Flight Safety Information - November 28, 2023 No. 227 In This Issue : Incident: India A320 at Kathmandu on Nov 25th 2023, suspected tail strike : Incident: Ryanair B738 at Pescara on Nov 25th 2023, lightning strike : NBAA Publishes Runway Excursion Prevention Guide : Passengers trying to open plane doors in the air leads South Korea to change airline rules : A350 uncommanded altitude deviations persist despite control unit update : AINsight: Wait, Wait, Don’t Take Off! : Around 200 aircraft likely to be grounded by March: Capa India (India) : A Southwest Airlines passenger opened an emergency exit and climbed onto a plane’s wing while the aircraft was at the gate : Navy, USMC Update Efforts to Salvage P-8A Aircraft, Protect Reef : An Amazing Record of Safety — Air Travel : United Airlines On Pace To Break Pilot Hiring Record : Flying taxi firm Lilium receives EU approval for its electric jets : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: India A320 at Kathmandu on Nov 25th 2023, suspected tail strike An Air India Airbus A320-200, registration VT-EXE performing flight AI-216 from Kathmandu (Nepal) to Delhi (India), was departing Kathmandu's runway 02 when an unsual sound upon rotation for takeoff prompted the crew to suspect a tail strike. The crew stopped the climb at FL220 and returned to Kathmandu for a safe landing on runway 02 about 35 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Kathmandu about 53 hours after landing back (standing Nov 28th 2023 local Nepal time). The airline reported that a post flight inspection revealed no trace of a tail strike, maintenance thoroughly checked the aircraft and returned it for flight on Sunday (Nov 26th 2023). https://avherald.com/h?article=511b56e1&opt=0 Incident: Ryanair B738 at Pescara on Nov 25th 2023, lightning strike A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EKG performing flight FR-5471 from Bucharest (Romania) to Pescara (Italy), was on approach to Pescara when lightning struck the aircraft. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Pescara's runway 22. The aircraft remained on the ground in Pescara until Nov 27th 2023, then positioned to Milan Bergamo and resumed service. https://avherald.com/h?article=511b50f3&opt=0 NBAA Publishes Runway Excursion Prevention Guide Veering off of or overrunning runways is a leading cause of business jet accidents NBAA has released a publication to help business aircraft crews avoid runway excursions, meaning overrunning or veering off a runway during takeoff or landing. The 25-page document addresses psychological and physical factors that can cause excursions and explains how to address them in training programs and safety management systems. Runway excursions are the leading cause of accidents in business aviation, according to the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF). In fact, FSF said that business jets were involved in 79 runway excursions between 2017 and 2022, accounting for nearly 41 percent of accidents in this segment during this period. Six of the excursions were fatal, resulting in 18 deaths. “The runway excursion guide…contains a series of practical steps that flight crews and operators can take to improve airport safety in a proactive manner. The guide is also designed to be a reference for a number of factors to consider, along with links to more in-depth reading from industry resources,” said NBAA manager of flight operations Noah Yarborough. In addition to causing the loss of life, runway excursions substantially damage or destroy airplanes, leading to costly litigation, harming the reputation of operators and pilots, and fueling significant increases in insurance premiums, NBAA said. To further call attention to runway safety, NBAA is hosting a free webinar, “Elevating Runway and Surface Safety in Business Aviation,” tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-11-27/nbaa-publishes-runway-excursion-prevention-guide Passengers trying to open plane doors in the air leads South Korea to change airline rules The new pre-takeoff warnings will be introduced after a series of incidents • One incident happened in May onboard an Asiana Airlines flight South Korean airlines will be made to warn passengers against opening aircraft doors according to new operating guidelines. The new regulation comes after a series of incidents in which passengers have tried to open the emergency exits while flying. The Korean government said that the guidance was “included in a draft amendment of the operating guideline for airline operators” and that this is under review until 14 December, during which time a public announcement should be made, reports JoongAng. It’s unclear whether this rule applies to foreign airlines flying in and out of South Korea. The Independent has contacted the Korea Office of Civil Aviation for further information. The new advice comes after a series of incidents in which passengers have