Flight Safety Information - November 6, 2023 No. 215 In This Issue : Incident: Serene B738 at Islamabad on Nov 3rd 2023, a boaring landing : Incident: Argentinas B737 near Cordoba on Nov 5th 2023, engine shut down in flight : Incident: ITA A319 near Rome on Nov 2nd 2023, engine failure : Gulfstream 695A Jetprop Commander 1000 - Fatal Accident (Australia) : Three Incidents Prompt Sao Paulo Airport to Impose Restrictions on Executive Jet Operations : India's aviation watchdog proposes less work, more rest for pilots : The invention that will always stop any plane : Singapore jails Chinese traveller who tried to bribe her way onto flight to Amsterdam : Man detained for trying to open emergency exit on flight : Ethiopian Airlines’ Free Transit Hotel Program : C929 aircraft enters detailed design stage now: COMAC : FedEx tells pilots to switch to American Airlines feeder operator : Pilot Rules: Things You Didn't Know Pilots Do : CALENDAR OF EVENTS : Today's Photo Incident: Serene B738 at Islamabad on Nov 3rd 2023, a boaring landing A Serene Air Boeing 737-800, registration AP-BND performing flight ER-702 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Islamabad (Pakistan), landed on Islamabad's runway 28L when after roll out the crew reported they had struck something on the runway with their nose gear. A post flight inspection did not reveal damage to the aircraft, however, the carcass of a wild boar was recovered from the runway between taxiways F and C (about 1000-2000 meters/3300-6600 feet down the runway). Maintenance checked the aircraft before returning it to service after about 10 hours on the ground. https://avherald.com/h?article=510b5bb7&opt=0 Incident: Argentinas B737 near Cordoba on Nov 5th 2023, engine shut down in flight An Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-700, registration LV-GOO performing flight AR-1471 from Jujuy,PJ to Buenos Aires Aeroparque,BA (Argentina) with 132 people on board, was enroute at FL370 about 130nm northeast of Cordoba,CD (Argentina) when the crew decided to divert to Cordoba reporting a possible fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely on Cordoba's runway 01 about 30 minutes later. Local police reported the crew reported they had lost fuel (fuel leak). The airline denied there had been a fuel leak and stated an engine (CFM56) had failed. Argentina's JST opened an investigation into the occurrence. The passengers were rebooked onto other flights, the majority (about 80) reached Buenos Aires with a delay of about 12 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=510b50b9&opt=0 Incident: ITA A319 near Rome on Nov 2nd 2023, engine failure An ITA Airways Airbus A319-100, registration EI-IML performing flight AZ-1197 from Milan Linate to Reggio Calabria (Italy), was enroute at FL370 near Rome (Italy) when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence. While flying in that turbulence one of the engines (CFM56) failed prompting the crew to shut the engine down and divert to Rome Fiumicino for a safe landing on runway 16L about 25 minutes after leaving FL370. A replacement A319-100 registration EI-IMX reached Reggio Calabria with a delay of about 2:40 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Rome about 27 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5109b579&opt=0 Gulfstream 695A Jetprop Commander 1000 - Fatal Accident (Australia) Date: Saturday 4 November 2023 Time: c. 14:30 LT Type: Gulfstream 695A Jetprop Commander 1000 Owner/operator: Agair Logistics Pty Ltd Registration: VH-HPY MSN: 96051 Year of manufacture: 1982 Engine model: Garrett Turbineo TPE331-10-511K Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Category: Accident Location: 70 km SE of Cloncurry, QLD - Australia Phase: En route Nature: SU Departure airport: Toowoomba Airport, QLD (TWB/YTWB) Destination airport: Mount Isa Airport, QLD (ISA/YBMA) Investigating agency: ATSB Narrative: A Gulfstream 695A Jetprop Commander 1000, operated by Agair Logistics, callsign "Birddog 370", crashed about 70km southeast of Cloncurry, Queensland. The three occupants perished and the aircraft was destroyed. According to preliminary information, the purpose of the flight was for mapping areas of recent bushfire activity in western Queensland and gathering vital terrain data for use during future bushfires. The survey area was not subject to a bushfire at the time. ADS-B data shows that the airplane was cruising at around 28000 ft when it began a rapid out of control descent. At one point, the airplane had an average rate of descent of -9,600 ft/min. