Flight Safety Information - April 24, 2023 No. 078 In This Issue : Incident: Qantas B738 near Melbourne on Apr 23rd 2023, electrical smell in cockpit : Incident: El Al B788 at Tel Aviv on Apr 22nd 2023, engine problem : Accident: Pel SF34 near Cobar on Apr 23rd 2023, fire on board : Incident: American B738 at Columbus on Apr 23rd 2023, bird strike : Accident: Commut E145 at Houston and Laredo on Apr 20th 2023, bird strikes into both engines : Incident: Easyjet A320 near Faro on Apr 21st 2023, first officer incapacitated : Airlines using AI to reach ultra-long flight destinations: report : A Guide to Pilot Background Checks : Flight attendant locks ex-FBI agent’s wife, son in plane bathroom : The cargo aircraft of the future has no pilot onboard – and isn’t electric either : Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to Recruit More Than 400 Pilots And Cabin Crew Incident: Qantas B738 near Melbourne on Apr 23rd 2023, electrical smell in cockpit A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-XZL performing flight QF-769 from Melbourne,VI to Perth,WA (Australia), was climbing through FL270 out of Melbourne when the crew decided to return to Melbourne reporting an electrical smell on the flight deck. The aircraft landed safely back on Melbourne's runway 16 about 40 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VH-XZN reached Perth with a delay of about 5:45 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=50836a61&opt=0 Incident: El Al B788 at Tel Aviv on Apr 22nd 2023, engine problem An El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 787-8, registration 4X-ERB performing flight LY-91 from Tel Aviv (Israel) to Tokyo Narita (Japan) with about 150 people on board, was climbing out of Tel Aviv's runway 26 when the crew stopped the climb at FL150 and decided to return to Tel Aviv for a safe landing on runway 12 about 40 minutes after departure. Passengers reported the crew announced a problem with an engine (Trent 1000). A replacement Boeing 787-8 registration 4X-ERC reached Tokyo with a delay of about 13 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Tel Aviv about 21 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=508368e1&opt=0 Accident: Pel SF34 near Cobar on Apr 23rd 2023, fire on board A Pel-Air Saab 340A freighter on behalf REX Regional Express, registration VH-KDK performing freight flight ZL-9982 from Wagga-Wagga,NS to Charleville,QL (Australia), was enroute at FL220 about 70nm northwest of Cobar,NS (Australia) when the crew received a smoke indication on board of the aircraft followed shortly by smoke appearing in the cabin and cockpit. The crew performed an emergency descent to 6000 feet, turned around and diverted to Cobar and landed on Cobar's runway 23 about 14 minutes (!) after leaving FL220. Emergency services needed to dismantle parts of the aircraft to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage however. https://avherald.com/h?article=5083cfbd&opt=0 Incident: American B738 at Columbus on Apr 23rd 2023, bird strike An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N972NN performing flight AA-1958 from Columbus,OH to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was climbing out of Columbus' runway 28L when the right hand engine (CFM56) ingested a number of geese and suffered from repeated compressor stalls emitting bangs and streaks of flames. The aircraft levelled off at 3000 feet, the crew shut the engine down and returned the aircraft to Columbus for a safe landing on runway 28L about 25 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N984NN is estimated to reach Phoenix with a delay of about 7:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Columbus about 4 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=5083600d&opt=0 Accident: Commut E145 at Houston and Laredo on Apr 20th 2023, bird strikes into both engines A Commutair Embraer ERJ-145 on behalf of United, registration N14162 performing flight UA-4294 from Houston Intercontinental,TX to Laredo,TX (USA), was climbing out of Houston Intercontinental's runway 15R when the crew stopped the climb at 12,000 feet after flying through a flock of birds and receiving bird strikes into both engines. The aircraft continued to Laredo for a safe landing on runway 18R about one hour after departure. The FAA reported the aircraft sustained substantial damage rating the occurrence an accident and stating: "AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A BIRDSTIKE DAMAGING BOTH ENGINES, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS." https://avherald.com/h?article=5082243d&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet A320 near Faro on Apr 21st 2023, first officer incapacitated An Easyjet Airbus A320-200, registration G-EZTD performing flight U2-6469 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Agadir (Morocco), was enroute at FL350 about 70nm south of Faro (Portugal) when the captain decided to divert to Faro reporting the first officer was incapacitated. The aircraft landed on Faro's runway 28 about 20 minutes later. The first officer was treated by paramedics. The airline reported the first officer required medical attention, the captain performed a routine landing in Faro. A replacement crew continued the flight. The aircraft continued the flight and reached Agadir with a delay of 3 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=50821bd4&opt=0 Airlines using AI to reach ultra-long