Flight Safety Information - October 9, 2023 No. 195 In This Issue : Incident: Ryanair B38M at Palma Mallorca on Oct 7th 2023, engine failure : Incident: Jazz CRJ9 at Montreal on Sep 30th 2023, burning odour in cockpit : Incident: Royal Maroc B738 at Marrakesh on Oct 5th 2023, runway incursion forces Ryanair climb over them : Private jet skids off runway at Steamboat Springs Airport : American Airlines pilot union calls for stopping flights to Israel, citing war : American Airlines Boeing 787 Returns To Santiago Amid Loss Of Cabin Pressure : Passengers Cheer As Intoxicated Man Removed From UK-Spain Flight : British Airways plane evacuated after passengers fall ill from ‘fumes’ on flight : Japan to allocate $205 million to support electric aircraft systems, Nikkei reports : Southern Airways Express Suing Pilots Who Quit, And It’s Messy Incident: Ryanair B38M at Palma Mallorca on Oct 7th 2023, engine failure A Ryanair Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration EI-IHJ performing flight FR-7185 from Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain) to Hamburg (Germany) with 201 people on board, was climbing out of Mallorca when the crew stopped the climb at FL290 and decided to return to Palma Mallorca and burn off fuel due to an engine (LEAP) failure. The aircraft landed safely back on Palma Mallorca's runway 24L about 80 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Mallorca about 25.5 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=50f6ac39&opt=0 Incident: Jazz CRJ9 at Montreal on Sep 30th 2023, burning odour in cockpit A Jazz Canadair CRJ-900, registration C-GJHZ performing flight QK-8094 from Montreal,QC to Sydney,NS (Canada), was climbing through 10,000 feet out of Montreal's runway 24L when the crew observed a burning odour in the cockpit, donned their oxygen masks and returned to Montreal for a safe landing on runway 24R about 18 minutes after departure. The Canadian TSB reported the source of the odour was an electrical connection at the left windshield. The windshield was replaced. https://avherald.com/h?article=50f51ea2&opt=0 Incident: Royal Maroc B738 at Marrakesh on Oct 5th 2023, runway incursion forces Ryanair climb over them A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800, registration CN-RGH performing flight AT-740 from Marrakesh (Morocco) to Paris Orly (France), was taxiing for departure from Marrakesh's runway 28 but crossed the hold short line on taxiway C1 without clearance at about 16:36L (15:36Z). The aircraft only stopped on the runway edge. At that very time a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EVA performing flight FR-1350 from Marrakesh (Morocco) to Nimes (France), was accelerating on Marrakesh's runway 10, cleared for takeoff. The aircraft climbed over CN-RGH out to safety and continued to Nimes without further incident. CN-RGH departed runway 28 about 5 minutes later. A listener on frequency reported a lot of screaming by the Moroccan crew could be heard on frequency with tower calming them stating that everything was recorded. ADS-B data suggest the Ryanair rotated about 650 meters/2150 feet before the intersection with taxiway C1 and crossed the intersection at a height of about 170 feet AGL. https://avherald.com/h?article=50f5d23c&opt=0 Private jet skids off runway at Steamboat Springs Airport There were no reported injuries after a HondaJet carrying a pilot and four passengers slid off the runway at Steamboat Springs Airport on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. A private jet carrying four passengers skidded off the runway Saturday afternoon after landing at the Steamboat Springs Airport. Airport Manager Stacie Fain said neither the pilot nor the four passengers were injured during the incident, which occurred at 2:40 p.m. “It appeared (the pilot) had some kind of issues with his brakes, and he skidded along the runway trying to hold it on and he slid off to the east of the runway,” Fain said. “There’s some damage to the gear and to the tires of the airplane, but everybody is fine.” Fain said the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the federal agency charged with investigating aviation accidents, responded to the incident and worked with airport staff and a mechanic to remove the aircraft, a HondaJet leased as a fractional share ownership jet, from the airfield. Officials reopened the runway at 7:30 p.m., according to Fain. https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/private-jet-skids-of-runway-at-steamboat-springs-airport/ American Airlines pilot union calls for stopping flights to Israel, citing war The pilots' union for American Airlines has directed its members to refuse to fly to Israel, citing the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza NEW YORK -- The pilots' union for American Airlines has directed its members to refuse to fly to Israel, citing the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza. Union President Ed Sicher said in an email to members that the company's pilots should not fly to Israel until they "can be reasonably assured of the region's safety and security.” The email cites the most recent advisory from the U.S. State Department, which warns that the current situation in Israel “continues to be unpredictable,” and that mortar and rocket fire can take place any time without warning, putting aircraft in danger. “It is not prudent or appropriate to knowingly put our flight crews and passengers in harm’s way by maintaining flights into a war zone,” Sicher said. Israel formally declared war Sunday as it bombarded the Gaza strip with airstrikes in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas. The declaration came a day after an unprecedented incursion by Hamas fighters, who blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a major Jewish holiday. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/american-airlines-pilot-union-calls-stopping-flights-israel-103822851 American Airlines Boeing 787 Returns To Santiago Amid Loss Of Cabin Pressure The aircraft landed safely approximately 75 minutes after departure. SUMMARY • An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was forced to return to Santiago due to a cabin pressurization event. The pilots safely landed the plane after dumping fuel. • The incident involved AA912, which was en route to Miami when the crew declared an emergency. The aircraft made an abrupt descent and returned to Santiago. • American Airlines is the world's largest airline by fleet size, operating 980 aircraft. They have 37 787-8s in service and are also the largest operator of this aircraft model. An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 (N816AA), operating between Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago and Miami International Airport (MIA) in Florida, was forced to return to SCL due to a cabin pressurization event. The aircraft was flying at cruising altitude when the flight crew performed a sudden descent. The pilots dumped excess fuel before landing safely nearly 75 minutes after departure. All passengers and crew onboard the flight were safe, and no casualties were reported. Loss of cabin pressure On October 6, American Airlines flight AA912, operated using the carrier’s 787-8 (N816AA/MSN 40634), was en route to MIA when the crew declared an emergency due to the loss of cabin pressure. The flight departed the gate nearly 15 minutes behind schedule at 22:09 local time. Data from FlightRadar24.com indicates that the aircraft completed its climb to the cruising altitude of 37,000 ft (11,275 m) and was flying at a speed of 520 knots (600 mph, 963 km/h). The altitude and speed lasted only three minutes when the pilots performed an abrupt descent to 9,000 ft (2,743 m). The aircraft descended 28,000 ft (8,535 m) in less than five minutes at an average rate of 5,600 ft (1,700 m) per minute. The aircraft made a 180-degree turn to return to Santiago. The aircraft then a level flight for over 30 minutes over water. The pilots dumped excess fuel to reduce the landing weight. It is noteworthy that fuel can be dumped at a much lower altitude when flying over water compared to inhabited land. The aircraft touched down on runway 17R at SCL approximately 75 minutes after departure. All passengers and crew onboard the aircraft were safe, and no injuries were reported. What was meant to be a nearly eight-hour flight to Miami turned into a rather quick journey back to Santiago. The aircraft seemed to have remained on the ground in Santiago since its return. The aircraft in question is a 7.4-year-old jet that was delivered to American Airlines in May 2016. The aircraft is powered by two General Electric GENx engines. The world’s largest airline by fleet size American Airlines is the world’s largest airline by fleet size. The airline operates a jaw-dropping fleet of 980 aircraft. The airline is also the largest Boeing 787-8 operator, with 37 examples of the type in service. Typical 787-8s are configured with 234 seats, including 138 Main Cabin seats, 48 Main Cabin Extra, 28 premium economy (recliner seats), and 20 open suites in Business. The airline also operates 22 of the larger Boeing 787-9 on its long-haul routes. With an average of over 500,000 daily passengers, the airline became the world’s second-largest airline by revenue in 2023. https://simpleflying.com/american-airlines-boeing-787-returns-santiago-pressure-loss/ Passengers Cheer As Intoxicated Man Removed From UK-Spain Flight The clip shows a seemingly intoxicated passenger, struggling to stand and walk, as three police officersguide him toward the planes door. A Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Ibiza was forced to land in France after a man's ''disruptive'' behaviour led to him being escorted off the plane. Notably, the Boeing 737 took off from Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 12.40 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3. The flight had only been in the air for around an hour before it was grounded in the south of France after an intoxicated man exhibited unusual behavior before passing out in his seat, the Independent reported. A video of the man being removed from the plane by police officers has surfaced on social media. The clip shows a seemingly intoxicated passenger, struggling to stand and walk, as three police officers guide him toward the plane's door. Meanwhile, passengers can be seen clapping and cheering as the man was escorted off the plane. After the passenger was removed, the flight continued its journey to Ibiza. Ryanair has confirmed the reason the flight was diverted was due to a passenger becoming 'disruptive inflight'. A spokesperson from the airline said, ''This flight from Liverpool to Ibiza (03 Oct) diverted to Bordeaux after a passenger became disruptive inflight. The crew called ahead for police assistance and the aircraft was met by local police upon arrival who removed the passenger. The flight continued to Ibiza following a short delay. This is now a matter for local police." In yet another disruptive passenger behaviour during flights, a couple was removed from a plane by Southwest Airlines flight attendant. The action reportedly followed the flight attendant's observation of the woman engaging in drunken cartwheels before boarding. The flight attendant, whose identity remains undisclosed, consistently urged the couple to depart, citing concerns about 'compromising the aircraft's safety.' The flight attendant is seen saying in the video to the passenger, "You're flipping all over the ground; you're engaging; you're loud; you want attention from everybody... The whole entire crew saw it, and all of us are in agreement that you cannot come on here." The incident happened in June and was first posted on Reddit. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/watch-plane-passengers-cheer-as-drunk-man-removed-from-uk-spain-flight-4462288 British Airways plane evacuated after passengers fall ill from ‘fumes’ on flight Emergency services raced to meet the aircraft at Heathrow Airport A large emergency services operation took place at Heathrow Airport yesterday in response to reports of passengers feeling unwell due to “fumes” detected on a British Airways plane. Ambulances and firefighters raced to the scene, and pictures shared on social media by affected travellers show staff in white hazmat suits outside the aircraft, which had arrived from Barcelona, Spain. Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they were called to the aviation hub at 4.15pm after being told there were “passengers taken unwell on a flight”. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson told The Independent that it sent “a number of resources to the scene”, including three medics in fast-response cars, two advanced paramedics, two ambulance crews, two incident response officers and members of the hazardous area response team “After assessing multiple people at the scene, we treated three patients and discharged them,” they said. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/british-airways-flight-evacuated-fumes-heathrow-b2426460.html Japan to allocate $205 million to support electric aircraft systems, Nikkei reports TOKYO, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Japan will subsidize hydrogen fuel cell systems and other equipment to the tune of 30.6 billion yen ($205 million), the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday. The government's decision is aimed at supporting the development of components for electric aircraft with reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the newspaper said. The trade ministry is expected to present the policy at a working group of the ministry's council, it said. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The government will allocate 17.3 billion yen for the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems for aircraft, and 13.3 billion yen for the development of fuel-efficient engine control systems, the Nikkei said. ($1 = 149.3200 yen) https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/japan-allocate-205-mln-support-electric-aircraft-systems-nikkei-2023-10-08/ Southern Airways Express Suing Pilots Who Quit, And It’s Messy Pilots in the United States are currently in incredibly high demand, and at major airlines, pilots have been able to secure huge pay raises. Unfortunately that’s not the case across the board, though. At Southern Airways Express, pilots have been paid as little as $12 per hour, and have been sued when they quit. This is an interesting story, so let me explain what’s going on here. In this post: • The basics of Southern Airways Express & its pilots • Why Southern Airways Express is suing dozens of former pilots • Pilots say they felt unsafe flying for Southern Airways Express The basics of Southern Airways Express & its pilots Southern Airways Express is a small regional airline in the United States with its headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida. The airline has operations all over the country, and many of the carrier’s routes operate under the Essential Air Service program, meaning they’re subsidized by the government. Southern Airways Express operates a fleet of roughly 50 propellor aircraft, with nearly 40 of those planes being Cessna 208 Caravans, with the capacity to carry nine passengers. Let me just emphasize that this isn’t a subsidiary to one of the major carriers (like American Eagle, Delta Connection, or United Express), as those airlines operate much larger regional aircraft. The major airlines in the United States operate as Part 121 carriers, meaning that pilots need at least 1,500 hours of flight experience to land a job there. This minimum number of hours is part of the reason we have a pilot shortage, since it takes a lot of time and money to rack up those hours. Meanwhile Southern Airways Express operates as a Part 135 carrier, so pilots can start working there with just 250 hours of experience. For the most part, the first officers are inexperienced, and would otherwise be racking up flight hours as a flight instructor, in order to reach the eventual goal of getting to 1,500 hours, and being able to work at a Part 121 carrier. Why Southern Airways Express is suing dozens of former pilots Southern Airways Express knows that it’s hiring pilots who are desperate to rack up hours, and it pays them accordingly. Southern Airways Express’ pilot pay has historically started at just $12 per hour. Eventually that pay increases to $18 per hour once pilots pass 600 hours, and then to $21 per hour once they pass 900 hours. Not only does Southern Airways Express pay many of its starting pilots this little, but the company also makes pilots sign “training repayment agreement provisions” when they’re hired. With this, the airline reserves the