Flight Safety Information - September 28, 2022 No.187 In This Issue : Incident: Delta A319 at Minneapolis on Sep 26th 2022, bird strike : Incident: British Airways A388 at Johannesburg on Sep 26th 2022, bird strike : Incident: Avianca B788 over Atlantic Ocean on Sep 27th 2022, engine trouble : Incident: Easyjet Europe A320 at Naples on Sep 25th 2022, lightning strike : Incident: India A320N at Kannur on Sep 26th 2022, bird strike : Fighter jets escort Singapore Airlines plane after bomb hoax : American Airlines Flight Forced to Divert After Woman Screams ‘We’re All Gonna Die!’ : Civil aviation authority tells pilots to stay fit (Malaysia) : Baldwin Becomes Accepted Vendor For R-ASIAS : A Brief History Of Flights Landing At The Wrong Airport : India’s Growing Aircraft Fleet Prompts Regulator To Hire More Employees : Aer Lingus takes delivery of first A320 neo aircraft : Jet Airways Expected To Take Airbus A320neos Not Delivered To S7 : Intercom Hack Creeps American Passengers : Will the Airbus Beluga become the next Antonov An-225 Mriya? : Position Available: Flight Operations Quality Assurance Analyst : ISASI’s PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGIONAL CHAPTER PRESENTS A FALL KICK-OFF EVENT! : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Delta A319 at Minneapolis on Sep 26th 2022, bird strike A Delta Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N347NB performing flight DL-2805 from San Jose,CA to Minneapolis,MN (USA), landed on Minneapolis' runway 30L when a bird impacted one of the pitot tubes of the aircraft. The aircraft rolled out without further incident. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK BIRDS ON TOUCHDOWN DAMAGING PITOT TUBE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN.", the damage was "UNKNOWN". The aircraft returned to service about 6 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fee2ab1&opt=0 Incident: British Airways A388 at Johannesburg on Sep 26th 2022, bird strike A British Airways Airbus A380-800, registration G-XLED performing flight BA-55 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Johannesburg (South Africa), landed on Johannesburg's runway 03R maintaining routine communication and taxied to the apron. The aircraft was unable to depart for the return flight however and is still on the ground in Johannesburg about 36 hours after landing. A passenger booked onto the return flight BA-56 reported they were ready to embark the aircraft when they were told very late the aircraft had received a bird strike. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fee22a1&opt=0 Incident: Avianca B788 over Atlantic Ocean on Sep 27th 2022, engine trouble An Avianca Boeing 787-8, registration N781AV performing flight AV-120 from Bogota (Colombia) to London Heathrow,EN (UK) with 244 passengers and 10 crew, was enroute at FL410 over the Atlantic Ocean about 370nm northnorthwest of Lajes, Terceira Island (Portugal), when the crew declared emergency and decided to divert to Lajes due a problem with one of the engines (Trent 1000). The aircraft drifted down towards Lajes and landed safely on Lajes' runway 15 about one hour after leaving FL410. The airline reported a technical indication prompted the diversion to Lajes. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fee1901&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet Europe A320 at Naples on Sep 25th 2022, lightning strike An Easyjet Europe Airbus A320-200, registration OE-IJA performing flight U2-2889 from Milan Malpensa to Naples (Italy), was on final approach to Naples' runway 24 descending through about 500 feet AGL when the crew went around due to a lightning strike. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Bari (Italy), climbed to FL110 and landed safely on Bari's runway 25 about 50 minutes after the go around. The aircraft is still on the ground in Bari about 55 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fee0d51&opt=0 Incident: India A320N at Kannur on Sep 26th 2022, bird strike An Air India Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-CIM performing flight AI-425 from Kannur to Delhi (India) with 135 people on board, was climbing out of Kannur's runway 25 when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet due to a bird strike and returned to Kannur for a safe landing on runway 25 about 20 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked onto other flights. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fee06dc&opt=0 Fighter jets escort Singapore Airlines plane after bomb hoax (CNN) — Two air force fighter jets escorted a Singapore Airlines plane traveling from San Francisco to Changi Airport after a passenger made a hoax bomb threat. "Earlier today, two of our F16C/Ds were activated to escort a Singapore Airlines flight that departed San Francisco for Singapore. This was because of a suspected bomb threat on board the aircraft," the Singapore Air Force said Wednesday. "Our fighters escorted the airliner till it landed safely at Changi Airport." The army was "mobilized immediately," according to Defense Ministry officials who discovered the bomb threat to be false. "Teams from (the army's) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Defence Group and Airport Police Division were on site to verify the claims," it said. "Preliminary investigations indicate that a 37-year-old male passenger had allegedly claimed that there was a bomb in a hand-carry bag and had assaulted the crew. "Police investigations are now ongoing." The flight, which lasted 16 hours and 25 minutes, eventually landed safely at Changi Airport at about 5:50 a.m. on Wednesday with no delay in arrival, public state broadcaster Channel NewsAsia reported. The airline issued a statement that a passenger had been "subsequently restrained on board" the flight and was handed over to airport police upon arrival. "The safety of our customers and staff is always our top priority," Singapore Airlines said. "All passengers and crew have disembarked normally at 9:20 a.m. (Singapore Time)." "We are assisting the authorities with their investigations and regret that we are unable to provide further details." Officials from Changi Airport and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority did not immediately respond to follow-up requests for comment from CNN. Singapore Airlines, the country's national carrier, is often regarded as one of the safest airlines in the world -- but it has seen its fair share of similar incidents in recent years. In 2019, a woman and her child traveling from Mumbai to Singapore were held for questioning after the pilot raised a bomb threat alert. The year before that, a male passenger traveling on the airline's budget carrier made comments that he had a bomb in his bag, which caused the plane to make a U-turn as air force fighter jets scrambled to escort it back. He was later fined $4,500 for using threatening words to cause public alarm. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/singapore-airlines-bomb-threat-san-francisco-intl-hnk/index.html American Airlines Flight Forced to Divert After Woman Screams ‘We’re All Gonna Die!’ An American Airlines jetliner traveling cross-country on Tuesday was forced to land in Texas when a woman stood up and told everyone on the plane they were all about to die and must “repent,” according to a passenger who witnessed the frightening episode. Flight 1295 left Miami for Los Angeles early Tuesday morning, but the Airbus A321neo diverted to El Paso “after a disturbance in the cabin involving an unruly customer,” AA spokesman Derek Walls said in an email, declining to provide additional details. “Local law enforcement met the plane upon arrival and the flight has since departed with all remaining customers.” Tammy Fonce, a spokeswoman for the City of El Paso, confirmed that an AA aircraft “was diverted” to the city’s international airport but referred all additional inquiries to the airline. A business traveler who was on the flight told The Daily Beast he suspected something was about to go awry when a loud commotion erupted several rows behind him. Delta Air Lines Passenger Accused of Groping a Girl, Then Blaming the Ambien “It’s an early flight… so we were all kind of just working and minding our own business,” the passenger said by phone after finally getting to L.A. “All of a sudden, we heard screaming coming from the back, and a flight attendant was saying to a passenger, like, ‘Are you in danger? Is anything going on? Are you OK?’ And she said, ‘No, we’re all gonna die. Repent, repent!” The passenger, who asked not to be named, said he thinks the unidentified woman had gone up front to use the restroom, which is “when everything started.” She rushed the man and his seatmate, repeating, “Repent, repent, we’re all gonna die,” he continued. She started out talking in a regular voice, then she started yelling, ‘Redemption is coming! Redemption is coming!’ … That’s it. She didn’t say anything else.” Just as it “seemed like she was about to get violent,” flight attendants were able to restrain the woman and get her into a pair of flex cuffs. An off-duty police officer on the same flight offered to sit next to the woman as crew members tried to calm her. Nothing had appeared unusual about the woman prior to the outburst, other than that she seemed “fidgety,” according to the passenger who spoke to The Daily Beast. He said a flight attendant finally asked the woman if she was “in her right mental mindset,” to which she answered, “No.” The flight attendant then asked the woman if she needed “to get off this plane,” to which she replied, “Yes,” the passenger recounted. Florida Cops Called for Anti-Masker Couple’s Racist Airline Meltdown “I think we were literally flying over El Paso, because we went straight down from there,” he said. “When we landed, they had the fire [department] come and check the airplane… They were… looking for explosives. I think that was the most jarring part.” Law enforcement then boarded the plane and escorted the woman off. It is unknown if any charges have yet been filed. While it is unclear what prompted Tuesday’s outburst, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says it has seen “a disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior.” As of Sept. 20, the FAA has fielded 