Flight Safety Information - August 01, 2022 No.147 In This Issue : Incident: Condor A321 at Preveza on Jul 28th 2022, could not retract landing gear : Accident: Nok B738 at Chiang Rai on Jul 30th 2022, runway excursion on landing : Incident: Wizz A320 at Madrid on Jul 29th 2022, hydraulic failure, then unsafe gear : IndiGo reported 52 air safety issues, including accidents in the last ten years : PILOT FELL TO HIS DEATH FROM A DAMAGED AIRCRAFT : Indian Regulator To Increase Workforce By 100-150 To Boost Aviation Surveilla : Identical Twin Pilots Both Fly for Alaska Airlines! : China's C919 passenger jet completes all test flights : GRADUATE RESERCH SURVEY Incident: Condor A321 at Preveza on Jul 28th 2022, could not retract landing gear A Condor Airbus A321-200, registrahttps://avherald.com/h?article=4fc558ba&opt=0tion D-AIAC performing flight DE-1781 from Preveza (Greece) to Dusseldorf (Germany) with 212 passengers and 7 crew, was climbing out of Preveza when the crew stopped the climb at FL100 due to being unable to retract the landing gear. The aircraft diverted to Corfu (Greece) for a safe landing on runway 34 about 45 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200 registration D-AIAI reached Dusseldorf with a delay of 10 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Corfu for about 23 hours, then positioned to Hamburg (Germany) and resumed service. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fc558ba&opt=0 Accident: Nok B738 at Chiang Rai on Jul 30th 2022, runway excursion on landing A Nok Air Boeing 737-800, registration HS-DBR performing flight DD-108 from Bangkok Don Muang to Chiang Rai (Thailand) with 164 passengers and 6 crew, landed on Chiang Rai's runway 03 at 21:04L (14:04Z) but veered left off the runway and came to a stop all wheels off the paved runway. There were no injuries. The airline reported heavy rain caused the aircraft to slip on landing. The airport reported on Sudnay (Jul 31st), that the runway is estimated to remain closed until about 22:00L. On Jul 31st 2022 Authorities rated the occurrence an accident (signifying substantial damage to the aircraft), an investigation has been opened. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fc4f27c&opt=0 Incident: Wizz A320 at Madrid on Jul 29th 2022, hydraulic failure, then unsafe gear A WizzAir Airbus A320-200, registration HA-LWX performing flight W6-3562 from Madrid,SP (Spain) to Timisoara (Romania), was climbing out of Madrid's runway 36L when the crew received a green hydraulic reservoir low level indication, stopped the climb at FL100 and entered a hold to burn off fuel. The aircraft positioned for an approach to Madrid's runway 32L however needed to go around due to an unsafe gear indication. The crew performed an alternate gear extension, positioned for another approach to runway 32L and landed without further incident about 75 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Madrid about 19 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fc4d717&opt=0 IndiGo reported 52 air safety issues, including accidents in the last ten years Air India flights, on the other hand saw the most number of accidents Your bags are checked in, the security check went well and you’re seated comfortably on that aisle seat with extra leg room. But how safe is that aircraft that you’re in? Even though there haven’t been many flight accidents reported in India, the recent data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation say 192 airline safety issues have occurred in the country in the last 10 years. Of them, a majority of events have occurred in flights operated by IndiGo and Air India. Between 2013 and July 25, 2022, airlines in India have reported 19 accidents, 99 serious incidents and 74 incidents. An airline accident is one where a person is fatally or seriously injured or an aircraft sustains damage or sees structural failure or it is either missing or inaccessible. A serious incident, on the other hand, is something that could have been an accident and an incident is a situation that affects the flight’s safety. The numbers were revealed by Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation, while answering a question raised by nine Lok Sabha MPs. The question was in the light of an increasing number of incidents in the recent past. Earlier this week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked SpiceJet to cut down its operations by 50 per cent for eight weeks due to poor internal safety oversight and inadequate maintenance actions. Who caused the most issues? In the last 10 years, six Air India aircraft have been involved in accidents. This is followed by five Spice Jet and four Jet Airways flights. Data say that 2022 saw one accident in a SpiceJet flight which had occurred on May 1. However, when it comes to serious incidents, IndiGo tops the list, having reported 35 of these since 2013. IndiGo’s aircraft have reported a total of 52 issues in ten years. When it comes to Air India, the number is 49. While answering a separate question on Thursday, Scindia said, “A total of 478 technical snags were reported in last one year (Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022). ‘Don’t go by numbers’ A closer look at the data shows that these occurrences peaked in 2019 which saw 35 issues reported across airlines. While the number has been almost half (17 each) in 2020 and 2021, owing to multiple lockdowns and a less frequency of air travel, four airline accidents occurred in 2021. And in 2022, until July 25, 10 incidents have been reported, including an accident. However, experts from the industry caution that the real number could be even higher. "The DGCA has been covering up the number of accidents and terming them as incidents, so that the data on accidents is kept low," says aviation safety consultant Mohan Ranganathan, "If we show accidents, then the insurance premium goes up and the country's reputation is also affected," he adds. Some also believe that there is scope for better reforms in the field. “If you’re constantly penalising someone and finding reasons to make their lives hell, they will find excuses to lie to you and hush things up. There has to be some level of audits, but this has to be for the betterment of the industry,” says Mark Martin, Founder and CEO, Martin Consulting. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/data-stories/data-focus/data-focus-indigo-reported-52-air-safety-issues-including-accidents-in-the-last-ten-years/article65698705.ece PILOT FELL TO HIS DEATH FROM A DAMAGED AIRCRAFT In a tragic accident, a pilot fell to the ground suffering fatal injuries, after a parachuting aircraft suffered serious landing gear damage. The accident aircraft in a 2008 photo, during a parachuting operation. Photo: Ahunt This accident happened on Friday the 29th of July. It involved a CASA C-212-200 Aviocar and its crew. Currently, there is no definitive confirmation of the nature of the flight that this crew was performing. But on the basis of the flight’s profile and the role of the company owning the aircraft, it is likely that the crew was practising parachuting-profile flights. Earlier reports were unclear about the role of the individual who perished in the accident. It now appears that the person who fell from the aircraft is a pilot. Before this, the crew made several takeoffs and landings at Raeford West Airport (FAA identifier: NR20) in North Carolina, USA. The aircraft twice took off and climbed to 13,000 feet, then made a steep descent and a landing. Raeford West Airport is very close to Fort Bragg, home of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. It appears that the owner of this aircraft, Spore Ltd, is a subsidiary or affiliate of Rampart Aviation. The latter company offers parachute training to US military personnel in the area. The aircraft that this pilot fell from has previously featured in US Army photographs (see above). THE IDENTITY OF THE PILOT WHO FELL FROM THE AIRCRAFT Raeford West Airport is often used as a base for aircraft performing parachuting at different drop zones in the area. For this flight, the aircraft appears to have had all its doors intact. This suggests that this was a practice flight, not a parachuting operation. And from conversations that the crew had with air traffic control, it appears that their last landing was very hard. As a result, the aircraft lost its right main gear. We do not wish to speculate on how the pilot fell out of the aircraft. The police reported that there was no indication that the pilot, 23-year-old Charles Hew Crooks, was wearing a parachute. This dispels some initial reports that he may have jumped out of the aircraft. At the time, the crew had declared an emergency and diverted to Raleigh-Durham International (KRDU). After the pilot (who was the first officer) fell from the aircraft, the remaining pilot made a low pass over runway 23L at Raleigh-Durham. With rescue services already waiting, the pilot then landed on the same runway. The aircraft remained close to the runway centerline until its aerodynamic surfaces became ineffective. It then drifted to the right, coming to a stop on the grass beside the runway. Rescue crews took the pilot to a hospital. However, local reports described the pilot’s injuries as “minor”. As of this writing, the aircraft remains at Raleigh-Durham International. Pictures of the aircraft after landing appear to show that the rear ramp was at least partially opened. https://mentourpilot.com/pilot-fell-to-his-death-from-a-damaged-aircraft/ Indian Regulator To Increase Workforce By 100-150 To Boost Aviation Surveillance India's demanding aviation sector needs constant vigilance from the DGCA. India’s aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will hire more employees over the next few months to strengthen its efforts for aviation surveillance. The agency has been keeping very busy lately, conducting checks and issuing directives, and feels it will need a larger workforce keeping India’s aviation trajectory in mind. DGCA to hire 100+ employees Since last year, the DGCA has conducted 177 surveillances, 497 spot checks, and 169-night surveillance on Indian airlines. Based on these checks, It took action against personnel in 21 instances of violations. As India’s aviation sector expands, such surveillance will only increase in the future. No wonder the regulator plans to hire between 100 and 150 people in the next 6 to 8 months to keep up with the increasing workload. Indian Airlines Getty The DGCA will hire 100-150 employees in the next 6-8 months. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Kumar explained, “Aircraft is a complex sturdy machine with lakhs of components and its usage is very rigorous. India has a very young fleet and their flight dispatch reliability is one of the best in the world. Once in a while, technical snags are possible and a standard operating procedure as per globally approved norms is followed in case of any technical snag.” Recent snags Between July 1st, 2021 to June 30th, 2020, a total of 478 technical snag-related occurrences were reported in planes in India. Over the last several weeks and months, the DGCA has had to issue many directives and show-cause notices to get airlines to stick to safety procedures. And recently, it explained the possible cause for the rise in such issues. Kumar said that the reasons for the increasing number of technical snags appear to be COVID-related, which impacted airline operations due to lockdown and curtailed operations etc. He also said that there is a universal