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/347569 Three Incidents Prompt Sao Paulo Airport to Impose Restrictions on Executive Jet Operations Sao Paulo’s Congonhas Airport has placed restrictions on its main runway for the operations of executive jets, announced today by airport management entity AENA, the Spanish state-owned company overseeing the airport’s operations. The decision follows closely on the heels of three consecutive incidents involving executive aircraft that led to nearly five hours of cumulative airport closures and substantial operational disruption, including canceled and diverted flights. On October 29, a Cirrus Jet went off-course after a tire burst, followed by a medical turboprop’s landing gear collapse on November 1, and most recently, a Cessna Citation skidding during a stormy landing on November 3. According to AENA’s report to the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC), the aforementioned incidents led to the cancellation of 85 flights, and 14 additional flights had to be redirected to alternate airports. The flight restriction, effective immediately until February 2, 2024, as per NOTAM F4160/23, applies to takeoffs and landings on runways 17R and 35L, affecting all general or executive aviation aircraft with a wingspan under 21 meters, except during meteorological conditions categorized as CAT I. AENA explains that the risk matrix for general aviation incidents at an airport like Congonhas must be reassessed, citing the need to manage infrastructure usage more effectively to ensure operational safety and efficiency. Exemptions and Operations The NOTAM, however, allows for exceptions during CAT I weather conditions, where visibility is at a minimum of 800 meters, essential for the instrument landing system (ILS) equipped on the main runway, which supports safer and more accurate landings and minimizes the need for go-arounds. In practical terms, jets like the Cessna Citation X, Bombardier Challenger 350, Dassault Falcon 2000LX, and Embraer Praetor 500 will still be permitted to land, while visibility conditions allow. Conversely, this NOTAM rules out many popular models from landing on the main runway, including all Bombardier Learjet variants, the Embraer Phenom and Legacy series, and several Cessna Citation models, except under specific visibility conditions. With the need for obtaining a landing slot in advance for specific runways at Congonhas, the restriction may complicate scheduling, as last-minute slot acquisitions are challenging, except during off-peak hours. https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/11/three-incidents-prompt-sao-paulo-airport-to-impose-restrictions-on-executive-jet-operations/ India's aviation watchdog proposes less work, more rest for pilots NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (Reuters) - India's air safety watchdog proposes reduced night work hours and more rest for pilots, among measures to address rising complaints of pilot fatigue, according to draft regulations seen by Reuters on Saturday. The proposal from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation come more than two months after it decided to conduct a review of pilot fatigue data collected during spot checks and surveillance of airlines. The review was launched after an IndiGo (INGL.NS) pilot collapsed and died in August before his flight. Changes would include cutting the maximum flight duty period to 10 hours from 13 hours for pilots operating at night, and increasing the minimum weekly rest period to 48 hours from 36 hours. The directorate did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the draft. Such rule changes are usually circulated for comments from airlines, pilots and other stakeholders before being finalised. While pilot fatigue is a global problem, India is at the heart of the matter as the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with hundreds of planes on order by IndiGo and Tata group-owned Air India. IndiGo, India's biggest airline, has said the pilot who died had a 27-hour break before duty and was in good health. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/indias-aviation-watchdog-proposes-less-work-more-rest-pilots-draft-2023-11-04/ The invention that will always stop any plane • Discover how lightweight pebbles can prevent catastrophic runway overruns and save lives with the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). In the realm of airport safety, a seemingly unremarkable solution is quietly revolutionizing the prevention of catastrophic incidents and saving countless lives. Meet the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), a remarkable invention designed to halt runaway aircraft in their tracks. EMAS consists of a bed of lightweight pebbles that may appear ordinary but are specially engineered to withstand the immense weight and energy of an aircraft. Crafted from materials like expanded polystyrene or polypropylene, these unassuming pebbles work collectively to absorb the aircraft's energy, effectively bringing it to a stop even at maximum speed. With over 100 EMAS systems already in operation across the United States, this innovative technology has demonstrated its capacity to prevent disasters and injuries by safely halting aircraft overruns. The potential to expand EMAS to airports worldwide holds the promise of a safer future for aviation, where