Flight Safety Information - September 7, 2022 No.172 In This Issue : Incident: THY A321 at Istanbul on Sep 3rd 2022, engine failure : Incident: Indigo A20N at Bhopal on Sep 5th 2022, rejected takeoff due to engine problem : Incident: Qatar A388 at Doha on Sep 5th 2022, smoke in cockpit : Incident: Argentinas A332 at Ushuaia on Sep 3rd 2022, runway excursion on backtrack but departed : Helo Pilot Charged Again with Federal Violations : AIR FRANCE SAFETY RATING DOWNGRADED : South African air charter company receives new long-range business jet and safety award : Ethiopian Airlines Weighs New Airbus or Embraer Aircraft Order as Travelers Return : Norwegian's Average Fleet Size Was 69 Aircraft In August : SAS seeks to return ten aircraft as part of its restructuring process : Qatar Airways Selects Inmarsat as Inflight Broadband Provider for Boeing 787-9 and 737-10 Aircraft Fleet : U.S. Government Going After $45 Million Russian Airplane Last Seen in Houston : Nearly 600 jobs available at Airport-wide Hiring Day on Sept. 27 (TAMPA) : As Boom Seeks Engine, Airlines Mull Supersonic Use Case : New York: United threatens to stop operating at JFK if the FAA does not grant more slots : Some indication floatplane took a nosedive before crashing into Puget Sound, NTSB says : Position Available: Dangerous Goods and Environmental Analyst : ALPA - 66th Air Safety Forum - September 12-15, 2022 - JOIN US! Incident: THY A321 at Istanbul on Sep 3rd 2022, engine failure A THY Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration TC-JSJ performing flight TK-1795 from Istanbul (Turkey) to Stockholm (Sweden), was climbing out of Istanbul's runway 35L when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet due to an engine (V2533) failure. The aircraft returned to Istanbul for a safe landing on runway 34L about 40 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the crew announced an engine failure. A replacement A321-200 registration TC-JSC reached Stockholm with a delay of 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Istanbul about 3 days later. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fddf915&opt=0 Incident: Indigo A20N at Bhopal on Sep 5th 2022, rejected takeoff due to engine problem An Indigo Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-IJM performing flight 6E-829 from Bhopal to Mumbai (India), had backtracked runway 30 and was spooling the engines up moving at low speed (about 15 knots over ground) when the crew rejected takeoff due to an engine (PW1127G) problem. The aircraft returned to the apron. A replacement A320-200N registration VT-ITQ reached Mumbai with a delay of about 6 hours. Passengers reported they were told some unusual noise had been heard from the engine prompting the takeoff to be rejected. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 21 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fddf730&opt=0 Incident: Qatar A388 at Doha on Sep 5th 2022, smoke in cockpit A Qatar Airways Airbus A380-800, registration A7-APJ performing flight QR-908 from Doha (Qatar) to Sydney,NS (Australia), was climbing out of Doha's runway 16L when the crew stopped the climb at about 2500 feet and returned to Doha for a safe landing on runway 16L about 11 minutes after departure. According to information The Aviation Herald received the crew reported smoke in the cockpit. A passenger tweeted about 11 hours after landing back, they had no assistance all night after being off-loaded. Minimal food and drinks, no accomodation. No information. The flight was cancelled. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fddfac8&opt=0 Incident: Argentinas A332 at Ushuaia on Sep 3rd 2022, runway excursion on backtrack but departed An Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A330-200, registration LV-GKP performing flight AR-1881 from Ushuaia,TF to Buenos Aires Ezeiza,BA (Argentina), was taxiing for departure and entered the runway at taxiway B (near the threshold of runway 07) and turned right backtracking runway 07 for a full length departure. While turning around on the turnpad the aircraft temporarily went off paved surface with one of the gear struts at about 20:21L (23:21Z), continued the turn, lined up and departed. The aircraft landed safely in Ezeiza about 3 hours after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground in Buenos Aires for about 9 hours, then continued service. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fdddd68&opt=0 Helo Pilot Charged Again with Federal Violations Matthew Jones, 35, was indicted last month in a Federal District Court in Utah for violating FARs and wire fraud. These latest allegations follow an indictment of Jones in the same court in October 2021 for previously committing identical offenses. After his indictment last year, Jones violated the court-ordered conditions of his release by continuing to operate an airplane without an appropriate pilot certificate. FAA records show that Jones holds a commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating for helicopters only. The latest indictment alleges Jones also claimed to be a certified flight instructor, entered into an LLC, and advertised online that he was opening a flight school and charter provider. On Dec. 29, 2021, Jones crashed a Robinson R44 helicopter, seriously injuring himself and killing the passenger, reportedly his girlfriend. Jones and the woman had traveled from Utah to Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport in Sevierville, Tennessee, to pick up the piston helicopter. According to the NTSB preliminary report, weather throughout the day was deteriorating from marginal VMC to IMC. Jones was cautioned by several pilots about the dangers of flying in the Smoky Mountains in marginal weather. At about 2:15 p.m., Jones and his passenger departed the airport. ATC radar data showed the helicopter flying through valleys between 1,200 feet and 1,750 feet agl before it hit trees and was destroyed 10 minutes after taking off. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-09-06/helo-pilot-charged-again-federal-violations AIR FRANCE SAFETY RATING DOWNGRADED Air France’s safety rating has been downgraded after two of its pilots were suspended for fighting in the cockpit. The captain and first officer apparently exchanged blows as they flew their Airbus A320 from Geneva to Paris in June, the Swiss news outlet La Tribune reported. La Tribune said that members of the cabin crew intervened after hearing the commotion and one stayed in the cockpit until the flight landed. The serious incident has been followed by a report published by France’s air investigation body the BEA, that said that the airline had a culture which lacked rigour when in safety procedures. Airline Ratings has downgraded the airline from a seven-star airline to a five-star reflecting the serious incident and the BEA report. About AirlineRatings.com Airlineratings.com was developed to provide everyone in the world a one-stop shop for everything related to airlines, formed by a team of aviation editors, who have forensically researched nearly every airline in the world. Our rating system is rated from one to seven stars on safety – with seven being the highest ranking. Within each airline, you will find the country of origin, airline code, booking URL and seat map information. The rating system takes into account a number of different factors related to audits from aviation’s governing bodies, lead associations, as well as the airlines, own safety data. Every airline has a safety rating breakdown so you can see exactly how they rate. Over 230 of the airlines on the site that carry 99 per cent of the world’s passengers have a product rating. Given that low-cost, regional and full-service carriers are so different we have constructed a different rating system for each which can be found within each airline. https://www.airlineratings.com/news/passenger-news/air-frances-rating-downgraded/ South African air charter company receives new long-range business jet and safety award Aircraft charter and aviation services company ExecuJet South Africa, part of the Luxembourg-based Luxaviation group, announced on Tuesday that it had received the latest addition to its charter fleet, a Bombardier Global Express. The Canadian-designed and built business jet can carry up to 13 passengers and has a maximum range of 4 800 nautical miles (8 890 km). “Like all Bombardier business jets, the Global Express is an exceptional aircraft,” affirmed Luxaviation VP: Africa Gavin Kiggen. “We know the large-cabin comfort and range will be highly attractive to charter customers across Africa.” The new aircraft will be based at the company’s facility at Lanseria International Airport, which lies northwest of Johannesburg and southwest of Pretoria. The acquisition of the Global Express forms part of a continuing programme of fleet expansion by ExecuJet South Africa. The company also highlighted that the safety award that it had been received from Litson & Associates (L&A), of South Africa, in September last year, had been upgraded early last month. The original distinction had been a Silver Aviation Safety Award, and this had been upgraded to a Gold Aviation Safety Award. “This new Gold award recognises our high aviation safety standards over a number of years and reflects the results of L&A reviews,” noted Kiggen. “We are very proud of our long-term safety record and delighted to receive further industry recognition of our very high standards with this award. From flight to ground operations to maintenance and training, safety is now – and will always be – our first priority.” The company is one of the sponsors for the African Aerospace and Defence 2022 exhibition, to be held at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Tshwane, from September 21 to September 25. Some of ExecuJet South Africa’s most in-demand charter aircraft will be on static display at the show. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/south-african-air-charter-company-receives-new-long-range-business-jet-and-safety-award-2022-09-06/rep_id:4136 Ethiopian Airlines Weighs New Airbus or Embraer Aircraft Order as Travelers Return Ethiopian Airlines is keen to expand its lead in the African aviation market with plans for new aircraft to meet rising travel demand. The Addis Ababa-based Star Alliance carrier expects passenger numbers to surpass 2019 levels during the year ending in June 2023, group CEO Mesfin Tasew Bekele said at a luncheon in Washington, D.C., on September 2. With the passenger recovery in sight, the airline plans to restart an aircraft order campaign for a roughly 100-seat plane that was paused in early 2020 when the pandemic hit. The aircraft, which Bekele said will be either the Airbus A220-100 or Embraer E195-E2, are needed to Ethiopian’s traffic growth forecasts. “We are going to finalize our evaluation” of a 100-seat aircraft, he said. Bekele hinted that the A220 “best fits Ethiopian Airlines’ market,” and that Airbus had provided the best commercial terms. An A220 order from Ethiopian would further expand the plane’s growing dominance of the 100-seat aircraft market. Owing to its small size and low costs it proved one of the more popular planes for airlines’ to fly during the pandemic, and coming out of the crisis has racked up a number of new orders. New commitments have come from existing operators, like Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, and from new customers, including ITA Airways and Qantas. If Ethiopian ordered the A220, it would join the likes of Air Tanzania and EgyptAir operating the jet in Africa. A roughly 100-seat A220 would sit between Ethiopian’s De Havilland Dash 8-400s with 78 seats and its Boeing 737-800s with at least 154 seats. The airline plans to retire its 9 737-700s that seat 118 passengers in the next few years, Bekele said. Bekele was bullish on the recovery at Ethiopian, even as conflict in the airline’s namesake country continues. Asked about the impact of U.S. and EU restrictions on government travel through Addis Ababa — for example, all U.S. Embassy staff are barred from transiting through the city’s airport — he said the airline did not “see traffic decline as a result of this,” and cited the hubs status as a major connecting point for travel within and to Africa. Passenger “traffic is doing well, and it’s growing,” he said broadly. During Ethiopian’s fiscal year that ended in June, passenger numbers hit 82 percent of 2019 levels, or 8.7 million travelers. That percentage was slightly better than previous forecasts for the period by