Flight Safety Information - January 17, 2023 No. 012 In This Issue : Incident: Delta B753 at Minneapolis on Jan 14th 2023, brakes problem : Incident: Jetblue A320 at West Palm Beach on Jan 15th 2023, bird strike : Incident: Jetblue A320 at Orlando on Jan 12th 2023, bird strike : Incident: UPS B763 at Cologne on Jan 12th 2023, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Lufthansa Cityline A319 near Munich on Jan 15th 2023, failure of weather radar : Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster - Crash on Approach (Hawaii) : Bill calls for specialized advanced aviation office within the FAA : TSA finds large weapon inside checked luggage at San Antonio International Airport : Air India Tipped To Order Roughly 500 New Aircraft : Southwest Airlines Has a Problem Bigger Than its Technology : AIRINC and Plane Sciences join forces and form APS Aerospace : POSITION AVAILABLE: AEROSPACE ENGINEER (STRUCTURES), GS-0861-13 : Position Available: Analyst/Senior Analyst, Line Operations Safety Audits Incident: Delta B753 at Minneapolis on Jan 14th 2023, brakes problem A Delta Airlines Boeing 757-300, registration N583NW performing flight DL-1103 from Orlando,FL to Minneapolis,MN (USA), had been enroute at FL360 when upon reaching the top of descent the crew advised they had a problem with the brakes. On approach to Minneapolis the crew further advised they were planning to stop on the runway due to their brakes problem. The aircraft continued for a landing on runway 12R without further incident, stopped on the runway for about 4 minutes and taxied to the apron. https://avherald.com/h?article=503d7f30&opt=0 Incident: Jetblue A320 at West Palm Beach on Jan 15th 2023, bird strike A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N821JB performing flight B6-62 from West Palm Beach,FL to New York La Guardia,NY (USA), was climbing out of West Palm Beach's runway 28R when the crew stopped the climb at 4000 feet reporting they had taken a bird into the left hand engine (V2527) and decided to return to West Palm Beach, the crew agreed to be handed off to departure and sequenced back in via departure. Another aircraft reported there were buzzards around the runway. The crew reported on final approach the engine was still kept running and landed the aircraft without further incident on runway 28R about 25 minutes after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration N649JB reached New York with a delay of about 9.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in West Palm Beach about 27 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=503d7b35&opt=0 Incident: Jetblue A320 at Orlando on Jan 12th 2023, bird strike A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N585JB performing flight B6-127 from Newark,NJ to Orlando,FL (USA), landed on Orlando's runway 18R after suffering a bird strike. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 31 hours before returning to service. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD LEAVING A SMALL DENT IN THE RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE, ORLANDO, FL.", rated the damage minor and the occurrence an incident. https://avherald.com/h?article=503d73bd&opt=0 Incident: UPS B763 at Cologne on Jan 12th 2023, engine shut down in flight A UPS United Parcel Service Boeing 767-300, registration N394UP performing flight 5X-248 from Cologne (Germany) to Dublin (Ireland) with 2 crew, was climbing out of Cologne's runway 14L when the crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet due to an engine (CF6) failure. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Cologne for a safe landing on runway 14L about 14 minutes after departure. The aircraft returned to service after about 24 hours on the ground. https://avherald.com/h?article=503d67d3&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa Cityline A319 near Munich on Jan 15th 2023, failure of weather radar A Lufthansa Cityline Airbus A319-100, registration D-AIBP performing flight LH-2284 from Munich (Germany) to Brussels (Belgium), was enroute at FL360 about 150nm northwest of Munich when the crew decided to return to Munich reporting the failure of their weather radar. The aircraft descended to FL350 and landed safely back on Munich's runway 26R about one hour after departure. The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked onto the next flight. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 12 hours after landing. The aircraft had suffered the same problem two days earlier already. https://avherald.com/h?article=503d5a30&opt=0 Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster - Crash on Approach (Hawaii) Date: Monday 16 January 2023 Time: 05:05 Type: Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster Operator: Kamaka Air Registration: N236KA MSN: 208B2034 First flight: 2008 Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: near Molokai/Kaunakakai Airport, HI (MKK) ( United States of America) Phase: Approach (APR) Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL), United States of America Destination airport: Molokai/Kaunakakai Airport, HI (MKK/PHMK), United States of America Narrative: A Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster crashed while on approach to Molokai/Kaunakakai Airport (MKK), Hawaii, USA. The condition of both pilots is unkown at this time. http://www.aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20230116-0 Bill calls for specialized advanced aviation office within the FAA FAA advanced aviation Among the first pieces of legislation introduced to the new Congress is a bill calling for an Office of Advanced Aviation to be created within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which would coordinate regulation of craft, pilot training, air traffic systems, and other considerations particular to next-generation vehicles that will be providing air taxi and other services. The bill, HR 220, or the Advanced Aviation Act, seeks to “establish the Office of Advanced Aviation within the Administration of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes,” and thereby place responsibility with overseeing the full range of consideration in future