Flight Safety Information - December 19, 2022 No. 243 In This Issue : Accident: Hawaiian A332 near Honolulu on Dec 18th 2022, turbulence injures 36 : Incident: UPS A306 at Chicago on Dec 16th 2022, flap emergency : Incident: American A320 near Nashville on Dec 16th 2022, engine shut down in flight : Accident: Blue Bird DH8D at Abudwak on Dec 17th 2022, gear collapse and runway excursion : Incident: India A320 near Mumbai on Dec 17th 2022, hydraulic fault : Incident: Delta A320 at Grand Rapids on Dec 16th 2022, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Kalitta B744 near Saskatoon on Dec 15th 2022, cargo fire indication : Passengers hit plane ceiling' as Hawaii jet rocked by severe turbulence in flight horror : Random Dope Testing Of Pilots And ATCs Approved By Indian Court : Pilots Performing Aborted Landing ‘Distracted’ By Cabin Crew Continuously Pressing Emergency Alert Call Button : Massive 15-Metre Long Emergency Slide Accidentally Deployed On Emirates A380 Superjumbo at Manchester Airport : Hawaiian Officials Search For Missing Medical Transport Aircraft : United Airlines Airbus A320 Returns To Mexico City Due To Fuel Pressure Imbalance : Iata, South Africa Civil Aviation Authority sign MoU on aviation safety : As the EU embraces cell phone calls on planes, could the US be next? : American Ends Its Regional Partnership with Mesa, United Swoops In to Complete the Pilot Circle of Life : An immediate fix to the pilot shortage is being ignored : COMAC delivers first domestically built ARJ21 regional jet to a foreign airline Accident: Hawaiian A332 near Honolulu on Dec 18th 2022, turbulence injures 36 A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration N393HA performing flight HA-35 from Phoenix,AZ to Honolulu,HI (USA) with 278 passengers and 10 crew, was descending towards Honolulu when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing 36 injuries and damage to the aircraft cabin. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Honolulu's runway 04R. 33 passengers and 3 flight attendants sustained injuries, 20 of them were taken to hospitals, 11 of them were diagnosed with serious injuries. 36 people reported being injured, 20 of them were taken to hospitals, 11 of them were diagnosed with serious injuries. The airline reported the aircraft encountered severe turbulence but landed safely. Medical care was provided to several guests and 3 crew members for minor injuries, some of them were swiftly transported to hospitals. The passenger seat belts signs were on at the time of the clear air turbulence encounter, that occurred about 30 minutes before landing. There was a patch of unstable air that caught the flight crew by surprise without any prior warning. National Weather Service in Hawaii said, there was a weather advisory posted for thunderstorms at the time of the turbulence, the flight possibly went into a thunderstorm. Passengers reported a number of passengers were not buckled up and were lifted out of their seats and hit the cabin ceiling. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Honolulu about 10 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5028e050&opt=0 Incident: UPS A306 at Chicago on Dec 16th 2022, flap emergency A UPS United Parcel Service Airbus A300-600, registration N131UP performing flight 5X-2071 from Newark,NJ to Chicago Rockford,IL (USA) with 2 crew, was on approach to Rockford's runway 25 when the crew initiated a go around due to problems with the flaps. The aircraft entered a hold while the crew was working the checklists. The crew finally declared emergency advising they had a "flap emergency" and continued for a safe landing on runway 25 about 40 minutes after the missed approach. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 9.5 hours, then resumed service. https://avherald.com/h?article=50288997&opt=0 Incident: American A320 near Nashville on Dec 16th 2022, engine shut down in flight An American Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N668AW performing flight AA-9785 from Knoxville,TN to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) with 2 crew, was enroute at FL380 about 40nm south of Nashville,TN (USA) when the crew discovered an oil leak on the left hand engine (V2527), shut the engine down and decided to divert to Nashville. The crew advised they needed no assistance on the ground. The aircraft landed safely on Nashville's runway 20R about 35 minutes after leaving FL380. The aircraft vacated the runway, stopped clear of the runway for an inspection by emergency services and taxied to the apron. The airline reported the aircraft diverted due to a possible maintenance issue, landed safely and taxied to the apron. Just the pilots were on board. https://avherald.com/h?article=5027ef1d&opt=0 Accident: Blue Bird DH8D at Abudwak on Dec 17th 2022, gear collapse and runway excursion A Blue Bird Aviation de Havilland Dash 8-400 freighter, registration 5Y-VVY performing a freight flight from Mogadishu to Abudwak (Somalia) with 6 crew carrying a load of Khat, suffered the collapse of its right main and nose gear during landing in Abudwak, the aircraft went off the runway and came to a stop on rough surface at 07:10L (04:10Z). Local Authorities reported there were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage however. The aircraft had suffered a gear problem forcing the pilots to land. Somalia's SCAA reported the aircraft crash landed at Abudwak Airfield at 07:10L. There were no injuries. The SCAA is investigating, a preliminary report will be released in due time. According to locals there has been a dispute in the past couple of days about who is going to transport the Khat from Kenya. Abudwak Airport at position N6.17929 E46.1932 features an asphalt runway 05/23 of 2080 meters/6800 feet length but has neither ICAO nor IATA code. Blue Bird Aviation is based on Nairobi's Wilson Airport (Kenya). The airline operates 6 Dash 8-400s, 4 Dash 8-100, 3 Let L-410 and 2 Fokker 50 as well as a number of Beechcraft according to their website. https://avherald.com/h?article=5027e3f1&opt=0 Incident: India A320 near Mumbai on Dec 17th 2022, hydraulic fault An Air India Airbus A320-200, registration VT-EXV performing flight AI-951 from Hyderabad (India) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) with 143 people on board, was enroute at FL360 about 100nm southeast of Mumbai (India) when the crew received indication that the left hand hydraulic system had failed. The crew decided to divert to Mumbai for a safe landing on runway 27 about 50 minutes later. The aircraft needed to be towed off the runway. A replacement Airbus A320-200N registration VT-CIP reached Dubai with a delay of 4.