airline executives. For the eight months ending in February, Ethiopian carried 7 percent fewer passengers on 2 percent more seats on its flights to the U.S. compared to the same period ending in February 2020, according to the latest Department of Transportation data via Diio. Ethiopian and other carriers are also benefitting from other African airlines’ challenges. Both Kenya Airways and South African Airways struggled during the crisis with the latter shutting down entirely for 18 months. Air France, Delta, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines have all used the opportunity to expand to Africa with new flights and routes compared to 2019, Diio schedules show. Ethiopian continues to grow out of the crisis, and not just in Addis. In June, it launched new nonstop flights between Washington Dulles and Lomé, Togo, where its affiliate Asky Airlines is based. The airline plans to increase the number of flights on that route to five-times weekly by year-end from thrice weekly today, and to daily in 2023, Bekele said. In addition, Ethiopian is considering new U.S. service to Atlanta, and a resumption of flights to Houston Intercontinental that it flew for just six months before they were suspended in May 2020. “We would like to open up more destinations — providing more connectivity with the United States [and] Africa,” Bekele said. He did not provide a timeline for a potential Atlanta or Houston launch. The U.S. is not the only place where Ethiopian is expanding. The airline will begin thrice-weekly flights between Addis Ababa and Amman, Jordan, on September 19. It also added Chennai and Dubai’s Al Maktoum airport to its map earlier this year, according to Diio by Cirium schedules. https://airlineweekly.com/2022/09/ethiopian-airlines-weighs-new-airbus-or-embraer-aircraft-order-as-travelers-return/ Norwegian's Average Fleet Size Was 69 Aircraft In August The airline hit a load factor of 85.5% and operated almost all of its scheduled flights. Norwegian has released its traffic report for August, revealing that it operated an average of 69 aircraft over the month. The carrier transported almost two million passengers in August, up 153% compared to last year. We unpack Norwegian's traffic figures for August 2022 in greater detail below. Norwegian utilizes full fleet Scandinavian carrier Norwegian had its full fleet in service over August, according to its traffic figures released on Tuesday. The airline utilized an average of 69 aircraft in August, representing its entire all-Boeing 737 fleet. Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian, said, "August marks the end of summer and the month marked another strong performance for Norwegian. We operated our planned programme and flew close to all scheduled flights. We are particularly happy that bookings into autumn are encouraging and that business travellers are returning." According to Planespotters.net, Norwegian has a fleet of 69 Boeing 737 aircraft - 67 Boeing 737-800s and two Boeing 737 MAX 8s. The carrier's relatively youthful fleet has an average age of less than nine years and is in the process of welcoming 50 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft by 2028. Norwegian managed a net profit over the last financial quarter. This is down from 70 aircraft operated in July after the carrier returned a leased Boeing 737 MAX 8 (registration: SE-RYJ) to its owner. Two million passengers served The airline carried 1,996,211 passengers in August, a significant 153% increase from 790,220 in August 2021, although down from 2,206,424 served in July. Norwegian's capacity (ASK) for the month was 2,998 million seat kilometers, while actual passenger traffic (RPK) was 2,563 million seat kilometers. Load factor was at 85.5%, up from 73% for the same month last year. Norwegian has maintained an 81.5% load factor over the past 12 months, a far cry from the 62.4% between August 2020 and August 2021. 99.7% of scheduled flights completed Norwegian managed to operate 99.7% of its scheduled flights over August during a period of significant travel chaos. With airports across Europe suffering from staff shortages, Norwegian has done well to fulfill almost all of its schedule. Geir Karlsen added, "The congestion at European airports has begun to improve, which is positive for our operations but also, importantly, to the travel experience of our customers. It is uplifting for the industry in general that we are continuing to return to normal operations after these extraordinary years for aviation." Punctuality didn't quite keep up over the month, with 63% of flights departing on time. This is down from 91.9% in August 2021, although matters outside of Norwegian's hands have played a huge role in this. Travel disruption across Europe affected the carrier's punctuality last month. While punctuality is defined as flights leaving within 15 minutes of scheduled departure times, Norwegian states that around 96.5% of its flights arrived on schedule or no more than an hour late. The Scandinavian carrier was one of Europe's most reliable airlines during the first quarter of 2022, hitting 87% for punctuality between January and April. Norwegian added that it has launched a sale on autumn and winter flights in celebration of its 20th anniversary. https://simpleflying.com/norwegian-69-aircraft-august/ SAS seeks to return ten aircraft as part of its restructuring process Multinational carrier Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) wants to return ten aircraft owned by leasing companies, ch-aviation reported. The move is part of the company’s voluntary restructuring process under the protection of Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Act. On 3 September, the airline’s legal representatives filed a motion to reject the leases and implement return procedures for five narrow-body and five wide-body aircraft. They also requested to return four CFM International CFM56 engines. The resizing of the fleet is a key part of the restructuring programme, which the company called «SAS Forward». In this regard, management and partners stated that they do not need «excess leased equipment» to meet scheduled commercial operations. In addition, they assured that the units involved are «no longer part of the business plan». The return request