flight destinations: report Airlines are reportedly relying on machine-learning algorithms to assist with ultra-long flights. Air New Zealand Ltd. and Qantas Airways Ltd. are relying on software to determine fuel-efficient flight paths, avoiding stops, according to Bloomberg. Swiss International Air Lines and Lufthansa have also begun to use A.I., including forecasting models developed by Google Cloud, according to a January Fortune report. American airlines are also among carriers investing in the sector. Such programs are able to help pilots avoid extreme weather and have the ability to instruct them to fly slower, with mapping software designed to improve as it is used more. Air New Zealand managed to cut its losses by a third in the last financial year as strong domestic and cargo demand partially offset the impact of the global pandemic, the airline said August 26, 2021. The outlet said artificial intelligence is impacting much of the airline industry, from ticket sales to cockpit procedures, and Austria-based Flightkeys helps calculate about 380,000 flight plans each day. Its mission is to meet emerging requirements of cost-optimized airline operations, trajectory-based operation and reduction of emissions. Flightkeys co-founder and former pilot Raimund Zopp, 67, told Bloomberg that finding a minimum-cost trajectory is "really challenging" and that longer flight routes are a delicate balance of how much fuel can be put on the aircraft and how much to offload – stressing the importance of a fast and efficient system. "It’s so complicated to find an optimum route when the systems in the aircraft are not capable of doing this. You need a system on the ground collecting a lot of data and then trying to find the minimum-cost solution," he explained. "There are so many constraints and parameters that need to be considered and you have to apply machine learning to correctly apply these constraints." The route planner for Fightkeys is five-dimensional, factoring in latitude, longitude, altitude, time and the "probabilistic dimension." "The most imprecise data during the planning phase is the actual time of departure — it’s not known if you’ll really depart on schedule. It makes a big difference during the planning phase," Zopp explained. "You have a lot of chances to finetune the flight when you’re in the air because all factors are known much more precisely at that point." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airlines-using-ai-reach-ultra-173616116.html A Guide to Pilot Background Checks As anyone can deduce, airline pilots undergo many security screenings and background checks. What's lesser known is the verification and security process that begins at the outset of a new pilot's training. This article will briefly discuss security and background checks that occur for pilots in the US. Student pilots Every pilot is subject to a preliminary background check before receiving a student pilot certificate. Technically, an individual can commence flight training with an instructor without having a student pilot certificate. Since they will always be with an instructor for the first months of training, there is no requirement to issue a license before a student pilot flies solo. In the US, it is the responsibility of instructors to determine that a student is a citizen before giving them instruction. If instructing a non-citizen, US flight schools must obtain identifying information from the foreign national before training can begin. A student needs a student pilot certificate to fly solo. The application process to obtain a student pilot certificate is where the first background check is mandatorily conducted. A pilot must supply their name, address, and other identifying information to be reviewed by the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) before being issued a student pilot certificate. Whether a pilot is subjected to a background check before commencing initial training is up to the flight school. Most established flight training academies conduct background checks independently of the TSA check. Medical certificates Another source of identity verification for pilots occurs when applying for a medical certificate. The FAA requires all pilots to complete Form 8500-8 before visiting an aviation medical examiner. This form cross-checks a pilot's identity with the information on their pilot certificate. Applicants must list their address and date of birth, indicate medical issues, and disclose medical appointments from the preceding three years. This form also asks questions about arrests and convictions. Submitting Form 8500-8 also allows the FAA to obtain information from the National Driver Registry. Background checks Flight instructors and airline pilots are subject to background checks upon receipt of a conditional job offer. These background checks are performed by registered third-party providers examining the pilot's criminal history and driving information. Most companies also require new hires to submit to drug testing on their hire date. Since 2002, airline pilots and anyone who works airside (those who enter places known as SIDAs or security identification display areas) at an airport must submit their fingerprints for an FBI 10-year criminal history check. While sitting on the ramp waiting for your flight to push from the gate, everyone working outside your window has been fingerprinted along with your pilots. The