these unassuming pebbles play a crucial role in ensuring passenger safety. The development of the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) marks a significant breakthrough in aviation safety, offering a simple yet highly effective solution to prevent runway overruns and their potentially catastrophic consequences. EMAS, comprising lightweight but sturdy pebbles engineered to absorb the energy of an aircraft, has already proven its worth in the United States, with numerous successful cases of halting overrunning planes. The wide adoption of this technology at airports globally could usher in a new era of enhanced safety and peace of mind for passengers, demonstrating the profound impact that unassuming innovations can have on the aviation industry's future. In conclusion, the unassuming pebbles of the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) represent a groundbreaking development in airport safety. Their ability to bring runaway aircraft to a safe stop has already been demonstrated in numerous instances, underscoring the importance of this unassuming yet highly effective technology. As airports worldwide consider adopting EMAS systems, the potential to prevent catastrophic incidents and save lives is becoming a tangible reality, illustrating how simple innovations can have a profound impact on the safety and security of aviation operations. https://interestingengineering.com/ie-originals/ie-explainer/season-5/ep-15-the-invention-that-will-always-stop-any-plane Singapore jails Chinese traveller who tried to bribe her way onto flight to Amsterdam Zeng Xiuying repeatedly tried to hand officials at Changi Airport around US$50 in cash to ‘help her’ board a flight without a valid visa The 52-year-old admitted to attempted bribery but pleaded for a lighter sentence in court, saying that it was her first time overseas A Chinese woman tried to bribe officials at Singapore’s Changi Airport with around US$50 each to let her onto a flight to Amsterdam without a valid visa, a court heard. Zeng Xiuying, 52, and her companion Wu Zhangwang had arrived in Singapore on a flight from Koh Samui, Thailand, on the afternoon of October 16. The pair of Chinese nationals were in transit, with plane tickets for a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight that was headed to the Netherlands at 12.40am on October 17. But they were denied entry to the boarding area after being screened at the departure gate by Suriah Samsi, a KLM agent employed by Sats Security Services, who found that they did not possess valid visas. The airline also decided not to allow the pair to board the flight. Zeng and Wu were told by a Mandarin speaker, Certis Cisco officer Ronald Michael Jansen, that they would not be permitted to board and had to contact the airline for more details. But Jansen later noticed that both Zeng and Wu were still near the departure gate, talking to other auxiliary police officers, and decided to approach them again. When he was near the pair, Zeng put her hand around his shoulder and gave him around US$50, the court heard, asking him to help her speak to the airline to let her board the flight. Jansen repeatedly refused the money and told her that he could not take it. He went to the counter to check again whether Zeng and her companion could board the flight, but the staff there reiterated that they could not. When he returned to speak to Zeng, she gave him her travel itinerary with a bundle of US dollar notes concealed in it. Jansen again rejected the money and left. At some point later, while the pair were still near the departure gate, Suriah asked for Zeng’s passport to ascertain her travel history. Zeng passed the KLM agent her passport along with at least US$50 concealed underneath and asked Suriah to “help her” in Mandarin. The KLM agent rejected the money. During investigations, Zeng admitted that she had tried to bribe both officers so that they could help her and her companion board the KLM flight to Amsterdam. However, she claimed that she had offered them only a single US$50 note – which was seized from her for investigations. In court, Zeng, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lighter sentence as she claimed that she gave the officers the money so that they could help her ask the airline for the reason she could not board the plane. She added that this was her first time overseas. On Wednesday, Zeng was sentenced to four weeks’ jail after pleading guilty to offering a gratification to an agent under Singapore’s Prevention of Corruption Act. Another similar charge was taken into consideration during sentencing. She could have been jailed for up to five years or fined up to S$100,000 (US$73,300), or both. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3240453/singapore-jails-chinese-traveller-who-tried-bribe-her-way-flight-amsterdam Man detained for trying to open emergency exit on flight A man who attempted to open the emergency exit during the descent of a flight on Friday has been detained, local media reported. The incident occurred on Juneyao Airlines flight HO1338, traveling from Kansai International Airport near Osaka, Japan, to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The suspect, surnamed Zhou, allegedly attempted to open the emergency exit during the descent process, as reported by the Shanghai-based media outlet Knews, citing sources from Pudong's airport police department. Quick response from onboard security guards and cabin crew prevented any disruption to the flight. The man has been detained and may face criminal charges. Although modern civil airplanes are pressurized during flights, pressure differences can occur during descent. Lawyer Hu Lei, who specializes in civil aviation-related laws, explained that the exit could potentially be opened if subjected to significant force during descent. Such an event would lead to discomfort for passengers and the possible deployment of emergency slides, jeopardizing the safety of the aircraft. In a similar incident in May, an exit on an Asiana Airlines flight from Jeju to Daegu in South Korea was opened by a passenger before landing, causing strong winds in the cabin and respiratory issues for multiple passengers, leading to hospitalization. Hu noted that such actions may result in civil liabilities if airlines decide to press charges. In more severe cases with significant consequences, individuals could face criminal charges for endangering public security through dangerous means. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202311/05/WS65476d56a31090682a5ec7bf.html Ethiopian Airlines’ Free Transit Hotel Program Ethiopian Airlines has a large global route network through its Addis Ababa hub, as the airline flies to four continents from there. Given the carrier’s complex network, in some cases, passengers might find themselves with an extended layover in Addis Ababa. The good news is that if your layover is long enough, you may be entitled to a free hotel room, which can make your travel experience much more pleasant. In this post I wanted to take a closer look at how exactly the program works. I’ve written in the past about similar programs offered by Emirates in Dubai, by Qatar Airways in Doha, and by Turkish Airlines in Istanbul. This is particularly relevant to me, as I plan an upcoming trip on Ethiopian Airlines (in a separate post I wrote about Ethiopian Airlines’ different kind of business class seats). Basics of Ethiopian Airlines’ stopover hotel program Ethiopian Airlines offers passengers with extended transit periods a complimentary hotel stay. On top of that, eligible travelers receive a complimentary transit visa, free meals, and transport to and from the hotel, as needed. As you’d expect, there are some terms to be aware of when it comes to the free hotel program, so let’s go over all of those details (and thanks to this valuable FlyerTalk thread for clarifying many of the common questions). How long does your connection have to be? In order to get a free transit hotel from Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa, you need to have a layover of 8-24 hours. You wouldn’t be eligible if you’re spending less or more time in Addis Ababa than that. Unlike with some other airline stopover programs, there’s no need to take the next flight in order to be eligible for this. In other words, you could intentionally book a connection for a later flight to receive a stopover hotel. Interestingly when paying cash you’ll notice that Ethiopian ordinarily charges $70 (or so) extra for a longer connection, but that doesn’t apply when redeeming miles. Get a free stopover hotel with an 8-24 hour connection Who is eligible for a free stopover hotel? Ethiopian Airlines has fairly few restrictions beyond the above regarding who is eligible for a transit hotel. It doesn’t matter if your ticket was issued by Ethiopian Airlines or a partner airline. Furthermore, award tickets qualify, regardless of which program you book through. The only major restriction is that you must be both arriving and departing on Ethiopian Airlines on a single ticket to be eligible for a stopover hotel. So you can’t be arriving on one airline and departing on another airline. How do you book your free stopover hotel? There’s no need to book your stopover hotel in advance. Instead, when you check-in for your Ethiopian Airlines flight, you should be given all the vouchers that you’ll need. This includes the vouchers for the hotel, meals, transportation (if applicable), a transit visa, and more. In the event that you don’t get these vouchers at check-in (for whatever reason), you can proceed to the transit desk in Addis Ababa, and they can help you there. Do you need a visa for entering Ethiopia? This stopover hotel program automatically comes with a transit visa, so you’ll be given the documentation required for that. This applies regardless of your nationality. If you plan on staying in Ethiopia for longer