Flight Safety Information - July 28, 2023   No. 145


In This Issue 

: Incident: Albastar B738 near Paris on Jul 21st 2023, radar contact lost for 20 minutes, loss of separation as result

: Incident: United B763 near Chicago on Jul 26th 2023, uncontained heat and smoke on the flight deck

: Not cleared for takeoff: United Airlines pilot grounded after showing up drunk

: 4 Killed in Siberian Helicopter Crash

: United will add Braille signage throughout its aircraft, an accessibility first

: Flight Attendant Injured After Allegiant Airplane Forced to Take ‘Evasive’ Action to Avoid Collision With Private Jet

: What Are A Chief Pilot's Roles & Responsibilities?


 


Incident: Albastar B738 near Paris on Jul 21st 2023, radar contact lost for 20 minutes, loss of separation as result

An Albastar Boeing 737-800, registration EC-NGC performing flight AP-4651 from London Stansted,EN (UK) to Lourdes (France), was enroute at FL350 about 90nm southwest of Paris (France) when (secondary) radar contact with the aircraft was lost. About 20 minutes later (secondary) radar contact was re-established at FL350 about 200nm southsouthwest of Paris. The aircraft continued to Lourdes for a landing without further incident.

An Air France Embraer ERJ-190, registration F-HBLD performing flight AF-1476 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Bilbao,SP (Spain), was enroute at FL350 in close proximity while the B738 was invisible on the radar due to their transponder not transmitting.

The aircraft remained on the ground in Lourdes for 2.5 hours, then departed for the return flight.

The French BEA reported they rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. While the aircraft was in contact with the air traffic control center Brest radar contact was lost, an Air France Flight (AF-1476) reported they had passed the "lost" flight at the same flight level at less than 3nm distance.

https://avherald.com/h?article=50c4c25c&opt=0

 


 

 


Incident: United B763 near Chicago on Jul 26th 2023, uncontained heat and smoke on the flight deck

A United Boeing 767-300, registration N666UA performing flight UA-3 from Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA) to Zurich (Switzerland) with 162 people on board, was enroute at FL330 about 260nm northeast of Chicago when the crew decided to return to Chicago reporting they had uncontained heat and smoke on the flight deck. The aircraft descended to FL240 and landed on Chicago's runway 28R about 45 minutes after leaving FL330. The aircraft vacated the runway and stopped for an inspection by emergency services asking them to check for any fire and smoke, they had uncontained heat and smoke on the flight deck. About 45 minutes after landing the aircraft taxied to the apron.

A replacement Boeing 767-300 registration N657UA reached Zurich with a delay of about 6.5 hours.

The occurrence aircraft had dropped an evacuation slide on approach to Chicago 9 days ago, see Incident: United B763 at Chicago on Jul 17th 2023, dropped evacuation slide in flight and is currently still on the ground in Chicago about 21 hours after landing.

https://avherald.com/h?article=50c4d4c8&opt=0

 


 

 


Not cleared for takeoff: United Airlines pilot grounded after showing up drunk

A United Airlines pilot had his license suspended after turning up drunk to work a flight from Paris to Washington-Dulles on Sunday.

French media reports that the pilot, identified as Henry W., received a six month suspended prison sentence and was fined 4,500 euros in addition to having his license suspended for a year.

According to local media, the pilot had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.132% – more than three times the legal limit set by the Federal Aviation Administration and six times the maximum set by Europe’s aviation regulator.

United Airlines did not confirm specific details of the incident, but in a statement to USA TODAY did acknowledge that it happened.

“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. We hold all our employees to the highest standards and have a strict no-tolerance policy for alcohol. This employee was immediately removed from service and we are fully cooperating with local authorities,” the airline said.

Better than airplane food? British Airways passengers get KFC instead of regular meals after catering mishap

Reports in French media said police told the court that the pilot showed “obvious signs of drunkenness” at the airport, including staggering around and glassy eyes.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/not-cleared-takeoff-united-airlines-163826948.html

 


4 Killed in Siberian Helicopter Crash

Four people have been killed and 12 injured in a Russian helicopter crash in southern Siberia’s republic of Altai, the region's emergencies ministry said Thursday.

The Mi-8 transport helicopter was approaching landing near the village of Tyungur not far from the border with Kazakhstan when it struck electric wires, the Altai emergencies ministry said in a statement. According to the state-run TASS news agency, the helicopter had been carrying tourists.

Four of the 16 people on board the helicopter were killed and 12 were injured, the ministry said. 

The ministry had first reported that six people were killed in the crash.

Two of the people it had initially reported as dead had in fact ejected from the aircraft before it crashed, the ministry told TASS. They are now in the hospital with "moderately severe" injuries.

The Mi-8 was operated by the Moscow-based cargo transportation company Altay Avia, according to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia). 

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said it has opened a criminal investigation into air safety violations.