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=50287ed5&opt=0 Incident: Delta A320 at Grand Rapids on Dec 16th 2022, engine shut down in flight A Delta Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N347NW performing flight DL-2706 from Grand Rapids,MI to Minneapolis,MN (USA) with 141 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out of Grand Rapids' runway 17 when the crew stopped the climb at 9000 feet reporting they had lost their left hand engine (CFM56) and needed to return to Grand Rapids. The crew requested to stay above the clouds while working their checklists advising they had picked up some ice during the climb and subsequently returned to Grand Rapids for a safe landing on runway 26L about 30 minutes after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration N358NW reached Minneapolis with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 9 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=50275608&opt=0 Incident: Kalitta B744 near Saskatoon on Dec 15th 2022, cargo fire indication A Kalitta Air Boeing 747-400 freighter, registration N744CK performing flight K4-636 from Cincinnati,KY to Anchorage,AK (USA) with 7 crew, was enroute at FL340 about 200nm northeast of Saskatoon,SK (Canada) when the crew decided to divert to Saskatoon reporting a forward cargo hold fire indication. The aircraft rapidly descended to 10,000 feet and landed on Saskatoon's runway 27 about 32 minutes after leaving FL340. The crew requested emergency services to specifically look at the right hand side of the aircraft. Subsequently the aircraft vacated the runway and taxied to the apron on its own power. The airport reported a sensor went off inside the aircraft suggesting a possible fire on board. The fire suppression system activated. It is unclear however, whether or not it was a false alarm. The Canadian TSB is looking into the occurrence. https://avherald.com/h?article=50273a3f&opt=0 'Passengers hit plane ceiling' as Hawaii jet rocked by severe turbulence in flight horror The Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu is reported to have suffered two "intense" drops of altitude at around 30 minutes before landing safely at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Passengers were reportedly thrown into the air as severe turbulence rocked a flight to Hawaii. At least 36 people have been injured, including 11 people with serious injuries, after the flight from Phoenix to Hawaii on Sunday morning. A 14-month old baby is among the casualties. It's unclear how serious the child's injuries are. The Hawaiian Airlines flight is reported to have suffered two "intense" drops of altitude at around 30 minutes before landing safely at the state's capital of Honolulu. Emergency services were on the scene when the jet, which had 278 passengers and 10 crew members on board, landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Passengers and crew have been left with serious head injuries and cuts while others lost consciousness. A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix suffered severe turbulence around 30 minutes before landing. "Medical care was provided to several guests and crew members at the airport for minor injuries while some were swiftly transported to local hospitals for further care. "We are supporting all affected passengers and employees and are continuing to monitor the situation." The force of the turbulence reportedly saw people who had not fastened their seat belt hit the ceiling of the aircraft. Three crew members were among the 36 people to sustain injuries on the flight Passenger Jazmin Bitanga told Hawaii News Now: "I turned around and there was a couple of people bleeding and just bracing themselves. Just all around me there were people crying." Bitanga, a college student who was flying home to Hawaii for the festive period, also said the turbulence was so strong that her boyfriend's metal water bottle cracked the ceiling above them. According to the National Weather Service, the severe turbulence occurred at around 36,000 feet - believed to be around 30 minutes before landing at Honolulu International Airport. NWS meteorologist Genki Kino said: "We believe the flight may have gone through a thunderstorm, which may have caused the severe turbulence. During that time, there were scattered thunderstorms everywhere." https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/passengers-hit-plane-ceiling-hawaii-28765487 Random Dope Testing Of Pilots And ATCs Approved By Indian Court The new testing came into effect in January this year. The practice of random drug testing of aviation personnel in India has received the backing of the Delhi High Court. The testing began in January this year, with a few pilots and an air traffic controller failing them so far. While airline crew members have to go for breath tests for alcohol, some have also been randomly tested for psychoactive substances since January. Approved by court The Delhi High Court has sided with aviation authorities and approved the random dope testing for aviation personnel, including pilots, cabin crew, and air traffic controllers. The Hindu quotes Justice Prathiba M. Singh as saying, “After perusing CAR [Civil Aviation Requirement] as also after