Flight Safety Information - March 30, 2023 No. 061 In This Issue : Incident: Westjet B38M at New York on Mar 8th 2023, nose gear trouble : Incident: United B763 at Houston on Mar 28th 2023, engine shut down in flight : NTSB: Plane that crashed, killing 2, was 'constantly smooth' approaching Lantana airport : NTSB Releases Alert on Circling Approach Risks : Flight safety warning issued to holidaymakers wearing leggings on plane : Secretary Pete Buttigieg launches plan to avoid aircraft collisions at DFW Airport : Congress to consider new no-fly list for unruly passengers : BAE Systems to work with Heart Aerospace on electric airplane battery : TASL to make Airbus A320neo aircraft cargo and bulk cargo doors in Hyderabad : Cathay Pacific: Why should pilots relocate to Hong Kong? : Jet planes and sugar cane: Qantas and Airbus get on board biofuel factory in Queensland : Private jet flights in Europe soar to record levels — and most were ultra-short journeys : Keeping Safety First: A Statistical Analysis of Commercial Aviation Accidents : Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance Free 30 minute Learn at Lunch class Incident: Westjet B38M at New York on Mar 8th 2023, nose gear trouble A Westjet Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration C-FHCM performing flight WS-1681 from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Calgary,AB (Canada) with 165 passengers and 6 crew, departed JFK's runway 04L when during the takeoff roll the crew heard unusual noises from the nose gear. After becoming airborne and selecting the gear up an abnormal indication for the nose gear followed prompting the crew to level off at 7000 feet while troubleshooting the issue. The crew was able to resolve the indication and continued the flight to Calgary. Westjet Dispatch informed Calgary Airport about the nose gear issue about one hour prior to estimated landing. Descending towards Calgary the crew declared PAN PAN and advised they were planning to stop on the runway and needed to be towed to the apron. The aircraft landed safely on Calgary's runway 17L and was able to taxi to the apron on its own power. The Canadian TSB reported, that "the nose landing gear pressure seals failed during the takeoff roll. Loss of pressure in the oleo kept the strut compressed and unable to center before retracting into the gear well. The seals were replaced and an SDR was submitted to Transport Canada. The aircraft was released for continued service." https://avherald.com/h?article=5071ccce&opt=0 Incident: United B763 at Houston on Mar 28th 2023, engine shut down in flight A United Boeing 767-300, registration N641UA performing flight UA-129 from Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) to Rio de Janeiro,RJ (Brazil) with 160 people on board, was climbing out of Houston's runway 15L when the next departure reported there had been fire from the left hand engine. The United crew confirmed they had lost their #1 engine (PW4060) but had no fire indication. The aircraft levelled off at about 3000 feet and returned to Houston for a safe landing on runway 15L about 13 minutes after departure. The airline reported an unspecified mechanical issue. The aircraft is still on the ground in Houston about 13 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5071bdfe&opt=0 NTSB: Plane that crashed, killing 2, was 'constantly smooth' approaching Lantana airport A single-engine Diamond DA40 plane crashed on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Palm Beach County Park Airport near Lantana, killing both people inside. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the wreck, which took place at about 9:25 p.m. LANTANA — The engine of a small airplane that crashed this month at Palm Beach County Park Airport, killing both people aboard, was "constantly smooth" as it flew over a runway in the moments before the wreck, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report. Two witnesses made the observation to federal investigators examining the March 5 crash that killed the pilot, John Holland IV, 43, of Delray Beach and student pilot Michael Marshall, Jr. 34, of Boca Raton. The witnesses, both pilots, told investigators they were on the ramp waiting for the plane to arrive that night. The single-engine Diamond DA-40 airplane was recently leased and was being flown that day to Lantana from the Henderson City-County Airport in Henderson, Kentucky, with a stop in between at a municipal airport in Williston, southwest of Gainesville. According to the NTSB report, the aircraft took off from Williston shortly before 7:30 p.m. and proceed in a south-southeasterly direction to about 14 nautical miles north-northwest of Southwest Florida International Airport near Fort Myers before proceeding east toward Lantana. Airplane started to turn over just before landing, witnesses told NTSB The aircraft approached Palm Beach International Airport, and Holland advised that they were at 2,500 feet. The flight was about 7 nautical miles west of the Lantana airport when either Holland or Marshall advised a controller that the airport was in sight. The flight proceed toward a runway for a