Flight Safety Information - October 16, 2023 No. 200 In This Issue : Incident: Canada B38M near Mexico City on Oct 13th 2023, cabin pressure problems and loss of cabin pressure : Accident: British Airways A320 at Munich on Oct 12th 2023, fumes on board affect flight crew : Incident: Vueling A320 at La Coruna on Oct 15th 2023, takeoff clearance with aircraft on final approach cleared to land : Incident: Airblue A320 at Islamabad on Oct 13th 2023, smoke in cockpit : KC-135 tanker jet crashes at Iowa airport; none injured : American Airlines flight attendants aren't happy they still have to stay in a hotel where a colleague died in 'suspicious' circumstances : 'Unusual odor' in cabin midflight sends Southwest plane back to Las Vegas for emergency landing : Honeywell Projects ‘Strong’ Demand For 8,500 Business Jets Over Decade : Argus Unveils Customizable SMS Platform : IBAC To Offer New IS-BAO Workshop Format in 2024 : Baldwin Adds Features to Safety Management System : How Secure Is Airplane Wi-Fi? : Emirates Purchases Two Airbus A380 Aircraft From Lessor : Fayetteville man sentenced to 1 month for lying to FAA about criminal history : Vistara Airbus A320 jet’s emergency inflatable slide accidentally deploys Incident: Canada B38M near Mexico City on Oct 13th 2023, cabin pressure problems and loss of cabin pressure An Air Canada Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration C-GMEX performing flight AC-990 from Mexico City (Mexico) to Toronto,ON (Canada), was climbing out of Mexico City cleared to FL290 when the crew reported they had a packs problem and needed to level off at FL200 and entered a hold. A few minutes later the crew advised they were able to climb again and continued their climb to FL290, subsequently being cleared to FL330, when climbing through FL280 the crew donned their oxygen masks, declared Mayday and initiated an emergency descent about 130nm northeast of Mexico City. The aircraft initially maintained 8000 feet, later 10,000 feet while diverting to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) where the aircraft landed safely about 2.5 hours after leaving FL280. The aircraft is still on the ground in Houston about 48 hours after landing in Houston. https://avherald.com/h?article=50fc49be&opt=0 Accident: British Airways A320 at Munich on Oct 12th 2023, fumes on board affect flight crew A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUUT performing flight BA-948 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Munich (Germany), was descending towards Munich when the crew reported fumes on board, both flight crew as well as cabin crew were feeling unwell. The aircraft continued for landing on runway 26R and taxied to the apron. According to information The Aviation Herald received both flight crew as well as the cabin crew reported a strange odour on board causing them to feel unwell with teary eyes. The aircraft is still on the ground in Munich about 34 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=50faa1e2&opt=0 Incident: Vueling A320 at La Coruna on Oct 15th 2023, takeoff clearance with aircraft on final approach cleared to land A Vueling Airbus A320-200, registration EC-MGE performing flight VY-1293 from La Coruna,SP to Barcelona,SP (Spain), was cleared to line up runway 21 and for takeoff. However, shortly before that instruction ATC had cleared another Vueling Airbus A320-200, registration EC-MLE performing flight VY-6018 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to La Coruna,SP (Spain), to land on runway 21 while on final approach. The arriving crew spotted the aircraft sitting on the runway and initiated a go around. A listener on frequency reported that tower did not react, did not instruct a go around or comment the occurrence in any way. The departing crew however apologized stating that after lining up (already being cleared for takeoff) they needed more time than usual to get the aircraft ready for departure. The arriving crew told their passengers that they had to go around due to an aircraft on the runway. https://avherald.com/h?article=50fc37e7&opt=0 Incident: Airblue A320 at Islamabad on Oct 13th 2023, smoke in cockpit An Airblue Airbus A320-200, registration AP-EDA performing flight PA-207 from Islamabad to Karachi (Pakistan), was climbing out of Islamabad's runway 10R when the crew stopped the climb at about 7000 feet reporting smoke in the cockpit and returned the aircraft to Islamabad for a safe landing on runway 10R about 15 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Islamabad about 5 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=50fa9e66&opt=0 KC-135 tanker jet crashes at Iowa airport; none injured A KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jet belonging to the Iowa Air National Guard