Flight Safety Information - January 16, 2023 No. 011 In This Issue : Incident: American B772 at New York on Jan 13th 2023, runway incursion : Crash: Yeti AT72 at Pokhara on Jan 15th 2023, lost height on final approach : Incident: Delta B763 over Atlantic on Jul 7th 2022, flooding on board, autopilots disconnected : Incident: Kenya B738 near Mombasa on Jan 12th 2023, loss of cabin pressure : Flight data, voice recorders retrieved from Nepal crash site : FAA investigating how Delta, American Airlines planes nearly collided at JFK : Plume-like cloud ‘shot’ in front of Hawaiian Airlines flight seconds before turbulence injured 25, pilot says : Passenger aviation worldwide has become extraordinarily safe, but Nepal is the tragic outlier : Where Are The World's Largest Aircraft Maintenance Facilities? : The global hunt for new Covid variants reaches airplane bathrooms : Uranium: Man arrested over find at Heathrow airport : AIRINC and Plane Sciences join forces and form APS Aerospace : FAA Implements Internationally Recognized Program to Improve Aviation Safety : Position Available: Analyst/Senior Analyst, Line Operations Safety Audits Incident: American B772 at New York on Jan 13th 2023, runway incursion An American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N754AN performing flight AA-106 from New York JFK,NY (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was taxiing on taxiway B for departure from runway 04L being cleared to cross runway 31L on taxiway K, the aircraft however continued straight on, joined taxiway J and crossed runway 04L at taxiway J about 1200 meters/4000 feet down runway 04L. At that very moment a Delta Airlines Boeing 737-900, registration N914DU performing flight DL-1943 from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) with 145 passengers and 6 crew, was cleared for takeoff from runway 04L and was accelerating when tower noticed the conflict and instructed DL-1943 to cancel takeoff clearance with quite agitated voice, repeating that instruction a few seconds later until the crew reported they were rejecting takeoff. The Delta crew subsequently, in the voice of their transmissions to tower and "Uch!", indicated this became quite close. The aircraft vacated the runway to the left via taxiway J. Tower subsequently instructed AA-106 to call a phone number due to pilot deviation. After the phone call with tower AA-106 departed from runway 31L about 30 minutes later. DL-1943 returned to the apron, the aircraft remained on the ground for about 15 hours, then departed for the flight DL-1943 and reached Santo Domingo with a delay of about 14.5 hours. The FAA reported according to preliminary analysis the 737 stopped about 1000 feet short of the intersection with taxiway J, where the 777 had crossed the runway. The FAA opened an investigation. On Jan 15th 2023 the NTSB announced they have opened an investigation into the occurrence. https://avherald.com/h?article=503c9620&opt=0 Crash: Yeti AT72 at Pokhara on Jan 15th 2023, lost height on final approach A Yeti Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration 9N-ANC performing flight YT-691 from Kathmandu to Pokhara (Nepal) with 68 passengers and 4 crew, was on final approach to Pokhara's International Airport's runway 12 when the aircraft stalled, impacted ground between the old Pokhara and the new Pokhara International Airport, fell into a ravine and burst into flames about 1.12nm ahead of the runway threshold at about 11:05L (05:20Z). 68 bodies have so far been recovered from the crash site. A Rescue Operation is in progress. Nepal's CAA reported the aircraft carried 65 passengers and 4 crew, amongst them 53 Nepalis, five Indians, four Russians, four Irish, two Koreans, an Argentinian and a French and published a manifest with the names (Editorial comment: ? this does not add up with 69 people on board). Later the day the CAA corrected their previously corrected version (from 68+4 to 65+4) again to 68 passengers and 4 crew. There were 53 Nepalese, 5 Indian, 4 Russian, 2 Korean, 1 Australian, 1 Argentinian, 1 Irish and 1 French citizen plus the crew on board. 68 bodies were recovered from the crash site. Nepal Rescue Coordination Center in Kathmandu reported 68 bodies were recovered so far. The search for remaining 4 occupants is still on going. Nepal's government assigned an accident investigation commission. The French BEA is going to participate in the investigation. Pokhara's new International Airport was opened on Jan 1st 2023 to replace the old domestic Airport. Approximate position of the crash site: N28.2 E83.98 https://avherald.com/h?article=503c63e9&opt=0 Incident: Delta B763 over Atlantic on Jul 7th 2022, flooding on board, autopilots disconnected A Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N181DN performing flight DL-211 from Prague (Czech Republic) to New York JFK,NY (USA) with 221 passengers and 12 crew, was enroute about 240nm southsoutheast of the Southern Tip of Greenland, when the flight crew was informed about a flooding issue in the mid cabin lavatories shortly followed by flooding in the forward left lavatory. Some time after the flooding was discovered, the autopilot disconnected, the flight crew attempted to engage any of the three autopilots, however, none would remain connected. The aircraft began to drift to the right, and correction to the left was not possible. The