1,973 reports of unruly passengers this year, according to FAA data. Of those, they have initiated 680 investigations and 468 enforcement actions, with 80 cases referred to the FBI. The numbers have dropped from an all-time high in 2021, but there “remains more work to do,” the agency says, which fined badly behaved passengers more than $1 million last year. Still, in the first four months of 2022, the FAA levied some $2 million in fines, due in large part to its new “zero-tolerance policy.” (What portion of these fines have been collected to date remains unclear.) Last week, a 33-year-old California man was charged for allegedly punching an American Airlines flight attendant in the back of the head while traveling from San José del Cabo, Mexico, to Los Angeles. In April, a first-class passenger flying Delta from Atlanta to Phoenix became livid and allegedly attacked a flight attendant who declined to serve him more alcohol. Another Delta traveler was arrested in January after authorities said he dropped his pants and “mooned” the rest of the cabin after refusing to wear a face mask on a trip from Dublin to JFK. Perhaps most disturbing of all, Southwest passenger Antonio Sherrodd McGarity, 34, was arrested and charged last spring after masturbating at least four times in full view of a female passenger during a three-hour flight from Seattle to Phoenix. McGarity, who told investigators he thought the woman found his behavior “kinky,” was sentenced to 48 days in jail, one year of probation, and banned for life by Southwest. https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-flight-forced-divert-212037181.html Civil aviation authority tells pilots to stay fit (Malaysia) The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia says its latest safety guidelines to airlines are to highlight the importance of medical fitness to operate flights and control air traffic. PETALING JAYA: New medical guidelines have been issued by the civil aviation authority four months after a Malaysia Airlines pilot fainted in the toilet, causing an emergency. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said the new safety information (SI) guidelines to airlines and other employers of pilots to mitigate medical incapacitation risks were drawn up after it received some mandatory occurrence reports (MOR) recently. It did not mention the Malaysia Airlines incident. Mandatory occurrence reports are prepared by operational personnel who are required to disclose accidents and certain types of incidents to facilitate collection and exchange of information on actual or potential safety hazards and contribute to the prevention of aircraft accidents. On May 9, the pilot of a Malaysia Airlines flight heading from Kuala Lumpur to Miri fainted in the toilet about 50 nautical miles before landing, prompting the co-pilot to declare an emergency, according to a safety report. It said the leading steward made an announcement soon after asking if there were any medical personnel on board the Boeing 737 flight. “A doctor was identified,” said the report sighted by FMT. It said the doctor used the aircraft’s “physician kit” to help the pilot. The report said the aircraft then maintained a normal flight profile until it reached Miri when a Mayday call was made to the air traffic control tower. The crew requested for medical assistance and also ground assistance after landing as the co-pilot was unable to taxi the aircraft to the parking bay. It was then towed to the bay by the ground crew. “A post-event fitness assessment was conducted on the pilot two days after the incident. The captain’s medical leave was extended to May 15. He was declared fit to resume working after his sick leave was completed,” the report said. Following the incident, the report said, an aviation medicine memo was issued to all Malaysia Airlines aircrew reminding them of food and beverage safety. In the SI issued on Sept 21, CAAM chief executive officer Chester Voo said it had of late been receiving mandatory occurrence reports with regards to medical incapacitation. “This safety information is to highlight the importance of medical fitness to operate a flight and control air traffic. “This also recommends actions for the management of decrease in medical fitness (DMF),” he said in the SI. Voo said a study had indicated that among the most common causes of incapacitation were gastrointestinal symptoms, uncontrolled bowel action, earache and blocked ears, faintness and general weakness, headache, including migraine, and vertigo and disorientation. He said the licence holder would have to report his DMF condition if his medical conditions, or their treatment had the potential to interfere with aviation safety in a variety of ways. Among them are those that can: • result in behavioural changes; • lead to an increased risk of incapacitation; • result in a reduction or impairment in functional capacity; and • lead to a reduction in the capacity for decision-making, attention, or concentration (abnormal psychological or psychiatric state). https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/09/28/civil-aviation-authority-tells-pilots-to-stay-fit/ Baldwin Becomes Accepted Vendor For R-ASIAS Global Medical Response was among the numerous operators urging the creation of R-ASIAS. Baldwin Safety & Compliance has become the first accepted vendor for the Rotorcraft Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (R-ASIAS) program. The platform was created by General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) for the FAA and is a rotorcraft-specific version of the ASIAS program developed for the airline industry in 2007 and later business aviation. ASIAS is an anonymous safety-reporting program designed to proactively discover and mitigate safety concerns. GDIT developed the centralized data repository and operational infrastructure to enable operators to securely share de-identified safety data within the rotor community. A data-sharing agreement with GDIT will allow Baldwin to automatically feed data to R-ASIAS on behalf of its rotorcraft clients. Baldwin clients will identify which reports they want to share in the R-ASIAS portal. Baldwin will also have the authorization to analyze specific de-identified aggregated safety information on behalf of the client. Baldwin began to share relevant safety information with ASIAS in a similar agreement for the fixed-wing business aircraft community in 2016. Baldwin president Don Baldwin said, “We have been working with ASIAS for our fixed-wing clients for many years. Our client, Global Medical Response, has been one of many operators pushing for this rotor-specific platform and we are excited to work with them as well as other rotor-wing clients that are anxious to participate in this highly sought-after data-share initiative.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2022-09-27/baldwin-becomes-accepted-vendor-r-asias A Brief History Of Flights Landing At The Wrong Airport Every now and then, stories arise concerning aircraft that, for whatever reason, have landed at a different airport to the one that they set off intending to reach. Here's a look back at some historical examples, and how the situations arose. UK occurrences The phenomenon of an aircraft landing at the wrong airport has happened several times over the years in the UK. One such instance involved a Pan Am Boeing 707 flying from Tokyo to London Heathrow via Hong Kong and Frankfurt. However, due to confusion regarding similar runway orientations, the flight actually ended up touching down at nearby RAF Northolt, some 10 km (six miles) away. More recently, a British Airways CityFlyer service from London City Airport to Düsseldorf found itself even further off course. Specifically, a paperwork error saw the flight's pilots given a flight plan to Scotland's Edinburgh Airport, to which they flew none the wiser. It was only upon landing in Edinburgh that the scale of the blunder became clear. The flight eventually continued to Düsseldorf. Northwest Airlines' European tour In 1995, another Germany-bound flight also found itself off course. In this instance, the incident concerned a Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10 flying from Detroit to Frankfurt. The trijet instead landed in the Belgian capital of Brussels, allegedly due to a wrongly inputted code in the service's flight plan. Northwest Airlines DC-10 By the time the crew realized their mistake, it was safest for them to land in Brussels anyway. Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. Ethiopian Airlines' examples Ethiopian Airlines has had several occurrences along these lines, with one involving a Boeing 767 back in 2013. When flying from Addis Ababa to Kilimanjaro, the jet landed at the nearby Arusha Airport instead. The two airports were 50km (31 miles) apart but had the same runway orientations, which caused the 767 to touch down at an airport that wasn't exactly built for widebodies. Meanwhile, April 2021 saw one of the carrier's cargo-carrying Boeing 737s touch down at the then-unopened Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, Zambia. It should instead have landed at the city's older airport, now known as Peter Zuze Air Force Base. Once again, runways with similar orientations are said to have played a role, with a second 737 almost repeating the mistake. Japan Airlines' Indian incident Last week marked 50 years since a Japan Airlines Douglas DC-8 found itself off course while operating flight 472 from London to Tokyo via Frankfurt, Rome, Beirut, Tehran, Bombay, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. Despite intending to make a stopover at Bombay's Santacruz Airport (BOM), the quadjet instead touched down (and overshot the runway) at the city's much smaller Juhu Aerodrome. Japan Airline Douglas DC-8 It has now been half a century since the incident involving Japan Airlines flight 472. US instances Over in the US, a Boeing 747 'Dreamlifter' outsize freighter made headlines back in 2013 when it mistakenly touched down at Colonel James Jabara Airport. This facility was eight nautical miles away from its intended destination of McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita, Kansas. The short runway at its unplanned destination meant that getting the plane out of