simple reality is that there's no hiding your background as an airline pilot. Many catch-points and identity verifications are conducted en route to becoming a pilot, and rightfully so. Many of these checks have been instituted since 9/11, corresponding to the TSA's initialization in November 2001. The traveling public trusts pilots implicitly, and extensive background checks support this tacit confidence. https://simpleflying.com/pilot-background-checks/?newsletter_popup=1 Flight attendant locks ex-FBI agent’s wife, son in plane bathroom The wife of a former FBI agent claims a flight attendant locked her in an airplane bathroom with her 3-year-old son — and then accused her of causing a “terrorist” incident, according to a lawsuit. Yazz Giraldo, a mother of two who is of Middle Eastern and Latin descent, is “traumatized” by the incident and believes she was racially targeted because she and her husband, Ali Moghaddam, were speaking Farsi to their toddlers. The drama unfolded as the family was flying from Fort Lauderdale to New York in September for a Long Island wedding. Both kids urgently needed the restroom, recalled Giraldo, who tried to take the baby to the first-class bathroom closest to their seats at the front of the plane. “Everybody else was using it,” she said, but one flight attendant barred her without explanation from doing the same. She changed the baby’s diaper at the rear of the plane, where Moghaddam was sitting separately. A second flight attendant there told her there was no prohibition on using the closer bathroom so she took her son to that lavatory, according to a Brooklyn Federal Court discrimination lawsuit she filed against American Airlines. Giraldo, who speaks three languages, has been in therapy since the incident, she said. The flight attendant who barred her from first class tried to stop her — even as the desperate child “was holding himself, he was about to lose it,” Giraldo said. “I closed the door, when I’m inside the bathroom I start hearing the noise, ‘tick, tick, tick,'” she said of the sound of the door locking. “I freaked out. I was already under so much stress. … I started to panic, I banged on the door a few times and I said, ‘Let me out of here.'” “She was punishing me for challenging her,” Giraldo, 36, a former television host who speaks three languages, said of the flight attendant, who was not identified in the lawsuit. Ali Moghaddam, 44, and his wife, Yazz Giraldo, say they’re fearful to fly and to continue speaking Farsi with their kids after the incident on American Airlines. Giraldo said she lost track of time inside the bathroom and was weeping and “shaking,” by the time she was released. A few minutes later, a supervisor loudly berated her in front of other passengers, claiming “the pilot decided to put the plane under terrorist attack warning because of you.” When Giraldo, whose baby was sleeping on her chest, tried to explain she’d been misled about the bathroom and locked inside, the screaming attendant accused her of lying. “I immediately knew it was racism. I immediately knew I was being discriminated against,” she said. “I was humiliated.” A former Pennsylvania prosecutor who served six years in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Moghaddam, 44, was unaware of the unfolding drama until police escorted them off the plane when it landed in New York. “I dedicated about a decade of my life to public service, to protecting the community. Joint Terrorism Task Force, undercover, S.W.A.T., all of this … for my family to be labeled as terrorist and be marched off a plane just because we want to change a diaper?” he told The Post. The American Airlines flight attendant allegedly locked Giraldo in the bathroom, according to the lawsuit. Responding officers only softened their approach after he requested to be taken to the airport’s FBI substation and the officers realized he had law enforcement experience. They were let go after 15 minutes. Once avid travelers, the couple now fears flying and questions whether they should be teaching their children Farsi. What do you think? Post a comment. Giraldo is now in therapy, according to their lawyer, Jitesh Dudani. “For me there’s certain terms that have a history and connotation that is very negative,” Moghaddam said. “That word terrorism is unique, especially considering all my sacrifices… you don’t throw that around.” The airline responded, “American strives to provide a positive and welcoming experience to everyone who travels with us and we take allegations of discrimination very seriously. “We are reviewing the details of the lawsuit.” https://nypost.com/2023/04/22/flight-attendant-locks-wife-son-of-ex-fbi-agent-in-plane-bathroom/ FAA key leader to step down in summer 2023, leaving a vacancy The acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Billy Nolen announced his decision to step down from his current position after a year of service. Billy Nolen, who has been in charge of the US aviation regulator on an interim basis since April 1, 2022, plans to resign sometime “this summer,” when the authority nominates a new administrator, the FAA’s top aviation safety official wrote in a letter to regulator’s employees seen by Politico on April 21, 2023. “I have given everything to this agency, and now it’s time to do the same for my family, who have sacrificed so much and supported me during my time at the FAA,” Nolen explained. Nolen took the