hearing parties and their counsels, it is clear that the testing of personnel for psychoactive substances is essential, considering the nature of services being rendered.” By August, four pilots had tested positive for banned substances on the list. They were referred to a rehabilitation and addiction center after being removed from active duty per regulations. The same month, a Delhi air traffic controller also tested positive for a psychoactive substance and was removed from active duty. What were the objections? According to The Hindu, The Indian Pilots Guild and the Air Traffic Controllers Guild approached the court in February and challenged the drug testing decision. They argued that the rules had no provision for lifestyle medication for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. But the DGCA has said that the tests only include the substances mentioned on the list, which “do not generally include hypertension medicines or anti-diabetic medications.” What is the test? India already maintains stringent guidelines when it comes to alcohol consumption for aviation employees. The DGCA allows zero alcohol levels in the blood of airplane crew before a flight. It also mandates a 12-hour gap between the intake of an alcoholic beverage and flying an aircraft. But from January this year, the regulator introduced an additional test, which calls for random testing of personnel for psychoactive substances. The rules state that airlines and air navigation service providers must randomly test at least 10% of the flight crew and air traffic controllers. The new test covers amphetamine and amphetamine-type stimulants, opiates and metabolites, cannabis, cocaine, barbiturates, and benzodiazepine. In case an employee is found positive, the employer will have to inform the DGCA within 24 hours. Any positive test will be confirmed by a second test. Check out more Indian aviation news here. A personnel testing positive for the first time will be referred to a specialist doctor or rehabilitation program. The employee can return to duty only after meeting specific parameters and, of course, a negative test. A second-time violation will see the personnel lose their aviation license for three years, and a third positive test will result in the permanent cancellation of the license. https://simpleflying.com/random-dope-testing-of-indian-pilots-and-atcs/ Pilots Performing Aborted Landing ‘Distracted’ By Cabin Crew Continuously Pressing Emergency Alert Call Button The pilots of a British airline were forced to perform an aborted landing after a passenger left their seat and collapsed into the aisle shortly before touchdown but were then ‘distracted’ by the cabin crew who continuously pressed an emergency alert call button because they didn’t know what to do with the passenger. The details of the incident were revealed in a report published by the Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP), a charitable organisation which works with regulators to gather data on aviation and maritime safety. Passengers and cabin crew were seated for landing when a passenger left their seat and dropped to the floor with just three minutes before touchdown. The cabin crew correctly reported that the plane was no longer ‘secure’ for landing and the Captain decided to perform a ‘go around’ or aborted landing to give the crew time to investigate what was happening. A go-around is considered a resource-intensive operation which requires the full concentration of both the Captain and First Officer. As a result, it’s not unusual for a go-around to be accompanied by several minutes or longer of waiting to receive an update from the pilots. On this occasion, however, the cabin crew started to press an emergency alert call button “so much so that it was distracting for the flight deck crew to manage the go-around manually”. At the same time, the pilots were trying to talk to air traffic control and avoid a large storm cloud while the emergency alert chimed in the background. In the end, the senior crew member had to be told by the Captain to simply stop pressing the alert button. “The First Officer was left with controls and radio in a demanding situation whilst the Captain spoke with the crew to find out the nature of the emergency,” the report continued. “The cabin crew said, ‘I don’t know what to do, I have never done this before’ and was very nervous and panicky on the interphone”. The report noted that while the more experienced Captain could have kept control of the aircraft, they decided to speak to the cabin crew directly because they though the incident was so serious. It turned out that the passenger was suffering from a panic attack and motion sickness. The unnamed airline responded to the report, saying the cabin crew could have been suffering from “surprise and startle” and that it wasn’t just the pilots who had a high workload during a go-around incident. The airline encouraged crew to report incidents internally. CHIRP concluded that the actions of the cabin crew were “very distracting”. “In the heat of the moment, it is important to be disciplined in who is giving alert calls and when,” the report concluded. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2022/12/19/pilots-performing-aborted-landing-distracted-by-cabin-crew-continuously-pressing-emergency-alert-call-button/ Massive 15-Metre Long Emergency Slide Accidentally Deployed On Emirates A380 Superjumbo at Manchester Airport An emergency slide on an Emirates Airbus A380 superjumbo was accidentally deployed shortly after it arrived at Manchester Airport on Monday morning. The slide – which is officially known as a ‘slide raft’ because it can be detached from the aircraft and used as a sea raft in the event of a ditching – appears to have struct a jetbridge that was being positioned at the door where the slide deployed. Neither Manchester Airport nor Emirates have yet commented on the incident, and it is not known whether there were any injuries or damage caused to the aircraft. Accidental slide deployments carry a high risk of injury to airport ground workers. The slide that deployed is known as the U1 Left door because it’s the first door on the upper deck and it’s positioned on the left-hand side of the aircraft. The upper deck emergency exits are more than 25 feet above the ground so to mitigate the risk of passengers freezing in panic from the height, the ramps are curved. Emergency slides must be able to deploy and inflate in just six seconds, but the slides on the A380 are designed to inflate in just four seconds. Once the deployment is started there is no way to stop it. The reason for the accidental deployment at Manchester on Monday isn’t yet known but the most common cause is cabin crew failing to place disarm the doors on arrival. Of course, there is a cross checking procedure to mitigate this risk but even this doesn’t catch every mistake. The A380 also has a special light and alarm to warn crew members that the door is still armed as they go to open the door but, again, this isn’t 100 percent reliable. The aircraft involved in the incident is believed to be a six year old A380 with registration A6-EUN. The aircraft operated flight EK21 and arrived in Manchester at 6:45 am. The return flight (EK22) has been scrapped and passengers are being rebooked. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2022/12/19/massive-15-metre-long-emergency-slide-accidentally-deployed-on-emirates-a380-superjumbo-at-manchester-airport/ Hawaiian Officials Search For Missing Medical Transport Aircraft The flight was operated by Hawaii Life Flight and disappeared from radar off the coast of Maui. A medical transport aircraft has gone missing off the coast of Maui, in Hawaii. It was on its way to collect a patient on Thursday, December 15th, but sadly did not reach its destination. Three people were aboard the aircraft flying to Hawaii island, but it disappeared from radar off the coast of Maui. The company operating the flight has suspended operations, resulting in emergency plans enacted by the State to ensure air transport for patients between islands. Hawaii Life Flight operates medical flights across the State Hawaii Life Flight operated the flight, which is believed to be a C90 Beechcraft King Air. The US Coast Guard and the Civil Air Patrol have been searching for the aircraft and the three crew members. There were no patients onboard. The US Coast Guard stated that the aircraft disappeared from radar south of Hana, on the east side of the island of Maui. The aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 5,000ft before vanishing from radar. The flight departed Kahului Airport towards Waimea-Kohala Airport, and radar contact was lost at around 21:27 on Thursday night, prompting the search and rescue operation. Hawaii Life Flight typically operates 24 hours a day, providing medical transport across Hawaii, and completing around 10 - 15 patient transfers daily. Alternative medical flight cover is being implemented The incident has resulted in the suspension of operations by Hawaii Life Flight, disrupting medical flight services. They have seven other aircraft available for transporting patients between islands. Following the initial reports of the missing aircraft, all seven other aircraft were grounded. The State and National Guard officials are working to provide alternative services. The NTSB has asked the public for help as they begin an investigation, requesting witnesses to provide information. Get all of the latest aviation news from Simply Flying here. The Governor, Josh Green, is implementing measures to ensure sufficient aircraft are available to continue medical flights. This includes medical aircraft from other states and Black Hawk helicopters from the US Army National Guard. The Governor stated, "We have to provide services to all the people of Hawaii if they get so sick in a place where they don't have access to the care they need and have to come over here to Oahu. We're ensuring people that services to get to our more comprehensive service hospitals will be available." The emergency measures also allow medical professionals from other states to work as certified flight paramedics and registered nurses on medical flights. Aircraft have been expected to arrive over the weekend to replace flights by Hawaii Life Flight temporarily. Search continues for the aircraft, which was the second incident of the day in Hawaii The search continues, but the Coast Guard had reported seeing a sheen in the search area, and one of their patrol boats had recovered debris, but it was unclear if this belonged to the missing aircraft. Hawaii Country Mayor, Mitch Roth, has stated his support for the crew and families. “The service they provide to our community is truly invaluable, and we mahalo all who risk their lives daily to save the lives of others. Our administration remains hopeful in the Coast Guard’s search and eagerly awaits any sign of good news.” This incident follows a plane crash in Hawaii earlier on the same day. Around lunchtime, a privately owned Beechcraft BE77 crashed outside Lihue Airport on Kauai after takeoff. Thursday's Hawaii Life Flight was the second plane crash in Hawaii that day. The male pilot and his son were taken to hospital, where they were in a severe but stable condition. https://simpleflying.com/hawaiian-missing-medical-transport-aircraft/ United Airlines Airbus A320 Returns To Mexico City Due To Fuel Pressure Imbalance The flight returned out of an abundance of caution and no one was hurt. A United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after one of its engines indicated an imbalance in fuel pressure. The Airbus A320-200, en route to San Francisco from Mexico City, turned around shortly after taking off and was able to land without further incident. United A320 suffers fuel problem Flight UA718 took off from Mexico City International Airport (MEX) at 