tried to open the emergency exits while flying. In May, a man succeeded in opening the door of an Asiana Airlines flight shortly before it landed in Daegu. Twelve people were injured, and police later said that the man in his thirties faced up to 10 years in prison. The 10-year penalty is in line with South Korea’s aviation security laws, applying to any passengers who interfere with “plane entrances, emergency exits or devices that hinder the security or operation of an aircraft”. More recently, a woman was arrested for trying to open a plane door on a flight from New York to Incheon. She was apprehended by members of the cabin crew and later tested positive for crystal meth. Currently, South Korean airlines are required to make announcements that smoking, certain use of electronic devices and any actions that prevent the cabin crew from performing their duties may result in arrest and prosecution. Similar incidents have happened throughout the year, with a plane door bursting open on a chartered flight in Brazil in June, and the same thing happening on a flight operated by Russian carrier IrAero in January. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/open-plane-door-flight-south-korea-b2454683.html A350 uncommanded altitude deviations persist despite control unit update Airbus is investigating further uncommanded altitude changes on A350 twinjets despite modifications implemented after a similar situation emerged on the type two years ago. A350 crews had previously been given a revised altitude-selection procedure after investigations found that a failure of the altitude-selector dial – located on the flight control unit – could result in changes to the target altitude. This target could change by 100ft or 1,000ft, depending on the interval setting, and lead to unexpected deviation from the intended vertical trajectory. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency stated in 2021 that incidents of unwanted altitude changes by the auto-flight system had been traced to a manufacturing flaw on the altitude-selector knob’s encoder. Airbus previously developed an updated flight-control unit to address the issue Airbus developed a new flight-control unit standard – known as H6.0 – which enabled operators to withdraw the amended altitude-selection procedure on updated aircraft. But EASA has newly disclosed that “several operators” have reported uncommanded altitude changes on aircraft which have undergone the modification. “Airbus is investigating the cause of these reported events,” says the regulator. It states that the temporary procedure revision for altitude selection is being reinstated, to cover all A350-900s and -1000s – including those with the updated flight-control unit – as a precautionary measure. EASA says its directive is an interim step and it could instruct operators to take further action. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/a350-uncommanded-altitude-deviations-persist-despite-control-unit-update/155965.article?utm_campaign=FG-INTERNATIONAL-COLLINS-281123-DE&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email&utm_content=newsletter AINsight: Wait, Wait, Don’t Take Off! Runway incursions involving business jets are on the rise as crews misunderstand line up and wait instructions Runway safety has been a hot topic this year. In fact, year-to-date data shows an increase in the most serious type of runway incursions—Category A incidents, where a collision between two aircraft was narrowly avoided. Aviation safety organizations, including the NTSB and FAA, are concerned with the increase in the number of near collisions and many have feared the worst—an actual collision between two aircraft. On October 24, these concerns were realized when two business jets collided at Houston Hobby Airport (KHOU). During this event, the crew of a Hawker 850XP on takeoff roll struck a Cessna Citation Mustang that was landing on a crossing runway. Alarmingly, the Hawker pilots did not follow ATC instructions to “line up and wait” (LUAW) and ignored two pleas by the local tower controller to abort the takeoff run before impact. Both aircraft were substantially damaged. Fortunately, none of the occupants were injured. According to the NTSB preliminary accident report, the tower controller instructed the pilots of the Hawker to LUAW on Runway 22. In a post-accident interview, the Hawker pilots said they believed that they were cleared for takeoff when they took off. The FAA record of communications indicates that, as the Hawker approached Runway 22, the ground controller instructed the pilots to monitor the tower frequency. Just prior to reaching the runway, the V-speeds were no longer displayed on the flight display screens, the Hawker pilots stated in the post-accident interview. Shortly afterwards, the tower controller instructed the Hawker crew to LUAW on Runway 22, which the pilots acknowledged. The tower controller did