Russia has seen several deadly air disasters in recent years due to poor maintenance and lax safety standards.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/07/27/4-killed-in-siberian-helicopter-crash-a81980

 


United will add Braille signage throughout its aircraft, an accessibility first

United Airlines said Thursday that it will add Braille to its aircraft cabins, offering a new level of accessibility for passengers who are blind or have significant vision impairment.

The airline will add placards with raised lettering and Braille to aisles labeling rows and seats; it'll also add these labels to the inside and outside of lavatories, it said in an announcement.

United said it will add the Braille signage throughout its mainline aircraft, making it the first U.S. airline with fleetwide Braille signage. The airline plans on adding the markings to individual aircraft as they undergo "United Next" cabin retrofitting. For planes that have already undergone United Next installation, the Braille signs will be added during normal maintenance downtime, Mark Muren, a managing director at United who oversaw the project, said.

The airline said about a dozen planes already had the Braille signs added, with the full mainline fleet expected to have the signs by 2026.

Regional jets operated by smaller airlines on United's behalf under the United Express brand would not necessarily see the changes, Muren said, although the airline is "absolutely working for that."

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"We want to have the most consistent experience," Muren said. "That's something we're working very closely with our partners on and that they're very supportive of."

While some individual aircraft or fleet types in the U.S. currently have Braille in some spots, such as in the lavatories, Muren said that no U.S. carrier currently has that universally throughout its fleet.

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In recent years, accessibility in the air has become a bigger conversation, whether the topic is the safe handling of passengers' wheelchairs, lavatory sizes or the real-world practicality of evacuation safety standards.

While challenges remain due to the inherent nature of aircraft and air travel, there's room to do more, Muren said.

"This is placards. This is a small thing, and we acknowledge this isn't a world-changing event," he said. "But it is a part of our journey here."

"We believe that the more accessible United can be to all customers, the better it is for everybody," Muren added.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-braille/

 


Flight Attendant Injured After Allegiant Airplane Forced to Take ‘Evasive’ Action to Avoid Collision With Private Jet

Aflight attendant on an Allegiant Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to Lexington, Kentucky, was injured after the pilots had to take ‘evasive’ action to avoid a collision with a private Gulfstream business jet which was flying at the same altitude.

Allegiant Airlines flight 485 had just taken off and was still climbing to its cruising altitude on Sunday when the pilots suddenly brought the aircraft into a much steeper and more rapid climb in order to increase the distance between it and the private jet.

During this ‘evasive’ manoeuvre, two flight attendants were flung to the floor, one of whom was left injured and crying out in pain and had to be helped back to the galley by their colleagues.
The Airbus A320 aircraft had to return to Fort Lauderdale so that the flight attendant could receive medical attention, although neither the airline nor the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided further details about the extent of the flight attendant’s injuries.

Allegiant Airlines declined to comment on the incident because of the “active investigation” underway by the FAA. In a statement, the FAA confirmed that the pilots of Allegiant flight 485 had taken evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision.

According to the agency, the Allegiant plane and the private jet were both at an altitude of 23,000 feet when air traffic control instructed the pilots of the Allegiant aircraft to turn eastbound. As the plane turned, it headed directly into the path of the Gulfstream jet, which was flying northbound off the coast of Florida.

By this point, the flight attendants had already been released from their jumpseats in order to start the service and they were out in the cabin when the plane suddenly climbed without warning.

The FAA said the pilots then declared a medical emergency due to the injured flight attendant, and the flight was cleared to return to Fort Lauderdale. The same aircraft completed the flight to Lexington the same day but landed around nine hours late.

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2023/07/28/flight-attendant-injured-after-allegiant-airplane-forced-to-take-evasive-action-to-avoid-collision-with-private-jet/

 


International aircrafts’ travel times set to come down as Afghan airspace to open up after 2 years

Since August 2021, flights between the western and eastern regions, including northern India, have taken longer routes to circumvent Afghanistan airspace. These diversions added approximately half an hour of flying time. The situation further escalated last summer when Russia's attack on Ukraine prompted additional airspace restrictions, leading to Western carriers avoiding Russian airspace altogether. With the recent reopening of Afghanistan's airspace for overflights, one section of the congested air route is finally relieved.

In the coming weeks, the travel time between the East, including India, and the West will be significantly reduced, especially after key aviation regulators allow commercial aircraft to resume flying over Afghanistan. In 2021, there was a brief pause in flights crossing over Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the nation.

the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted permission to American airliners to fly over the Kabul Flight Information Region (FIR) at altitudes exceeding 32,000 feet. This decision comes as the FAA assesses reduced risks to US civil aviation operations at higher altitudes in the region. The move aligns with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) directive to its member state airlines, urging them not to fly below 32,000 feet due to ongoing potential threats to civil aviation and high operational risks at lower altitudes.
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Since August 2021, flights between the western and eastern regions, including northern India, have taken longer routes to circumvent Afghanistan airspace. These diversions added approximately half an hour of flying time. The situation further escalated last summer when Russia's attack on Ukraine prompted additional airspace restrictions, leading to Western carriers avoiding Russian airspace altogether. With the recent reopening of Afghanistan's airspace for overflights, one section of the congested air route is finally relieved.