flight crew contacted dispatch and maintenance reporting jammed flight controls and worked the related checklist. The crew declared emergency, descended the aircraft and coordinated with ATC for a diversion to Gander,NL (Canada). About 100nm east of Gander the flight controls returned to normal function. The crew terminated the emergency and set course to divert to Boston, MA (USA), subsequently while at FL110 determined that the fuel would be sufficient to continue to JFK. The aircraft landed on JFK's runway 04R about 4:15 hours after the onset of flooding. The Canadian TSB reported maintenance replaced both grey water drain masts and a seal in the left wheel well canted pressure deck above the aileron feel centering and trim mechanism. The entire roll control and autopilot systems were inspected and repairs effected as needed. On Jan 14th 2023 the NTSB reported they have opened an investigation into the occurrence at position N56.11 W46.15. https://avherald.com/h?article=4fccf6bb&opt=0 Incident: Kenya B738 near Mombasa on Jan 12th 2023, loss of cabin pressure A Kenya Airways Boeing 737-800, registration 5Y-KYD performing flight KQ-606 from Nairobi to Mombasa (Kenya), was descending towards Mombasa when the cabin pressure was lost and the passenger oxygen masks were released. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Mombasa's runway 03. The airline reported the crew declared emergency due to pressurization failure and descended to 10,000 feet. https://avherald.com/h?article=503b45b7&opt=0 Flight data, voice recorders retrieved from Nepal crash site POKHARA, Nepal (AP) — Search teams retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders Monday of a passenger plane that crashed on approach to a new airport in Nepal's Himalayan foothills, officials said. At least 69 of the 72 people aboard were killed in the crash, whose cause is unknown. Rescuers are still searching the debris, which is scattered down a 300-meter (984-foot) gorge, for the three missing people who are believed to be dead. Many of the passengers on Sunday's flight were returning home to Pokhara, though the city is also popular with tourists since it's the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit hiking trail. A pharmaceutical marketing agent was traveling to be with his sister as she gave birth, and a minister of a Korean religious group was visiting the school he founded. On Monday evening, relatives and friends were still gathered outside a local hospital. Many consoled one another, while some shouted at officials to speed up the post mortems so they could take the bodies of their loved ones home for funerals. It's still not clear what caused the crash, which took place less than a minute's flight from the airport on a mild day with little wind. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft last made contact with the airport, which began operations only two weeks ago, from near Seti Gorge before crashing. A witness who recorded footage of the plane’s descent said it looked like a normal landing until the plane suddenly veered to the left. "I saw that, and I was shocked," said Diwas Bohora. “I thought that today everything will be finished here after it crashes, I will also be dead.” After it crashed, red flames erupted and the ground shook violently, Bohora said. “Seeing that scene, I was scared,” he added. Amit Singh, an experienced pilot and founder of India’s Safety Matters Foundation, said Bohora's video appears to show a stall, a situation in which a plane loses lift, especially likely at low airspeeds. The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft, operated by Nepal’s Yeti Airlines, was completing the 27-minute flight from the capital, Kathmandu, to Pokhara, 200 kilometers (125 miles) west. It was carrying 68 passengers, including 15 foreign nationals, as well as four crew members, Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The foreigners included five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France. Jagannath Niraula, a spokesman for the authority, said the flight recorders will be handed over to investigators. Pemba Sherpa, spokesperson for Yeti Airlines, confirmed that both the flight data and the cockpit voice recorders were found. Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest. A pilot who routinely flies an ATR 72-500 plane from India to Nepal said the region’s topography, with its mountain peaks and narrow valleys, raises the risk of accidents and sometimes requires pilots to fly by sight rather than relying on instruments. The pilot, who works for a private Indian airline and insisted on anonymity due to company policy, called the ATR 72-500 an “unforgiving aircraft” if the pilot isn’t highly skilled and familiar with the region’s terrain and wind speeds. Hundreds of people have gathered outside the Pokhara Academy of Health and Science, Western Hospital, where the bodies are being kept. Bimala Bhenderi said was planning to meet her friend, Tribhuban Paudel, on Tuesday when she heard that his flight had crashed. “I’m so sad, I can’t believe it still,” she said in tears. Bikash Jaiswal said he could only identify his wife's brother only by the ring he wore, and that he had yet to tell his wife, who just gave birth to their daughter. Sanjay Jaiswal, who worked as a marketing agent for a private pharmaceutical company in Kathmandu, was flying