Flight Safety Information - January 5, 2023 No. 004 In This Issue : Incident: India B788 at Delhi on Jan 4th 2023, slat problem : Incident: Argentina B738 at Buenos Aires on Jan 2nd 2022, bird strike : Accident: Astana A21N enroute on Jan 2nd 2023, turbulence injures 7 : Incident: France B773 near London on Jan 4th 2023, engine shut down in flight : Flight attendants reported toxic fumes on aircraft. American Airlines retaliated, OSHA says : The FAA should use real-life conditions for its evacuation standards : Australia helicopter collision: Passenger tapped pilot before crash, footage shows : Angry passenger gets physical with Virgin pilot before getting booted off flight : Air India's handling of unruly passenger on flight 'unprofessional' - regulator : During in-flight emergencies, sometimes airlines’ medical kits fall short : Two charged, flight diverted to Bangor after chaos erupts on airplane : Passenger gets probation and $9,123 restitution charge for interfering with flight crew : France's BEA Is Also Unhappy With The Final Ethiopian Airlines MAX Crash Report : Washington Renominated For FAA Administrator Post : The world's most punctual airlines in 2022 were... : Which Commercial Aircraft Do Cabin Crew Love To Work On? : Life after politics: US Congressman resumes job as Hawaiian Airlines A330 pilot : Olea Announces Jet Aircraft Cockpit Pilot Monitoring System Incident: India B788 at Delhi on Jan 4th 2023, slat problem An Air India Boeing 787-8, registration VT-AND performing flight AI-143 from Delhi (India) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) with 231 people on board, was climbing out of Delhi's runway 28 when the crew stopped the climb at FL090 due to a slat drive indication. The aircraft entered a hold for about 40 minutes, then returned to Delhi for a safe landing at a higher than normal speed on runway 28 about 65 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 787-8 registration VT-ANR reached Paris with a delay of 5.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=503501e9&opt=0 Incident: Argentina B738 at Buenos Aires on Jan 2nd 2022, bird strike An Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-800, registration LV-GGQ performing flight AR-1888 from Buenos Aires Ezeiza,BA to Ushuaia,TF (Argentina), was climbing out of Ezeiza's runway 17 when one of the engines ingested a bird, however, showed no abnormal indications. The crew thus continued the climb. Climbing through FL220 the crew noticed the odour of burned chicken, after reaching the top of climb at FL330 the crew requested to return to Ezeiza. The aircraft descended to FL100, entered a hold to burn off fuel for about one hour and landed safely back on Ezeiza's runway 29 about 2 hours after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 22.5 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=5034fc1e&opt=0 Accident: Astana A21N enroute on Jan 2nd 2023, turbulence injures 7 An Air Astana Airbus A321-200N, registration EI-KDF performing flight KC-128 from Tashkent (Uzbekistan) to Almaty (Kazakhstan), flew threw severe turbulence on its flight. The aircraft landed in Almaty without further incident about an hour after departure. Seven passengers received injuries as result. The airline reported the aircraft encountered sudden strong turbulence. Seven passengers received injuries of varying degree. https://avherald.com/h?article=503476f7&opt=0 Incident: France B773 near London on Jan 4th 2023, engine shut down in flight An Air France Boeing 777-300, registration F-GSQL performing flight AF-72 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was enroute at FL300 about 20nm northeast of London,EN (UK) when the crew observed anomalies with one of the engine (GE90) oil systems and decided to return to Paris. The crew subsequently shut the engine down due to the loss of oil pressure, descended the aircraft down to FL150 and dumped fuel. The aircraft landed back on Charles de Gaulle's runway 27L about 100 minutes after departure. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Paris due to a problem with an engine oil system. https://avherald.com/h?article=50346ce3&opt=0 Flight attendants reported toxic fumes on aircraft. American Airlines retaliated, OSHA says American Airlines retaliated against flight attendants who reported worker illnesses caused by toxic fumes in aircraft cabins, according to an investigation by federal safety and health investigators. A whistleblower investigation began on Aug. 2 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to a press release from OSHA. The investigation found Fort Worth-based American Airlines Inc. retaliated against employees who filed complaints about the illnesses with the company and the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight attendants said the airline docked attendant points and discouraged them from reporting work-related injuries and illnesses, according to the press release. “Federal law protects workers’ rights to voice workplace safety and health concerns without the fear of retaliation,” said OSHA Area Director Timothy Minor in the press release. “When employers punish employees for doing so, they create a chilling effect that may stop workers from reporting future issues, putting their health and well-being, and that of co-workers, at risk.” Minor, who is based in Fort Worth, said the investigation found flight attendants engaged in protected activities when they reported illnesses due to jet fuel fumes seeping into the aircraft cabin. “Workers must feel empowered to inform managers and others about potential hazards that jeopardize workers’ safety and health,” he said in the press release. The press release did not provide details on whether passengers would have been impacted by the fumes. In October, passengers reported fumes filled the cabin on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Barbados, according to the Associated Press. OSHA proposed $6,837 in penalties following its investigation. American Airlines officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. https://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/article270776432.html#storylink=cpy The FAA should use real-life conditions for its evacuation standards By: Senator TAMMY DUCKWORTH Imagine you’re crammed into your middle seat — behind a crying baby, of course — and a wave of turbulence rocks the plane. Then another. Then that singular, ominous “ding” as the flight crew kindly urges — demands, really — that passengers return to their seat and buckle up. They’re sorry for the inconvenience, but it’s for your own safety. Imagine, then, that the turbulence doesn’t