Flight Safety Information - August 23, 2022 No.161 In This Issue : Incident: Alaska B739 at Seattle on Aug 22nd 2022, engine cowl opened in flight : Incident: Indigo A320N near Kolkata on Aug 21st 2022, temporary cargo smoke indication : Incident: Transat A321N at San Francisco on Aug 8th 2022, rejected takeoff due to suspected unreliable airspeed : Incident: Lufthansa B748 near Boston on Aug 22nd 2022, smoke in cockpit : LESSONS IGNORED AS A350 MINUTES AWAY FROM MAJOR SAFETY INCIDENT : Saudi Airline flyadeal Inducts New a320neo Aircraft To Raise Feet Size to 26 : EMIRATES WANTS AN EVEN BIGGER AIRPLANE TO REPLACE A380 : Regional carrier Air Wisconsin ditches United Airlines for American Airlines : American Airlines Names John Deere Exec As Its Next Technology Chief : North Korea and Russia ink aviation safety deal in face of increasing isolation : Boeing 787 aircraft exempted from GAGAN augmentation system compliance (India) : Helicopter rental company sues estate of pilot killed in crash : Middle East airlines to face pilot shortage as travel demand booms, report says : Pilots preparing to go to space receive training at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport : The New Jet Airways Begins Its 1st Round Of Cabin Crew Training : Artemis Aerospace explores the history of the 'black box' : FAA’s Airline Evacuation Test Incident: Alaska B739 at Seattle on Aug 22nd 2022, engine cowl opened in flight An Alaska Air Boeing 737-900, registration N293AK performing flight AS-558 from Seattle,WA to San Diego,CA (USA) with 176 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out Seattle's runway 16L when the crew felt an unsual vibration from the left hand side of the aircraft, stopped the climb at about 12,500 feet and decided to return to Seattle. The aircraft landed on runway 16L about 30 minutes after departure, upon touchdown the left hand engine's (CFM56) outboard cowl partially separated, the inboard cowl subsequently opened and separated. The airline reported part of the engine cowling detached during landing back at Seattle. A replacement Boeing 737-900 registration N283AK reached San Diego with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 17 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fd41a08&opt=0 Incident: Indigo A320N near Kolkata on Aug 21st 2022, temporary cargo smoke indication An Indigo Airbus A320-200N, , registration VT-IJA performing flight 6E-2513 from Delhi to Kolkata (India) with 165 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 230nm northwest of Kolkata when the crew received a cargo smoke indication and declared emergency. While the aircraft descended towards Kolkata, where emergency services were preparing to receive the aircraft, the cargo smoke indication ceased. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Kolkata's runway 19L about 35 minutes later. Emergency services did not find any trace of fire, heat or smoke. The airline reported the smoke indication was determined false. India's DGCA is looking into the occurrence. A replacement A20N performed the next sector of the flight. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fd378e3&opt=0 Incident: Transat A321N at San Francisco on Aug 8th 2022, rejected takeoff due to suspected unreliable airspeed An Air Transat Airbus A321-200N, registration C-GOJC performing flight TS-225 from San Francisco,CA (USA) to Montreal,QC (Canada) with 182 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from San Francisco's runway 01R when the crew rejected takeoff due to a suspected unreliable airspeed. The aircraft slowed safely. The crew subsequently assessed that the speed indications had been reliable indeed, it had been a perceiption error during airspeed cross check by the crew. The aircraft taxied to a spot, where they could let the brakes cool. The aircraft was able to perform the flight without further anomalies. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fd3d288&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa B748 near Boston on Aug 22nd 2022, smoke in cockpit A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8, registration D-ABYK performing flight LH-403 from Newark,NJ (USA) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 326 people on board, was enroute at FL320 about 190nm eastnortheast of Boston,MA (USA) when the flight crew donned their oxygen masks and decided to divert to Boston reporting smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft turned around, descended to FL320 initially and landed safely on Boston's runway 33L about 40 minutes later. Massachusetts Police reported the flight was carrying 326 people, the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and was wearing their oxygen masks while diverting to Boston. The aircraft landed without further incident. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fd4247c&opt=0 LESSONS IGNORED AS A350 MINUTES AWAY FROM MAJOR SAFETY INCIDENT Lessons from one of Australian aviation’s most serious safety incidents appear not to have been learnt after a Singapore A350 came within just two minutes of departure with key sensors covered up. The new incident on 27 May occurred two months after the ATSB published its four-year report detailing a near identical situation on a packed A330 in Brisbane where the aircraft departed. The ATSB then noted how speed sensor problems in 1996 led to two fatal crashes that killed more than 200 people. On Friday, a new preliminary ATSB report, released early, revealed how a Singapore A350-941 was just two minutes from departure yet had covers on its key pitot speed sensors. The investigation revealed the two aircraft maintenance engineers tasked with the removal of the covers failed to do so. The potential safety incident