Flight Safety Information - November 10, 2023 No. 219 In This Issue : Incident: Fedex MD11 near Seattle on Sep 23rd 2023, hydraulic fault : Accident: Westjet B38M enroute on Oct 21st 2023, loss of cabin pressure after both packs failed : A shortage of air traffic controllers is hurting safety, aviation experts warn Senate : Near-misses at Austin's airport prompt City Council to accelerate safety measures : PC-24 Loss of Control Incident Under Investigation : Missing An-2 aircraft found in Russia's Chukotka, all on board rescued : Court says aircraft lessors can access insurance documents for planes trapped in Russia : Airplane Makes Forced Landing After Film Shoot Melts Windows : FAA Issues Airplane Windshield Heater Warning : Authorities investigating flight from Baltimore to Atlanta following threat of explosive device : Aeroflot appeals for preferential loans for airlines : Boom Supersonic Announces Milestones Including Taxi-Testing Its XB-1 Demonstrator Aircraft : 193 UPS Pilots Take Buyouts, Regional Offers Soft Landing : US FAA naming panel to address pilot mental health issues : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Fedex MD11 near Seattle on Sep 23rd 2023, hydraulic fault A Fedex Federal Express McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, registration N589FE performing flight FX-6021 from Seattle,WA to Anchorage,AK (USA) with 2 crew, was enroute at FL400 about 30nm west of Victoria,BC (Canada) when the crew received a "HYD 3 ELEV OFF" indication followed by a decrease of the #3 hydraulic quantity and decided to declare emergency and return to Seattle. On approach to Seattle the crew attempted a normal gear extension to no avail, consulted with the checklists and performed an alternate gear extension. The aircraft landed without further incident and was towed to the apron. The Canadian TSB stated: "During cruise, the crew received a HYD 3 ELEV OFF alert followed by a decrease in the hydraulic fluid quantity in the No. 3 hydraulic system." and reported: "Maintenance retorqued the hydraulic B-nut, replaced both engine driven hydraulic pumps, and replaced 4 hydraulic manifold filters." https://avherald.com/h?article=510e81e6&opt=0 Accident: Westjet B38M enroute on Oct 21st 2023, loss of cabin pressure after both packs failed A Westjet Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration C-GDDR performing flight WS-2251 from Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) to Calgary,AB (Canada), was climbing through about FL350 out of Puerto Vallarta when the crew received a left hand pack caution indication. While working the related checklist the right hand pack caution light illuminated and a cabin altitude warning occurred. The crew actioned the related checklist and found the cabin pressure uncontrollable. The crew donned their oxygen masks, declared emergency and initiated an emergency descent initially to FL240, subsequently to 14,000 and 13,000 feet. The crew consulted with dispatch and decided to divert to Phoenix,AZ (USA), where the aircraft landed normally and taxied to the apron. The Canadian TSB reported 2 people received minor injuries. https://avherald.com/h?article=510e8023&opt=0 A shortage of air traffic controllers is hurting safety, aviation experts warn Senate WASHINGTON — A series of close calls on runways across the United States has gotten the attention of aviation experts — and a key Senate committee that oversees the industry. Safety experts and union leaders told a Senate Commerce subcommittee Thursday that a shortage of air traffic controllers is leading to fatigue and distraction, likely contributing to a growing list of close calls at major airports this year. The aviation safety system is "showing clear signs of strain that we cannot ignore," said Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Safety Transportation Board, which is charged with investigating near collisions and other safety incidents. The FAA is investigating a near-miss between two passenger planes at JFK airport "Air traffic controllers are being required to do mandatory overtime," Homendy testified at the hearing. "It ends up leading to fatigue and distraction, which is exactly what we're seeing as part of these incident investigations. And it all just comes down to the shortage of staffing." Rich Santa, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said that many air traffic facilities are short-staffed. Mandatory overtime, including 6-day workweeks and 10-hour shifts, are routine, he told the subcommittee. "It's unsustainable," Santa testified. "The answer is not continuing to burden us with more fatigue, and continuing to burden us with more effort and work. It's hiring the right amount of controllers" so that our facilities are not understaffed. The volume of air travel has rebounded sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the Federal Aviation Administration scrambling to hire and train enough air traffic controllers to keep up with demand. In