there was an interesting challenge! Elsewhere in the US, 1997 saw a Continental Airlines Boeing 737 fly off course during an intra-Texas domestic hop. Traveling from Houston to Corpus Christi International Airport, it instead landed at the nearby Corpus Christi-Cabaniss Field naval airbase. The runway in question had been closed for almost 40 decades, meaning that, while uninjured, the flight's 59 occupants had a bumpy touchdown. https://simpleflying.com/flight-landing-wrong-airport-brief-history/ India’s Growing Aircraft Fleet Prompts Regulator To Hire More Employees The DGCA is looking to increase its workforce by more than 400 people. India's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is reportedly feeling a staff crunch with India's aviation sector expanding rapidly. The regulator monitors all airlines, ensuring that rules are followed, and corrective measures are taken. But with no hiring done since 2014, the DGCA feels that now's the time to invite job applications. More than 400 employees needed The DGCA is looking to hire more people to keep a check on India's airlines, which have been growing their fleet size steadily over the years. According to a report by The Economic Times (ET), people aware of the plans have said that the regulator is planning to hire permanent staff for about 410 positions – the highest in a decade. It was in 2014 when the DGCA last hired permanent staff members, but since then, India's fleet has almost doubled from 400 to 700. Naturally, the current workforce feels quite overworked with more daily flights, including those of offshore carriers. The DGCA needs more employees to keep up with the country's growing aviation sector. Even the 2014 hiring was prompted by the FAA's inspection of India, in which it downgraded the country. The workload has increased tremendously in the last eight years, and it seems logical to hire more people to keep up with the sector's growth. Understaffed ET reports that the DGCA has around 1,300 employees. Of these, 634 work in the departments that look into flight safety and airworthiness of the 700 commercial aircraft. In comparison, the FAA has around 45,000 workers for around 7,700 commercial planes. India is projected to add 100 aircraft annually as airlines look to expand business. Last month, more than 10 million flyers took to the skies in India as domestic traffic grew 64% year on year. The DGCA needs more staff to bolster its surveillance capabilities and maintain a good safety record in the country. India's fleet size has almost doubled since 2014. Some officials told ET that with the aviation sector reaching far corners of the country, there is now a need for the DGCA to open regional offices. One of the sources added, “There are some locations which have seen increased flow of air traffic and aircraft movement. It is not prudent anymore to inspect those locations from regional headquarters. Hence, there is a need to open new offices.” Keeping that in mind, locations like Agartala, Ranchi, Jaipur, and Coimbatore will likely see new offices. Keeping busy The DGCA has had its hands full in the last few months. It has been on a clean-up drive lately, issuing warnings and performing regular and sporadic checks on aircraft of multiple airlines. The DGCA has been very busy in the last few months. Earlier this year, it announced a two-month special audit of all Indian airlines to check everything, from the availability of trained, experienced, and authorized staff to the maintenance record-keeping of all aircraft. It also performed checks on more than 250 aircraft across the country after passengers complained about the shoddy conditions of the interiors of several airplanes. Check out more Indian aviation news here. If industry projections are believed, the DGCA will likely be very busy in the coming years. And it would definitely need a stronger workforce to keep up with the increasing workload. https://simpleflying.com/dgca-to-hire-more-employees/ Aer Lingus takes delivery of first A320 neo aircraft Aer Lingus has taken delivery of its first new generation A320 neo aircraft. The aircraft (registration EI-NSA, named Saint Thomas) is entering service today and will operate flight EI152 from Dublin to London Heathrow. To mark the occasion, the airline will offset the carbon emissions from the flight of all customers on board. The second A320 neo will also join the fleet this week, with both aircraft leased from CDB Aviation. The aircraft will replace two A320 ceo aircraft, and predominantly operate London Heathrow routes. Aer Lingus says that the aircraft delivers up to 20 per cent reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and close to 50 per cent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft. There is also a greater density of seats, with 186 on board, resulting in lower fuel emissions per seat/passenger on board. Aer Lingus has promised to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and committed to powering 10 per cent of its flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. The airline recently signed a SAF supply agreement with Gevo, a US-based renewable fuels