Flight Safety Information - February 15, 2023 No. 032 In This Issue : Incident: British Airways B78X over Atlantic on Feb 10th 2023, smoke in cabin : Accident: United B738 at Newark on Feb 13th 2023, bird strike : Cessna 501 Citation I/SP - Runway Excursion (Florida) : 'Eating your young’: US airlines poach pilots from regional affiliates : Virgin Atlantic airline suspends services to Pakistan : Ding! Even if the seatbelt sign is off, you should stay buckled while flying. Here's why. : FAA to conduct sweeping safety review after multiple incidents : Air India seals world’s biggest ever aviation deal: Here’s all you need to know : A Russian claiming to hold secrets about advanced bomber jets turned up at the US southern border seeking asylum: report : Border Patrol to hire 200 surveillance pilots amid shortage : Graduate Research Survey : RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: British Airways B78X over Atlantic on Feb 10th 2023, smoke in cabin A British Airways Boeing 787-10, registration G-ZBLG performing flight BA-238 from Boston,MA (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK) with 106 people on board, was enroute at FL410 over the Atlantic Ocean about 650nm northeast of St. John's,NL (Canada) when the crew reported smoke in the cabin and decided to turn around and divert to St. John's. The aircraft landed safely on St. John's runway 29 about 110 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported an acrid smell was detected at seat 12A, however, no source was found. 2 cabin crew were taken to a local medical facility for assessment due to inhalation of fumes and subsequently released. Maintenance inspected the aircraft and found no trace of fire or heat. Multiple passenger service units and ceiling panels were removed in the area around seat 12A with no findings. "Maintenance also carried out seat inspections as well as air conditioning pack, galley equipment, in-flight entertainment, and auxiliary heater operational checks with no faults noted. The aircraft has been returned to service." A similiar occurrence had happened to another British Airways aircraft on Feb 1st 2023, see Incident: British Airways B789 near Halifax on Feb 1st 2023, smoke in cabin. https://avherald.com/h?article=5052e1f8&opt=0 Accident: United B738 at Newark on Feb 13th 2023, bird strike A United Boeing 737-800, registration N11206 performing flight UA-2138 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Newark,NJ (USA), was on approach to Newark's runway 22L when the aircraft suffered a bird strike. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 22L. The aircraft is still on the ground in Newark about 20 hours after landing. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FLOCK OF BIRDS, NEWARK, NJ.", rated the damage substantial and the occurrence an accident. https://avherald.com/h?article=5052c15d&opt=0 Cessna 501 Citation I/SP - Runway Excursion (Florida) Date: 12-FEB-2023 Time: C. 17:13 LT Type: Cessna 501 Citation I/SP Owner/operator: WH Air LLC op as Hera Flight 16 Registration: N16NL MSN: 501-0043 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Category: Incident Location: Palm Beach-Palm Beach County Airport, West Palm Beach, FL (LNA/KLN - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Private Departure airport: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, FL (PIE/KPIE) Destination airport: Palm Beach-Palm Beach County Airport, FL (LNA/KLNA) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Cessna 501 Citation I/SP jet, N16NL operating as Hera flight 16, suffered a runway excursion/overrun after landing on runway 28 at Palm Beach-Palm Beach County Airport, FL (LNA/KLNA) The pilot and four passengers were not injured. The FAA reported that the airplane veered off the end of the runway striking runway lights. http://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/308203 'Eating your young’: US airlines poach pilots from regional affiliates High-flying wages for captains and first officers ripple through stretched aviation industry About 81,300 pilots worked for US airlines in 2021 © Brandon Bell/Getty Images ‘Eating your young’: US airlines poach pilots from regional affiliates on twitter The message from Mesa Airlines could not have been clearer if the US regional carrier had written “Help Wanted” across the sky. Last week the company announced it would pay a $110,000 signing bonus for captains who join, as well as offering an accelerated career path to higher-paying, more prestigious jobs at United Airlines. It was the latest sally in an industry battle for cockpit talent that is improving pilot wages but contributing to worse service for smaller communities. Regional carriers fly shorter routes to outlying cities with jets that contain fewer seats than those flown by carriers such as United, Delta Air Lines or American Airlines. The mainline airlines own some regional subsidiaries, while other companies such as publicly traded Mesa or SkyWest Airlines fly under contract with their larger partners. Regional airlines pay pilots the least, while mainline carriers top the industry’s remuneration ladder. The relationship between the two has become more complicated as mainline carriers poach from the regionals’ ranks to solve their own staffing shortages. “We clearly have gone through a rough patch,” Mesa chief executive Jonathan Ornstein told investors last week. “We are very focused on pilot production.” Regional carriers lose about 20 per cent of their pilots in a normal year to mainline carriers, but last year it was