Flight Safety Information - December 1, 2023 No. 230 In This Issue : Incident: Avianca B788 over Atlantic on Nov 30th 2023, engine shut down in flight : Incident: United B737 at Newark on Nov 28th 2023, nose gear door issue : Commission updates EU Air Safety List and bans Fly Baghdad from flying in the European Union : Federal safety officials publish findings, interviews from close-call at Austin airport : Japan suspends its Osprey flights after fatal crash of U.S. Air Force hybrid aircraft : US FAA wants new airplanes to capture more cockpit data to boost safety probes : Water leaks from overhead lockers on Air India flight in ‘unexpected incident’ : Intelsat to bring multi-orbit Wi-Fi to regional American Airlines jets : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Avianca B788 over Atlantic on Nov 30th 2023, engine shut down in flight An Avianca Boeing 787-8, registration N780AV performing flight AV-11 from Madrid,SP (Spain) to Bogota (Colombia) with 236 people on board, was enroute at FL380 over the Atlantic Ocean about 230nm south of Santa Maria (Azores Islands, Portugal) when the crew shut an engine (Trent 1000) down due to an oil indication, drifted the aircraft down to FL220, turned around and diverted to Santa Maria for a safe landing on runway 36 about 4:45 after departure from Madrid. The aircraft is still on the ground in Santa Maria about 11 hours after landing. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Santa Maria for a safe landing due to a technical indication. An additional operation will be arranged to transfer the passengers to Bogota and is estimated to depart Santa Maria by 11:00L (12:00Z). A replacement Boeing 787-8 registration N786AV, that had just arrived in Madrid as flight AV-26 from Bogota, is currently estimated to depart from Madrid for Santa Maria. https://avherald.com/h?article=511daab7&opt=0 Incident: United B737 at Newark on Nov 28th 2023, nose gear door issue A United Boeing 737-700, registration N21723 performing flight UA-2144 from Newark,NJ to Saint Louis,MO (USA), was climbing out of Newark's runway 22R when the crew reported an issue with their nose wheel door and stopped the climb at 5000 feet. While working the checklists and communicating with dispatch and maintenance the crew updated they were having a problem with the nose gear doors, it was very noisy and they needed to return, no emergency was declared. The aircraft maintained 5000 feet for about 90 minutes before returning to Newark for a safe landing on runway 22L about 105 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-700 registration N39726 reached Saint Louis with a delay of about 3.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=511d35d9&opt=0 Commission updates EU Air Safety List and bans Fly Baghdad from flying in the European Union The Commission updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union, because they do not meet international safety standards. Ensuring the highest level of air safety for Europeans and all other travelling passengers is at the very heart of the Commission's aviation safety policy. Following the latest update, Fly Baghdad has been included on the List. The basis for this decision is safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These led to the decision not to grant Fly Baghdad a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation. The update also reflects the decision to maintain the ban on air carriers certified in Nepal, in view of continued safety concerns identified during an assessment visit to Nepal on 11-15 September. However, the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority's proactive engagement and ongoing efforts to enhance its safety oversight capacity, were duly acknowledged during the EU Air Safety Committee meeting. Following yesterday's update, a total of 129 airlines are banned from EU skies: 101 airlines certified in 15 States[1], due to inadequate safety oversight by the aviation authorities from these States; 22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as 6 individual airlines from other States, based on serious safety deficiencies identified: Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), Blue Wing Airlines (Suriname), Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran), Fly Baghdad (Iraq) and Iraqi Airways (Iraq). Two additional airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Iran Air (Iran) and Air Koryo (North Korea). Background Yesterday's update to the EU Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of Member State aviation safety experts, who met in Brussels on 14 to 16 November 2023 under the auspices of the EU Air Safety Committee. This Committee is chaired by the European Commission with support from EASA. The European Parliament's Transport Committee also supports the update. Decisions under the EU Air Safety List are based on international safety standards, and notably the standards decreed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). For More Information Questions & answers on the EU Air Safety List List of airlines banned within the EU https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6152 Federal safety officials publish findings, interviews from close-call at Austin airport Newly released materials from a federal investigation provide novel insight into the Feb. 4 near-collision at Austin's airport. The incident has drawn calls for enhanced safety measures. The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday released more than 3,000 pages of documents about a near-collision between a Southwest Airlines jet and a FedEx plane at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in February. An air traffic controller on duty when FedEx and Southwest planes nearly collided earlier