to Pokhara for the birth. More than 24 hours after the crash, his body lay in the same hospital where his niece was born. “He was a hardworking person, and now there’s no one left in his family to earn,” Bikash said. Park Dae-seong, a minister and spokesperson of the Won Buddhist order, confirmed on Monday the deaths of Arun Paudel and his daughter, Prasiddi. Arun Paudel, 47, had worked as a police officer in Nepal before being introduced into the religion by his brother. He studied the religion for years at a South Korean university before becoming a minister in 2009. He then returned to Nepal and established a school in the Lumbini province in 2013 where children received English, Korean and information technology instruction. Park said Paudel was returning to Nepal for work related to the school, called the Vishow Ekata Academy. The Civil Aviation Authority said that 41 people have been identified. Gyan Khadka, a police spokesperson in the district, said the bodies would be handed over to family after officials finish post mortem reports. The type of plane involved, the ATR 72, has been used by airlines around the world for short regional flights since the late 1980s. In Taiwan, two accidents involving ATR 72-500 and ATR 72-600 aircrafts in 2014 and 2015 led to the planes being grounded for a period. ATR identified the plane involved in Sunday’s crash as an ATR 72-500 in a tweet. According to plane tracking data from flightradar24.com, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.” It was previously flown by India’s Kingfisher Airlines and Thailand’s Nok Air before Yeti took it over in 2019, according to records on Airfleets.net. ATR has not responded to a request for comment. According to the Safety Matters Foundation’s data, there have been 42 fatal plane crashes in Nepal since 1946. Sunday’s crash is the country's deadliest since 1992, when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane were killed when it plowed into a hill as it tried to land in Kathmandu. The European Union has banned airlines from Nepal from flying into the 27-nation bloc since 2013, citing weak safety standards. In 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organization cited improvements in Nepal’s aviation sector, but the EU continues to demand administrative reforms. https://www.yahoo.com/news/nepal-mourns-deadly-plane-crash-044924079.html FAA investigating how Delta, American Airlines planes nearly collided at JFK The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a near-collision between a Delta and American Airlines aircraft at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the government agency announced. A Boeing 737 operated by Delta stopped its takeoff roll about 1,000 feet away from where American Airlines Flight 106, a Boeing 777, had crossed from an adjacent runway on Friday around 8:45 p.m., according to the FAA. The Delta Flight 1943 came to a safe stop on Runway 4-Left after air traffic controllers noticed the other aircraft crossing the runway in front of the departing jetliner, the FAA said in a preliminary statement. There were 145 passengers and six crew members on Flight 1943, which was flying to Santa Domingo Airport in the Dominican Republic, Delta said in a statement. The airline described the incident as a "successful aborted takeoff procedure," adding passengers deplaned after returning to the gate. The flight was then delayed overnight due to crew resources and were provided overnight accommodations, Delta said. Flight 1943 eventually departed at 10:17 a.m. Saturday, Delta said. MORE: 6 dead after 2 planes collide and crash during WWII air show in Dallas Delta Airlines will work with and assist aviation authorities on the full review of the incident, according to the statement. "The safety of our customers and crew is always Delta's number one priority..." Delta said in the statement. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay of their travels." PWhen asked for comment by ABC News, American Airlines deferred to the FAA. Additional information on the incident was not immediately available. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the incident, the agency announced Sunday afternoon. https://news.yahoo.com/faa-investigating-delta-american-airlines-165451007.html Plume-like cloud ‘shot’ in front of Hawaiian Airlines flight seconds before turbulence injured 25, pilot says The pilot on the Dec. 18 flight from Phoenix to Honolulu said conditions were smooth when a smoke-like plume appeared in front of the Airbus A330. A pilot on a Hawaiian Airlines flight said a plume-like cloud “shot” in front of the plane moments before severe turbulence that left more than two dozen people injured and damaged the aircraft last month, federal officials said Friday. The pilot, a captain on the Dec. 18 flight from Phoenix to Honolulu, said conditions were smooth and on-board weather radar showed no turbulence as they flew above a layer of cirrostratus clouds at an altitude of between 37,000 and 38,000 feet, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the incident. Just after 10 a.m., when the flight was 40 minutes from landing, a “cloud shot up vertically (like a smoke plume) in front of the airplane in a matter of seconds, and there was not enough time to deviate,” the report says. The pilot told the lead flight attendant about the incoming