was only prevented because a quick-thinking aircraft refueller on an adjacent bay noticed the covers were on and alerted the engineers. Aircraft are fitted with pitot probe covers when parked at Brisbane Airport to prevent mud wasps building nests within and blocking their pitot probes, which are used to measure air pressure to calculate airspeed. “A known hazard at Brisbane Airport, mud wasps can rapidly build nests in aircraft pitot probes,” noted ATSB director of transport safety Dr Michael Walker. “An aircraft being cleared to commence taxiing and then commence take-off with all pitot probe covers still fitted is a serious event.” PROMOTED CONTENT Two maintenance contractor ground crew engineers — a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME) supervising an inexperienced aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) — had been assigned to conduct scheduled receipt, dispatch, certification, and maintenance duties for the Singapore Airlines A350 aircraft during a two-hour turnaround at Brisbane. As pushback approached, the covers remained in place until an aircraft refueller, working at an adjacent bay, observed them and alerted the supervising LAME. The pitot covers were then removed two minutes before expected departure, and pushback occurred shortly afterwards. As part of its investigation to date, the ATSB has interviewed the LAME, AME, the refueller, and has reviewed airport security video, which did not show that the required final walk-around of the aircraft was conducted by either the LAME or the AME prior to dispatch. “From here, the investigation will include examination of flight crew pre-flight inspection procedures, engineering final walk-around procedures, and induction training procedures,” said Dr Walker. “It will also examine the engineers’ training records, policies and procedures around fatigue and change management, and more security video recordings.” Australian Aviation reported in March how a four-year ATSB report identified a catalogue of basic errors made by Malaysia Airlines staff that led to the previous pitot probe incident on a packed A330 at Brisbane. The ATSB said in a statement its investigation into the 2018 incident was “one of its most substantive and complex” in recent years and highlighted poor decisions made by Malaysia Airlines pilots and crew, alongside those of other organisations. https://australianaviation.com.au/2022/08/lessons-ignored-as-a350-came-minutes-from-major-safety-incident/ Saudi Airline flyadeal Inducts New a320neo Aircraft To Raise Feet Size to 26 Aug. 21—RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's low-cost airline flyadeal has received a new Airbus A320neo, bringing its fleet of modern aircraft to 26. The airline's fleet consists of 15 A320neo and 11 A320ceo aircraft. The new plane arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Saturday evening. The company is implementing a special program to receive the new aircraft, covering all requirements and preparations, and providing specialized training to personnel. Con Korfiatis, CEO of flyadeal, said: "We are pleased to receive our new aircraft, which bears the symbol 'FAZ', to our growing fleet, which is expected to reach by the end of next year 32, all of the same model." Korfiatis pointed out that the fleet expansion will contribute to increasing the number of flights, providing more seats, and serving new customers. He added that the new Airbus A320neo will push the company's operations to exceed the barrier of 150 flights per day for the first time in the company's history. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/commercial-airline/news/21278250/saudi-airline-flyadeal-inducts-new-a320neo-aircraft-to-raise-feet-size-to-26 EMIRATES WANTS AN EVEN BIGGER AIRPLANE TO REPLACE A380 Looking into the future, Emirates‘ President, Sir Tim Clark is concerned and has expressed his desire for Airbus to build a replacement super jumbo jet – just bigger the size. Clark has been one of the most vocal supporters of the A380 super jumbo jet from the beginning. Nearly half of all A380s ever produced were purchased by the Dubai-based carrier. Currently, Emirates has 119 A380s in its strong fleet of 265 aircraft, of which 74 are active in service. The entire fleet of A380s at Emirates will be back in the air by spring 2023. In an exclusive interview with CNN Travel, President Tim Clark expressed his desire saying both he and his airline is hopeful that Airbus will eventually build an A380 replacement jumbo jet. “The math tells you that you need a big unit, much bigger than we’re getting at the moment.” Sir Tim Clark, Emirates President “I was chuckling to myself, thinking ‘Wait and see.’ We started flying the A380 into Heathrow six times a day in October of last year, and we haven’t had a [free] seat on any of them since,” Clark explained to CNN Travel. Prior to the pandemic, the annual travel growth was 4.5%, which means that it would only take 10 to 15 years to see the global demand surge by 50%. However, there might not be a suitable aircraft for the job since many A380s will be phased out by the mid-2030s. Emirates plans to retire its A380 fleet in the mid-2030s. “Even with multiple 787s and A350s all busy flying around the world, I still don’t get how you will pick up that growth curve,” Sir Tim Clark, Emirates President He further insisted that high ticket prices are inevitable given that supply will be suppressed, even though demand will continue to grow. Open Fan Engine In keeping with the industry’s commitment to better sustainability, Clark floated an idea for a new jumbo jet with radical “open fan” engines and lightweight composite fuselage and wings. “Imagine a composite wing and a predominantly composite