right to fine pilots if they quit within a year. The airline argues that this is because of the money invested in pilots for training. To be clear, it’s not like the airline is giving pilots some amazing education, and you don’t even need a type rating for the planes that the airline flies. Rather the company has a basic introductory course when pilots start, and the airline then uses this agreement to prevent pilots from seeking better paying jobs at another airline within a year. Despite signing that agreement, many pilots are quitting within that period, and the airline is following through on suing them. Southern Airways Express is said to have filed lawsuits against around 80 pilots. For what it’s worth, the airline is believed to only have around 300 pilots, so that’s a significant number of people being sued. The lawsuits are said to be for up to $20,000. Southern Airways Express is suing many former pilots Pilots say they felt unsafe flying for Southern Airways Express Southern Airways Express argues that pilots agreed to fly for a certain amount of time, and they should follow through on that. However, many of the pilots who quit have a different take, arguing that staying at the airline was dangerous. The Huffington Post has a fascinating story about many of the Southern Airways Express pilots who quit and are being sued. They largely argue that they didn’t feel safe at the airline, stating that they felt pressured to fly in poor weather and with inoperable autopilot systems, that the airline had substandard deicing equipment, that managers discouraged pilots from flagging maintenance issues and would argue with them over whether it was safe to fly, and that pilots were afraid to raise safety concerned because they could be fired and then indebted to the airline. As one former Southern Airways Express pilot explains: “There’s a lot of pressure to get passengers where they’re going, in potentially questionable weather or with questionable maintenance. People are pressured to go, and they don’t have the experience you’d find on larger jet flight decks.” Another former Southern Airways Express pilot said he ran out of money while working for the airline, and told a manager he was broke and could no longer afford to get to work at his base in Arkansas. The company terminated him and sued him, with the company stating that “failure to report for work is certainly a reason for termination.” Another pilot accepted a job as a captain, since he had enough flight hours for that, which was supposed to come with pay of $55 per hour. However, after training, he was told that he wasn’t ready, so he was instead forced to start as a first officer, being paid $21 per hour. He quit, saying that he couldn’t afford to live on $21 per hour when he was hired with the promise of making a lot more. The airline told him that “I hope you understand that you signed a training contract,” and that “HR will notify you of the money that is immediately owed back to Southern. Good luck to you!” He was then sued for $10,000. Southern Airways Express CEO Stan Little has disputed these allegations: The company has maintained that it has little choice but to pursue the claims in court, citing a pilot shortage that has led higher-paying airlines to poach workers. He called the counter-lawsuit “a blatant attempt to politicize a simple and clear debt collection case.” Little said Southern has produced “hundreds of new pilots over many years, and the program works only when both sides hold up their end of the bargain.” He compared the pilots to students who receive a two-year paid scholarship under the agreement they will stay at the university as a teaching assistant for a year after graduating. “Now imagine the student attaining his degree and immediately leaving (and defaming the school who gave him the degree),” Little said. “No one would fault the school that offered the scholarship and the education for asking to be repaid.” Pilots are building up experience to work at major airlines Bottom line Southern Airways Express is suing dozens of former pilots who quit. The airline pays pilots a starting amount of as little $12 per hour, and also makes them sign a contract, agreeing that they’ll stick around for a year. Dozens of pilots quit, arguing that they didn’t feel safe at the airline, and in turn, the airline has sued them for up to $20,000. This is just a really messy situation. On the one hand, I can appreciate that many pilots agreed to these terms, and also that it has long been the case that pilots struggle until they can get to the 1,500 hour requirement to work at a major airline. On the other hand, this whole thing leaves a really bad taste in my mouth. Do you really want to put your life in the hands of pilots who are basically being exploited, and can’t reasonably afford to pay their bills? Pilots can’t live on the money that the airline is paying them, and management basically telling pilots “stop being poor” isn’t a good look either. Unfortunately this is one of the major downsides to the 1,500 hour rule, which has long seemed nonsensical to me. European airlines have safety records that are just as good as airlines in the United States, but you have pilots in the cockpits of big jets with way less experience than that. But unfortunately even pilot unions in the United States support the 1,500 hour rule, since it gives them more leverage to negotiate higher pay. And that’s also why you see people on the bottom end of the industry being exploited like this. https://onemileatatime.com/news/southern-airways-express-suing-pilots/ Curt Lewis