Flight Safety Information - September 15, 2023 No. 179 In This Issue : Incident: Lufthansa B744 enroute on Sep 13th 2023, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Endeavor CRJ9 at New York on Sep 10th 2023, smoke in cockpit : Incident: Ethiopian B788 at Delhi on Sep 13th 2023, smoke on board : Malaysia fatal plane crash: pilot qualified to fly airworthy jet, initial report says : Private jet skids off Mumbai airport, breaks apart: What we know so far : Russian Civil Aviation Chief Dismissed : FAA investigating after plane forced to pull up out of descent at Logan Airport : Airbus ‘will be ready’ to develop hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035 goal: CEO : Pilots participating in 2023 Balloon Fiesta face a new requirement : Spirit Airlines adds new university partner to beef up pilot training pipeline as shortage persists : GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST Incident: Lufthansa B744 enroute on Sep 13th 2023, engine shut down in flight A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400, registration D-ABTL performing flight LH-712 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Seoul (South Korea) with 341 people on board, was enroute at FL350 over the Caspian Sea about 50nm south of Aktau (Kazakhstan) when the crew decided to shut one of the four engines (CF6) down due to irregularities with the oil pressure and to return to Frankfurt/Main. The aircraft descended to FL320 for the return and landed safely on Frankfurt's runway 07R about 4.5 hours after turning around. The airline reported the crew shut one of the engines down due to irregularities with the oil pressure and returned to Frankfurt declaring emergency. The passengers were rebooked onto other flights. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Frankfurt about 17 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=50e5fab7&opt=0 Incident: Endeavor CRJ9 at New York on Sep 10th 2023, smoke in cockpit An Endeavor Air Canadair CRJ-900 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N329PQ performing flight DL-5316 from New York La Guardia,NY to Savannah,GA (USA), was climbing out of La Guardia's runway 13 when the crew stopped the climb at about 12,000 feet reporting smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft diverted to New York's JFK airport for a safe landing on runway 22L about 34 minutes after departure. A replacement Canadair CRJ-900 registration N134EV reached Savannah with a delay of about 5:45 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 22 hours after landing at JFK. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=50e5e904&opt=0 Incident: Ethiopian B788 at Delhi on Sep 13th 2023, smoke on board An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8, registration ET-AOR performing flight ET-687 from Delhi (India) to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), was climbing out of Delhi's runway 10 when the crew stopped the climb at FL070 due to smoke on board and returned to Delhi for a safe landing on runway 10 about 15 minuntes after departure. A passenger reported there was smoke in the cabin. Airport sources reported the crew reported smoke in the cockpit. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Delhi about 40 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=50e5e592&opt=0 Malaysia fatal plane crash: pilot qualified to fly airworthy jet, initial report says • There is no evidence the flight crew on the plane were incapacitated or had physiological issues, Malaysian aviation authorities say • The crash killed 10 people as further investigation hinges on the release of the last 30 minutes of the cockpit’s voice recording The preliminary findings of the investigation into the August 17 crash of the Beechcraft Model 390 Premier 1 en route from Langkawi to Subang in Malaysia state that the pilot was qualified for the flight in accordance with regulations. In a preliminary report released on Friday, the Transport Ministry’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said the aircraft also had a valid airworthiness certificate, and “had been maintained in compliance with the regulations”. It added that there was no evidence of incapacitation or physiological factors that affected the flight crew’s performance. However, no transcript of the last 30 minutes of the voice recording from the cockpit was released, even though the recovery of data from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was successful. “Initial analysis of the recovered CVR recording has provided critical leads to uncovering the cause of the accident, with a focus on the aircraft flight control systems. “Results from the pending inspection and examination of the related aircraft parts and components at the (US) National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) and OEM laboratories are necessary to provide collaborative and/or conclusive evidence in establishing the cause of the accident,” the report added. In an accompanying statement, the Transport Ministry said the submission of the preliminary report within 30 days fulfils the standards of Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). “The ministry wishes to express its gratitude to NTSB and also Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) for help rendered to AAIB’s investigations through their respective accredited representatives, along with their technical advisers,” the statement read. The ministry also emphasised