crash-landed on a Sioux City runway Wednesday afternoon when its front landing gear failed to deploy, the Air Force said in a release. Five airmen from Iowa’s 185th Air Refueling Wing were on the flight at the time, according to the release. None were injured. The crew was practicing touch-and-go landings at Sioux Gateway Airport during a local training mission, the Air Force said. Touch-and-go maneuvers allow pilots to practice ascending and descending by taking off, circling back and momentarily landing before climbing again. The aircraft’s nose, which scraped along the ground upon landing, is damaged, the Air Force said. The rest of the jet was unharmed. It’s unclear whether the landing gear did not deploy due to a mechanical failure or user error. The Air Force is investigating the cause of the accident. Sioux City Fire Rescue and Air Force crash recovery and safety teams responded to the mishap, according to the release. The airport’s main runway was closed while the crash recovery team worked to move the tanker. The Air Force typically records several landing gear-related mishaps each year, according to accident data obtained by Air Force Times in 2022. Most qualify as “Class C” incidents, or those that cause between $60,000 and $600,000 in damages. The 185th ARW briefly paused flying operations at the Sioux City airport while a monthslong construction project replaced parts of the runway. Regular military missions resumed there in November 2022. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2023/10/13/kc-135-tanker-jet-crashes-at-iowa-airport-none-injured/ American Airlines flight attendants aren't happy they still have to stay in a hotel where a colleague died in 'suspicious' circumstances • Flight attendants turned up at American Airlines HQ with a letter of no confidence in a senior executive. • They called out Brady Byrne for what they described as his "appalling lack of flight attendant support." • Union members are angry they've not been relocated from a hotel in Philadelphia where a colleague died. American Airlines flight attendants showed up at the company's Fort Worth headquarters with a letter of no confidence in a senior executive who refused to relocate them from a hotel where a colleague had died in "suspicious" circumstances. Members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the union that represents AA crew, sought to give the letter to CEO Robert Isom this week, per a statement. The letter expressed "profound dissatisfaction and deep concern" with Brady Byrnes, the head of inflight and premium guest services. Because they were denied access to Isom, the delegation delivered the letter to Byrnes himself. APFA members deliver their letter of no confidence to Brady Byrnes. APFA members delivered their letter of no confidence to Brady Byrnes.APFA Their frustrations stemmed from Byrnes' refusal to relocate crew members who felt unsafe staying at a hotel at Philadelphia airport. Last month, a 66-year-old AA flight attendant was found dead in a room at the Marriott with "a cloth in her mouth." There were no signs of forced entry but police were investigating the death as a homicide, Insider previously reported. Flight attendants communicated fears about their safety to management, but say they were met with indifference from Brynes, per the letter. In a statement the APFA said: "The lack of action on flight attendant safety and security and the appalling lack of flight attendant support on the line is utterly unacceptable." "Loyalty and hard work have been met with an alarming lack of support and empathy from Mr Brynes," the union said in the letter, adding that it "speaks volumes about his lack of leadership." The letter highlighted a number of other issues, including a "dehumanizing" performance point system for arriving late to boarding gates, and a lack of training resources. American airlines staff American Airlines flight attendants at an AFPA picket in August.Kevin Dietsch /Getty "It is time to meet us out on the line and start engaging with and listening to your flight attendants," the statement concluded. In August the AFPA, which represents 26,000 flight attendants, voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if American refused to agree to "reasonable" contract terms, Reuters reported. The union is bargaining with the airline over wage rises of 50% over four years, and improvements to working conditions and other benefits. American Airlines and the APFA did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours. https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-flight-attendants-arent-144043896.html 'Unusual odor' in cabin midflight sends Southwest plane back to Las Vegas for emergency landing Southwest Airlines said in an email crew members didn't