Flight Safety Information - September 19, 2023 No. 181 In This Issue : Incident: American A321 at Orlando on Sep 17th 2023, bird strike : Incident: Spirit A320 at Memphis on Sep 18th 2023, bird strike : Incident: ATI B763 at Cincinnati on Sep 16th 2023, rejected takeoff due to engine fire : Incident: Virgin Atlantic B789 near Stornoway on Sep 17th 2023, fuel system fault : Incident: Austrian B772 enroute on Sep 15th 2023, hydraulic failure : Debris found from F-35 jet in South Carolina after US pilot ejected : Marine Corps leader orders safety stand-down of all aircraft after F-35 disappearance : TSA officers at Philadelphia International Airport stop flight attendant with a loaded gun : Training Chinese Military Pilots Is Now A Criminal Offensive? UK Issues Strong Statement For Veterans (UK) : British Airways Opens Applications For Fully-Paid Pilot Training Scheme : FAA hosting three-day drone event in northern New Mexico : GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST Incident: American A321 at Orlando on Sep 17th 2023, bird strike An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N930AU performing flight AA-2077 from Charlotte,NC to Orlando,FL (USA), was on approach to Orlando's runway 35R when a bird impacted the radome of the aircraft. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The aircraft is still on the ground in Orlando about 24 hours after landing. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD DAMAGING RADOME, ORLANDO, FL." https://avherald.com/h?article=50e8bd1a&opt=0 Incident: Spirit A320 at Memphis on Sep 18th 2023, bird strike A Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N692NK performing flight NK-2866 (dep Sep 17th) from Orlando,FL to Memphis,TN (USA), was on final approach to Memphis' runway 36L when the crew reported they had just lost their captain's side instruments. The aircraft continued for a safe landing, after landing the crew reported they had lost the captain's airspeed which went down by about 40 knots and received several other system faults. The aircraft was able to vacate the runway and taxi to the apron. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD DAMAGING INSTRUMENTATION INSIDE THE COCKPIT ON THE CAPTAIN'S SIDE, MEMPHIS, TN." The aircraft is still on the ground in Memphis about 10.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=50e8bc02&opt=0 Incident: Virgin Atlantic B789 near Stornoway on Sep 17th 2023, fuel system fault A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9, registration G-VDIA performing flight VS-23 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 50nm southsouthwest of Stornoway,SC (UK) when the crew decided to return to London Heathrow due to a fault in the fuel system. The aircraft landed safely back on Heathrow's runway 09L about 90 minutes after turning around. The airline reported the aircraft returned due to a technical issue. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in London about 19 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=50e8adad&opt=0 Incident: Austrian B772 enroute on Sep 15th 2023, hydraulic failure An Austrian Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration OE-LPD performing flight OS-65 from Vienna (Austria) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was enroute at FL340 over the North Sea about 110nm southwest of Bergen (Norway) when the crew decided to return to Vienna due to a hydraulic failure. The aircraft climbed to FL350 for the way back and landed safely on Vienna's runway 16 about 110 minutes after turning around. An observer on the ground reported the aircraft was received by a lot of emergency vehicles while taxiing to an outer position of the apron, passengers subsequently were bussed to the terminal. The rotation was cancelled. The airline confirmed that about 2 hours into the flight a defect in one of the three hydraulic systems occurred, as a precaution and due to better maintenance availability the aircraft returned to Vienna. The passengers were rebooked onto other flights. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 45 hours after landing back in Vienna. https://avherald.com/h?article=50e8a483&opt=0 Debris found from F-35 jet in South Carolina after US pilot ejected Military officials have found the debris of an F-35 military jet that went missing after the pilot ejected over South Carolina. The debris of the $100m (£80m) plane - which disappeared on Sunday afternoon - was discovered in rural Williamsburg County, said authorities. The pilot ejected from the cockpit and parachuted to safety in a North Charleston neighbourhood. The public had been asked to help find the jet. In a statement on Monday, military officials said the debris was found "two hours north-east of Joint Base Charleston". Officials had focused their searches around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, north of the city of Charleston - the jet's last known location. The debris found has been confirmed as the wreckage of the missing plane, a military spokesperson told the BBC. Officials said the aircraft was involved in a "mishap" which they are currently investigating but did not offer details of what the mishap was. The public has been asked to keep away from the area to allow investigators to do their work. The fighter jet was left in autopilot mode when the pilot ejected, a spokesman at Joint Base Charleston told NBC News, adding that it may have been airborne for some time, complicating