Flight Safety Information - May 19, 2023 No. 097 In This Issue : Incident: Easyjet A320 at Geneva on May 18th 2023, fire in overhead locker : Incident: Brussels A319 at Brussels on May 17th 2023, door open indication : Seattle fire crews rescue pilot following seaplane crash in Elliott Bay : B-2 ‘Safety Pause’ Lifted, Flights Set to Resume Within Days : Mass brawls, drunken threats and passengers stripping off: 'Air rage' incidents surge in the UK : QANTAS TO ADD CAPACITY, LEASE AIRCRAFT : Australia’s CASA Looks To Boost Technical Staffing Levels : MedAire Boosts London Medical and Safety Support Team : Virgin Atlantic Partners with Cardiosecur to Further Enhance In-Flight Medical Safety : Air Charter Safety Foundation Establishes Scholarship in Honor of Florida Tech Alumnus Russ Lawton : DeltaHawk Gains Type Certification on Jet-Fueled Piston Powerplant : Leasing company pursues $80 million claim for aircraft lost in Russia : US weighs suit against Korean Air’s planned acquisition of Asiana, Politico reports Incident: Easyjet A320 at Geneva on May 18th 2023, fire in overhead locker An Easyjet Airbus A320-200, registration HB-JZY performing flight U2-1517 from Geneva (Switzerland) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) with 191 people on board, was climbing out of Geneva's runway 04 when the crew donned their oxygen masks, stopped the climb at about 7000 feet and requested to return to Geneva's runway 04 reporting they had an overhead locker fire, which had been extinguished. The aircraft landed safely back on Geneva's runway 04 about 16 minutes after departure. Emergency services boarded the aircraft to check the cabin. Passengers reported there was a pop sound, then smoke appeared from the overhead lockers, when the locker was opened two pieces of luggage were seen in flames one obviously caught fire from the other. The fire obviously was started by an electronic cigarette, which suffered a thermal runaway. The airline reported smoke in the cabin prompted the return to Geneva, the flight was postponed to the next day. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Geneva about 21 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=50957a65&opt=0 Incident: Brussels A319 at Brussels on May 17th 2023, door open indication A Brussels Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration OO-SSO performing flight SN-2317 from Brussels (Belgium) to Gothenburg (Sweden) with 125 passengers and 5 crew, was climbing out of Brussels' runway 07R cleared to climb to FL090 when the crew requested to stop the climb at 4000 feet, they had an open door indication. The aircraft returned to Brussels for a safe landing on runway 01 about 20 minutes after departure and taxied to the apron. The aircraft departed again after about 80 minutes on the ground and reached Gothenburg with a delay of 2:30 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=5094c976&opt=0 Seattle fire crews rescue pilot following seaplane crash in Elliott Bay Seattle fire crews rescue pilot following seaplane crash in Elliott Bay SEATTLE — Seattle fire crews rescued a pilot after a seaplane (Cessna 172H) crashed into the waters of Elliott Bay Thursday evening. The crash took place around 6 o'clock in the 2800 block of Alaskan Way, according to officials. "I was like, 'huh! I didn't know they landed out here! So it was kinda wild that I saw it," said Seattle resident Andi Peterson. An up close view of the seaplane crash that took place in Elliott Bay. (Video Courtesy: Dave Stoll) According to the Seattle fire, the pilot of the seaplane was able to remove himself from the plane. Officials were able to rescue the 42-year-old male pilot from the water and bring them back to shore, according to Seattle fire. He only suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation, according to officials. "I saw it really close to the water, and I thought maybe there was an airshow going on," said Seattle resident DJ Zevenbergen. "It's not every day that you see a plane crash, right out front, right downtown" The pilot was the only person aboard the plane, according to officials. The seaplane has sunk a few hundred feet from the pier. Seattle fire said they are coordinating with FAA, EPA and Coastguard to transition recovery of the seaplane. https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-fire-department-crash-elliott-bay-alaskan-way-pilot-seaplane-officials-emergency-medical B-2 ‘Safety Pause’ Lifted, Flights Set to Resume Within Days The B-2 Spirit is returning to the skies, Air Force officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The first aircraft is projected to take off May 22 after a break in flying operations due to a safety pause. The return to flight was recently approved by Air Force Global Strike Command boss Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, after a roughly six-month safety pause following a mishap in December. “The B-2 fleet safety pause is officially lifted,” Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of the 8th Air Force, which controls the nation’s strategic bomber fleet, told Air & Space Forces Magazine. “Gen. Bussiere, at my recommendation, made a final determination on the necessary actions taken and approved a return to flight.” Gebara and other Air Force officials declined to say what the safety issue was or what was done that allowed the service to resume flight operations. “I wish that the safety pause was not necessary,” Gebara said. “But I think that it was really important that we find out what happened and make sure