follows a comprehensive review to reduce the mix of aircraft in operation based on an analysis of market conditions, observed demand and other business factors. The company said it will continue to analyse its fleet and aircraft powerplants to determine the necessary reductions. According to ch-aviation, Scandinavian Airlines’ fleet currently consists of four Airbus A319s (all owned), eleven A320s (two owned), fifty-two A320neo (eleven owned), seven A321s (four owned), three high density A321neo (all leased), eight A330-300s (four owned), six A350-900s (four owned), ten Boeing 737-700s (eight owned) and four 737-800s (all owned). In addition, three Embraer 195s are operated through its subsidiary SAS Link. The ten aircraft that the airline requested to return: • Airbus A320neo, registered as EI-SIF (MSN 8109), leased from SMBC Aviation Capital. • Airbus A320neo, registered as SE-ROD (MSN 7755), leased from SMBC. • Airbus A320neo, registered as SE-ROC (MSN 7723), leased from SMBC. • Airbus A321, registered as OY-KBL (MSN 1619), leased from IC AirLease One Limited. • Airbus A330-300, registered as LN-RKU (MSN 1715), leased from Jin Shan 7 Ireland Company. • Airbus A330-300, registered as LN-RKT (MSN 1697), leased from Jin Shan 7 Ireland Company. • Airbus A330-300, registered as LN-RKS (MSN 1665), leased from Jin Shan Ireland Company Limited. • Airbus A350-900, registered as SE-RSC (MSN 391), leased from FS World Leasing Co. • Airbus A350-900, registered as SE-RSB (MSN 378), leased from FLIP No.247 Co. Ltd. • Boeing 737-700, registered as SE-RET (MSN 32734), leased from ACS 18-Pack Irish DAC. The ten airplanes are currently parked at Scandinavian Airlines’ bases in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. Previously, the airline had agreed to terminate the lease of the Airbus A321 registered as LN-RKK (MSN 1848), according to a notification dated 25 August. https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/09/sas-seeks-to-return-ten-aircraft-as-part-of-its-restructuring-process/ Qatar Airways Selects Inmarsat as Inflight Broadband Provider for Boeing 787-9 and 737-10 Aircraft Fleet New agreement marks expansion of Inmarsat partnership with Doha-based national carrier DOHA, Qatar--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inmarsat has been selected as the inflight connectivity (IFC) provider for Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9 and 737-10 fleet, marking an expansion of its partnership with the Doha-based national carrier. “It has been more than four years since Qatar Airways became the launch customer for Inmarsat’s GX Aviation in the Middle East and North Africa and, during that time, millions of passengers have enjoyed access to its Super Wi-Fi service. We are delighted to expand our important partnership even further. ” GX Aviation, Inmarsat’s high-speed global inflight broadband service, has been rolled out successfully on other aircraft within the Qatar Airways fleet and, under the new agreement, it has already been activated on the first seven Boeing 787-9s. Qatar Airways provides one hour of free access to its ‘Super Wi-Fi’, powered by GX Aviation, with the option to purchase full access for the remainder of each flight. The seamless and reliable broadband will be available across the airline’s aircraft and flight routes, allowing passengers to stay connected to family and friends, browse the internet, stream video and audio, enjoy social media, shop online and more. The announcement comes as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in November, with a huge influx of tourists set to travel by air into Doha’s Hamad International Airport. With a fully connected fleet, Qatar Airways passengers will be able to stay up-to-date with match scores, watch video replays and even livestream games from 30,000 feet, enhancing their onboard experience. Inmarsat is committed to meeting the bandwidth requirements generated by this forthcoming event and, alongside its partner Safran Passenger Innovations, installed and activated GX Aviation on the first Qatar Airways 787-9 aircraft in less than five months from contract award. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said “Over the years, Qatar Airways has pioneered a range of game-changing innovations as part of our exceptional five-star passenger experience. This, in turn, has resulted in the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax naming us ‘Airline of the Year’ an unprecedented six times. The launch of our Super Wi-Fi, powered by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation, is a prime example. We were amongst the first airlines in the world to adopt this technology and remain the largest operator of GX-equipped aircraft in the Middle East and North Africa. “Making Super Wi-Fi available across our fleet is an important milestone at a time when staying connected with loved ones and friends has never been more important for passengers. As the 2022 FIFA World Cup approaches, Inmarsat is the perfect partner we need to ensure Qatar Airways can offer unrivalled inflight connectivity to each and every passenger, continuing our track record of service excellence.” Niels Steenstrup, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said “It has been more than four years since Qatar Airways became the launch customer for Inmarsat’s GX Aviation in the Middle East and North Africa and, during that time, millions of passengers have enjoyed access to its Super Wi-Fi service. We are delighted to expand our important partnership even further. “Qatar Airways’ decision to select GX Aviation is testament to its continued satisfaction with our global, consistent, and reliable connectivity, as well as the positive feedback it has received from passengers. It has been a pleasure working with the airline on this rollout.” GX Aviation is powered by Global Xpress (GX), the world’s first and only globally available broadband network, offering superior inflight connectivity on par with mobile Wi-Fi on the ground. The GX network currently consists of five Ka-band satellites and will be further enhanced with the addition of seven more satellites as part of Inmarsat's fully-funded technology roadmap. This includes two Inmarsat-6s, the most sophisticated commercial communications