14:57 local time for the approximately four-hour journey to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). However, the plane would turn around shortly after taking off and land back in Mexico City less than an hour later. The Airbus A320-200 (registration: N495UA) is said to have suffered a fuel pressure problem that affected the flow of fuel, causing an imbalance across the plane's fuel tanks. Insufficient fuel flow can lead to lopsided weight distribution and possible engine shutdowns due to fuel starvation, so the pilots decided to land as soon as possible. As reported by ABC7 News, the pilot told passengers, "We're really sorry about this. Soon after we took off, it was pretty obvious the fuel wasn't flowing in a balanced way. So the fuel tanks were quickly becoming lopsided in weight, so we needed to get to Mexico City as soon as possible." The aircraft stopped climbing at FL290, turned around and landed safely on runway 05R around 50 minutes after take-off. A spokesperson for United Airlines added that the flight "returned to Mexico City out of an abundance of caution due to a mechanical issue." Fire services called Fire trucks were on standby at Mexico City International Airport due to the danger of landing with full fuel tanks, which elevates the likelihood of a fire or explosion. Additionally, the pilot told passengers that the unequal weight distribution could overheat the landing gear and cause a fire, so emergency services were placed on standby as a precaution. Passengers that day had expected to leave Mexico City before 14:00, which would have had them in San Francisco just after 16:00PST. However, they would have to wait until the evening before boarding a replacement flight which eventually arrived in SFO at 22:52. The majority of passengers were able to catch the later flight, while others were provided with alternative travel arrangements. About N495UA The affected aircraft is a 20-year-old Airbus A320-200 delivered to United Airlines in 2002. The plane has spent its entire service life under United, including several years under the airline's 'Ted' brand. The 150-seater Airbus A320 is configured in a two-class layout, seating 12 in business class and 138 in economy. It isn't clear if the aircraft is now back in service or if it will remain on the ground pending further inspection - data from FlightRadar24.com shows that N495UA is scheduled to fly between Mexico City and Washington (IAD) this morning. https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-airbus-a320-returns-mexico-city/ Iata, South Africa Civil Aviation Authority sign MoU on aviation safety The International Air Transport Association (Iata) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to enhance aviation safety in South Africa. Under the MoU, the SACAA recognises the Iata's Operational Safety Audit as an acceptable means of compliance with SACAA regulations to complement its safety oversight function. The MoU will strengthen the cooperation between Iata and Sacaa and allow the two parties to explore further initiatives for improving safety in the region. "Safety is the industry’s top priority and IOSA continues to demonstrate the benefits of global standards underpinning safety operations. In 2021, African airlines on the IOSA registry had zero accidents. "We congratulate the South African Civil Aviation Authority for their continued leadership in advancing a safe and efficient air transport industry in the region and for helping promote a single set of global safety standards," says Kamil Alawadhi, Iata’s regional vice-president for Africa and the Middle East. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/583/234491.html As the EU embraces cell phone calls on planes, could the US be next? With the Eurpoean Commission voting to allow 5G transmissions on commercial flights, enabling voice calling, the US might be next — depending on what airlines want. European travelers will soon be able to chat it up over their 5G-enabled mobile devices on airplanes without fear of hearing, “Please place your phone in Airplane Mode” from a flight attendant. A ruling by the European Commission will allow airlines to provide 5G voice calling and high-speed connectivity to the internet in 2023; the decision was quickly heralded as a business opportunity for European companies. “The sky is no longer a limit when it comes to possibilities offered by super-fast, high-capacity connectivity,” Thierry Breton, commissioner for the internal market, said in a statement. The ruling prompted questions about when US airlines might allow 5G connectivity on board their aircraft for voice calls and entertainment on commercial flights. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not prohibit the use of personal electronic devices (including cell phones) on plans. Instead, the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) leaves the decision up to individual airlines. In fact, FCC rules allow "any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used." Therein lies the problem. Last year, new 5G networks caused interference with older cockpit instruments such as altimeters. Altimeters are critical, especially for landing in low-visibility conditions; they operate at frequencies of around 4.4 GHz. In the US, 5G networks are rolling out using the C-band — with frequencies between 3.7GHz and 3.98GHz — at the lower-end of the 5G spectrum; that leaves very little gap between the frequencies used by cockpit instruments and has in the past caused interference. In Europe, 5G uses frequencies of 5GHz or above, which puts in place a sufficient buffer between cellular communications and inflight instruments. That said, with either relatively simple filtering technology or instrument upgrades, C-band 5G transmissions would no longer pose a problem, according to Dan Bieler, a principal analyst with Forrester Research. “It is up to the airlines to 5G-enable their aircraft. For this purpose, the European Commission has designated certain frequencies for in-flight 5G,” Bieler said. Tom Wheeler, former FCC chairman and now a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, told the Washington Post last week that concerns over cockpit instrument interference are largely overblown. “The reality is that the vast, vast majority of aircraft have altimeters that are shielded from the signals,” Wheeler said, and older models are being replaced or shielded. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association representing 290 airlines around the globe, believes the “introduction of 5G mobile devices in the aircraft cabin environment is not expected to have an impact in terms of interference with onboard systems.” “In terms of whether use of such devices for voice calling should be permitted, this should be a decision for each individual airline,” a spokesman said in an email reply to Computerworld. Airline passengers cannot make normal 5G calls or surf the Web on a commercial airliner as planes fly too high, too fast and over many remote areas for 5G connectivity to be delivered at an acceptable quality. Over the past two decades, dozens of major airlines began offering paid in-flight Wi-Fi through high-performance air-to-ground antennas located on the base of the aircraft fuselage. The aircraft essentially becomes a Wi-Fi hotspot as the signal is spread throughout the aircraft using a series of access points (routers). Passengers paying for in-flight Wi-Fi can do everything they would normally would when connected to the Internet, including sending emails,and streaming movies. But that connectivity was based on slower data speeds. Another flaw: the system doesn’t work over large bodies of water unless the signal is relayed to a satellite communications system. Gogo Inflight is one of the most prolific provider of in-flight internet connectivity. The Broomfield, CO-based company supplies more than 2,500 commercial aircraft and 6,600 business aircraft with its on-board Wi-Fi services for entertainment and wireless connectivity. Gogo’s customers include American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. In October, Gogo announced it had completed its rollout of 5G towers throughout the US. But airlines operating in the US remain reticent to enable aircraft for 5G communications. “That’s why airlines currently ask you to put the phone in Airplane Mode, which still enables Wi-Fi connectivity, but not cellular,” said Bill Menezes, a director advisor at Gartner research. Without 5G interference issues, there are only two reasons US airlines would be opposed to cell phone use on planes: airlines want to continue selling the exclusive right to Wi-Fi connectivity and entertainment and/or they don’t want passengers chit-chatting throughout a flight. "You get someone who wants to do work and has a cell-enabled tablet or they want to do teams call or something like that, and they can't," said Menezes, who was attending a conference in Las Vegas. "I have people out here who flew out from the East Coast and that’s a four- to five-hour flight. That’s a lot of time to sit twiddling your thumbs." There are also benefits to greenlighting the use of 5G communications for the airlines themselves. They can reduce the weight of aircraft, for instance, by removing the entertainment screens on headrests. Some carriers, such as Alaska Airlines, offer brackets on the backs of headrests where passengers can affix their tablets for use with Wi-Fi. “At this stage, it is uncertain how many airlines will implement 5G connectivity on their airplanes” Bieler said. "After all, an airplane is one of the last few places where one can escape the babbling of many smartphone users. “Airlines will need to decide what customer experience means for their passengers: the freedom and relative tranquility of a connectivity-free zone or the freedom to remain connected at all times,” Beiler said. “If they opt for the latter, airlines might want to consider providing basic rules of smartphone use etiquette.” In December 2021, the FCC proposed access to in-flight mobile services for all fliers, but the decision to let consumers access their mobile devices while in the air will be at the sole discretion of each airline. In June, the FAA updated its guidance to say “mainline commercial” fleets should be retrofitted with upgraded altimeters or 5G filters by July 2023, after which the wireless companies are expected to continue rollout of 5G networks near most airports “with minimal restrictions.” The FCC, in an FAQ, noted: “If adopted, ...new rules could give airlines the ability to install an Airborne Access System that would provide the connection between passenger’s wireless devices and commercial wireless networks, much like Wi-Fi service is provided today aboard aircraft to provide connections to the Internet and safely manage connections," the agency said. https://www.computerworld.com/article/3683310/as-the-eu-embraces-cell-phone-calls-on-planes-could-the-us-be-next.html American Ends Its Regional Partnership with Mesa, United Swoops In to Complete the Pilot Circle of Life The long-troubled relationship between American and its regional partner Mesa has finally reached its conclusion. According to Cirium data and confirmed through an internal memo, Mesa’s last day operating as American Eagle will be April 3, 2023. With this change, Mesa’s only regional relationship is with United, which it is apparently now embracing whole-heartedly by planning to move its CRJ-900s over there. This now completes the circle of life that American started when it snatched Air Wisconsin away from United. Mesa has had a turbulent existence for nearly its entire life. The Cirum data I have goes back to 2003, and by then Mesa was a well-established regional jet operator which also had a still sizable presence in turboprops. It was flying for America West, US Airways, and United with Delta coming on in 