weather, and within 1 to 3 seconds, the plane — an Airbus A330 — plowed into what the report described as “severely convectively induced turbulence,” the report says. "Shortly after the turbulence-related upset, the lead flight attendant informed the flight crew that there were multiple injuries in the cabin," the report says. Satellite imagery later reviewed by the report’s authors showed strong cells associated with a storm system moving toward Hawaii that were near the flight path, according to the report. No other pilots had reported severe weather in the region before the incident, the report says. Of the 291 passengers and crew on board the Hawaiian Airlines flight, 25 people had cuts, bruises, nausea and head injuries, officials said at the time. Six of the injuries were serious, the report says. Damage to the plane was described in the report as minor. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/plume-cloud-shot-front-hawaiian-airlines-flight-seconds-turbulence-inj-rcna65800 Passenger aviation worldwide has become extraordinarily safe, but Nepal is the tragic outlier With the latest accident, the Himalayan kingdom has now suffered 13 tragedies in as many years Almost everywhere in the world, passenger aviation has become extraordinarily safe. In 2022, the total aviation death toll of 174 corresponded to the average number of fatalities on the roads in an hour and a quarter worldwide. Two weeks ago, Adrian Young of the Dutch air safety consultancy To70 reported: “The fatal accident rate is better than average over the last 10 years.” But there is one country where plane crashes remain tragically frequent: Nepal. On the Yeti Airlines website, flight YT691 on Sunday morning from Kathmandu to Pokhara is listed normally as “departed”. In reality, dozens of passengers are dead after the plane crashed on approach to Pokhara international airport. The cause is not yet known. But with the latest incident, this time involving an ATR 72 aircraft, the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal has now suffered 13 tragedies in as many years. The current sequence began in August 2010, when 14 people lost their lives on an Agni Air domestic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, which had turned back because of bad weather at Lukla. Twenty-two more people died aboard a Tara Air Twin Otter during a domestic flight to Kathmandu in December 2010. In September 2011, 19 people lost their lives when a Buddha Air Beechcraft commuter plane crashed on approach to Kathmandu. A year later, seven British passengers were among the 19 people who died on board a Sita Air Dornier 228 that came down shortly after take-off from Kathmandu, destination Lukla. They were at the start of what was to be a three-week trek. The litany of tragedy continues. While crashes in parts of Africa, South America and the former Soviet Union are far from unknown, accident rates in Nepal resemble those from the early days of mass passenger air transport in the 1950s rather than the ultra-safe 2020s. Nepal’s challenging terrain may have contributed to its tragic history of fatal plane crashes The challenging terrain and weather in Nepal demand pilots and engineers of the highest standard, but time and again they fall short. The nation’s airlines tend to use old, ill-maintained aircraft, with inadequate training in, and enforcement of, international aviation norms. All of Nepal’s airlines are banned from operating within the European Union because of safety shortcomings. For the past seven years, the International Civil Aviation Organization has been seeking to reduce the death toll under its “No Country Left Behind” initiative, but there is little evidence of progress. Travellers to the mountain kingdom must continue to weigh the risks of flying – while also being aware that Nepal’s roads are lethal, too, with an accident rate six times higher than in the UK. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/plane-crash-nepal-yeti-airlines-aviation-b2262434.html Where Are The World's Largest Aircraft Maintenance Facilities? Extensive maintenance facilities are required to carry out aircraft maintenance operations. Aircraft are complex machines that require immaculate maintenance, repair, and overhaul at various intervals throughout their lifetime. Aircraft are subject to extreme wear due to varying environmental and operational conditions. Extensive maintenance facilities are required to carry out such operations, whether the engine overhaul or heaving maintenance on a jetliner. With thousands of parts, aircraft maintenance operations comprise hundreds of processes. Irrespective of the aircraft size, almost everything from the aircraft is stripped down to the component level during heavy maintenance. Large maintenance hangers, machine shops, and test facilities are necessary to perform the job. American Airlines' Tulsa base The American Airlines maintenance base in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the largest commercial aviation facility in the world. The facility spans over 33 acres with maintenance hangers and shop space covering over three million square feet (280,000 sqm). American Airlines uses the facility for the maintenance and overhaul of its small and large aircraft. With more than 5,000 employees, the facility significantly contributes to the city’s economy. American Airlines plans