more than two-thirds. A shortage of pilots has contributed to cuts to air service in smaller cities, with 161 airports losing more than one in four commercial flights between 2019 and 2022, according to the Regional Airline Association. Fewer pilots also may increase pressure at budget carriers such as Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines to pay their own aviators more and preserve their profit margins by raising fares. United chief executive Scott Kirby said last month that the pilot shortage is driving up low-cost airlines’ labour expenses, closer to those of a traditional mainline carrier. Mesa Airlines is recruiting captains with a $110,000 signing bonus “The era of $4 prices from Los Angeles to Cabo [San Lucas, Mexico] and $7 from New York to Florida or $9 from Houston to Central America are probably a thing of the past,” he said. “It’s up to other airlines to decide how to price the product. But I’m pretty sure it’s not up to them what’s happening to their cost structure.” The supply of pilots has tightened over the past two decades, but it never reached a crisis because demand for air travel, and consequently demand for pilots, dropped after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 2008 financial crisis, said aviation consultant Kit Darby. About 81,300 pilots worked for US airlines in 2021, according to the latest data available from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The total declined 4 per cent from 2019, before Covid-19 again dealt a blow to travel demand. Though the US government mandated airlines not to dismiss workers when they received $63bn in taxpayer funds, they still encouraged pilots to take early retirement or voluntary leave. In 2021, passengers returned to the skies in the US, and demand increased further last year. The biggest US airlines hired about 13,000 pilots in 2022. The figure was more than double the all-time hiring record, Darby said, and they came from regional airlines. In particular, network carriers snapped up captains, who have more flying hours compared to their co-pilots, known as first officers. A first officer must rack up 1,000 hours flying alongside a captain to earn the higher status. The dearth of captains at regional airlines has made it more difficult to run full schedules since every flight needs a captain. Fewer flights makes it harder for first officers to gain the experience necessary for promotion. “We created our own problem,” Darby said. “It’s like eating your own young.” Two-thirds of US airports are served only by regional carriers, with states in the Midwest and High Plains regions particularly reliant on their service. Scheduled flights connect communities the wider world and underpin local economies. But small airports have seen service decline for two decades because of their shrinking populations, the cost of jet fuel and consolidation in the airline industry. The drop accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. The number of airports with scheduled flights fell 2 per cent between 2018 and 2022, to 556. Fewer flights on regional routes have made it harder for co-pilots to gain experience The wage battle for regional airline pilots kicked off in June 2021, when American Airlines raised pay at its three regional subsidiaries, Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines. Newly hired first officers were paid $90 an hour, a 70 per cent increase from a previous top hourly rate of $53. The pay rise runs through August 2024. The subsidiaries also added up to $150,000 in bonus pay for pilots who signed on and were promoted. American bet the raise would solve its own hiring problems, but instead other regional carriers matched it, said Savanthi Syth, an analyst at Raymond James. Now the pay rises are permeating through the industry. Pilots at budget carrier Spirit voted in favour of a deal this month that would raise pay 34 per cent over two years. Delta reached a deal for a contract with union leaders that also would raise pay 34 per cent over the four-year contract. Pilots are voting through March 1 on whether to ratify the deal. Pay bands still exist between regional, budget and mainline carriers, Syth said, but “the gaps are starting to narrow quite a bit”. Pilot pay combined with other costs, such as fuel, will pressure low-cost airlines to raise fares. “If your cost structure is higher, you can’t offer those low fares, because at the end of the day they have to survive.” https://www.ft.com/content/70f0805c-18ed-49d6-9d89-aabb0ea36324 Virgin Atlantic airline suspends services to Pakistan Virgin Atlantic, a popular UK-based airline, has announced the suspension of its services to Pakistan due to ongoing concerns about the country’s aviation safety. The decision, which was made after a thorough review of the airline’s operations in the country, comes as a disappointment to many travelers. The airline had been operating flights between London Heathrow and Islamabad since December 2020, after a 13-year hiatus from the market. The move was widely seen as a sign of confidence in Pakistan’s aviation industry and the country’s economic potential. However, Virgin Atlantic’s decision to suspend services to Pakistan comes after the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) raised concerns about Pakistan’s aviation safety standards. The CAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in early February 2023, advising UK airlines to avoid flying in and out of certain airports in Pakistan due to safety concerns. Virgin Atlantic has stated