2005. And it’s all been downhill since. Through mergers and consolidation, airlines disappeared but Mesa somehow continued to maintain contracts, or at least most of them. Delta dropped Mesa for performance issues by 2010, but over the last decade, Mesa had settled into being a two-partner player. The United partnership has taken many twists and turns, but after nearly losing the deal entirely, Mesa scored an extension in 2013 to keep flying 20 CRJ-700s and start flying Embraer 175s for the airline. The CRJ-700s were eventually cast off and Mesa now has a large fleet of Embraers. When it nearly ran out of money, United bought the Embraer 175s but let Mesa continue to operate them. On the American side, things have always been more complicated. Mesa worked with both US Airways and America West before their merger and the contract has continued until today. In recent times, the only Mesa flying beyond these two partners is a small freight contract using 737s, and there aren’t really prospects for more in today’s regional world. So you’d think having both American and United would be important to ensure Mesa’s long term survival. But apparently not. Mesa was riding high when it scored an increase in CRJ-900 flying from US Airways just before the American merger, thanks to the airline’s famously low costs and a long-standing relationship between management teams, but it’s been downhill ever since. Looking at the recent war of words between two sides, the relationship had simply become untenable. In 2020, with more than half the airplanes on contract expiring and American getting increasingly angry about performance issues, the airlines agreed to reduce flying to only 40 airplanes starting January 2021. Airplanes, however, weren’t the problem. Mesa just couldn’t staff the airplanes it had, and even this new contract proved to be too much. If we assume airplanes would fly an average 10 block hours per day, Mesa held up its end of the bargain through 2021, but then… Mesa has really only been flying 20 to 25 airplanes for American thanks to a pilot shortage. It ended up spiking its pay rates to attract new pilots, but according to a Mesa company memo CNBC reported, American wouldn’t let Mesa pass through those higher costs so Mesa was bleeding. American had put this in motion by paying its wholly-owned regional pilots more money, so it in effect forced Mesa’s hand. Then it chopped the hand off. This was not a friendly break-up. Mesa was now an airline with diminished flying of only about 20 airplanes, a deteriorating relationship with American, and possibly most importantly it was no longer that low-cost operator that helped it survive in the past. American finally reached a point where it felt comfortable being done. With only about 20 airplanes needing to be replaced, American figured it could use its Air Wisconsin pilot acquisition to make this work out. In the short-term, it could supplement Air Wisconsin with additional Republic and Piedmont flying in Chicago to allow Envoy and SkyWest to move some capacity from there into DFW and Phoenix. In the long term, Envoy would grow more in Phoenix and PSA would grow more at DFW, with both airlines having announced plans to open bases in those cities. This would allow American to wave goodbye to Mesa. Meanwhile, United, an airline desperate for more regional flying, was willing to pay those higher rates to bring Mesa’s CRJ-900s into the fold, at least, according to that Mesa company memo that was not confirmed by United. Make no mistake, however. This has nothing to do with the airplanes. You’ll hear that from many people, but it’s wrong. This is all about pilots and how quickly they can start flying passengers. United doesn’t want CRJ-900s, but it’s the fastest way to get pilots flying. At first blush, I didn’t understand how United could take on additional 76-seaters. United’s current pilot contract has strict limits on 76-seaters capping the airline at 153. That has been split out with 65 at SkyWest, 60 at Mesa, and 28 at Republic. It can’t add more, so how do these CRJ-900s fit in? Playing with the numbers gives us a clue. United just does not have the regional pilots to fully fly those 153 airplanes. If we assume utilization of 10 hours per day per airplane, Republic is close to full utilization in the January 2023 schedule. Mesa and SkyWest are not. But let’s focus just on Mesa. Mesa has 60 Embraer 175s with 76 seats and 20 with 70 seats. We can’t see how those are broken out because they use the same aircraft code, but if we assume 10 block hours per airplane per day, then Mesa is only flying about 35 airplanes out of the 80 right now. Even if we assume all the 70-seaters are parked already, that means there is still room for 25 more 76-seaters. This fits quite nicely with what Mesa can offer. It just so happens that of Mesa’s CRJ-900s, there are 23 that are owned by Mesa and are the newest build aircraft — including 7 which haven’t even hit 8 years yet. It should be easy to park 23 under-utilized E175s, paint the 23 CRJ-900s, and get them in the air just in time for Air Wisconsin to start painting its planes in American’s livery. Why not just take the pilots and have them fly the E175s? That requires training and training takes time. Air Wisconsin is leaving soon. There is no time to lose. Like many stories this year, this one is all about pilots. While I’m sure American would have liked to have Mesa’s 20 airplane’s worth of flying, it didn’t want them at that higher cost. American figures now is the right time to move on. For United, it needs any pilots it can find. It may have just found 20 airplanes’ worth of them, and it’s willing to pay the price. https://crankyflier.com/2022/12/19/american-ends-its-regional-partnership-with-mesa-united-swoops-in-to-complete-the-pilot-circle-of-life/ An immediate fix to the pilot shortage is being ignored As the airline industry has emerged from the pandemic, the struggle to find qualified