stop. It gets worse. People begin to panic. Somehow, though, miraculously, the pilots manage to safely land the plane. Sure, it’s a rough landing, but at least you’re on the ground. You’re relieved — until you realize it’s not over. With your adrenaline racing, your heart pounding, the flight attendants shout that you have to evacuate without delay, as the fuel tanks might be damaged and could spark a fire at any moment. Right now, Federal Aviation Administration regulations mandate that, in the event of an emergency, passengers must be able to evacuate an aircraft within 90 seconds — meaning that airlines must ensure that there is enough room between seats and rows that everyone can deplane within a minute and a half. But in the chaos and terror of this emergency, can more than 150 passengers sandwiched into crowded rows actually safely evacuate in less time than it takes to brush your teeth? In 2018, Congress directed the FAA to establish a minimum seat size and seat pitch for passenger safety. The FAA’s evacuation simulations found that “seat size and spacing did not adversely affect the success of emergency evacuations.” However, its simulations ignored something important: the reality of flying in America today. The FAA tests included only able-bodied adults younger than age 60, ignoring the millions of Americans like me who live and fly with a disability or other mobility issues. Ignoring older folks, who may take a little longer to get down the aisle but who fly regularly. Ignoring young children and infants, who rely on Mom or Dad to get from point A to B. And ignoring anyone who might struggle to understand flight attendants’ instructions, including those who don’t speak English fluently. According to CBS News, the tests didn’t even include common obstacles that could potentially slow down an evacuation, such as carry-on bags. Test subjects were also reportedly in groups of 60, suggesting that many seats were left empty. In the real world, airplanes are packed — especially now, during the bedlam of holiday travel season. A Boeing 737 Max 8, for example, typically seats between 162 to 178 passengers. How likely does it seem to you that the next plane you get on won’t have any children or seniors on board? What are the odds that no one will have brought with them a backpack or purse? And what are the chances that this childless, carry-on-free flight will also have a whole bunch of empty seats? I’ve never been on a commercial flight like that, and I’d bet not many others have either. Yet that is what the FAA opted to test. To his credit, then-FAA Administrator Steve Dickson conceded that these recent simulations provide “useful, but not necessarily definitive information regarding the effects of seat dimensions on safe evacuations for all populations.” While the concession is appreciated, the point — and the problem — remains clear: The flying public deserves better. That is why this month, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and I introduced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabins (EVAC) Act. If passed, it would require the FAA to finally establish evacuation standards that consider not just seat size, pitch and configuration but also other real-life conditions such as the presence of carry-on bags and passengers of different heights, weights, ages and abilities. Already, this bill has been endorsed by everyone from the Allied Pilots Association and the AARP to the American Academy of Pediatrics, flight attendants and Capt. Chesley Sullenberger. Sullenberger, a retired pilot, knows a thing or two about evacuating commercial aircraft after he had to do so himself following a harrowing emergency water landing. I know that this is a complicated business and that there are many well-intentioned, deeply intelligent people at the FAA and across the aviation industry who have dedicated an incredible amount of time and talent to this work. And going forward, we are going to need all of their expertise to get this right. But it is critically important that we do, in fact, get this right. It should not, it cannot, take another tragedy to bring our aircraft evacuation standards up to date. Now is the time we must act to make flying as safe as we know it can be — and as safe as Americans deserve. https://azdailysun.com/the-faa-should-use-real-life-conditions-for-its-evacuation-standards/article_b1f37f82-8c87-11ed-9cd4-4b3ad4b60e60.html Australia helicopter collision: Passenger tapped pilot before crash, footage shows A survivor of a deadly helicopter collision in Australia had tried to warn a pilot of impending danger, a video appears to show. In the footage, a passenger in the backseat of the aircraft is seen tapping the pilot's shoulder. Pilot Michael James turns his head in response, while the passenger then grips his seat. The helicopter and another collided a moment later, killing a UK couple and two Australians on the other aircraft. The footage - obtained by Australia's 7 News - was filmed on board a Sea World sightseeing helicopter that was descending on the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon. Mr James managed to land the helicopter safely after the rotor blade of an ascending helicopter crashed through its windscreen. Five of the six people on board the descending helicopter suffered minor injuries. Three other people on board the other aircraft were badly injured, after it fell rapidly to the ground. The four people killed were Sydney resident Vanessa Tadros, British couple Diane Hughes, 57, and her 65-year-old husband Ron, and 40-year-old Sea World Helicopters pilot Ashley Jenkinson, who was originally from Birmingham. The Hugheses' family put out a statement saying they were "still in a state of shock", ABC News reported. Ms Tadros' husband, Simon, sought prayers on social media for their 10-year-old son Nicholas, who is one of those badly injured and in intensive care. Both helicopters were operating tourist flights for Sea World, a popular theme park on the Gold Coast. The company that owns Sea World, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, offered condolences, and said Sea World Helicopters is an independent operator. Investigators say they are looking into what caused the collision, including the situation in the two cockpits. "What we do need to know now is what was occurring inside those two cockpits at the time," air safety commissioner Angus Mitchell told reporters on Wednesday. https://www.yahoo.com/news/australia-helicopter-collision-passenger-tapped-042527601.html Angry passenger gets physical with Virgin pilot before getting booted off flight The flight crew was