that the safety and security of its customers and crew are of paramount importance, and the decision to suspend services to Pakistan was made after a thorough review of the situation and consultation with relevant authorities. The suspension of Virgin Atlantic’s services to Pakistan is likely to have an impact on the country’s tourism industry and its overall economic growth. Pakistan has been working to promote itself as a tourist destination in recent years, and the resumption of flights by major airlines like Virgin Atlantic was seen as a positive step in this direction. The Pakistani government has expressed disappointment at Virgin Atlantic’s decision to suspend services to the country, and has pledged to work with the airline and other international carriers to address the safety concerns raised by the CAA. In the meantime, passengers who have already booked flights with Virgin Atlantic to Pakistan are advised to contact the airline for rebooking options or refunds. Other airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates, continue to operate services to Pakistan. https://airlinergs.com/virgin-atlantic-airline-suspends-services-to-pakistan/ Ding! Even if the seatbelt sign is off, you should stay buckled while flying. Here's why. You should keep your seatbelt buckled on planes because turbulence can happen unexpectedly. Pilots do their best to avoid turbulence, but it can be hard to predict. Planes can handle turbulence, but you could be injured if you're not secured when you hit a bump. "Safety in Travel” is a six-part series focusing on the travel safety tools available in different industries, how they can affect the overall experience, and how travelers can make use of them. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form. We've all heard it: the announcement on an airplane that even if the seatbelt sign is off, you should buckle up whenever you're seated. According to experts, there's good reason for that guidance. Although flying is a safe way to travel, staying strapped in while you're in the air is a good idea because unexpected bumps are possible en route. In the air, the seatbelts are there to keep you secure in the event of turbulence, not to keep you restrained in the event of a crash like in a car. "If we were not flying a bunch of humans in this enclosed space with recirculated air miles above the earth, our preference would be that the seatbelt sign is on the entire time," Association of Flight Attendants president Sara Nelson told USA TODAY. "The pilots have the seatbelt sign on when they know we're at greatest risk for turbulence that can harm people, but we also have people who are traveling for hours at a time eating and drinking and there are human needs involved." Why should I keep my seatbelt on while flying? According to Nelson, it's a good idea to stay buckled up whenever you're seated on a plane because it's always possible to encounter unexpected turbulence. "While technology has improved, it is not 100% foolproof in detecting clear air turbulence," she said, referring to the bumps that can happen even outside of stormy conditions. Brian Strzempkowski, interim director of the Center for Aviation Studies at The Ohio State University, agreed that turbulence can be hard to predict. 'Deeply sorry':Highlights from the Senate hearing over Southwest's holiday meltdown "Turbulence can pop up anywhere. Oftentimes the pilot will say, 'we're not expecting any turbulence but just in case,' or 'we're expecting light turbulence, and this is why I'm turning the light on,' " he said. "You don't even need to have the seatbelt on snug and tight, just having it on loosely to give it a little restraint, if you hit a bump, you might move an inch or so, but it'll keep you from coming out of your seat and hitting your head." In December, a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu encountered severe turbulence and 36 people onboard were injured. One passenger said she hit the ceiling of the cabin when she was unable to buckle her seatbelt. Why these Disney fans will wait hours at a park just to buy a souvenir The 10 airports with the most flight cancellations around the holidays The best travel tip: Do nothing (for at least a day) Flight delayed or canceled? What you need to know, what you're owed. Come explore with us How reliable is turbulence forecasting? Strzempkowski told USA TODAY that turbulence is notoriously difficult to forecast. "When you go onto the National Weather Service website, and you look up their aviation forecasts, they'll even tell you on there that these are not 100% accurate," he said, adding that turbulence in storms is a little more predictable than in places without bad weather. But, turbulence can happen anywhere, including over the ocean where air masses converge, or, commonly, over the Midwest as winds dissipate across the Rocky Mountains. An empty row of seats with seatbelts visible on a Spirit Airlines flight. Is turbulence dangerous on airplanes? Not if you're strapped in. "If you are sitting there with your seatbelt on and you’re secured, there really is no risk. These planes are built strong enough that they’re able to withstand extremely bad turbulence," Strzempkowski said. "(Planes) all have to be able to withstand strong turbulence ... I realize it’s uncomfortable for passengers, but the plane itself can handle it." What does airplane mode do?:It's safer to have it on your phone when you fly, experts say The bigger danger, Nelson said, is the possibility of getting injured in turbulence, not structural