producer. https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2022/09/28/aer-lingus-takes-delivery-of-first-a320-neo-aircraft/ Jet Airways Expected To Take Airbus A320neos Not Delivered To S7 Unlike its first stint, Jet Airways is reportedly also considering Airbus narrowbodies for operations. An Airbus A320neo aircraft is creating a significant buzz on social media and aviation websites for its paint job. While most Indians are familiar with its livery, nobody can claim to have seen it on an A320. The aircraft in question is an Airbus narrowbody sporting colors of soon-to-be-launched Jet Airways, further fueling long-standing speculation that the airline could look towards Airbus narrowbodies for its aircraft needs this time around. A320 in Jet Airways' livery Images of an A320 airplane in Jet Airways livery are actively being circulated on social media. The aircraft is said to have rolled out after a fresh paint job, keeping all speculation alive that the airline will have Airbus narrowbodies in its fleet. Planespotters.net lists the aircraft as previously being assigned to Russian carrier S7 Airlines, but it was ferried a few days back from Toulouse to Maastricht in the Netherlands for a fresh coat of paint. Earlier this year, it was reported that Jet Airways is in talks with plane manufacturers and lessors to add up to 8 planes before 2023. Usually, there's always a long waiting line for popular narrowbody aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, but Jet was said to be eying the planes which were to be delivered to Russian carriers before the Ukraine war. Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. A source familiar with the matter had told the Press Trust of India back then, “Aircraft availability is always an issue but now due to the Russia-Ukraine war, aircraft which were to be delivered to Russia are also available in the market along with those leased planes which were flying in Russia.” Jet is eyeing several narrowbody airplanes undelivered to Russian airlines. A new sight At its peak, Jet Airways operated a mixed fleet of Boeing 737, ATR turboprop, Airbus A330, and Boeing 777 airplanes. But it was the 737, which shouldered the bulk of its operations and defined the airline's brand for the millions of passengers who flew the carrier over the years. And now, to see the same colors (with minor differences) on an A320 is a sight many Indians, particularly av-geeks, will take some time to get used to. Pilot hiring for the type One of the first clues about Jet considering the A320 was when it posted a message on Twitter in July, inviting applications for current and type-rated pilots on the Airbus A320, Boeing 737NG, or the 737 MAX aircraft. It was interesting to note that Jet had invited applications for pilots trained on both the 737 and the A320 family of airplanes, suggesting that it could begin its second stint with a mixed fleet. The carrier is yet to announce any official order for aircraft, but rumor has it that it is close to finalizing a deal to buy 50 A220 jets from Airbus. But until an order is finalized, Jet will likely get a handful of leased airplanes for its immediate needs until it settles for a more uniform fleet later. https://simpleflying.com/jet-airways-expected-take-s7-airbus-a320neos/ Intercom Hack Creeps American Passengers American Airlines flight crews are reporting several incidents in which someone appears to have hacked into aircraft PA systems and now passenger video of one incident has come to light. “The weirdest flight ever. These sounds started over the intercom before takeoff and continued throughout the flight,” passenger Emerson Collins posted on Twitter. “They couldn’t stop it, and after landing still had no idea what it was.” According to OneMileAtATime, the PA system has spontaneously erupted in a male voice moaning and screaming. In one case, a pilot came over the system to assure passengers the strangeness didn’t compromise safety. In another case, flight attendants stood by all the hung-up intercom phones in the cabin while the perpetrator droned on. So far, it’s apparently only happened on American flights. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/intercom-hack-creeps-american-passengers/ Will the Airbus Beluga become the next Antonov An-225 Mriya? With the An-225 Mriya destroyed and the global Antonov freighter fleet not readily available, Airbus presented an alternative for the transportation of outsized military cargo. For the past year and a half, Airbus Defense & Space has developed a self-funded cargo loading system and jig to “load heavy military cargo” into the Airbus Beluga A300-600ST aircraft “The demand for outsized air cargo capability is on the rise. Capacity is scarce and, in light of current geopolitical developments, many customers are looking for new, fast and efficient solutions. This is exactly what we offer with our BelugaST fleet,” said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. In collaboration with the Bundeswehr [the German armed forces - ed. note], the European manufacturer demonstrated the ability to load a Sikorsky CH-53 military heavy transport helicopter “in a reduced state of dismantling” into the BelugaST within less than an hour and a half. The five BelugaST of Airbus Transport International were initially used to transport parts of the manufacturer’s airliners between production sites. They are being progressively replaced by six new-generation BelugaXL aircraft, which provide an upgrade in both cargo volume and mass. A fitting substitute? Until now, part of the strategic airlift for NATO and European Union member states was provided by Antonov Logistics SALIS, a German-based subsidiary of Antonov Company that kept two An-124-100s on standby at Leipzig-Halle Airport (LEJ) and several more Antonov freighters available on request. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine greatly disrupted that capacity. Several aircraft were either destroyed or damaged during the battle of Hostomel Airport (GML), where Antonov Company was based. The Russian attack led to the destruction of the unique Antonov An-225 Mriya. Though impressive in size with its distinctive whale-like silhouette, the BelugaST, and even its upgraded successor, can hardly compete with the performance of the Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan, let alone the late An-225 Mriya. The system’s total lifting capacity, which requires no crane for its use, reaches 35 tons, according to the manufacturer. As a matter of comparison, the Ruslan can transport up to 150 tons, and the Mriya could airlift an outstanding 250 tons. However, the BelugaST could very well be a stopgap solution before a better replacement is found. The Bundeswehr is to certify the solution in the coming weeks. France, whose military deployments heavily relied on the Antonov fleet, could be another potential customer. As early as November 2021, the European Defence Agency identified a “critical shortfall for strategic transport for outsized and heavy cargo, a crucial enabler for military missions and operations.” The European Commission has launched a call for tenders to study the possible development of a new medium tactical cargo aircraft. Consequently, the Strategic Air Transport for Outsized Cargo (SATOC) project was launched, under which Germany (as project coordinator), France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia will be “harmonizing requirements and [...] identifying and agreeing on a common European solution for the transport of outsized cargo.” The initial study will run until 2023, with the potential solutions (which may include the development of a new aircraft) to be worked out by 2026. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/32252-airbus-beluga-next-antonov-an-225-mriya Position Available: Flight Operations Quality Assurance Analyst Indianapolis, IN US ID JR-003892 Category Flight Operations Quality Assurance Analyst Schedule Full time POSITION PURPOSE Processes day-to-day raw data using Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) and program Ground Data Replay Analysis System (GDRAS). Creates weekly and monthly deliverables in addition to working with Gatekeepers and other members of FOQA and FOQA Management Team (FMT). ESSENTIAL DUTIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. · Supports the FOQA Program Manager with daily administration of the FOQA efforts to ensure analysis of flight data for improved flight safety. · Oversees data collection process of aircraft fleet in conjunction with Maintenance and Engineering. · Performs data analysis, root cause analysis, and determines corrective actions of digital flight data to determine adverse events for trends in flight and maintenance operations. · Coordinates, develops, verifies and validates aircraft specific event definitions. · Prepares flight operations trending analysis charts and reports. · Compiles and presents FOQA data summaries for use by senior management, regulators, pilots, and union officials. · Performs specialized studies and fulfills special data requests. · Creates safety and FOQA department publications. · Prepares reports, presentations, and statistical data required to keep the FOQA community informed. · Reviews corrective action responses to inspections and internal evaluations findings for adequacy. · Maintains FOQA database, write database queries, program new FOQA events, and manages documentation supporting these functions. · Communicates with other airlines FOQA departments, governmental and academic institutions regarding FOQA. · Performs 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 in aviation, flight technology, engineering, or related area or a combination of education and experience. · Holds Commercial Pilot Certificate · Basic understanding of aircraft systems and/or Part 121 aviation operations. · Previous work experience in quality control, maintenance, operations, safety or a combination of these areas (preferably in 14CFR Part 121 air carrier operations). · Previous experience maintaining and enhancing corporate safety standards and safe operation practices. · Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs, including spreadsheet and database applications. · Strong work ethic, ability to work in a fast-paced environment and a positive attitude toward teamwork. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE · At least 3 years related experience. · Additional certifications: Dispatch, Airframe and Powerplant and/or ATP license. · Basic computer programming and statistical methods experience preferred. · Prior experience with Sagem AGS or equivalent GDRAS platforms 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. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Proven project management and analytical skills. Ability to handle numerous projects at one time and meet deadlines. Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision in support of the Safety Department. 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 associate 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. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Travel up to 10% of the time, including overnight stays. APPLY HERE ISASI’s PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGIONAL CHAPTER PRESENTS A FALL KICK-OFF EVENT! Your leadership has organized a Fall Kick-Off meeting of ISASI’s Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter to be held on Tuesday, November 1st, at Anthony’s HomePort in Des Moines, WA (421 South 227th St.) from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This is a special event sponsored by our Chapter – and we encourage you and your associates to attend. Our featured guest speaker will be Steve Demko, newly-elected President of the U.S. Society, who will discuss improved communication among regional chapters and the effective transfer of knowledge between ISASI’s U.S. membership and internationally as well. His goal is to spark a greater interest in becoming an ISASI Member. Our Chapter will provide heavy hors d’oeuvres, along with a no-host bar. Registration for the event is $10 per person payable in advance. After October 21st, the fee will be $15 at the door on the day of the event. Please RSVP to Gary Morphew, PNRC President, indicating your intended attendance and whether payment will be made beforehand via check or at the door on November 1st. Checks should be made payable to: Intl Soc of Air Safety Invest – PNRC and directed to: Gary Morphew, 1303 Kayu Ln., Centralia, WA 98531. We look forward to welcoming our members, associates and friends to participate in a great opportunity to meet Steve Demko, offer any insights into building a stronger U.S. Society network and exchange with others who are part of this region’s aviation safety community. Please put November 1st on your calendars. We’ll look forward to seeing you! Your Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter officers: Gary Morphew, President Masood Karim, Vice President Jeanne Elliott, Secretary/Treasure GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Pilots and Flight Attendants, Did you know that the difference between a 14-hour flight time and an 18-hour flight time is 28%, which means 28% more exposure by occupants to the cabin environment and other aircraft influences. Keeping this in mind, I am working on a new research study that aims to review current Health & Safety International and National Regulations and best practices for operating Ultra-Long-Range Routes (ULR). ULR operations refer to "An operation involving any sector between a specific city pair (A-B-A) in which the planned flight time exceeds 16 hours, taking into account mean wind conditions and seasonal changes. The scope of this study is to identify different health-related factors affecting Aircrew (Pilots & Flight Attendants) who operate these routes. Based on this review, a gap analysis will be conducted, and recommendations will be presented to mitigate health and safety-related impact factors on Aircrew. As a part of this study, a survey is designed for Aircrew (Pilots and Flight Attendants) who operate on ULR flights. This survey aims to learn about their experience and the different health and safety impact factors that Aircrew experience while operating these routes. Aircrew sought to participate in this study needs to meet the following criteria: - Employed (in the last 24 months) by an air carrier operating scheduled ULR flights (>16hrs); - Qualified as an aircrew member to operate ULR flights. During this study, you will be asked to complete a brief online survey about your opinions concerning health-related issues while operating ULR routes. You will answer several questions about different health-related factors and how it affects your lifestyle, including any prominent experiences you have encountered. The completion of the survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes. If you meet the criteria and are interested in helping, sign up for the study by clicking the link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SV2D9KT You can also sign up by scanning the QR code below. Please let me know if you have any questions I can answer. Thank you for your participation Kind Regards, Aditya Rathi ISASI Robertson Fellow M.S. Safety Science '22 (Aviation Safety) Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott rathia@my.erau.edu | (928)-632-2707 Curt Lewis