its discovery. "A plausible sequence of events is that when the pilot ejected, the electronics for the transponder were fried and thus the military was no longer able to track its location," JJ Gertler, a senior analyst at the Teal Group, a defence consultancy, told the BBC during the search for the plane. "The entire cockpit would have been subjected to rocket exhaust and so all of the electronics, the chips, may well have not survived that, including the system that signals where the airplane is," Mr Gertler said. "If it did go into water, that signal would not be able to be found," he added.Mr Gutler said it is possible that the aircraft continued flying after the pilot ejected but that it was "extremely unlikely" due to "the damage the aircraft would have received from the ejection seat" and "the change in aerodynamics when the canopy is gone". The plane belonged to the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which works to train pilots, CNN reported. A second F-35 flying at the same time returned safely to base. Joint Base Charleston had posted on X - formerly Twitter - asking the public for help to find the aircraft. The request led to mockery online and criticism from lawmakers. Nancy Mace, a Republican congresswoman for South Carolina, asked on X, formerly Twitter: "How in the hell do you lose an F-35? "How is there not a tracking device and we're asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?" The aircraft is a stealth jet - meaning its airframe, sensors and systems are designed to operate undetected by enemy radar. Earlier on Monday, the US Marine Corps announced a two-day pause in air operations throughout the military branch this week. A Marine Corps press release on Monday said officials plan to "discuss aviation safety matters and best practices" sometime this week."During the safety stand down, aviation commanders will lead discussions with their Marines focusing on the fundamentals of safe flight operations," said the press release. In 2018, the US military temporarily grounded its entire fleet of F-35 jets after a crash in South Carolina. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66850422 Marine Corps leader orders safety stand-down of all aircraft after F-35 disappearance Any Marine aircraft deployed abroad or with imminent missions can delay the order briefly, but all are expected to stand down for two days this week. WASHINGTON — All Marine Corps aircraft, inside and outside the U.S., were grounded Monday after a stealth F-35 jet mysteriously disappeared in South Carolina, according to an order issued by Gen. Eric Smith, the acting commandant of the Marines. Marine aircraft deployed abroad or with imminent missions can delay the order briefly but are expected to stand down for two days this week, officials said. The Pentagon said in a statement that the pause in operations would allow units “to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices.” Marine leadership will use the stand down "to ensure the service is maintaining operational standardization of combat-ready aircraft with well-prepared pilots and crews.” “During the safety stand down, aviation commanders will lead discussions with their Marines focusing on the fundamentals of safe flight operations, ground safety, maintenance and flight procedures, and maintaining combat readiness,” the statement said. The Marines and Joint Base Charleston, an air base in North Charleston, South Carolina, were working Sunday to locate an F-35B Lightning II jet — with a price tag of about $80 million — after the pilot safely ejected from the aircraft. He was in stable condition Monday at a medical center, a spokesperson for the air base said. Officials said Monday evening that a debris field had been located about two and a half hours northeast of the base. Two defense officials said Monday that although the jet was on autopilot when the pilot ejected, it does not have the range or ability to fly for such a long period without refueling. It remained unclear what caused the pilot to eject. Retired Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, a former NATO supreme allied commander and F-16 pilot, said the military maintains a "very structured approach to an accident investigation." He noted that a stand-down is not unusual after such an incident. The Marines will likely create an investigatory body to immediately start gathering evidence and a longer-term group of aircraft investigators will tackle the larger scope of human, operational and maintenance factors, he said. "Once they interview the pilot, we'll pretty much know everything," said Breedlove, who is a trained aircraft investigator. "Since he lived, there's no use in the conjecture piece of this. They'll know exactly what happened very quickly, and I would caution everybody wait rather than get speculating." Breedlove emphasized that the F-35 has a "phenomenal" safety record. The decision to stand-down all aircraft also comes after two deadly Marine Corps crashes last month. An F-18 pilot died during a training flight near San Diego, and three Marines died and more were wounded when an Osprey crashed off the coast of Australia. The Pentagon noted the two previous accidents in its statement Monday. Marines with VMFAT-501 and VMGR-252 conduct a FARP An F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 lands at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field in Bogue, N.C., on Nov. 18, 2021.Lance Cpl. Lauren