satellites ever built, both of which are scheduled to enter service next year and will be followed by three additional satellites in geostationary orbit – adding speed, capacity and resilience – and two in highly elliptical orbit, enabling the world’s only commercial mobile broadband service for aircraft flying in higher elevations and across the Arctic. The GX network will also play a crucial role in the ongoing growth of Inmarsat’s unique ORCHESTRA dynamic mesh network, which will bring existing geosynchronous (GEO) satellites together with low earth orbit satellites (LEO) and terrestrial 5G to form an integrated, high-performance solution, unmatched by any existing or planned competitor offering. ABOUT INMARSAT Inmarsat delivers world leading, innovative, advanced and exceptionally reliable global, mobile communications across the world – in the air, at sea and on land - that are enabling a new generation of commercial, government and mission-critical services. Inmarsat is powering the digitalisation of the maritime industry, making operations more efficient and safer than ever before. It is driving a new era of inflight passenger services for aviation, while ensuring that aircraft can fly with maximum efficiency and safety. Furthermore, Inmarsat is enabling the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and enabling the next wave of world-changing technologies that will underpin the connected society and help build a sustainable future. And now Inmarsat is developing the first-of-its-kind, multi-dimensional communications network of the future, ORCHESTRA. In November 2021, Inmarsat and Viasat announced the planned combination of the two companies, to create a new leader in global communications. The deal is scheduled to close in the second half of 2022. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220907005101/en/Qatar-Airways-Selects-Inmarsat-as-Inflight-Broadband-Provider-for-Boeing-787-9-and-737-10-Aircraft-Fleet U.S. Government Going After $45 Million Russian Airplane Last Seen in Houston Sep. 3—The U.S. plans to seize a $45 million airplane owned a multinational oil-and-gas corporation based in Moscow. The seizure of Russian energy company PJSC LUKOIL plane was authorized by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, according to a news release. The court fond probable cause that the Boeing 737-7EM aircraft violated federal law. "We'll continue to go after individuals who insist on helping Russia advance its hostile and illegal activities, and we'll continue to seize their valuable possessions, wherever they may be," said Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI Houston Field Office. The Boeing last flew in the United States in March 2019, when it arrived in Houston with a Russian oligarch — then LUKOIL president and CEO Vagit Alekperov. Since September 2014, LUKOIL has been subject to sectoral sanctions imposed by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/news/21279729/us-government-going-after-45-million-russian-airplane-last-seen-in-houston Nearly 600 jobs available at Airport-wide Hiring Day on Sept. 27 (TAMPA) The TSA, rental car companies, restaurants and even some airlines will be looking for qualified team members for a variety of positions, including management roles. More than 25 companies at Tampa International Airport are looking to fill hundreds of jobs at the upcoming Airport-wide Hiring Day on Tuesday, Sept. 27. TPA’s business partners including FedEx, Airborne, the Transportation Security Administration, Southwest Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic will be accepting applications from 9 a.m. to noon at the Airport’s Main Terminal Event Space (Level 3), between the shuttles for Airsides E and F. Full- and part-time jobs are available with some positions paying up to $41 an hour. Participating companies represent different areas of the airport operation including cargo, aircraft maintenance, dining, retail, parking, and car rentals. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which operates Tampa International Airport, will also be looking to fill open positions across several departments. “Travel is on the rise at TPA and we need the best talent to maintain our reputation as America’s Favorite Airport,” said TPA’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service John Tiliacos. “We’re eager to help our partners boost staffing levels in preparation for the busy holiday season.” Hiring managers suggest bringing multiple copies of your resume and two forms of ID, in case you are hired at the event. Parking will be validated for the Long Term Parking Garage. More than 500 candidates attended the last Airport-wide Hiring Day on Feb. 15, with companies offering dozens of jobs on the spot. For more details about the Sept. 27 event and a list of participating businesses, visit https://www.tampaairport.com/hiringday CONTACT: Joshua Gillin, jgillin@tampaairport.com or (813) 361-6278 https://news.tampaairport.com/almost-600-jobs-available-at-airport-wide-hiring-day-on-sept-27/ As Boom Seeks Engine, Airlines Mull Supersonic Use Case The latest iteration of the Boom Overture features four engines and a contoured composite fuselage. As Boom continues its efforts to convince an engine manufacturer to back its supersonic ambitions by investing in a new powerplant, how exactly airlines expect to capitalize on the promised Mach 1.7 speed remains a central question. The company says it will leverage 50 years of advances in aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion since the development of the Concorde to address the cost challenges the famously loss-making supersonic transport (SST) could never overcome. Critics say the introduction of a fuel-thirsty SST at a time established aerospace companies have turned their research and development efforts squarely toward environmental sustainability amounts to a fundamental miscalculation. If recent commercial activity serves as any guide, potential operators might have at least lent some credibility to Boom’s claims that the use of 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can eventually render the operation of the Overture transport carbon neutral. In fact, the Overture now has drawn order commitments covering four identified airlines, including