damage to the plane. "The people who are not strapped in now also become projectiles themselves and can harm people when they come back down," she said. "I know plenty of flight attendants who have had career-ending injuries from turbulence." Are there other risks while flying? While turbulence is common on airplanes and can be dangerous when passengers aren't buckled up, it's not the only way someone can get injured in the air. Nelson said it's not unusual for bags to fall out of overhead bins when they're opened, which is why announcements about being careful when retrieving your carry-on baggage are also common. Inflation nation:Rising prices are affecting travel, but that doesn't mean it's slowing down As the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization looms in Congress, Nelson's organization is advocating for some new safety regulations as well, including setting minimum climate control standards for airplane cabins, and air quality monitoring systems that would alert flight attendants if any toxic chemicals get introduced into the air supply. Overall, however, both Nelson and Strzempkowski emphasized that flying remains a very safe way to get around, especially when passengers are educated about how to mitigate risks onboard. "Just follow the instructions of flight attendants," Nelson said, ending her interview with her top piece of perennial advice: "If there is an emergency evacuation, leave all bags behind." https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2023/02/15/airplane-safety-seatbelt-turbulence/11022374002/ FAA to conduct sweeping safety review after multiple incidents Citing a series of recent aviation safety incidents, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a sweeping review of the agency. “We are experiencing the safest period in aviation history, but we cannot take this for granted,” Billy Nolen, the acting FAA administrator, wrote in a memo. “Recent events remind us that we must not become complacent.” His memo comes after a technological breakdown led to the first nationwide airplane departure grounding since the 9/11 attacks, and two significant events where airliners nearly collided at the runways of major US airports. One focus of the safety review team will be determining “whether there are other incidents that resemble ones we have seen in recent weeks.” It will also look at ways to better integrate the FAA’s air traffic control arm into the agency’s broader safety efforts. The review will include participants from the industries that are regulated and served by the FAA, Nolen wrote. “We must ensure that our structure is fit for purpose for the U.S. aerospace system of both today and the Future,” Nolen’s memo reads. “We know that our aviation system is changing dramatically. Now is the time to act.” Nolen is set to appear before Congress Wednesday to address the computer outage that halted flight departures nationwide last month. https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/14/business/faa-safety-review/index.html Air India seals world’s biggest ever aviation deal: Here’s all you need to know • The record deal bolsters India’s position on the global platform as an emerging leader in the commercial aviation sector and also puts Air India in the league of aspiring global carriers. But how did the Tata-owned airline seal the record deal? Here is all you need to know. Air India has signed a deal with Airbus and Boeing for 470 new airplanes. Air India has sealed the biggest commercial aviation deal in history The Tata-owned airline has signed a deal with Boeing and Airbus for 470 jets The deal will bolster India's position as an emerging leader in the commercial aviation sector By India Today Web Desk: Tata Group-owned Air India has successfully sealed the world’s biggest ever commercial aviation deal by purchasing 470 passenger aircraft from France’s Airbus and American plane-maker Boeing. The record deal bolsters India’s position on the global platform as an emerging leader in the commercial aviation sector. It has also put Air India in the league of aspiring global carriers – a much needed move for the country where the aviation sector is growing rapidly. Air India’s deal for nearly 500 jets shows the intent of the Tata Group to rapidly expand its footprint in the aviation sector and take on both domestic and international rivals. How did Air India seal the record deal? The record aviation deal came to fruition after months of secret talks carried out near Britain’s Buckingham Palace, reported news agency Reuters after speaking with people involved in the talks. It was only on Tuesday that the confidentiality was lifted as leaders hailed the accord in a diplomatic embrace between leading G20 nations. Though the deal marks a major achievement for the Tata Group, which regained control of Air India only last year, it made a low-key announcement about it. One of the insiders who spoke to Reuters said the deal was in the making for over a year. The talks began last summer and continued until days before Christmas when outlines were agreed, said the report, adding that the epicentre of dealmaking was St James’ Court – a luxury Victorian hotel near Buckingham Palace in London's West End. Negotiators representing Air India, planemakers and engine giants camped out at the Tata-owned hotel and neighbouring suites for several days at a stretch. The goal of all the stakeholders was to expand their footprint in the fast-growing Indian aviation market that has seen many airline growth plans rise and fall. The deal