to expand its operations at the facility by hiring 400 new employees. In 2022, the maintenance facility overhauled over 245 aircraft. HAECO Xiamen maintenance facility The Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO) Xiamen Group in China is building the world’s largest single-span aircraft maintenance facility. The facility will be located at Xiamen Xiang’an International Airport (to be completed in 2025) in the Fujian Province of China. HAECO Xiamen currently operates out of its Gaoqi International Airport facility and will relocate to the new facility upon completion. The facility covers nearly 6 million square feet (540,000 sqm) of space, half of which will have maintenance hangars and the other half for the apron area. The constructed area would comprise 18 buildings, including engineering, test bays, utility tunnels, and an aviation fuel supply center. HAECO Xiamen plans to build 6 narrowbody and 12 widebody maintenance bays in the new facility. Moreover, two brand-new painting bays would provide additional capability and flexible accommodation for additional aircraft. HAECO Xiamen aims to maximize space utilization while optimizing operational efficiency during maintenance. With HAECO Xiamen’s move into the new facility, the maintenance turnaround times are expected to lower while meeting customers’ demands. At its completion in 2025, the new facility will become the largest single span aircraft maintenance facility in the world. Bombardier’s Singapore Service Center Bombardier’s Singapore Service Center, located in Seletar Aerospace Park, is the largest aircraft maintenance facility in the Asia-Pacific region. With the recent expansion, the service center spans nearly 300,000 square feet (28,000 sqm). The facility provides maintenance capabilities to Bombardier’s Learjet, Challenger, and Global aircraft operators. Various Component, Repair, and Overhaul (CRO) processes for business jets take place. An environmentally controlled paint shop also complements the facility and aids in meeting customer demands. The facility can support over 2,000 business jet visits a year. Aeroman’s maintenance center Aeroman Holding is the operator of the largest aircraft maintenance center in Latin America. The facility spans 22,000 square feet (2,000 sqm) in El Salvador. The state-of-the-art facility, completed in June 2019, has a capacity of 14 aircraft. The facility will have the capability of servicing the Boeing 777X. Alongside heavy maintenance, the facility can clean and paint passenger seats and cabin galleys. https://simpleflying.com/where-are-the-worlds-largest-aircraft-maintenance-facilities/#american-airlines-39-tulsa-base The global hunt for new Covid variants reaches airplane bathrooms The Biden administration plans to widen testing of bathroom waste when international flights arrive. The Biden administration is ramping up surveillance of biological samples from international passengers arriving at U.S. airports to scan for new virus variants and other hazards to Americans’ health. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images The cramped, damp and poorly lit airplane toilet is among the scourges of air travel, a source of dread for young and old alike. But the deafening “swoosh” of the airplane lavatory may have finally found a higher calling: helping government scientists detect deadly viruses entering the United States. As Covid-19 cases explode in China and new viral threats loom, the Biden administration is ramping up surveillance of biological samples from international passengers arriving at U.S. airports to scan for new virus variants and other hazards to Americans’ health. Late last month, amid concerns over new variants expected to emerge from China’s massive Covid outbreak, the Biden administration expanded a program started in late 2021 to collect voluntary nasal swabs from arriving passengers to determine what Covid strains are entering the country. It set up new operations at Seattle-Tacoma International in December and LAX in early January to target more flights carrying passengers coming from China, and went from monitoring around 55 flights from Asia each day to 260. At the same time, after a successful test run at New York’s JFK Airport, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is pursuing talks with airlines and port authorities to start collecting samples from long-haul international flights’ wastewater after they land. The small but growing Traveler Genomic Surveillance program, run by the CDC with a biotech firm and a company that collects samples, is seen by administration officials and public health experts as part of a revolution in biosafety infrastructure — and a critical plank of national security in the post-pandemic era. As it expands geographically and sets its sights on new pathogens, it could function as an early warning system for where and when dangerous viruses and bacteria, natural or otherwise, enter the country. “Just like we have radar to look for airplanes to make sure we know what’s coming into our country, or we take swabs and samples to make sure somebody walking through security doesn’t have explosives on their hands, this is the same thing for pathogens or viruses or bacteria,” said Matthew McKnight, the general manager at Ginkgo Bioworks, whose biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, partners with