Flight Safety Information - October 6, 2023 No. 194 In This Issue : Incident: Gulf A320 at Bahrain on Oct 3rd 2023, loss of cabin pressure : Incident: United B39M at Denver on Sep 30th 2023, rejected takeoff due to engine fire : Learjet 45 - Runway Excursion (Mexico) : Putin Says Grenades Went Off on Prigozhin Jet, Hints at Drug Use : Analysis: Hunt for suspect jet engine parts spurs call for regulation : US Pilots Express Safety Concerns Amid Recent Incidents : Failure of single component caused Washington seaplane crash that killed 10, NTSB says : JSX blames American, Southwest for FAA’s safety review : Golden Oldies: 5 Airlines That Are Over 100 Years Old : Boeing signs civil aviation pact with Indonesia, as it opens new Jakarta office Incident: Gulf A320 at Bahrain on Oct 3rd 2023, loss of cabin pressure A Gulf Air Airbus A320-200, registration A9C-AD performing flight GF-183 from Bahrain (Bahrain) to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), was climbing through FL320 out of Bahrain's runway 30R when the crew initiated an emergency descent to 10,000 feet levelling off at 10,000 feet about 5 minutes later (average rate of descent 4,400 fpm) due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft returned to Bahrain for a safe landing on runway 30R about 50 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200 registration A9C-CF reached Jeddah with a delay of about 5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Bahrain about 8 hours after landing ba https://avherald.com/h?article=50f2cd6b&opt=0 Incident: United B39M at Denver on Sep 30th 2023, rejected takeoff due to engine fire A United Boeing 737-9 MAX, registration N37560 performing flight UA-329 from Denver,CO to Boston,MA (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from Denver's runway 16R when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed, in response to the radio transmission tower reported he could see fire from the left hand engine (LEAP). The crew affirmed and stopped the aircraft, subsequently reporting it appeared they had flat tyres on the right hand side and were disabled. The runway was closed, emergency services responded, tower cleared the crew to evacuate if needed stating "the runway is yours!" While emergency services were responding but had not yet reached the runway tower informed emergency services that they no longer observed any fire, it appears extinguished. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT ON DEPARTURE ROLL, ABORTED TAKEOFF DUE TO SMOKE AND FIRE UNDER RIGHT WING AND ARFF EXTINGUISHED FIRE, DENVER, CO." providing the aircraft tail number of the replacement aircraft registration N37541. Pictorial evidence shows fire damage to the right hand side of the aircraft, all four main tyres blown, the right hand main wheel rims abraded. A replacement Boeing 737-9 MAX registration N37541 reached Boston with a delay of about 5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=50f36b4c&opt=0 Learjet 45 - Runway Excursion (Mexico) Date: Wednesday 4 October 2023 Time: 17:33 UTC Type: Learjet 45 Owner/operator: AeroParadise Registration: XA-JAO MSN: 45-042 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 Aircraft damage: Substantial Category: Accident Location: El Lencero (MMJA) - Mexico Phase: Landing Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Tuxtla Gutiérrez-Francisco Sarabia National Airport (TGZ/MMTG) Destination airport: Xalapa-El Lencero Airport (JAL/MMJA) Narrative: A Learjet 45 corporate jet suffered a runway excursion after landing at El Lencero Airport. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/346255 Putin Says Grenades Went Off on Prigozhin Jet, Hints at Drug Use (Bloomberg) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said pieces of grenade were found in the bodies of Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and other mercenary leaders who died in a plane crash, as he hinted that the man who led an armed revolt against the Kremlin’s military leadership had been a drug user. “In the bodies of those who died in the air crash fragments of hand grenades were found,” Putin said Thursday at the annual meeting of the Valdai Club in the Black Sea city of Sochi, citing what he said were investigators’ findings. There was no evidence of an external impact on the aircraft, he added. “Unfortunately, they didn’t test for alcohol or narcotics in the blood of those who died,” Putin said. He went on to say that, in his view, investigators should have conducted such tests because security services “found not only $10 million in cash, but 5 kilograms of cocaine” after searching the Wagner Group’s offices in St. Petersburg. Prigozhin led a failed revolt in June aimed at ousting Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov after accusing them of repeated failures in Russia’s war in Ukraine and of seeking to “destroy” Wagner. His forces came to within 200 kilometers (124 miles) of Moscow before Prigozhin called off the rebellion that Putin said brought Russia to the brink of “civil war.” The US has said the plane crash that took place exactly two months later may have been an assassination approved by Putin himself, after the uprising that posed the greatest threat to his quarter-century rule. The Kremlin dismissed that suggestion as an “absolute lie.” Early US assessments indicated the jet may have been destroyed by a bomb, American officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. All 10 passengers and