role of FAA acting administrator after the former head Steve Dickson left the agency at the end of March 2022. The recent announcement has sparked discussions over the uncertainty of the FAA‘s future because the authority has already operated without a Senate-confirmed permanent chief for almost a year. On January 3, 2023, US President Biden nominated dozens of candidates to key national security, judicial, and administrative posts, including the position to lead the FAA. At the time, President nominated Phil Washington, the current CEO of Denver International Airport (DEN). But in March 2023, the nominee exited from a nomination campaign for the role of permanent FAA administrator due to Republican criticism and lack of support in the Senate Commerce Committee. After Washington withdrew, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reportedly asked Nolen to stay in the post longer, but the administrator refused the offer arguing that he was not interested in the role on a permanent basis. Chapman Freeborn In Article Second Spring 2023 Federal Aviation Administration FAA Biden’s nominee to head FAA exits campaign amid criticism Before becoming the FAA acting chief, Nolen served as the agency’s Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS), which is responsible for aircraft certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness as well as certification of pilots, mechanics, and other specialists in safety-related positions. He joined FAA from his role as Vice President of Safety, Security, and Quality at Canada-based air carrier WestJet. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/faa-key-leader-to-step-down-in-summer-2023-leaving-a-vacancy The cargo aircraft of the future has no pilot onboard – and isn’t electric either MOBILITY - The first commercial flights of Dronamics’ aircraft – the world’s first unmanned cargo airline – are expected by the end of this year. Unmanned cargo aircraft is about to take off. Black Swan, a remotely piloted drone designed by Dronamics, will take on the skies by the end of 2023. Dronamics – a UK-headquartered company – aims to disrupt the cargo delivery industry through its concept, offering same-day delivery, targeting underserved areas, and offering a solution to multiple industries. Currently, less than one percent of the world’s cargo is transported by air – yet representing 35 percent of the world’s trade by value. The Black Swan is the spearhead of their concept. It is eight meters long, has a sixteen meters wingspan, and has the capacity of a small delivery van. Dronamics esteem it can fly for 2500 kilometers, which is to say, across all of Europe, from Los Angeles to Chicago or from Dubai to New Delhi. According to its ideators, the drone saves half the costs, curtails operation times, and reduces CO2 emissions by sixty percent compared to conventional cargo freight. Yet, the British company offers more than a cargo drone; it provides an all-in-one solution to manage air freight operations. “Dronamics is more than the aircraft itself, we offer a cargo mobility solution. It consists of our drones, a network of drone ports, and mobile control and cargo operations,” says Peter Hewett, director of Global Cargo, Security, and Network Operations Centre for Dronamics. Mobile operations The main difference between a conventional cargo operation and the ones designed by Dronamics is that pilots are on the ground. From each drone port, there will be a Dronamics ground control station, where pilots with civil aviation experience control aircraft. To take off and land, the plane needs 400 meters, allowing for more flexibility and usage in more diverse scenarios – thus landing in unreached areas. Cargo handling and maintenance staff on the ground are also involved, as the aircraft turnaround takes half an hour. “Our operations are fully mobile, meaning we can be where the cargo is,” explains Hewett. “ The goal is to serve new routes, especially underserved and remote communities, offering faster, cheaper, and greener logistics.” In fact, the model envisioned by Dronamics wants to serve regional and suburban areas. In the company’s view, the middle mile in logistics is where most bottlenecks and inefficiencies occur, and they think it’s ”where our solution can make a difference,” Hewett emphasizes. The future of sustainable aviation Just like everything else, the aviation sector needs to do something about its emissions. Aviation companies and countries have gotten together and set ambitious goals to reach zero emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases by 2050, but is that a realistic goal? Running on synthetic fuel In designing every mobility solution, fuel choice makes a difference. Whereas many other aircraft companies opted for electric-powered planes, the Black Swan was designed for biofuels and will move to hydrogen-based and synthetic fuels solutions. The synthetic fuel way guarantees a higher load factor and a more extended range than the electric one, per the company. In October 2022, Dronamics announced a partnership with Zero Petroleum. The British firm – co-founded by former Formula One engineer Paddy Lowe – manufactures synthetic fuel extracting hydrogen from water and carbon from the air. In 2021, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) completed the first flight using this fuel. Using Zero Petroleum’s fuel, drones can fly with menial emissions while