June, the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General found that 77% of critical air traffic control facilities were short-staffed. Near misses and other mishaps are setting off alarm bells in the aviation industry The FAA is working to "hire, train and certify as many controllers as possible," said Tim Arel, the Chief Operating Officer of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization. "While we have a long way to go, many of the facilities are much healthier than they were previously," Arel told the committee. But some senators are skeptical that the FAA is doing enough to address the staffing shortage. "At this rate, it would take years for the FAA to hire enough controllers to meet the need," said Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the ranking Republican member of the Senate Commerce Committee. Cruz asked Arel if the FAA's training facility in Oklahoma is sufficient, and whether it would help to add a second training site. "The greatest challenge is not the physical space" at the academy, Arel said. "It's the number of retired controllers, either military or FAA, that are available to provide instruction," and are willing to relocate to teach at the academy. Senators from both parties expressed deep concerns about the current situation. "Our nation is experiencing an aviation safety crisis," said Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who was deployed to Iraq as a helicopter pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard. "Near-misses are happening way too frequently, and I refuse to be complacent in waiting to act until the next runway incursion becomes a fatal collision." https://www.npr.org/2023/11/09/1211838624/air-traffic-controllers-shortage-close-calls-senate-safety-near-miss-senate Near-misses at Austin's airport prompt City Council to accelerate safety measures A 30% growth in airport traffic over pre-COVID levels has put a strain on air traffic controllers. With the nation’s critical shortage of air traffic controllers in the spotlight on Capitol Hill on Thursday, City Council unanimously adopted a measure to beef up safety at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Council ordered Aviation Department staff, who run the publicly owned airport, to fast-track the rollout of a system that would direct planes as they’re pulling in and out of the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Right now, no one’s playing traffic cop. The so-called "Ramp Control Program" had been in the works since last year with a planned deployment sometime around 2025. Now, a temporary system will fill the gap, possibly launching by the end of the year. Airport officials must now immediately notify the City Council and airport commission when a near-miss or other serious event happens. The resolution by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes follows a year of close calls in the sky and two deaths on the ground at ABIA. “The seriousness of the critical incidents we’ve had at the airport … has prompted this resolution for us to take action,” Fuentes said after the vote. The city expects 22 million travelers to pass through ABIA this year. That would be more than double the 10 million from just a decade ago. The resolution calls on city staff “to routinely engage with the Air Traffic Control Tower to discuss and mitigate safety risks.” Air traffic control is the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration. ABIA officials and politicians have clashed over how much the city can affect air safety. Austin has no power over the airspace or runways at the airport, but the city “will remain diligent in working with the FAA and other federal agencies,” interim Assistant City Manager Robert Goode wrote in a memo to the mayor and council members this week. The memo sought to push back against accusations that the city wasn’t doing enough to boost safety at the airport. For example, Goode said the reason ABIA lacks a ground radar system was because the FAA stopped deploying the system before Austin was big enough to qualify. The system, which exists at 35 of the largest airports in the country, helps air traffic controllers know exactly where planes are located on the ground. The FAA is seeking next generation technology for ground monitoring, but has no plans to buy anything yet. Once the FAA does acquire new technology, the city will try to secure the ground monitoring equipment for ABIA, Goode said. For some officials, the survey of safety efforts is coming frustratingly late. “We have been asking for safety measures and for a briefing from staff [for months],” Airport Advisory Commission Chair Wendy Todd said at this week’s meeting of the 11-member panel appointed by Council. “We want to be your partners in moving this along quickly.” Workers doing maintenance at ABIA. Two airport employees have died in apparent accidents on the tarmac this year. The union representing air traffic controllers is applauding