crew listed as having been onboard the Embraer SA Legacy 600 private jet, including some of Prigozhin’s top lieutenants, died when it crashed en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg on Aug. 23. https://news.yahoo.com/putin-says-grenades-went-off-182338366.html Analysis: Hunt for suspect jet engine parts spurs call for regulation PARIS/WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The family name on the signature approving the sale of a complex jet engine part might perhaps have rung alarm bells: Chirac. It accompanied the sale of a key component called a low-pressure turbine blade by a British distributor to a Florida firm in 2019 and aimed to show that the part, designed for the world's most widely used jet engine, the CFM56, was authentic. Four years later, engine maker CFM International, which supplies Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing (BA.N), has embarked on a worldwide hunt for thousands of parts with suspected false documentation from the same vendor - some of which have remained undetected for years. So far there are no reports of counterfeit parts and CFM - owned by GE Aerospace (GE.N) and France's Safran (SAF.PA) - says the problem involves apparently false declarations by nonexistent employees - like the approver identified as "Geoffrey Chirac," who shares a last name with a former French president. But it fears false paperwork can be used to pass off old parts as new or offload parts that lack the traceability needed to ensure they are safe. That has upset one of the world's most scrutinised industries and rekindled calls for extra regulation. "This is not a new issue in the industry. There have always been people wanting to make money out of aircraft parts," said Phil Seymour, president of UK-based aviation consultancy IBA. "The big issue here is that these parts have found their way into engines; that's the game-changer for me." According to CFM court documents, the alarm was first raised on June 21 when TAP Air Portugal's maintenance arm said it was worried about the documentation for a small part called a damper that it had acquired from UK distributor AOG Technics. "The part appeared to be older than represented," CFM said. The birth certificate that must accompany every aerospace part contained a false signature, it said in a freshly released court filing setting out the scale of the detective operation. Within 20 days, according to CFM, the same airline had found 24 forms from the same seller with "significant discrepancies." TAP could not immediately be reached for comment. By early September, more than 30 organisations worldwide had uncovered similar discrepancies, including China's regulator. AOG Technics could not be reached for comment. The company, whose registered office is in a modern block behind Buckingham Palace, told a UK court last month it was "fully co-operating" with investigations without commenting on CFM's claims. SELF-REGULATION So far, CFM says 126 engines are affected - a tiny fraction of the global fleet. The relevant parts are being replaced. But that number could rise as it trawls through documents handed over by AOG following a court order. And on Wednesday CFM said it had even bought some of the parts for its own premises. The search has shed light on an economically vital but relatively unregulated corner of the industry at a time when demand is soaring and shortages have driven up parts prices. While developers of aircraft parts are strictly regulated, and separate approval is needed to produce them, no formal permission is needed to set up warehouses to distribute them. "That's an area of regulation that needs to be looked at because most stockists self-certify," Seymour said. "They realise it's not in their interest to provide fake parts so they have their own quality systems and a lot of self-regulation, but no official regulatory approval." Any gaps in the industry's usually tight disciplines are also a potential area of concern for Western policymakers as they look to enforce sanctions against Russia - including for aircraft parts - over Ukraine, trading sources said. There have been no suggestions that AOG parts reached the black market. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration sets standards for third parties like the Aviation Suppliers Association and Transonic Aviation to accredit distributors. But the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General has called in the past for better oversight of distributors' voluntary system of self-evaluation. In one 2017 report, it detailed how tens of thousands of parts with bad paperwork were placed on eBay after they were bought by one individual from a bankrupt supplier. The FAA said it had fully implemented all OIG recommendations by 2019. The agency also runs a programme to help prevent "Suspected Unapproved Parts" from entering the system. "We have extensive guidance on how suppliers and maintenance facilities can prevent unapproved parts from being installed," a spokesperson said. The parts industry says such cases are extremely rare. "It's extremely difficult" for unapproved parts to enter the supply chain, said Michele Dickstein, president of ASA, which provides widely adopted accreditations and carries out about 400 audits a year. "This is a very mature industry. The people speak to each other, and they're well trained." AOG Technics has never been certified by ASA, she added. However, an archived version of Transonic Aviation’s website from June 4 names AOG as a client and lists its then-current certification number, which was set to expire on July 5. Transonic Aviation did not respond to a request for comment. Not everyone is ready to fault the system, whose myriad of real parts allows a CFM56 engine to take off every two seconds. "The jury's still out about what control was lost," said an official from one airline that found parts sold by AOG. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/hunt-suspect-jet-engine-parts-spurs-call-regulation-2023-10-05/ US Pilots Express Safety Concerns Amid Recent Incidents • Several pilots and some lawmakers are calling for the retirement age to be increased. SUMMARY • Experienced airline pilots are concerned about an uptick in close call incidents, citing staffing shortages and inadequate training for newer pilots. • The Let Experienced Pilots Fly organization warns that the situation could jeopardize the long-standing safety record in aviation. • The House has passed a bill that proposes raising the retirement age to 67, but a major pilot union opposes it. With the uptick in near-miss incidents in the aviation industry this year, experienced airline pilots in the US are sounding the alarm about the issue. Their concerns come as the holiday travel season quickly approaches. With the ongoing pilot shortage paired with record air travel, several pilots say air travel safety has been compromised. There have been at least six notable close-call incidents this year, but it has been reported that many more have occurred without being publicly shared. Staffing shortages An increased number of experienced airline captains are reportedly being forced into retirement at age 65, which has caused strain on airlines looking to fill the gap and affects training. Most carriers have struggled to attract and retain top-tier pilot candidates, leaving several pilots with shorter tenures being promoted. Members of the Let Experienced Pilots Fly organization said on Tuesday that “the situation is untenable” when “factoring in the loss of on-the-job training by more experienced pilots who mentor the less experienced pilots.” The organization said that it has witnessed a rapid growth of pilots moving into positions with greater responsibilities or tasks than their training and experience would traditionally allow. At least two pilots on the flight deck are mandated in current regulations, but it is becoming more common that both pilots have less combined experience in today’s environment. Maintaining the safety record While many pilots have retired due to their age, airlines have been simultaneously trying to meet the increased travel demand following the pandemic, resulting in several newer pilots being put into positions without being adequately trained or mentored. The organization said the situation could raise the risk of a catastrophic event. “We risk seeing an end to the historic, long-running safety record in aviation of no fatalities as a result of an aircraft incident. This is due to the (cumulative) growing danger of these circumstances and their impact on the system. When pilots are forced to retire at the top of their professional competency their skills, knowledge, experience, and leadership leaves with them.” The organization further explained that raising the retirement age of healthy and capable pilots by two years would solve the “growing danger” in air travel. The move would reportedly allow thousands of qualified pilots to continue flying and help mentor the next generation. Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act In July, the House passed a bill known as the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act that would extend the pilot retirement age to 67, but the outcome depends on a decision from the Senate, which voted on it last month, according to National Public Radio. Contrarily, The Air Line Pilots Association has opposed the bill and argued that it would introduce new safety risks, as it would not meet international standards. But, according to Smith Anglin, a Dallas, Texas-based wealth management firm, around 85% of all flights originating in the US are domestic. Additionally, Japanese pilots can be 68, while several other countries have no defined age limit. Senator Mark Kelly, who has flown four Space Shuttle missions, believes raising the retirement age would benefit the industry. “The national shortage of pilots has caused too many delays and disruptions for travelers across the country,” Kelly said in a statement obtained by Smith Anglin. “Our bipartisan legislation would allow experienced and highly skilled pilots to continue their careers past age 65, if they choose, which would help address staffing and travel challenges as we continue to strengthen the pilot pipeline.” https://simpleflying.com/us-pilots-express-safety-concerns-amid-recent-incidents/ Failure of single component caused Washington seaplane crash that killed 10, NTSB says FILE - A U.S. Coast Guard boat and Kitsap, Wash., County Sheriff boat search an area, Monday, Sept. 5, 2022, near Freeland, Wash., on Whidbey Island north of Seattle where a chartered floatplane crashed the day before, killing 10 people. On Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that a mechanical issue caused the seaplane to crash. SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. investigators have confirmed that a mechanical issue caused the seaplane crash that killed 10 