Merger Agreement”. Frontier Airlines made its first bid for Spirit Airlines in February 2022, and was followed by JetBlue in April. Spirit recently delayed a shareholder vote on Frontier’s final offer, while it reviewed the latest offer from JetBlue. This vote is now due to take place on July 15th. However, Frontier recognizes that it does not currently have the required shareholder support at Spirit to pass the deal, and Biffle has requested that the vote be postponed until July 27th. This would allow Frontier more time to gain more support for its deal, with Biffle stating, "we still remain very far from obtaining approval from Spirit stockholders based on the proxy data we received as of July 8th.” Frontier Frontier Airlines CEO, Barry Biffle, has requested that the Spirit Airlines shareholder vote is postponed until July 27th. In the letter to Spirit, Frontier CEO, Barry Biffle, went on to say, “As has been the case throughout this process, we remain committed to this transaction. However, should the Spirit Board of Directors conclude that it would instead desire to pursue an alternative transaction with JetBlue, we would appreciate being advised of that determination.” Frontier Airlines vs JetBlue Let’s take a closer look at the takeover bids currently on the table from both airlines. Frontier Airlines is offering a cash-and-stock deal for its ultra-low-cost rival. As part of its latest and final revision of the offer, the carrier is proposing to increase the cash element of the deal by $2 per share to $4.13 per share. The stock element of the deal involves 1.9 Frontier shares being offered for every Spirit share. The total value of the offer, at the current share price, is approximately $2.4 billion. In response, JetBlue raised the value of its cash offer to $3.7 billion. Spirit Airlines has repeatedly said, however, that a takeover from JetBlue is unlikely to win approval from the Department of Justice. Frontier Airlines is well aware of this, with Biffle mentioning, “the path to regulatory approval of a JetBlue-Spirit combination seems more impossible by the day.” Frontier Airlines is competing in a bidding war for Spirit Airlines with rival JetBlue. Photo: JetBlue Background to the merger bids The process started in February 2022, when Frontier made a merger bid for Spirit. JetBlue then entered the frame in April with its own bid for the airline. Both JetBlue and Frontier see the takeover as a unique opportunity to expand their domestic footprint at a time when the industry is suffering from crippling staffing shortages and ongoing disruption. Either deal would lead to the creation of the fifth-largest airline in the US, behind American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest. As the takeover saga continues, industry eyes will now be focused on the proposed Spirit shareholder vote this Friday, if it is not postponed, as has been requested by Frontier. https://simpleflying.com/frontier-airlines-wont-raise-its-bid-for-spirit-airlines/ Airlines Just Cut 25,000 Flights From The Global August Schedule Over 25,000 more August flights have been removed in the latest schedule upload. Turkish Airlines has cut the most. The number of August flights worldwide has fallen by a further 25,378. This is just the latest reduction, reflecting the number of planned services removed in the past week. It builds on numerous weeks of declines in the peak summer. Airlines are mainly reducing services because of staff shortages in multiple areas. It comes as demand rises as the world increasingly returns to normal in combination, in many leisure markets, with the peak period of summer demand. Staff shortages mean that capacity isn't able to fully accommodate the demand, leading to delays and other problems. In some places, it isn't helped by the war in Ukraine and strikes. To try to overcome it, particular nations have taken remedial action by 'proactively' cutting flights, while some airlines have intentionally overpriced flights to reduce demand and thereby cope better. 25,000+ fewer August flights According to the latest schedule upload via Cirium, airlines globally plan 3,014,734 August flights. That is down from 3,040,112 last week, a reduction of 25,378. Some 818 flights a day have been culled. It also means that 4.4 million seats for sale have been removed in one week. It's different on a percentage basis, with flights and capacity reduced by less than 1%. Europe is disproportionately impacted. Its August plan has reduced by 2% as flights fall by 15,788 or over six in ten of the global total. easyJet and British Airways have had well-publicized problems, along with Wizz Air, KLM, and Lufthansa. In contrast, North America is down by 2,885, having largely already made most of its August cuts. Africa has removed the fewest (88). Which airlines have cut the most? Turkish Airlines has cut more August services in the past week than any other carrier. Over half of its removals involved its Istanbul Airport hub, the world's second-busiest airport for international passengers last year. Some 46 routes have fewer flights than last week. (A fifth of its reductions involved Russia and flights to