fuselage. Imagine engines that are giving you a 20 to 25% improvement compared to what you get today. So you get a lighter aircraft, far more fuel-efficient, which ticks all the boxes as far as the environmentalists are concerned,” elaborates Clark. At the Farnborough Airshow earlier this year, Airbus and CFM International collaborated to test CFM’s cutting-edge “open fan” engine architecture on board an Airbus A380. The Flight Test Demonstrator is aimed to mature and accelerate the development of advanced propulsion technologies, as part of CFM’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engine (RISE) demonstration programme. The “open fan” engine flight test campaign is planned to be performed in the second half of this decade from the Airbus Flight Test facility in Toulouse, France. It will be trialed on an A380 test plane. “New propulsion technologies will play an important role in achieving aviation’s net-zero objectives, along with new aircraft designs and sustainable energy sources.” Future Long-Haul Leaders Currently, the largest planes in production are the Airbus A350-1000 and the upcoming 777-9, which can accommodate just over 400 people in a standard configuration. However, Clark believes these planes are too small to replace the A380 in Emirates’ fleet. Currently, Emirates has 50 Airbus A350-900s and 115 Boeing 777X alongside 30 B787 Dreamliners on order. “The biggest one will be the 777-9, whenever that comes to market, which in our configuration [will seat] 364 people against 484 on the A380s with our new premium economy. And it was 519 before, so you get where I’m coming from,” explains Clark. Clark also stated that he had expressed his desire for a new jumbo plane to Airbus multiple times. “I’ve spoken to Airbus more than once. I think they’re beginning to take it a little bit more seriously, but at the moment they are concentrating on their single-aisle planes and the A350 line.” Emirates Massive Fleet Upgrade Recently, Emirates announced its ambitious project to retrofit the latest cabin interiors on 120 Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. In addition, we’ll also experience a new menu crowned by unlimited caviar and Dom Perignon in first class. The Dubai-based carrier targets to retrofit four aircraft every month from the kick-off to the end of the project, continuously for over 2 years. At first, the 67 earmarked A380s will undergrow the upgrade. After the A380s get refreshed and back in service, 53 of the 777s will undergo their facelift. Trials began on an A380 in July. Engineers tested, timed and mapped out every action during the trial. “This will see nearly 4,000 brand new Premium Economy seats installed, 728 First Class suites refurbished and over 5,000 Business Class seats upgraded to a new style and design when the project is complete in April 2025.” Emirates Premium Economy Currently, only six of the carrier’s A380s feature the new premium economy cabin. These A380s have been flying to Sydney, London and Paris. Later this year, passengers traveling to and from Christchurch, New Zealand can also experience the premium economy product. These flights will be extensions of the existing Dubai-Sydney services, starting in December. https://samchui.com/2022/08/23/emirates-wants-an-even-bigger-airplane-to-replace-a380/ Regional carrier Air Wisconsin ditches United Airlines for American Airlines This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Air Wisconsin, one of the oldest and most storied regional airlines, has a new partner. Starting no later than March, the regional will switch from United Airlines to American Airlines, American announced Monday. The new agreement, known in the industry as a capacity purchase agreement, will cover up to 60 of the 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet 200 aircraft based at American’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) hub in Chicago — not far from Air Wisconsin’s base in Appleton, Wisconsin. The initial agreement is for 40 CRJs to ramp up between March and October, with the possibility to add 20 more aircraft, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The new agreement also leaves open a nonbinding possibility of Air Wisconsin operating the larger CRJ-700 aircraft. “Our wholly owned and partner regional carriers strengthen our network by providing safe, reliable and convenient service from small- and medium-size communities to our hubs,” Derek Kerr, American’s chief financial officer, said in a note to American’s staff. “They supply the right equipment to meet customer demand across all cities in our network. Air Wisconsin and its 1,100 team members will be a fantastic addition to the American Eagle family.” Monday’s announcement means Air Wisconsin will end its latest flying agreement with United — the airline that it has been most closely associated with throughout the years. At one point, United even owned the regional carrier. Air Wisconsin currently operates flights for United out of the carrier’s hubs at O’Hare and Dulles International Airport (IAD). The carrier’s footprint has shrunk recently as it, like some other regional carriers, weathers an industrywide pilot shortage. Last year, United announced that it planned to phase out single-cabin 50-seat flying. A United spokesperson told TPG that today’s announcement is part of that strategy. “This decision is consistent with our previously announced United Next growth strategy, where we plan to fly more larger narrowbody aircraft within our domestic network,” the United spokesperson told TPG. “We expect that Air Wisconsin will continue to fly as a United Express carrier into 2023.” Air Wisconsin previously operated as US Airways Express from August 2005 to October 2015; it then