what it characterizes as firm orders from United Airlines for 15 and, most recently, American Airlines for 20. While both orders came with a deposit, analysts question what performance guarantees Boom might have given at this relatively early stage in development, particularly in the absence of a commitment by an OEM willing to invest the funds needed to develop engines suitable for supersonic flight. Although in mid-2020 Boom announced that Rolls-Royce signed an “engagement agreement” to explore the technical requirements for powering the Overture, the UK engine maker told AIN that it reached a decision not to further participate in the program. “We’ve completed our contract with Boom and delivered various engineering studies for their Overture supersonic program,” Rolls-Royce said in a statement. “After careful consideration, Rolls-Royce has determined that the commercial aviation supersonic market is not currently a priority for us and, therefore, will not pursue further work on the program at this time. It has been a pleasure to work with the Boom team and we wish them every success in the future.” In a separate statement to AIN, American Airlines didn’t directly address the engine issue but acknowledged the “order” does not constitute a definitive purchase agreement. It also declined to discuss potential markets for the airplane, citing the early stage of the Overture’s development. “As Boom continues to develop the Overture aircraft, we will work together to better understand where, when, and how it may best fit within our network and operation,” said an American spokesman. “With the aircraft not expected to carry its first passengers until 2029, it’s premature to discuss specific routes. Additionally, the specifics of the purchase are still subject to a finalized purchase agreement with future agreed upon milestones and terms, including customary requirements and conditions.” Boom’s development schedule shows the rollout of the first prototype in 2025, giving it about three years to line up its suppliers, establish a facility to build the airplane, and assemble the planned four-engine, composite-bodied, 65- to 80-passenger Overture. In January Boom said it chose Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, as the site for its manufacturing plant, groundbreaking on which it expects by the end of this year. During July’s Farnborough Airshow, Boom revealed the final production design, including a new propulsion system based on four engines rather than two and a revised fuselage shape that features a larger diameter toward the front of the aircraft and a smaller diameter toward the rear. Boom’s aggressive development schedule has met with its share of skepticism, even among those who don’t dismiss the idea of introducing a supersonic passenger jet by a startup company at a time Boeing and Airbus don’t see a business case for it. Speaking with AIN following the American Airlines order announcement, Bloomberg Intelligence senior aerospace/defense and airline analyst George Ferguson pointed to Elon Musk’s SpaceX as an example of how a startup can overcome such a massive technological challenge. In fact, he said, a startup might glean a cost advantage over an established organization whose “stodginess” often leads to a resistance to taking chances. Of course, the Concorde program relied heavily on government funding while Boom needs to succeed on a purely commercial basis. Boom claims to have drawn $600 million of its estimated requirement of between $6 billion and $8 billion to bring the product to market. Ferguson believes the program would absorb more than $10 billion to reach certification. But, perhaps more important, airlines will need to make a business case for operating a fuel-thirsty supersonic airplane, something they failed to do in the case of the Concorde. Boom claims the much lighter Overture will prove far more fuel efficient and reckons airlines will need to charge no more per ticket for a transatlantic flight as they now charge first-class passengers on a conventional jet. Ferguson questions the claim. “You need volume, meaning you need to be able to deploy the airplane on a lot of routes and you need to sell a lot of airplanes so you can push down the cost and amortize it over a larger run of airplanes,” he said. “The reason the Concorde died is that people weren't willing to pay up at that level—enough of them—to go across the Atlantic all the time, which again, is a very busy international market.” While Boom estimates the Overture could serve as many as 600 markets around the world, Ferguson sees that most, apart from perhaps transatlantic routes between North American cities and Heathrow Airport, as difficult to justify economically. “By far, the most lucrative international market for all the U.S. airlines is the North Atlantic,” he stressed. “And Heathrow is traditionally the most important hub for U.S. business travel. So when this airplane comes out, it will probably arrive in Heathrow first from New York and, if you’re American Airlines, Chicago and maybe Texas.” The economic calculus in regions such as Asia, however, makes its use there even more problematic, noted Ferguson. “You start to have challenges with price points you can get people to pay in Asia and the range. Because anything going supersonic is burning a lot more fuel.” In a recent interview with AIN, Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl acknowledged that coastal cities will benefit most from the Overture’s supersonic speed, but because the airplane would fly 20 percent faster than a conventional jet over land at Mach .94, the airplane will serve far more cities than most imagine when considering the purely transatlantic service the Concorde provided. Toward that end, the company has developed proprietary route optimization software that calculates the most favorable mix of time spent over water versus over land for greater time savings. Having drawn a sales commitment from Japan Airlines, Scholl would disagree with the characterization of Asia as “problematic.” “Imagine if Sydney, Australia were as easy to get to as Hawaii is today; imagine Seattle to Tokyo and an almost impossibly fast four and a half hours,” urged Scholl. “And what that means is that a business trip from the