Flight Safety Information - April 13, 2023 No. 071 In This Issue : Incident: JAL B763 at Singapore on Apr 11th 2023, engine failure : Incident: Alaska B738 at Los Angeles on Apr 11th 2023, rejected takeoff after hitting foreign object on runway : Airlines, repair shops in N. America eye used, generic parts to keep aircraft flying : Minnesota man gets 2 years in prison for laser strike on jet : FAA Issues Notice Warning Pilots Not To Silence TAWS Alerts : FAA approves use of off-the-shelf parts for older certificated aircraft : Ibom Air receives IATA’s safety operational certificate : Why Africa suffers brain drain on qualified pilots — IATA DG : Operations Hit: Almost 80% Of Pilots Of India’s Alliance Air Report Sick : Russian Airline S7 Will Produce, Test, And Certify Aircraft Parts : Planes struggle to land at Heathrow Airport due to high winds : U.S. Cargo and Passenger Airlines Added 2,687 Jobs in February 2023; Employment Remains 8.2% Above Pre-Pandemic February 2019 : FAA Establishes In-House Investigations Office : TSA officers prevent Virginia man from carrying gun onto flight at Washington Dulles International Airport : ISASI ANZSASI2023 Surfers Paradise - Early Bird Reminder : Call for Nominations For 2023 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Incident: JAL B763 at Singapore on Apr 11th 2023, engine failure A JAL Japan Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration JA621J performing flight JL-38 from Singapore (Singapore) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan), was climbing out of Singapore's runway 02L when an engine (CF6) emitted rumbling noise and bangs prompting the crew to stop the climb at 7000 feet. The aircraft entered a hold for about 55 minutes, then positioned for a return to Singapore and landed safely on runway 02R about 75 minutes after departure. Passengers reported one of the engines emitted bangs and a rumbling noise. The aircraft returned to service about 21 hours after landing back and reached Tokyo as flight JL-38D with a delay of about 24 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=507b6400&opt=0 Incident: Alaska B738 at Los Angeles on Apr 11th 2023, rejected takeoff after hitting foreign object on runway An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N525AS performing flight AS-1263 from Los Angeles,CA to Redmond,OR (USA), was cleared for takeoff from Los Angeles' runway 25R and was accelerating for departure when about 50 seconds after receiving the takeoff clearance the crew announced they were aborting takeoff on the runway advising they had hit some foreign object debris on the runway, cabin said about 10-15 feet long, probably a piece of rubber. The piece was probably between the 10 and 9 marker. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron, the crew advising they were concerned about the debris having gone into their engines. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 13 hours and just now returned to service. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A PIECE OF RUBBER ON DEPARTURE ROLL, ADBORTED DEPARTURE AND RETURNED TO GATE, LOS ANGELES, CA.", the damage was "UNKNOWN". https://avherald.com/h?article=507b5bbb&opt=0 Airlines, repair shops in N. America eye used, generic parts to keep aircraft flying (Reuters) - Airlines and aircraft repair shops in North America are increasingly relying on used and generic parts to keep jets flying, a symptom of the rising costs and supply-chain shortages plaguing the aerospace industry. These alternatives to new parts made by the original manufacturer must be certified and deemed safe. While they account for a fraction of the estimated $35 billion spent annually on components for repairs, sales are growing, analysts and executives say. Driving demand is the struggle aerospace suppliers face to fill new orders as air traffic soars and the supply chain for aircraft parts recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, when labor shortages and lockdowns slowed production. Higher costs and a shortage of available new parts are also delaying aircraft repairs, which risk pushing up air fares. That has spurred demand from airlines and repair shops for alternatives that cost roughly 20% to 40% less than new parts, analysts and executives said. Some makers of brand-name parts like General Electric Co stand to benefit because they also sell used parts, known as used serviceable material. Some planemakers are also benefitting. Business jet maker Bombardier Inc uses a teardown venture to gain parts for its growing "aftermarket" business that provides maintenance and repairs for planes. The venture has helped the company source parts for older aircraft models that are harder to find in the current market, or are no longer being produced, a spokesman said. American Airlines, meanwhile, says it has helped develop certified parts that were not made by the original manufacturer to mitigate "increased costs and other supply chain constraints." Companies spent $35 billion in 2019 on materials for aviation repairs and overhauls, including $5 billion on used parts and $725 million on generic components, aerospace specialist