operated as American Eagle from October 2015 to February 2018, when US Airways and American Airlines operations were combined. The regional airline began exclusive operations as United Express in March 2018, according to Cirium schedule data. The airline also operated as United Express prior to 2005, with an additional stint operating regional flights for AirTran. Air Wisconsin also partners with United as part of its United Aviate program — a streamlined pilot pathway program designed to make it easier to hire pilots at mainline United. According to United’s Aviate program guide, Air Wisconsin’s pilots who participate in Aviate will continue to be eligible for a job at United, even though Air Wisconsin will no longer be flying for United Express. https://thepointsguy.com/news/air-wisconsin-american-airlines/ American Airlines Names John Deere Exec As Its Next Technology Chief American Airlines on Monday named a longtime John Deere executive as its next technology chief. Ganesh Jayaram will join the airline Sept. 1 as Chief Digital and Information Officer, reporting to CEO Robert Isom. He spent more than 15 years at Deere in a variety of technology and strategy roles, most recently as the company’s CIO. In a May interview, Jayaram described the growing need to make IT a source of clear value for Deere’s ecosystem of dealers, customers and employees. That includes not only leading a shift to more nimble ways of working, but also driving automation and enhancing data quality as teams create new technology-driven products and services. “The value story is so important,” Jayaram said, referring to his role leading IT at Deere. “We want to measure this through the lens of the customer. It’s important to talk about it from an IT delivery standpoint, but what’s bigger is how teams and customers are experiencing it.” That focus on value delivery and customer experience will be critical in his role at American Airlines as the airline industry contends with staffing shortages, higher fuel prices and often frustrated customers amid a busy travel season. “Ganesh has a proven ability to drive innovation in large, complex global organizations that are focused on operational reliability,” Isom said in a statement. “His leadership style, global expertise and success in building and implementing both business and technology strategy will serve him incredibly well as he steps in to lead our technology team.” Prior to Deere, Jayaram worked at Danaher Corporation and Canon USA Inc. He began his career at Boston Consulting Group. He succeeds longtime CIO Maya Leibman, who joined American Airlines in 1994 and became tech chief in 2012. Earlier this year, she announced plans to step down from the CIO role and relocate to the United Kingdom. She plans to assist with the transition through the end of the year and take on new international responsibilities in 2023, the company said. “Maya has been a central leader in American’s evolution over the past decade,” Isom said in the statement. “Her leadership has left an imprint on our entire organization, and we are thankful for all that she has done. She has set us up well for this transition and we look forward to her continued leadership at American.” Leibman has played an instrumental role in the company’s IT evolution, overseeing the technology organization as it shifts to cloud, adopts advanced analytics and shifts to new ways of working. In a June podcast interview, Leibman underscored the need for IT to deliver value quickly as technology helps American Airlines respond to disruptions, improve customer loyalty and drive operational efficiency, among other things. “Every piece of value that we put out there is something that ultimately will benefit the customer, and that needs to be our rallying cry and our mission.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevennorton/2022/08/22/american-airlines-names-john-deere-exec-as-its-next-technology-chief/?sh=7e87ab957de3 North Korea and Russia ink aviation safety deal in face of increasing isolation Two sides pledge to align maintenance standards, a move an expert suggests aims to boost cooperation amid sanctions Russia and North Korea have concluded a new agreement designed to improve safety and maintenance standards of their carriers, a move that one expert said appears to be part of joint efforts to increase cooperation as they confront growing international isolation. DPRK Ambassador Sin Hong-chol and Russian deputy transport minister Igor Chalik signed the deal late last week, according to North Korean state media. Russia’s transport ministry stated that the agreement ensures two-way recognition of safety checks, training certifications, flight simulator standards and mutually recognized maintenance and inspection standards. Ed Condit, a retired commercial pilot and aviation consultant, told NK News the deal could be a boon for DPRK flagship Air Koryo, which he said ran “mostly Russian-built aircraft.” The agreement “may pave the way for greater support mechanisms for Air Koryo to operate in some capacity,” he said. North Korea imported nearly $1 million worth of plane parts for its fleet of Russian Tupolev jets in 2020, and the aviation agreement had been in the works since at least last year. But the deal is unlikely to improve the country’s decrepit fleet of aircraft unless it resumes regular international travel, according to Condit. “Improving ‘flight safety’ seems curious since there have been very few movements of Air Koryo due to the coronavirus and U.N. sanctions,” he explained. Flight-tracking data identified only four flights in 2021, and while state media and satellite imagery have shown other unrecorded flights, the overall frequency of air travel since Feb. 2020 appears to