people off an island in Washington state last year. The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigated the Sept. 4, 2022, crash, said Thursday that a single component of a critical flight control system failed, causing an unrecoverable, near-vertical descent into Puget Sound's Mutiny Bay near Whidbey Island. About 85% of the aircraft was recovered from the ocean floor several weeks after the crash. NTSB investigators examining the wreckage found that a component called an actuator, which moves the plane's horizontal tail and controls the airplane's pitch, had become disconnected. That failure would have made it impossible for the pilot to control the airplane. Evidence showed the failure happened before the crash, not as a result of it, investigators concluded. The plane was a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter turboprop operated by Renton-based Friday Harbor Seaplanes. It was headed to the Seattle suburb of Renton from Friday Harbor, a popular tourist destination in the San Juan Islands, when it abruptly fell into Mutiny Bay and sank. The pilot and all nine passengers died. Witnesses said, and video showed, that the plane had been level before climbing slightly and then falling, the NTSB said. “The Mutiny Bay accident is an incredibly painful reminder that a single point of failure can lead to catastrophe in our skies,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a news release. Weeks after the crash, the NTSB said the cause appeared to be the disconnected actuator and issued a recommendation that all operators of the DHC-3 planes immediately inspect that part of the flight control system. In early November, the FAA issued an emergency directive to operators mandating the inspections, The Seattle Times reported. The NTSB in its final report recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada require operators of those planes to install a secondary locking feature, so “this kind of tragedy never happens again,” Homendy said. Friday Harbor Seaplanes didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Thursday. Those who died in the crash include pilot Jason Winters, Sandy Williams of Spokane, Washington; Ross Mickel, his pregnant wife Lauren Hilty and their child Remy Mickel, of Medina, Washington; Joanne Mera of San Diego; Patricia Hicks of Spokane, Washington; Rebecca and Luke Ludwig, of Excelsior, Minnesota; and Gabrielle Hanna of Seattle. Lawsuits have been filed in King County Superior Court by the family members of the victims against the aircraft’s charter operator, Friday Harbor Seaplanes; as well as the DHC-3 Otter manufacturer, de Havilland Aircraft of Canada; and the plane’s certificate holder, Viking Air — saying they are responsible for the deaths. Nate Bingham, who is representing the Ludwigs’ families, said the plane crashed because of “an antiquated design with a single point of failure.” The companies have not responded to requests for comment about the lawsuits. Northwest Seaplanes said last year it was “heartbroken” over the crash and was working with the FAA, NTSB and Coast Guard. https://news.yahoo.com/failure-single-component-caused-washington-011046460.html JSX blames American, Southwest for FAA’s safety review JSX and other charter flyers that offer scheduled flights have been scrutinized for having different safety standards than airlines. A Dallas-based public charter jet service is accusing American Airlines and Southwest Airlines of pressuring federal regulators in an effort to undermine its business model, and is asking the flying public to fight back. JSX said in an email to customers that the broad review of public charter safety standards by the Federal Aviation Administration was triggered “under pressure” from American, Southwest and their labor unions in an effort to stymie competition. Its message to customers to act “right now” generated nearly 38,000 comments on the docket for the FAA review, a JSX spokesperson said. Some 100,000 people clicked on a link to send a support message to members of Congress. Among those supporting the effort: Airbnb Inc. co-cofounder Joe Gebbia, who posted on X that “JSX airline is under attack.” The push for changes “is not driven by a bona fide regulatory concern,” JSX chief executive Alex Wilcox said in an interview Thursday. “This is pure back-room politicking done by competitors out of complete self-interest.” Transportation Department and FAA regulators have declined to meet with JSX officials, he said. Southwest pushed back against JSX’s accusation, saying the carrier “supports the position of airline industry pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers who believe there needs to be one level of safety for anyone flying on a scheduled air carrier.” American made no immediate comment on the JSX concerns. In its email to passengers, JSX said its business model was at risk — and provided a link with prewritten text to lawmakers. “If these airlines and labor groups succeed, JSX will be forced out of business,” the email said. “They’re using unsubstantiated allegations about aviation safety to push for our shutdown out of greed.” Asked about JSX’s claims, the FAA said in an email that it would “thoroughly review all applicable comments we receive.” The Transportation Security Administration, which has also begun a related review, declined to comment. Fast growth Charter flight firms like JSX are growing in popularity with passengers, since they operate from private hangars without crowds and security lines, providing service similar to flying private but without the exorbitant price. Tougher federal safety or security regulations could threaten such businesses. The FAA’s notice said it is considering safety rule revisions because expansion of such carriers is “an increased risk to safety if left unchecked.” TSA subsequently said it would look at the charter operations from a security risk threat perspective. There are more than 1,800 charter air companies in the U.S., according to the U.S. Private Aviation Association. Fifty-three of those offer public charter service, according to the National Air Transportation Association. JSX operates 46 aircraft with 30 seats each and makes an average 80 daily flights. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said in statement that it wasn’t a surprise that JSX was scrambling after the TSA said it was investigating. “The entire premise of their business is to elude TSA security and all of the security measures put in place to keep people safe after 9/11,” she said. The Air Line Pilots Association agrees that flight security procedures should be uniform. “Airline passengers should be able to board a plane and trust that they have the same level of safety whether they are flying into a big city or a small town,” Jason Ambrosi, the association’s president, said in an email. “Closing the public charter loophole is necessary to ensure that U.S. airlines remain the safest in the world.” The union has led a push by aviation-industry labor groups to win changes in current regulations, an effort that started with opposition to an effort by SkyWest Inc., the largest U.S. regional airline, to operate a charter carrier under the same standards as JSX. TSA and others declined to discuss the specifics of security rules governing the charter companies, but they are not as stringent as those required for larger commercial airlines. JSX says it “far exceeds” safety, security and regulatory standards. Public charter carriers like JSX can use pilots who are older than 65, the required retirement age at larger airlines. The charter companies also don’t require the minimum 1,500 flying hours needed for a commercial pilot and don’t have to follow the same rules for required pilot rest as larger airlines. “Not once in our nine-year operating history has anyone at TSA, FAA or DOT ever raised any concern with the way in which we operate,” Wilcox said. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2023/10/05/jsx-blames-american-southwest-for-faas-safety-review/ Golden Oldies: 5 Airlines That Are Over 100 Years Old Three airlines celebrate the big birthday this year, but who else is on the list? Three airlines are celebrating their 100th birthdays this year. The new additions, by percentage, significantly increase the number of airlines over the age of one hundred, a group that has remained constant since its last new member rose to the esteemed rank three years ago. 5 Czech Airlines The newest member of the centenary club is Czech Airlines, which celebrates its milestone birthday on October 6th. The national airline of the Czech Republic was founded in 1923 as Czechoslovak State Airlines (CSA) and took its first flight a month later with a link from Prague to Bratislava in what is now Slovakia. In 1937, it moved its base to Prague Airport (then Ruzyně Airport), where it has remained ever since. When reached by Simple Flying for this piece, a spokesperson for Prauge's Václav Havel Airport highlighted their joint history and divulged some details on the anniversary: "It has been 100 years since the story of Czech Airlines began to be written, which is in many ways intertwined with the history of Prague Airport itself. Václav Havel Airport Prague is therefore happy to join the celebrations. "Visitors to Prague Airport can see the significant historical milestones of Czech Airlines at the 100 Years of Czech Aviation Exhibition, prepared by Václav Havel Airport Prague together with CSA. It will be located in the connecting hall between Terminal 1 and 2 and will be there until the end of the year. " Two gifts, a commemorative medal and a book, were created to mark the anniversary and can be acquired at the airport. The carrier has celebrated several achievements in the industry, including its role as a founding member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Czech Airlines also became the first airline in the world to fly a route exclusively with jets when it began serving Moscow using the Tu-104A variant w in 1957. 4 Aeroflot The oldest airline turning 100 this year is Aeroflot. The Russian flag carrier began in March 1923 when Soviet officials founded the Volunteer Association of the Aerial Fleet, also known as Dobrolet. Interstingly, two other Russian airlines were formed in the same year, but Aeroflot is the only one that remains. The carrier is unique for operating a fascinating mix of aircraft, many of which are designed in the country and have few external operators. At its peak, when it was acting as the flag carrier for the Soviet Union, it operated a fleet of 5,400 aircraft. Aeroflot was one of the rare supersonic passenger flight operators. The only airline to fly the Tupolev Tu-144, it used the aircraft initially for mail service before it was featured briefly on passenger routes in 1977. 