Flight Safety Information - October 10, 2023 No. 196 In This Issue : Incident: Gol B737 at Rio de Janeiro on Oct 9th 2023, engine failure : Incident: Lufthansa Cityline CRJ9 at Katowice on Oct 9th 2023, insufficient fuel on departure : Runway Incursions: Is Better Training Needed For Private Jet Pilots? : Fire in luggage compartment of jet at SWF : Polish pilots of hot air balloon race crash into North Texas powerline structure : Airshare Joins ACSF Aviation Safety Action Program : Risk of passenger flights becoming a casualty of Israel conflict is ‘high’, warns aviation group : Ambulances meet British Airways flight in London after reports of fumes onboard : Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia completes flight test with palm oil-blended jet fuel : Airbus confirms 55 jet deliveries in September : IAG Considering Massive Airplane Order With Airbus, Boeing : United airlines de-boards unruly passenger at Lagos airport Incident: Gol B737 at Rio de Janeiro on Oct 9th 2023, engine failure A Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-700, registration PR-GIH performing flight G3-1023 from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont,RJ to Sao Paulo Congonhas,SP (Brazil), was climbing out of Santos Dumont's runway 20L when the crew stopped the climb at FL090 after the right hand engine (CFM56) had emitted a number of bangs and streaks of flames. The aircraft diverted to Rio de Janeiro's Galeao Airport for a safe landing on runway 15 about 25 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked onto the next flight. The airline reported the aircraft encountered a technical problem with one of the engines and diverted to Galeao Airport according to standard operating procedures. https://avherald.com/h?article=50f7fac3&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa Cityline CRJ9 at Katowice on Oct 9th 2023, insufficient fuel on departure A Lufthansa Cityline Canadair CRJ-900, registration D-ACNB performing flight LH-1361 from Katowice (Poland) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was climbing through about FL100 out of Katowice's runway 27 when the crew stopped the climb and decided to return to Katowice due to insufficient fuel on board. The aircraft landed safely on Katowice's runway 27 about 20 minutes after departure. According to information The Aviation Herald received, the aircraft was not refuelled or did receive insufficient fuel. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 40 minutes while being refuelled, departed again and reached Frankfurt with a delay of about 40 minutes. https://avherald.com/h?article=50f7736e&opt=0 Runway Incursions: Is Better Training Needed For Private Jet Pilots? Recurrent training is essential for a pilot’s professional journey. SUMMARY • Many new business jet pilots often lack experience and familiarity with the aircraft they operate. • The increase in private jet travel has resulted in a rise in runway incursions, partly caused by pilot errors. • Recurrent pilot training is crucial in maintaining flying skills and ensuring competence in aviation. The use of private jets has significantly increased in the past two years. More and more individuals and companies have access to private jets thanks to the marketing strategies employed by business jet firms. From fractional jet ownership to on-demand charters and Jet Card memberships, consumers who can afford one have various opportunities to access private jets. In the United States, the use of private and business aircraft has increased by over 23% since the start of the pandemic. Increased use of private jets also means a growing need for flight crew, meaning pilots. Business jet owners and management companies are eager to recruit pilots left, right, and center. While private pilots are licensed and capable of operating a jet, they sometimes have minimal opportunities to gain experience and be thoroughly familiar with the aircraft they fly. This increased demand for private jet travel has left minimal time and resources for private jet pilots. A lack of experience, training, and familiarity with the aircraft may lead to incidents. One such example is runway incursions, which have strikingly increased in the last several months. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US are investigating numerous runway incursions involving private jets in the US. Runway incursions can occur due to various factors, including communication failure, instrument failure, or inclement weather. However, pilot errors due to insufficient training or lack of understanding of the instructions are alarming. In recent times, runway incursions involving private pilots have also been caused by the pilot not complying with the air traffic controller (ATC) instructions. While the FAA has decided to pay out more than $100 million to airports to prevent runway incursions, pilot training is essential in preventing such incidents. Recurrent pilot training All commercial pilots, including those who fly business jets, undergo extensive training and certifications before being eligible to fly. However, insufficient emphasis is given to recurrent pilot training, which can be considered redundant and unnecessarily time-consuming. Recurrent pilot training enables pilots to maintain their flying skills at the highest level. Competence is critical in aviation, particularly in a pilot’s seat. While handling and maneuvering the aircraft is