that was all mitigated before you start flying again, and that’s what we did.” Gebara said there would not be onerous restrictions on missions. “I want them to come back in a disciplined, deliberate manner,” Gebara said. “But we will do full operational missions. So you’re not going to see one loop around and land kind of sorties. It’ll be a normal sortie. I actually am not concerned at all about the mission aspects of the force.” He said there would be a “phased approach” as the fleet returns to flight, with the most experienced pilots getting in the seat first and “several weeks to get the entire community back up to speed.” But Gebara added a cautionary note to America’s adversaries: “That is distinct, though, from having enough pilots for whatever mission is required if there was a crisis.” The Air Force declined to reveal the exact cause of the mishap, which temporarily blocked the lone runway at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The service also declined to detail what actions were taken to lift the safety pause. The pause began in late December after a B-2 was damaged after an emergency landing December 10 at Whiteman—the only base to host combat B-2s, assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing and its Air National Guard associate, the 131st Bomb Wing. Bussiere, a B-2 pilot and the former 509th Bomb Wing commander, took over AFGSC just days before the mishap. Air Force officials said the aircraft remained ready to execute missions if needed, serving a critical role as the nation’s only stealth nuclear-capable bomber in service. “The B-2 fleet could still fly missions if so required,” Gebara said. “Our ability to provide nuclear deterrence never stopped.” B-2 pilots spent time during the safety pause in the advanced simulators at Whiteman and increased repetitions in T-38 trainers. Only 21 B-2s were produced, costing over $1 billion per plane, according to the Air Force. One was destroyed in a crash in 2008. Nineteen of the current airframes are at Whiteman—one of which is a test aircraft normally based at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. One combat B-2 has been parked at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, which shares runways with Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu after the safety pause went into effect while the aircraft was at the base. It is unclear what will happen to the B-2 damaged in December. The entire B-2 fleet will eventually be replaced by the B-21 Raider, which like the Spirit, is a stealthy flying wing produced by Northrop Grumman. The first B-21 is scheduled to fly later this year. Air Force Global Strike Command has been conducting regular maintenance of all B-2s, and officials from the 509th Bomb Wing and Gebara said the stealth low-observable coating, which is critical for the B-2’s nuclear mission, was well taken care of. “The way that the B-2 is we have a stair step approach to low observable maintenance,” Gebara said. “So a certain number of B-2s are fully low-observable ready to go.” Despite a pause in operations, Gebara said America’s nuclear deterrence was not undermined. “It’s hard to get inside the head of another country and figure out what they feel,” Gebara said. “I think it would not have been wise for them to doubt our deterrence, and I’m reasonably confident they don’t.” https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-2-safety-pause-lifted-flights-resume/ Mass brawls, drunken threats and passengers stripping off: 'Air rage' incidents surge in the UK In 2019 - the last year for data before COVID - 373 incidents of "air rage" were reported. In 2022 this number nearly tripled. MPs are set to debate whether to change the law in order to address the problem. Mass brawls, sexual assaults, physical violence, drunken threats, verbal abuse, passengers stripping off: all examples of the kind of disruptive behaviour experienced by cabin crew in recent years. New figures exclusively shared with Sky News show 1,028 cases were reported by UK airlines in 2022 - nearly triple the number reported in 2019. Next week, in a bid to reduce those numbers, MPs will be considering a new law that could see offenders banned from all British carriers. Many incidents of so-called "air rage" have been documented by shocked fellow travellers on social media. One example from August last year shows seven people having to restrain a heavily intoxicated man filmed shouting and swearing at fellow passengers on a flight from Luton to Lithuania. In another, last May, footage from a plane which had just landed in Crete from Gatwick shows passengers gasping in horror as a drunken fight broke out in the aisle - and one of the pilots was seemingly punched trying to break up the melee. During a flight from Manchester to Turkey in July 2022, a man was filmed stripping down to his underwear and drunkenly shouting "people are scared of me, I wonder why". In 2019, two RAF jets were even scrambled to escort a plane back to Stansted after a woman assaulted cabin crew, threatened fellow passengers and attempted to open the aircraft door mid-flight. Cabin crew are trained to deal with these cases - but they can take a heavy toll. "You're up there at 38,000ft with 300 passengers and 16 crew, and you have to manage and deal with the situation on your own," one former air steward said. "It can leave a very long-lasting impact. We're all human at the end of the day." Ben (not his real name) recently left his job after 20 years working as cabin crew. He is speaking to us on