Naveo Consultancy estimates. It declined to disclose figures for the following years, but analysts at Naveo and others say demand for alternatives to new parts is rising. Honeywell Aerospace Trading, the U.S. conglomerate's used parts business, is among companies enjoying higher demand since 2021. It expects demand to continue through at least the first half of 2024 as the supply chain recovers, said Heath Patrick, president for the Americas aftermarket segment at Honeywell Aerospace. The market for new generic parts with a Parts Manufacturer Approval stamp from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be small - representing just 2% to 3% of spending on materials - but growth is outstripping overall market trends, said Adam Guthorn, managing director at aerospace consultancy Alton. HEICO Corp, a major independent supplier of new FAA-approved parts not made by the original manufacturer, expects demand to continue even after supply bottlenecks improve, vice president Patrick Markham said. "Growth will be stronger than pre-pandemic" in the next few years, he said. HEICO's profit in its latest fiscal year ending Oct. 31 rose 16% to a record $351.7 million, helped by booming sales of parts with the PMA stamp. Companies like GE could lose some demand to such independent companies producing certified components that perform the same fit and function, as they can be cheaper and easier to procure in the current environment, said Abdol Moabery, CEO of Florida-based GA Telesis, which repairs and overhauls jet engines. GE, in response, says it provides customers with used material that can "significantly lower shop visit costs." The market for certified used and generic parts has its limits. For example, parts makers face the same labor shortages that have hit all companies, analysts said. Bigger players like GE could also simply make life tougher for companies like HEICO by cutting prices if they found the smaller firms gaining too much market share, said HEICO's Markham. TEARING DOWN PLANES The increase in price for parts is expected to moderate this year after rising between high single-digits and low-double-digits in 2022, even though costs remain above pre-COVID-19 levels, said Alex Youngs, an executive with private equity firm Carlyle Group's repair unit StandardAero. Companies are trying to find parts any way they can, driving demand to "teardown" aging planes. Bombardier, whose teardown business is a slice of its higher-margin aftermarket segment, says it has taken critical parts like engines from 11 older, customer-owned business jets torn down through a previously unreported 2018 agreement. The teardown business, which helped generate parts for planes temporarily grounded due to supply constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to Bombardier's aftermarket revenue target of $2 billion by 2025, up from $1.5 billion in 2022. To meet demand from private planes, Chicago-based Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI), an independent provider of maintenance support and financial services, says it is buying more aircraft to tear down for parts. JSSI, which has maintenance tracking software on over 3,500 aircraft, said 60% of parts on those planes were new in 2022, down from 67% in 2019. Costs are not the only issue. Moabery has seen time to turn around certain repair orders roughly double because it takes longer to get back repaired components from large suppliers. "We used to turn an engine in under 60 days," he said. "We'd be lucky to deliver an engine in under 100 days today." In addition, the supply pool from old aircraft is finite. Only about 428 air transport aircraft globally were recognized as retired in 2022, the lowest level since 2007, according to Naveo. GE expects 400 to 500 aircraft retirements in 2025. Ultimately, the alternatives to new parts may bring relief but a congested supply chain must be fixed, said Benjamin Hockenberg, president of JSSI Parts & Leasing. "Certain models, certain situations, (used parts) will fill the void, but I think we also need to see a repaired supply chain," said Hockenberg. https://www.yahoo.com/news/airlines-repair-shops-n-america-100854514.html Minnesota man gets 2 years in prison for laser strike on jet MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge in Wisconsin sentenced a Minnesota man on Friday to two years in prison for aiming a laser at a Delta Air Lines jet in 2021, an act that prosecutors said disrupted the pilots’ efforts to land and putting passengers in “incredible danger.” James Link, 43, of Rochester, Minnesota, pleaded guilty in January. Laser strikes on planes and helicopters hit a record in the U.S. in 2021. Pilots reported 9,723 incidents, a 41% jump over the year before, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures. The FAA said it handed out $120,000 in fines in 2021. Violators like Link can also face up to five years in prison. According to the U.S. attorney’s office in Madison, the pilots of the Delta flight from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, to Minneapolis on Oct. 29, 2021, reported that their cockpit was lit up three times by a bright