the CDC in the program along with XpresCheck. During the early days of Omicron, the program detected both the BA.2 and BA.3 subvariants weeks before they showed up elsewhere in the U.S. In the pilot project at JFK, in which staff collected wastewater samples on flights arriving from Europe in August and September, the program identified the same SARS-CoV-2 sequences in the wastewater that were predominantly circulating in the flights’ countries of origin. Since the program ramped up in response to China’s outbreak, the CDC says it has not found new variants in the viral samples from passengers coming from China. “So far, reassuringly, we’re seeing BA.5.2 and BF.7 — two lineages that have been reported from China, which are not anything new or worrisome,” said Cindy Friedman, head of the CDC’s Travelers’ Health Branch. The program now covers roughly 500 flights a day from some 30 countries. It’s voluntary: arriving passengers, after customs, can stop at a booth, answer a few questions, and give a nasal swab to the program staff. The samples are then sent to a lab in Ginkgo’s network for testing; if they’re positive, Ginkgo sequences them, analyzes them, and reports that information to the CDC, which shares it on a global database and the agency’s COVID data tracker. Participation has grown quickly since the CDC started monitoring more flights last month. The week of Jan. 2, for instance, about 4,500 passengers across the seven airports where the program now operates volunteered to give samples, up from around 2,700 the week before. Given international flight traffic, however, that’s still relatively low, and has the inherent disadvantage of skewing toward a self-selecting group who may generally be more cautious about Covid. “We want to know when a new variant either is arriving or rising quickly, and these are the tools that will help answer those questions.” Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Relying on individuals to volunteer to get Covid tested at this phase of the pandemic is really challenging,” said Megan Diamond, director of global health partnerships at the Rockefeller Foundation. “You’re going to have a biased sample. People who are doing it are the people who are more likely to do an antigen test before they left home.” Expanding to include routine wastewater sampling at airports would widen scientists’ lens on the bugs entering U.S. territory. It doesn’t require buy-in from passengers, and the operation requires less staff in the complicated airport environment, so it’s less expensive. Eventually, the CDC envisions both prongs of the traveler surveillance program — the voluntary sample collection and wastewater monitoring — linking up with other countries that are starting to do the same thing, feeding into a global system that offers a real-time picture of how travelers are carrying diseases around the planet. “We want to know when a new variant either is arriving or rising quickly, and these are the tools that will help answer those questions,” said Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Otherwise, we’re just waiting for those things to show up in cities … This is trying to push it out much further to get the earliest possible signal.” ‘The dream of biosecurity infrastructure’ The CDC program fits into the Biden administration’s broader vision for using the lessons learned during the Covid pandemic to bolster the nation’s defenses. The administration is already using the sprawling network of public health laboratories, testing sites, and domestic wastewater surveillance set up during the pandemic to gather virus samples and analyze them to learn what SARS-CoV-2 variants are circulating in the U.S. The White House wants to see that network, which includes the Traveler Genomic Surveillance program, put to work to look for other threats. Building on that infrastructure is going to be “really important for the long-term biosecurity of our country,” White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha told POLITICO. The CDC program has already added one new virus to its watch list: flu. This winter, given the unusual flu season in several countries, Ginkgo started testing passenger samples for influenza A and B viruses, in addition to SARS-CoV-2. It has shared positive samples with the CDC for sequencing — information that could be used in vaccine development for next flu season. It’s the kind of pivot that would make expanding the program to more airports and airplane wastewater an asset to national security after the pandemic ends, said Ginkgo’s McKnight. “You want to be able to detect genetic variants of Covid. You want to be able to detect genetic variants of other threatening pathogens that might show up, known and unknown. And you want to have the capability to look for mistakenly released genetically engineered organisms — or purposefully released things — and then you can deploy that in places where you’re worried about things showing up,” he said. “That’s the dream of biosecurity infrastructure. And it’s totally doable.” Since Beijing abruptly lifted its “zero-Covid” policy last month, several other countries have also started thinking more about the biological information landing in airplanes’ lavatories. The European Union recently said it is looking testing and sequencing of wastewater from aircraft and airports, and this month Canadian