praised after the video of the altercation was uploaded to social media. A passenger has been filmed swearing and grabbing a pilot by his shirt during a physical altercation at the front of a Virgin Australia plane. Shocked passengers watched on as the confronting incident unfolded in full view of business class and just outside the cockpit while the plane was stationary at Townsville Airport on Wednesday evening. The pilot could be heard telling the man to “walk” or they’d “get someone”, but the situation appeared to escalate further before the pilot confirmed “you’re off mate”. The man could be seen grabbing the pilot’s shirt with his fists as the pilot repeatedly told him to “let go”. The man was pushed off the flight by the pilot, a flight attendant and fellow passenger. The man yelled expletives as he was pushed backwards towards the plane door and out of camera sight, with the help of a flight attendant and fellow passenger. “You’re a f—ing idiot,” the man could be heard saying. “I didn’t do nothing c—.” After what appeared to be another physical scuffle involving the flight attendant, the pilot could be heard giving instructions to “get the cops”. It was only then the passenger finally said he was leaving. The video was uploaded to TikTok by passenger Ben Mckay who claimed the man had “one too many” before their flight to Sydney took off. He praised the crew for handling the situation “amazingly”. Footage of the altercation between the passenger and pilot on the Townsville to Sydney flight is shown. The man can be seen grabbing the pilot’s shirt with his fists as the pilot repeatedly told him to “let go." Others commenting on the video agreed. One flight attendant said “even though we’re trained for this, it’s still awful to deal with” and said the man would be put on a no-fly list. Another person added: “Damn crew did amazing. They shouldn’t have to deal with this … but damn that female flight attendant was fiercely awesome.” Virgin Australia said the passenger was removed from the flight for unruly and disruptive behavior, with police called to the airport and travel restrictions imposed on the man. “The safety of guests and crew is our number one priority and we have zero tolerance for any type of unruly behavior on Virgin Australia flights,” a company spokeswoman told news.com.au. “Incidents are referred to the Australian Federal Police or State Police where appropriate.” news.com.au contacted has Queensland Police about the incident. Australian Federal Police launched Operation Sleigh before Christmas which involved increasing patrols over the festive period at the nine airports it polices to target intoxication, offensive and disruptive behavior. AFP responded to almost 20,000 incidents at Australian airports throughout 2022 and has charged more than 360 people. https://nypost.com/2023/01/05/virgin-australia-passenger-gets-physical-with-pilot-before-being-kicked-off-flight/ Air India's handling of unruly passenger on flight 'unprofessional' - regulator NEW DELHI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - India's aviation regulator on Thursday issued a notice to some Tata Group-owned Air India officials for failing to comply with norms of handling unruly passengers following an incident on one of its flights last year. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's air safety watchdog, said it sought details from the airline on the incident of an unruly male passenger who allegedly relieved himself on a fellow female traveller on its flight from New York to New Delhi in November. "... it emerges that provisions related to handling of an unruly passenger on-board have not been complied with," the DGCA said in a statement. "The conduct of the concerned airline appears to be unprofessional and has led to a systemic failure." In 2017, India had issued new norms barring unruly passengers from flying for a minimum of three months to more than two years depending on the nature of the misdemeanour. The civil aviation watchdog said it has issued a notice to the airline's accountable manager, director in-flight services, all the pilots and cabin crew members of that flight asking them to explain within two weeks why action should not be taken against them for failing to uphold regulations. Air India did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters on the DGCA notice. "As a first step, Air India has banned the passenger for 30 days, the maximum it is permitted to unilaterally do so, and reported the matter to the DGCA for further action," Air India said in an earlier statement, adding that it has also lodged a police complaint. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/air-indias-handling-unruly-passenger-flight-unprofessional-regulator-2023-01-05/ During in-flight emergencies, sometimes airlines’ medical kits fall short U.S. airlines have response plans for passengers who run into health issues in flight, but planes carry limited and sometimes incomplete medical supplies that can put travelers at risk. In March, a Frontier Airlines flight was headed from Phoenix to Las Vegas when a female passenger stopped breathing. The flight attendant yelled in the cabin for help. A passenger who was trained as a wilderness first responder, Seth Coley, jumped into action and found the woman was unresponsive and had a weak pulse. Coley dug through the plane’s medical kit but couldn’t find an oropharyngeal airway, a tool that was supposed to be there and that he needed to help the woman breathe. Instead, he cleared the airway by manipulating her neck. Afterward, Coley sent a message to Denver-based Frontier Airlines via an online customer service form: “I saved somebody’s life on one of your flights,” he wrote. “I would like to speak about the medical kit you guys have on your flights. You are missing some very valuable and simple things. She almost died.” Americans are flying at levels reaching pre-pandemic numbers. While COVID-19 ushered in new health and cleaning protocols designed to make airplane travel safer, incidents like Coley’s raise questions about airlines’ readiness for medical emergencies because of incomplete or insufficient medical kits and the training of flight crews, who often rely on other passengers in emergencies. Frontier did not respond to KHN’s requests for comment about that incident or its emergency kits. But Coley’s experience illustrates the risks travelers take every time they board a flight. For every 20,000 passengers who take a flight on a U.S.