blue laser while they were at an altitude of 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) just west of River Falls, Wisconsin. At the time, air traffic control had just instructed them to change runways, which required them to plot a new course to the Minneapolis airport. “The laser strikes caused a major distraction in the cockpit as they were not able to look at their iPads to brief the new approach,” prosecutors said in a statement. The pilots were eventually able to chart the new path and land safely, the statement said. “The first officer did not suffer any disruption to his vision, but the captain said that vision in his right eye was affected for several hours after this event,” prosecutors said. Air traffic control called a Minnesota State Patrol aircraft, which flew to River Falls. The State Patrol aircraft was also struck by a blue laser. The pilots spotted the suspect and worked with River Falls police, who found Link with a blue laser on his person. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge William Conley remarked on Link’s extensive criminal record, which included numerous domestic assaults. He also said the behavior was similar to a 2017 arrest when Link shined a flashlight in the eyes of the arresting officer. “Judge Conley called aiming a laser at an aircraft incredibly dangerous and reckless, and in this case forced the Delta pilots to focus on their temporary blindness which put everyone on the aircraft in incredible danger,” the statement said. https://apnews.com/article/laser-strike-plane-prison-2be517662984e5df9ca7312f11189656 FAA Issues Notice Warning Pilots Not To Silence TAWS Alerts Late last month, the FAA released an Information for Operators (InFO) notice warning against the dangers of pilots inhibiting terrain avoidance and warning systems (TAWS) aural alerts. According to the notice, “Alerts from TAWS can become a nuisance or a distraction to pilots when flying at altitudes below the alerting threshold of the system. This may result in the pilot’s decision to inhibit the system. Inhibiting warning systems and ignoring warnings, combined with deteriorating weather conditions leading to loss of visual surface reference and situational awareness, has been found to be the cause of some CFIT [controlled flight into terrain] accidents. “This InFO serves to inform operators about the risks associated with distraction and complacency brought about by routine use of the TAWS’ terrain inhibit feature. It is also intended to ensure operators understand the importance of having procedures and training for the use of the terrain inhibit aural warning switches associated with nuisance alerts.” The FAA recommends that directors of operations for charter providers (Part 135), private flight department managers (Part 91) and fractional ownership program managers (Part 91, subpart K) “should review their approved training programs to ensure procedures for the use of the terrain warning system inhibit switch is adequately addressed.” https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-issues-notice-warning-pilots-not-to-silence-taws-alerts/ FAA approves use of off-the-shelf parts for older certificated aircraft The FAA has unveiled a new program for the use of off-the-shelf parts in type-certificated aircraft. The new Vintage Aircraft Replacement and Modification Article (VARMA) program is the “next big step in keeping vintage aircraft flying,” according to officials with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). “Anyone who owns and operates vintage aircraft knows that finding parts can be a major challenge. This situation is especially frustrating when perfectly safe and functional alternatives are readily available, but can’t be used because there’s been no legal way to install them in a type-certificated aircraft,” association officials said. “With VARMA in place, some aspects of vintage aircraft ownership and operation are about to get a lot simpler.” VARMA uses several existing FAA policies to create a program that requires no new regulations, orders, or advisory circulars, EAA officials continued. VARMA applies to small (less than 12,500 pounds) type-certificated aircraft built before 1980. It allows ordinary maintenance personnel to validate that certain low-risk replacement parts are suitable for installation on aircraft, without the need for extensive engineering analysis or complex and time-consuming design and production approvals from the FAA, EAA officials explained. “This is great news for those of us who own and fly vintage aircraft,” said Jack Pelton, EAA’s CEO and chairman of the board. “There could easily come a time when a classic airplane that would otherwise be grounded for want of a part that’s no longer available will fly again thanks to the parts substitution enabled by VARMA.” The program applies to parts whose failure would not “prevent continued safe flight and landing.” While this means that safety-critical components are not subject to this program, there are plenty of hard-to-find parts that meet VARMA’s criteria, EAA officials said. EAA’s Cessna 150, which was the test bed for its auto fuel