not provide any traffic advisories to the Hawker, nor was he required to. A Problem in Houston At this point, the Cessna Citation was on a short final to Runway 13R that intersects Runway 22. Each runway is 7,602 feet long, and the intersection of the two runways is approximately halfway down Runway 22. As the Hawker approached Runway 22, it unexpectedly began its takeoff roll. At this point, another controller in the tower working clearance delivery noted the Hawker’s movement and notified the tower controller. The tower controller immediately instructed the Hawker crew to “stop, hold your position.” There was no response. Again, the tower controller yelled, “Hold your position, stop,” to which there was no response. The pilots may have been distracted. They stated that “they had a rudder bias alert and pitch trim alert that they had to resolve during the takeoff roll.” (Note: a lack of V-speeds displayed and two aircraft systems alerts annunciated suggests the aircraft was not properly configured or ready for takeoff.) Of interest, the Hobby tower controllers noticed the movement of the Hawker a few seconds before the Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-X) installed at the airport did. Less than two minutes after beginning its unauthorized takeoff, the Hawker’s left-wing tip struck the empennage of the Citation. Both pilots of the Hawker stated that they did not see the Citation until about one second before impact, and they described the feeling as a “thud.” The Citation pilot stated that he did not see the Hawker and described the impact as a “sound similar to a truck tire blowing.” After the aircraft came into contact with each other, the Hawker crew continued their takeoff and immediately returned to Houston Hobby, landing on Runway 13R. The Citation cleared the runway. A post-accident examination revealed significant damage to the Hawker’s left winglet and wing leading edge surfaces. The Citation had significant damage to its empennage, including the tail cone, rudder, and other structural elements. Boston Close Call Eight months before the runway collision in Houston, another business jet took off without a takeoff clearance at Boston Logan International Airport (KBOS). In this case, on February 27 the flight crew of a JetBlue Embraer 190 averted disaster by initiating a go-around while over Runway 04R at KBOS to avoid a Bombardier Learjet 60 that began its takeoff from intersecting Runway 09 without a takeoff clearance. The aircraft passed within 30 feet of each other. According to the NTSB’s investigation report, the KBOS tower controller instructed the pilot of the Learjet to LUAW on Runway 09, while the JetBlue crew had been cleared to land on Runway 04R. ASDE-X alerted the tower of the impending conflict and the tower controller issued go-around instructions to the JetBlue crew. The JetBlue pilots initiated the go-around during the landing flare over Runway 04R, before reaching the Runway 09 intersection. The JetBlue pilots recalled hearing ATC instructions for an aircraft to LUAW on Runway 09 and then seeing an aircraft cross in front of their aircraft, moving from left to right, before their go-around. According to the Learjet captain, he “heard a clearance that seemed to be line up and wait” and responded to that clearance, “but in his mind, they were cleared for takeoff.” He added that they took off, and during cruise, they received a message from ATC with a phone number to call upon landing at their destination. After landing, KBOS tower informed the pilots that they had taken off without clearance, causing an airliner to conduct a go-around. During a subsequent interview with the NTSB, the Learjet captain said, “I cannot understand what happened to me during the clearance. The only thing that comes to mind is that the cold temperature in Boston affected me…I was not feeling completely well and had a stuffy nose.” For whatever reason, both he and the first officer thought they were cleared for takeoff. Line Up and Wait The FAA adopted the phraseology “line up and wait” in September 2010. These words replaced “position and hold” to align with ICAO standards. This was in response to an NTSB recommendation to help curb the number of runway incursions that may have contributed to differences in terminology. According to the FAA, LUAW is an air traffic control procedure designed to position an aircraft onto the runway for an immediate departure. The instruction to LUAW is used to instruct a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway and line up and wait, not take off. Often a pilot is instructed to LUAW and advised of a reason or condition such as wake turbulence or traffic on an intersecting runway. Once that reason or condition is satisfied, pilots should expect an immediate takeoff clearance unless advised of a delay. If a pilot is uncertain about any ATC clearance or instruction, they must contact ATC