that the preliminary report is just an initial finding that is believed to be accurate up to the moment of publication. “This report contains statements of facts which have been determined up to the time of issue. “It must be regarded as tentative, and is subject to alteration or correction if additional evidence becomes available,” it added. The update on the investigation will hinge heavily upon the 30-minute voice recording from the CVR. A man believed to be from Malaysia is being held in Norway on suspicion of spying. Photo: Shutterstock The incident claimed the lives of 10 people when the light aircraft crashed during fine weather on August 17. Eight of the victims were six passengers and two crew aboard the aircraft, while the other two were in a car and on a motorcycle who happened to be on the road in front of the Elmina township at Shah Alam, Selangor. The passengers included Pahang local government, housing, environment and green technology committee chairman Johari Harun. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3234640/malaysia-fatal-plane-crash-pilot-qualified-fly-airworthy-jet-initial-report-says Private jet skids off Mumbai airport, breaks apart: What we know so far • A nine-seater Learjet 45 VT-DBL belonging to VSR Ventures skidded off the runway at Mumbai airport on Thursday while landing amid heavy rain. While no casualties have been reported thus far, the two pilots of the jet are said to be in critical condition • Private jet skids off Mumbai airport, breaks apart: What we know so far CCTV footage shows the plane slamming into the ground and the body of the aircraft skidding for a bit before breaking up. ANI A private plane with eight people on board skidded off the runway at the Mumbai airport while landing on Thursday. The incident occurred in the backdrop of Mumbai witnessing heavy rains. While no casualties have been reported thus far, the two pilots are said to be in critical condition. The six passengers on board are also injured. https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/private-jet-skids-off-mumbai-airport-breaks-apart-what-we-know-so-far-13124572.html Russian Civil Aviation Chief Dismissed Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has dismissed the head of state civil aviation agency Rosaviatsia, the government’s press service announced Friday. Alexander Neradko will leave his post as director of Rosaviatsia and will be replaced by his deputy, Dmitry Yadorov. No official reason has been given for Neradko’s departure. In May 2022, he was reprimanded by the government for Rosavatsia’s failure to carry out instructions from the government and Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev. Russia’s aviation sector has been hit hard by Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, cutting off supplies of new airplanes and parts needed for repairs. In March 2022, Russia seized $10 billion worth of aircraft leased from Western companies. Nerakdo said in February 2023 that Western-origin aircraft would be able to continue flying safely until 2030 if properly maintained, according to the RBC news website. Since being banned from flying in EU airspace, Russian airlines only fly to a restricting list of so-called “friendly” countries, otherwise they risk their aircraft being impounded. Neradko had been head of Rosaviatsia since 2009. Before that, he occupied roles in the Transport Ministry. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/09/15/russian-civil-aviation-chief-dismissed-a82475 FAA investigating after plane forced to pull up out of descent at Logan Airport The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a United Airlines pilot was forced to pull up mid-descent due to a plane still on the runway at Boston’s Logan Airport, a maneuver authorities are calling a “go-around.” The incident happened Monday, Sept. 11 at about 10:45 p.m. when an air traffic controller instructed United Airlines flight 2267 to pull up from its descent due to a previous flight still on the runway, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson. The go-around was described as a “safe, routine” procedure performed “at the discretion” of a pilot or an air traffic controller, according to the FAA. Read more: Winthrop man dies after forklift falls on top of him at Boston’s Logan Airport “To an airline passenger, the event may seem like an emergency maneuver,” the spokesperson said. “However, the controller and pilot are working together to prevent an unsafe condition from occurring.” A United Airlines spokesperson referred questions to the FAA. A passenger on the United flight spoke with Boston 25 and described the incident. “People on the plane gasped at the rapid pull-up and the roar of the engines as the rapid change in speed and trajectory pushed us backward into our seats and we saw the tarmac and land rapidly disappear under us,” the passenger said. “Once we were back high in the sky circling, the pilot came on the loudspeaker and said something like, ‘The runway... uh... was not able to be cleared of planes in time for us... uh.... we had to pull up and will circle for a bit and land shortly.’” The news outlet also obtained a recording of the air traffic controller telling the pilot: “Sorry about that. An aircraft was still on the runway.” The FAA awarded Logan Airport with $44.9 million in new funding to reduce the chances of “close calls” on runways. The funding will go towards simplifying taxiways and