than 24 hours (not in conjunction with this program), then standard visa policies apply. What stopover hotels does Ethiopian Airlines use? Ethiopian Airlines doesn’t guarantee which hotel you’ll be given with your stopover package. However, the most common option seems to be the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, which is owned by the airline. The Ethiopian Skylight Hotel is the largest hotel in Africa, and has both an in-terminal location, and a location past immigration. So while it’s no guarantee, hopefully you’re accommodated at one of those, and they’re both pretty well regarded. The location in the terminal is probably ideal if you have a shorter connection (closer to eight hours), where you just want to maximize rest, while with a longer connection (closer to 24 hours), you might like to get into town, see some sights, etc. Bottom line Ethiopian Airlines offers an excellent complimentary hotel program for those with long layovers in Addis Ababa. You can take advantage of this with a layover of 8-24 hours, regardless of the cabin you’re traveling in. You’ll also receive meals, transportation, and a transit visa. This can be a great way to get some rest between flights. This is definitely a program worth understanding if you find yourself with a long layover in Addis Ababa. https://onemileatatime.com/guides/ethiopian-airlines-free-transit-hotel/ C929 aircraft enters detailed design stage now: COMAC The C929 aircraft has entered its detailed design stage, Qi Xuefeng, deputy general manager from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), said during a recent meeting updating progress on the new aircraft model. Qi made the remarks at the meeting held by Centre Area Transportation Authority on Friday in Beijing. The C929 is the first intercontinental jet passenger aircraft produced in China fitted to hold between 250 to 350 seats, and with a range of 12,000 kilometers. Earlier on October 23, Wu Guanghui, chief designer for the domestically developed C919, said that carbon emissions for the C929 will be cut by 60 percent compared to older models, adding that C929 aircraft is now undergoing preliminary design and will adopt a series of measures to reduce its environmental impact. Qi also outlined the latest improvement in Chinese produced aircraft, including that the C919 was operating in line with expectations, flying more than 1,000 hours. And, a total of 116 ARJ21 aircraft, made by COMAC, have been delivered to date, carrying more than 9.6 million passengers, and have become the backbone of China's regional aviation market, Qi added. The C929, originally called CR929, reportedly was initially conceived as a joint effort between China and Russia. Chinese experts said that the name change reflects that the C929 passenger aircraft is now being independently developed by China, with Russia participating as a system and technology provider. https://www.ecns.cn/business/2023-11-06/detail-ihcutfqs4213995.shtml FedEx tells pilots to switch to American Airlines feeder operator Airline has hundreds of excess pilots as freight volumes contract FedEx Express is encouraging pilots at its cargo airline to take jobs at a regional passenger carrier because there isn’t enough shipping demand to fill everyone’s flying schedules. It’s the latest step over the past 12 months to align FedEx’s air network with a sharp decline in package volumes and improve efficiency as the parcel sector settles to a lower post-pandemic baseline that could last years. Pat DiMento, FedEx’s vice president of flight operations and training, said in a Friday memo to flight crews that the airline is “significantly overstaffed” and can’t guarantee pilots more than the minimum number of hours set in their contracts. He urged pilots to consider taking a job with American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) subsidiary PSA Airlines, which is offering FedEx pilots an expedited interview process for a captain position, a $250,000 signing bonus, and a direct path to flying for American. Mainline U.S. passenger airlines have successfully replenished cockpit crews after the COVID crisis at the expense of feeder airlines, many of which have curtailed operations because of the shortfall in qualified pilots. “While I understand this is not something that will appeal to every pilot, for those of you who are frustrated with current flight hours, career progression, or have just been on on the fence about available options, you may consider this unique opportunity enough of an incentive to make a move,” DiMento wrote. He said American Airlines has enjoyed good relations with FedEx for several years and understands the quality of FedEx pilots. FedEx (NYSE: FDX) has about 5,800 pilots on its payroll. DiMento told Express crew members in July that the company has a surplus of about 700 pilots, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by FreightWaves. The number of excess pilots is likely more than that now