Flight Safety Information - April 21, 2023 No. 077 In This Issue : Incident: United B739 at Hartford on Apr 18th 2023, window popped open on takeoff : Incident: Porter DH8D at Boston on Mar 30th 2023, engine shut down in flight : $15M in gold and other valuables stolen in Toronto airport heist : American Airlines worker dies after crash with jet bridge at Austin airport terminal : AI pilot 'welcomes' female friend in cockpit, DGCA orders probe : PNG's Airline Air Niugini is Committed to Safety : FAA Set to Hire 1,500 Air Traffic Controllers This Year Incident: United B739 at Hartford on Apr 18th 2023, window popped open on takeoff A United Boeing 737-900, registration N66825 performing flight UA-1274 from Hartford,CT to Washington Dulles,DC (USA) with 178 people on board, was climbing out of Hartford's runway 24 when the crew levelled off at 4000 feet, declared emergency reporting a window had just popped open with serious wind noise in the back of their transmission. The aircraft returned to Hartford for a safe landing on runway 24 about 18 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-9 MAX registration N37555 reached Washington with a delay of about 6 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 12 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=50817e04&opt=0 Incident: Porter DH8D at Boston on Mar 30th 2023, engine shut down in flight A Porter Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration C-GLQE performing flight PD-2942 from Boston,MA (USA) to Toronto City,ON (Canada), was climbing out of Boston's runway 33L when the crew observed the right hand propeller showing higher rpm than commanded while climbing through 5000 feet. The crew stopped the climb at about 8000 feet, shut the engine (PW150A) down and returned to Boston for a safe landing on runway 33L about 35 minutes after departure. The Canadian TSB reported: "The engine data was downloaded and it was found that the #2 engine power lever exceeded the power detent during climb out. The Propeller Electronic Controller (PEC) logic assumes that the pilot needs full emergency power and correctly drove #2 propeller to 1020 RPM even though the propeller condition lever remained at 900 RPM. Aircraft was returned to service with no fault found." https://avherald.com/h?article=508121cb&opt=0 $15M in gold and other valuables stolen in Toronto airport heist Police in Canada are investigating after an air cargo container carrying nearly $15 million in gold and other valuables vanished from the Toronto Pearson international airport on Monday. An aircraft that arrived at the often bustling airport in the early evening had been unloaded, with its cargo transported to a holding facility "as per normal procedure," Peel Regional Police Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn said at a news conference. What happened to the precious cargo once it was offloaded is a mystery, with Duivesteyn telling reporters it was removed somehow "by illegal means." The cargo was reported missing to the Peel Regional Police a short time later and an investigation was launched, he said. It is not clear exactly how much gold was inside the cargo container or what other valuables it held, but Duivesteyn said the total estimated worth of its contents was just over $20 million CAD (around $14.8 million). "It did contain gold, but was not exclusive to gold and contained other items of monetary value," he said. Duivesteyn did not expand on where the aircraft carrying the cargo had come from, or on its intended final destination. No suspects had been identified as of early Friday morning. The incident appears to represent one of Canada's biggest heists, but it is not the first to unfold at one of the country's airports. In 1990, another Canadian airport heist made headlines after armed thieves ambushed a private plane and made off with nearly $13.7 million in gold ingots and other valuables, according to past reporting from The Associated Press. The incident was considered one of Canada's largest robberies at the time. That heist, carried out at Dorval International Airport outside Montreal, reportedly saw at least four men, including one armed with a Soviet-made AK-47 assault rifle, use a stolen garbage truck to tear through a fence, before stealing the goods in stolen vans. A pipe bomb had also exploded miles away under an airport construction trailer, in what police had called a "diversion tactic" at the time. In 1952, an apparent heist at Malton Airport, which preceded the Toronto Pearson international airport, saw gold bars valued at a total of $215,000 CAD at the time vanish in a crime that remains unsolved, according to The Toronto Star. Monday's heist has also drawn references to the so-called "Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist" of 2012, which saw nearly 3,000 tons of syrup valued at $18.7 million CAD stolen from a storage facility in Quebec, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. https://www.yahoo.com/news/15m-gold-other-valuables-stolen-115144972.html American Airlines worker dies after crash with jet bridge at Austin airport terminal An American Airlines worker died Thursday after being injured at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, according to airport officials. The worker was injured in the area where planes pull up to the terminal, a spokesperson at the airport in Austin, Texas, said. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said it was called shortly after 2 p.m. and found a person dead from "traumatic injuries." An Austin Police spokeswoman told reporters that the man was driving a service vehicle that struck a jet bridge. She said police were investigating the incident as an accident. "We recognize this incident of nature and we really appreciate the community's patience as we fully investigate this tragic incident," Austin Police Officer Destiny Silva said, CBS Austin reported. Austin Police said there were several witnesses and everybody involved has been cooperating with the investigation, CBS Austin reported. "We are devastated by the accident involving a team member at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport," an American Airlines spokeswoman said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members." American declined to comment further. The worker's name was not immediately available. There was no significant impact on airport operations, the airport said. This afternoon, AUS was notified that @ATCEMS responded to an injured airline employee who has since been pronounced deceased. There are no significant impacts to AUS airport operations at this time. pic.twitter.com/yCbUvzhgVa Work around commercial airplanes has resulted in other fatal injuries in recent years. A man died at the Austin airport in 2020 after being struck by Southwest Airlines jet on a runway. Police later ruled it was a suicide and officials said the man was not authorized to be on the runway. In December, a baggage handler for American subsidiary Piedmont Airlines in Montgomery, Alabama, died when she walked in front of a running jet engine and was pulled into the fan blades. In September, a contractor's employee who was unloading bags from a Frontier Airlines plane at the New Orleans airport died after her hair got caught in a conveyer belt. In 2019, an employee of a United Airlines contractor at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was pinned under a bag-loading vehicle. He died later at a hospital. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-airlines-worker-dies-crash-jet-bridge-austin-airport-terminal/ AI pilot 'welcomes' female friend in cockpit, DGCA orders probe The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a detailed probe after an Air India pilot operating from Dubai to Delhi entertained a female friend in the cockpit. "The DGCA is conducting an investigation into the matter. The Investigation team will examine the relevant facts," said a senior DGCA official. The official added that the incident happened on February 27 when an Air India pilot operating from Dubai to Delhi allegedly entertained a female friend in the cockpit. "The act violates aviation regulator DGCA safety norms," said the official. Further details are awaited. https://www.rediff.com/news/report/ai-pilot-welcomes-female-friend-in-cockpit-dgca-orders-probe/20230421.htm PNG's Airline Air Niugini is Committed to Safety “Our top priority at Air Niugini is ensuring the highest levels of safety for our passengers, crew, and the public. We are fully committed to this goal and will take all necessary measures to maintain safety standards. This includes the possibility of delaying or cancelling a flight due to factors such as bad weather, security issues, technical problems, or operational requirements. Our dedication to safety is unwavering, and we will not compromise it for any reason.” That’s from Air Niugini’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Seddon following recent flight delays and queries from the traveling public. According to Seddon, while the inconvenience caused is regrettable, safety will always be given priority over other interests. The company boasts a team of highly skilled engineers and maintenance personnel who are dedicated to safety and work tirelessly day and night to ensure that the aircraft are safe to operate. Since April 2022, Air Niugini has operated over 26,000 flights and carried 1.2 million passengers. Last month, we operated over 2,000 flights and carried 102 thousand passengers. With 92.21% of sectors completed, we recognise that over 7% of our flights were cancelled, for various reasons. Over the same period, Jetstar cancelled 6.4% of its flights, Qantas 4.4% and Virgin Australia 3.5%. While the Fokker jets have served the country well, it's time to replace them with larger modern aircraft that features the latest technology with enhanced fuel efficiency. Seddon stated that Air Niugini has reviewed various new fleet options narrowing the selection to the new Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 regional jets. This will enable Air Niugini to better serve its domestic and regional markets. In the interim, Air Niugini is in the process of acquiring six Boeing 737-800 and Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, expected from September this year. Pictured here: Part of Air Niugini’s highly skilled engineers who are dedicated to safety. From left: Air Niugini’s Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers(LAMEs), Mark Uberawa and Elton Tunkia working on replacing a light on the tail of a Fokker 100 aircraft at the hangar in Port Moresby last night. https://news.pngfacts.com/2023/04/pngs-airline-air-niugini-is-committed.html FAA Set to Hire 1,500 Air Traffic Controllers This Year ATC shortages have contributed to several delays and recent close calls, which have prompted the FAA to lay out guidelines reinforcing safety protocols. According to the National Air Traffic Controller Association, staffing levels are at a 30-year low, while two in 10 air traffic controller positions remain unfilled nationwide. [FLYING file photo] The 2023 application window for entry-level air traffic controllers will open May 5-8 as the FAA grapples with staffing shortages across the nation. The agency plans to hire roughly 1,500 controllers this year, and another 1,800 next year as it is catching up on pandemic-related training backlogs—a significant cause of the staffing shortage. According to the National Air Traffic Controller Association (NATCA), staffing levels are at a 30-year low, while two in 10 air traffic controller positions remain unfilled nationwide. Aspiring controllers need to meet eligibility requirements including: being a U.S. citizen, younger than 31 before the closing date of the application, have either three years of general work experience or four years of education leading to a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of both, speak clear English, and be willing to relocate to an FAA facility based on staffing needs. Part of the problem is that air traffic controller is a specialized position and is not necessarily a career choice that many people seek as it can be ambiguous how to enter the civilian ATC ranks. According to the FAA, entry-level applicants must complete required training courses and spend several months at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. Once they graduate, individuals are placed in locations across the country and must gain one to three years of on-the-job experience before becoming a certified professional controller. Initial pay for novice ATCs is a minimum annual wage of $43,727 plus locality pay for the facility assigned to them. As they gain experience, salaries will increase based on factors such as location and complexity of the airspace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average wage for an air traffic controller is $120,830—well above the average salary for all occupations. Additionally, as federal employees, controllers enjoy a generous benefits package—well above what is offered in the private sector. In the meantime, ATC shortages have contributed to several delays and recent close calls, which have prompted the FAA to lay out guidelines reinforcing safety protocols such as more supervisor oversight and extra controller training for “unusual circumstances.” Tim Arel, chief operating officer of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Organization, said, “Our dedication to continuous improvement demands that we dig deep to identify the underlying factors and address them. With the summer travel season just around the corner, airlines and the traveling public have high expectations.” The FAA has already asked airlines to reduce the number of flights into New York area airports as its Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility is only operating at 54 percent of its staffing target. The agency warned overall delays in the region could increase by 45 percent during the 2023 summer season. JetBlue, which operates 60 percent of its flight schedule out of New York said, “While it is disappointing to reduce flights for customers as they plan their summer holidays and as New York City works to rebound from the pandemic, we are pleased the leadership team at the FAA is proactively working to get in front of this and is being transparent about the staffing shortages. With these challenges out in the open, the industry and government can collaborate on necessary steps to reduce disruption to summer travel and solve the staffing shortages.” The FAA continues to work closely with NATCA and industry stakeholders on a permanent fix to understaffing issues. https://www.flyingmag.com/faa-set-to-hire-1500-air-traffic-controllers-this-year/ Curt Lewis