Flight Safety Information - December 5, 2023 No. 232 In This Issue : Incident: Canada Rouge A319 near Norfolk on Nov 28th 2023, engine rolled back uncommandedly : Incident: Edelweiss A343 near Genoa on Dec 5th 2023, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Etihad B789 at Moscow on Dec 3rd 2023, engine vibrations in icing conditions : Air France jet still stuck at RDU after damage from knocking down pole last month : Off-Duty Crew Member Takes Control of Plane After Pilot Was Incapacitated with 'Uncontrollable Nosebleed' : Pilots flying tourists over national parks face new rules. None are stricter than at Mount Rushmore : Osprey safety under review in Japan as search continues following fatal crash : Emergency landing made by United Airlines flight at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport : Pakistan International Airlines accounts frozen amid safety review by EU : Pratt & Whitney to remain sole source for F-35 jet engine upgrades : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Canada Rouge A319 near Norfolk on Nov 28th 2023, engine rolled back uncommandedly An Air Canada Rouge Airbus A319-100, registration C-GBHO performing flight RV-1637 from Orlando,FL (USA) to Montreal,QC (Canada) with 101 people on board, was enroute at FL370 near Norfolk,VA (USA) when the crew noticed the right hand engine (CFM56) had rolled back uncommandedly. The crew reduced the engine power, however, the condition persisted. The flight crew reduced the thrust to idle, drifted down to FL290 and continued to destination for a safe landing about 100 minutes after leaving FL370. The Canadian TSB reported: "In the vicinity of Norfolk International Airport (KORF), Virginia, USA during cruise at FL370, the flight crew identified ENG 2 had rolled back un-commanded with an associated slight vibration. There were no associated ECAMs. The engine power was reduced in an attempt to reset however the issue persisted. ENG 2 was reduced to idle for the remainder of the flight and descent was initiated to a lower altitude. A PAN PAN was declared as a precaution. The flight continued to CYUL with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting on standby. The aircraft was able to taxi under its own power to the gate without further incident." https://www.avherald.com/h?article=51205d36&opt=0 Incident: Edelweiss A343 near Genoa on Dec 5th 2023, engine shut down in flight An Edelweiss Airbus A340-300, registration HB-JMF performing flight WK-84 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Cape Town (South Africa) with 276 passengers and 11 crew, was climbing through about FL320 out of Zurich near Genoa (Italy) when the crew needed to descend the aircraft to FL270 due to problems with engine #3 (CFM56, inboard right hand). The aircraft continued at FL270 for about 30 minutes then decided to turn around and return to Zurich with the #3 engine shut down requesting emergency services to check the #3 engine. The aircraft landed safely on Zurich's runway 16 about 2 hours after the onset of trouble. Attending emergency services reported there was damage about mid of the right hand inboard engine. About 10 minutes after landing the aircraft taxied to the apron. The airline reported the crew noticed irregularities on the engine and decided to return to Zurich as a precaution. A ground observer reported the aircraft was received by multiple fire engines, the firemen examined the right hand side of the aircraft and especially something near the right main gear. The passengers had to spend the night in the terminal as customs was no longer available and the passengers therefore could not re-enter Switzerland. The aircraft is still on the ground in Zurich about 10 hours after landing. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=5120526f&opt=0 Incident: Etihad B789 at Moscow on Dec 3rd 2023, engine vibrations in icing conditions An Etihad Boeing 787-9, registration A6-BLU performing flight EY-65 from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) to Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia), was descending through about FL190 when the crew reported they had engine (GEnx) vibrations while in icing conditions. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The aircraft remained on the ground in Moscow for about 4 hours, then departed for the return flight EY-66. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=511fdf19&opt=0 Air France jet still stuck at RDU after damage from knocking down pole last month RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — More than a week after an Air France jet was damaged when it hit and knocked over a light pole, the plane is still at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The incident happened at 4:20 p.m. Nov. 24 — the day after Thanksgiving — and canceled Air France flight 693 that day from RDU to Charles de Gaulle/Roissy Airport (CDG), near Paris. Air France jet damaged after hitting, knocking down RDU light pole On Saturday, crews were seen checking the left wing of the aircraft, which was damaged when the large pole was hit and knocked down. The jet was apparently turning from taxiway F onto a ramp when the pole was hit. The Air France Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner sat at RDU for at least two days after the incident and does not appear to have flown in the eight days since the collision. Saturday afternoon, crews were spotted examining the Air France Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Crews were also seen in photos on Thursday with small segments of the leading edge of the wing removed, presumably for repairs. CBS 17 reached out to Air France several days ago and Saturday for more information. Air France’s inaugural flight from Paris to RDU launched on Oct. 30. Air France will fly the Paris route three days a week until March 31 when it begins daily nonstop service, according to RDU officials. https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/air-france-jet-still-stuck-at-rdu-after-damage-from-knocking-down-pole-last-month/ Off-Duty Crew Member Takes Control of Plane After Pilot Was Incapacitated with 'Uncontrollable Nosebleed' As an Air Transat pilot dealt with an "uncontrollable nosebleed," another pilot on board took over for the remainder of the flight, the airline shared An off-duty crew member on a flight from Canada to the Dominican Republic last month took over the remainder of his trip when the captain became incapacitated with an "uncontrollable nosebleed." On Nov. 22, one of two pilots on Air Transat flight TS186 from Toronto Pearson Airport was "unable to continue his duties" due to a nosebleed, prompting the off-duty pilot to take over and fly the plane, according to a statement from the airline. The aircraft landed in its destination of Punta Cana International Airport "without incident," per the statement. Off-Duty Pilot Charged After Allegedly Attempting to Take Control of Alaska Airlines Flight "As one of our other captains was on board with his family heading out on vacation, he was fit and able to take over the duties of the incapacitated captain for the remainder of the flight," the statement read. "It is worth noting that our pilots are expertly trained to deal with situations such as this one and can manage flying our aircraft unassisted." "As such, there was absolutely no risk for anyone on this flight and the situation would have been the same had the backup pilot not been on board." According to a report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the incident took place around 4:50 p.m. UTC and was listed as a "class 5 occurrence," meaning that it was not subject to a "comprehensive investigation." Rather, its data will be reported for "possible future safety analysis, statistical reporting, or archival purposes." As the report notes, the crew member became incapacitated "approximately 3 hours into the flight," as the other pilot — who was listed as "company qualified" and was flying as a passenger — replaced him. The plane "continued to the intended destination without further incident," per the report. None of the 299 people on board were injured, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada report. https://people.com/off-duty-crew-member-takes-control-of-plane-after-pilot-incapacitated-8410602 Pilots flying tourists over national parks face new rules. None are stricter than at Mount Rushmore Fewer planes and helicopters will be flying tourists over Mount Rushmore and other national monuments and parks as new regulations take effect that are intended to protect the serenity of some of the most beloved natural areas in the United States. The air tours have pitted tour operators against visitors frustrated with the noise for decades, but it has come to a head as new management plans are rolled out at nearly two dozen national parks and monuments. One of the strictest yet was recently announced at Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park, where tour flights will essentially be banned from getting within a half mile of the South Dakota sites starting in April. “I don’t know what we’re going to be able to salvage,” complained Mark Schlaefli, a co-owner of Black Hills Aerial Adventures who is looking for alternative routes. The regulations are the result of a federal appeals court finding three years ago that the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration failed to enforce a 2000 law governing commercial air tours over the parks and some tribal lands. A schedule was crafted for setting rules, and many are wrapping up now. But now an industry group is eying litigation, and an environmental coalition already has sued over one plan. The issue has grown so contentious that a congressional oversight hearing is planned for Tuesday. Critics argue that the whirr of chopper blades is drowning out the sound of birds, bubbling lava and babbling brooks. That in turn disrupts the experiences of visitors and the tribes who call the land around the parks home. “Is that fair?” asked Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association, noting that visitors on the ground far outnumber those overhead. “I don’t think so.” The air