-based airline, there is one medical event—defined as any health-related incident, not only emergencies—according to estimates from airplane medical services company MedAire. The Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial aircraft to carry at least one sealed emergency medical kit containing a minimum of 25 specified instruments and medications, plus first-aid kits and automated external defibrillators. But the FAA does not track data on the use of those kits during in-flight medical emergencies. Instead, the agency leaves it to the airlines to inspect the kits and replace them if the seals are broken. “Ensuring complete, sealed emergency medical kits are present is part of the cabin crew’s preflight inspection,” FAA spokesperson Ian Gregor said in a statement. Commercial airplanes are required to carry sealed emergency medical kits that contain specific equipment and medications. But health professionals who have volunteered to help in in-flight emergencies say the kits can be inadequate and are sometimes missing required items. But, as Coley and other passengers who have responded to an in-flight emergency have found out, an item required in a medical kit can sometimes be missing. Some items the FAA doesn’t require, such as the overdose reversal drug naloxone, are carried voluntarily by some airlines. The agency has issued guidance recommending items to add to the kits, but they are not yet mandated. Gregor said the FAA investigates all reports of issues with medical kits and ensures any concerns are addressed. He did not respond to a KHN request for details on the number of reports investigated, their outcomes, or whether the emergencies described in this article were among those investigated. In June, Boston surgeon Dr. Andrea Merrill was aboard a Delta Air Lines flight when she assisted in a medical emergency and found the kit fell short of what she needed. It needs “a glucometer, epi pen, and automatic blood pressure cuffs—it’s impossible to hear with a disposable stethoscope in the air,” Merrill tweeted to Delta after the incident. “Please improve this for passenger safety!” After Merrill’s tweet went viral, Delta followed up with her, saying it would switch to automatic blood pressure cuffs and “real” stethoscopes, as well as consider glucometers at gates. Merrill declined an interview request. KHN asked U.S. airlines to detail their medical emergency protocols and the contents of their medical kits. Seven responded with limited information: Alaska, Allegiant, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, and United. All said that their kits meet or exceed FAA requirements and that they train their staff to respond to medical emergencies. Many airlines also contract with a MedAire service called MedLink that connects flight crews with a medical professional on the ground in an in-flight emergency. Allegiant officials said passengers with medical conditions should not assume their planes will have everything they need in an emergency. “Although our crews are trained to respond to a wide array of unplanned medical emergencies, we want to remind readers who have anticipated medical needs to bring their own medical supplies in carry-on luggage and not rely on aircraft emergency equipment,” Allegiant spokesperson Andrew Porrello said in a statement. Delta, along with American, Frontier, and Spirit, did not respond to requests for comment. A 2019 article on the Delta website said its flight attendants are given training in first aid and CPR. Additionally, Delta wrote that its medical equipment exceeds FAA requirements. The airline mentioned it uses STAT-MD, a service that lets flight crews consult with trained personnel at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The FAA requires flight attendants to receive specific medical training, but medical professionals who have intervened as passengers during an in-flight emergency said the crew is not always quick to respond. “Passengers believe that there are probably more safeguards in place than there actually are,” said Dr. Comilla Sasson, a Denver-area emergency physician and associate clinical professor at the University of Colorado. Sasson was on a United Airlines flight in 2018 when a passenger passed out. When she volunteered to help, crew members asked for proof that she was a doctor as she mobilized to check the passenger’s vital signs. Sasson questioned the extent to which crew members are trained to help in medical emergencies, saying other health care providers have told her about their own experiences of aiding a passenger in need while the flight personnel stood aside. “It’s interesting to me that the airlines really kind of depend on the kindness of strangers in a lot of ways, much more so than I would think,” Sasson said. The goodwill of a fellow passenger is something Bay Area resident Meera Mani is thankful for after a 2011 experience. She was on a United flight from Toronto to San Francisco when her now-deceased father, then in his 80s, began showing concerning symptoms: The right side of his face and arm drooped. Worried her dad was having a stroke, Mani shouted for help but was frustrated by flight attendants’ slow response. “And then finally, I said: ‘Is there a doctor on the flight?’” Mani recounted. There was. The doctor used a defibrillator to stabilize her father. “It was very clear to me that the [flight] staff were completely flummoxed,” Mani said. “They had the equipment, they took it out, they gave it to him, but the doctor took care of it.” United helped organize an ambulance to meet Mani and her father on the ground at the San Francisco airport and later called to see if her dad was OK. He ended up being diagnosed with a condition that could lead to fainting. MedAire, which runs the MedLink consulting service, said it covers around 70% of the U.S. market but declined to specify airlines. Dr. Paulo Alves, MedAire’s global medical director of aviation health, said 98% of medical events are managed on board and are non-life-threatening, while 2% are serious cases that might divert a flight. Alves said his company also provides medical consultations before passengers board a flight. “An airplane—although I love aviation—is never the best place for you to have a medical event,” Alves said. “The first line of prevention is actually preflight.” Alves also defended the contents of airlines’ medical kits. The medically trained volunteers who step in to help fellow passengers in an emergency may expect resources available in a hospital, but “the airplane is not a hospital. You cannot carry everything,” he said. Mani said she would like to see airlines disclose which medical emergencies they’re trained to address—potentially on flight safety cards. Sasson said it would be helpful if airlines