straight-in visual approach shortly before 9:30 p.m., the report said. That's when its problems began. John Holland, 43, of Delray Beach was killed March, 5, 2023 when a single-engine plane he was piloting crashed near the Palm Beach County Park Airport in Lantana One witness told investigators the aircraft was about 800 feet from the approach of runway 10 when it started to "go around." The aircraft was about 20 to 30 feet above ground level but did not touch down, the NTSB report said. The witness said the aircraft climbed to no higher than between 200 and 250 feet when it banked to the right, stalled and rolled over at or just past the departure end of the runway, off Congress Avenue near Lantana road. The second witness, a student pilot, told NTSB investigators the Diamond airplane was at the departure end of runway 10 when it made a sudden 45-degree right bank. He noted that when the aircraft banked right, the nose leveled off, then entered a steep turn of 60 degrees. The right wing stalled and the airplane started to turn upside down, the NTSB report said. The student pilot told investigators that it never sounded like full power, and from the point of the landing, he never heard a huge change in engine sound. He added that the engine sounded normal during the aircraft's turn behind the hangars and it then went silent. Pilot had just married, was soon to become father Holland was married in February and he and his wife, Lindi, were expecting a baby girl in April. Lindi Holland described her husband as an experienced pilot who had more than 700 hours flying single-engine planes. Holland worked for Palm Beach County-based Aamro Aviation and had traveled to Kentucky to pick up a new plane recently purchased by the company, she said in an interview conducted days after the fatal crash. The NTSB will issue a final report on the crash in several months. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ntsb-plane-crashed-killing-2-191659113.html NTSB Releases Alert on Circling Approach Risks The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a safety alert advising on the risks and preparation necessary to perform circling instrument approach procedures. The alert, “Circling Approaches: Know the Risks,” was released as the NTSB has been preparing a report on its investigation of the July 2021 Bombardier Challenger 605 accident in Truckee, California, that involved an unstabilized circle-to-land approach. In addition, the Safety Board released the alert to coincide with the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Safety Symposium last week. Board member Michael Graham was among the slate of speakers at the ACSF event, providing an overview of the publicly available facts in the Truckee accident. He cited that accident—as well as ones that involved the May 2017 Learjet 35A crash in Teterboro, New Jersey, and the December 2021 Learjet 35A accident at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, California—in the development of the safety alert. In the alert, the NTSB noted that since 2008, 10 accidents involving Part 91 and 135 operators have occurred during a circling approach and have resulted in 17 fatalities. These approaches can be riskier because they require maneuvering at low altitude and low airspeed, increasing the opportunity for loss of control or collision with terrain, according to the Safety Board. Further, circle-to-land maneuvering often results in an unstabilized approach, the agency added. While sometimes necessary, pilots don’t always evaluate the risks before accepting them, it further noted. The safety alert advises operators to fully understand the risk involved, consider their own experience and limitations such as weather and runway configuration, and know that they may be able to request alternatives. Further, the NTSB recommends scenario-based training in realistic environments for such approaches and stresses the need for a comprehensive briefing before performing such an approach. In outlining the facts of the Truckee accident, Graham noted a number of issues that were uncovered during the investigation ranging from the fact that four passengers were aboard even though only three were on the manifest, the captain was not a U.S. citizen but had an incorrect visa, the captain and copilot did not appear to have received basic indoctrination training nor an operating manual, and there was no record of a weight-and-balance calculation. The operator had its Part 135 certificate for 13 days and this was the first time the crew had flown together. The crew had briefed on a straight-in RNAV approach to Runway 11 but initially accepted an RNAV Runway 20 approach that ATC had given them. They never briefed for that approach and ultimately requested a circle to Runway 11 because Runway 20 was too short. ATC offered for the flight crew to enter the left downwind leg for Runway 11 or to cross over the airport and enter the left downwind for the corresponding Runway 29. The crew opted to maneuver to enter the traffic pattern for Runway 11. But the aircraft passed the centerline and entered a steep left turn in a nose-down attitude