biotech firm LuminUltra announced it was launching a wastewater pilot project at Pearson International Airport in Toronto to test for SARS-CoV-2 variants and mpox in wastewater from planes and airport terminals. Ginkgo recently signed an agreement with the government of Ukraine, which has seen a surge in infectious disease due to the pandemic and the ongoing war with Russia, to set up a wastewater testing pilot project that will monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. The company is also in the process of developing aircraft wastewater monitoring programs in Rwanda and Qatar. “It’s pretty neat to see other places emulating what has been a two-year-long program by the CDC,” said McKnight. ‘You’re starting to see these other countries say, ‘Wait, that’s a good way to do it.’” ‘It’s always hard to be the first’ Getting U.S. airlines and airports to agree to let the government examine their customers’ waste will take some effort, the CDC acknowledged. “We know this works,” said the CDC’s Friedman, who is talking to “global partners” and U.S. airports where the program is already collecting nasal swabs about airplane wastewater testing. The pilot project at JFK “showed that we could detect sequences from wastewater,” she said. But, she added, it is a challenge to “get cooperation from all the different entities… We’re in discussions with airlines right now and airports to get permission to take a sample of the wastewater.” McKnight of Ginkgo, who is also talking to airlines about the technology, said there hasn’t been an outright negative reaction from the industry, but airline executives have been cautious. Diamond of the Rockefeller Foundation said airlines that participate could be taking a reputational risk because it could bring focus to the fact that there are people on their flights infected with Covid, or because some passengers may see the analysis of their waste as a privacy issue. “It is always hard to be the first to do something that has pros and cons,” Diamond said. The government and the airline industry need to make the case to the public, she said, by explaining to people that by letting the government test their waste, they are helping keep everyone safer. “If we do robust wastewater surveillance — in communities or in hospitals or schools or on an airplane — there’s no doubt in my mind that we will be more equipped to detect threats, respond to them quicker and save more lives,” she said. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/16/covid-variant-airplane-bathrooms-00077979 Uranium: Man arrested over find at Heathrow airport Border Force officers discovered uranium with a shipment of scrap metal in a routine screening on 29 December A man in his 60s has been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence after traces of uranium were found at Heathrow Airport in December. It comes after counter-terrorism officers searched an address in Cheshire on Saturday. The man was arrested under Section 9 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which covers the making and possession of radioactive devices and materials. He was released on bail until April. Cdr Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, said that "based on what we currently know", the incident "still does not appear to be linked to any direct threat to the public". He said officers were continuing to investigate to "ensure this is definitely the case". The search of the Cheshire property had been completed and police said no material that could be a threat to the public was found. Border Force officers discovered the radioactive material with a shipment of scrap metal during a routine screening on 29 December. Uranium is an element which occurs naturally. It can have nuclear-related uses once it has been refined, or enriched. This is achieved by the use of centrifuges - machines which spin at supersonic speeds. Low-enriched uranium can be used to produce fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Highly enriched uranium has a purity of 20% or more and is used in research reactors. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64283105 FAA Implements Internationally Recognized Program to Improve Aviation Safety The FAA recently expanded internationally recognized aviation safety standards to all commercial aircraft operators and manufacturers. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration approved a new program to decrease aviation safety risks in a new ruling. Based on international safety standards and recommendations from independent review panels, this 2023 ruling applies to all aircraft manufacturers and operators of commercial, air tour, and charter flights. Early findings indicate that this ruling could reduce the number of aviation accidents and save lives. This move expands upon the safety regulations established in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act. This 2020 act was in response to two crashes of the popular 737 MAX aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia. It increased safety standards for aviation manufacturers but didn’t address aircraft operators. When discussing the differences between these two, the FAA press release stated, “The proposed rule goes beyond the requirements of the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act of 2020, which directed the FAA to mandate SMS only for