immediately. Likewise, if a takeoff clearance is not issued in a reasonable amount of time (90 seconds), a pilot should query ATC. FAA analysis of accidents and incidents involving aircraft holding in position on a runway indicates that, with two minutes or more of elapsed between the time of the ATC instruction to LUAW, the resulting event is likely either a “land-over” or go-around. A Case for Defensive Flying The FAA suggests that situational awareness can be enhanced during LUAW operations if pilots monitor ATC instructions/clearances issued to other aircraft. Pilots should also listen carefully if another aircraft is on a frequency that has a similar callsign, and they should pay close attention to communications between ATC and other aircraft. Care must be taken to not inadvertently execute a clearance or instruction for another aircraft. Similar-sounding callsigns are problematic. Pilots should always scan the full length of the runway for traffic before taxiing onto or crossing a runway. This is especially critical during LUAW operations at night or in reduced visibility conditions. Remember to make your aircraft visible to ATC and other aircraft. If cleared to LUAW, turn on all exterior lights except takeoff/landing lights. At larger airports, when two or more runways are active, aircraft may be instructed to LUAW on multiple runways. Listen up! The FAA advises you to listen closely for your callsign and runway. Be alert for similar-sounding callsigns and always acknowledge with your full callsign. Again, when in doubt, ask ATC for clarification. ATC is obligated to inform aircraft holding in position of the closest aircraft within six flying miles on approach to the same runway—not crossing runways. Pilots should take care to note the position of landing traffic. ATC will also advise the landing traffic when an aircraft is authorized to LUAW on the same runway. Runway incursions are a threat to aviation safety. Earlier this year, I covered many of the fundamentals in a blog that supports the planning, communication, and coordination needed to avoid runway incursions. Recent incidents suggest that, as an industry, we have a long way to go. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-11-27/ainsight-wait-wait-dont-take Around 200 aircraft likely to be grounded by March: Capa India (India) • The grounded fleet is likely to include more than 90 aircraft of IndiGo, followed by 25-30 aircraft each of the Tata Group-backed Air India and low-cost carrier SpiceJet • Overall, the sector is likely to have a fleet size of close to 790 aircraft by March 2024, of which 588 aircraft are likely to be operational • Overall, the sector is likely to have a fleet size of close to 790 aircraft by March 2024, of which 588 aircraft are likely to be operational, • New Delhi: The Indian aviation industry may see 200 grounded aircraft by the end of this financial year, aviation consultancy firm Capa India has said in its mid-year outlook. The grounded fleet is likely to include more than 90 aircraft of India's largest airline IndiGo, followed by 25-30 aircraft each of the Tata Group-backed Air India and low-cost carrier SpiceJet. In addition, 54 aircraft of Go First have been grounded since the airline suspended flights in May. Currently, over 160 aircraft across Indian airlines are grounded. The grounded fleet size is expected to increase due to IndiGo, which currently has 55 aircraft on the ground, according to CAPA. Overall, the sector is likely to have a fleet size of close to 790 aircraft by March 2024, of which 588 aircraft are likely to be operational, the aviation research firm said. Further, CAPA India also foresees delays in aircraft deliveries for India's youngest airline Akasa Air. In terms of the total number of flyers, the domestic and international passenger traffic for the current financial year are expected to be around 155 million and 70 million passengers respectively. As per the Airports Authority of India and Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Indian airports registered 57 million international passengers and the domestic air passenger traffic stood at 136 million passengers in 2022-23 (Apr-Mar). "Supply chain issues are now a critical risk, and could have a deeper and more strategic impact than anticipated. This could for example impact the ability of mainline scheduled airlines to operate the UDAN flight," Capa India said. In fact, the wet lease aircraft fleet in India could be around 30 by March as IndiGo and SpiceJet are inducting capacity on this model whereby an aircraft is leased along with crew. In terms of airfares, the research firm has noted the return of normalcy despite a shortage in capacity. Average fares declined by 12.7% on year in September quarter and while some weakness is expected in the March quarter, full-year yields are likely to be around 3% lower on year. Softer yields are expected to result in higher losses for full-service carriers such as Air India and Vistara than the earlier projected levels. "Growth momentum in the market will continue. International operations are coming into greater focus and will receive an increasing share of planned capacity," Capa India noted. https://www.livemint.com/industry/around-200-aircraft-likely-to-be-grounded-by-march-capa-india-11701096367732.html A Southwest Airlines passenger opened an emergency exit and climbed onto a plane’s wing while the aircraft was at the gate A man on a Southwest Airlines flight opened an emergency exit door and climbed onto the plane’s wing Sunday while the aircraft was at a gate at New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport, authorities said. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said it responded to a disturbance at the airport after a 38-year-old man opened the emergency exit door to access the wing and jump out. The plane was stationary and had not departed the gate at the time of the incident, and the man was stopped by personnel on the ground and held until deputies arrived. Passenger Zed Webster told CNN he heard what sounded like an argument between two passengers across the aisle from him and was concerned they might start a fight. He said he took out his phone and began to record the incident. As soon as he pressed the record button, Webster said the passenger unlatched the lock to the emergency exit door and jumped out the window. “I was terrified,” he said. Webster’s video shows several passengers evacuating the plane and rushing through the jetway. Later, the video shows what appears to be an airline employee jumping from the jetway onto the tarmac to assist colleagues in subduing the passenger. When deputies made contact with the passenger on the tarmac, he appeared “incoherent and not fully aware of his surroundings,” the sheriff’s office said. The man was “transported to a local hospital for evaluation as the deputies believed he was suffering from a mental health emergency,” according to the sheriff’s office statement, and he remains hospitalized. “There is no indication that the man left anything on the plane, nor was he found in possession of any weapons of any type,” the statement continued. “He is not expected to face any criminal charges locally, however the investigation has been referred to federal authorities. No one was injured during the incident.” Chris Perry, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, told CNN in an email, “We commend our flight and ground crews for their swift action and apologize to our Customers for their inconvenience.” After a delay, the flight departed using a different aircraft, according to Perry. Webster said the delay was about two hours and the flight arrived in Atlanta shortly before midnight. https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/us/southwest-passenger-climbs-onto-wing-new-orleans/index.html Navy, USMC Update Efforts to Salvage P-8A Aircraft, Protect Reef Navy mobile diving and salvage crews spent Sunday emptying the fuel tanks of a Navy P-8A Poseidon airplane that overshot the runway at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station in Hawaii last week, officials said Monday. The Whidbey Island, Wash.-based P-8A had about 2,000 gallons of fuel as it attempted to land on Nov. 20 at the Marine airfield, on Oahu’s northeast windward coast, said Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, who the Navy assigned as incident commander. “The team executed a slow and methodological de-fueling process,” Lenox said Monday at a press conference live-streamed from the air station. “This was done to minimize the risk of environmental harm in the follow-on salvage process.” “The team extracted all the fuel that they could get out of those tanks. This process was completed successfully without any fuel being released into the bay,” he said, and later noted that a P-8A “has never been de-fueled underwater.” Experts and information at the scene determined that the plane’s fuel system “is still intact,” and no fuel had leaked into the bay, Lenox said. The recovered fuel was tested today and “had no water in it,” he said, noting that “we could put that on another plane and it’d be good to go.” Lenox, who commands Carrier Strike Group 3, said the team “has been singularly focused on developing a salvage plan for this aircraft that prioritizes the safety of personnel and the environment here in Kaneohe Bay.” State environmental representatives were on site and observed the containment and de-fueling work, he said. He promised better communications with the local community, which has been leery of Navy pronouncements following contamination at Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Three Navy pilots along with a crew of two officers and four enlisted personnel with “The Skinny Dragons” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 were aboard the P-8A