pilots continues. A lack of pilots prevents airlines from providing the necessary air service to hundreds of markets. For these smaller, and often underserved communities, a lack of commercial air service has reached a crisis point. On July 25, 2022, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) announced the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act,” which would help to alleviate some of the pilot shortage by raising the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. Yet, some six months later, no progress has been made to move this proposed legislation along. This lack of urgency on such a critical matter is difficult to understand given the stakes. Fewer pilots means fewer flights at a time of increased demand, meaning higher fares. This Christmas holiday season, the average air fare is at a five-year high and just after an incredible 43 percent increase in October airfares as compared to one year ago. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as many, if not more, people are flying today as in 2019 (before the start of the pandemic). This is placing a greater strain on airports, airlines, airline employees and the TSA as each group deals with more people flying. There are also fewer flights now than in 2019, meaning more people are being crammed onto fewer flights. It also means that during times of irregular operation, such as a winter storm, agents have fewer available seats to accommodate stranded travelers. It’s a continuing operational challenge and having more pilots would certainly help. A lack of action has also forced regional airlines to resort to desperate measures as Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines have offered a $100,000 signing bonus to qualified pilots. These and other regional carriers have hundreds of parked aircraft they are unable to return to service because of the lack of experienced pilots. Mesa Airlines, another regional airline, has purchased 29 Cessna twin seat aircraft that they can use in their pilot development program. This fast-paced accelerated program will help pilots accumulate the necessary 1,500 flight hours to serve as a commercial pilot, while sitting in a Cessna. Wouldn’t it be better to raise the forced retirement age from 65 to 67 to keep qualified individuals on the flight deck? Life expectancy continues to increase, and by 2030 studies suggest life expectancy will reach 80 years as the emphasis on health continues to increase. The average pilot at age 65 today is in far better health than one from the 1950s or 1960s, which is a further reason for the mandatory pilot retirement age to be extended. The lack of action at a time of crisis has resulted in higher air fares and less experience in the cockpit. If it is true that safety is our number one priority in aviation, it seems clear this legislation should proceed as quickly as possible. It will not fix the problem of a pilot shortage entirely, but it will provide needed relief to the traveling public and communities who depend on commercial air service. Plus, having more experience in the front seats is always a good thing. https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/3778411-an-immediate-fix-to-the-pilot-shortage-is-being-ignored/ COMAC delivers first domestically built ARJ21 regional jet to a foreign airline Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) has delivered a single ARJ21 domestically built regional jet to Indonesian low-cost carrier TransNusa, its first foreign customer. The move marked the first delivery of Chinese-made aircraft to a foreign market, COMAC explained in its statement released on December 18, 2022. Equipped with 95 seats in an all-economy class layout, the ARJ21-700 jet, registered PK-TJA, is the first of 30 COMAC planes ordered by the airline in December 2021 under a long-term lease agreement with China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC). The airline also secured the option to order another 30 jets of the type. The jet is painted with a blue, yellow, and green livery and features the Indonesian flag, while the cabin interior includes leather passenger seats, COMAC added. PK-TJA will support TransNusa’s plans for route expansion by launching flights to new destinations in Bali, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta. Meanwhile, the remaining 29 ARJ21 planes are scheduled to gradually join the Jakarta-based low-cost carrier by 2026. According to the Planespotters.com data, TransNusa’s current aircraft fleet consists of two Airbus A320-200s and a single A320neo plane. The ARJ21 family First rolled out in December 2007, the ARJ21 jet was granted its type certificate by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in December 2014. The regional jet looks similar to the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 single-aisle airliner and features a 25-degree swept supercritical wing designed by Antonov as well as twin rear-mounted General Electric CF34 engines. However, COMAC claims that the plane design is a completely independent intellectual property of China. With a range of 3,700 kilometers (around 2,299 miles), the ARJ21-700 regional jet is a baseline aircraft model with seating capacity for up to 95 passengers onboard. But COMAC is also developing the longer -900 variant, which is expected to be capable of flying between 95 and 105 travelers in a two-class seating configuration. The manufacturer plans to expand the ARJ21 family with two additional ARJ21 variants: an ARJ21F freighter version and an ARJ21B business jet. The dedicated cargo plane will feature a maximum payload capacity of 10,150 kilograms, while the ARJ21B is expected to serve as a small executive jet for 20 passengers onboard. According to COMAC, almost 100 ARJ21-700s have been delivered as of December 2022. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/comac-delivers-first-domestically-built-arj21-regional-jet-to-a-foreign-airline Curt Lewis