STC and the new VARMA program. (Photo courtesy EAA) For the first approval under VARMA, EAA used the same Cessna 150 it used as a testbed for its auto fuel STC. For VARMA it applied for an off-the-shelf starter solenoid as the failure of the starter system is generally irrelevant to flight safety. The FAA granted the first Form 337 approval under the program several weeks later. Since that time, the association also been granted approval for alternators and voltage regulators in VFR aircraft. “There are many more parts that are eligible under VARMA,” EAA officials said. Initially, the FAA will be managing the program through its Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, which can be reached at 847-294-7357. For now, approvals will be considered on an individual basis, although type clubs and ownership groups are encouraged to keep track of substitute parts that have gained approval, EAA officials advised. “EAA has had a longstanding commitment to maintainability and modernization in the legacy aircraft community,” said Tom Charpentier, EAA’s government relations director. “Our EFIS and autopilot STCs broke new ground in affordable avionics, and it is our hope that VARMA opens many new doors for easily found replacement parts. As with the STC programs, we blazed the trail with the first application. Now we’re excited to see the program grow in the GA community.” Comments Paul Brevard says April 12, 2023 at 9:43 am Those intending to use this program must submit a request for Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from the FAA before installing the alternative parts (VARMA Work Instruction #WI-51822, Section 8). Compliance with AC 23-27 and AC 20-62E remains relevant. Red tape aside, this is an excellent example of FAA oversight moving aside for reasons that need no elaboration. https://generalaviationnews.com/2023/04/12/faa-approves-use-of-off-the-shelf-parts-for-older-certificated-aircraft/ Ibom Air receives IATA’s safety operational certificate The International Air Transport Association, on Wednesday, formally presented Ibom Air with its Operational Safety Audit Certificate. The certificate was received by the management of Ibom Airlines Limited, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mfon Udom, at the airline’s headquarters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from the Area Manager, West and Central Africa, Samson Fatokun, and Assistant Director Operations, Safety and Security, West and Central Africa, Jennifer Yeates. The IOSA which was established by IATA in 2003, uses internationally recognised quality auditing principles to assess the operational management and safety controls of airlines to certify them consistently. As a result of this, IOSA has become accepted as the international standard for airline safety and operational evaluation. A statement by the Group Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette, noted that the IOSA audit of Ibom Air was conducted in the second half of 2022, which was just over three years after the airline commenced commercial operations, adding that the airline’s effort was championed by its Quality and Safety Team, led by the Group Manager, Quality and Safety, Edem Essien. Responding to the presentation on behalf of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, the Chief Operating Officer of the airline, commended the Ibom Air team for the landmark achievement. He expressed the leadership’s appreciation for the continuous efforts by staff to make the airline the world-class African regional airline as contained in the company’s vision statement. In his words, “Ibom Air’s achievement of the IOSA certification at this time is very much in line with our continental aspirations, as we move to position our airline strongly on the African continent. “Our strategy to spread our wings across Africa includes establishing multiple interline agreements and excellent cooperation with partner airlines. Being IOSA certified is a prerequisite for this.” The statement noted that the certification validates the airline’s high operational and safety standards and is an essential milestone as the airline positions regional operations and collaboration. “It stands to also move the airline further on course to deliver on its Mission; to build a safe, service-focused, and profitable airline.” https://punchng.com/ibom-air-receives-iatas-safety-operational-certificate/ Why Africa suffers brain drain on qualified pilots — IATA DG The Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Willie Walsh, has observed that with the 1500-hour flight rule, there is a brain drain in Africa as it concerns qualified pilots. According to Walsh, while Africa suffers brain drain, the United States of America enjoys brain gain as the country has greater in-migration of skilled pilots than out-migration. Walsh pointed out that the rule has over time created a situation where highly qualified individuals leave their home region or country in search of better career prospects in the USA. He however, noted that the 1500 hour rule does not exist outside of the ambits of the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and, therefore, not