and crashed as it was maneuvering too close to the ground with an incorrect configuration and speed. All six aboard died. There were options that could have provided for a stabilized approach, the NTSB noted, such as requesting the original approach they planned for, briefing for the approach they initially accepted, or performing a missed approach. Graham pointed to a Flight Safety Foundation finding that runway-aligned approaches are 25 times safer than ones that are not. As far as the guidance, Graham emphasized, “If you are going to do a circle-to-land approach, you need to understand your risk and before you even think about doing one of these, [you should] know your...personal experience level. Are you comfortable with the limitations of the weather? The capabilities of the aircraft? If you're not comfortable with the approach, don't accept it.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-03-27/ntsb-releases-alert-circling-approach-risks Flight safety warning issued to holidaymakers wearing leggings on plane Passengers were also warned against wearing certain types of shoes for their flight - saying that they could spell danger if there is an emergency The expert said she believes that a particular clothing rule should be required by all airlines When you have a long flight ahead of you, you may well opt for casual attire to be comfy throughout the journey - but certain items of clothing are a big no-no when flying, according to an expert. This is because some garments, such as leggings, are made of artificial fibres - which are more likely to burn in the unlikely event that a fire breaks out on the plane. Travel expert Christine Negroni explained that the material could lead to nasty burns on your skin as well as hinder your attempts to escape the aircraft, should you need to. Christine told The Sun: "You might have to escape through a cabin fire or there could be a separate fire on the ground once you leave the aircraft. Everyone is wearing yoga pants on planes now, but I avoid all artificial fibres because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire." The expert advised wearing natural fibres instead, such as cotton. But your choice of trousers isn't the only thing you should take into consideration if you're particularly safety-conscious - you may also want to take a look at your footwear. Christine advised to pick shoes that will make it easier to get about in the event of an emergency - opting for trainers rather than high heels or flip flops. And a major error, she added, is taking their shoes off during a flight, particularly during take-off and landing. "This is still not required by many airlines and I think it ought to be," the expert said. "If you escape an aircraft, the floor could be very hot or cold, it might be covered in oil or on fire, or in a cornfield – you won’t want to be barefoot." When you get to your hotel, you can also use your shoes to your advantage to keep hold of your personal belongings, according to a flight attendant. Sharing her advice on TikTok, the KLM staff member said that any travellers who are worried they will forget the items they have stored in a hotel safe to leave one of the shoes they are planning to wear the following day inside. The idea is that when it comes time to leave the next day, you will find that you have a shoe missing and be reminded to collect your valuables from the safe. Fellow travellers praised the advice as "very handy" and a "great idea", saying that they were going to try it next time they went on holiday. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/travel-tourism/flight-safety-warning-issued-holidaymakers-26589249 Secretary Pete Buttigieg launches plan to avoid aircraft collisions at DFW Airport $28.8 million airfield safety project will allow jets to avoid taxiing across active runways. DFW Airport's new end-around taxiway U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will announce a $28.8 million airfield safety project at DFW International Airport Thursday, a move aimed at preventing near collisions between jets that have raised concerns about the nation’s travel system. The project will build a Southwest end-around taxiway to reduce the need for aircraft to cross runways 36L and 36R at the airport. Buttigieg is visiting airports all over the country as part of a tour to highlight Federal Aviation Administration investments, following an uptick in close calls on airfields. “We can never take for granted that air travel is the safest mode of transportation in America. We must continue working to make aviation even safer by eliminating close calls like the ones we’ve seen in recent weeks,” said Buttigieg in a release. “This funding will make it significantly safer for planes to navigate the airfield, reducing the risk of a potential collision, while also reducing delays and carbon emissions.” The FAA has committed to providing $180 million in both the Northeast and Southwest end-around systems, including the new project announced today. The agency said it will reduce close calls and reduce delay minutes on the runway. Buttigieg also