clearly shared information about what medical supplies are available on board. “I think the general public doesn’t realize how much of a crapshoot it is when they’re up in the air that somebody with some sort of medical training will know what to do, if something were to happen,” Sasson said. https://fortune.com/2023/01/05/in-flight-medical-emergencies-airplane-medaire-kits-sick-passengers-faa/ Two charged, flight diverted to Bangor after chaos erupts on airplane BANGOR, Maine (AP) A pair of passengers who disrupted a flight from Mexico to England, causing it to make an unplanned landing in the U.S., are facing federal charges. They were among a group of three disruptive passengers who allegedly retrieved alcohol from a carry-on bag after being denied service and made racist remarks about the flight crew and passengers while filming the interactions. The behavior escalated over U.S. airspace, according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court in Bangor, Maine. The TUI Airways captain diverted the flight from Cancun, Mexico to Manchester, England to the Bangor International Airport on Monday night after the cabin erupted in chaos with multiple passengers out of their seats and shouting at each other, the FBI said. The flight had 328 passengers. Anthony Joseph James Kirby and Damien Jake Murphy, both 36, of Manchester, England, were removed from the plane and arrested, officials said. A third passenger was removed but not charged. Kirby and Murphy were ordered detained without bail after initial court appearances Tuesday on federal charges of assault and interfering with a flight crew. Kirby’s attorney said Wednesday he needed more information about what happened on the plane. Murphy’s attorney didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment. https://1019por.com/news/074470-two-charged-flight-diverted-to-bangor-after-chaos-erupts-on-airplane/ Passenger gets probation and $9,123 restitution charge for interfering with flight crew (CNN) — A woman was sentenced to 24 months of probation in US District Court for Arizona on Tuesday for interfering with flight crew members, a Class C felony offense, aboard an American Airlines plane in 2021. In addition to probation, Leeza S. Rodriguez was ordered by the court to pay $9,123 in restitution to American Airlines Corporate Security as well as a $100 special assessment. The court determined that Rodriguez did not have the ability to pay a fine, and that was waived. As part of her probation, Rodriguez must participate in a substance abuse treatment program as instructed by a probation officer and agree to substance abuse testing. Rodriguez's attorney, Melinda Kovacs, did not have a comment on Tuesday's sentencing. Rodriguez's co-defendant in the incident, Kelly Pichardo, was sentenced in September. What happened aboard flight 776 The two were traveling in first class on American Airlines flight 776 from Dallas to Los Angeles on February 24, 2021, when the incident occurred. The flight rerouted to Phoenix so that the two could be removed from the plane. An indictment charged that Pichardo and Rodriguez interfered with a flight crew member by assaulting a crew member while the aircraft was in flight. Rodriguez was also charged with assaulting a passenger, according to the indictment. Pichardo was charged with assaulting a different passenger. Both defendants ended up pleading guilty to one count of interfering with a flight crew member. Pichardo was sentenced in September to four months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Pichardo was also ordered to pay $9,123 in restitution to American Airlines. In a news release announcing Pichardo's sentencing, the Justice Department called the behavior "unruly and intimidating." Unruly passenger behavior reached a record level in 2021 A record year for unruly passenger behavior, 2021 ended with 5,981 reports to the Federal Aviation Administration. About 1,100 investigations and 350 enforcement actions were initiated in 2021. At the end of 2021, the Justice Department vowed to prioritize prosecution of crimes on commercial airplanes. As for 2022, it showed a marked improvement in the number of incidents reported: 2,359 unruly passenger reports had been logged as of December 15, with 823 investigations initiated. While the number of incidents reported and investigations initiated dropped in 2022, there were more enforcement cases -- 553 -- initiated. Eighty cases in 2022 had been referred to the FBI for criminal review as of December 15, according to FAA figures. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/airline-passenger-sentenced-interfering-with-flight-crew/index.html France's BEA Is Also Unhappy With The Final Ethiopian Airlines MAX Crash Report The French aviation safety organization agreed with US investigators that the final report is lacking missing relevant contributing factors. The French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA), brought in to assist Ethiopian authorities in 2019, is the latest to add additional comments to the investigation's final report. The BEA calls for Ethiopian authorities to amend the report on the 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 after concerns it submitted on the final draft were not included. Last week, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a supplementary statement of its own after its recommendations to Ethiopia's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (EAIB) were not included in the final accident report on December 27th. The NTSB agrees with the probable cause of the incident but believes the investigation does not thoroughly elaborate on several factors, including a potential bird strike and crew actions, that could impact future aviation safety. The BEA has now issued a statement following the exclusion of its comments in the EAIB report as well. The concerns raised by the French aviation authority regarding the analysis of the crew's performance and its contribution to the accident scenario (in particular during the first part of the flight) did not result in satisfying amendments to the final report. The omission led the NTSB and the BEA to request that their comments be appended to the final report. The finalized EAIB report only contains a link to a BEA document which does not contain the comments the BEA had requested be included. More to learn for the future The BEA issued its own statement to supplement the existing report in the hopes the analysis would make it possible to draw safety lessons beyond those related to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). The agency raised concerns that the