the City Council's action, saying local safety measures and support for a bill in Congress to reauthorize FAA funding will help strengthen the system. Staffing at Austin’s air traffic control tower has not kept up with ABIA’s rapid growth over the past few years, said Blake Futrell, an air traffic controller at ABIA and a representative of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, in a letter to Council. “I support the City of Austin and their efforts to create more barriers to catastrophe in our ‘Swiss Cheese’ model,” Futrell said, referencing a theory on risk aversion. “In a complex system, such as air traffic control, hazards are prevented from catastrophe by a series of barriers.” Thursday's Council vote came as a panel of U.S. senators heard top federal officials sound the alarm about a dangerous shortage of air traffic controllers nationwide. A February incident at ABIA in which a FedEx jet almost crashed into a Southwest Airlines plane with 128 people on board was cited as a symptom of the crisis. The senators were told the pace of controller hiring is so slow that it would take another 10 years just to reach the staffing targets from a decade ago. “Absolutely, I am worried about safety,” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said in response to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the ranking member on the committee. “Air traffic controllers are being required to do mandatory overtime, and what happens with mandatory overtime?” Homendy asked rhetorically. “It ends up leading to fatigue and distraction, which is exactly what we're seeing as part of these incident investigations.” https://www.kut.org/transportation/2023-11-09/austin-airport-safety-abia-near-misses-planes PC-24 Loss of Control Incident Under Investigation Aircraft suddenly lost 1,000 in altitude while climbing through 24,000 feet Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into a November 3 in-flight incident involving a privately operated, Canadian-registered Pilatus PC-24. The TSB said the crew of the light jet declared an emergency after an in-flight “loss of control” incident and landed uneventfully at Kelowna International Airport in British Columbia. According to Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network (ASN), after departing Vancouver, “tracking data show a sudden loss of altitude of nearly 1,000 feet as the twinjet was climbing through FL240.” Registration data for the 2020-model aircraft (S/N 192) show it is registered to Mark Anthony Group, an international drinks company based in Vancouver. Since 2020, ASN has recorded four incidents involving PC-24s. One of the more serious incidents occurred on Dec. 9, 2022, in the UK when a German-registered PC-24 owned by Platoon Aviation and operated by Volkswagen AirService suffered an uncommanded pitch down due to a loss of elevator control, causing the autopilot to disconnect. The aircraft was controllable using pitch trim until the elevator became usable, but there was possible obstruction due to icing, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said. The AAIB’s investigation into the incident is ongoing. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-11-09/pc-24-loss-control-incident-under-investigation Missing An-2 aircraft found in Russia's Chukotka, all on board rescued MOSCOW, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The An-2 aircraft, which had been reported missing, has been located in Chukotka in Russia's Far East, and all three people on board are currently being evacuated, local governor Vladislav Kuznetsov said Friday. "The missing plane has been found. According to preliminary information, all three people are alive; however, they have received injuries of varying degrees," he said. The governor added that the passengers would now be transferred to a mining camp in the Shaktersky settlement and further evacuated on a special flight as soon as weather conditions allow. The plane was reportedly transporting cargo from Pevek to Polyarny, but no contact was made with it at the scheduled landing time. https://english.news.cn/20231110/0d8a208f57654839ad93a4ec58d24969/c.html Court says aircraft lessors can access insurance documents for planes trapped in Russia The Court of Appeal (CoA) has upheld a finding that several Dublin-registered international aircraft leasing firms are entitled to certain documentation from insurers who have allegedly refused to provide indemnity for the loss of planes detained in Russia. The aircraft in question, valued at over €1bn, were not returned when the companies sought their returns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The actions have been brought in six sets of proceedings by companies including SMBC Aviation Capital, Global Aviation and Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin), BOC Aviation, Silver Aviation, CDB Lease Finance and GY Aviation. Their actions are against several international insurers for declining to cover