aircraft as it landed at Kaneohe Bay just before 2 p.m. local Hawaii time. For undetermined reasons – the investigations into the cause are underway – the aircraft ran off the runway and into the shallow bay. While the work continues, the squadron deployed another P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to Hawaii to pick up the mishap aircrew’s homeland defense mission in support of U.S. 3rd Fleet, Lenox said. That aircraft along with other fixed-wing aircraft at Kaneohe Bay currently are flying missions out of Hickam’s airfield, officials said. None of the nine people aboard the aircraft – tail number 561 – were injured, officials said. The aircraft remains intact, and officials said are hopeful that it can be recovered and eventually return to service. The P-8A remained in the bay where it landed, its landing gear intact and the aircraft remaining buoyant, Lenox said. “Navy divers arrived here within hours and worked quickly to stabilize the aircraft to minimize the risk of a spill,” he said. Next came the work to remove fuel from the aircraft. The divers returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to familiarize themselves with the Poseidon and the aircraft’s fuel systems, and they practiced connecting and disconnecting the fuel lines, he said, “so they weren’t doing it for the first time in the water.” That de-fueling work was done with the assistance of Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Md. After removing the fuel – two tanker trucks arrived early Sunday to receive the fuel – Navy divers then conducted a hydrographic survey to assess the coral and marine environment around the aircraft, which ended up in a shallow part of the bay. “The survey is helping the Navy plan a recovery operation that minimizes impact to the critical ecosystem here in Kaneohe Bay,” said Lenox. Once the on-scene mishap investigation work is done, the aircraft’s salvage and repair will move into high gear. “We will do everything we can to retain operational capabilities of this aircraft,” Lenox said, later adding that “the aircraft is in remarkably good condition, and has full integrity.” Investigations will include the naval safety investigation and the command investigation, a legal investigation known as the JAGMAN and guided by the Judge Advocate General’s Manual. “An Aviation Mishap Board is here on site,” he added, and the administrative investigation is led by a senior, experienced maritime patrol and reconnaissance aviator outside the squadron’s chain of command. “The Navy is committed to learning from this investigation, regardless of the cause,” he added. Aircraft Intact, Recovery Options The aircraft is upright in the water, sitting on its landing gear with its left engine resting on coral, officials said. Cmdr. Mark Anderson, MDSU-1’s commander, said the aircraft is sitting atop coral and sand. “There’s some positive buoyancy there,” with the aircraft moving slightly with the tide. Team that responded to the scene that first day began to assess the stability of the aircraft. Dive teams have taken underwater images of the aircraft in the bay, which helped in the containment response and in assessments and planning for its recovery and any impact to the coral, Anderson said. Coral damage is believed to be minor, but more imagery is being collected as the assessments continue. The Navy is exploring two options to remove the P-8A from the bay and restore it to flight. “Extensive technical analyses from both salvage and aircraft engineering specialists are integrated into developing this plan,” Lenox said. “Our collective goal is to remove the aircraft as soon and as safely as possible.” The Navy is working to gather equipment “we need to be able to safely lift this out of the bay and onto the runway” without harm to the environment and while preserving the capability of this aircraft, he said. With the aircraft’s tanks emptied of fuel, salvage and recovering crews are working on two courses of action to get the P-8A back onto land. One option would be “to float it and get it within range” of a crane at the airfield, Lenox said. If that can be supported, the aircraft would be lifted and moved to the runway, “and it would settle onto its landing gear, which is still in good condition.” In another option, he said, the aircraft would be floated but then be “rolled” up onto the runway, using cylinder-type bags arriving Wednesday from a company in Louisiana. Immediate Initial Response A sailor with Company 1-3, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, prepares to dive and detach a fuel hose after completing defueling operations on a downed U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon in waters just off the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Nov. 26, 2023. US Marine Corps Photo The nine personnel aboard the P-8A Poseidon “safely evacuated on their own,” Col. Jeremy