condition of anonymity because industry contracts typically restrict staff from speaking to the media. Ben had to restrain drunken, aggressive passengers in handcuffs on two separate occasions. The first involved a man who sexually assaulted a woman - and then attempted to hide in a galley freezer cabinet. "The passenger was intoxicated and had taken some sort of medication about three hours into the flight," Ben said. "He was increasingly erratic. We tried to calm him down but the situation became aggressive and uncontrollable. "A decision that we don't take lightly was made to restrain him. We had to physically grab his arms and put the cuffs on. He was being very vocal, shouting and swearing, which was very offensive." One of Ben's colleagues later received counselling due to the distress caused by the incident. On another flight, this time to Nigeria, passengers complained about a man who had been drinking excessively. "He was very, very drunk. We later found out he had been drinking from his own bottle as well. We were able to cuff him, but he was moving around a lot, swearing, kicking and stamping in his seat." Ben believes more should be done to protect passengers and crew from these incidents. "I'd like to see the law tightened, and possibly a national register shared amongst all the airlines, so they can be made aware of what a passenger has done before. People just think they can get away with it. They cause so much stress and heartache." UK airlines have a mandatory duty to report cases involving intoxicated, violent or unruly passengers to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for safety reasons. In 2019, 373 incidents were reported, a figure consistent with the numbers over the previous few years. But while those obviously fell during COVID, last year there were 1,028 cases - triple the pre-pandemic figure. It's thought the increase is largely down to better reporting from one specific airline, and the impact of mask requirements. But the Conservative MP for Dartford, Gareth Johnson, believes the law needs to change to deal with the increasing numbers. He's introducing a 10 Minute Rule Bill on the issue on 24 May. "This bill aims to ensure that violent people who cause mayhem on aeroplanes are actually banned from flying for a specific period of time by a court," Mr Johnson said. "The difficulty that we have currently is that someone can be violent on a particular operator's aeroplane and then that operator cannot pass that information on to another operator. So that person can just go and fly with a different operator. "At the moment violence is very rare, but if you introduce this legislation, this will make it even less likely to happen. It is right that people can be banned from driving, they can be banned from being a company director and they can be banned from football matches. The same should apply for people who behave violently on planes. This power exists in other countries and should be available here too." In 2018, the government considered plans to restrict the sale of alcohol at UK airports in a bid to crack down on the problem. They concluded the resulting consultation did not generate enough evidence that doing so would be a "proportionate way to address the issue of drunk and disruptive passenger behaviour ... but we do think that other action is needed". The government considered banning alcohol in airports. Pic: iStock Currently, drunken passengers can face fines of up to £5,000 and two years' imprisonment. Airlines can also attempt to recoup some of the costs of diverting a plane to a different airport, typically ranging from £10,000 to £80,000. But that is often impossible. Paul Charles, a former director at Virgin Atlantic, said the problem is hugely expensive for airlines. "The costs run into millions across the airline industry from disruptive passengers. They're facing potentially higher fuel bills by having to divert an aircraft to a different airport. They're facing the costs potentially of paying out all passengers on board because of a delay. That's longer than three hours to that particular flight and its arrival time. "It also creates a knock-on impact for the rest of the day's schedule for an airline. So let's say there's disruption in the morning which leads to a flight delay of three or four hours, potentially. That then knocks on to other flights where that aircraft should be flying. "And of course, that then affects thousands of other passengers who are relying on that aircraft to be on time. The costs are widespread because they're not just about the costs on board an aircraft where that passenger is being disruptive, but other aircraft and airports too." A spokesperson from the Department for Transport said: "All passengers and crew have the right to feel safe when travelling by air. There is already robust legislation and powers to deal with disruptive passengers, including bans, fines and removal from flights." Anna Bowles, head of consumer at the CAA, added: "Passengers who are rude or aggressive can be highly disruptive and distressing for cabin crew and fellow travellers. This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and can pose a risk to aircraft safety. "The aviation industry undertakes a range of measures to tackle this issue and passengers could face criminal charges with severe penalties, even prison, for incidents involving aggressive behaviour." https://news.sky.com/story/mass-brawls-drunken-threats-and-passengers-stripping-off-air-rage-incidents-surge-in-the-uk-12883936 QANTAS TO