Ukraine pulled again.) Turkish Airlines: 4,408 August flights cut this week (down by 9.6%) British Airways: 3,600 (-13.9%) Azul: 2,211 (-7.9%) Korean Air: 2,133 (-25.2%) easyJet: 2,045 (-3.8%) IndiGo: 2,030 (-3.9%) Indonesia AirAsia: 1,906 (-35.6%) Lufthansa: 1,888 (-4.7%) United Airlines: 1,757 (-1.4%) Wizz Air: 1,256 (-4.4%) SalamAir: 961 (-54.6%) KLM: 944 (-4.6%) Volaris: 651 (-3.8%) Aerolineas Argentinas: 549 (-5.9%) Cape Air: 473 (-6.1%) Wizz Air's Chișinău cuts In a fairly dramatic development, Wizz Air's Chișinău August flights have reduced by 74%. It has trimmed its Moldova network from 21 routes planned last week to just five. Only Bergamo, Bologna, Budapest, Luton, and Rome Fiumicino will operate. Wizz Air will now have a maximum of three daily departures from Chișinău, down from a maximum of nine last week. It'll be the airport's third-largest airline, down from the usual first. However, as for most airlines, it is only temporary, a way of attempting to overcome the current challenges. https://simpleflying.com/august-25000-flights-cut/ Aircraft leasing company with 34 jets being held hostage by Putin takes $1.6 billion hit Russia is holding onto hundreds of foreign aircraft as it dodges sanctions. • SMBC Aviation has written off $1.6 billion on planes that are stuck in Russia. • Russia passed a law in March allowing its airlines to register foreign-owned aircraft. An aircraft leasing company has taken a $1.6 billion hit on dozens of planes stuck in Russia that it does not expect to get back. The CEO of Dublin-based SMBC Aviation Capital, Peter Barrett, said in the company's quarterly results that 34 aircraft were being leased to the Russian state. The company said it had complied with sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and terminated its leasing agreements. However, Moscow passed a law in mid-March allowing airlines to put leased aircraft from foreign countries on Russia's aircraft register, all but confirming a likely default on aircraft loans. "Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year our thoughts and concerns are first and foremost with those in Ukraine and beyond who are impacted by this terrible conflict," Barrett said. "34 owned aircraft remain in Russia despite SMBC Aviation Capital terminating the leasing of these aircraft in line with international sanctions, which Russian airlines continue to fly within Russia and to countries from which repossession has not been possible." The company was unlikely to be able to recover the planes and was therefore taking a $1.6bn writedown, he added. SMBC had insurance coverage and expected to recover much of that sum. A legal battle over who is liable to pay for those losses is likely. Sources at Lloyd's of London, which insures leased aircraft, told The Telegraph newspaper in May that it was ready for a dogfight over losses on leased planes totaling almost $10 billion. Two weeks ago, Wired reported that Western planes in Russia were falling apart as companies including Boeing and Airbus stopped sending spare aircraft parts. Data from Ascend by Cirium shared with Wired showed the number of commercial jets in Russia had fallen from 968 in late February to 876 in May. Separate data showed there were 515 commercial jets and turboprops leased to Russian airlines by non-Russian lessors before the conflict began. https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/aircraft-leasing-company-with-34-jets-being-held-hostage-by-putin-sinks-to-1-6-billion-loss/articleshow/92772942.cms Private Jet Charter Demand Holds Steady Despite Rising Prices Demand for private jet charter flights in North America is steady despite continued price increases. In an analysis of second-quarter data from 2022, subscribers to private aviation buyer’s guide Private Jet Card Comparisons say they plan to fly privately 39.7 hours in the next 12 months. That’s in line with the trailing year’s average of 41.4 hours. However, prices for jet cards and memberships that offer fixed or capped rates and guarantee availability increased by 6%—the average hourly cost to fly privately is now $10,770 per month. The price increases in Q2 follow a 5% jump in Q1. Since the end of 2022, when the CARES Act nixed the 7.5% Federal Excise Tax charged for domestic U.S. flights, private jet charter prices have been up 28%. Light jets, which typically seat six to seven passengers and are used for flights under two hours, have significantly increased. Hourly charter price is up 44% since Q4 2020 and now averages $8,050 per hour. The pricing includes base hourly rate, tax, and now fuel and other supplemental charges providers are levying. The jet card pricing is for occupied hours, so only the time customers are on the airplane. Many brokers advertise lower hourly rates, but those prices exclude repositioning flights and other charges. Still, it means the average private flyer can expect to spend $427,569 on private flights in the next 12 months. At the end of 2020, the same flight hours would have cost $93,890 less or $333,679. In terms of the open market, the lowest average cost for on-demand charter flights that are priced dynamically dipped slightly in