Beaven, commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said during the press conference. Help arrived on the scene within minutes and moved to aid the crew and to contain any potential leakages of aircraft fuel into the bay, officials said. A “boom boat” with 800 feet of boom was at the crash site “within minutes,” emplacing the first booms within 30 minutes, said Beaven, a veteran naval flight officer commander. Teams used bulldozers on the runway to help secure the P-8A from further movement. “Coincidentally… three days before the incident, my waterfront operations team was doing a pre-planned drill,” he said. Over those days, “they were on the water here on the bay for several hours, and I was on the boats for close to two hours.” Those experts were able to step in quickly and assist in that initial response, Beaven said. “It really helped in those initial moments,” he added, noting “our response was quick – within minutes.” In the days since, he said, the Marine Corps and Navy have continued coordinating through the base’s emergency operations center with local, state and federal agencies to synchronize the response and plans to recover the aircraft and do any remediation to the bay and its coral reefs. Base teams had quickly deployed containment booms around the aircraft to contain any hazardous fluids like fuel, Beaven said. “Those actions happened right around the 30-minute mark.” Since then, two additional layers of booms were placed, along with “absorbents” to gather any leakage, he said. Teams with the Navy’s Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 1 arrived from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and secured the P-8A to ensure the aircraft didn’t move “and create any further damage to the reef,” he added. https://news.usni.org/2023/11/27/navy-usmc-update-efforts-to-salvage-p-8a-aircraft-protect-reef An Amazing Record of Safety — Air Travel Close calls, but no major crashes. This past week air travel was expected to have almost 30 million passengers flying over the Thanksgiving holiday. If you take a typical 737 aircraft with 215 passengers, that means there were approximately 139,534 flights in the United States. All those people and planes in the air and no major accidents. In fact, for an accident, we have to go back to January 2000 when an Alaska Airlines plane crashed. That was the last major airliner accident in the continental U.S. I’m not wishing ill of anyone, but yikes, that is an amazing safety record when you consider all the risks (human and mechanical) that could have caused something to happen over those 23 years. Maybe the airlines and the system are good or we collectively have been very lucky. Many a close call for sure! Take the “Miracle on the Hudson” for instance. There have been recent warnings that the air traffic control systems need updating and there is a shortage of air traffic controllers. It would seem to me that portion of the commercial air system is stressed. https://www.govtech.com/em/emergency-blogs/disaster-zone/an-amazing-record-of-safety-air-travel United Airlines On Pace To Break Pilot Hiring Record The number one US airline for pilot recruitment for three years running. SUMMARY • United Airlines looks set to top its previous record for pilot hires and is on track to exceed its goal of hiring 2,300 pilots this year. • United's heavy investments in pilot training have played a key role in its recruitment drive. • The airline is set to embark on a significant fleet expansion, adding up to 230 new aircraft next year, which will require a substantial number of new pilots to operate them. • United Airlines is on course to exceed its record year of pilot hires registered in 2022. Last year, United recruited 2,500 new pilots, a figure almost equaled this year as of the end of October. United continues pilot recruitment streak According to a report by AirlineGeeks, United hired a record number of pilots in a single month this October and is on course to beat its highest-ever yearly hiring total. The carrier brought in 270 pilots in October and has recruited a total of 2,296 new pilots over the first ten months of 2023. A United Airlines spokesperson told AirlineGeeks, "In support of our United Next plan, we set out to hire 2,300 pilots this year alone and are on track to exceed that total. We hired over 260 new pilots in October, which is one of [our] highest months ever, and are already working on filling new hire pilot classes in early 2024." The carrier is reaping the rewards of making heavy investments in its training and recruitment. This includes its United Aviate Academy (UAA) in Arizona, which launched in January 2022, while United will also invest $100 million in expanding and upgrading its pilot training center in Denver, the largest such facility in the world. United's pilots recently agreed to a new contract with a $10 billion increase in pay, following similar bumper deals agreed at American and Delta. Its workforce expansion includes a lot more than just pilots - in fact, by the end of July, United had hired over 11,000 new employees, including flight attendants, technicians, and customer service. 