ADD CAPACITY, LEASE AIRCRAFT Qantas is to boost its international network with extra flights, more aircraft and new routes as it restores capacity to meet strong travel demand but the pilots aren’t happy. From late October 2023, Qantas will add around one million seats to its international network over 12 months compared to its current schedule. Qantas said that the additional capacity will be made possible through a combination of more Qantas aircraft returning to service, new aircraft joining the fleet and an arrangement with oneworld partner Finnair to operate two Airbus A330 aircraft on two Qantas routes. The network changes will see the Group’s international capacity grow to around 100 per cent of pre-COVID levels by March 2024, up from 44 per cent 12 months ago and 84 per cent today. Most of the flying announced today will be powered by the 2,400 pilots and cabin crew Qantas has recruited into the Group since borders reopened and a further 300 people will be needed by the end of the year. Qantas said that over the past six months, it has brought five international aircraft back into its fleet – some from long-term storage and some that were on standby as operational spares while the industry stabilised. A new Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrived in May and another two will be delivered next month. The latest Qantas A380 stored in the desert was reactivated in January and an additional A380 will return to service at the end of the year following maintenance and modifications to the cabin. “The rebound in demand for international travel since borders reopened has been incredibly strong and this boost to our network will add hundreds of thousands of seats in time for the busy Australian summer holiday period,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. “Qantas has been the most on-time major domestic airline for the past eight months in a row and that improved performance means we can release some of the aircraft we’ve had in reserve. That reflects more parts of the aviation supply chain returning to normal and it’s a huge credit to the hard work of our people across the Group. “While airlines globally are working to restore capacity to meet demand, there is still a mismatch between supply and demand for international flying. But with more of our aircraft back in the air, new 787s joining our fleet and our contract with Finnair, we’ve got more seats for our customers and more opportunities for Qantas crew as we increase our own flying.” However, the news of the Finnair lease has angered the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) which says it is bitterly disappointed and frustrated by Qantas’ decision to wet-lease two Finnair aircraft. AIPA said that the Finnair aircraft will take Qantas passengers from Sydney to Singapore and Sydney to Bangkok using Finnair crew and pilots for two and a half years. AIPA President, Captain Tony Lucas, said the appalling decision to outsource Australian jobs is a significant failure of management. “Qantas’ decision to wet-lease two Finnair aircraft is shocking, bitterly disappointing and could have been avoided with more effective management decisions,” he said. “It beggars belief that Qantas is outsourcing the Spirit of Australia while simultaneously converting two of our own A330 passenger aircraft into freighters. “The decision to wet lease illustrates the failures of the fleet planning processes of the last five years and certainly recent decisions made during the pandemic recovery. “Not only is it disappointing for our hardworking and dedicated pilots but it is also disappointing for loyal Qantas passengers,” Capt. Lucas said. https://www.airlineratings.com/featured/qantas-to-add-capacity-lease-aircraft/ Australia’s CASA Looks To Boost Technical Staffing Levels BRISBANE, Australia—Australia’s aviation regulator is taking measures to try and address its own shortage of technical staff that is limiting its ability to help the MRO industry deal with post-pandemic pressures. The country’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has lost a lot of experienced technical staff over the past 10 years, said Darren Dunbier, Virgin Australia’s general manger for engineering operations. This means CASA is “resource-constrained” in meeting industry needs, he said at Aviation Week’s MRO Australasia event in Brisbane. Karen Blair, CASA’s national manager for regulatory services, agreed with Dunbier’s assessment. “We have wonderful people, but we don’t have enough of them,” she said. The problem is recognized by the government, and the issue of CASA’s staffing cap is being considered at a ministerial level, Blair said. CASA is also undertaking a review of its distribution of staff, she said. This is in recognition of the fact that CASA needs more technical staff. “It’s not a quick fix, and it’s going to take some time,” Blair said. However, CASA is “working through establishing a recruitment process now” to bring in more technical capability, she added. Some applications for CASA approvals are experiencing delays of up to 3-4 months at the moment, Blair said. For this reason, she is appealing to the MRO industry to submit any requests as far in advance as possible, and to let CASA know of any time constraints. This will allow the agency to “prioritize and triage” applications coming through, Blair said. CASA has recently made major changes to the locations of its regulatory services offices. Two years ago, CASA centralized its regional offices in an effort to improve standardization, but