Salmon / U.S. Marine Corps Joint Base Charleston said in a statement that it was coordinating its search efforts with the Marines and the Navy. It was also working with the FAA, Civil Air Patrol and local law enforcement across South Carolina, using "both ground and air assets" to aid in the search. The jet belongs to one of the training squadrons in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the major East Coast aviation unit of the U.S. Marine Corps. “The search-and-recovery efforts for the aircraft are ongoing, and we are thankful to the agencies assisting in this effort,” Capt. Joe Leitner, the spokesperson for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, said. “The mishap is currently under investigation.” It remains unclear why the Marines and federal authorities have been unable to track the aircraft, which carries some of the most elite technology and software procured by the federal government. That has rankled some members of Congress who have criticized the cost of the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter program, the Pentagon's most expensive weapon system program to date. "I think the problem with tracking it is it's stealthy — it's supposed to be invisible," said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a national security think tank. "If some civilian airport were tracking it, that would be a problem." Cancian noted, however, that the F-35 has been "a very controversial program" because of its cost. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., likened the program to a financial "rathole" in 2021 during a virtual event at the Brookings Institution. His office declined to comment Monday. “What does the F-35 give us?” asked Smith, who was then serving as chairman of the House Armed Services. “Is there a way to cut our losses? Is there a way to not keep spending so much money for such a low capability? Because the sustainment costs are brutal.” The Department of Defense expects to spend $1.7 trillion to buy, operate and sustain the aircraft and its systems over its lifetime, according to a Government Accountability Office report published in May. The program's procurement costs have also increased by $13.4 billion since the last estimate was made in 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/marine-leader-orders-safety-stand-aircraft-f-35-disappearance-rcna105602 TSA officers at Philadelphia International Airport stop flight attendant with a loaded gun TSA aware of possible insider threats, stops second “insider” with a gun in two weeks PHILADELPHIA – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Philadelphia International Airport prevented a flight attendant from boarding a plane with a loaded .380 caliber handgun on Friday, Sept. 15, two weeks after they prevented a man who worked at one of the airport retail concession shops from bringing his loaded handgun through the security checkpoint. Both individuals were arrested by police. “We are always on the alert for any possible insider threats,” explained Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “Both of these were good catches on the part of our team. Flight attendants and workers inside the terminal have insider knowledge and access to areas of the airport and aircraft that could pose a serious security threat. These are excellent examples of why it remains important that airline employees and individuals who work in airports need to be screened before gaining access to secure areas of the airport.” The flight attendant, a resident of Arizona, was caught as the woman entered the security checkpoint to work on a flight. In addition to being arrested by police, she also faces a Federal financial penalty for carrying a gun to a checkpoint. “It is well known publicly that passengers are not permitted to carry their firearms through our security checkpoints,” said Christine Assili, TSA’s Deputy Federal Security Director for the airport. “But it is equally important that the public is aware that individuals who work at the airport also are not permitted to be in possession of a gun. We are equally focused on screening employees as well as travelers.” TSA officers at Philadelphia Interntional Airport also stopped a man from North Carolina with a loaded 9mm handgun on Saturday, Sept. 16. His gun was confiscated by police, who arrested the man. He also faces a Federal financial civil penalty. Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to individuals who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to individuals with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried through a checkpoint. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges. TSA reminds passengers to always know the contents of their carry-on bag prior to coming to the security checkpoint. TSA has multiple resources available to passengers to help them determine whether an item is permitted in carry-on baggage, checked baggage, either or neither. Travelers can use the “Can I Bring?” feature on the TSA website or on the free downloadable myTSA app. Travelers can also tweet to @AskTSA or send a text message (275-872) if they have a travel question or are unsure if an item is allowed through security in a carry-on bag. Just snap a picture or send a question and get real-time assistance. https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2023/09/18/tsa-officers-philadelphia-international-airport-stop-flight Training Chinese Military Pilots