remain far below pre-pandemic levels. North Korea has barred all international flights since early 2020 as part of its anti-COVID-19 campaign, save for three Air Koryo cargo planes that made a round trip to Shenyang, China in May to pick up medical supplies. It’s unclear if and when the DPRK will reopen its borders. The country remains unvaccinated, and Pyongyang appears to be in no hurry to change the status quo even after the omicron variant likely infected millions of North Koreans. In the meantime, DPRK-Russian aviation deals might be a way for Pyongyang and Moscow to further consolidate ties in the face of increasing isolation, according to North Korea-Russia relations expert and NK Pro contributor Anthony Rinna. “This [agreement] could signal a desire to make aviation standards more complementary between the two countries in anticipation of continued shared alienation from the West,” he told NK News. Russia might also be eager to boost its aircraft industry in light of sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, Rinna added. NK News reporting suggests that North Korea’s aviation sector could also become reliant on Russian aid for two of its Ukraine-built planes after Kyiv severed ties with Pyongyang earlier this year. https://www.nknews.org/2022/08/north-korea-and-russia-ink-aviation-safety-deal-in-face-of-increasing-isolation/ Boeing 787 aircraft exempted from GAGAN augmentation system compliance (India) The Civil Aviation ministry has exempted Boeing 787 aircraft from GPS-aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) augmentation system compliance till 2025. "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (a) of section 26 of the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, the Central Government with the approval of the Competent Authority, hereby makes the following further amendments in the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, namely: In the said policy, in paragraph 14, in clause (d), the following proviso shall be inserted namely:- 'Boeing 787 aircraft is exempted from above GAGAN compliance till 31st December, 2025'," said a notification by the ministry on August 18. GAGAN is an augmentation system jointly developed by the Airports Authority of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It provides a very accurate and high-level of satellite signals for precision air navigation over the entire Indian airspace, with the capability of expanding to nearby regions. It is capable of providing navigation services for departure, en-route and landing operations to equipped planes. GAGAN is a Satellite Based Augmentation System or SBAS, which is a regional network of ground stations and satellites that provide GPS signal corrections, giving a better position accuracy. The use of the Gagan system helps reduce flight delays, save fuel, and improve flight safety. Moreover, it also facilitates aircrafts landing at airports not equipped with expensive Instrument Landing Systems including many small regional airports. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/boeing-787-aircraft-exempted-from-gagan-augmentation-system-compliance-122082300459_1.html Helicopter rental company sues estate of pilot killed in crash The business that rented a helicopter to a pilot who was killed in an October 2019 crash has filed a lawsuit against the man’s estate. The lawsuit, filed Friday by Airwork Las Vegas Inc. and Binner Enterprises LLC, claims that 53-year-old Scott Socquet “negligently piloted the helicopter,” causing the crash on Oct. 23, 2019, at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area that killed Socquet and 27-year-old passenger Howard Jameson. “Because the accident resulted in a total loss of the helicopter, Plaintiffs were unable to rent it out to other pilots until the helicopter was replaced, resulting in significant monetary losses,” the complaint states. Attempts to reach Jessica Socquet, named in the lawsuit as a defendant and representative of Scott Socquet’s estate, were not successful on Monday. The case was filed in Clark County District Court. On the day of the crash, the helicopter that Scott Socquet piloted was found to have sediment in its fuel, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board released in November 2019. A mechanic was supposed to check the helicopter after the fuel issue had been reported, but that apparently did not happen, according to the report. The day of the crash, Scott Socquet and Jameson arrived at the North Las Vegas Airport and were told that the helicopter was in maintenance after an earlier flight had been canceled because of the sediment in the fuel tanks, the report said. About 20 minutes later, a certified flight instructor who had canceled the earlier flight indicated “that the maintenance was done and the helicopter was ready to fly,” the report said. Scott Socquet took off from the airport at 3:35 p.m., and crashed within 20 minutes just off of state Route 159, north of the Red Rock Canyon entrance sign. The helicopter had made several maneuvers over the conservation area, “including a possible touchdown where the forward airspeed was reduced to 0 knots,” the report said. Just before the crash, the helicopter was flying about 500 to 700 feet above the ground, at about 120 to 100 knots, the report said. An inspection of the wreckage showed no indication of catastrophic failure with the engine. Fuel screens in the chopper were clear of debris. But investigators learned that a signal system on the rotor connected to the cockpit that relied on two magnets was missing one, the report said. The National Transportation Safety Board has not released a final report of its investigation. The lawsuit did not mention the sediment reported in