EAIB insufficiently addressed several contributing factors discovered in the analysis of the event in its final report, specifically in reference to the sequence of events that occurred before the activation of the 1st MCAS. The omission of these concerns, the agency believes, prevents the reader from having a precise and complete understanding of the event. The authority found that the contributing factors identified by the EAIB are only related to the MCAS system and do not take into account potential shortcomings relating to the crew's actions, particularly in the first phase of the flight. The final report also lacked a thorough analysis of why several irregular procedures occurred in relation to the crew's training and experience. The BEA also questioned the use of the Logipad system used by Ethiopian Airlines as the sole means to distribute information on new systems and procedures. The system was used to disseminate the information related to the MCAS system issued following the previous 737 MAX Lion Air accident but does not have a feature that allows the airline to ensure that the crews had read and correctly understood this information. Crew actions on the flight The supplementary comments also noted actions by the flight crew, which did not follow the standard procedures. The first was the flight crew's failure to apply the Approach to Stall or Stall Recovery Maneuver and the Airspeed Unreliable Non-Normal Check-list following the initial warnings immediately after take-off and before the first MCAS activation. These reactions are a standard memory item described in Boeing's Flight Crew Operating Manual. There is also a lack of analysis of the Captain's insistence on engaging the Autopilot, which is counter-indicated in the recovery procedure. There were further concerns regarding the insufficient use of electric trim even as the pilot applied over 100 pounds of pressure on the stick to bring the nose of the plane up. Finally, the Captain's lack of thrust reduction as the speed became excessive was not wholly analyzed in relation to the subsequent increase of the forces on the control column and the manual trim wheel, rendering them unmanageable. Given these findings, foreign investigative agencies are requesting an updated report to incorporate these notes and ensure no such errors occur in the future. https://simpleflying.com/france-bea-unhappy-ethiopian-boeing-737-max-crash-report/ Washington Renominated For FAA Administrator Post As expected, President Joe Biden has renewed the nomination of Phil Washington to head up the FAA. The agency has been without an administrator for almost a year and there were no hearings to confirm him in the last Senate. The new Senate sat on Jan. 2 and Washington was among several second-time nominations put forth by Biden. Despite the Democrats’ majority in the Senate, Washington’s nomination might be contentious. Washington has been the CEO of Denver International Airport for more than a year, but that’s his first aviation job. Before KDEN, he was CEO of the Los Angeles transit system. He was recently named in a search warrant resulting from a corruption investigation at the City of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Acting Administrator Billy Nolen has been presiding over a busy time at the agency. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/washington-renominated-for-faa-administrator-post/ The world's most punctual airlines in 2022 were... 1. Azul Brazilian Airlines: South American carrier Azul Brazilian was the global airline with the best punctuality in 2022, according to a new report by aviation analytics firm Cirium. (CNN) — This week we've seen air passengers stranded in the Philippines after a power outage, flight delays in Florida and Denver, as well as the ongoing saga of Southwest Airlines' winter holiday meltdown. Welcome to 2023, where an airline actually being punctual is headline news. The airline in question is South American carrier Azul Brazilian Airlines, which last year had the best on-time performance globally, according to a new report by aviation analytics firm Cirium. During what was a particularly chaotic 12 months for aviation, Azul Brazilian operated nearly 280,000 flights last year and 88.93% of them arrived within 15 minutes of its scheduled time at the gate -- Cirium's performance measure. Elsewhere in South America, Chile's LATAM Airlines (86.31% punctuality across more than 450,000 flights) took fourth place on Cirium's ranking of international airlines and Colombia's Avianca (83.48% and nearly 145,000 flights) was sixth. America leads the way for airports The United States was also well represented, both for airlines and airports. For the second year in a row, Delta Airlines was given the Cirium Platinum Award for global operational excellence, which weighs up punctuality alongside operational complexity and an airline's ability to limit the impact of flight disruption to its passengers. While Delta only made fifth place on the global leaderboard, an impressive 83.63% of its million-plus flights were on time. United Airlines (80.46%) was in eighth place and American Airlines (78.29%) at No.10, while Southwest lagged behind with 74.06%. Six out of the world's top ten most punctual airports were in the US, with Salt Lake City International Airport placing highest. Cirium reports that 83.87% of its 226,545 flights took off within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure time. Asia-Pacific was considerably slower to open up air travel post-Covid compared to the rest of the world. Japan reopened its international borders in October and two of its airlines -- All Nippon Airways (88.61%) and Japan Airlines 88.00% -- were No.2 and No.3 on Cirium's leaderboard. Japan's StarFlyer was named the world's leading low-cost carrier (95.23% punctuality across nearly 22,000 flights) and Tokyo's Haneda the top airport performer globally for on-time departures (90.33% punctuality across more than 370,000 flights). It was a big year for travel to the Middle East, with the delayed Expo 2020 Dubai and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 both taking place, but Emirates (at No.7) and Qatar Airways (at No.10) rose to the challenge well. No European airlines or airports appeared in Cirium's top 10s of global leaders and no UK airline or airport even made the grade for its regional ranking of the best performers in Europe. Spain's Iberia, with 85.87% punctuality across more than 91,000 flights, was named top in Europe. The best global airlines for on-time performance, according to Cirium: 1. Azul Brazilian Airlines (88.93% punctuality; 279,722 flights). 