important, understanding instructions and complying with aviation regulations is essential. Aviation is constantly evolving, and pilots must take part in recurrent training. For example, some refresher training for human factors in aviation must be repeated every 1-2 years. Though this is non-technical training, it ensures that pilots understand the importance of human factors and how those affect human behavior in difficult situations. Lack of training can impact aviation safety by not preparing pilots for emergencies. Many aviation techniques are not utilized on regular flights. However, when an unusual situation strikes, pilots may find themselves unprepared because they are out of practice. Recurrent training and refreshing of knowledge can decide the fate of the flight in an unusual situation. https://simpleflying.com/runway-incursion-private-jet-pilot-training/ Fire in luggage compartment of jet at SWF STEWART AIRPORT – A fire reported in the luggage compartment of a corporate jet at New York Stewart International Airport on Monday afternoon brought out a quick response. The New York Air National Guard, based at Stewart, provides all crash, fire and rescue services for the military and civilian sides of the airport. Shortly before 4 p.m., the call came out for a fire in the luggage compartment of the aircraft. In about a half hour, incident command reported it was under control. The extent of damage, if any, was not immediately known. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the 2004 Cessna 680 jet is owned by Subaru of New England, Inc. in Norwood, Massachusetts. https://midhudsonnews.com/2023/10/10/fire-in-luggage-compartment-of-jet-at-swf/ Polish pilots of hot air balloon race crash into North Texas powerline structure "Winning the Gordon Bennett requires balloonists to test their skills and abilities to the limit,” competition website reads. Two polish participants in the Gordon Bennet Gas Balloon Race – an event of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – struck a power line in Crandall Monday evening, October 9, causing the flammable gas to ignite. Both of the pilots were transported to a hospital in Dallas, and early reports state the two participants are in stable condition. “Gordon Bennet Gas Balloon Race officials are aware of an accident involving Poland Team 1,” a statement from Albuqurque International Balloon Fiesta officials reads. “The balloon came into contact with a powerline near Crandall, Texas. The strike occurred at approximately 7:25 p.m. … local residents and first responders provided immediate assistance to the two pilots, Krzystotf Zapart and Pjotr Halas, from Swindica, Poland.” The balloons involved in the 100-year-old race, which begins in Albuquerque with each contestant vying to reach the furthest distance with the same amount of hydrogen gas, were seen flying over North Texas Monday evening just before the two Polish flyers crashed near Dallas. This isn’t the first injury or malfunction reported in relation to the century-old tradition either, according to the Balloon Fiesta website. “Ballooning overall is a safe sport, but winning the Gordon Bennett requires balloonists to test their skills and abilities to the limit,” the competition website reads. “Calculated risk-taking is a given. Those risk sometimes pay off, but on a few occasions have ended in tragedy.” The competition website identifies three times the winds didn’t blow in competition balloonists’ favor, including once in 1995 when a team from the U.S. Virgin Islands flew into the, then, Soviet Union; the aircraft was shot down by soviet soldiers, and the pilots were killed. Another time in 2010, two U.S. pilots who’d won the competition in 2004 had their balloon struck by lightening while flying over the Adriatic Sea. According to an Albuquerque news station, KOAT 7, this was Zapart’s ninth attempt at the race in which he finished in the top five over his past eight attempts at taking home the gold. His copilot, Halas, last competed in the internationally-known race back in 1997, according to the news outlet. “Teams from nine countries are participating in the Gordon Bennett race,” KOAT 7 reported. “Competitors spend several days in the air, trying to soar the farthest before having to land.” Video of the incident shared on social media from several witnesses to the crash and its aftermath showed first responders working to douse a large fire which ignited as a result of the hydrogen gas provided to each contestant sparking as it struck the powerline. https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/texas-hot-air-balloon-crash-18416810.php Airshare Joins ACSF Aviation Safety Action Program Program offers confidential safety reporting for Part 91 and 135 operators Charter, fractional, and aircraft management provider Airshare has enrolled its entire fleet, including managed aircraft, in the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). The ACSF ASAP program enables Part 135 and 91 operators to participate in a voluntary safety reporting agreement with the FAA without fear of agency action. ACSF aggregates the data to track safety trends and shares these with operators, without including identifying information. All reporting is non-punitive, so participants “feel comfortable reporting issues to help improve overall safety in the industry,” according to ACSF. Key elements of the ASAP program include reporting and analysis; confidentiality; safety improvement; cooperation; corrective action; and compliance. Operators who want to participate must be willing to adhere to safety protocols and commit to reporting and addressing safety concerns. "At ACSF, we believe that safety is a collective responsibility,” said ACSF president and CEO Bryan Burns. “Airshare's decision to join our ASAP program underscores the value, benefits, resources, and cost savings that the ACSF offers to operators of all sizes. We applaud Airshare for its commitment to aviation safety, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact this will have on the industry.