find smoke, just 'an unusual odor' A Southwest Airlines flight made an emergency landing Thursday night after crew members reported an "unusual odor" and possibly smoke in the cabin, an FAA spokesperson said. The Boeing 737 was in the air on its way from Las Vegas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when the pilot turned around and landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Vegas around 8:30 p.m. local time, according to the FAA. Southwest Airlines told FOX Business in an email Saturday night, "We didn’t find anything abnormal after inspection, aircraft was swapped and continued on to its destination." When asked what the crew members saw, a Southwest spokesperson said, "It was not smoke to my knowledge. It was just an unusual odor. Routine for emergency vehicles to meet the aircraft in situations like that." A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 arrives at Los Angeles international Airport A Southwest Airlines flight safely returned to Las Vegas after crew reported an "unusual odor" in the cabin. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images/File/Fox News / Getty Images) There were no injuries, and the FAA said it's investigating the cause of the issue. One passenger, noted hard-rock and heavy metal historian, and radio talk show host Eddie Trunk, posted a video on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) about the situation, with a short video clip of the flashing lights and a crowded airport. "I fly constantly but this was a 1st," he wrote. "Vegas to Tulsa Thrs night on @SouthwestAir. Half hour into flight plane turns around & goes back to Vegas because of burning smell in the cabin. Immediately deplane & surrounded by fire trucks.Crazy but SW handled well." https://www.foxbusiness.com/industrials/unusual-odor-cabin-midflight-sends-southwest-plane-back-las-vegas-emergency-landing Honeywell Projects ‘Strong’ Demand For 8,500 Business Jets Over Decade LAS VEGAS—Honeywell’s just-released business aviation forecast projects strong demand over the next decade with deliveries of 8,500 new business jets worth $278 billion from 2024-23, growing at a 2% average annual rate. Honeywell Aerospace unveiled its 32nd annual Global Business Aviation Outlook on Oct. 15 during a briefing here ahead of the opening of NBAA-BACE. By units, the largest demand is expected in the heavy, long-range jet segment with 37% of deliveries, followed by small jets at 34% and midsize and super midsize jets at 29%. It forecasts 2023 deliveries of 700 and 750 jets, respectively, growing to 800 in 2024 and 850 in 2025. Expenditures, meanwhile, are projected to grow 13% in 2024 from 2023. “Our industry is on an upswing,” says Heath Patrick, Honeywell Aerospace president of Americas Aftermarket. “Operators are showing confidence with plans to expand their fleets at a faster rate than any time in the previous decade.” New entrants into the business aviation industry during the pandemic are here to stay, Javier Jimenez Serrano, Honeywell strategy manager told ShowNews. Anyone that would have dropped out of the industry has likely already done so. “We’re making the claim that whoever is going to stay is here with us,” Jimenez Serrano says. “I think we have a new baseline that is higher than pre-COVID levels.” The new baseline can be seen in higher flight activity and in business jet orders, although both have stabilized. Manufacturers are planning to scale up production in response to their record backlogs, the forecast notes. Flight activity in the last half of 2021 and first half of 2022, following the onset of the pandemic, were at levels at times not seen since 2007, Jimenez Serrano says. Today, global flight activity is expected to decrease in 2023 by 4% compared to a year ago due to factors such as inflation and the resumption of commercial air service on certain routes. Still, activity is expected to end 2023 10% above 2019 levels and conclude 2-6% above where the industry would have been had the world not been impacted by the pandemic, it predicts. In 2024, flight activity is expected to stabilize before returning to growth in 2025, driven by an accelerated pace in initial public offerings, corporate profits and easing inflation rates. At the same time, order projections are up. in 2020 before COVID, Honeywell’s forecast predicted demand for 8,000 aircraft for 2024-33. By comparison, the latest forecast projected demand for 8,500 for 2024-33, up by 500 jets. Honeywell projects two bumps in deliveries during the next decade. The first is from 2024 and 2026 when manufacturers increase production rates to work with record order backlogs, Jimenez Serrano says. The second time is during 2029 and 2030 with the entry into service of new, clean-sheet and upgraded aircraft