in the rest of the world. The IATA DG equally noted that the situation had caused a huge pilot shortage in America, making the region attractive to qualified pilots across the world, including those from Africa. Walsh, who revealed this while fielding questions from journalists during the virtual launch of “Focus Africa,” said, “The 1500-hour rule has caused a shortage of qualified pilots in the USA, not in Europe. It makes the country attractive. In Africa, it leads to a situation whereby talents leave the continent to other countries.” Meanwhile, the 1500-hour rule is a stipulation on how long it takes to become a commercial pilot in the United States and Canada. The rule is a law by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that requires all pilots in America/Canada to have at least 1500 hours of experience/flight time before being eligible to fly for a regional airline or major airline (such as FedEx, American Airlines, Delta, etc.). Whereas pilots in the rest of the world only need 250 hours. This means that newly qualified cadets cannot become airline First Officers until they acquire the hours of flight time required and are therefore forced to spend additional time (usually 12-24 months) hour building as instructors (or other methods) until they can apply to these airlines. This law differs from the law set out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the UK and Europe, which allows pilots to enter into a major airline after their flight training (with a frozen airline transport pilot licence) and far fewer hours of just 250 flight hours. Before the 1500-hour rule, prospective pilots could earn their ATP with a commercial pilot’s licence, a minimum of 250 hours of flying, plus airline-specific training. Aircraft giant, Boeing, recently raised concern over the dearth of pilots, technicians and cabin crew as the plane maker in its 2022-2041 Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO) says Africa is set to need 20,000 pilots, 21,000 technicians and 26,000 cabin crew while China will require 126,000 pilots, 124,000 technicians and 162,000 cabin crew. The European market demand for pilots is estimated to reach 122,000, 120,000 technicians and 207,000 cabin crew, while the Latin American market will need 35,000 pilots, 35,000 technicians and 48,000 cabin crew. For the Middle East, 53,000 pilots, 50,000 technicians and 99,000 cabin crew will be needed compared to 128,000, 134,000 and 173,000, respectively in North America and 22,000, 24,000 and 38,000 in Northeast Asia. In Nigeria, the scarcity of skilled manpower to replace the ageing workforce is putting the country’s aviation industry on the edge as the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria trains professionals yearly without companies to engage them for their services. Aside from Nigeria, the global aviation industry is facing a similar problem. A widespread deficit of pilots across all continents has affected the sector, particularly in recent years, with cases of pilot shortages regularly occurring. https://tribuneonlineng.com/why-africa-suffers-brain-drain-on-qualified-pilots-iata-dg/ Operations Hit: Almost 80% Of Pilots Of India’s Alliance Air Report Sick The airline had to cancel several flights on Monday. India’s low-cost regional airline, Alliance Air, struggled to maintain operations on Monday as a majority of its pilots took sick leave. The airline’s cockpit crew is reportedly unhappy with Alliance Air for not paying according to the agreement and took the step in protest. Alliance Air is the only state-run airline in India, and the government is keen on selling it, too. Mass leave On April 10th, Alliance Air’s operations were hit hard after most of its cockpit crew called in sick. Although the carrier did not officially reveal the number, a report by The Times of India (TOI) quotes a source as saying that around 100 pilots reported being sick, which amounts to nearly 80% of the airline’s pilot strength. Naturally, Alliance Air saw plenty of cancellations, almost 60% of its departures, according to sources. The TOI also states that Alliance Air had no flights in its primary hub of Northeast India. The airline admitted to operations being affected and stated, “… The unforeseen disruption in logistic chain is directly impacting timely availability of spares restricting the airline to fly aircraft due to safety reasons, combined with a section of dissatisfied pilots who en masse reported sick without giving any prior intimation … resulted in cancellation of flight operations on 24 routes.” Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today. The airline also admitted that the cancellations caused inconvenience to passengers and that the management is “taking a serious view on this development.” Alliance Air offered affected passengers the option of a full refund or accommodation on alternate flights. Unhappy with salaries The reason behind Monday’s disruption is reportedly salary-related issues. TOI states that Alliance Air pilots allege their salaries are not according to the agreement. A mass leave seems to be their way of protesting and making the management look into the issue. This isn’t the first time Alliance Air pilots have protested for their salaries. In September 2022, they went on a strike, protesting that salary cuts taken during the COVID-19 pandemic had not been reversed, despite rising inflation. Alliance Air pilots had reportedly accepted a 60% pay cut as part of emergency measures designed to help the airline survive the pandemic. The salaries have increased since then, but clearly, there seems to be a misalignment of the pilots’ expectations and what the management wants. Only government-run airline Alliance Air is currently the only state-run airline in India, focusing primarily on regional routes. It was part of the former national airline Air India. Almost three months after Air India's privatization, Alliance Air announced that it had completed the process of becoming a standalone airline, which meant that it no longer relied on Air India's network of bookings, customer service, or anything else. Check out more Indian aviation news here. The Indian government is now keen to also sell former Air India subsidiaries, including Alliance Air, and has been working on it for months now. https://simpleflying.com/alliance-air-pilots-report-sick/ Russian Airline S7 Will Produce, Test, And Certify Aircraft Parts Due to Western sanctions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian companies have improvised new solutions to keep their aircraft airworthy. Russian company S7 Group, owner of S7 Airlines, has acquired the Berdsk Electromechanical Plant (BEMZ). This will allow the firm to produce, test, and certify aircraft parts, as Russia’s civil aviation industry keeps looking for new solutions to bypass the sanctions imposed by Western countries following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A new solution to the lack of spares Over the last year, we have heard about Russian airlines and companies improvising to keep their aircraft fleets airworthy. For instance, Aeroflot recently sent an Airbus A330 to Iran’s Mahan Air for maintenance on its landing gear. Another example is that new Sukhoi Superjet aircraft are rolling off the production lines wearing second-hand engines and non-Michelin tires (as it was previously done). There are reports of airlines cannibalizing new planes for spare parts in order to keep other aircraft in the sky. This week, the Russian news agency TASS reported that S7 Group acquired the Berdsk Electromechanical Plant. S7 Group acquired an 82.18% stake in BMZ, a plant that produces equipment and parts for aircraft, rockets, and space systems. The Plant’s General Director, Vasily Yurchenko, said that S7 Group would produce, test, and certify aircraft components. He added, “There are a number of companies in the S7 Group that have different competencies in repairing and maintaining the aircraft fleet. BEMZ is needed so the group can produce, test, and certify missing parts. It will be a modern, in-demand, high-tech production facility. In the nearest future, we are going to form an investment program and start re-equipment of the enterprise.” The Berdsk Electromechanical Plant is a machine-building company that has been operating since 1959. Russia’s improvisation to maintain commercial planes in airworthiness condition has worried international experts. Earlier this year, Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, said, “We start to hear about situations where they are missing parts or components or an inability to keep some of the planes in flight. But we are not speaking with the Russian airlines. We miss visibility. And yes, we are slightly concerned about the way the planes are operated, but we have no real means to act." About S7 S7 Airlines is a carrier based at Novosibirsk Tolmachevo International Airport (OVB). According to data from ch-aviation, the airline has a fleet of 102 aircraft, all produced by Western manufacturers (Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer). The airline has 66 Airbus-produced planes (all narrowbodies), including three A319s, 16 A320ceos, 31 A320neos, eight A321ceos, and eight A321neos. S7 also operates 19 Boeing 737-800s (including two freighters) and 17 Embraer E170s. Earlier this year, S7 Airlines denied the rumors that it had to ground its Airbus A321neo fleet. Instead, it said that the neos were simply undergoing scheduled maintenance ahead of the summer season. Ch-aviation has 20 S7 aircraft listed as inactive as of April 2023. S7 Airlines had an order with Boeing for new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Nonetheless, these planes have now been made undeliverable due to sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In recent months, five new 737s that were supposed to go to S7 finished with Turkish Airlines subsidiary AnadoluJet. This month it was also reported that another MAX originally ordered by S7 would go to Qatar Airways shortly. https://simpleflying.com/s7-produce-test-certify-aircraft-parts/?newsletter_popup=1 Planes struggle to land at Heathrow Airport due to high winds A United Airlines passenger plane aborted its landing at Heathrow Airport due