installing new lighting systems, among other improvements. Last month, a subcontractor for JetBlue died while using a forklift at the airport. A GoFundMe is raising money for the family of Raul Santiago, 31, after his death on Aug. 29. In mid-August, the FAA announced it would launch an investigation after a close call between two planes nearly collided. On Aug. 14, an American Airlines flight was told to stay grounded after nearly being struck by a Spirit Airlines plane. The incident on Aug. 14 was at least the fourth close call at Logan Airport this year. Back in February, a small private jet almost crashed with a JetBlue plane on the runway. The JetBlue pilot managed to evade the other plane. Read more: Naruto ninja knife set confiscated at Boston Logan Airport, TSA says Then in March, two United Airlines planes hit one another in a minor collision as one plane was being dragged to its gate just before takeoff. No injuries were reported. In June, another United flight clipped the tail of a Delta plane while taxiing at a low speed, 7News reported. No one was hurt despite passengers being onboard both planes. https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/09/faa-investigating-after-plane-forced-to-pull-up-out-of-descent-at-logan-airport.html Airbus ‘will be ready’ to develop hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035 goal: CEO Airbus executives are increasingly optimistic the company can bring a hydrogen-powered aircraft to market in the mid-2030s and plan within several years to settle on the best propulsion architecture for such an aircraft. “The bottlenecks are no longer in the technology of the plane,” Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury said on 12 September during an aerospace event in Washington DC. “We strongly believe that we will be ready by 2035 with a hydrogen plane. The technology will be ready.” Airbus in 2020 revealed three hydrogen-powered aircraft concepts as part of its ZEROe programme, and said it aimed to bring one to market by 2035. Airbus in 2020 unveiled three clean-sheet design concepts for hydrogen-powered aircraft it is targeting for 2035 service entry The European manufacturer is among several industry players that think hydrogen-powered aircraft could be viable in the coming years. Hydrogen emits only water when burned or used to produce electricity, giving it promise as a means by which the aviation industry can cut carbon emissions. Due to notable challenges, however, other players like Boeing doubt such designs will be ready in the near term. Airbus Americas CEO Jeffrey Knittel says several years of evaluation has left Airbus more sure of the technology. “We’re going to make a decision on whether it’s a fuel cell or a [direct-burn propulsion system]” in 2026 or 2027, Knittel says. “We will make a decision on production at that point in time.” Executives stress that, optimism aside, Airbus has not committed to developing a hydrogen-powered passenger airliner, saying the decision depends on factors partly or largely outside the company’s control. Those include unclear regulatory and certification standards, the need for hydrogen transportation and storage infrastructure, and the availability – at the “right price” – of green hydrogen produced using renewable electricity: “That’s going to be where the challenge lies,” Faury says. Knittel says any initial hydrogen-powered aircraft would likely be on the “smaller” side, and that “long range” is among the toughest “challenges” associated with hydrogen propulsion. Hydrogen has worse volumetric energy density than jet fuel, with four times the volume per energy unit. That means a hydrogen aircraft would need to carry more fuel than a conventionally powered aircraft to achieve the same range. The two types of hydrogen-propulsion architectures under study by Airbus include a fuel cell system, which uses hydrogen to create electricity, and engines that directly burn hydrogen. Airbus is developing the hydrogen-powered concepts at the same time it is working on development of a “relatively conventional” jet to replace the A320neo family of aircraft, the company’s chief commercial officer Christian Scherer said in June. Airbus’s three ZEROe concepts include a 2,000nm (3,704km)-range blended-wing-body aircraft with seating for up to 200 passengers, a conventional-looking 200-passenger narrowbody aircraft with hydrogen-burning gas turbines and 2,000nm range, and a 100-passenger, 1,000nm-range turboprop, potentially powered by fuel cells. https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/airbus-will-be-ready-to-develop-hydrogen-powered-aircraft-by-2035-goal-ceo/154962.article Pilots participating in 2023 Balloon Fiesta face a new requirement ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – All of the more than 500 pilots who are expected to participate in the 2023 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta were required to take an extra step before they were approved to be a part of the event this year. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires commercial hot-air balloon pilots to hold a second-class medical certificate while flying passengers, like commercial airplanes and helicopter pilots. The rule was adopted in November of 2022 to increase safety. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta took safety requirements a step further by also requiring pilots who stay static on the ground to have a second-class medical certificate, which the FAA does not require. “Balloon Fiesta went ahead and made sure that every pilot who receives an invitation to fly at Balloon Fiesta has the proper paperwork to participate in all the events,” said Tom Garrity, spokesperson for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. New special shape balloons to keep an eye out for at the 51st Balloon Fiesta Commercial balloon pilots were previously exempt from the FAA medical certification requirement. In 2018, Congress directed the FAA to revise the medical certification standards for commercial balloon pilots. The rule also addressed a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation that the FAA remove the exemption. NTSB first made the recommendation for balloon pilot medical certificates after a hot air balloon carrying 16 people including the pilot crashed into power lines outside Lockhart, Texas, in July 2016, killing all aboard. NTSB said investigators found that the FAA did not detect the pilot’s history of drug and alcohol convictions for nearly 30 years. A similar incident happened in Albuquerque in June 2021 when a pilot and four passengers died when the pilot failed to clear power lines and crashed. A report from NTSB said the pilot’s use of impairing and illicit drugs contributed to the fatal accident. https://www.krqe.com/news/balloon-fiesta/pilots-participating-in-2023-balloon-fiesta-face-new-requirement/ Spirit Airlines adds new university partner to beef up pilot training pipeline as shortage persists KEY POINTS • Spirit Airlines announced its pilot training pipeline program is coming to Liberty University. • The school is the 10th partner for the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program. • The industry is facing a shortfall of aviators and other airlines have also moved to train more pilots. Spirit Airlines on Thursday said it will partner with Liberty University, the 10th school that it’s working with, to help beef up a pilot training pipeline as the industry continues to face a shortfall of aviators. The program will allow students pursuing aviation degrees at the university’s School of Aeronautics in Lynchburg, Virginia, to apply to the company’s pipeline program after completing their sophomore year. Prospective trainees will need a recommendation from a faculty member before being eligible to begin the program. Students working toward an aviation degree can get conditional job offers as they finish their studies and work on accruing flight hours. They must then complete airline pilot training programs, joining as first officers. “We put a lot of hard work into developing the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway Program and assembling a great group of partners making it incredibly rewarding to reach this key milestone,” Ryan Rodosta, senior director of flight operations and system chief pilot at Spirit, said in a press release. Other carriers have also sought to increase their supply of new pilots. U.S. commercial airline pilots can only fly until age 65 under U.S. law. A surge in retirements and buyouts during the Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated a shortfall, particularly at regional carriers. JetBlue announced last month that its Gateway Rotor Transition Program will teach U.S.-military trained helicopter pilots to transition to airline pilots. More than 10% of JetBlue’s new pilot hires in 2023 are expected to come from one of its Gateway programs, JetBlue said at the time. In February 2020, United Airlines purchased a flight academy in an effort to hire more than 10,000 new pilots within the decade. Airlines are incentivized to train new pilots using pipeline programs. U.S. law requires pilots to receive 1,500 hours of training to fly with commercial airlines. Exceptions exist for some, such as U.S. military-trained pilots and those who attend two- and four-year programs that include flight training. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/14/spirit-airlines-expands-pilot-training-pipeline-with-liberty-university.html GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST I started my academic career with a BSc. in Aviation Management at Florida Institute of Technology and graduated in 2005. After relocating to Europe and completing the ATPL training, I started flying the B737NG for a scheduled low-cost carrier for four years. Afterwards, relocating to Dubai to fly for a major long-haul airline on the B777 for 8.5 years. In 2020 relocated to the UK to fly for a British long-haul airline. During Covid while there wasn't any flying, I started the MSc. in Aviation Safety, Risk Management and Regulation studies with Cranfield University and I am currently working on my thesis to complete the master's program. My thesis looks at Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) and the overall effectiveness that FRMS has achieved so far. It intends to focus on organisational factors within the operators and regulators to identify those factors that contribute to implementing an effective FRMS. The survey is targeted for pilots that are actively flying (either long or short-haul) and would like to share their experiences with the FRMS within their organisation. It is a short survey and should take no longer than two to three minutes of your time. I will hugely appreciate everyone's feedback. Survey Link: https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4UdHcIxHD4Wweb4 Kind regards, Erdem Serifoglu Curt Lewis