3 Qantas The flag carrier of Australia began with a mission to connect remote communities and grew to become one of the most recognizable brands in the world, with a fleet of all-Boeing 747s by the 1980s. The Qantas name is short for its original title of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, which began operations with two small Avro biplanes in 1920. Services to Europe followed, aptly becoming known as the "Kangaroo Route" due to the frequent amount of stops, or hops, along the way. The airline has since retired its fleet of Boeing 747s but still flies the iconic Airbus A380 on its busy routes, including a service to London via Singapore. Qantas is set to make even more history in 2025 when the first Project Sunrise flights take place, connecting Sydney to New York and London with nonstop regular flights for the first time. 2 Avianca The Colombian Flag carrier was founded as SCADTA (The Colombia-German Air Transport Company) in December 1919. Based on Colombia's Caribbean coast in Barranquilla, the company revolutionized transport using its fleet of Junkers F-13 floatplanes to connect destinations that otherwise took weeks to reach on boat down the Amazon's tributaries. However, World War Two saw significant changes in the airline. It was partially nationalized and merged with a regional carrier to form Aerovias del Continente Americano (Airways of the American Continent), from which the Avianca acronym is derived. The airline now operates over 130 aircraft to more than 65 destinations worldwide, and its collective group of airlines is the second largest in South America. 1 KLM The oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name is KLM. The acronym is short for Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, which translates to Royal Dutch Airline. KLM is notable for many things, one being that King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands moonlights as a pilot for the company. The carrier was established in October 1919 and took to the skies the following year for its first service from Amsterdam, destined for London's Croydon Airport. The airline pioneered aviation and continues to be a significant force today. It was responsible for significant advances in the industry. It was an early leverager of the hub and spoke model that propelled Amsterdam to become one of the biggest and busiest airports in the world. Today, KLM is a part of one of the largest airline groups in the world and a member of the SkyTeam Alliance. Honorable Mention Turning 100 next month is Finnair. The flag carrier of Finland was founded on November 1st, 1923, and carried 269 passengers in its first year of operations. It was initially called Aero, leading to the carrier's airline code of AY, the Y representing a Finnish word for company. Other notable highlights for the airline include becoming the first airline in the world to operate a jet passenger aircraft with a Flight Crew of two instead of the usual three and a legacy of forty years flying across the North Pole to reach destinations in Asia. Next year brings the centenary celebrations for Tajik Air, the flag carrier of Tajikistan. Other major carriers, including British Airways, have predecessors with earlier starts but were formed quite later. https://simpleflying.com/airlines-over-100-years-old-list/#aeroflot Boeing signs civil aviation pact with Indonesia, as it opens new Jakarta office Boeing has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia related to civil aviation, as it opens a new permanent office in Jakarta. The MoU with Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) looks to help the country strengthen its aviation sector with a focus on flight safety, efficiency, and sustainability, says Boeing. “Indonesia is home to one of the world’s largest aviation markets,” says Zaid Alami, country managing director at Boeing Indonesia. “The MoU with Indonesia’s DGCA and the opening of Boeing’s new permanent office in Jakarta further demonstrates our commitment to Indonesia and our customers while laying a strong foundation for future growth.” The office opening follows Jakarta’s signing of an MoU in August to buy up to 24 F-15EX fighters. Should the deal be finalised, it will mark a major step for Boeing’s defence business in the region. Cirium fleets data suggests that Indonesia is also a critical market for the US airframer’s commercial arm, with 204 Boeing aircraft in service in the country, and another 45 in storage. In addition, Indonesian carriers have orders for 278 Boeing 737 Max-family narrowbodies; low-cost carrier Lion Air accounts for 229 of those orders, and Garuda Indonesia 49. The status of the Garuda order is unclear, however. Garuda had orders for 50 737 Max 8s and took delivery of one example before returning it to a lessor, and has previously stated that its commitment with Boeing has been terminated. But Boeing still lists Garuda has having 49 unfilled orders for the 737 Max. The carrier is also a major operator of the 737-800. An image that Boeing provided from the Jakarta office opening shows that Garuda chief executive Irfan Setiaputra was in attendance. Boeing has had a challenging time in Indonesia in recent years, following the crash of Lion Air 737 Max 8 on 29 October 2018, killing all 189 aboard. It was the first of two 737 Max crashes, which resulted in a lengthy grounding and a major redesign of the jet’s flight controls. https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/boeing-signs-civil-aviation-pact-with-indonesia-as-it-opens-new-jakarta-office/155247.article Curt Lewis