2. All Nippon Airlines (88.61% punctuality; 162,370 flights). 3. Japan Airlines (88.00% punctuality; 165,981 flights). 4. LATAM Airlines (86.31% punctuality; 451,651 flights). 5. Delta Air Lines (83.63% punctuality; 1,004,684 flights). 6. Avianca S.A. (83.48% punctuality; 144,525 flights). 7. Emirates (81.30% punctuality; 137,589 flights). 8. United Airlines (80.46% punctuality; 789,200 flights). 9. Qatar Airways (78.32% punctuality; 152,377 flights). 10. American Airlines (78.29% punctuality; 1,076,100 flights). The top-performing global airports of 2022 were: 1. Haneda Airport, Tokyo (90.33% punctuality; 373,264 flights). 2. Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, India (84.08% punctuality; 201,897 flights). 3. Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (83.87% punctuality; 226,545 flights). 4. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan (82.62% punctuality; 271,963 flights). 5. Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania (82.54% punctuality; 233,777 flights). 6. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota (81.95% punctuality; 276,346 flights). 7. Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (81.84% punctuality; 411,205 flights). 8. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington (81.04% punctuality; 383,250 flights). 9. El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá (80.72% punctuality; 273,721 flights). 10. Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina (80.68% punctuality; 457,871 flights). http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/most-punctual-airlines-2022/index.html Which Commercial Aircraft Do Cabin Crew Love To Work On? Do cabin crew have their favorites? Cabin crew can be trained on up to four aircraft types at a time (as long as two are of the same family), so we may get some variation of aircraft during our careers. Some cabin crew only work on one type their whole careers, while others will collect a few different types. Do cabin crew have favorites? In general, yes! Types When cabin crew do their initial training, they are trained on the specific aircraft type or types that the airline uses. So, someone working for Flydubai or Ryanair, for example, will only train on the Boeing 737, whereas if they were working for British Airways or Etihad Airways, they may have three or four different types. These can be from the same family, for example, the Airbus A319, A320, A321, and A350. Alternatively, there could be a mix of aircraft like Airbus A319, A320, and Boeing 777 and 787. Training It all starts with training. The aircraft-specific training encompasses safety features on the aircraft, door operations, emergency equipment location and much more. All aircraft types differ and have different variants, so a Boeing 737 could also be a 737-400 or 737 MAX - in total, there have been 23 variants of the Boeing 737 over the years. The configuration may be different on the same type of aircraft, the safety equipment might be different, as well as the operator's safety procedures. Therefore, even if qualified on one type and you move to another operator, you still have to repeat the aircraft-specific training. Often, one of the aircraft learned during the first initial training will become a favorite. Experience Aircraft experience on type is also a factor, some cabin crew are more comfortable with the aircraft type that they've flown on the most. Obviously, the more hours you work on the type, the better knowledge you have of the safety equipment, locations and procedures, so that may become a favorite. Certainly, the A320 is a very popular aircraft, many cabin crew have been trained on it, and many airlines use it. Many cabin crew like the A319 (or the 'baby bus' as it's nicknamed) and A320 for those reasons. Issues Sometimes, crew members may not like an aircraft. It can be due to the door operation, which is crucial for cabin crew to get right. An inadvertent slide deployment is certainly not good! On the old 737 types, the girt bar and slide had to be attached manually to the floor brackets. This seems very 'old school' now, along with the red strap across the window, signifying that the door was in automatic. Most aircraft have power-assisted doors and more visible signage to show that door positioning is correct. Some doors are just 'uncooperative' and we've all got bruises from a door at some point. Some doors have unusual door operating systems, like the Embraer 190, which can be difficult to get used to at first. Memories Personal memories of working on an aircraft can also make it a favorite type. Some crew may have had a fantastic trip and remember the aircraft because of this. Sometimes, it's about the crew you worked with that made the aircraft fun. Some crew have been lucky enough to have sat in the cockpit for landings and seen amazing views outside. Now, with some types rarely used or no longer being made, there is some nostalgia to it as well. Any cabin crew who flew on the Boeing 747 will never forget it! Working on a huge aircraft with an upper deck, traveling far and wide, watching the wings flex in flight - it is an incredible aircraft. A380 crew will no doubt say something similar - it's an experience. Favorites In conclusion, cabin crew have their favorites for a number of reasons. The Airbus family are very popular with cabin crew as a whole, along with Boeing 777 and 787. Any standouts? The A319/320 for its familiarity and ease to work on, and the Boeing 747 and 767 for being unique and knowing that you were flying somewhere a long way away. https://simpleflying.com/commercial-aircraft-cabin-crew-love-to-work-on/ Life after politics: US Congressman resumes job as Hawaiian Airlines A330 pilot For US Congressman Kai Kahele, life after politics is about to take off. The US Representative, who served one term in Congress, will resume his full-time job with Hawaiian Airlines as an Airbus A330 pilot. The 117th United States Congress ended on January 3, 2023, and in a written and video statement, Kahele said that he will be immediately returning to full time employment with Hawaiian Airlines as an A330 captain and also continue his service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hawaii Air National Guard. “It has been my greatest honor to serve as your United States Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District,” Kahele said in his press statement. “I am extremely proud of the work Team Kahele accomplished and the aloha spirit we brought to our nation’s capital.” The statement also highlighted some of Kahele’s major pieces of federal registration enacted into law during