this year at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport told federal investigators he expected the passenger airliner to take off quicker — avoiding the incoming FedEx plane he had instructed to land on the same runway. The planes came within 100 feet of each other that morning of Feb. 4, avoiding a collision when the FedEx plane’s pilot aborted his landing, according to a federal report. The incident, often cited by government officials advocating for improvements to the country’s air safety system, put the lives of 131 passengers at risk. Three days later, the controller, Damian Campbell, sat down for an interview with National Transportation Safety Board investigators to discuss the near-collision. The 13-year traffic controller described having an “expectation bias” with Southwest because, during his more than four years at Austin’s airport, Southwest crews were typically ready to take off as soon as they got permission. Recalling the circumstances around the incident, Campbell said he “definitely could have held them,” suggesting he could have directed the Southwest crew to wait. “The expectation bias being what it was, it looked to be a safe operation. But hindsight being 20/20, definitely could have held them,” Campbell told the NTSB investigators, according to a newly released, 293-page transcript of the interview. The NTSB on Wednesday published more than 3,000 pages of documents, including the transcript and other materials, from the agency’s monthslong investigation into the incident. Among the materials are the agency’s interviews with people involved, outlines of what actions were taken, air traffic control and flight data, and an accounting of the day’s weather conditions. The investigative materials released do not state a probable cause for the incident. A determination for such an investigation typically comes within 18 months of an event, according to Peter Knudson, an NTSB spokesperson — meaning the NTSB’s final report could come next year. Attempts to reach Campbell for comment Thursday were unsuccessful. In the months since the incident, many local, state and federal officials have referred to the near-collision at Austin’s city-owned airport while advocating for improvements to the country’s air safety system. The Federal Aviation Administration, which employs the nation’s air traffic controllers, cited the incident as part of the agency’s rationale to direct a review of the nation’s airspace safety. Though the NTSB’s investigation remains ongoing, Knudson said this week’s disclosure represents the “majority of the factual information” needed to complete the investigation. The agency’s next steps, he said, are to analyze the information and draft a final report. The NTSB does not have regulatory or enforcement authority. Instead, the agency issues safety recommendations — likely the FAA, in this case — to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. In a statement, Chris Mullooly, an FAA spokesperson, declined to comment on the NTSB investigation or Campbell, saying the FAA does not "comment on open investigations or personnel matters." Poor weather conditions may have played a factor That Saturday morning, the Austin airport was blanketed with fog, possibly obscuring the view of air traffic controllers directing arriving and departing flights. Campbell told investigators he could see the FedEx plane's landing light as the aircraft began its descent to land. The Southwest plane, however, was not visible. “We had this dense ground fog … you couldn’t see anything,” Campbell said, according to the transcript, later adding he became concerned when he didn't hear Southwest's engine revving for takeoff. "And at that point, it became a critical issue.” The Austin airport does not have the latest technology — called Airport Surface Detection System Model-X, or ASDE-X — to aid air traffic controllers in tracking planes and vehicles on the ground. The technology, currently used at 35 of the country's airports, uses radar, multilateration and satellite technology with the aim of reducing runway incursions. Asking what could have helped him during the incident, Campbell told investigators the Austin airport needed ASDE-X and additional personnel. "ASDE-X is one thing I think we ... this facility should've had five years ago," Campbell said, according to the transcript. "We definitely could have used more people. But in light of this situation, I think the biggest thing would be ASDE-X." He continued, "Without ASDE-X, without form of ground radar, our operations come to almost a crawl in (inclement) weather." Actions taken by FAA, local officials since the incident While the NTSB investigation is ongoing, the close call has sparked changes from the FAA and local officials running the Austin airport. Earlier this month, a board of independent experts empaneled to assess the nation’s airspace safety concluded the FAA needs better staffing, equipment and technology to address an increase in close calls. The board’s 52-page report stated, in part, that the “current erosion in the margin of safety” has rendered the “current level of safety unsustainable.” Days after the board's report was released, the FAA announced it was taking "immediate action" to improve air traffic controller training and require more expansive safety reporting nationwide. Among the changes are additional support for colleges and universities with air traffic controller programs, a year-round hiring plan and increased classroom capacity for FAA Academy. The FAA plans to deploy tower simulator systems in 95 facilities by December 2025, with the first system slated for Austin by January 2024. The system can aid the training of controllers by simulating airport operations, layout and tower