keeping high-standard performance. In fact, when burned, this fuel emits as much carbon as is used in its production – the one extracted from the air – allowing for a circular process – if synthesized using renewable energy. First European licensed company Established in 2014, out of the initiative of Konstantin and Svilen Rangelov, Dronamics recently raised €37.6 million in its pre-Series A funding round. Venture capital funds and angel investors joined the round. Last year the European Innovation Council (EIC) also granted the company €2.5 million. Most importantly, the firm was the first cargo airline to get an operational license in Europe. Dronamics holds the EU’s Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC). This license provides more commercial opportunities within the European Union countries. From Europe to the world Overall, the EU is regulating unmanned aircraft operations through the U-space regulation. The standard intends to regulate drone operations to integrate them into European airspace safely. Earlier this year, the first rules became applicable, allowing for more complex and longer-distance operations. Member states must design their U-space areas, service providers, and information and navigation standards. The bloc’s strategy envisions the full implementation of the U-space by 2030. Hewett: “The implementation of U-space at the flight levels the Black Swan cruises in, will act as an enabler for our transition to autonomous operations, whereby we will share the airspace with other drone operators and manned aviation, all managed by a U-Space Service Provider.” For electric aviation, the entire ecosystem must be involved While power plants and heavy industry are making ever greater strides in the transition to a carbon-free sector, aviation is struggling. After Europe, the company also aims to bring its model to other continents. As investors from the Emiratis’ Strategic Development Fund supported the pre-Series A funding round, the investment will help establish Dronamics operations in the Middle East and the North African region. Being a Black Swan As Dronamics is completing its test program, the company will look to expand its operations worldwide in the coming years, aiming to change cargo delivery. ”We called our aircraft the Black Swan as a daily reminder that what we are working towards is challenging, even deemed impossible by many, but once it happens, it will change the course of events,” Hewett concludes. https://innovationorigins.com/en/the-cargo-aircraft-of-the-future-has-no-pilot-onboard-and-isnt-electric-either/ Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to Recruit More Than 400 Pilots And Cabin Crew Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the low-cost airline based in the United Arab Emirates, has plans to expand its budget flying routes and increase its market share. To accomplish this, the carrier aims to recruit approximately 400 pilots and cabin crew this year, increasing its current workforce by 400. According to recruitment data provider Glassdoor.com, the average monthly pay for pilots in Abu Dhabi ranges from Dh23,000 to Dh36,000 (plus incentives). This is equivalent to $6200-$9800 USD. At the same time, cabin crew members can earn an average of Dh8,000 to Dh10,000 monthly. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, recognized for its competitive introductory fares, has experienced a significant growth rate and doubled its size in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, the airline flew around 600,000 passengers, with the load factors on its flights steadily increasing. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi CEO Insights The CEO and Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Johan Eidhagen, announced that the company has already conducted one recruitment event for cabin crew and has another one planned. In addition to cabin crew and pilots, the airline is also searching for ground operation staff for its Abu Dhabi hub. In 2022, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi experienced a six-fold increase in its passenger numbers, reaching 1.2 million passengers. This growth led to doubling its fleet size from four to nine A321-neo aircraft, and the airline now operates to 39 destinations in 25 countries from Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the airline plans to commence operations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and resume popular routes such as Larnaca, Santorini, and Sohag. The ninth aircraft in March 2023 resulted in an additional 30,000 ultra-low-fare monthly seats. According to Johan Eidhagen, the CEO and Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the airline has been primarily focused on opening up new destinations within a five-hour flight from Abu Dhabi, attracting new travelers to the franchise. During the Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr holidays, the airline's promotions (20% straight discounts to select destinations) helped boost its load factors. This enabled the airline to maintain lower fares, driving more than double-digit sales, reported Gulf News. Regarding the ongoing staff shortage and industrial strike issues affecting the European market, Eidhagen stated that the airline has not considered reducing capacity to affected routes. https://aeroxplorer.com/articles/wizz-air-abu-dhabi-to-recruit-more-than-400-pilots-and-cabin-crew.php Curt Lewis