losses under either “all risks” for “war risks” policies. The insurers include Lloyds, Swiss Re International, Chubb European Group, Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers (Europe) and AIG Europe, Tokio Marine Europe and Taiping General Insurance Zhejiang Branch Co. The insurers deny for various reasons that the war risk cover was engaged following the invasion. In a ruling on a preliminary issue raised in the actions earlier this year Mr Justice Denis McDonald found that the plaintiff groups were entitled to the discovery of certain disputed documentation from the defendant insurers. The materials include documents relating to notices of cancellation in respect of aviation assets in Russia, Ukraine, Crimea and Belarus from February 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022. The plaintiffs claim that they need the material in order to progress their claims. The defendants had opposed the application, and had argued that discovery of the material was not necessary. The insurers appealed that decision to the CoA on grounds including that the application for discovery of the material in question amounted to an “impermissible fishing” exercise of allegations that have not been pleaded by the plaintiffs. On Thursday, the CoA unanimously dismissed the appeal. Giving the court’s decision Ms Justice Caroline Costello said the aircraft were subject to lease agreements between one or other of the various firms and Russian airlines. Following the imposition of EU sanctions on Russia, the firms sought the return of the aircraft, but it has not been possible to recover them, she said When they called on the insurers to confirm cover for the aircraft, the defendants declined to do so, they claim. The fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ms Justice Costello said, has been “immense and felt throughout the world”. The parties taking the actions “are just part of that fallout”, she said adding that it is the plaintiffs’ cases that the vast majority of the aircraft leased to Russian airlines have been unlawfully retained in that country. She said that the appeal was being dismissed on grounds that the material sought did not amount to impermissible fishing by the plaintiffs. https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/court-says-aircraft-lessors-can-access-insurance-documents-for-planes-trapped-in-russia/ar-AA1jGouf Airplane Makes Forced Landing After Film Shoot Melts Windows An Airbus A321 suffered significant damage to its cabin windows due to excess heat from film lights used the previous day, according to a report from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The damage was discovered shortly after takeoff on a flight from London Stansted Airport to Florida, forcing the aircraft to return to Stansted. The A321 was being used for a complex film shoot that required illuminating the interior cabin to appear like a sunrise. Powerful Maxibrute 12 film lights were positioned on both sides of the fuselage for 4-5 hours each, focused on the windows just aft of the overwing exits. During the next flight, the flight crew observed a loud noise and flapping window seal around an altitude of 15,000 feet after departure the next day. Forced to return to land, it was found that several acrylic window panes were melted or completely missing. Investigators believe the 12,000-watt film lights were placed closer than the 10-meter minimum distance recommended by the manufacturer. This led to extreme window surface temperatures, deforming and detaching the acrylic panes from their seals. The inner pane provides critical structural integrity, and damage at high altitude could have explosive decompression consequences. Fortunately, the aircraft was able to descend and land safely with no injuries. But heat damage was also found on the right overwing exit windows and horizontal stabilizer, showing how excessive lighting can critically weaken aircraft structures. This occurrence highlights the risks of ambitious film shoots around airplanes. Aircraft materials have definite heat tolerances that lighting crews must consider. While the visual effects may be stunning, obviously, the safety of the aircraft and passengers absolutely must come first. The AAIB continues to investigate the specific causes in conjunction with the manufacturer Airbus. But several lessons are already clear for filmmakers: • Follow manufacturer guidance on minimum light distances. This is especially critical for aircraft structures. Have an aircraft expert on set to help. • Monitor surface temperatures on lit objects. Infrared thermometers can help identify if heat is building to dangerous levels. • Use lower intensity lights when possible. • Allow adequate cooling time for aircraft between shoots. • Consult with aircraft operators and pilots beforehand who understand the aircraft and its vulnerabilities best. This avoidable incident shows what can happen when film crews underestimate or are simply