visited Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which is also constructing an end-around taxiway; Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Ark., where airport leaders are redesigning a taxiway to reduce risk and confusion on the airfield. After DFW Airport, he plans to visit Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport and the FAA’s aeronautical center to meet with air traffic control trainees. On March 15, the FAA held a Safety Summit to address key safety issues and incidents, including one that happened between Southwest Airlines and FedEx jets at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The incident was the second near collision of jetliners in a month after an American Airlines Boeing 777 jet crossed in front of a Delta Air Lines 737 taking off at New York’s JFK International Airport on Jan. 15. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2023/03/30/secretary-pete-buttigieg-launches-plan-to-avoid-aircraft-collisions-at-dfw-airport/ Congress to consider new no-fly list for unruly passengers Congress is taking another look at creating a new no-fly list for unruly passengers U.S. Senate and House members proposed a new no-fly list for unruly passengers on Wednesday, an idea that was pushed by airline unions but failed to gain traction last year. The legislation would let the Transportation Security Administration ban people convicted or fined for assaulting or interfering with airline crew members. It would be separate from the current FBI-run no-fly list, which is intended to prevent people suspected of terrorism ties from boarding planes. The number of incidents involving unruly passengers dropped sharply last year after a judge struck down a federal requirement to wear masks on planes. However, incidents serious enough to be investigated by federal officials remained more than five times higher than before the pandemic. “The violent incidents have not stopped,” said Cher Taylor, a Frontier Airlines flight attendant who said she witnessed a passenger attack another in 2021 in Miami and walk away before police arrived. At a news conference outside the Capitol Taylor said “Strong penalties are needed to curb violent and unacceptable behavior. Bad behavior should not fly.” Civil libertarians vowed to oppose the measure. They say the FBI no-fly list is not transparent and unfairly targets people of color, and that the new list would have the same problems. They also say that the Federal Aviation Administration is cracking down on bad behavior, and that reports of unruly passengers are declining. “If Congress wants to further reduce air-rage incidents on aircraft, it should look at forcing the airlines to make flying a less miserable experience,” said Jay Stanley, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union. The new measure was introduced by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn. The lawmakers said the bill includes guidelines for notifying people that they are being placed on the list, and how to appeal. The bill would let TSA decide how long a person would be banned from flying on commercial planes. Similar legislation failed to get a hearing in Congress last year. Supporters hope their chances have improved because of high-profile incidents like that involving a passenger who stabbed at a flight attendant with a broken-off spoon this month. Individual airlines maintain lists of passengers they have banned but resist sharing names with other airlines, partly out of fear they could violate laws against cooperation among competing carriers. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/congress-new-fly-list-unruly-passengers-98209671 BAE Systems to work with Heart Aerospace on electric airplane battery LONDON : Britain's BAE Systems said on Thursday it would collaborate with Sweden's Heart Aerospace in developing a battery system for Heart's ES-30 regional electric airplane. The ES-30 will be powered by four electric motors, with an all-electric range of 200 kilometers, an extended reserve hybrid range of 400 kilometers with 30 passengers and an ability to fly up to 800 kilometers with 25 passengers, BAE Systems said. Heart Aerospace has a total of 230 orders and 100 options for the ES-30, along with letter of intent for an additional 108 airplanes. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/bae-systems-work-heart-aerospace-electric-airplane-battery-3384731 TASL to make Airbus A320neo aircraft cargo and bulk cargo doors in Hyderabad HYDERABAD: French aerospace giant Airbus on Wednesday said it has awarded a contract to Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) to manufacture cargo and bulk cargo doors of its A320neo aircraft family as part of efforts to boost its competitiveness in the single aisle aircraft market and ramp up the A320 programme. TASL will be making these doors using cutting-edge robotics and automation technology at a new facility in Hyderabad. Each shipset will include two cargo doors and one bulk cargo door, Airbus said. The contract was inked in Hyderabad on Wednesday by Olivier Cauquil, SVP of aerostructure procurement, Airbus, and Masood Hussainy, VP & HO of aerostructure & aero-engines, TASL. Airbus already procures components and services worth $735 million each year from over 100 Indian suppliers with every Airbus commercial aircraft and helicopter having critical technologies and systems that are designed, manufactured and maintained in India. "When it comes to supporting the development of India’s industrial capacities, Airbus is walking the talk. The latest contract underlines our continued commitment to ‘Make-in-India’ for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” said Rémi Maillard, president and managing director, Airbus India and South Asia. “In TASL, we have a most trusted and able partner that will support the ramp-up of our A320neo family aircraft that has been the poster child of democratisation and transformation of India's aviation sector. We will continue to grow our industrial footprint and the aviation and aerospace ecosystem at a fast pace in India,” he added. Commenting on the latest contract, Sukaran Singh, managing director and CEO, TASL said, “We have an ongoing relationship with Airbus based on trust and operational excellence, and this new contract win will further bolster our partnership in aerospace manufacturing in India.” Apart from this, Airbus will also build the C295 military aircraft Final Assembly Line (FAL) with TASL in Gujarat, in what is touted as the first concrete, large-scale Make-in-India manufacturing aerospace programme in the private sector. This programme will unlock the potential for cutting-edge design, component manufacturing, aircraft assembly and services capabilities across the value chain, fully addressing the Government of India’s stated ambition of an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence manufacturing, Airbus said. Airbus said that along with its supply chain, it supports nearly 10,000 jobs in India and expects this number to rise to 15,000 by 2025. This even as the C295 military aircraft programme will lead to the creation of 25,000 direct and indirect jobs over 10 years, it added. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/tasl-to-make-airbus-a320neo-aircraft-cargo-and-bulk-cargo-doors-in-hyderabad/articleshow/99095348.cms?from=mdr Cathay Pacific: Why should pilots relocate to Hong Kong? As the home airline of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific is situated in what has long been regarded Asia’s World City – an international hub with manifold opportunities for travelers, workers, and businesses. There’s always something happening in Hong Kong and there’s something to cater to every taste. The airline has come a long way since launch in 1946. Today, it remains committed to making Hong Kong a world-leading international aviation hub, and it has also pledged to add dozens of new passenger aircraft to its fleet in the years ahead. Given the multiple benefits of living and working in Hong Kong, it’s perhaps no surprise that Cathay Pacific is able to offer its staff an enviable quality of life, both personal and professional. Consider the foodie offering in Hong Kong, for example. Hong Kong boasts more restaurants per capita than anywhere else globally, including more than 80 outlets with much sought after Michelin Stars, not to mention its breadth of cuisine and the wide range of eclectic drinks venues. With more than 20,000 employees worldwide, of whom about 17,000 are based in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific staff can tell you that Hong Kong is known throughout the world as a retail destination, particularly for fashion and electronics. And if it’s entertainment you’re after, then Hong Kong’s lively and diverse scene has something for everyone. Cathay Pacific’s recent traffic figures show that the airline’s positive momentum at the start of the year is continuing its upward trend. In February 2023 alone, Cathay Pacific carried a total of 1,114,727 passengers, a massive increase of 3,467% compared to February 2022. Meanwhile, February’s revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) soared by 4,720% year-on-year. Cathay Pacific knows that traveling has changed dramatically over the past few years. But now that normal travel has fully resumed in Hong Kong, the sky’s the limit. The airline is continuing to add more flights to its schedule and is making significant progress in increasing its capacity. This means that more and more people will be able to enjoy the exhilarating adventures in Hong Kong, from marveling at the world’s largest number of skyscrapers to exploring its pristine countryside and mountains. Cathay Pacific is hiring flight crew and has ambitious plans to expand its teams, from Cadet Pilots to First Officers. If you want to join the Cathay Pacific family in Hong Kong, you can learn about the airline’s flight crew roles here. For people considering taking that first step as a Cadet Pilot or furthering their career as a First Officer, Cathay Pacific wants to hear from you. By joining the Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme, cadets will receive sponsored training to obtain a Commercial Pilot License and become a pilot who can operate regional, long