it also found that its engagement with industry declined. So, now it has reestablished its regional offices, Blair said. The agency is contending with many of the same workforce issues as the broader aviation industry. CASA recognizes that the MRO industry has been facing skilled worker shortages for many years, said Ben Challender, CASA’s manager for airworthiness standards. However, since the coronavirus pandemic this has shifted from a “broad, general shortage to a quite severe shortage” in Australia’s engineering operations, he said. CASA is “doing what it can to help address that,” Challender said. For example, the agency is looking to refine the process for licensed engineers from other countries to be certified to work in Australia. https://aviationweek.com/mro/safety-ops-regulation/australias-casa-looks-boost-technical-staffing-levels MedAire Boosts London Medical and Safety Support Team Risk management group MedAire has expanded the business and general aviation desk at its London Assistance Center to provide the same level of support as it delivers from its Global Response Center in Phoenix. The company announced the upgrade on Thursday, saying it was done to meet increased demand from aircraft operators for support across different regions of the world and to take account of time zones. The new desk in the UK capital will support business and general aviation customers with both medical and safety-related issues while they are traveling. This service includes on-demand access to aviation medical professionals and security experts. MedAire president Bill Dolny told AIN the company has made significant investments in its London center to be able to provide more efficient support worldwide around the clock. “It provides support for half of each day and we’ve spent a lot of time training people there to use all our systems,” he said. “We understand the challenges these operators are facing when managing risks in remote or unfamiliar locations, complying with regulatory requirements, and ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and crew,” said Dr. Paulo Alves, MedAire’s global director of aviation health. “The dedicated team has the knowledge, expertise, and resources to provide the support and guidance operators need to navigate these challenges and ensure safe and successful operations.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-05-18/medaire-boosts-london-medical-and-safety-support-team Virgin Atlantic Partners with Cardiosecur to Further Enhance In-Flight Medical Safety Virgin Atlantic is upgrading its on-board safety equipment and bolstering its dedication to passenger health, thanks to a new partnership with CardioSecur, a pioneering medical tech provider from Germany. From today, all flights will be equipped with the world’s smallest and lightest mobile ECG kit by CardioSecur, with the aim to save lives and reduce medical diversions. Virgin Atlantic has long been a pioneer in the passenger health space and remains the only UK airline to have ECG capability in the air. In the early 2000s it was the first airline in the world to have an entirely ECG equipped fleet. CardioSecur will provide its expertise through an app-based solution to address serious in-flight medical issues. The compact, intuitive system will allow Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew to record 12-lead ECGs and send the results via WIFI and satellite to a ground based medical service. The speed and sophistication of the system will provide the aircraft with critical feedback, detailing next medical steps, including whether a diversion is necessary or not. Cardiovascular events are the single most common cause of medical flight diversions, making this advanced system a critical addition to Virgin Atlantic’s in-flight safety measures. Weighing only 50 grams, the uniquely compact mobile ECG system, designed and manufactured by CardioSecur in Germany, requires minimal space. Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operations Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented “Our work with CardioSecur underpins our continued commitment to customer health, which will always be our top priority. “We were proud to be the first airline in the world to have a fully ECG equipped fleet and we’ve continued to remain at the forefront of aviation medicine. “The upgrade to this new state of the art mobile ECG capability on board of all our aircraft clearly demonstrates further leadership in shaping the future of customer health and I’m proud to be the first UK airline to offer CardioSecur’s new kit.” Felix Brand, CEO and founder of CardioSecur, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Virgin Atlantic, a visionary airline that shares our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance passenger and crew safety. “Our partnership will empower airlines to provide swift and accurate support in medical emergencies and make a significant impact on in-flight healthcare.” https://airlinergs.com/virgin-atlantic-partners-with-cardiosecur-to-further-enhance-in-flight-medical-safety/ Air Charter Safety Foundation Establishes Scholarship in Honor of Florida Tech Alumnus Russ Lawton The Air Charter Safety Foundation has established a scholarship in honor of its first safety director, Florida Tech alumnus Russ Lawton. After a prolonged illness, Lawton passed away on Jan. 14 at the age of 70. BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Air Charter Safety Foundation has established a scholarship in honor of its first safety director, the