given the continued deterioration in the parcel and freight markets. The effort to trim the pilot workforce follows UPS in August offering voluntary severance packages to senior pilots to eliminate nearly 170 positions. Many UPS pilots (NYSE: UPS) are working the lowest amount of hours allowed. Pilots who sign on with PSA will fly Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft with about 65-70 seats, and earn a starting wage of $150-$217 per hour, depending on seniority, according to the PSA recruiting page. PSA’s website says pilots can move up to American Airlines in five years. It’s not clear if FedEx pilots will be on an expedited track. A FedEx pilot, speaking on condition of anonymity, called DiMento’s letter “incredibly insulting” to veteran crew members who can go straight to a large airline. “For those of us who have been with the company before COVID, we are shocked at the level of mismanagement we see and management’s disdain for their pilots. Pat DiMnto’s letter suggesting that pilots at the-once pinnacle of airline pilot jobs go to a regional airline for five years speaks volumes to their tone deafness about the situation they created. Someone flying for FedEx could go to a legacy flying job — Delta, United, American — and have a much higher quality of life and pay and benefits,” he said in an email exchange. The source said pilots are making less money because flying hours have been drastically reduced in the face of lower volumes, with available flying slots spread thin among the pilot group. His regular pay has been cut back by 30% this year and pilots no longer can secure trips that pay a premium for working on a scheduled day off. The captain said he knows colleagues who have left for other airlines. Under the existing contract, FedEx pilots are paid between $81 and $336 an hour based on factors such as the type of plane they fly and their seniority. Pilots typically have a minimum guaranteed 68 hours of work a month. A junior first officer will earn nearly $102,000 per year while a senior captain collects more than $363,000 in pay and benefits per year flying an average number of hours. A captain who works 40 years at FedEx can expect to make slightly more than $20 million in pay, benefits and retirement over his or her career compared to the industry average of about $18.8 million, according to analysis by aviation analyst Kit Darby. But the total compensation now lags Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air LInes, American Airlines, United Airlines and UPS, where a pilot can make $24 million. The career value at FedEx for 30 years of service is better than Alaska, Delta and Hawaiian, but still behind the others. Freight correction The FedEx memo underscores how financially difficult the market has become for freighter operators in the past 18 months, with volumes and rates hovering at or below 2019 levels. Global air cargo volumes are down more than 8% since the first quarter of 2022 and rates were 40% to 50% lower for most of the year versus 2022 — a function of weak manufacturing, a slow drawdown of excess inventories, retailers’ reluctance to restock because of uncertainty about consumer behavior and macroeconomic crosswinds. Lufthansa Cargo on Thursday reported cargo revenues were down 43% in the third quarter and that it broke even after a $352 million operating profit during the same period in 2022. Other publicly listed passenger airlines, many of which don’t operate freighters as does Lufthansa, have seen logistics revenues decline 30% to 40% so far this year. The global cooling in freight transportation, including airfreight, led Air Canada to cancel an order with Boeing for two 777 freighters. The squeeze is especially acute for many smaller all-cargo operators that don’t have the massive customer base, diversified business lines and strong balance sheet of a FedEx or UPS. Many small and mid-tier cargo airlines are coping with attrition as pilots switch to major passenger airlines. FedEx management is prioritizing stringent cost controls across the company, with a goal of eliminating $4 billion in structural costs by June 2025, including $700 million in annual savings from flight operations. The cost initiative includes accelerating the retirement of aging MD11 freighters, reducing main deck cargo capacity flown by its purple tail fleet and outsourcing more activity to third parties, increasing point-to-point flying, downgauging aircraft size on certain routes and diverting more volume to the ground network. FedEx plans to phase out another 29 aircraft in the fiscal year ending May 31. The combined moves are intended to give FedEx more operational flexibility and allow it to densify its hub-and-spoke system. In April, FreightWaves reported that FedEx will close pilot bases in Cologne, Germany; Anchorage, Alaska; and Los Angeles as well as its heavy maintenance hangar at Los Angeles Airport. It will shift the maintenance functions to its Indianapolis regional