Is Now A Criminal Offensive? UK Issues Strong Statement For Veterans (UK) The United Kingdom has issued a strong statement, asserting that former British armed forces personnel training Chinese pilots will be held legally accountable and could potentially face prosecution for sharing military tactics with a foreign country. This action aligns with a broader trend observed in Western nations, where stricter rules and regulations are being implemented to prevent their respective former military personnel from providing training to the Chinese military. In October 2022, it came to light that several ex-RAF, Royal Navy, and Army pilots had been training the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force. These pilots had entered into contracts through a South African company, enticed by salaries averaging around £250,000. It was reported that approximately 30 of them had relocated to China to deliver this training. This disclosure raised concerns that former British pilots were assisting the Chinese military in gaining insights into Western tactics, possibly providing the People’s Liberation Army with knowledge that could be used to target and intercept the aircraft of Britain and its allies. In response to these revelations, the country’s Ministry of Defense, at the time, declared plans to amend the law, rendering such activities illegal and subject to potential prosecution. On September 17, the UK MoD officially announced that former Armed Forces personnel who provide training to foreign militaries could anticipate facing prosecution under newly established offenses within the National Security Act. The National Security Act, enacted in July of this year, incorporates a range of new measures to modernize counter-espionage laws and address the evolving threats to UK national security. More precisely, the act incorporates an offense related to “obtaining or disclosing protected information,” with the definition of “information” encompassing tactics, techniques, and procedures. The Ministry stated that if pilots were suspected of sharing sensitive information with foreign powers, it would forward the relevant details to the police for further investigation. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said, “Anyone found to be acting against the UK’s interests by training our competitors’ militaries can now expect to be pursued and brought to justice.” “The government has acted decisively following the identification of this threat and has made rapid changes to legislation to help shut it down,” he added. Efforts to Counteract China’s Espionage Activities This move comes when there is serious concern in Westminster following the disclosure that a parliamentary researcher, who had connections with several senior Conservative MPs, has been apprehended on suspicion of espionage for China. In answer to a report from Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee on China, the UK government has recently acknowledged that Chinese recruitment programs have actively sought to target British and allied nationals holding key positions and possessing sensitive knowledge and experience. This includes individuals from the government, the military, various industries, and broader society. The development has also raised concerns for the United States and its allied countries, which are intensifying their efforts to counter China’s covert activities within their borders. Apart from the UK, the most senior general in the US military recently warned American airmen about the Chinese military’s interest in leveraging their knowledge and expertise to address gaps in their military capabilities. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown emphasized that by effectively training foreign military personnel, many individuals accepting contracts with these foreign companies are undermining national security, jeopardizing the safety of fellow service members and the nation, and potentially violating the law. RAF practices rapidly relocating fighter jets for defence of UK airspace | Royal Air Force Royal Air Force Countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand have taken measures to prevent former military pilots from providing their expertise to Beijing. Furthermore, a former US fighter pilot has faced indictment over allegations that he was training Chinese pilots in aircraft carrier landings, a skill he acquired during his military training. He denied these allegations, contending that he was instructing Chinese civilian pilots looking to enhance their skills. Two Navy sailors were arrested and indicted for purportedly transmitting classified information to Chinese intelligence officers. The UK Government has noted that its new legislation is intended to create a more challenging operational environment within the UK for individuals acting on behalf of foreign powers in ways that threaten the safety or interests of the country. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/training-chinese-military-pilots-is-now-a-punishable-offensive/ British Airways Opens Applications For Fully-Paid Pilot Training Scheme Creating a diverse group of pilots is essential to British Airways, and the airline is working with Fantasy Wings to reach its goals. SUMMARY • British Airways is offering to cover the training cost of 60 pilots annually in an effort to make pilot training more accessible and attract top talent. • The airline is focusing on diversity and working with organizations to promote the training opportunity to people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, other communities, and young women. • Applicants must meet certain requirements including having at least six GCSEs, meeting physical requirements, and passing a medical exam. Applications will only be open for seven days. • British Airways has launched a massive program that will cover the total training cost of 60 recruits every year. The airline hopes to widen its applicant pool by making the training process more accessible. Investing in future pilots It goes without saying that the aviation industry is crucial to society. Every month, millions depend on aircraft to travel for holidays, business, visiting loved ones, and other occasions. The world also relies on airplanes for cargo transport, whether for Amazon purchases or groceries. Analyzing the market and costs, British Airways has decided to make pilot training more accessible for its future pilots. British Airways is a massive global airline and the flag carrier of the UK, operating for more than 100 years. Almost 4,000 pilots are employed by British Airways, and the airline is growing. A few months ago, British Airways announced it would launch a program that would fully fund the training of up to 60 pilots annually. As of today, the program is officially open. “Our aim is to attract the very best talent out there for our future generation of pilots. Whether someone is just leaving school or embarking on a second career they never thought possible, we’re levelling the playing field by removing the initial training cost barrier to make a flying career more accessible to a wider range of people and giving everyone an equal chance." Sean Doyle, Chairman and CEO, British Airways As the airline expects the program to be in high demand, applications will remain open for just seven days, so those interested are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Focusing on diversity Creating a diverse group of pilots is essential to British Airways, and the airline is working with Fantasy Wings to reach its goals. Fantasy Wings is a leading organization for diversity in the aviation industry and will promote the training opportunity to people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, other communities, and young women. “I’m really proud to be flying for an airline offering this opportunity and would urge anyone who is interested in a highly rewarding career flying to destinations around the world to apply. I know there will be a lot of people who have never thought of being a pilot as a realistic option for them, but this cadet scheme changes that - and might just change your life.” - Hannah Vaughan, Senior First Officer, British Airways Vaughan stressed the importance of attracting the best applicants and removing the financial barrier many previously faced. Program requirements As Simple Flying reported earlier this summer, the program has some requirements, but none of which are beyond reach for most. A candidate must have at least six GCSEs to participate in the program. A GCSE is a general certificate of secondary education in a subject typically taken by students between the ages of 14-16. There are also physical requirements. All applications must be at least 5'2" and between the ages of 18-55 and pass a UK CAA Class 1 Medical Exam. https://simpleflying.com/british-airways-opens-applications-fully-paid-pilot-training-scheme/ FAA hosting three-day drone event in northern New Mexico ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (KRQE) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is bringing a three-day drone-focused event to Northern New Mexico College. The free event is for anyone interested in drones and for professionals looking to learn more about the industry. “This exciting event is a wonderful way to showcase both the educational value and the fun in drone technology, and we are grateful to the FAA for partnering with Northern to put it on for the community,” Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) President Hector Balderas said in a press release. “Northern has a history of supporting student success in the drone technology space, and we are excited to continue building interest in this and all STEM fields to create educational and career pathways for students and community members.” The event will begin September 21, 2023, at the school’s Center for the Arts (921 N. Paseo De Onate, Española, N.M.). The event will go through September 23, 2023. The first day will focus on education and career opportunities in the world of drones. Day two will focus on pilot and public safety. Day three will be a “drodeo” or drone rodeo. New Mexico Environment Department hosting rapid-hire event “New Mexico is a big rodeo place. This is fusing drones and our rodeo culture. It’s a way for the community to enjoy our campus and be introduced to drone technology,” NNMC Associate Professor David Lindblom said in a press release. “Rodeo also has a carnival aspect to it. The Drodeo will be a celebration of people having fun and also learning stuff.” Each day of the event, there will be drone shows. Attendees will have opportunities to talk to professionals and experience hands-on activities. You can register for the event at this link. https://www.krqe.com/news/community/faa-hosting-three-day-drone-event-in-northern-new-mexico/ 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