provided Boeing a chance to restore its position in India’s single-aisle jet market and narrowed Airbus’ massive lead. On the other hand, Airbus wanted a bigger pie of the wide-body market led by its rival. However, the deal was balanced out between both the planemakers. Also Read | Air India to buy 250 planes from Airbus The negotiations were led by Air India’s chief commercial and transformation officer, Nipun Aggarwal, along with Yogesh Agarwal, head of aircraft operations. The negotiations often stretched into the night, with sellers churning out new “best offers” fuelled by room service. "Air India negotiated hard and the team is very sharp despite having no prior aviation experience. They compare with some of the best dealmakers in the business," a person involved in the negotiations told Reuters. https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/air-india-record-commercial-aviation-deal-airbus-boeing-500-airplanes-inside-details-2334982-2023-02-15 A Russian claiming to hold secrets about advanced bomber jets turned up at the US southern border seeking asylum: report • A Russian claiming to have information on advanced jets sought asylum in the US late last year. • He arrived at the southern border in December, with US officials treating his story as credible. • The man said he worked on a jet that officials believe is Russia's most advanced strategic bomber. In late December, a man claiming to be a former Russian jet engineer arrived at the US southern border seeking asylum, and offering secrets about Russia's most advanced bomber in return. The man told US border officials that he had information that their government would want, as he previously worked on advanced military aircrafts in Russia, according to a Customs and Border Protection report obtained by Yahoo News. This included the White Swan-TU160, the largest military aircraft in Russia's arsenal. CBP officials wrote in their report that information on that jet could be of use to the US, and that the jet is "reportedly the most advanced strategic bomber in the Russian inventory and has been also used in a tactical airstrike role in the Ukraine war." Officials worked to verify his story, and two government officials told Yahoo News that the man's story was deemed credible and significant enough for him to be passed on to the FBI in January. The man is currently still believed to be in the US and being questioned, Yahoo News reported in an exclusive. The man, who arrived at the border in an SUV with his family, said he was afraid he would be punished for taking part in protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin, and in support of Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned opposition leader and Kremlin critic, per Yahoo News. A senior US military intelligence official told the outlet that the US would be particularly interested in changes Russia was making to the jets, which can be fitted with missiles and nuclear weapons, including whether they were fitted with hypersonic missiles. "We don't have anything that can defend against hypersonic missiles — meaning, Patriot systems and all the rest of what we are supplying Ukraine, it's useless," the official said. CBP officials wrote in their report that open source reporting suggested a ramping up of production of the aircraft in recent years at the facility where the man claimed to have worked. The unnamed man could also be part of a growing trend. Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Russians have left the country since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Some are now seeking asylum in Western counties, and are offering Russian secrets in exchange. This includes a former doctor with Russia's intelligence agency, who told CNN in January that she spent time collecting secrets before she defected and sought asylum in France. https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-jet-engineer-seeks-asylum-us-offers-secrets-report-2023-2 Border Patrol to hire 200 surveillance pilots amid shortage MCALLEN, TX – FEBRUARY 21: Agents from U.S. Air and Marine Operations (AMO), fly an A-Star helicopter near the U.S.-Mexico border on February 21, 2018 near McAllen, Texas. The federal air interdiction agents were searching for undocumented immigrants who had just crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (NewsNation) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is looking to hire 200 pilots to conduct surveillance and security missions along the U.S. border, the agency announced last week. The question is whether the federal government will be able to meet its goal while competing for talent with an airline industry that’s currently facing a pilot shortage. Air Interdiction Agents (AIAs) — who work as part of CBP’s Air and Marine Operations division — fly planes, helicopters and drones to investigate criminal networks and intercept those who are attempting to enter the country illegally, according to the CBP website. Behind the scenes with Border Patrol in the Florida Keys The position is open to pilots with a minimum of 1,500 flight hours, but 500 of those can be waived. Aviation experts say that flexibility could make the position appealing to someone who is looking to obtain flight time before moving on to a major airline carrier in the future. “Somebody could go work for the government to build that experience and get what we call turbine time,” said Richard Levy, a retired commercial airline captain. “Turbine time” is different than total flight hours and refers specifically to the time spent flying turbine-powered aircraft. Those planes tend to be larger and more complex than ones with piston engines, which tend to be smaller and more commonly used for training purposes. All major commercial airlines have minimum turbine time requirements that a candidate must meet in order to be considered. But those prerequisites have become more flexible recently as some airlines have struggled to staff flights following a surge of COVID-related early retirements and a post-pandemic travel boom. Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines announced it would cut the minimum requirement for prospective pilots in half from 1,000 turbine time hours to 500. While the total hours requirement may be attractive to a pilot with less experience, there’s a noticeable gap in compensation between CBP and major airlines, Levy pointed out. An AIA can make between $100,000 to $120,000 in their first year depending on where they’re located. By comparison, the median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers recently topped $200,000, according to the Labor Department. Border Patrol offering $20K signing bonus to attract recruits Location is another hiring challenge for the government. New CBP pilots are likely to end up in a region along the southern border. A recent AIA job posting listed Tucson and Yuma, Arizona, as well as El Paso, Laredo and McAllen, Texas, among the places new hires could be assigned. Commercial airlines, whose hubs are located in major American cities, are able to draw from a larger pool of candidates. If CBP is able to hit its 200 pilot hiring target it would mark a significant staffing boost. Border patrol currently has 541 Air Interdiction Agents, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. In a news release, CBP says it will use direct-hire authority, which expedites the hiring process when there’s a critical need. “This hiring authority will enable CBP to offer on-the-spot tentative job offers and compete at job fairs with the airline industry,” Andrea Bright, CBP’s Assistant Commissioner of Human Resources, said in a press release. The agency is also developing additional incentive packages to “mitigate attrition” of experienced pilots, a DHS spokesperson told NewsNation. In November, CBP announced a hiring bonus up to $20,000 to attract new agents to address the surge of migrants at the southern border. Nationally, the pilot shortage is unlikely to go away any time soon. A recent analysis by Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm, puts the current pilot shortfall around 17,000 in North America. The shortage is expected to grow to 30,000 by 2032, although the outlook has slightly improved from previous estimates thanks to rising salaries, faster career paths and greater awareness of the need, the analysis concluded. APPLY HERE https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-patrol-surveillance-pilots-shortage/ Graduate Research Survey Greetings, Aviation Professionals! If you are seeing this message, you are being asked to participate in an anonymous questionnaire about safety culture. This is for my Master’s thesis, and your participation would be greatly appreciated. Participation is voluntary, and you can opt out at any time. It should take less than 15 minutes of your time. Please complete the survey in one sitting, as there is a limited period to have your responses recorded. Click the link https://fit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eEU2rcyJN3MzxH0 ,which will take you to an online survey platform. Please share this announcement with other aviation professionals you know; every response helps! Sincerely, Brandon Judy Master’s Student College of Aeronautics Florida Institute of Technology RESEARCH SURVEY Greetings, My name is Nurettin Dinler, Research Scholar and PhD student at Department of Aviation Science, Saint Louis University working with Nithil Bollock Kumar, PhD Candidate, Gajapriya Tamilselvan, PhD, and Stephen Belt, PhD. We are working on a research project titled “Low-Cost Airline Pilots on Exercising Fuel-Loading Policies during Flight: A Phenomenological Exploration Study.” I am writing this e-mail to invite you to participate in a research study that we are conducting at Saint Louis University. Your participation in this study will involve taking a semi-structured interview that lasts for about 30 minutes. During the interview, you will be questioned about your experiences with Low-Cost Airlines’ fuel-loading policies developed to minimize pilot discretionary (extra) fuel. There is no compensation provided for your participation in the study. However, your participation will be a valuable addition to our research and your findings could lead to greater understanding of risk management for pilots and the sources of stressors in commercial aviation. Participation is completely voluntary, and your participation will remain confidential throughout the process of research. If you are interested in participating in this research, please take a moment to complete the survey at the following link: https://slu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0l9Awl5UkXDiKRo If you have any questions, please contact me at 321-245-8628 or nurettin.dinler@slu.edu Thank you for your time and consideration. Regards, Nurettin Dinler, M.S. Research Scholar Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science School of Science and Engineering McDonnell Douglas Hall, Lab 1046 3450 Lindell Blvd., St Louis, MO 63103 nurettin.dinler@slu.edu (321) 245-8628 Curt Lewis