Flight Safety Information - August 21, 2023 No. 161   In This Issue : Incident: Southwest B738 near Atlanta on Aug 19th 2023, cracked windshield : Incident: UPS B763 near Cardiff on Aug 20th 2023, FMC failure, burning smell and smoke in cockpit : Incident: Lufthansa A321 at Hamburg on Aug 20th 2023, engine shut down in flight : US aviation safety experts in Malaysia to help investigate plane crash : Korean Air to measure passengers’ weights for better safety, efficiency : Atlas Air Boeing 747 Returns To Leipzig Following Cracked Windshield : Qantas adds more than 250,000 international seats as aircraft return : Kuwait Airways Set To Lease 8 Airbus A321 Aircraft Over 10 Years : Fly Arna becomes only Armenian carrier to attain IOSA Operator registration : NavCanada Offers Temporary Amnesty On ADS-B Mandate Violations : Airlines Continue To Avoid Afghan Airspace Though FAA Allows It Incident: Southwest B738 near Atlanta on Aug 19th 2023, cracked windshield A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8567Z performing flight WN-3017 from Pittsburgh,PA to Sarasota,FL (USA), was enroute at FL400 about 190nm eastnortheast of Atlanta,GA (USA) when the captain's windshield began to develop cracks. The crew decided to divert to Atlanta where the aircraft landed safely on runway 09R about 40 minutes later. A replacement Boeing 737-8 MAX registration N8867Q reached Sarasota with a delay of about 2 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Atlanta about 18 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=50d4721a&opt=0 Incident: UPS B763 near Cardiff on Aug 20th 2023, FMC failure, burning smell and smoke in cockpit A UPS United Parcel Service Boeing 767-300 freighter, registration N329UP performing freight flight 5X-205 from Philadelphia,PA (USA) to London Stansted,EN (UK), was enroute at FL350 about 150nm west of Cardiff,WL (UK) when the crew diverted the aircraft to Cardiff reporting they had lost their flight management and guidance computers (FMC) and there was a burning smell and smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely on Cardiff's runway 12 about 25 minutes later, vacated the runway and stopped on the parallel taxiway. https://avherald.com/h?article=50d493ee&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa A321 at Hamburg on Aug 20th 2023, engine shut down in flight A Lufthansa Airbus A321-100, registration D-AIRR performing flight LH-17 from Hamburg to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 194 people on board, was climbing out of Hamburg's runway 33 when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet reporting problems with one of the engines (V2530), shut the engine down and returned to Hamburg for a safe landing on runway 23 about 22 minutes after departure. The airline reported the engine was shut down as a precaution as result of an irregularity with one of the engine indications. The passengers were rebooked onto other flights. https://avherald.com/h?article=50d46b83&opt=0 US aviation safety experts in Malaysia to help investigate plane crash The Beechcraft Model 390 aircraft exploded into a fireball on impact when it crashed Thursday on a road in All eight people on board — six passengers and two flight crew — as well as two motorists on the four-lane road were killed KUALA LUMPUR: US aviation safety experts on Monday helped search for clues at the site of a Malaysian plane crash near the capital that killed all eight people on board and two on the ground. The Beechcraft Model 390 aircraft exploded into a fireball on impact when it crashed Thursday on a road in Selangor state west of Kuala Lumpur. All eight people on board — six passengers and two flight crew — as well as two motorists on the four-lane road were killed, according to the police. Investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Bureau, Federal Aviation Administration and the aircraft manufacturer were seen Monday picking through the wreckage. “They are already here this morning,” local police chief Mohamad Iqbal Ibrahim told AFP. The 12-member US team also flew a drone over the crash site. The plane’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has been recovered and was being analyzed by Malaysian air accident investigators. The CVR records what happens in the cockpit, including the final conversations of the flight crew and other sounds. Like some other small planes, the aircraft did not have a flight data recorder, Malaysian police chief Razarudin Husain said Friday. The plane took off from the northern resort island of Langkawi and was approaching Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Selangor at the time of the crash. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said earlier that the plane had been cleared to land but “veered to the right of the landing flight path” before it crashed. In September 1977, a Japan Airlines plane bound for Singapore crashed near the site of Thursday’s disaster. The crash killed 34 of the 79 passengers and crew on board. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2358586/world Korean Air to measure passengers’ weights for better safety, efficiency South Korean carrier Korean Air said Sunday it would be measuring body weights of its passengers in a bid to strengthen aviation safety and minimize excessive fuel use. Passengers on domestic flights will be asked to weigh in from Aug. 28 through Sept. 6, while international flight passengers will be weighed from Sept. 8 to 19. The weight measuring process will take place at the boarding gates. Those who do not wish to partake in the process can notify the staff that they wish to opt out and board as usual. The measurement data will be collected anonymously. According to aviation regulations set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, air carriers are required to give the average weights of passengers it carries in each aircraft at least once every five years, in order to provide data for the standard weight of an aircraft in flight. The data is also used to devise a plan for the optimal way to distribute weight within an aircraft, along with measures to reduce fuel costs. Planes usually fly with more fuel than they actually need, which adds to the plane's weight and fuel use. However, if the exact weight of passengers and luggage can be measured before flights, the amount of fuel needed can be measured more accurately, and fuel use can be reduced. During Korean Air's measurement of passenger weights conducted in 2017, the average weight for an adult male passenger stood at 81 kilograms, while the average weight for an adult woman stood at 69 kilograms. https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230820000143 Atlas Air Boeing 747 Returns To Leipzig Following Cracked Windshield The Atlas Air Boeing 747 was performing a flight on behalf of Polar Air Cargo. SUMMARY • An Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 had to return to Leipzig due to a cracked windshield during a flight to Tokyo. • The aircraft landed safely in Leipzig approximately 90 minutes after departure. • Windshield cracks are rare but must be addressed urgently to prevent further damage and ensure aircraft safety. • An Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 Registration N445MC returned to Leipzig, Germany, approximately 90 minutes after departure due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft was en route to Tokyo when the flight crew noticed cracks in the windshield. The aircraft dumped the excess fuel before landing safely at Leipzig. Atlas Air Flight PO-956 On August 12, Atlas Air Flight PO-956 was performing a routine cargo service between Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) in Germany and Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo, Japan, on behalf of Polar Air Cargo. Flight PO-956, operating on a Boeing 747-400ER, was scheduled to depart LEJ at 17:00 local time for a 13-hour flight to NRT. The aircraft took off from runway 08R at 18:50 hours, one hour and 50 minutes behind schedule. At a speed of 500 knots (926 km/h), the aircraft leveled off after its initial climb to 29,000 ft (8,840 m). Approximately 25 minutes into the flight, the crew noticed cracks in the windshield and decided to turn around and return to Leipzig. Data from FlightRadar24.com shows that the aircraft made a 180-degree turn towards LEJ above Brno, Czech Republic while descending to 17,000 ft (5,180 m). The aircraft maintained FL170 for over 15 minutes while dumping excess fuel. A further step-down altitude of 14,000 (4,260 m) was maintained before gradually descending into Leipzig. The aircraft touched down safely on runway 08R at 20:22 hours local time. Diverting the aircraft as a result of a windshield crack is a standard operating procedure for airlines. The aircraft remained on the ground at LEJ for maintenance work. The aircraft departed again for the flight to NRT nearly 29 hours later. Windshield cracks and their implications Aircraft windows are double-paned for safety during flight. Windshields are manufactured to withstand high pressures, speed, and FOD impact during flight. From raindrops and hail to birds, windshields are designed to take all kinds of possible impacts. However, aircraft windshields can crack and break in flight. While the occurrence is rare, a crack must be addressed urgently to prevent greater damage. If incidents like that are not handled in time, the safety of the aircraft and its occupants can be compromised. Most windshields have a self-sealing mechanism to maintain air pressure for a period of time despite cracks to allow pilots to descend to a lower altitude. Interested in the latest news? Check out our complete news section here. It is noteworthy that cracked windshields do not have to be reported to the regulatory authority, such as the FAA in the US. However, operators must follow safe procedures and perform in-time maintenance of the aircraft. About Atlas Air Atlas Air is a major American cargo airline, passenger charter airline, and aircraft lessor based in Purchase, New York. It is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 747 aircraft, with a total fleet of 54 aircraft of the type. Of the fleet of 109 total aircraft, 11 are used for private passenger charter services. Passenger aircraft were configured to serve 189 passengers in a three-class configuration. https://simpleflying.com/atlas-air-boeing-747-returns-cracked-windshield/ Qantas adds more than 250,000 international seats as aircraft return Qantas announced another increase to its international capacity ahead of additional aircraft returning to its fleet. Destinations with more capacity include New York, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Bali. The Qantas Group is currently at around 80 percent of its pre-COVID international capacity levels, which has almost doubled in the past year. This is expected to reach 100 percent by March 2024, with this additional flying taking it beyond that level from July 2024 onwards. Qantas has received three long-awaited Boeing 787s in recent months and is gradually able to return more of its Airbus A380s to service as they complete post-storage maintenance, which is enabling flying levels to steadily increase to meet strong travel demand. The national carrier is publishing more than 250,000 additional seats to and from Australia that includes: Sydney-Bali – larger Airbus A330 aircraft will replace daily Boeing 737 flights from October this year with more premium seats and fully-flat beds in Business Class. Sydney-Auckland-New York – following the successful launch of the new route in June this year, flights will increase from four per week to daily from August 2024. Sydney-Johannesburg – for the first time Qantas A380s will operate to South Africa from July 2024, nearly doubling capacity during peak periods. Melbourne-Los Angeles – capacity will increase by around 20 per cent with more A380 flights on the route from July 2024. Sydney-Los Angeles – flights will increase from eight to nine per week from July 2024, operated with a mix of 787 and A380 aircraft. Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the additional flying would help support the sustained demand for international travel and provide a boost to the tourism industry. “Hundreds of thousands of extra seats on our network is great news for our customers planning their next overseas trip. We know our customers are looking for great value and this additional capacity will put more downward pressure on fares. The additional capacity will largely be made possible through our final two A380s returning to the Qantas fleet following heavy maintenance and cabin improvements.” The announcement follows the previously-announced one million seats being added to the airline’s network over the next year with new routes, larger aircraft and more flights to popular destinations. The previously announced routes commencing in the coming months include: Sydney-Shanghai resuming in late October, operating for the first time in more than three years. Brisbane-Honiara and Brisbane-Wellington launching in late October. Customers can use COVID credits when booking Qantas flights. In June, Qantas launched an online Find My Credit tool to help reunite customers with bookings dating back to 2020 that were cancelled due to sudden and repeat border closures. The travel expiry date for these credits has been extended, giving customers an extra 12 months to travel provided they book by 31 December this year. https://asianaviation.com/qantas-adds-more-than-250000-international-seats-as-aircraft-return/ Kuwait Airways Set To Lease 8 Airbus A321 Aircraft Over 10 Years The airline is leasing 8 Airbus A321neo’s due to delivery delays for its current orders. SUMMARY • Kuwait Airways leasing eight A321neos over the next decade due to delivery delays, which threaten its expansion plans. • Kuwait Airways aims to acquire 50 aircraft by 2030 to support the country's tourism industry. • Kuwait Airways is set to lease eight Airbus narrowbodies over the space of 10 years. The carrier has been forced to lease following fears and reports of delivery delays from Airbus, which threatens its expansion plans. Forced to lease Simple Flying recently reported that the Kuwaiti flag carrier was looking into leasing aircraft over 12 years. However, in a new development, Kuwait Airways Chairperson Ali Aldokhan confirmed at a press conference that the airline will lease 8 Airbus A321neo aircraft over the next decade. The carrier is expanding its network rapidly and simply doesn’t have the capacity at the moment. The new leased aircraft will be a huge sigh of relief, preventing delays to its plans while it figures out a new schedule with Airbus. Kuwait Airways currently has a total of 35 active aircraft, according to fleet data from ch-aviation. In 2022, the carrier finalized an order for 31 Airbus jets worth over $3 billion and set to be delivered by 2028. Although a total of 18 aircraft have been delivered, the rest of the order is facing delays from Airbus. The delay is expected to be 12 months. The outstanding order with Airbus consists of 1 A320neo, 6 A321neos, 3 A321XLRs, 7 A330neos and 2 A350-900s. Reuters is reporting that the airline is examining different options and offers from various aircraft leasing firms and is in the process of choosing a provider. In an interview with Reuters over the delay, Kuwait Airways CEO Maen Razouqi was clear about financial liability and told Reuters, “We don't get into disagreements. The reality is that there are financial obligations that must be borne by the party responsible for the delay. This is part