Florida Tech alumnus Russ Lawton. After a prolonged illness, Lawton passed away on Jan. 14 at the age of 70. Lawton ’74 A.S., ’76 graduated from Florida Tech with a bachelor’s degree in air commerce with flight technology. He was later recognized with the university’s Outstanding Alumni Award for his contributions to aviation safety. The Air Charter Safety Foundation has pledged to honor Lawton’s legacy by creating the Russ S. Lawton Scholarship. Donations are being accepted. The scholarship fund will support an annual scholarship for undergraduate student(s) in the College of Aeronautics, who need financial assistance and who plan to pursue a career in flight safety. Recipients will be selected by the Office of Financial Aid. Born in New Britain, Connecticut, and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Russell Stuart Lawton’s passion for aviation was clear early on. By age 15 he had soloed at the historic Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and aviation – and particularly aviation safety – would remain among the pillars of his life both personally and professionally. After graduation from Florida Tech, Lawton pursued his passion by working for more than a decade for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, ultimately becoming vice president of operations. From 1987 to 2000, Lawton was an analyst and consultant for Events Analysis Inc. & Advanced Aviation Concepts, where he assisted the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA on safety initiatives. In 2006, he became the first full-time employee of the Air Charter Safety Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that supports the highest safety standards for more than 300 aviation-focused businesses, charter, and fractional operators. Starting as director of safety management and later named vice president of operations, Lawton remained at ACSF until his passing. “Russ Lawton had a huge passion for aviation safety. His love of learning and being a true educator is what he did best. He always wanted to give back to those who worked hard and became leaders within our industry,” said ACSF President Bryan Burns. “A true gentleman and beloved industry colleague, Russ was respected for his vision, leadership, integrity, knowledge and strong advocacy for our aviation safety community.” In addition to his professional achievements, Lawton was chief pilot for family flights to visit friends and relatives, a connoisseur of good red wine, and solely responsible for keeping the family pool in perfect condition for pool parties. He also, his obituary noted, endured wife Sherry’s never-ending home-improvement projects. https://spacecoastdaily.com/2023/05/air-charter-safety-foundation-establishes-scholarship-in-honor-of-florida-tech-alumnus-russ-lawton/ DeltaHawk Gains Type Certification on Jet-Fueled Piston Powerplant The ‘upside down’ DHK180 has been in development for more than two decades. DeltaHawk’s DHK180 is configured in an inverted “V” with mechanical fuel injection and liquid cooling. It’s been more than a decade in the making, but now the “upside down” DeltaHawk engine has arrived. The company announced Thursday that its DeltaHawk DHK180 piston powerplant—set to run on jet-A—has gained FAA type certification after a significant period of development. The liquid-cooled,180 hp., 4-cylinder diesel engine uses an inverted “V” configuration and mechanical fuel injection, along with a slimmer design expected to fit more efficiently into modern aircraft cowling. It’s turbocharged and supercharged, direct drive, and has been assembled with 40 percent fewer parts than other engines in its class. “We began by completely reimagining what a general aviation engine should be,” said Christopher Ruud, DeltaHawk’s CEO. “And the result is that we now have a certified engine that is a game-changer. It’s been a long time coming but, in engineering, simple is hard. However, this engine’s performance, simplicity, and reliability have made it worth the time and the investment, as it is truly ‘power reimagined.’” A Long Road to TC It’s not easy or cheap to bring a new powerplant into the GA market, and the DeltaHawk story proves this to be true once again. Few new designs have surfaced in the past 60 years. The DHK180 stems from the DH180 originally on display at EAA AirVenture 2014 on a Cirrus SR20. After the Ruud family took controlling ownership in 2016, the path toward certification became clearer: The 180 hp variant showed up at Oshkosh in 2019, also on the SR20, and at that time DeltaHawk expected certification by the end of that year. With a little delay—and pandemic induced slowdowns—the engine has now acquired the TC it needs to move into the production phase. Good things come to those who persevere, however. According to the company, it has had interest from potential suitors from kit builders to the military—even from NASA to power its Subsonic Single Aft Engine Aircraft (SUSAN) scale flight test vehicle. DeltaHawk expects to deliver the first of its production DHK180s in 2024. https://www.flyingmag.com/deltahawk-gains-type-certification-on-jet-fueled-piston-powerplant/ Leasing company pursues $80 million claim for aircraft lost in Russia Firm is suing reinsurers despite never having seen the relevant policy documents An aircraft leasing company is pursuing an $80 million claim for commercial airplanes lost in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, despite the claimant never having seen the relevant policy documents. Shearwater Aircraft Leasing made