problem of workforce shortage after COVID, not just with one airline or one country, but globally. All this has put immense stress on airline operations leading to rising incidents. DGCA director says that there is a bit of hype and unnecessary hoopla around many normal events, such as diversions and rejected takeoffs. Kumar does say, however, that most checks performed by the DGCA are routine, and even the incidents in most cases should not be treated as a larger threat to aviation safety. He said, “There is a bit of hype and unnecessary hoopla around normal events. Several times, a rejected take-off or missed approach is actually a safety maneuver and enhances safety. Air travel is absolutely safe and our record is terrific.” Kumar also explained that according to last year’s data, one aircraft sees 0.6 snags in a year. There may be 1-2 technical incidents across 6,000 flight movements in a day, and most situations are manageable if the pilot is alert and attentive. Follow Simple Flying for all the latest aviation news. As airlines begin to scale operation post-COVID, new carriers joining the sector, and hundreds of planes scheduled to fly in India in the coming years, the DGCA will need all the resources it can get to keep Indian skies safe. https://simpleflying.com/indian-regulator-to-increase-workforce/ Identical Twin Pilots Both Fly for Alaska Airlines! Did you know that the chances of your being flown by identical twin brothers on an Alaska Airlines flight have doubled? Recently, Alaska welcomed a new pilot to the team who happened to be the identical twin brother of an existing Alaska pilot. Seeing double! Alex and his brother Alan are thought to be Alaska Airlines’ first encounter with two identical twin pilots. Alan just finished his simulator training and will be joining the airline based in San Francisco, while his brother Alex is based in Los Angeles. The two brothers have their parents to thank for their love of aviation – from the age of three, their Dad would take them plane-spotting every Sunday, and their mother would bring them along on business trips abroad. Alaska Airlines was Alan’s first choice when he was planning to move on from regional airlines. Working for the same airline as his brother was also enticing. So how likely is it that you will see the two brothers flying an aircraft together? Well, because of the complexity of Alaska’s operations, it is not common for pilots who also happen to be family members to fly together, especially as the two identical twin brothers are both First Officers. However, the brothers do wish to experience that. Alex commented on that: “We’ve never flown together professionally because we’ve always been on different aircraft. The goal is to have one of us upgrade to captain and be operating the same aircraft so we can fly together.” Once they do get to fly together, the two brothers have one special request – getting their Mum on board: “We have to get her on one of our flights.” https://travelradar.aero/wow-identical-twin-pilots-both-fly-for-alaska-airlines/ China's C919 passenger jet completes all test flights China's domestically developed single-aisle C919 passenger jet has undergone all the test flights for obtaining an airworthiness certificate in the country, its manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp of China said on Monday. The first C919 narrow-body passenger jet is expected to be delivered to China Eastern Airlines, its debut customer, before the end of this year. COMAC started manufacturing the aircraft in late 2019 and the work has already achieved progress. Six C919 prototypes underwent a series of rigorous tests. In late July, COMAC held a meeting in Yanliang, Shaanxi province, one of the bases for conducting test flights. The manufacturer said the completion of all the tasks of test flights indicates that the preparation work before getting the certificate has officially entered the final stage. So far, 815 intended and confirmed orders have been placed for the C919 from home and abroad. The aircraft model's competitors include single-aisle B737 of Boeing and A320 of Airbus. http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202208/01/WS62e74362a310fd2b29e6f832.html GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear all, My name is Michail Karyotakis and I am research student at Cranfield University, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing. Currently, I am working on my research project and trying to obtain valuable information. My research project, entitled ‘A Flexible and Dynamic Safety Management Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations', aims to determining how UAS flights can become safe enough, so manned and unmanned air operations could be conducted simultaneously without compromising the safe performance of the entire aviation industry. The main focus areas of my research are: Urban Air Mobility, Transferring of Goods and Search & Rescue operations. To support my project research with data I have created a web survey for aviation stakeholders, and via this way, I kindly ask your help by participating in this survey. The survey is not affiliated with any airline, training organisation, or any other. Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous (if desired by the participant). The survey will take about 10 minutes of your time to complete. Also, I would be very grateful if you could forward this message to other pilots in your contact list or spread the word in the airline or air force you are working for. Please click the link below to enter the survey: Cranfield online: https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3wmR7hnC5mE3QyO Thank you in advance for your time and patience. Your participation is highly appreciated. Curt Lewis