aircraft manufacturers.” While the 2020 act was responsive to these crashes, this new rule is a preventative measure based on international safety regulations. More specifically, it’s based on the Safety Management Systems (SMS), a standard set of safety measures recognized by the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA). SMS provides a structured list of decision-making protocols, risk control and safety assurance processes, and a framework which promotes a safety focused culture. All protocols and policies fall under four components: safety risk management, safety policy, safety promotion, and safety assurance. Along with implementing the SMS standards, the new rule also considers recommendations from independent review panels and the National Transportation Safety Board. There is also a public comment period over the next 60 days, during which there could be adjustments to the new ruling. All manufacturers and commuter, air tour, and charter aircraft operators must comply with the new ruling within one to two years. The exact time frame depends on each operator’s implementation capabilities. Some major aircraft carriers, such as Boeing, Bell, GE, P&W, and Sikorsky, have already implemented many measures in this new ruling with great success. By applying internationally-recognized and proactive safety protocols to all members of the aviation industry, the FAA hopes to reduce the number of aviation accidents. Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen explained, “Expanding Safety Management Systems to other players in the aviation industry will reduce accidents and incidents and save lives." https://www.aviationtoday.com/2023/01/13/faa-implements-internationally-recognized-program-improve-aviation-safety/ Analyst/Senior Analyst, Line Operations Safety Audits Date: Dec 29, 2022 Location: DFW Headquarters Building 8 (DFW-SV08) Additional Locations: None Requisition ID: 64611 Intro Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board! Why you'll love this job · The Analyst/Sr Analyst, Line Operations Safety Audits (LOSA) reports to the Manager, Line Operations Safety Audits (LOSA) · You’ll be involved in leading initiatives and supporting day-to-day operations for American Airlines’ LOSA Program. What you'll do As noted above, this list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced. Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations. · Supports the American Airlines Safety Management System (SMS) in hazard identification and risk mitigation. · Collects observation data, conducts analysis, and creates presentations. · Supports the data analytics and reporting requirements for Safety & Efficiency Programs, Flight Operations, Flight Service, Dispatch, and other AA stakeholders. · Attends, facilitates, and presents analysis and recommendations to leadership at monthly SMS meetings. · Supports the LOSA Manager in selection, training, and monthly scheduling of LOSA Observers. · Coordinates with and ensures proper accommodation of LOSA observes. · Maintains collected LOSA data within confidential data archive. · Maintains secure access to data (Safety Data SharePoint site and Tableau). · Establishes and coordinates data-derived targets for safety enhancements. · All you'll need for success Minimum Requirements – Education & Prior Job Experience · Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience · 3 years of relevant experience or a master’s degree in a related field Preferred Requirements - Education & Prior Job Experience · Degree or specialization in Aviation or Human Factors · Experience with Line Operations Safety Audits (LOSA), Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP), Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA), and/or Air Safety Investigations Skills, Licenses & Certifications · Understanding of Threat & Error Management concept and how it is applied within a safety organization. · Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to influence and effectively communicate with all levels of employees across the organization. · Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including professional presentation skills. · The ability to effectively interact with employees at all levels within the organization, as well as external agencies to include the FAA and labor associations. · Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to prepare reports based on data analysis. · Proficiency in MS Office suite. Previous experience with Tableau preferred. · Preferred FAA Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency and/or operational airline experience · What you'll get Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: · Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network. · Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. · Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need. · 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year. · Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more · Feel free to be yourself at American From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world. Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American. Additional Locations: None Requisition ID: 64611 Nearest Major Market: Dallas Nearest Secondary Market: Fort Worth Job Segment: Quality Assurance, Operations Manager, Developer, Sharepoint, Technology, Aviation, Operations Curt Lewis