Flight Safety Information - August 5, 2022 No.151 In This Issue : Incident: Azul A320N near Petrolina on Aug 4th 2022, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Shree DH8D at Nepalhgunj on Aug 4th 2022, smoke in cabin : Airbus A320-214 (WL) - Bird Strike (India) : How Congress Might Ease the Pilot Shortage : FAA asking for public feedback on airplane seat size : Embraer's Order Backlog Contains $17.8 Billion Worth Of Aircraft : GRADUATE RESERCH SURVEY - 1 : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 2 Incident: Azul A320N near Petrolina on Aug 4th 2022, engine shut down in flight An Azul Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200N, registration PR-YRF performing flight AD-4459 from Sao Luiz,MA to Belo Horizonte,MG (Brazil), was enroute at FL380 about 220nm west of Petrolina,PE (Brazil) when the crew needed to shut the left hand engine (LEAP) down. The aircraft drifted down to FL100 and diverted to Petrolinas for a safe landing on runway 13. The aircraft stopped on the runway, was checked by emergency services and subsequently towed off the runway. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fc813fa&opt=0 Incident: Shree DH8D at Nepalhgunj on Aug 4th 2022, smoke in cabin A Shree Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration 9N-ANF performing flight N9-432 from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 79 passengers and 4 crew, was in the initial climb out of Nepalgunj when smoke appeared in the cabin prompting the crew to return for a safe landing in Nepalgunj about 6 minutes after departure. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Nepalgunj as smoke started to appear inside the aircraft. The airport reported a technical glitch in the left hand engine (PW150A) caused fumes in the cabin. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fc7fede&opt=0 Airbus A320-214 (WL) - Bird Strike (India) Date: 04-AUG-2022 Time: c 06:20 LT Type: Airbus A320-214 (WL) Owner/operator: Go First Registration: VT-GOR MSN: 6072 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Ahmedabad - India Phase: Initial climb Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Ahmedabad-Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD/VAAH) Destination airport: Chandigarh Airport (IXC/VICG) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Go First flight G8911, an Airbus A320-214, returned to land back at Ahmedabad following a suspected bird strike. A safe landing was made 24 minutes after takeoff. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/281085 How Congress Might Ease the Pilot Shortage Congress is debating how to fix the current pilot shortage, and one idea revolves around retirement age. Here’s one idea proposed in Congress to address the pilot shortage that is adding to travel delays – increase the profession’s mandatory retirement age. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial pilots to retire by age 65. But Republicans last week introduced legislation that would increase the cutoff age by two years, to 67. Increasing the pilot retirement age will help curb the recent spate of airline flight delays and cancellations, say the bill’s main sponsors, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). One recent study shows that North America will be short 12,000 pilots by next year — 13% of how many will be needed. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel volumes collapsed, airlines offered early-retirement packages to pilots and other employees. With air travel now rebounding, airlines are scrambling to replace those pilots, as well as those who are just now turning 65. Great Deals on Family Friendly Trips The U.S. has raised the mandatory pilot retirement age before, when the FAA upped it to 65 from 60 in 2007. Graham noted that when the age was increased 15 years ago, "the sky did not fall." The bill is backed by the Regional Airline Association, the regional airline industry’s lobbying group. Regional airlines have been hit hardest by the pilot shortage. The National Air Carrier Association, which represents low-cost carriers, small cargo airlines and charter services, also supports the measure. But the Air Line Pilots Association, International, which represents 65,000 pilots at 40 U.S. and Canadian airlines, strongly opposes the bill. The group, which has downplayed the severity of the pilot shortage, says upping the retirement age would increase costs for airlines and introduce unnecessary risks by allowing older pilots to fly. https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/spending/leisure/travel/605027/how-congress-might-ease-the-pilot-shortage FAA asking for public feedback on airplane seat size (CNN) — The US Federal Aviation Administration is seeking comments from the public about the size of commercial airplane seats -- from a safety perspective. In a filing with the Federal Register on Wednesday, the FAA requested comments on the minimum seat dimensions necessary for the safety of air passengers in case of emergency evacuation. "The FAA invites public comments to assist the agency in determining what minimum dimensions (including pitch, width, and length) of passenger seats may be necessary for safety, including in particular airplane evacuation," the request states. In a statement to CNN, the FAA outlined additional safety considerations. "FAA regulations require that all transport category airplanes be able to conduct a rapid evacuation in case