now under development, he says. At the same time, operators are showing an increased interest in reducing their carbon emissions. In a Honeywell operator survey, almost 60% of respondents say they are using at least one method to reduce their carbon footprint, which is 10 percentage points above Honeywell’s 2022 survey. The most frequently mentioned methods are fewer private jet trips in favor of commercial flights, followed by slower cruising speeds. Most operators, 67%, say they plan to adopt or increase methods for more environmentally friendly operations in the future, with 40% citing sustainable aviation fuels as the most common way to achieve the goal. https://aviationweek.com/shownews/nbaa/honeywell-projects-strong-demand-8500-business-jets-over-decade Argus Unveils Customizable SMS Platform • Prism SMS is for all types of organizations and all sizes Argus International has launched a new platform that provides an enhanced suite of safety management system (SMS) tools that can be customized. Building on and replacing its legacy Prism Armor platform, the new Prism SMS will enable organizations to tailor SMS programs to their operations and have real-time access to data to manage risks and assess operations. Ultimately, Prism SMS will provide for the integration of other software programs such as flight duty scheduling, maintenance tracking, and flight data monitoring, Argus said. Travis Kuhn, senior v-p of market intelligence for Argus, said Prism SMS is the culmination of work between the company's SMS and development teams over the past few years based on customer input. About two years ago, Argus began work on replacing the Prism Armor program and that work coincided with the looming SMS regulation changes, Kuhn explained. “We spent several years as a team gathering feedback from the industry,” he said. Argus initially rolled out the program in August, with plans to showcase the platform this week at NBAA-BACE. A key tenant in its development is the ability to customize the program, he further said. It was important to make the program scalable to the operator “whether they have one airplane or 500 airplanes,” Kuhn said. This is key given Part 135 operators and Part 21 holders of all sizes are anticipating a rulemaking that will mandate SMS programs, he added, noting that regulation is expected to be released at “any time.” While scalable to all sizes of operators, the program “doesn’t stop there,” Kuhn said. “The SMS requirements in aviation are all pretty similar.” The program is designed to be flexible to tailor to “whatever the organization is.” Built on the four pillars of SMS—safety policy, risk management, assurance, and promotion—the platform enables operators to fully implement a program. “That means you have the ability to store documents in your system. It allows for tracking of your operation,” he said, including running flight risk and ground risk assessments. And, Kuhn added, “The operator has the ability to track their trends to review and analyze what is happening in their operation.” The SMS team is continuing to work on further integrations with more tools anticipated to roll out over the next year, he said, noting that there already is an integration for Aviation Safety Action Programs. While Argus moves to Prism SMS, it is taking steps to wind down Prism Armor, which Kuhn described as a predecessor program but one that is not as scalable and customizable. Thus, Argus is in the process of transferring clients to the SMS platform, in addition to adding new ones, and “the feedback on the system so far has been phenomenal,” he said. As Argus has transitioned to the new program, inquiries about it have jumped by as many as five or six times over “what would be normal” for its products, it said. But Kuhn also noted that while “we have a brand that was well established within this segment of the industry, you also have this looming [FAA] SMS mandate coming out, which I think is also leading to an influx of inquiries for us.” Kuhn believes those inquiries, for now, are from the “early adapters” but will grow as the final requirements are released and operators fully understand what to expect with the SMS mandate. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-10-15/argus-unveils-customizable-sms-platform IBAC To Offer New IS-BAO Workshop Format in 2024 • Initial and recurrent special advance bookings available for IS-BAO workshops at NBAA-BACE The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has restructured the workshops for its International Standard for Business Aircraft Operators (IS-BAO) safety program to an initial and recurrent format for operators, auditors, and program support affiliates. This week at NBAA-BACE, the IBAC/IS-BAO team is offering a show special for IS-BAO initial and recurrent workshops beginning early next year. “This new format is an evolution of our traditional workshops and aligns with other initial and recurrent training programs that operators are accustomed to,” said IS-BAO program director Andrew Karas. “We listened to these operators and auditors and restructured the syllabus to save them time, minimize repetitiveness, and offer a more tailored and rich recurrent course that includes current hot topic safety issues and protocols that affect us all.” First launched in 2002, the IS-BAO program is a globally recognized voluntary safety standard. More than 1,500 business aircraft operators around the world have adopted the IS-BAO standard since then. IS-BAO fundamentals and auditing workshops have long been an important part of this safety accreditation program. Taking part in the initial workshop is required for at least one operator company representative when initiating a new IS-BAO registration or for anyone seeking new IS-BAO auditor or program support affiliate (PSA) accreditation. It is also recommended that new safety officers enroll in this course. The initial IS-BAO course includes a 12-hour virtual curriculum and free access to the IS-BAO Protocol Standardization (IPS) online course for one year. Created in partnership with Aviation Safety Solutions, IPS employs a step-by-step approach to review each IS-BAO section, with explanations provided for every protocol requirement. IBAC's IS-BAO recurrent course is a six-hour virtual instructor-led session. It covers the recently updated Audit Procedures Manual (APM), as well as IS-BAO protocol updates, hot topics, and a post-audit process review. “I am excited for the new format and know that the attendees will appreciate the fresh approach we’ve taken to delivering the material in a timely manner,” said Katherine Hilst, IS-BAO operations manager and workshop lead. "Keep in mind—we can bring these courses to your operation as a live and in-person option with adequate notice.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-10-15/ibac-offer-new-bao-workshop-format-2024 Baldwin Adds Features to Safety Management System • Mapping, FDM/FOQA data integration now included in Baldwin SMS • Baldwin Safety & Compliance Mapping Feature • Mapping and new FDM/FOQA data integration features are now included in Baldwin’s SMS. Baldwin Safety & Compliance (Booth C12026) has added a new mapping feature and the ability to integrate GE Aviation flight data monitoring (FDM)/corporate flight operational quality assurance (C-FOQA) event information to its safety management system (SMS) programs. According to Baldwin, both are significant additions to its platform, offering its SMS program users more capability to manage their aviation operations safely, efficiently, and with accountability. Baldwin’s mapping feature “allows users to effortlessly pinpoint and monitor the exact location of safety-related events,” said Jason Starke, the company’s director of safety and product development. “A key advantage of this flexible tool is the ability to monitor data collected from a wide range of sources, including safety reports, Aviation Safety Action Program, Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing, and FOQA. “The real value lies in the long-term analysis to determine recurring safety hazards and patterns unique to specific areas," he said. "When events such as precise bird strikes, severe turbulence, and course deviations can be plotted on a map, the ability to analyze the data visually and find patterns that can then be mitigated is a huge step forward for the aviation community.” Similar safety advantages can be garnered from Baldwin’s integration of GE C-FOQA data into its SMS program. Through this feature, “a multitude of flight event data points will seamlessly flow into the Baldwin safety system to analyze, track, and monitor safety events,” Starke said. “By integrating the data collected from the Flight Data Monitoring system into the Baldwin system, the data goes from being statistics to data that can be analyzed and tracked for future monitoring of the health of the flight department,” he added. “The Baldwin suite of tools will seamlessly handle the imported data for reporting and analysis that can be used to review or expand key safety performance indicators and assurance charts.” These two enhancements are just the latest introduced by Baldwin for its SMS program. In April, the company also released an external stakeholder safety and quality reporting tool. According to Starke, “receiving external safety reports can help companies of any size improve safety through widening the scope of hazard identification beyond the organization.” Thus, this tool was developed so external stakeholders