to high winds brought by Storm Noa. YouTube aviation channel Big Jet TV captured the moment on a live feed, which also showed several other planes struggling to land in the difficult weather conditions. Storm Noa is sweeping across the UK, with gusts of over 60mph (96.5km/h) being recorded on the Isles of Scilly. The Met Office has predicted wind speeds of up to 70mph (113km/h). https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-65257407 U.S. Cargo and Passenger Airlines Added 2,687 Jobs in February 2023; Employment Remains 8.2% Above Pre-Pandemic February 2019 U.S. Airline Employees Headcount (Full-time and Part-time Employees) U.S. airline industry (passenger and cargo airlines combined) employment increased to 790,657 workers in February 2023, 2,687 (0.34%) more workers than in January 2023 (787,970) and 59,661 (8.16%) more than in pre-pandemic February 2019 (730,996). U.S. scheduled-service passenger airlines employed 508,450 workers in February 2023 or 65% of the industry-wide total. Passenger airlines added 4,696 employees in February 2023 for a twenty-second consecutive month of job growth dating back to May 2021. Delta led scheduled passenger carriers, adding 1,338 employees; Southwest added 1,134, and United added 1,082. U.S. cargo airlines employed 277,999 workers in February 2023, 35% of the industry total. Cargo carriers lost 1,372 employees in February. FedEx, the leading air cargo employer, decreased employment by 1,582 jobs. Scheduled passenger airlines add 2,785 full-time equivalents in February 2023 for 22nd consecutive month of job growth U.S. Airline Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) BTS calculates FTEs by dividing the number of part-time employees by 2 and adding that figure to the number of full-time employees. The February 2023 industry-wide numbers include 679,578 full-time and 111,079 part-time workers for a total of 735,118 FTEs, an increase from January of 2,785 FTEs (0.38%). February 2023’s total number of FTEs remains just 9.44% above pre-pandemic February 2019’s 671,701 FTEs. The 26 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reporting data for February 2023 employed 482,271 FTEs, 4,543 FTEs (0.95%) more than in January 2023. February 2023’s total number of scheduled passenger airline FTEs is 39,493 FTEs (8.92%) above pre-pandemic February 2019. Data by passenger carrier category can be found in the accompanying tables. U.S. cargo airlines employed 248,681 FTEs in February 2023, down 1,187 FTEs (0.47%) from January 2023. U.S. cargo airlines have increased FTEs by 23,929 (10.65%) since pre-pandemic February 2019. Reporting Notes Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers as of March 6, 2023. Additional https://transtats.bts.gov/Employment/ and previous releases can be found on the BTS website. Passenger, cargo, and charter airlines that operate at least one aircraft that has more than 60 seats or the capacity to carry a payload of passengers, cargo, and fuel weighing more than 18,000 pounds must report monthly employment statistics. Regulations require U.S. airlines to report employment numbers for employees who worked or received pay for any part of the pay period(s) ending nearest the 15th day of the month. See the tables that accompany this release on the BTS website for detailed data since 2015 (Tables 1-15) and industry summary monthly data since 1990. Additional individual airline numbers are available on the BTS airline employment web page. The web page provides full-time and part-time employment numbers by carrier by month from 1990 through February 2023. Missing carriers: 3FQ (Western Air Charter/Jet Edge), 2HQ (Elite), and WL (World Atlantic dba Caribbean Sun). ExpressJet (EV) is in Chapter 11 and discontinued operations on August 22nd, 2022. EV filed a P-1(a) report on 9/28/22 for August activity. There are no operations to report for September 2022 and beyond. The next update for U.S. airline employment is scheduled for May 10, 2023. https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/us-cargo-and-passenger-airlines-added-2687-jobs-february-2023-employment-remains-82-above FAA Establishes In-House Investigations Office The FAA has created its own version of an internal affairs office with the Office of Investigations and Professional Responsibility. The new department is charged with ensuring all FAA employees straighten up and fly right. “We protect the national airspace system (NAS) and the flying public by initiating and conducting administrative investigations and special inquiries on FAA employees and contractors suspected of violating various FAA orders, regulations and policy,” the agency says in its online description of the new function. The new office also “helps protect whistleblowers and others raising safety concerns,” according to a statement issued Tuesday. But the office also has some pretty far-reaching and somewhat ambiguous roles that seem to venture outside the FAA’s cozy confines. “We also research, coordinate and establish policy and standards for investigations, as well as conduct technical investigations and manage the Agency’s Insider Threat, Defensive