the fuel, and did not say how Scott Socquet was allegedly flying the helicopter negligently. Lawyers for the helicopter rental company did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Monday. “Scott Socquet breached his duty to Plaintiffs by not taking due care in operating the helicopter, by operating the helicopter in a careless or reckless manner, and by operating in a manner imminently dangerous to persons or property,” the lawsuit states. https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/helicopter-rental-company-sues-estate-of-pilot-killed-in-crash-2627803/ Middle East airlines to face pilot shortage as travel demand booms, report says • Big tourism projects and new carriers entering the market are fuelling demand for flight crew in the region • Demand for pilots will outstrip supply in most regions globally, according to a study by consultancy Oliver Wyman The global aviation sector will continue to grapple with a shortage in pilots between 2022 and 2024 as air travel demand surges — with the Middle East one of the first regions to experience the impact, according to a new report. A regional shortage could start as early as the end of this year, a study by global consultancy Oliver Wyman found. Unless speedy action is taken to mitigate the impact, this could reach a shortage of 3,000 pilots by 2023 and 18,000 by 2032, said the consultancy. “We expect the Middle East to be the region affected soonest by the shortage outside of North America, driven by a projected sharp increase in air travel demand over the next few years, new players entering the market and big tourism developments happening in the region,” Andre Martins, partner and head of India, Middle East and Africa for transportation and services at Oliver Wyman, said. The surge in demand for air travel coincides with a declining supply of pilots in the Middle East region — due to a combination of layoffs during the pandemic, a falling number of newly certified pilots and retirements. Boeing forecasts higher demand for pilots as air travel recovers “If demand for air travel continues to grow, airlines need to accelerate recruiting efforts from other regions where we anticipate less acute shortages, particularly Latin America and Asia Pacific, to fill gaps,” Mr Martins said. “Failing that, we may see adjustment of schedules into and out of the region, impacting the Middle East’s carriers and airport operators.” The global aviation industry is expected to be short of nearly 80,000 pilots by 2032, in the absence of a downturn in future demand and despite “strenuous” efforts by the sector to bolster the supply of pilots, the study said. Boeing recently raised its 20-year global demand forecast for commercial airline pilots and other aviation workers by 3.4 per cent from 2021, as air travel recovers from the pandemic with fleet expected to double during the period. The US plane maker now projects a need for 602,000 pilots globally to safely support the recovery in commercial air travel and staff the world fleet over the next two decades, according to its 2022 Pilot and Technician Outlook, published last month. About 53,000 new pilots will be needed in the Middle East during the period, according to the outlook. The region's aviation industry has been driven by airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways that are reporting recovery from the pandemic with surging demand for travel. How Etihad trains new cabin crew amid latest recruitment drive The global aviation industry is facing a shortage of employees, many of whom were laid off during the pandemic and have moved into other occupations or more flexible work options. Airlines and airports are racing to source recruits to meet the rise in demand, but the labour crunch has led to disruption at airports and capacity cuts at airlines. Emirates, the biggest operator of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, held a recruitment roadshow for pilots in the UK earlier this month, as it increases operations in response to a resurgence in travel demand. Etihad has said it began tapping into the pool of its former pilots last year, as it anticipated a recovery in travel demand from the pandemic. Direct employment at airlines is expected to reach 2.7 million people this year, up 4.3 per cent from 2021, as the industry rebuilds from the significant decline in activity in 2020, aviation trade body the International Air Transport Association reported. https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/aviation/2022/08/23/middle-east-airlines-to-face-pilot-shortage-as-travel-demand-booms-report-says/ Pilots preparing to go to space receive training at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport Pilots who one day will conquer space first had to conquer the skies above Tyler during training this past week. Randy Ball, a jet demonstration pilot, led the training at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport that's part of a future SpaceX mission. SpaceX, founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, is an American spacecraft manufacturer, space launch provider and satellite communications company. The 12 pilots who trained in Tyler will be part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. The crew will conduct a spacewalk; support scientific research designed to advance human health on Earth and the understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights; and be the first to test laser-based communications in space, according to the company. While Ball said he was not a part of the Polaris Dawn program and could not speak about its specifics, going forward, SpaceX will use aircraft for training astronauts under actual in-flight conditions that simulate common situations