services and craft within a specialized section of the FAA. New Jersey Republican Jim Van Drew introduced the text last week, and wants to have it passed as an advanced aviation attachment to recurring FAA reauthorization legislation that Congress must approve by the end of September. First reported by Bloomberg Government, Van Drew’s advanced aviation legislation was tabled amid continuing political and passenger anger over severely disrupted air traffic due to extreme weather between Christmas and New Year’s; and last week’s temporary halt of takeoffs due to the crash of the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions system. Van Drew acknowledged to the agency that the timing of the bill’s introduction enjoyed “unfortunately really good timing when you see what happened with the recent air traffic control just complete breakdown.” Van Drew’s broader criticism of the FAA has in part focused on the agency’s difficulty keeping legacy air traffic flowing without incident, as it struggles to update current operating systems to deal with more planes in the air, complications created by new tech evolutions, as well as unexpected developments or events. But his advanced aviation initiative also echoes wider skepticism that the tradition- and bureaucracy-bound FAA can swiftly rise to the challenge of overseeing emerging electrical takeoff and landing aircraft that will soon be proliferating overhead as air taxis and regional passenger transportation providers. Therefore, he wants a new office within the administration to take over preparations for and regulation of those craft and operations, and in so doing act as a more effective communicator and partner for the diverse activities and actors that will make up advanced air mobility soon. Central to that is the morphing of the FAA’s NextGen section – which is assigned with continually updating air traffic systems to keep pace with new technology – into the Office of Advance Aviation. It would be tasked with managing a massive, transversal terrain covering certification, regulation, and operational details of all aspects of next-generation planes – from propulsion trains to communications systems ¬– whether they’re drones, urban air mobility vehicles, or future electric jets. According to the bill, it would also: Coordinate workforce planning across relevant offices of the Administration to ¬– (A) hire and recruit personnel to ¬– (i) research, develop, test, and evaluate advanced aviation systems; and (ii) process applications related to advanced aviation systems in a timely manner. Given the severe divisions of this Congress – and increasing dysfunctionality of the US legislative system generally – it’s far from clear whether even the ambient anger at the FAA over recent travel problems will suffice to elevate the advanced aviation bill into law later this year. Read: AAM coordination and leadership law signed to orchestrate next-generation air mobility Whether that happens or not, it seems certain the regulator is going to have to somehow raise its game – and with increasing alacrity – if the US is to have rules, infrastructure, and systems in place by the time makers of air taxis are ready to take to the skies. https://dronedj.com/2023/01/16/bill-calls-for-specialized-advanced-aviation-office-within-the-faa/ TSA finds large weapon inside checked luggage at San Antonio International Airport 84 mm-caliber weapon discovered; owner didn’t declare firearm, officials say TSA finds 84mm caliber weapon inside checked luggage at San Antonio International Airport SAN ANTONIO – The Transportation Security Administration found an 84 mm-caliber weapon in checked luggage at the San Antonio International Airport on Monday afternoon. TSA announced the discovery on its official Southwest division Twitter page. The administration said the owner of the luggage did not declare the firearm. Firearm owners are allowed to travel with unloaded and locked weapons inside a hard-sided container but must “declare each firearm each time [they] present it for transport as checked baggage,” according to the TSA. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/01/17/tsa-finds-large-weapon-inside-checked-luggage-at-san-antonio-international-airport/ Air India Tipped To Order Roughly 500 New Aircraft The flag carrier is anticipated to be the latest airline to place a significantly large airplane order. While the rumor has been going on for a couple of months, Indian flag carrier Air India could finally be inching close to ordering approximately 500 aircraft, as analyzed by one of the world's leading aircraft lessors, Air Lease Corporation. As the flag carrier joins the growing list of airlines placing sizable orders, what could this mean for the aviation industry? A renewed look at the rising bulk order trend Although it is not significantly new information about Air India's bulk order, it brings a renewed perspective on how quickly the majority of airlines worldwide have been recovering and attempting to ramp up capacity to meet increasing demand. The Star Alliance member's highly anticipated order announcement follows large orders last year from Delta Air Lines and WestJet's strengthening their commitment to Boeing for more than 30 Boeing 737 MAXs. Last year also saw several Chinese carriers placing hundreds of orders for Airbus aircraft and United Airlines' biggest-ever order of 200 planes. These were just a few of the recent large orders placed with aircraft manufacturers, and the trend reveals that the numbers are getting higher. For most airlines who are able, it's come to the perspective of 'order big or go home.' As reported by Reuters, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation, Steven Udvar-Hazy, highlights this perspective by suggesting: "As a result of the recovery following the pandemic, there is now more momentum for large orders from airlines who have previously sat back and watched the movie. And now, they are seeing that there's going to be a positive trend." Get all the latest aviation news right here on Simple Flying! Revamping fleets and increasing capacities The string of major aircraft orders signifies more than just