Q2 from $24,894 to $24,367. The pricing is based on hard quotes from brokers for a dozen different route scenarios across light, midsize, super-midsize and large-cabin jets. However, the average of the high quotes increased from $41,464 to $48,375. The fixed/capped rate jet cards and memberships saw the average price for the 12 scenarios increase to $27,551 from $25,744. The changes show that for flyers who are flexible and are traveling between airports where there is a high amount of private jet flying, so less need for repositioning flights; there are finally some deals. However, for consumers who don’t want to spend time going back and forth with brokers, gathering quotes, and then reviewing the differing terms, fixed/capped rate jet card pricing remains near the bottom of the market with an average fight price of $27,551 versus $24,894. Most fixed/capped rate jet memberships also provide replacement aircraft at no additional charge, whereas dynamic pricing on-demand means if your airplane has a mechanical or can’t perform its flight, you need to get a re-quote. Still, terms of the fixed/capped rate jet cards with guaranteed availability are getting more restrictive. The number of peak days increased 8% quarter-to-quarter in Q2 and now average 53.2 days. That’s up from 22.8 days at the end of 2019, prior to the pandemic. On these high-demand days, providers often levy surcharges. The lead time to book and cancel is also longer, and providers can shift departure times by as much as plus or minus six hours. Daily minimums are also increasing. Daily minimums are the minimum amount of time you are charged, even if your flight is shorter. Notably, the average daily minimum for light jets increased 16% in the quarter to 103.9 minutes. That’s 33% higher than the end of 2019, when it was 78.1 minutes. While the price is being driven by record demand and supply chain, labor and cost issues, recent flight data from Argus TraqPak and WingX shows growth in North America, while still at record levels, is slowing. In its latest report, Argus cut projected growth for July to 0.1%. In its annual forecast, published last December, it projected a 4.7% increase. June flights were up 1.9% compared to its original projection of 6.9%. https://www.forbes.com/sites/douggollan/2022/07/11/private-jet-charter-demand-holds-steady-despite-rising-prices/?sh=6f66658e61e4 POSITION AVAILABLE: Chief Investigator of Accidents · Lead the accident investigation function · General Manager position with strategic and organisational leadership · Represent New Zealand at international forums We're seeking a skilled and experienced accident investigator to lead a multi mode accident investigations team, based in central Wellington. This is a dual titled role – Chief Investigator of Accidents/General Manager Investigation Services, so you will be a key member of the Executive Management Team, actively providing high quality organisational, technical and functional leadership. You’ll provide quality leadership and guidance to your team of skilled investigators, and expert advice and guidance to the Commission and wider audiences, as well as assisting internationally when required. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is an independent Crown entity, and investigates significant aviation, rail and marine accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future. The Commission has set a visionary goal of “No Repeat Accidents – Ever! “ Thorough investigations are pivotal to the Commission’s successful performance, and in this role you ensure continued high quality investigations across the three modes, with appropriate safety recommendations. Our ideal candidate will have: · accident investigation experience in one or more of our transport modes - air, marine or rail · safety management experience · people leadership experience · political nous, sound judgement and the ability to represent the organisation at all levels, nationally and internationally · an understanding of quasi-judicial processes, particularly the rules and requirements applicable to a Commission of Inquiry, and · be medically and physically fit to access accident sites, with the ability to travel at short notice. This role presents an excellent career opportunity to apply your high quality accident investigation and leadership experience to a pivotal role in a well known Crown entity. If this sounds like the role for you we look forward to receiving your application, please visit our website www.peopleandco.nz and search on the keyword 20159 under the Jobs tab. All applications will be acknowledged electronically. Applications close at 5pm on Sunday, 24 July 2022. A job description is available at peopleandco.nz - job reference 20159. For further information please contact Michelle Walls on 0064 4931 9448 or Jacaleen Williams on 0064 4931 9450 or quoting job number 20159. If you live outside of New Zealand, to be eligible to apply you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand and meet any entry requirements. For advice on obtaining a New Zealand work or residence visa and our entry requirements visit www.immigration.govt.nz. Curt Lewis