in space. Pilots had to receive training be certified to maneuver aircraft in certain ways before being able to proceed with training for the Polaris Dawn mission. In the training this past week in Tyler, Ball acted as a "checker" for the jet pilots. He reevaluated and certified pilots for maneuvers such as backflips. “In aviation, in order to be able to fly upside down acrobatically — loops, rolls and so forth — you have to have an observation ride and be certified to do that safely by what … is called a checker, or somebody certified to do that, which in this case is me,” Ball said. One jet used during training was a MIG 29-Fulcrum, which is used by Ukrainian pilots against the Russians, Ball said. The jet used at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is the only one in the world flying in civilian hands, he added. Ball said for the training he had obtain what is called a "waived airspace" that allowed pilots who weren't yet certified to perform certain maneuvers. Certification is important because “you don't want a new guy that says, ‘Oh, I’ve always wanted to do that’ go and drill a hole out here in the ground,” Ball said. “So we just kind of make sure everybody's safe; they can do it correctly and go from there.” In all North America, Ball said there are only three to four people who can certify pilots on this level. That's why the SpaceX pilots had to come to Tyler, where Ball houses his aircraft. https://tylerpaper.com/news/local/pilots-preparing-to-go-to-space-receive-training-at-tyler-pounds-regional-airport/article_cced61ea-200d-11ed-914b-976ad6555e4d.html The New Jet Airways Begins Its 1st Round Of Cabin Crew Training The airline is expected to start flying later this year. Jet Airways gave us another update about its progress as it looks to restart operations in the coming months. The airline has started training its cabin crew ahead of its launch, giving us a glimpse of behind-the-scenes action as employees prepare for what will hopefully be a successful second stint for the airline. Cabin crew training begins Jet Airways is busy preparing for its upcoming launch. The airline got the all-clear from India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, which granted Jet its AOC on May 20th after a series of successful proving flights. The carrier then went on a recruitment drive filling up positions at various key departments from top management to cabin crew. And now, it has given us an update about the training process of its flight attendants. The airline has hired an initial batch of flight crew for its upcoming flights. Many are said to be former Jet employees who already have substantial experience working in the airline industry. The airline will start flying later this year. Female cabin crew only Jet had previously announced that it will restart operations with female cabin crew members only. This is being done to simplify rostering and training requirements in its initial phase. The carrier intends to hire male cabin crew members once it achieves a certain scale. A jet spokesperson had previously commented, “While we only have women in our cabin crew in the current start-up phase, as an equal opportunity employer, we will be having men as cabin crew as well once we reach a certain operational scale. Jet Airways has always had a gender-neutral hiring policy, and that will continue.” “The initial women-only crew is only to simplify and optimise rostering and training and layover (overnight stay) costs and crew ratios while we are still sub-scale and our crew requirements are limited, and is also reflective of the cabin crew applicant pool which is predominantly female.” Jet Airways will initially work with only female cabin crew. Indeed, Jet operated with a mixed cabin crew back in the day when most airlines in India relied only on female flight attendants. It is likely to follow in Vistara’s footsteps, which hired male cabin crew members a few years after starting operations. Hiring spree Jet has been looking for employees for various positions in departments such as finance, cargo, tech, and network planning. Its application for cabin crew roles received a massive response, attracting more than 700 resumes within 5 hours of putting it up online. Clearly, it has enough options to choose from for its first set of employees. https://simpleflying.com/jet-airways-starts-cabin-crew-training/ Artemis Aerospace explores the history of the 'black box' WISTON, England, Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From its invention and throughout its evolution, the 'black box' has been crucial for maintaining and improving commercial aircraft safety since the 1950s. Here, component supply specialists Artemis Aerospace explores this essential piece of equipment and how it has developed into the modern technology used by the industry today Why is it called a black box? Although commonly referred to as a 'black box', the device's official name is flight data recorder (FDR) or cockpit voice recorder (CVR). Artemis Aerospace explores the history of the ‘black box’ Originally, flight recorders consisted of magnetic tape encased in a fireproof box that was painted black to protect the metal and prevent rust, hence the terminology 'black box' – an expression that was made popular by the British during World War II. However, after FDRs were mandated by the aviation industry in the 1960s, regulations stipulated that all flight recorders must be painted in 'international orange' – making them highly visible and easy to distinguish in the event of an incident. Early flight recorders Although the Australian scientist, David Warren, is credited with inventing the first flight and voice recorders for the commercial aviation industry, the