airlines trying to ramp up their capacities to meet demand, but also how airlines are renewing their fleets to actively and quickly replace older birds. Such is the case with Air India, as the big order would undoubtedly play a crucial part in the flag carrier's revival under the Tata Group by replacing its older fleet members, some of which are more than a decade old. While some members of Air India's fleet might be ten or more years old, these are not necessarily old airplanes. As it is, the fleet could probably fly for several more years. Still, the flag carrier, like many airlines today, is opting for quicker replacements to compete with other modern carriers. Udvar-Hazy confirms this perspective as he continued by saying: "We expect many airlines to continue to place large orders, and again, most of these orders will be for replacement." But age is just a secondary factor for Air India and probably many of the airlines that are presently placing orders. The primary reason would be fuel efficiency, as newer generation aircraft can transport more passengers and fly further, all while burning less fuel. For airlines, the improved fuel efficiency would reduce operating costs and aid them with the global aviation industry's goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050. Pressure on the manufacturers With the orders piling in, and airlines ready to renew their fleets and increase capacities, are aircraft and engine manufacturers able to cope? Certification issues side, the previous year saw supply chain issues that heavily disrupted aircraft production rates due to the lack of parts, which eventually resulted in delayed deliveries. Aircraft lessors can provide a temporary solution for airlines that urgently need increased capacity, as Air India already showed when it leased six Boeing 777s to augment its widebody fleet. However, the aircraft leasing market will become increasingly limited, and the pressure will still be on the manufacturers, even more so once the lessors start placing their own orders to enhance portfolios. Additionally, production rates are not precisely back to pre-pandemic levels, yet demand for new aircraft continues to soar, with more airlines speeding up their recoveries. This means added pressure on the manufacturers to increase their production rates so that supply will meet the demand, as emphasized by Udvar-Hazy: "It's to be expected that OEMs will be under pressure in the next couple of years to increase production rates, not necessarily back to the levels they were in 2018, but certainly well above current production levels." Bottom line As the aviation industry anxiously awaits the news from Air India that it has finally made its would-be historical order, it also leaves space to wonder which airline will be next to order in bulk. While it is a fun game for spectators to watch and see which aircraft manufacturer scores more points, it's also a view into an airline's perspective when seeing the types of aircraft are chosen, and some insight into how aviation will look in the years to come. https://simpleflying.com/air-india-expected-order-500-aircraft/ Southwest Airlines Has a Problem Bigger Than its Technology Passengers should be very concerned about the message being sent by the airline's pilots. Southwest Airlines (LUV) - Get Free Report had a high-profile meltdown that stranded tens of thousands of passengers over the holidays. The airline then fumbled its response to those problems multiple times. First, Southwest blamed the weather -- and while storms led to the problem, it was clear by how the other airlines were operating that something deeper had gone wrong. After that, Southwest dropped the ball in how it apologized and compensated its passengers who got stranded, had to rent hotel rooms during the busy holiday season, or had to find another way to get home. It was a series of errors that left customers angry and questioning whether they could trust the airline. That's a huge problem for a company that has built its reputation on being honest and transparent with its passengers. In reality, though, people only have so many choices when it comes to air travel. That means that while people may be wary about flying Southwest, the airline's combination of value and flying to an awful lot of places probably will have them doing it anyway. That's good news for Southwest, but the airline has a problem that goes much deeper than its software. Southwest's pilots are angry with the airline and they're speaking out about it very vocally. Southwest Airlines Has a Pilot Problem The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) released a scathing letter that started by sharing two quotes, one that touched upon the philosophy under which Southwest was built and the other on where it is now. The first was from the airline's founder Herb Kelleher. “You put your employees first. If you truly treat your employees that way, they will treat your customers well, your customers will come back, and that’s what makes your shareholders happy. So there’s no constituency at war with any other constituency. Ultimately, it’s shareholder value that you’re producing,” said the company's founder and former CEO who passed away in 2019. The second quote came from current Chairman and former CEO Gary Kelly. “Arguably, our shareholders have suffered for a long time when it comes to getting a return and our employees have been very well taken care of,” Kelly said. The airline's pilots clearly don't believe the company continues to live up to those ideas. In the letter SWAPA released, it took bold shots at current management. "How did we get here? How did we go from the most stable and profitable airline in history to the greatest meltdown in airline history? As with most organizations, the answer can be distilled down to one word: Leadership. Actually, in our case, it’s three words: Lack of leadership," the association shared. Southwest Knew a Meltdown Was Coming SWAPA shared that while the recent meltdown was a major event, it was not the first technology-based service interruption the airline has experienced. "Systemwide meltdowns at Southwest Airlines have