Both the FAA and EASA have cited concerns about the limited capacity of Air Traffic Service (ATS) across Afghanistan, where extremist non-state actors remain active and could target aviation facilities through various means, including direct attacks. In response, EASA has advised member state airlines to consider this safety information in their risk assessments alongside any guidance from their national authorities.

Following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the International Civil Aviation Organisation Asia-Pacific office established a Contingency Coordination Team (CCT) consisting of Afghanistan and neighboring air navigation service providers. The CCT devised a contingency plan to ensure the safe resumption of civil overflights in the Kabul FIR. Afghanistan subsequently issued NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) delineating overflight procedures and set altitude blocks for specific flight categories across various regions.

The FAA rule outlines that the overflight procedures are based on "traffic information by aircraft" (TIBA) protocols used in areas with limited or no air traffic services to ensure safe separation between aircraft. As a result, the FAA has authorized US civil aviation operations in the Kabul FIR at or above 32,000 feet, given the reduced risks at these altitudes.

Officials from Indian airlines, however, assert that it might take some time before overflying Afghanistan is resumed. They highlight the need for a comprehensive risk analysis and the development of emergency landing procedures at Afghan airports. Additionally, the involvement and cooperation of neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Turkmenistan are vital, as aircraft would need to enter Afghanistan from these directions at specified altitudes.

While the FAA clearance is a significant step forward and may prompt other aviation regulators to follow suit, airlines are cautious, awaiting further developments and approvals. The Association for America Airlines, representing major US carriers, is currently reviewing the updated rules. Delta Airlines, for instance, has yet to announce the resumption of flights to India since March 2020.

The situation remains fluid, and airlines and authorities must proceed with vigilance to ensure the safety and efficiency of flight operations over the Kabul FIR and surrounding regions.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/international-aircrafts-travel-times-set-to-come-down-as-afghan-airspace-to-open-up-after-2-years/articleshow/102189915.cms?from=mdr

 


What Are A Chief Pilot's Roles & Responsibilities?

A brief explanation of the top pilot in a domicile.

An airline captain greets a young traveller. Photo: Delta Air Lines
It takes a lot of people in management roles to ensure an airline functions properly. For pilots, their most visible administrator on a day-to-day basis is their chief pilot. This article will briefly define a chief pilot and their role.

What is a chief pilot?
A chief pilot is a captain who works for the airline's management team. A chief pilot is usually type rated and current on one of the aircraft that their airline flies, but this isn't always the case. Some chief pilots are beyond the mandatory retirement age of 65, and others are medically exempt from flying. Regardless of their current operational status, a chief pilot has flown the line as a captain at some point in their career.

As an aside, first officers can work in administrative roles within an airline. Such functions include technical pilots, recruiters, or staff within the chief pilot's office. However, the chief pilot's position is reserved for pilots who are, or have been, captains.

The title of chief pilot has different responsibilities and purviews depending on the airline. Smaller airlines have one chief pilot, while larger companies have a chief pilot for every one of their base cities. A significant component of operating a domicile in a hub airport is maintaining a chief pilot's office or CPO. The CPO's leader is the chief pilot, and they oversee a staff of administrators and augmenting support staff comprised of pilots and other non-flying employees. The chief pilot is responsible for distributing important information to line pilots, handling personal and non-standard requests, and managing all the pilots based in that domicile.

The CPO
Support staff help the chief pilot with many of the aforementioned day-to-day administration. Chief pilots are tasked with disciplining pilots, who they usually oversee. The most common pilot disciplinary misstep is tardiness or missed assignments (though this happens infrequently). Pilots are summoned to the CPO to explain what happens when they miss an assignment. From there, the chief pilot determines the disciplinary action to be taken.

The chief pilot's office contains many resources for pilots and flight attendants. Most CPOs are contained within a larger space at the airport allocated for flight crews to relax while separated from the traveling public during layovers or after arriving for work early. Spare electronic flight bags, uniforms, paper forms, and many other resources are available for pilots. Most CPOs also have computers to connect to the airline's internal servers and, essential to pilots and flight attendants, coffee.

Chief pilots are managerial, but those who can fly occasionally pick up trips to remain current and qualified. Flying with a chief pilot is a unique experience for first officers who usually work with line-flying colleagues, and the perspectives that chief pilots have as a benefit of their expertise are invaluable to their junior colleagues. Being a chief pilot is unique. It's one of the few ways to maintain a "pilot" title at an airline past age 65, and the role is an interesting mix of administrative and standard obligations.

https://simpleflying.com/chief-pilot-roles-responsibilities-guide/



Curt Lewis