can participate as an additional hazard and risk identification mechanism for organizations. Baldwin said this feature is tied to the recent FAA Part 5 SMS notice of proposed rulemaking, along with the company’s support for the interface management concept advocated for SMS by ICAO. The external stakeholder safety and quality reporting tool is now available to all Baldwin SMS subscribers, with activation through customer support. Once the tool is active, each client is given a unique URL associated with external reporting that can be shared to enable access by external stakeholders. Baldwin said it employs robust security to protect client data for this tool, as well as for all of its products. The company said it plans to roll out additional SMS program integrations with C-FOQA and scheduling providers, along with enhancements to data analysis and visualization, later this year. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-10-15/baldwin-adds-features-safety-management-system How Secure Is Airplane Wi-Fi? Airplane Wi-Fi keeps you connected while you're tens of thousands of feet in the air. It's convenient, but is it secure? Airplane Wi-Fi lets you keep communicating with work colleagues, playing internet games, or browsing websites when you’re tens of thousands of feet in the air. There's no doubt that it's convenient, but is it actually secure? Are you safe using Wi-Fi on an airplane? How Do Planes Connect to Wi-Fi? Planes provide Wi-Fi to passengers in two main ways. The first involves a network of orbiting satellites linked to stations on the ground. An antenna on top of the aircraft allows it to connect to the nearest satellite and provide internet access to passengers. The second option is to use air-to-ground connections. They also rely on plane-mounted antennas, except these signals come from cell towers on the ground. Both these methods are unreliable because coverage can become spotty when satellite or cell tower coverage is less abundant. However, satellite connections are comparatively less likely to experience the problem because they provide better access along the flight path. Is Airplane Wi-Fi Secure? Public Wi-Fi is handy, but it comes with numerous cybersecurity risks. The same is true for airplane Wi-Fi. A hacker could infiltrate the connection and steal all the transmitted information. Sitting on a crowded plane also increases the chances of someone stealing private information by simply watching over your shoulder as you type. Some Wi-Fi hacks occur when cybercriminals set up fake connection points. They often use vague but realistic-sounding names, such as “Delta Guest Network.” Then, hackers can steal all the associated information once someone starts using those connections. Legitimate in-flight Wi-Fi providers have also made cybersecurity blunders. Some prove that airplane Wi-Fi risks have been around for a while. Consider the 2015 Fast Company coverage of a legitimate in-flight Wi-Fi company issuing fake SSL certificates to users. Security risks further arise because many people fly while going on vacation. Hackers hope they will be more relaxed in those instances, reducing the chances they’ll follow cybersecurity best practices. Some Airbnb scams happen similarly, too. Hackers hope victims will be so excited about upcoming getaways that they fall for fake Airbnb listings of nonexistent apartments or those totally unlike their descriptions. The main takeaway is that airplane Wi-Fi is not a safe internet connection method. It’s best to avoid it if you can. Since that’s not always an option, here are some ways to make it more secure. How to Use In-Flight Wi-Fi Safely The first tip is to only use in-flight Wi-Fi for activities that won’t reveal personal information. That means not checking your email, engaging in online banking or shopping, or visiting sites that require your login details. Another way to keep safe is to carefully read all the details associated with the in-flight Wi-Fi. Pay special attention to the connection point name, so you don’t mistakenly use the wrong one. You should also strongly consider using a paid VPN tool. VPNs use remote servers and encryption to make online activities safer. Unfortunately, some free VPNs are not as secure as they seem. Providers may keep logs of your IP address, device type, and online activities. Even if hackers don’t see those things, someone does. Free VPN tools also often lack security features and are easier for skilled cybercriminals to infiltrate. If you often fly or must use in-flight Wi-Fi, take a smart step by budgeting for a paid VPN tool. Read user reviews first and learn about the available features to ensure you choose well. Is In-Flight Wi-Fi Worth the Risk? Besides having the security concerns detailed here, airplane