airspace. "This will mean much-improved training for controllers," FAA spokesperson Mullooly said in a statement. Locally, Austin's Department of Aviation, which oversees the city's share of airport operations, is developing a ramp control program. Once implemented, the program will "enhance our ability to uphold safety and reliability for passengers, flight crew and planes during aircraft movement on the terminal ramp," said Jim Smith, the airport's interim director, in a memo to Austin City Council members last month. This year, two ground service employees — one an American Airlines employee and the second an employee of the city's Aviation Department — have been killed while working at the Austin airport. Requests for more air traffic controllers at AUS In addition to calls for new technology, U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar, both Austin Democrats, have asked the FAA to increase staffing levels for the Austin airport's air traffic controllers. “This NTSB investigative file shows how very close we came to an alarming catastrophe with more than a hundred deaths. It shows our air traffic controllers are overworked, overwhelmed and understaffed," Doggett said in a statement Thursday. "To assure our airport is safe we need more air traffic controllers sooner to relieve those currently subject to mandatory, unsustainable six-day work weeks." As of September 2021, the FAA had 42 air traffic controllers stationed in the Austin airport's tower, according to the FAA's 2022 air traffic controller workforce plan. At that time, 35 were fully trained, with the remaining seven listed as in training. The staffing range for Austin is 38 on the low end on up to 46, according to the plan. Whether the FAA plans to change staffing levels is not clear. Mullooly did not respond to American-Statesman questions about staffing. https://www.statesman.com/story/business/transportation/2023/12/01/ntsb-releases-info-about-near-collision-at-austin-bergstrom-international-airport/71754036007/ Japan suspends its Osprey flights after fatal crash of U.S. Air Force hybrid aircraft TOKYO (AP) — Japan suspended flights by its Osprey aircraft Thursday, officials said, the day after a U.S. Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed into the sea during a training mission. Tokyo says it has also asked the U.S. military to ground all Ospreys operating in Japan except for those searching for victims of the crash. A senior Defense Ministry official, Taro Yamato, told a parliamentary hearing that Japan has suspended flights of Ospreys beginning Thursday until details of the crash and safety are confirmed. The U.S.-made Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but can rotate its propellers forward and cruise much faster, like an airplane, during flight. Ministry officials said a planned training flight Thursday at the Metabaru army camp in the Saga prefecture in southern Japan was canceled as part of the grounding of all 14 Japanese-owned Ospreys deployed at Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force bases. Japanese officials say they also asked the U.S. military to suspend all Ospreys in Japan until the crash is fully examined and safety confirmed, except for the purpose of joining the ongoing search and rescue operations at the crash site. One U.S. Osprey has joined the rescue operation since the crash, Japanese defense officials said. “The occurrence of such a major accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region and it is truly regrettable,” Defense Minoru Kihara said in a parliamentary hearing Thursday. “We have requested the U.S. side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after their flight safety is confirmed,” he said. His language was vague and did not clearly say that all Ospreys should be stood down. Defense officials said they hoped the U.S. side got the message, but NHK national television said a number of Ospreys flew in and out of a U.S. air base on Okinawa. The U.S. Osprey crashed Wednesday off Japan’s southern coast, killing at least one of the eight crew members. The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known. The coast guard, as well as Japanese troops, searched through the night, and on Thursday the coast guard started using sonar to search underwater for the broken aircraft that might have sunk to the sea bottom, at a depth of about 30 meters (100 feet). Ospreys have had a number of crashes, including in Japan, where they are used at U.S. and Japanese military bases, and the latest crash rekindles safety concerns and controversy over the deployment in Japan. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops are based, Gov. Denny Tamaki had said he would ask the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan. On Thursday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel at her ministry, asking the United States “to promptly provide information to the Japanese side.” Emanuel said the focus now is the search for the missing crew members and he thanked Japanese troops, coast guard and local fishermen for “being side by side.” NHK public television and other news outlets reported that the aircraft had requested an emergency landing at the Yakushima airport about five minutes before it was lost from radar. NHK quoted a Yakushima resident saying he saw the aircraft turn upside down, with fire coming from one of its engines, and then an explosion before it fell into the sea. U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey was one of six deployed to Yokota Air Base, home to U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force, and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing. The aircraft had departed from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture and crashed on its way to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japanese officials said. Last year, Air Force Special Operations Command ordered a temporary stand-down of its Osprey fleet following back-to-back safety incidents where the Osprey clutch slipped, causing an uneven distribution of power to its rotors. The Marine Corps and Navy have reported similar clutch slips, and each service has worked to address the issue in their aircraft, however clutch failure was also cited in a 2022 fatal U.S. Marine Corps Osprey crash that killed five. According to the investigation of that crash, “dual hard clutch engagement” led to engine failure. Separately, a U.S. Marine Corps Osprey with 23 Marines aboard crashed on a northern Australian island in August, killing three Marines and critically injuring at least five others who were taking part in a multinational training exercise. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/japan-suspends-its-osprey-flights-after-fatal-crash-of-u-s-air-force-hybrid-aircraft US FAA wants new airplanes to capture more cockpit data to boost safety probes WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday said it is proposing to extend the cockpit voice-recording requirement to 25 hours for all new airplanes up from the current two-hour loop. The National Transportation Safety Board has been pushing for the change since 2018. The voice recorder captures transmissions and sounds in the cockpit, including the pilots’ voices and engine noises. Europe has required new airplanes to collect 25 hours of cockpit voice recordings since 2021. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said the change will "give us substantially more data to identify the causes of incidents." https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-faa-wants-airplanes-capture-185242165.html Water leaks from overhead lockers on Air India flight in ‘unexpected incident’ A video captures water dripping through the overhead lockers on an Air India flight, causing inconvenience to passengers. The footage was shared on social media platform X, and has since been viewed nearly 900,000 times. Air India issued a statement following the incident, which happened on a flight from London Gatwick to the Indian city of Amritsar on 24 November. “Flight AI169 operating from Gatwick to Amritsar on 24th November 2023 had developed a rare occurrence of condensation adjustment inside the cabin,” the statement read. “Some of our guests seated in the affected rows were promptly relocated to other vacant seats and given the circumstances, the cabin crew made every effort to make the guests comfortable. “Air India is committed to the safety and comfort of guests on board and we regret this unexpected incident.” https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/flights-air-india-water-leak-b2456295.html Intelsat to bring multi-orbit Wi-Fi to regional American Airlines jets American Airlines says it currently makes high-speed connectivity available on 900 aircraft across its fleet, the most in the industry. Credit: American Airlines TAMPA, Fla. — American Airlines announced plans Nov. 30 to equip nearly 500 regional jets with multi-orbit Wi-Fi connectivity from Intelsat over two years starting in early 2024. Intelsat is providing terminals that can connect to its geostationary fleet in addition to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from Eutelsat OneWeb, which partnered with the operator last year in the aviation market. The terminal is based on antenna technology from Ball Aerospace, using integration designs and hardware from Stellar Blu Solutions, and is undergoing tests ahead of deployments. Intelsat announced deals earlier this year to also provide the multi-orbit, electronically steered array antennas to Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, and Aerolineas Argentina. Satellites in LEO are closer to Earth than geostationary orbit (GEO), meaning they can provide lower latency, high-speed broadband services. The more than 600 satellites in Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO network also travel in polar orbit, enabling more global coverage than GEO satellites fixed along the equator. Still, larger and more powerful satellites in GEO can provide more capacity to airports and other high-traffic areas. American Airlines said it had made high-speed connectivity available on 900 aircraft across its mainline fleet earlier in 2023, using geostationary satellites from Intelsat and others. The company’s regional fleet comprises a mix of Bombardier CRJs and Embraer E-Jets. In a Nov. 30 news release, the airline said Intelsat’s multi-orbit antennas would enable its “regional aircraft to match fast Wi-Fi speeds that are currently available on American’s mainline aircraft.” The companies did not detail expected speeds, but said the service would enable passengers to stream, browse, check email, and log onto virtual private networks (VPNs) while in-flight. SpaceX’s Starlink LEO network promises similar high-speed services as it seeks to gain more traction in the aviation market following a handful of contracts with smaller airlines. Intelsat also faces multi-orbit competition from companies such as Hughes Network Systems, which Delta Air Lines recently picked to connect 400 Boeing 717 and smaller regional jets currently using Intelsat’s air-to-ground connectivity service. Hughes is providing antennas that can connect to its geostationary fleet under this deal, in addition to future non-geostationary satellites operating in Ka-band, such as Telesat Lightspeed and SES O3b mPower. https://spacenews.com/intelsat-to-bring-multi-orbit-wi-fi-to-regional-american-airlines-jets/ 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