of our restructuring discussions- that the financial obligations should be based on payments or credits... offset for the delay.” Attempting to lower costs Razouqi said that Kuwait Airways is currently in negotiations with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation on a proposed cost reduction discount on jet fuel. The airline has seen a sharp increase in the cost of jet fuel in recent months. Aldokhan said the cost of jet fuel for Kuwait Airways has increased 38% year-on-year since the beginning of 2023. The carrier's latest order consists of all modern and fuel-efficient jets, but jet fuel still makes up a massive operating cost. The leased A321neos will help the airline reduce fuel costs further while increasing capacity. Steady growth Kuwait Airways is growing steadily and has some big ambitions for the future. The airline currently has the hope of acquiring 50 aircraft by 2030 - a goal in possible jeopardy due to delays. The Kuwaiti government is using the airline as a source to increase the tourism industry in the country, helped by a route network growth. Although the airline is currently loss-making, with a net loss of $178 million in 2022, it hopes to return to full profitability by 2025. https://simpleflying.com/kuwait-airways-lease-8-airbus-a321-aircraft-10-years/ Fly Arna becomes only Armenian carrier to attain IOSA Operator registration YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Fly Arna, Armenia’s national airline and a joint venture company between ANIF and Air Arabia Group, has announced a significant milestone in its commitment to ensuring safety and operational excellence. The airline has been successfully registered as an IOSA Operator under the IATA Operational Safety Audit program (IOSA), positioning it as the only Armenian carrier to attain this internationally recognized safety accreditation in Armenia. This certification, valid for two years, was awarded to Fly Arna after a successful audit on its operational management and control systems. This comprehensive audit encompasses a rigorous evaluation of the airline’s policies, procedures, and practices, ensuring they meet and exceed global aviation standards. Gayane Antonyan, Fly Arna spokesperson said:” We are proud to have been awarded the IOSA certificate, a recognition that underlines our unwavering commitment to adopt the world's top aviation safety standards. This achievement is a testament to our continuous dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew." Fly Arna said it remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of safety and service excellence. The IOSA certificate not only acknowledges the airline's commitment to safety but also underscores its efforts to contribute positively to Armenia's aviation industry and broader international air travel community. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1117745.html NavCanada Offers Temporary Amnesty On ADS-B Mandate Violations Nav Canada says it has implemented a grace period for aircraft operators who enter Class A airspace in Canada (above 18,000 feet, IFR only) without the ADS-B equipment that meets the newly activated mandate. The not-for-profit air traffic management company said operators who mistakenly enter Class A without antennas that send signals both up to satellites and down to ground stations will not face sanctions during the first 90 days of the mandate, which started on Aug. 10. “While the Class A mandate will be in effect on August 10, 2023, a 90-day implementation transition period from August 10, 2023 to November 8, 2023 will offer aircraft operators more time to acclimate,” Nav Canada told AVweb in an email statement. “Aviation Occurrence Reports (AOR) will not be filed during this transition period in the event that an aircraft not equipped in accordance with the Canadian ADS-B mandate and has not received an accommodation agreement enters airspace where ADS-B is mandatory.” Most U.S. aircraft that routinely operate at 18,000 feet and above are already equipped with so-called “antenna diversity” (ADS-B Out antennas on the belly and roof), but the U.S. ADS-B system uses only ground stations so top-mounted antennas are not required. Those types of installations do not meet the Canadian requirements, but Nav Canada says operators of noncompliant aircraft who still want to use Canadian Class A airspace can apply online for the “accommodation agreement” and the company says it will do its best to let the airplane in. The situation will get more complicated on May 16, 2024, when the mandate will include Class B airspace. That’s controlled airspace above 12,500 feet and above the minimum enroute altitude and is open to VFR traffic with a controlled VFR clearance. That will capture a lot more U.S. aircraft that don’t meet the Canadian mandate. Nav Canada has pledged to delay the ADS-B mandate for all other Canadian controlled airspace until at least 2028 and after extensive consultation with groups representing affected operators, which will be anyone who wants to fly in controlled airspace. GA groups have already been busy trying to talk Nav Canada and Transport Canada into delaying implementation of the mandate at all levels including the