Wi-Fi is usually a fee-based service. Occasions may arise where you deem the service essential. However, if you just want to connect so that time passes quickly during a long flight, think again and be aware of the potential dangers. https://www.makeuseof.com/how-secure-is-airplane-wi/ Emirates Purchases Two Airbus A380 Aircraft From Lessor Emirates has this week purchased two of their Airbus A380 aircraft on lease from Doric Nimrod Air Two Limited for a combined value of $70m. It is understood the two units, being MSN77 & MSN90, are A6-EDP and A6-EDT, two A380s that are already in the airline’s fleet. Using data from Planespotters.net, let’s take a look at the two Airbus A380s that Emirates has purchased from their lessor, Doric Nimrod Air Two Limited. First up is A6-EDP. This aircraft was delivered to the airline back in October 2011. It seats 14 seats in First Class, 76 in Business and 399 in Economy. A6-EDT is the other unit, which was delivered to Emirates back in December 2011. This jet is configured slightly differently. This A380 seats 14 passengers in First Class, 76 in Business, but 427 in Economy, so a more higher density-based aircraft. The lease on A6-EDP comes to an end today, with A6-EDT not until December 2. However, the purchase agreements are in place to hand over ownership to Emirates once both leases of the two Airbus A380 aircraft are completed. Commenting on this purchase was the lessor: “After the sale of the Assets, the Company will continue to own five Airbus A380 aircraft whose leases expire between 1 October 2024 and 30 November 2024.” 2The respective operating leases in respect of those aircraft are expected to continue as contracted between the parties until their expiry.” “The Board wishes to thank both its advisors, Doric and Nimrod, for their advice and assistance in connection with this transaction, and the Company’s Shareholders for their patience and constructive role throughout the Company’s life so far.” “The Board would also like to thank Emirates for the past twelve years of cooperation.” https://aviationsourcenews.com/airline/emirates-purchases-two-airbus-a380-aircraft-from-lessor/ Fayetteville man sentenced to 1 month for lying to FAA about criminal history FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. — A 71-year-old Fayetteville man was sentenced to one month in prison for lying to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During a jury trial in December 2022, evidence was presented that proved that in September 2017, Noah Felice submitted an application to the FAA for an airman medical certificate, which is a certificate demonstrating that a pilot is medically fit to fly an aircraft. On the application, Felice stated that he had no history of criminal convictions and was not receiving medical disability benefits. In fact, Felice had four prior misdemeanor convictions, two of which were for lying about his criminal history on state and local forms. Felice was also receiving several thousand dollars a month from the Department of Veteran Affairs because he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. United States District Court Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also sentenced Felice to serve three years of supervised release following his term of incarceration. As a condition of that release, Felice will be required to remain in home confinement for three months. https://cnycentral.com/news/local/fayetteville-man-sentenced-to-1-month-for-lying-to-faa-about-criminal-history Vistara Airbus A320 jet’s emergency inflatable slide accidentally deploys The Indian carrier Vistara has been forced to delay a flight that was due to leave on October 13, 2023, after the aircraft’s emergency slide accidentally deployed. The Airbus A320 was due to fly from Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) at 8:30 am local time and land at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) one and a half hours later. In a statement on social media Vistara informed that the flight would be delayed and was rescheduled to take-off at 1:30 pm. The airline apologized to passengers and offered them refreshments and alternative flight options. “We confirm that flight UK874, scheduled to fly from Hyderabad to Mumbai on October 13, 2023, is delayed due to an inadvertent slide deployment,” Vistara said in a statement. “Our team is currently working on rectifying the issue as soon as possible.” The airline said that it “deeply regretted” the delay to customer’s journey and that the incident will be investigated to avoid a repeat scenario. It was not clear whether the emergency slide deployed within the aircraft or inside the plane’s cabin. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/vistara-airbus-emergency-slide Curt Lewis