of fire. Other FAA evacuation requirements address real-world conditions, landing gear collapse, and exit failure, among others." Comments are open to the public until November 1. What's not up for comment The feedback the agency is seeking is limited to safety considerations. Matters "such as how the dimensions of passenger seats might relate to passenger comfort or convenience" are not part of its request for comments, the FAA said in its Federal Register notice. In March, the FAA submitted a report to Congress evaluating the current safety standard and came to the conclusion that "the overall level of safety and likelihood of survivability in events involving evacuations is very high." The report was the result of a directive included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. A number of agencies and industry representatives -- including the National Transportation Safety Board, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and pilot and flight attendant associations -- participated in reviewing evacuations that had occurred on planes in the past decade. The group provided the FAA with 27 recommendations for how the safety of such evacuations could be improved, such as a review of emergency lighting systems to decide whether higher illumination levels are needed. Simulated evacuations Also tied to the FAA Reauthorization Act, the agency conducted simulated emergency evacuations in 2019 and 2020. "In these tests, seat size and spacing did not adversely affect the success of emergency evacuations," according to a letter submitted with the March FAA report from agency administrator Steve Dickson. The FAA noted that their simulations involved able-bodied adult subjects younger than 60, in line with accepted standards for human testing. The invitation to comment offers the public a chance to provide information about safe seat dimensions for children, passengers over 60 and those will disabilities, the agency said in its letter to Congress. In its notice seeking comment, the FAA noted that it is particularly interested in technical data and information. Comments can be submitted directly via a "submit" button on the Federal Register notice. The notice also lists several other means of commenting, including mail, fax and hand delivery. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/faa-airplane-seat-size-feedback/index.html Embraer's Order Backlog Contains $17.8 Billion Worth Of Aircraft Yesterday, global aerospace company Embraer released its second-quarter 2022 (2Q22) operating results, with net revenue down by 10% year-on-year. For the second quarter, Embraer posted total revenue of $1.02 billion, with $299.9 million earned from commercial aircraft sales. The adjusted net income for 2Q22 was $39.4 million. High value In a long-cycle business like aircraft manufacturing, firm order backlogs are a prime indicator of what the near future holds. On that measure, Embraer ended the second quarter with a firm order backlog of $17.8 billion, an increase of 12% and 2.9% compared to 2Q21 and 1Q22, respectively. This is Embraer's highest backlog since the second quarter of 2018, driven by sales of new aircraft and services. At last month's Farnborough Airshow, Embraer announced the sale of 20 E195-E2 aircraft to Canadian airline Porter Airlines, valued at around $1.56 billion, which is not included in the $17.8 billion backlog and will be added in the third quarter. The backlog keeps on growing The commercial aviation firm backlog totals 312 aircraft, comprising 143 E175s, three E190s, three E190-E2s and 163 E195-E2s. In 2Q, Embraer delivered eleven commercial aircraft and 21 executive jets, bringing the first-half 2022 (1H22) deliveries to 17 commercial and 29 executive aircraft. For 2Q, it delivered eight E175s to SkyWest Airlines and three E195-E2s to lessors Aircastle and ICBC, bringing 1H deliveries to 12 E175s and 5 E195-E2s. The 29 executive jets comprise three Phenom 100s, 15 Phenom 300s, five Praetor 500s and six Praetor 600s. Commercial aviation contributes 29% of Embraer's total 2Q revenue of $1.02 billion, Executive Aviation 26%, Defense and Security 12% and Services and Support 32%. While revenues were down from 2Q21, the overall gross profit increased from $205.7 million in 2Q21 to $233.3 this year. Compared to 1H21, revenue fell by $318 million, but gross profit increased by $72 million. Discover more aviation news here! Across its segments, Brazil-based Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft since it started business in 1969. It proudly says that, on average, every ten seconds, an Embraer aircraft takes off somewhere in the world, and they transport more than 145 million passengers per year. On the commercial side, Embraer reports show it has received orders for 2,000 aircraft and delivered 1,688. The Embraer 175 is the highest seller, accounting for 42% of orders, followed by the Embraer 190 with 28%, with the E170, E195 and E2s having around 10% each. Reflecting Embraer's success in the US commuter market, the largest customer is Republic Airways, which has ordered a total of 271 aircraft, a mix of Embraer 170 and 175s. Then follows Skywest (209), American Airlines (101), JetBlue (64) and Azul (59), although Azul has an order for 51 E195-E2s in the backlog. The E195-E2 was displayed at Farnborough and, after leaving, made its first landing at London City Airport (LCY), demonstrating the aircraft's steep approach capability. This