unaware of the very real risks. Aviation safety demands a high level of diligence and care around such complex machines. https://fstoppers.com/news/airplane-makes-forced-landing-after-film-shoot-melts-windows-648824 FAA Issues Airplane Windshield Heater Warning The Federal Aviation Administration issued an Airworthiness Directive to Honda Aircraft Co. regarding faulty windshield heater mechanisms in one model of Honda airplanes. The FAA directed the manufacturer to revise the airplane flight manual and quick reference handbook for Honda Model HA-420 airplanes to account for a defect in the wiring for the windshield heater until the affected windshield is replaced. The agency received a report of in-flight smoke and fire that started with the windshield heat power wire braid. The FAA issued the directive to prevent arcing of the windshield heat power wire braid, which could ignite the wire sheathing, sealant, and windshield acrylic, causing possible smoke and fire in the cockpit. The modified procedures for windshield heat operation remain in place until the affected windshield assemblies are replaced. https://glassbytes.com/2023/11/faa-issues-airplane-windshield-heater-warning/ Authorities investigating flight from Baltimore to Atlanta following threat of explosive device BALTIMORE -- A flight from Baltimore to Atlanta attracted the attention of authorities after one of the passengers received an AirDrop message about an explosive device aboard the airplane, according to Frontier Airlines. The crew of Flight 1571 followed protocol and notified authorities of the alleged device. The airplane safely landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, airline staff said. Emergency personnel arrived to provide assistance after the airplane landed, according to Frontier Airlines. So far, the flight crew has found no evidence of an explosive device. Officials will conduct a search of the airplane, airline staff said. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/authorities-investigating-flight-from-baltimore-to-atlanta-following-threat-of-explosive-device/ Aeroflot appeals for preferential loans for airlines Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo) has proposed “creating a mechanism” for loans to be provided to Russia’s airlines at preferential rates, given the low margins of their business. Speaking at a round table at the Federation Council, the country’s parliamentary upper house, on support measures for companies with state participation, Mikhail Fedosov, Aeroflot’s deputy chief executive for corporate governance, revealed that the majority state-owned flag carrier’s current banking and bond debt stands at about RUB111 billion rubles (USD1.2 billion) and the average rate for the entire portfolio is at 9%. “Without going into detail, we have very low margins in air transportation - it has been like that historically - so we propose considering the possibility of creating a mechanism for lending to airlines at preferential rates,” he said, as quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax on October 31. “As we understand it, given the current levels of interest rates, and taking into account the peculiarities in the latest changes in the key rate, we will unfortunately be forced to replace loans with new ones that must be repaid at significantly higher rates,” he elaborated. All of Aeroflot’s main spending categories show a clear upward trend, he said, including aircraft leasing and airport tariffs, and jet fuel prices have risen especially sharply. “The most important challenge for us today is probably the high cost of aviation fuel. It is partially smoothed out by the fuel damper mechanism, but we must understand that current prices are at a level of about RUB70,000 [USD760 per metric ton]. This is the average for this year, and at the moment it is about RUB82,000 [USD890], while the prices in 2019-2020 were RUB40,000 [USD434] - an approximately twofold increase. It should be noted that the share of costs for fuel and lubricants for the airline is about 35%,” Fedosov said. Also on October 31, Aeroflot published its financial statements for the first nine months of 2023, showing that it suffered a net loss for the period of RUB94.64 billion (USD1.03 billion), “inclusive of the effect of exchange rate revaluations,” against a profit of RUB58.38 billion (USD634 million) a year earlier. Without taking into account the impact of negative exchange rate differences, it would have posted a net profit, it said. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/134001-aeroflot-appeals-for-preferential-loans-for-airlines Boom Supersonic Announces Milestones Including Taxi-Testing Its XB-1 Demonstrator Aircraft New investment from Saudi Arabia helps boost total funding above $700 million. Aircraft developer Boom Supersonic said it reached milestones in projects including its Overture airliner, Symphony engine, and XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. Boom also announced the closing of a round of investment that increased its total funding to more than $700 million. “Our goal is to bring the world closer together through faster flights,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “We’re excited to collaborate with partners and investors around the globe as we work to realize our shared vision.” Boom’s investors include the Neom Investment Fund, an investment arm of Neom, a sustainable urban development planned in northwest Saudi Arabia. As part of their agreement, Boom and the Neom Investment Fund will explore ways to make the Gulf region more accessible through supersonic flight. Boom also said it remains on track to conduct the first flight of the XB-1 later this year at the Mojave Air & Space Port. The aircraft received an airworthiness certificate from the FAA and recently completed a number of tests, including taxi testing up to 90 knots. Boom said the aircraft will soon make high-speed taxi runs in preparation for its first flight. The company said its Symphony propulsion system, designed for sustainable and economical supersonic flight, has undergone a conceptual design review that “paves the way toward Symphony’s first hardware rig tests planned for 2024.” Construction of the factory designed to build the Overture is also proceeding ahead of schedule, Boom said, with completion expected during the second quarter of 2024. https://www.flyingmag.com/boom-supersonic-announces-milestones-including-taxi-testing-its-xb-1-demonstrator-aircraft/ 193 UPS Pilots Take Buyouts, Regional Offers Soft Landing A total of 193 pilots have accepted buyouts offered by UPS, and they can all walk straight into a job at American Airlines subsidiary PSA. According to Freight Waves, UPS offered the buyouts in August and hoped that 167 pilots would bite. At the same time, PSA, which is actively recruiting pilots, asked UPS if it would be OK to contact the pilots who decided to leave. Those pilots are being offered $250,000 signing bonuses and left-seat jobs in Embraer and CRJ regional jets. As we reported earlier, the same deal is being offered to FedEx pilots. Although the signing bonus sounds generous, it’s not quite a year’s pay for senior captains at UPS. Freight Waves says a 30-year captain on the 747-8 makes about $34,000 a month while FedEx top-tier pilots get about $30,000 a month. All parcel carriers are up against new trends in consumer spending. People are spending more on services and experiences and less on merchandise and instead of having goods shipped, more are ordering online and picking their stuff up at a brick-and-mortar store. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/193-ups-pilots-take-buyouts-regional-offers-soft-landing/ US FAA naming panel to address pilot mental health issues WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday it is naming a pilot mental health committee to provide recommendations to address barriers preventing pilots from reporting mental health issues. The issue has taken on new urgency since an off-duty Alaska Airlines ALK.N pilot last month was charged with trying to disable the engines of a jet in flight and told police afterward he was suffering a nervous breakdown. "Mental health care has made great strides in recent years, and we want to make sure the FAA is considering those advances when we evaluate the health of pilots,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. The FAA said it would also work to address uncompleted recommendations from a July inspector general's office report on pilot mental health, which found the FAA’s "ability to mitigate safety risks is limited by pilots’ reluctance to disclose mental health conditions." National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said Thursday the board is planning to hold forums on Dec. 6 pilot mental health. She said the FAA oversight of pilot mental health is in need of significant reform. "The current system is broken and has been for a really long time," Homendy told reporters, saying pilots are fearful "they could lose their job if you mention you are going to talk therapy." Pilots must report certain mental health conditions to aviation medical examiners, who determine fitness to fly. Homendy said "we don't want to create an unsafe system clearly but mental health is dynamic" and there are ways of dealing with mental health challenges. "It's not leaving people wondering if they are going to get to fly," Homendy said. Air Lines Pilots Association President Jason Ambrosi told Reuters "we need to just destigmatize mental health for pilots... We need to make people understand it is OK for talk to someone." He praised the FAA action to bring a wide variety of experts together including pilots, mental health professionals and regulators "to say where do we need to go." https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-faa-naming-panel-address-pilot-mental-health-issues-2023-11-09/ 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