U.S. to Asia, which today takes a minimum of three calendar days, we can do in just 24 hours.” The Overture’s performance specifications show a range of 4,250 nm, requiring a refueling stop for many transpacific routes. Boom notes, however, that while the Overture could fly 65 percent of all “viable” routes nonstop, the company has designed the refueling process to take only 30 minutes and accounts for stops in its claims that the airplane will fly from origin to destination in half the time of a conventional jet. Scholl also addressed the question of seating capacity, which, he said, roughly matches a typical business class seat count of 65. “So 65 seats makes it possible for airlines to achieve great load factors, not just here and there, but in hundreds of routes around the planet,” he said. “We think we're going to need hundreds, if not thousands of these aircraft, and it's going to touch tens of millions of lives every year. We found that 91 percent of business class passengers would buy a supersonic ticket tomorrow.” Still, Ferguson doubts Boom’s claims that airlines could profitably fly the airplane while charging typical first-class fares and questions whether enough people will pay a premium cost for such time savings. “If you look at how the world works today, the sweet spots are moving up in the number of passengers you can get behind the two pilots,” he noted. “Regionals are having trouble operating now because they can’t find the pilots and it just doesn’t make economic sense. And then, if you’re United and American and you peel the premium people out of your transatlantic flights, then what is your triple seven or 787? Is that all high-density leisure? What is that? Because the mix of passengers in those airplanes is what makes them profitable.” Meanwhile, an aircraft’s profitability also depends on its ability to meet what will no doubt become ever more stringent environmental regulations. While the likes of Airbus turn their attention to new propulsion technologies based on hydrogen power, for example, the Overture will burn SAF, and a lot of it. Under the assumption that refiners will eventually produce and supply SAF in a zero-carbon manner, Boom insists that the Overture’s operation will also be carbon neutral, notwithstanding assertions by fuel producers that 100 percent SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to only 80 percent. “We need to go all the way to net zero and we challenge ourselves to do it from day one,” said Scholl. “How? By building the aircraft, just the first one, that's a hundred percent compatible with sustainable aviation fuel, no blends, no additives required. “And this means that we can actually operate net zero. So we're not just making this a feature of the airplane. It's part of our airline agreements as well. Last year when United announced this order of Overture aircraft, they announced that from day one it'll be operated on sustainable aviation fuel on a net-zero carbon basis. And you're going to find that going forward, that's going to be a hallmark of every customer agreement we announce.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2022-09-06/boom-seeks-engine-airlines-mull-supersonic-use-case New York: United threatens to stop operating at JFK if the FAA does not grant more slots United Airlines indicated that it will cease operations at New York City’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport if it does not receive an affirmative response from the FAA to its request for additional slots at the terminal by the end of October. As reported by Reuters, United CEO Scott Kirby wrote last week to FAA acting administrator Billy Nolen urging him to increase capacity at JFK. Reuters reporter David Shepardson shared on Twitter the internal communication Kirby sent to United employees. In it, the CEO compares JFK’s infrastructure against that of Newark (EWR) and indicates that «there is additional capacity at JFK, especially since the current capacity was not reevaluated after substantial improvements were made at the airport. United believes it is in the best interest of the traveling public for the FAA to quantify and distribute the unused capacity that exists at JFK.» «If our latest order is approved and the FAA is able to offer United a temporary multi-season distribution, we are prepared to expand and provide customers with a more competitive offering at JFK,» Kirby adds. «But if we cannot obtain additional slots for multiple seasons, we will have to suspend service at JFK at the end of October. This would be a tough and frustrating step, and one we are working hard to avoid,» the CEO concludes. https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/09/new-york-united-threatens-to-stop-operating-at-jfk-if-the-faa-does-not-grant-more-slots/ Some indication floatplane took a nosedive before crashing into Puget Sound, NTSB says The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed there were 10 people onboard the plane at the time of the crash. One victim has been recovered so far. ISLAND COUNTY, Wash. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) deployed a team of seven investigators to assess a deadly plane crash that took place near Whidbey Island over the weekend. The United States Coast Guard confirmed the identities of all 10 victims on board. The plane was flying from Friday Harbor to Renton Municipal Airport in a scheduled commercial commuter flight when it crashed on Sept. 4. One victim has been recovered so far. The plane that crashed was a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, a single-engine propeller plane, according to the NTSB. The plane was operated by West Isle Air doing business as Friday Harbor Seaplanes, which is a service owned by Northwest Seaplanes. A spokesperson for the NTSB said an investigation into the crash could take anywhere from 18 to 24 months. The actual duration is uncertain depending on how attempts to recover the aircraft go. "Our mission is to understand not just what happened, but why it happened, and to recommend changes to prevent it from happening again," said Tom Chapman with the NTSB. Chapman said he was "confident" the NTSB would be able to locate the plane wreckage. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is assisting in the search with sonar equipment and personnel to search Mutiny Bay. How the aircraft will be recovered will depend on what depth the aircraft is located at and what condition it's located in. Investigators have yet to find out if the aircraft broke up in the water or how widely the debris might be spread. Chapman estimated the aircraft is currently at a depth of 100 feet. The aircraft may have been at about 1,000 feet in the air at its highest altitude, according to flight data. There is some indication that the plane took a nose dive. Chapman said that data would be analyzed "thoroughly" so they know what the exact performance profile of the aircraft was. The NTSB will look at operations, airplane structures and airplane systems in its investigation into what went wrong. The on-scene investigation team is collecting maintenance records, pilot records and training records from the operator of the plane. The investigative team has already collected the FAA's ADSB aircraft surveillance data, which recorded the airplane's position and altitude. NTSB investigators and staff at the organization's headquarters in Washington D.C are also collecting weather and air traffic control information, as well as analyzing the ADSB data. Chapman said there was no indication of a distress signal or beacon from the aircraft, however, experts said it would be difficult to detect a beacon underwater. The FAA, West Isle Air, GE Walter Engines and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB Canada) will provide additional information over the course of the investigation, Chapman said. Viking Air is the type certificate holder on the aircraft design and will be a technical advisor to TSB Canada. The NTSB encourages witnesses or those with information relevant to the investigation such as videos or photographs to email the NTSB at witness@NTSB.gov or call at 866-328-6347. https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/ntsb-floatplane-crash-investigation-whidbey-island/281-563c5d71-777a-4437-833c-b3ceb66d5200 Position: Dangerous Goods and Environmental Analyst Indianapolis, IN US ID JR-003810 Category Dangerous Goods & Environmental Analyst Schedule Full time Position Purpose Assist with regulatory compliance of the Company’s Dangerous Goods and Environmental programs. Consults, advises, and trains various individuals and groups on compliance and regulatory programs as required by local, state, and federal regulations. Essential Duties • · Communicates Company policy/procedures, regulations, and other standards including but not limited to, Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), International Air Transport Association (IATA), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). • · Interfaces with FAA, DOT, EPA, and other governmental agencies, federal and local, and codeshare partners in matters involving regulatory compliance. Responds to internal and external Dangerous Goods and Environmental inquires. • · Assist with the development, maintenance, and delivery of various Dangerous Goods and Environmental internal training. • · Assist with Environmental and Dangerous Goods audits for company maintenance locations. • · Assist with the investigation of all hazardous materials and environmental incidents and spills. Responds to emergency calls on a 24/7 basis as needed. • · Monitor and compile emissions data in accordance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). • · Prepares and submits regulatory Air and Waste Permitting Reports for each maintenance base. • · Track and enter water sample, sanitization and self-inspection data into the EPA’s Aircraft and Reporting Compliance System (ARCS) in accordance with the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR). • · Assist with Safety Data Sheet (SDS) reviews to identify hazards or waste implications for new chemicals. • · Participates in investigations of non-compliance with both environmental and dangerous goods discrepancies. • · Participates in conference calls with codeshare partners and governmental agencies. • · Perform various other duties as assigned. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree (B.A. /B.S.) or equivalent in Environmental Studies with at least 2 years of Aviation experience. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Knowledge of principles and practices of Dangerous Goods/Hazmat, Hazardous Waste Management, Universal Waste Management, Air Permitting and Compliance. Able to read and understand associated code of Federal Regulations is preferred. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. DECISION MAKING Makes day to day decisions used to support strategic direction. Decisions often require some thought and are somewhat structured. Decisions tend to be short term and usually moderate cost. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move about the work environment. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. Ability to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl under 35% of the time. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds under 35% of the time. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Outdoor weather conditions/open air hangar up to 35% of the time. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Ability to travel up to 30% of the time, including overnight and weekend travel. APPLY HERE 66th Air Safety Forum – Join Us! PERSEVERANCE THROUGH STRENGTH AND UNITY September 12 – September 15, 2022 | Omni Shoreham Hotel | Washington, DC safetyforum.alpa.org CONFIRMED KEYNOTES INCLUDE • Capt. Joe DePete – President, Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l • The Honorable Jennifer Homendy – Chair, National Transportation Safety Board • The Honorable David Pekoske – Acting Administrator, Transportation Security Administration • Mr. Nick Robinson, Director General Civil Aviation, Transport Canada • Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger – Former U.S. Ambassador to ICAO • Mr. Dieudonne Kazzembe, Aero Club Foundation Scholarship Recipient Agenda and registration information can be found at safetyforum.alpa.org THANK YOU, SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS! Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available. Email airsafetyforum@alpa.org for more information. Curt Lewis