Class A and B but to no avail. The groups, including AOPA and the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, found out that Nav Canada plans to build ground stations to boost coverage in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and argued that belly antennas should be enough in those areas. NavCanada told AVweb it will continue to require antenna diversity throughout the country. “We are currently evaluating the deployment of approximately 30 receivers in total, which is a very small figure when you consider the size of our country. They are being added primarily to increase future bandwidth in high density locations, such as Toronto and Montreal, and enhance our already robust surveillance environment,” NavCanada told AVweb. “A by-product of this is that they can mitigate expected congestion from a large number of transponders broadcasting on 1090 MHz over the coming years (noting again that we are currently receiving reliable space-based signals that vastly increase airspace where NAV CANADA can offer surveillance separation services). “With this small of a deployment and the aforementioned obstacles to deploying a ground-based solution in Canada, we disagree with the suggestion that this small number of ground receivers mitigates the need for dual antennae and a common operating configuration for aircraft in the classes of airspace currently being implemented (Class A and B). … Implementation in additional classes of airspace will not occur sooner than 2028 following additional assessment and stakeholder engagement.” https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/navcanada-offers-temporary-amnesty-on-ads-b-mandate-violations/ Airlines Continue To Avoid Afghan Airspace Though FAA Allows It Safety concerns about such operations are keeping airlines from flying over Afghanistan. SUMMARY • The FAA has relaxed rules allowing high-altitude flights over Afghanistan, but airlines are still hesitant to cross Afghan airspace due to safety concerns. • Airlines are concerned about the presence of surface-to-air weaponry in Afghanistan, despite the FAA's assurance that it doesn't pose a threat to high-altitude flights. • Flights between Asia and Europe or North America take longer routes to avoid Afghan airspace, causing increased fuel consumption and operational costs for airlines. The US Federal Aviation Administration recently revised its rules regarding airlines flying over the airspace of Afghanistan. It has allowed high-altitude flights over the region, deeming such operations safe. But despite such relaxations, airlines are not too keen on crossing Afghan airspace for flights to Asia. FAA relaxes rules On July 25th, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowed high-altitude overflights over Afghanistan. It said that flights within the Afghanistan airspace at or above FL 320 (32,000 ft) were safe to pass through. Since the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban took over the country, most airlines across the globe have been avoiding Afghan airspace. This affected flights from Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent, to Europe and North America to take a longer route and consequently burn more fuel. A quick scan of Flightradar24.com shows flights between India and Europe and the US take a circuitous route to avoid Afghan airspace. Some aircraft briefly pass over the Wakhan Corridor region, a narrow strip of Afghan territory wedged between Pakistan and Tajikistan. Airlines reluctant FAA’s latest decision allows airlines to save plenty of fuel, which accounts for a significant portion of their overall operational expenditure. So, why are airlines not keen on taking advantage of the revised rules? There’s concern among carriers about the safety of such operations, particularly regarding the presence of surface-to-air weaponry in Afghanistan. While the FAA has said that such missiles do not pose a threat to flights above 32,000 feet, carriers want to err on the side of caution. The OPS Group, an organization for the aviation industry, commented on the issue: “There's no ATC [air traffic control] service across the entire country, there's a seemingly endless list of surface-to-air weaponry they might start shooting at you if you fly too low, and if you have to divert, then good luck with the Taliban.” Longer flights Airlines operating flights to Asia from Europe and North America (particularly from the East Coast) have had to alter their routes significantly in the last few years. The situation in Afghanistan as well as the conflict in Ukraine, have meant that many Western carriers have to avoid vast stretches of airspace to reach their destinations. The Delhi-New York route is one such example. Both Air India and American Airlines offer this service, and both avoid flying over long stretches of Afghanistan. But Air India continues to fly north over Russia, while American Airlines has to take a sharp left for a longer route. However, given the reaction of the US carriers to the FAA’s latest relaxation of rules, it seems that flights between the US and Asia will continue to take longer for some more time. https://simpleflying.com/airlines-avoiding-afghan-airspace/ Curt Lewis