hub because the transition to a more modern fleet requires less maintenance capacity. FedEx’s mainline jet fleet grew from 385 in 2018 to 417 in 2022 and now stands at 413, according to the latest company statistics. The airline continues to receive new 767 and 777 widebody freighters under a long-standing order with Boeing. The pilot source blamed FedEx for taking on too many contracts during the pandemic boom and rapidly expanding infrastructure when it couldn’t maintain high service levels, a situation previously echoed by equity analysts. FedEx and UPS domestic flight utilization underperformed against seasonal comparisons for September, according to research by Morgan Stanley transportation analyst Ravi Shanker. FedEx’s flight count tumbled 9% month over month vs. minus 7% on average and is down 11% year over year. UPS domestic flight activity fell 12%, double the normal September dip from August, and remains down 19% against 2022. “A slowing economy, large customer contract negotiations and slowing pilot retirements with an already overmanned crew force have forced me to accept the fact that I might be seeing more folks that I once personally called to offer a position at FedEx accept offers elsewhere,” DiMento said in the memo. “I have no doubt that FedEx will continue to navigate the turbulent market conditions that are inherent in this business and will remain a great place to work for pilots and others in the long term.” Contract talks restart FedEx pilots in July rejected a tentative agreement on a new contract that would have increased pay by 30% over five years. Many pilots complained the deal offered weaker job protections, insufficient back pay, bad alternative pension options and pay increases below those recently achieved by pilots at American, Delta, Hawaiian and United airlines. FedEx, for its part, has said the agreement addressed some quality-of-life issues and offered protections, including making it harder for the company to furlough pilots. In late October, the FedEx Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) elected Capt. Billy Wilson as chairman through March 2025. He replaces Chris Norman, who stepped down after failing to push through the new labor agreement. Norman, in a Sept. 14 letter to members, alluded to the poor state of relations between pilots and management. “FedEx pilots do not trust FedEx when it comes to their job security due to a combination of factors, particularly management’s public statements concerning greater reliance on third-party lift. This concern will need to be addressed by developing new contractual language, the negotiation of which may be highly contentious. Beyond that, the FedEx pilots are very concerned about management’s attempt to drift away from providing a compensation and quality-of-life package that is competitive with those contracts reached this year at other major U.S. carriers,” he said. Upon taking over as head of the governing body for FedEx’s unionized pilots, Wilson said a statement, “Our compensation should be commensurate with our peers while including excellent quality of life with our work rules and a retirement that will provide for pilots in the future. During COVID, FedEx pilots stood tall delivering for the company and the world while many of our pilots suffered in inhumane and substandard living conditions including lockdowns and exposure to unknown chemicals. We paid a heavy price for this while the company made historic profits. “I am committed to bringing all of our pilots together as we reestablish negotiations capitalizing on our diverse views, which only make us stronger, as we move toward a contract we have earned.” ALPA and FedEx are scheduled to hold an initial bargaining session Nov. 6-7 in Memphis, Tennessee, under the auspices of the National Mediation Board, said union spokeswoman Courtney Bland. Scott Struminger, CEO of Aviation at FedEx, said in September at a freighter forum for aircraft buyers and sellers in Seattle, that FedEx offers better work conditions than commercial passenger airlines because they typically fly to a destination, rest for a few hours, and return instead of making multiple stops throughout the day. The FedEx pilot who did not want to be identified said colleagues who were hired during the COVID boom feel misled about job perks and never needing to look for another job. “They realize the hype surrounding this job wasn’t true and the quality of life and pay are not what they were sold. And because the process of switching airline jobs and dealing with the loss of seniority at the next airline is so onerous, many feel trapped and that they made a mistake coming to FedEx. I believe there’s a lot of regret, but many are keeping it to themselves because they don’t want to admit they made a career mistake,” he told FreightWaves. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-tells-pilots-to-switch-to-american-airlines-feeder-operator Pilot Rules: Things You Didn't Know Pilots Do Why pilots think deeply about time. SUMMARY • Pilots must carefully manage their time, especially when facing delays or extended duty periods, to comply with regulations and ensure a smooth operation. • Fuel management is crucial for pilots, as they need to consider delay fuel, engine warm-up time, and their planned takeoff amount to avoid any complications during the flight. • Pilots closely monitor their duty time limits and work with ground controllers to expedite their taxi or find alternative routes when nearing their maximum duty time to get passengers to their destinations on time. Piloting is a career governed by rules and regulations. There are lots of "behind the scenes" things that pilots do to abide by the rules, and keeping track of time for various regulatory reasons provides some interesting insights. Here are a few time-related "pilot rules" that you might not think about as a passenger. Keeping an eye on the clock On a typical day, pilots care about time as much as anyone with a schedule to keep. Their eyes are on the clock as the hotel van or scheduled departure time approaches. Once the flight pushes back, time isn't much of a factor, assuming that operations are normal. However, delays and extended duty periods necessitate that pilots stay very wary of the time. Fuel management A flight that pushes back from its gate on time might be subject to an extended ground delay at its departure airport if the destination is experiencing operational difficulties, such as thunderstorms. In all likelihood, the pilots and dispatchers have foreseen this issue and are working under the assumption that it'll take extra time to get airborne due to ATC traffic management. From time to time, departure delays will pop up unexpectedly, and controllers tell pilots to expect a "release" in a specific three-minute window sometime in the future. If delay fuel hasn't been loaded, pilots keep a very close eye on the clock as a cue for engine starting and taxiing. For instance, a flight from San Jose, California to Los Angeles International might receive a 25-minute ground hold after pushback for traffic management. Pilots will taxi out on one engine and delay the second engine start until a few minutes before their takeoff time. Pilots need to be careful to build in enough warm-up time (engines need to run for 2-3 minutes after starting and before takeoff) considering that they might be released up to three minutes earlier than originally quoted by the controller. It would be easy enough to start both engines well in advance of their takeoff time, but when fuel is tight, pilots need to manage their taxi-out burn very carefully. If they started both engines too early, they might burn enough fuel to take them below their planned takeoff amount. In this scenario, a return to the gate would be required, and their departure time would be voided. Duty time Pilots watch the clock with increased attentiveness as they near their duty period limits. A daily maximum duty time is determined by many factors, including the start time and number of flights that day. The bottom line is that duty limitations cannot be violated. Based on conversations with their schedulers, dispatchers, and their own regulatory knowledge, pilots know what their latest wheels-up time is to operate the flight legally. If they can't get off the ground before this time, they must return to the gate. WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAYOVERS AND REST REQUIREMENTS? Layover Length: What Determines How Long Crews Stay Overnight? Folks within the industry usually accommodate crews on the verge of timing out. The affected crew will usually let the ground controller know, and they will do everything possible to expedite their taxi or cut lines. At larger airports, pilots who only have a few minutes and are stuck in a line of planes waiting for departure might receive an intersection takeoff, performance allowing, or cross-over the runway and taxi in a non-standard route to get to the pole position for departure. There's a tacit understanding among pilots and controllers that whatever can be done should be done to get passengers to their destinations that day. Time flies The lion's share of flights are flown on or ahead of schedule. During normal operations, time isn't as crucial for pilots to consider because their flight plans and block times have factored in everything from taxi out, in-flight, taxi in, and minor delays. It's when the operation takes an irregular turn that pilots have to focus on the clock to ensure they're working within the rules. https://simpleflying.com/little-known-pilot-rules-guide/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • CHC Safety & Quality Summit 2023: November 14 – 16, 2023 • 2024 Women in Aviation International Conference - March 21-23 (Orlando) • 2024 ACSF Safety Symposium – Air Charter Safety Foundation - April 1-3, 2024 • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) Curt Lewis