haul, and ultra-long haul flights. Meanwhile, First Officers who have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flying experience and meet a number of other requirements, including an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) or Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with a Multi Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) and same state ATPL examination credits, can expect to receive a highly-competitive salary, a generous monthly allowance, and 28 days annual leave. In addition, First Officers at Cathay Pacific enjoy, among other things, discounted travel for themselves and their eligible dependents and, if eligible, a discretionary year-end bonus and profit-share payment. Also, Cathay Pacific has well-established training facilities, a development plan for all employees, and excellent instructors. And let’s not forget that, when not in the air, Cathay Pacific pilots and their families can avail themselves of countless ways to relax and enjoy their downtime in Hong Kong or, if the mood takes, easy accessibility to the rest of Asia and an endless choice of weekend breaks, regardless of whether they’re craving sand and sea, historic centers or exciting Asian cities. There is no denying that people work hard in Hong Kong. But with a strong work ethic comes a strong desire to have fun. Being social and active is just one of the many things that both locals and expats enjoy about a Hong Kong lifestyle. And with its great parks, numerous sporting groups and exciting nightlife, it’s easy to see why so many people have relocated to Hong Kong and made it their home. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/cathay-pacific-why-should-pilots-relocate-to-hong-kong Jet planes and sugar cane: Qantas and Airbus get on board biofuel factory in Queensland Aviation giants look to agricultural waste in bid to cut emissions but experts say it is no panacea Qantas is banking on converting byproducts from north Queensland sugar cane into sustainable aviation fuel, as the air industry comes under increasing pressure to minimise its emissions. On Thursday, Qantas announced that it and plane manufacturer Airbus will jointly invest $2m in a biofuel production facility that it hopes can produce up to 100m litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) a year when it opens in 2026. The Queensland government has also pledged $760,000 as part of an initial capital raising of $6m for the project. The biofuel production facility is being developed by Jet Zero Australia in partnership with LanzaJet, a US company that has already produced SAF from carbon monoxide waste from a steel plant in China. This has been used in a blended form on commercial flights from the US. LanzaJet’s process involves turning waste products into ethanol, which it then converts into the compound used for SAF. Commercial aircraft are already using SAF – Airbus says all of its aircraft are capable of flying with an SAF blend of up to 50%. But experts believe ramping up production to the levels the aviation industry relies on is decades away, if possible at all. Aviation accounts for slightly more than 2% of global CO2 emissions. Qantas already uses a modest amount of SAF – 10m litres in 2023 – which it buys from overseas. It has committed to use 10% SAF in its overall fuel mix by 2030. The airline is expected to have to rely on offsets to achieve its commitment of net zero emissions by 2050. In Australia, Jet Zero is focusing on agricultural byproducts from the sugar cane industry in north Queensland, with plans to build its facility in the region and rely on nearby port access. Initially Jet Zero Australia will also use wheat starch byproducts from New South Wales, however sugar cane has the greatest potential, according to managing director Ed Mason. Mason says that while SAF sources being developed in other countries rely on converting cooking oils, palm oil and animal fats, Jet Zero Australia would focus on agricultural byproducts. “In my opinion [oils and fats are] just not as clean, and you’re not able to look through the lifecycle benefits as easily,” he said. “And from a social perspective people are much happier flying on biomass than on animal fat.” Mason acknowledges that sustainable aviation fuel production is still in its infancy. “We are pioneering this … we are taking risks with technology that’s unproven, but we’ve partnered with the most advanced technology already being used,” he said. “We’re not dependent on new sources coming to market, and we’ve got commitments from the airline that they’re going to buy the fuel.” Mason said Jet Zero Australia was “aggressively moving through feasibility studies” and, pending final investment, hopes to begin construction on the plant next year, with a view to it being operational by 2026. It would be Australia’s first sustainable aviation fuels plant. Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet’s chief executive, said that tests the company had done with agricultural byproducts in Canada saw a “significant reduction” in contrails, or vapour trails, which form when water vapour and soot particles form into ice crystals. Research has suggested contrails have an even greater impact on global heating than carbon emissions from jet engines. “This is a first but significant step towards turning agricultural and sugar cane byproducts into aviation fuel to power flights around Australia,” said Andrew Parker, Qantas’s chief sustainability officer. Susanne Becken, a professor of sustainable tourism at Griffith University, said it was promising to see the investment in SAF, but noted it was not the only way to decarbonise aviation. Green hydrogen and electrification technology are also being explored by the industry, though are also in early development. Becken said that while using sugar cane byproduct was still an improvement, it was “not a silver bullet” because of the emissions resulting from growing the feedstock. While noting the Jet Zero Australia project only relied on byproducts, Becken said it was important that feedstocks for the biofuels didn’t take away land from food production. Becken said the world will never be able to produce enough SAF to meet aviation’s current fuel demand because the competition over land and resources is too big. She said ultimately the world’s reliance on aviation would have to shrink to levels which alternate forms of energy could supply, whether they be SAF or electricity. In January, Queensland researchers said they had made a breakthrough that allows them to quickly convert sugar cane into a renewable chemical that could be used for sustainable aviation fuel. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/mar/30/sugar-cane-aviation-fuel-qantas-airbus-jet-planes-biofuel-factory-queensland-australia Private jet flights in Europe soar to record levels — and most were ultra-short journeys KEY POINTS • Analysis published Thursday by environmental campaign group Greenpeace showed the number of private jet flights in Europe rose by a whopping 64% to reach a record high of 572,806 last year. • It comes at a time when Europe is in the grip of a severe winter drought and shortly after the region’s driest summer in at least 500 years. • “The alarming growth of private jet flights is entirely at odds with all the climate science that tells us to bring down CO2 emissions immediately in order to avert total disaster,” said Klara Maria Schenk, transport campaigner for Greenpeace’s Mobility for All campaign. A private jet aviation boom shows no signs of slowing. Analysis published Thursday by environmental campaign group Greenpeace showed the number of private jet flights in Europe last year rose by a whopping 64% to reach a record high of 572,806. Private jet emissions, which have a disproportionate impact on the environment, were found to have more than doubled in Europe in 2022, exceeding the annual per capita carbon emissions of 550,000 European Union residents. More than half (55%) of the private jet flights in Europe last year were ultra-short journeys below 750 kilometers (466 miles), Greenpeace said, noting that these were trips that could have been taken by train or ferry instead. It comes at a time when Europe is in the grip of a severe winter drought and shortly after the region’s driest summer in at least 500 years. Scientists warned in late January that a lack of groundwater across the continent meant the water situation was now “very precarious.” “The alarming growth of private jet flights is entirely at odds with all the climate science that tells us to bring down CO2 emissions immediately in order to avert total disaster,” said Klara Maria Schenk, transport campaigner for Greenpeace’s Mobility for All campaign. “Reducing oil-powered transport immediately is a no-brainer, starting with a ban on energy-wasting ultra-polluting private jets that provide no value for people, yet burden them with harmful emissions, toxic microparticles and noise, harming our climate, environment and health,” Schenk said. The analysis found that the countries with the most private jet flights in Europe last year were the U.K., France and Germany. The most popular destinations for private jet flights in Europe in 2022 were the French Riviera city of Nice, France’s capital of Paris and Switzerland’s second-most populous city of Geneva. Rising demand Greenpeace said the research, which was conducted by Dutch environmental consultancy CE Delft, was based on data provided by aviation analytics company Cirium. It assessed all private flights departing from and arriving in European nations from 2020 through to 2022 and separated these trips by year, route and aircraft type. Some small aircraft types with less than three seats were excluded as these were trips predominantly used for leisure. The data also excludes flights to and from the same airport and trips to and from airports without a unique International Air Transport Association code. Private jet use has been soaring for some time. Indeed, major private jet manufacturers have been racing to keep pace with the uptick in demand since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with first-time buyers fueling record sales. A wealth boom, stronger leisure demand and the gradual loosening of Covid-19 restrictions are some of the factors seen driving the rise in private jet demand. Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion, Scientist Rebellion and Last Generation block the entrance of the "Milano Linate Prime" fixed-base operator airport facility in Milan on Nov. 10, 2022, demanding the ban of private jet, tax frequent flyers and introduce taxation of most polluters. Private jet emissions in Europe have soared at a faster rate than commercial aviation in recent years. Data from the non-governmental organization Transport & Environment shows that private jets are up to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes per passenger, and up to 50 times more polluting than trains. That’s because, in just one hour, a single private jet can emit two metric tons of carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, the average person in the EU emits 8.2 metric tons of CO2 equivalent over the course of an entire year. Earlier this month, the world’s leading climate scientists published a “survival guide for humanity,” calling for a deep, rapid and sustained reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This temperature threshold refers to the aspirational goal of the landmark Paris Agreement. It is widely regarded as a crucial global target because so-called tipping points become more likely beyond this level of global heating. Tipping points are thresholds at which small changes can lead to dramatic shifts in Earth’s entire life support system. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/30/private-jet-flights-in-europe-soar-to-record-levels-stoking-climate-fears.html Keeping Safety First: A Statistical Analysis of Commercial Aviation Accidents Airbus released its annual Statistical Analysis of Commercial Aviation Accidents, updated with 2022 figures. A Statistical Analysis of Commercial Aviation Accidents 2023 banner The safety of our products and the people who fly or operate them has always been the number one priority for Airbus. Compiling and analysing data1 of the incidents and accidents which occurred helps to contribute to improving the safety of our products by identifying trends or emerging threats that can be acted upon to prevent accidents from happening. The focus of the Statistical Analysis of Commercial Aviation Accidents is on Western built jets with over 40 seats. It shows that there were around 27 million flight departures in 2022, which was an increase of almost 5 million when compared with 2021. This is still around 20% below the number of flights recorded prior to the pandemic. The document reports that the aviation sector shows a positive trend towards a recovery of traffic to pre-pandemic levels. This ramp-up also highlights the need to attract more aviation professionals across the industry to avoid any shortfall, especially in light of the global workforce requirements for the next 20 years. “In order to secure safe and efficient operations in 2023 and beyond, it is fundamental for the industry to maintain and develop competencies of all aviation professionals and permanently reinforce our safety culture,” says Yannick Malinge, Chief Product Safety Officer for Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The analysis also points out that 2022 was a year that reported six commercial jet hull loss accidents without fatalities and two fatal accidents that were due to vehicles entering the runway. There was also a fatal accident where all passengers and crews lost their lives that remains to be classified, and therefore, is not yet recorded in this year’s analysis. “As the number of accidents and flights will vary each year, accident rates are more relevant than reviewing the number of accidents per year when analyzing trends”, the document reads. In this context, the statistics show that the number of accidents today is significantly lower than a comparable year in the previous decade and the rate of fatal accidents and hull losses is steadily decreasing over time. The analysis shows how “accident rates were further reduced with the introduction of new technologies that helped to reduce accident rates for each generation of aircraft”. The largest percentage of flights in recent years were made using the latest generation 4 fly-by-wire commercial jets, which have the lowest accident rate. “In 2022, generation 4 commercial jet aircraft flew 56% of the flights and the accident rate for both generation 3 and 4 aircraft remained historically low.” Comparing accident rates by generation of aircraft illustrates the value of the investments made through technology to improve safety, ensuring that taking a flight in a commercial jet aircraft is a low-risk activity. For more information on commercial aviation accidents and what the statistics tell us about our continual efforts to improve safety, visit the accident statistics website. Source data: The data for this analysis was extracted from official accident reports, as well as ICAO, Cirium, and Airbus databases. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/stories/2023-03-keeping-safety-first-a-statistical-analysis-of-commercial-aviation Curt Lewis