earliest known design was made by François Hussenot and Paul Beaudoin at the Marignane flight test centre in France in 1939. The 'Hussenograph' was a photograph-based flight recorder that used scrolling photographic film and recorded instrument data, such as altitude and speed. Hussenot's and Beaudouin's legacy lives on through the Société Française des Instruments de Mesure, which they founded in 1947 and today forms part of the multi-national manufacturer of aircraft engines and equipment, Safran group. During WWII, Len Harrison and Vic Husband developed a crash and fire-proof flight recorder for the Ministry of Aircraft Production, setting the standard for today's modern units. The first flight recorders for commercial aircraft Up until the 1950s, flight recorders were primarily used on military aircraft. However, in 1953, David Warren's prototype FDR 'The ARL Flight Memory Unit' was specifically designed for post-crash investigations of civilian aircraft and was the first to record voices in the cockpit as well as instrument readings. During the same year, Professor James J. Ryan, who was a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota, invented and patented the flight recorder in the United States. However, unlike Warren's invention, Ryan's didn't include a cockpit voice recorder, which wasn't patented in the US until 1961 by Edmund A Boniface Jr. As recordings became digitised, this led to the FDR and CVR being combined into one unit called the CVDR. Most commercial jets are now additionally equipped with a QAR (quick access recorder) meaning data can be easily removed and accessed quickly in the event of less serious incidents, such as unplanned deviations, that require further investigation. Today's systems are digitally controlled and include built-in test equipment that records how the aircraft is operating. This means that potential issues can be identified and dealt with before an incident occurs, making air travel even safer and more efficient than ever before. Flight recorders become mandatory Following the crash of Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538 in 1960, Australia became the first country in the world to make cockpit voice recorders mandatory. In 1964, the United States passed its first cockpit voice recorder rules requiring all turbine and piston aircraft with four or more engines to install CVRs by March 1967. By 1967, FDRs had become mandatory in many countries. Commercial aircraft were required to carry FDRs and CVRs housed in bright orange boxes in the tail of the aircraft, where they would stand the best chance of survival in the event of a crash. FDRs are now governed by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Authority) and the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) in the United States. These regulators stipulate the specifications and standards FDRs must meet for aircraft. This includes FDRs being equipped with an underwater locator beacon that is automatically activated when an incident occurs. FDR improvements and updates Despite the introduction of the underwater locator beacon to aid FDR recovery following a crash, the technology was not without its limitations. Notably, the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014, demonstrated the restrictions of flight recorder technology, which required physical possession of the device in order to understand the cause of an accident. Unable to locate Flight 370 or its FDR, authorities called for live streaming of data from the aircraft to the ground. In addition to this, they requested for the range and battery life on all underwater locator beacons to be extended and that aircraft be fitted with a secondary deployable recorder that would be ejected from the aircraft before impact. FDRs of the future Artificial intelligence and telematics are leading the way in developing the aircraft of the future, including improving the collection of in-flight data and voice recordings. Honeywell's latest flight deck, Anthem, provides anytime, anywhere data analytics and an engine-out function to automatically guide pilots to the nearest airport, while assessing factors such as terrain and wind speed. The NTSB (National Transport Safety Board) in the US has long been lobbying for installing cockpit video recorders in new and in-service commercial jets to improve the quality of information that can be gathered following an incident. However, this hasn't been without controversy and ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association) has expressed concerns regarding privacy. Whatever the future holds for flight data recorders, they will continue to be essential to maintaining safe air travel for all. www.artemisaerospace.com https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artemis-aerospace-explores-the-history-of-the-black-box-301602781.html FAA’s Airline Evacuation Test Each year, every airline is required to demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration that it can safely evacuate a fully loaded plane, with half the exits blocked and in darkness — and all within 90 seconds. And every airline passes the test. But does the agency take into account age, disability, carry-on bags, or sheer panic? To complicate matters, many airlines have been adding even more very narrow seats to the already cramped back of the plane. Back in 2018, Congress ordered the FAA to set minimum dimensions for airplane seats — width, pitch and number — and devise new time standards for the evacuation test. After four years, the FAA is finally doing that and asking the public — that means you — to comment in the next 90 days before revising the rules. https://petergreenberg.com/2022/08/22/faas-airline-evacuation-test/ Curt Lewis