his term: • The American Rescue Plan • The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act • The Inflation Reduction Act • The CHIPS and Science Act • The Honoring our PACT Act • The Safer Communities Act • The Respect for Marriage Act According to aviation blog Live and Let’s Fly, Kahele had been working for Hawaiian Airlines since 2009 and with the blessing of his union, the Air Line Pilots Association, worked out a specifically tailored leave policy that maintain his flight status, seniority, and longevity with the company while representing Hawaii in the US Government. While serving in Congress, Kahele managed to still work as a commercial pilot from time to time. “I would bid for the five-day Boston trips,” Kahele said. “It worked out perfectly. I would leave Monday and land on Tuesday morning, then go straight to D.C. I could take off my pilot uniform and put on my campaign uniform, then rejoin the crew for the flight home on Friday morning,” Kahele said in an interview with Honolulu Civil Beat. Former State Senator Jill Tokuda replaced Kahele on January 3, 2023. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/life-after-politics-us-congressman-resumes-job-as-hawaiian-airlines-a330-pilot Olea Announces Jet Aircraft Cockpit Pilot Monitoring System OleaSenseTM Development Platform for performance-enhancing sensor systems for the cockpit RENO, Nev., Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Olea Sensor Networks, a leader in intelligent sensors and analytic software for sensor network- based systems, is offering the OSN Pilot Health Monitoring Development Platform based on Olea's next-gen version of OleaSense™, a technology system for contactless and remote vital sign monitoring. This platform enables new kinds of cockpit sensor systems that can monitor and alert pilots to problems with their abilities to function and behave normally during flight in high-performance aircraft. Researchers are in need for new integrated sensor systems that can monitor air-quality; pilot's vital signs and breathing patterns; cockpit conditions like cabin pressure, temperature, and acceleration. NASA's Engineering and Safety Center and NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California has been researching pilot breathing patterns in which sensor systems measure numerous physiological breathing parameters for continuous in-flight measurements. NASA has been able to link breathing dynamics to high-altitude flights, aerobatic flights and any other fighter flight maneuver. Such advanced life-support system frameworks contribute to the explanation of physiological episodes in flight, including hypoxia and hypocapnia, and lead to improvements in oxygen delivery systems, while increasing the understanding of how breathing impacts human performance. The OleaSense™ advanced software development platforms process real-time data using Olea's AI signal processing and peak detection algorithms, extracting vital sign statistics such as cardiac, respiration and heart-rate variability or alternatively the presence or absence of life. These IoT platforms offer a suite of components featuring: Remote data collection from connected devices Independent and secure connectivity between devices Device/sensor analytics Integration with 3rd party systems Using Olea's intelligent sensor analytics, the collected data may be transmitted to the cloud for access by professional medical personnel for interpretation and diagnosis. No external wires and no contact with the body is required. The Olea monitoring device weighs about 1 ounce and is about the size of a business card. It may be slipped into a shirt pocket or worn on a lanyard, or embedded in a chair or mattress. It has been clinically tested and provides medical grade accuracy of resting vital signs. It also features the ability to develop an additional feature which provides an individual's HeartSignatureTM, which can identify the patient based upon their unique vital sign patterns. The OSN Pilot Health Monitoring Development PlatformTM is part of Olea's impressive portfolio of IoT intellectual property and was specifically developed as a vertically integrated solution in such a way that allows an innovative manufacturer to mitigate development cost, increase manufacturing efficiency and accelerate time to market. "As part of Olea's intellectual property portfolio offered for licensing to Aerospace companies and manufacturers, the OSN Pilot Health Monitoring Development PlatformTM technology, provides a mutual business advantage," explained Frank Morese CEO/CTO of Olea, "which helps them to continue to compete globally and allows them to accelerate their innovations. From start-up to large corporations, companies can benefit from development times being reduced from a typical 36 months to only about 6 months, thanks to our manufacturing-ready approach to design." Olea offers its IP under a wide variety of licensing models. For each innovation, a customer is able to select the type of licensing that fits their current business plan. A dedicated page which goes into greater detail can be found on the Olea website at https://www.oleasys.com/olea- licensing-models. About Olea's Intelligent Sensors and Analytic Software In 2013, Olea launched its flagship product the OS-3001 Intelligent Multi-Sensor Platform, for non-clinical R&D use, as a handheld/wearable, wireless, intelligent, multi-sensor data acquisition platform. It serves as a sensor hub with various on-board intelligent sensors. Since then, Olea has produced the OS-3005, OS-3008 and the 24Ghz OS-3010, feature-rich platforms for vital sign sensing, the OleaVisionTM life presence detector and Olea HeartSignatureTM biometric technology. All of Olea's technologies are designed for use with OleaSenseTM sensor-analytics software, and, optionally, its cloud-based service solutions using Olea's IoT Intelligent Partitioning Architecture. About Olea Olea Sensor Networks (incorporated as Olea Systems, Incorporated) develops intelligent sensors and analytic software for a wide variety of IoT applications, including connected car, connected care, smart home and identity access management. Olea, Olea Sensor Networks, Olea HeartSensor, Olea HeartSignature, OleaSense, OleaVision, BalancedSense, RespiroTrack, IoT Intelligent Partitioning Architecture, OSN Quadcorder, DrowseAlert are trademarks of Olea Systems, Incorporated. Other trademarks (registered or otherwise), names and brands may be claimed as property of Olea Systems, Incorporated or by others. www.oleasys.com https://finance.yahoo.com/news/olea-announces-jet-aircraft-cockpit-133900741.html Curt Lewis