been increasing in frequency and magnitude over the past 15 years. From the original Midway Meltdown (and then the second larger one 1/3/2014) to destroying our on-time-performance with the added 'virtual airframes' experiment to the “router brownout” (2016) to the 'Jacksonville Center debacle' (Columbus Day weekend, October 2021) to what we are experiencing today," the letter declared. The pilots' association believes that these issues were predictable and avoidable. "There has never been any real accountability for the decision-makers as a result of any of these fiascos, or the numerous smaller ones in between. If the saying that 'insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results' is true, then what is it when the same people are allowed to do the same thing over and over again? Supreme insanity, perhaps?" the letter continued The pilots clearly believe that the airline has lost its way and that Kelly has decided to focus on building shareholder value at the expense of employees. Herb’s legacy and the culture he built from the ground up was centered on his employees and empowering them to make proactive decisions at the lowest level possible. However, the culture that Gary Kelly ushered in with his ascension to the throne was the exact opposite. Gary’s vision was to become the darling of the investment community while building an insulated and vertical hierarchical structure where all decision-making authority was slowly stripped from front-line experts with the most situational awareness and moved further up the cubicle chain in Dallas far removed from line operations. That's actually some of the kinder language in the letter which comes at a time when the overall airline industry faces a pilot shortage. This could bring the issues to a head as the pilots' association believes the airline has chosen to return billions to shareholders in stock buybacks while raising executive pay over investing in technology. "As CEO, Gary Kelly made a conscious decision to make the less than necessary investments in tech upgrades in favor of maximizing shareholder return because, well, 'our tech’s been working ok for 20 years.' While Gary’s financial acumen cannot be debated, his poor operational leadership and judgment have been demonstrated repeatedly with each meltdown and finally laid bare with the current situation we find ourselves in," the pilots added. https://www.thestreet.com/travel/southwest-airlines-has-a-problem-bigger-than-its-technology POSITION AVAILABLE: AEROSPACE ENGINEER (STRUCTURES), GS-0861-13 https://www.usajobs.gov/job/698671900 https://www.usajobs.gov/job/698679400 Summary This position is located in the Office of Aviation Safety, Aviation Engineering Division in Washington, DC. Participates and directs engineering aspects of general aviation and air carrier accidents involving safety issues associated with aircraft structures and their interface with control systems. Duties OAS investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents, including those involving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), public aircraft, and commercial space launches, and other significant aviation incidents, proposes the probable causes of these events, and develops recommendations to minimize recurrence. The ideal candidate for this position will have previous, hands on, experience conducting engineering investigations of aircraft structural component failures; has experience with a variety (many) of different aircraft structural designs; and is comfortable working with and/or leading groups of diverse industry and government representatives. As an Aerospace Engineer (Structures), GS-0861-13, you will perform the following major duties: · · Participates and directs technical analyses of general aviation and air carrier accident and incidents in the specialty area of aircraft structures. Serves as Group Chairman for limited scope investigations, documenting and analyzing airworthiness issues potentially involved in accidents and develops accident prevention strategies. · Coordinates efforts with other Group Chairman, the IIC, and the Team Lead to assure thoroughness of all investigations and that necessary documentation is accomplished as a result of the investigative activity. · · Prepares factual and analytical reports covering specialty area on each accident. · · Assists the IIC and report writers in the preparation of the Safety Board's accident report with particular emphasis on the accuracy of factual information and the logic of analyses of the evidence from the investigation. · · Researches and develops appropriate safety recommendations to correct hazardous or unsafe conditions using information obtained in the course of investigations, personal observations, and knowledge of current aviation engineering trends and developments. · · Work Environment: The incumbent supports major go-team launches as well as significant international investigations. Major go-team launch teams commonly travel on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jet from Reagan National Airport within two hours after an accident notification is received. Timely arrival at the scene of a major accident allows for timely documentation of a wreckage; a delay in this effort can have significant impacts, such as impeding the re-opening of an airport. International travel by US Government employees frequently requires the issuance of a visa from the host country, which is most efficiently obtained at the embassies located in Washington, DC. Additionally, security concerns in many locations make it essential that the investigative team travel together. · · Physical Demands: Occasionally the aircraft wreckage may contain hazardous materials that may be burning by the time the investigator arrives on-the-scene; therefore, the incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts such as remote, rugged, snow, rain, temperature extremes, swampy or mountainous areas and hostile settings and may have to wear a hardhat, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and other protective equipment. 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 APPLY NOW Curt Lewis