Counter-Intelligence, International Travel Security, Cyber Counter-Intelligence, e-Discovery and the Digital Forensics programs,” the agency says. The creation of the office was mandated by the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act, which grew out of safety issues and the in-house pressures that resulted from the investigation into the 737 MAX certification process. https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/faa-regs/faa-establishes-in-house-investigations-office/ TSA officers prevent Virginia man from carrying gun onto flight at Washington Dulles International Airport DULLES, Va. – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) prevented a King George, Va., man from bringing his handgun onto a flight on Monday, April 10. The 9mm gun was not loaded. The weapon was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on his carry-on bag. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police were contacted, confiscated the gun and cited the man on a weapons charge. The man told officials that he forgot that he had his gun with him. “The spring travel season is here and our security checkpoint lanes are very busy,” said Scott T. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director the airport. “Our TSA officers are good at detecting prohibited and illegal items to ensure they are not carried onto a flight, and I’m grateful that our officers here at Dulles and nationwide are focused on the mission. I hope that this incident will serve as a reminder to others who own a firearm, to refresh their familiarity with the proper procedures on how to pack a gun for a flight. Firearms should never be brought to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage.” Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a hard-sided locked case. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. In addition to the citation by airport police, this individual now faces a stiff financial civil penalty, and penalties for carrying a weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000. Firearms are not permitted through a security checkpoint because passengers should not have access to a firearm during a flight. This even applies to travelers with concealed carry permits or are enrolled in the TSA PreCheck® program, who will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges if they bring a gun to a checkpoint. Individuals who bring their gun to a security checkpoint also face a federal financial civil penalty. Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded. Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges. Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872). https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2023/04/12/tsa-officers-prevent-virginia-man-carrying-gun-flight-washington International Society of Air Safety Investigators https://www.isasi.org/ Ladies and Gentlemen, ANZSASI2023 Surfers Paradise June 2 - 4, 2023 Please see the important information attached about registering for this year's Australian and New Zealand Safety Conference ANZSASI Registration Reminder.pdf ASASI Executive ISASI ANZSASI2023 Surfers Paradise - Early Bird Reminder Call for Nominations For 2023 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. The Award will be presented during the 76th Annual International Air Safety Summit, taking place November 6-8 in Paris, France. Presented annually since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study, or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers, and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners may be resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. The Award Committee, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient. Please help us identify and honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-to-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/. Nominations will be accepted through June 2, 2023. For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see www.ltbaward.org. About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back more than 75 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956 her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., in close association with The Flight Safety Foundation, established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. For the past 65 years, this distinguished award recognizing outstanding achievements in aviation safety worldwide has been presented at Flight Safety Foundation’s International Aviation Safety Summit. In 2013, The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed as an independent non-profit charitable organization composed of members of the Award Board, the aviation community, and the Barbour family. In addition to the annual presentation of the award, in 2019 the Foundation initiated a scholarship program that supports worthy students pursuing professional aviation studies. As the Foundation broadens its scope, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to recognize those who significantly contributed to aviation safety. For more information on the Foundation, the award, and past winners, visit http://LTBAward.org Curt Lewis