was part of having the E195-E2's certification for a steep approach into LCY, which Embraer expects to have by the end of the year. The Steep Approach certification is a requirement to operate at London City Airport, which the E190-E2 received in June 2021. This capability results in Embraer aircraft accounting for around 85% of all operations at the airport. LCY's short runway length of 1.508 meters (4,950 feet) and descent angles of up to 5.5 degrees make it challenging. Airlines operating Embraers at LCY include British Airways, KLM Cityhopper and Helvetic Airways. https://simpleflying.com/embraer-q2-2022-order-backlog/ Angelo State University joins Southwest Airlines' pilot recruitment program Angelo State University and Southwest Airlines have announced ASU as a university partner in the airline's Destination 225 pilot recruitment program, which will provide ASU commercial aviation students a defined pathway to become competitively qualified for career opportunities with Southwest Airlines. On a compass, 225 is the southwest directional heading, and the Destination 225 program was developed to lead aspiring pilots to Southwest Airlines. ASU is just the sixth university partner to join the program since its inception in 2019. ASU President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. and the Vice President of Flight Operations for Southwest Airlines, Lee Kinnebrew, announced the partnership agreement Wednesday, Aug. 3, on the ASU campus. "We are honored for Angelo State to partner with Southwest Airlines' Destination 225 Program," Hawkins said. "As a Hispanic Serving Institution, we recognize the opportunity a partnership like this presents for all our students to become pilots and aviation professionals, but especially minorities and women who are underrepresented in both the commercial and military aviation industry. This is another great step in achieving both our vision and mission at Angelo State of being an innovative leader in initiatives that provide graduates who are competitive on a global stage." "We're thrilled to welcome Angelo State University as a partner in Southwest's Destination 225 Program," Kinnebrew said. "We continue our work of opening career pathways for the next generation of professional pilots, and we look forward to supporting students as they train, gain flight experience and develop into competitively qualified Southwest first officer candidates in the years ahead." As early as their sophomore year, ASU students in the Bachelor of Commercial Aviation (B.C.A.) - Flight Operations degree program will be able to apply for Destination 225. If they are accepted and fulfill all the requirements, upon graduating from ASU they will enter a career pathway toward Southwest Airlines that includes: • Acting as ASU flight instructors for the year following their graduation • Upon completing the flight instruction time, eligibility to be hired at one of Southwest Airlines' partner carriers • After building flight experience at the partner carrier, consideration for pilot positions at Southwest Airlines The candidate students will also receive ongoing mentorship from a Southwest Airlines pilot during their time at ASU and with the partner carrier. "Southwest Airlines is honored that Angelo State University is the newest academic partner in our Destination 225 program," said Juan Suarez, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Southwest Airlines. "We are hopeful this partnership will provide aspiring commercial pilots at this notably Hispanic Serving Institution a defined career path in aviation, along with the confidence of knowing that they are welcome in our Southwest Airlines' Family." ASU launched its Bachelor of Commercial Aviation program in the fall 2021 semester. There are currently 25 students in the first Flight Operations class, with 50 new students expected to join the program this fall. Pilot training is led by certified flight instructors using a fleet of 12 aircraft and three state-of-the-art simulators provided by Skyline Aviation, which is owned by ASU alumni. More details about Destination 225 and its training and flying partners are available at careers.southwestair.com/D225. For more details about ASU's commercial aviation program, go to angelo.edu/commercial-aviation. https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/2022/08/03/angelo-state-university-southwest-airlines-pilot-recruitment-program/65391491007/ GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 1 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. GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 2 I am an air traffic controller by profession, currently studying an MSc in Safety and Human Factors in Aviation at Cranfield University. As part of my MSc, I am conducting research for my thesis. My objective is to capture stakeholder views on UTM regulation. Specifically on its implementation, development, and operations, partly based on ICAO common core framework and principles for global harmonisation and interoperability of UTM. I tried to develop a multi-item survey to collect responses. I will perform a statical analysis of the collected data and critically evaluate the results. I kindly ask for your time to answer the questionnaire and your help in sharing it with your UAS-UTM network would be highly appreciated. Please find the link below: https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_00oihP8zXsynTO6 Curt Lewis