Flight Safety Information - December 23, 2022 No. 247 In This Issue : Incident: Qantas A388 near Baku on Dec 23rd 2022, intermittent cargo smoke indication : Incident: Korean A332 at Seoul on Dec 22nd 2022, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Voepass AT72 at Sao Paulo on Dec 22nd 2022, bird strike : Incident: Canada B763 enroute on Dec 21st 2022, cracked windshield : Passengers sickened on flight arriving at Philadelphia Int’l Airport : FAA Invalidates 140 Checkrides In Alaska : NTSB: Lear Landed Long, Fast on Wet Rwy before Excursion : New head of United Airlines pilot union resigns after online comments spark outcry : City in Oklahoma says Air Force charter jet damaged runway : NTSB POSITION AVAILABLE: AEROSPACE ENGINEER (SYSTEMS), GS-0861-14 Incident: Qantas A388 near Baku on Dec 23rd 2022, intermittent cargo smoke indication A Qantas Airbus A380-800, registration VH-OQH performing flight QF-1 from Singapore (Singapore) to London Heathrow,EN (UK) with 356 people on board, was enroute at FL360 over Georgia about 300nm west of Baku (Azerbaidjan) when the crew decided to turn around and divert to Baku due to intermittent indications of cargo smoke. The aircraft landed safely on Baku's runway 16 about 55 minutes after the decision to turn around. Baku Airport reported the crew reported a cargo smoke indication. The airline reported the crew received an intermittent indication of smoke in one of the cargo holds. The aircraft is still on the ground in Baku about 8 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=502ba877&opt=0 Incident: Korean A332 at Seoul on Dec 22nd 2022, engine shut down in flight A Korean Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration HL8227 performing flight KE-42 from Seattle,WA (USA) to Seoul (South Korea) with 202 passengers and 14 crew, was descending through about 6000 feet towards Seoul when the crew decided to shut the right hand engine (PW4168) down due to some anomaly. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Seoul's runway 34L about 12 minutes later. The aircraft is still on the ground in Seoul about 26 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=502ba6c2&opt=0 Incident: Voepass AT72 at Sao Paulo on Dec 22nd 2022, bird strike A Voepass Linhas Aereas Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration PP-PTN performing flight P3-2233 from Sao Jose do Rio Preto,SP to Sao Paulo Congonhas,SP (Brazil), was on approach to Congonhas' runway 17R when a large bird impacted the aircraft's nose. The crew continued for a safe landing. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 5 hours, then continued service. https://avherald.com/h?article=502b9481&opt=0 Incident: Canada B763 enroute on Dec 21st 2022, cracked windshield An Air Canada Boeing 767-300, registration C-GHLV performing flight AC-7261 from Bogota (Colombia) to Toronto,ON (Canada), was enroute at FL390 near Charleston,WV (USA) when the crew declared PAN PAN due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft descended to FL310 and continued to Toronto for a safe landing about an hour later. https://avherald.com/h?article=502b3f46&opt=0 Passengers sickened on flight arriving at Philadelphia Int’l Airport First responders met a plane arriving at Philadelphia International Airport after some passengers were sickened during the flight. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- First responders met a plane arriving at Philadelphia International Airport after some passengers were sickened during the flight. American Airlines says the flight from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to Philadelphia encountered moderate turbulence Thursday night while the seat belt sign was on. A spokesperson for the airline says emergency workers responded out of an abundance of caution. However, none of the passengers needed to go to the hospital. https://6abc.com/passengers-sickened-philadelphia-us-virgin-islands-airplane-turbulence-international-airport/12605374/ FAA Invalidates 140 Checkrides In Alaska The FAA has told anyone who got a checkride for an instrument or instrument instructor from a well-known Alaska bush pilot that they may need to redo it to keep their ratings. According to the Anchorage Daily News, the checkrides were conducted by Don Lee between July of 2018 and June of 2022. The FAA has not released many details about its investigation of Lee but Adam White, the legislative affairs director of the Alaska Airmen’s Association, told the Daily News the FAA concerns are about an FAA designated pilot examiner “that basically wasn’t doing a complete check ride.” Lee is something of a legend in Alaska and founded Alaska Floats and Skis in Talkeetna 40 years ago. He’s generally regarded as the authority on glacier operations and his flight school has qualified thousands of pilots over the years. It’s not clear how many pilots are affected, but it’s a certainty that at least some of them are scrambling to get new checkrides because most air carriers in Alaska require a current instrument rating. Those affected will be notified by letter and have 10 days after receipt of the letter to contact the FAA. Then, they’ll have 15 days to do the ride. White said pilots are also criticizing the timing of the announcement and the fact that it was made public before the affected pilots had been notified. Lee is no longer listed as a DPE by the FAA. FAA Invalidates 140 Checkrides In Alaska The FAA has told anyone who got a checkride for an instrument or instrument instructor from a well-known Alaska bush pilot that they may need to redo it to keep their ratings. According to the Anchorage Daily News, the checkrides were conducted by Don Lee between July of 2018 and June of 2022. The FAA has not released many details about its