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-10-09/airshare-joins-acsf-aviation-safety-action-program Risk of passenger flights becoming a casualty of Israel conflict is ‘high’, warns aviation group British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which continue to fly from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv, insist they would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so “The risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high” – that is the stark warning from an aviation organisation about the conflict in Israel. The alert comes from OpsGroup, an international membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which continue to fly from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv, insist they would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so. In a bulletin, OpsGroup says: “Israel is now an active war zone. As such, all lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied.” Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied eastern Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk anti-aircraft missile that belonged to the Russian army. All 298 passengers and crew died in the attack. The bulletin adds: “The ultimate sentiment from MH17 still echoes: ‘What were they doing flying over a war zone?’ We truly hope the same question doesn’t need to be asked in Tel Aviv airspace this week. “For many operators, risk assessment is extremely challenging to get right. Commercial and political pressures go against the normal ‘err on the side of caution’ principle in flight operations. “For decades, we have seen sporadic conflict in Israel - even in quieter periods, rocket attacks on Israel are the norm. Despite this, operations to Tel Aviv have continued routinely, and operators have become used to raised threat levels in Israel. “The secondary risk is a multitude of factors from operating in a conflict zone: misidentification, debris from air defences, GPS spoofing, false EGPWS [enhanced ground proximity warning systems] alerts (now common in Israeli airspace), and reduced route and diversion options in the event of an aircraft emergency.” OpsGroup says it caters for “the people at the sharp end of aviation – the pilots, dispatchers, controllers, managers”. It has issued recommendations – which have no official status – for full avoidance of Israeli airspace and says airlines should “carefully consider route choices” into Jordanian airports, notably Amman. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our customers and our people always comes first and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review.” Both BA and Virgin Atlantic have outstandingly good safety records. The two airlines have adjusted their operations so that crews no longer need to “night stop” in Israel: their flights are timed to depart from London Heathrow shortly after 8am, arrive in Tel Aviv in mid-afternoon and return after less than two hours on the ground. The three big US airlines – American, Delta and United – have suspended flights to Israel. One reason is that the length of trips means crew must rest on arrival in Tel Aviv. El Al, Israel’s national carrier, is operating a full schedule. It says: “El Al Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces. “We are making great efforts to assist Israeli passengers return home from abroad as soon as possible. We have added flights from several destinations in the world and will continue to add flights as much as we can.” In May 2021 Tel Aviv airport closed on several occasions as air defence systems were activated around the country to repel rocket attacks from Gaza. Budget airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have suspended operations to and from Tel Aviv. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/israel-passenger-aircraft-flights-risk-b2427104.html Ambulances meet British Airways flight in London after reports of fumes onboard Passengers on a British Airways flight from Barcelona to London were met by ambulances on the tarmac at Heathrow Airport on Sunday after travelers reported feeling unwell due to fumes in the cabin. “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. This aircraft landed normally at Heathrow following reports of a technical issue,” British Airways said in a statement. “Customers disembarked the aircraft safely via steps, and we’ve apologized to them for the delay and inconvenience caused to their journey. The flight was British Airways 475, operated by a an Airbus A320. Social media posts show travelers standing around with emergency vehicles and British Airways shuttle buses at the airport. Fume incidents are not unheard-of in aviation, though they are rare and can sometimes be a health hazard. Travelers, and especially flight crews, can experience long-term adverse health impacts if certain toxins are released into the cabin, though the substances involved in the British Airways incident were not ultimately found to be hazardous. Cruising Altitude:Yes, you could inhale toxic fumes during your flight. Here's what to know. Advocates in the U.S. and abroad are pushing for tighter standards around aircraft cabin air quality, and are encouraging the installation of monitoring equipment on commercial aircraft. Currently, no such standards or requirements exist in the U.S. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2023/10/09/british-airways-fume-incident/71123582007/ Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia completes flight test with palm oil-blended jet fuel JAKARTA, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia (GIAA.JK) said on Tuesday it has completed a flight test using a palm oil-blended jet fuel on a Boeing 737-800NG aircraft. The plane flew more than 130 km (80 miles) from the capital Jakarta to Pelabuhan Ratu in the southern part of Java island last week, using jet fuel containing 2.4% palm content, Garuda chief executive Irfan Setiaputra said in a statement. "With these results, Garuda Indonesia is ready to explore the use of sustainable aviation fuel on commercial flights," Irfan said, adding that a wider use of the fuel would be based on a comprehensive study. Garuda had conducted a static test and engine ground test since July prior to the flight test. The world's biggest palm oil producer, Indonesia has been pushing for wider use of edible oils and a reduction in crude oil imports. In 2021, the country ran a flight test with the same fuel on an aircraft made by state-owned Dirgantara Indonesia, flying from the city Bandung in West Java to the capital Jakarta. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/flag-carrier-garuda-indonesia-completes-flight-test-with-palm-oil-blended-jet-2023-10-10/ Airbus confirms 55 jet deliveries in September PARIS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Airbus on Monday confirmed it had delivered 55 aircraft in September, bringing the nine-month total to 488 jets. Deliveries included the first A350 for Air India, part of a batch of six originally sold to Russia's Aeroflot. Air India placed orders for 470 Airbus and Boeing jets earlier this year. Deliveries were flat in September, but rose 23% in the third quarter compared with the same period last year, company data showed. Reuters reported last week that Airbus had delivered around 55 aircraft in September, unchanged from the same month of 2022. It targets 720 deliveries for the full year. Airbus sold 23 jets in September, bringing the nine-month order tally to 1,280 jets or 1,241 after cancellations. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-confirms-55-jet-deliveries-september-2023-10-09/ IAG Considering Massive Airplane Order With Airbus, Boeing IAG, the parent company of one of the largest airlines in the world, has reportedly reached out to both major airplane manufacturers about a new order. The company, which owns British Airways, is speaking with both Airbus and Boeing about placing a new order for more widebody jets. There is a pressing need for more long-distance planes as international travel bounces back. An order of any size from either company would be a significant signal to the industry from one of the largest airplane owners in the world. IAG has its own pressing needs, however. It has an aging fleet of Boeing 777s at British Airways that must be replaced. But for whatever reason, an order from such an established company would be a huge boon. A report from Bloomberg News Service said IAG could order more than 20 new aircraft. IAG and Airbus declined to comment. Boeing referred all inquiries back to IAG. Earlier this month, United Airlines placed a massive airplane order with both major manufacturers, hoping that the travel demand will continue and the new aircraft will be put to good use. In total, United has ordered 110 jets from both Airbus and Boeing. https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines-airports/iag-considering-massive-airplane-order-with-airbus-boeing United airlines de-boards unruly passenger at Lagos airport United Nigeria Airlines, UNA, on Tuesday remove an unruly female passenger from its Lagos to Owerri-bound aircraft, Flight U5 0510. The passenger was escorted off the plane by security agents after her disruptive behavior jeopardized the safety and order on board. Vanguard gathered that, the disturbance began when a flight attendant asked the passenger to place her handbag in the overhead bin. The passenger refused, becoming confrontational and loudly protesting the request, saying, “This is my handbag, and you shouldn’t direct or tell me where to put it. “This is not my first time on an aircraft. Please do not disturb me, leave me and my bag alone.” Her actions caused a delay in the flight schedule as she continued to raise her voice. Shortly after, security personnel were called to intervene and escorted her off the plane. Captain Tanunotonye Edom, the aircraft’s captain, apologised to the other passengers who were understandably concerned about the delay. The flight, originally scheduled for a 7 am departure, was delayed by several minutes, departing shortly before 8 am. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/10/united-airlines-de-boards-unruly-passenger-at-lagos-airport/ Curt Lewis