the claim, which relates to the loss of two commercial aircraft it had leased to Russian aviation group Norwind, according to a report by UK insurance broker Mactavish. Norwind failed to return the aircraft when the Ukraine war began and has continued to use them despite Shearwater’s repeated attempts to have them returned – a practice common with many Russian airlines, Mactavish said. The aircraft were insured by Norwind for $40 million each with a group of Russian insurers, backed by reinsurance led by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty and Liberty Specialty Markets, Mactavish said. In a legal claim against the insurers, Shearwater is suing for what it says is a total loss of the aircraft, claiming that Norwind’s retention of the aircraft has led to their effective loss. “Norwind has continued to operate and fly each of the aircraft in and across Russia, contrary to the demands and/or instructions of the claimants, and despite the fact that the BCAA Certificates for each of the aircraft has been withdrawn and/or revoked and/or that the leasing of each of the aircraft has been terminated,” Norwind’s claim document said. Defense documents have not yet been filed in the case, according to Mactavish. However, insurers have refused to pay out in similar cases, arguing that the claims of total loss are invalid since the aircraft still exist. There are more than 20 cases currently moving through the courts related to unpaid claims for aircraft lost in Russia, Mactavish reported. The unusual thing about this case is that Shearwater is suing related to an insurance policy taken out by its client, Norwind, which is still using the aircraft. And instead of suing Norwind or the primary insurers, all of which are Russian and subject to sanctions, Shearwater is suing the reinsurers. Shearwater said in its filings that it has never been provided with copies of the insurance policies for the aircraft. Mactavish said that Shearwater’s case may be a long shot. “Suing an insurer through the High Court is tricky enough in normal circumstances; costs are substantial, standard contracts are often insurer-friendly and the court process is long and laborious,” Mactavish said in a news release. “Attempting to pursue this path without even having the benefit of the full insurance contract is challenging in the extreme.” However, Mactavish said that the number of similar cases going through the court system right now could provide a useful precedent before Shearwater’s case goes to trial. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/leasing-company-pursues-80-million-claim-for-aircraft-lost-in-russia-446349.aspx US weighs suit against Korean Air’s planned acquisition of Asiana, Politico reports May 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department is considering suing to block Korean Air's (003490.KS) planned acquisition of Asiana Airlines (020560.KS), Politico reported on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating the November 2020 deal for roughly two years, and is concerned that it will hurt competition on overlapping routes to the United States, the report said citing three people with knowledge of the deliberations. In response to the report, Korean Air said the Justice Department had not made any official decision, adding the South Korean airline would continue its dialogue with the U.S. government until a final decision is made. "Korean Air has made, and continues to make, every effort to obtain all necessary approvals," the company said in a statement to Reuters. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment. The U.S. administration is concerned the merger would place too much control of cargo transportation of key goods like microchips in the hands of one company, the report said, adding that no decision has been made on whether to bring a case. EU antitrust regulators said on Wednesday that Korean Air Lines' proposed acquisition of rival Asiana may restrict competition in passenger and cargo air transport services between Europe and South Korea. The merger between South Korea's no.1 and no.2 airlines would see Korean Air become the biggest shareholder in indebted Asiana. The deal was arranged by Asiana's creditors led by state-run Korea Development Bank in 2020. Analysts said it was too early to tell what the U.S. and EU would decide, however South Korean regulators approved the merger on condition that the combined firm gives up flights to other airlines on routes where it has a large market share. A similar condition was flagged by the UK'S competition authority when it approved the merger in March, analysts added. "The merger will be good for cost-cutting and economies of scale, but there is also reduced market share expected from regulators' requirements," said Seho Bae, analyst at HI Investment & Securities. The Biden administration has taken a hard line on airline consolidation. In March, the Justice Department filed suit to stop JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O) from buying Spirit Airlines Inc (SAVE.N), saying the planned $3.8 billion merger "will lead to higher fares and fewer seats, harming millions of consumers on hundreds of routes." Trial is set for October. The department also sued asking a judge to force JetBlue and American Airlines (AAL.O) to scrap their Northeast Alliance. The companies are awaiting a decision after a trial last year. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-weighs-suit-against-korean-airs-planned-acquisition-asiana-politico-2023-05-18/ Curt Lewis