investigation of Lee but Adam White, the legislative affairs director of the Alaska Airmen’s Association, told the Daily News the FAA concerns are about an FAA designated pilot examiner “that basically wasn’t doing a complete check ride.” Lee is something of a legend in Alaska and founded Alaska Floats and Skis in Talkeetna 40 years ago. He’s generally regarded as the authority on glacier operations and his flight school has qualified thousands of pilots over the years. It’s not clear how many pilots are affected, but it’s a certainty that at least some of them are scrambling to get new checkrides because most air carriers in Alaska require a current instrument rating. Those affected will be notified by letter and have 10 days after receipt of the letter to contact the FAA. Then, they’ll have 15 days to do the ride. White said pilots are also criticizing the timing of the announcement and the fact that it was made public before the affected pilots had been notified. Lee is no longer listed as a DPE by the FAA. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-invalidates-140-checkrides-in-alaska/ NTSB: Lear Landed Long, Fast on Wet Rwy before Excursion An NTSB preliminary report indicated a Learjet 45 touched down at 190 knots and about 2,000 feet past the threshold of the wet runway before an excursion. The Learjet 45 that collided with the airport perimeter fence after running off 6,602-foot Runway 8 after landing at Batesville (Arkansas) Regional Airport (KBVX) on November 29 initially touched down at 190 knots and about 2,000 feet past the threshold, according to an NTSB preliminary report. The twinjet, on a Part 91 business flight, was substantially damaged in the nighttime accident, and the two pilots sustained minor injuries while the six passengers were not injured. ATC cleared the airplane for the RNAV (GPS) Runway 8 approach and the crew canceled IFR after visually acquiring the landing zone. The airplane crossed the final approach fix at 265 knots ADS-B groundspeed and the Runway 8 threshold at 190 knots ADS-B groundspeed. Tire marks indicated intermittent braking started about 3,021 feet from the end of the runway. Continuous anti-skid braking application began about 2,069 feet from the end of the landing strip and continued until the end of the pavement. The airplane exited the runway at an airspeed of about 100 knots ADS-B groundspeed, then continued forward and struck a ditch and the airport perimeter fence. The forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. Initial examination revealed normal flight control continuity. The spoilers were found in the deployed position, matching the cockpit spoiler handle position. The flap handle was at the 20-degree position, consistent with the position of the left and right flaps. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-12-22/ntsb-lear-landed-long-fast-wet-rwy-excursion New head of United Airlines pilot union resigns after online comments spark outcry • United Airlines Capt. Neil Swindells resigned days after he was narrowly elected to lead the union of more than 14,000 pilots. • Swindells had apologized a day earlier for comments on pilot forums over the last few years. • United’s pilot union is in the middle of contract negotiations with the airline. pilots’ union has resigned after a series of his recent online posts sparked an outcry from some other aviators and union leaders. Neil Swindells, a Chicago-based Boeing 787 captain, was narrowly elected earlier this week to lead the union of more than 14,000 pilots. Some of the messages had surfaced before the union leadership’s vote, which he narrowly won. The election was held after the previous chairman resigned due to a family issue. Swindells, who could not immediately be reached for comment, announced his resignation in a note to pilots late Wednesday. United Airlines didn’t immediately comment. Swindells, as head of the pilot union, would have had a seat on United’s board of directors. The airline and the union are in the middle of contract negotiations and previous efforts to get to a deal have failed. On Sept. 16, two days after United announced a partnership with one-time rival Emirates at an event at Washington Dulles International Airport, Swindells wrote on a private message board for pilots: “And I’m sure EMIRATES had NOTHING TO DO with the EMIRATES MALE CAPTAIN being flanked” by a United “FEMALE FIRST OFFICER.” He wrote that the event showed Emirates’ “DOMINANCE OF THE CODESHARE, while giving UNITED their desired DEI money shot!!!” DEI is a commonly used shorthand for diversity, equity and inclusion. Code-sharing in the aviation industry is when airlines partner to market each other’s flights. Swindells, who has been at United for nearly three decades, apologized “to anyone I have offended” on Tuesday for language “that was often colorful, heated, and inappropriate,” but declined to step down at the time. In his resignation note to pilots Wednesday night, he said that “while many of these things have been taken completely out of context and publicly weaponized against me, I cannot ignore their existence and the damaging effect it has had on many of my fellow pilots.” Screenshots of some of Swindells posts were shared with CNBC. Hours before he stepped down, the head of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, the parent union of the United and other airlines’ chapters, issued a statement saying it would always “stand and fight” for an inclusive aviation community. “Under our democratic structure, United pilots elect their leaders and it’s up to them to decide who they want at the helm,” Capt. Joe DePete wrote. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/22/head-of-united-airlines-pilot-union-resigns-after-comments-surface.html City in Oklahoma says Air Force charter jet damaged runway STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — A military cargo jet carrying the U.S. Air Force Academy women's basketball team damaged a regional airport runway when it allegedly landed without prior authorization in Stillwater, Oklahoma, city officials said Thursday. The C-17 Globemaster aircraft is 45 tons heavier than the runway's maximum weight capacity, city officials said in a news release. The plane touched down at the airport Sunday, the city said, ahead of a game against Oklahoma State University on Tuesday. “Airport staff have temporarily patched surface damage to the runway and taxiways but must have the sub-surface assessed for potential long-term damage,” the statement said. The city didn't give an estimate of the repair costs. City officials say all charter flights are required to receive permission prior to using the airport — but in this case, prior approval was neither requested nor granted. However, U.S. Air Force officials on Thursday disputed the city's characterization, saying the flight was coordinated with airport officials five days before the landing. “The actual cause of the damage is unknown at this time,” 2nd Lt. Marjorie Schurr, chief of public affairs for the Air Force's 911th Airlift Wing, said in an email to The Associated Press. “Internal Air Force reports indicate that the aircraft was within weight limits of triple-tandem landing gear and that the flight was coordinated with airport officials prior to landing.” Stillwater officials say that in October, the U.S. Air Force Academy baseball team requested to land at the airport with the same type of aircraft but were denied due to weight limits. Stillwater spokesperson Dawn Jones says airport officials have asked the Federal Aviation Administration to open an investigation into the incident. Messages left Thursday with the FAA were not immediately returned. Dean Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force Academy, said military aircraft are often used to transport college players as a way to both save taxpayer money and support required military airlift training. “When military airlift is unpractical or unavailable, commercial airline tickets are purchased,” Miller wrote in an email to the AP. https://www.yahoo.com/news/stillwater-says-air-force-charter-183859903.html POSITION AVAILABLE: AEROSPACE ENGINEER (SYSTEMS), GS-0861-14 www.usajobs.gov/job/693620000 www.usajobs.gov/job/693620500 Summary This position is located in the Office of Aviation Safety, Aviation Engineering Division in Washington, DC. Participates and directs engineering aspects of general aviation and air carrier accidents involving safety issues associated with aircraft flight control, hydraulic, electrical, avionics and pneumatic systems including design, manufacturing, certification, and maintenance conditions. Duties OAS investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents, including those involving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), public aircraft, and commercial space launches, and other significant aviation incidents, proposes the probable causes of these events, and develops recommendations to minimize recurrence. As an Aerospace Engineer (Systems), GS-0861-14, you will perform the following major duties: • Participates and directs technical analyses of general aviation and air carrier accident and incidents in the specialty area of flight controls, avionics, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems. Serves as Group Chairman for limited scope investigations, documenting and analyzing airworthiness issues potentially involved in accidents and develops accident prevention strategies. • Coordinates efforts with other Group Chairman, the IIC, and the Team Lead to assure thoroughness of all investigations and that necessary documentation is accomplished as a result of the investigative activity. • Prepares factual and analytical reports covering specialty area on each accident. • Assists the IIC and report writers in the preparation of the Safety Board's accident report with particular emphasis on the accuracy of factual information and the logic of analyses of the evidence from the investigation. • Researches and develops appropriate safety recommendations to correct hazardous or unsafe conditions using information obtained in the course of investigations, personal observations, and knowledge of current aviation engineering trends and developments. Work Environment: The incumbent supports major go-team launches as well as significant international investigations. Major go-team launch teams commonly travel on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jet from Reagan National Airport within two hours after an accident notification is received. Timely arrival at the scene of a major accident allows for timely documentation of a wreckage; a delay in this effort can have significant impacts, such as impeding the re-opening of an airport. International travel by US Government employees frequently requires the issuance of a visa from the host country, which is most efficiently obtained at the embassies located in Washington, DC. Additionally, security concerns in many locations make it essential that the investigative team travel together. Physical Demands: Occasionally the aircraft wreckage may contain hazardous materials that may be burning by the time the investigator arrives on-the-scene; therefore, the incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts such as remote, rugged, snow, rain, temperature extremes, swampy or mountainous areas and hostile settings and may have to wear a hardhat, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and other protective equipment. Curt Lewis