230 new aircraft joining next year United will embark on a sizable fleet expansion drive next year, adding up to 230 new aircraft. Naturally, the carrier will need thousands of new pilots ready to operate its inbound planes. This will include its brand-new fleet of Airbus A321neos - the carrier is set to operate its first commercial A321neo service imminently, with a flight from Houston to Chicago penciled in for November 30. United's full fleet expansion plan will ultimately see it induct around 700 new aircraft within the next decade. Hiring trends Data from Future and Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA) shows that United is the number one US airline for recruitment this year, closely followed by Delta Air Lines. This was also true in 2022 when United recruited a total of 2,500 pilots, and in 2021, when it hired around 1,280 new pilots. However, there has been something of a slowdown industry-wide in September and October as more airlines gain a grip on their shortages. While the pilot shortage overall is easing off, airlines are struggling to maintain enough qualified captains. This is because mainline carriers are not allowed to recruit captains directly - to get around this, airlines are promoting first officers to captain positions much faster than usual. https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-pace-break-hiring-record-2024/ Flying taxi firm Lilium receives EU approval for its electric jets • Air taxi firm Lilium has been granted EU approval to design and operate its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles globally. • Lilium was awarded “Design Organization Approval” by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. • It’s a key milestone for the industry, which has been working for several years to get such vehicles ready for commercialization. Lilium, a German air taxi firm, has received regulatory approval to design and operate its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, the company said Monday. Lilium was awarded “Design Organization Approval” by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, a special condition license that grants the company the ability to design and manufacture its aircraft in lieu of formal rules for the industry having been agreed and implemented. Alastair McIntosh, Lilium’s chief technology officer and head of design organization, said the approval is effectively a “license to operate” for the firm. “Receiving Design Organization Approval from EASA further motivates us on our path to commercialize the revolutionary Lilium Jet,” McIntosh said in a statement Monday. Luc Tytgat, acting executive director of the EU agency, said it was “setting the right rules for operations and taking care of the environmental elements including noise, while of course ensuring that high safety standards are met.” “At the same time, we are wary of creating barriers to entering this new market and we have worked in partnership with Lilium, against a demanding timeline. I would like to congratulate Lilium on achieving this Design Organization Approval, which advances Europe’s electric aviation activity,” he added. It’s a key milestone for the industry, which has been working for several years to get such vehicles ready for commercialization. Flying cars have long been the stuff of fiction. From “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” to “The Jetsons” and “Blade Runner,” popular culture has been filled with the idea of cars taking to the skies for decades. Technologists and venture capitalists have over recent years pumped billions of dollars into ventures aiming to produce flying taxis — as yet with little tangible success. In Lilium’s case, its vehicles are skewed more toward domestic intercity travel rather than flights across countries. The Lilium Jet uses multiple small propellers driven by electric motors to provide lift during takeoff and landing, as well as thrust during the cruise phase. Once ready for commercial flights, the Lilium Jet will be able to travel 300 kilometers in an hour after a single charge — the equivalent of a journey from London to Manchester in England, U.K. Lilium, which was founded in 2015 by four friends from the Technical University of Munich in Germany, wants to launch commercial flights by 2025. The company faces stiff competition from major aerospace players Boeing and Airbus , as well as German start-up Volocopter, which is also working on a vertical takeoff and landing air taxi. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/27/flying-taxi-firm-lilium-receives-eu-approval-for-its-electric-jets.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 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