operators argue they provide unrivaled access, particularly to the elderly and disabled. “Absolutely exhilarating, a thrilling experience” is how Bailey Wood, a spokesman for the Helicopter Association International, described them. Sightseeing flights got their start in the 1930s as crews building the massive Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border asked the helicopter pilots working on the project to give their families flyovers, Wood said. “It took off from there,” he said, jokingly adding, “Sorry, aviation pun.” The issue hit a tipping point at the Grand Canyon in 1986 when two tour aircraft collided over the national park in Arizona, killing 25 people. Congress acted the next year and a plan was enacted to designate routes and minimum altitude for canyon flights. Congress passed another round of legislation in 2000 with a goal of setting rules in other national parks. But bureaucratic difficulties and delays stalled compliance. The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Hawaii Island Coalition Malama Pono sued, demanding something be done. Historically, some of the nation’s busiest spots for tour operators are Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Haleakala National Park. In 2020, a federal court ordered compliance at 23 national parks, including popular sites such as Glacier in Montana, Arches in Utah and Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. That same year, the latest in which data is available, there were 15,624 air tours reported, which was down about 30% because of the pandemic, the park service said. As of this month, plans or voluntary agreements have been adopted for most of the parks, although not all of them have taken effect. Work is still underway on five, the park service said. Parks exempted from developing plans include those with few flights and those in Alaska, where small planes are often the only way to get around. “Mostly, the plans have been pretty generous to the industry, allowing them to continue as they have done in the past with some limited air tours around these parks,” said Peter Jenkins, senior counsel for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. His group went to court over a plan to allow a combined total of about 2,500 flights over the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and other nearby parks, alleging an inadequate environmental study. Then came last month’s announcement about restrictions over Mount Rushmore and the Badlands. “This isn’t a management plan,” complained Ray Jilek, owner of Eagle Aviation Inc. and its chief pilot. “This is a cease and desist plan, as far as I’m concerned.” Andrew Busse of Black Hills Helicopter Inc. said his tours already don’t fly directly over Mount Rushmore. The park is relatively small, so the monument to the nation’s presidents is still visible from outside its boundaries, he said. The plans are aimed at taking tribal desires into account. But Shawn Bordeaux, a Democratic state lawmaker in South Dakota and a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, said he hasn’t heard complaints. “We don’t want them flying around trying to watch our sun dances or ceremonies or something,” he said. “But as for tourism, I don’t see why it’s an issue.” A similarly strict plan has been proposed for Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. Bruce Adams, owner of Southwest Safaris, flies a fixed-wing plane with tourists a couple times a week over the area known for the dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs. “Changing the route is going to force me to fly over Pueblo tribal lands that I have assiduously avoided doing for 49 years because I know it’s going to cause noise problems,” he said. Glacier National Park, meanwhile, is phasing out the flights by the end of 2029. Wood said the process has been “broken and rushed” and threatens to put some operators out of business. “Litigation is one tool that is definitely under consideration,” he said. But Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association said the resistance doesn’t have much traction. An amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill that would have required the agency to factor in the economics of commercial air tours over national parks failed in July, she said. “People go to Arches, people go to Hawaii to hear the sights and sounds of these places,” Brengel said. “It’s so utterly clear that the vast majority of people who are going to these parks aren’t going to hear the sounds of helicopters over their heads.” https://apnews.com/article/national-parks-air-tours-regulations-mount-rushmore-416071031bc0507c57db522d0e7fb8e5 Osprey safety under review in Japan as search continues following fatal crash TOKYO — Osprey aircraft across Japan are undergoing safety inspections and preventative maintenance in response to a deadly crash in Japan last week, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense. Eight were aboard a CV-22B during a training mission on Nov. 29 when it went down off Yakushima, an island in Kagoshima prefecture, according to Air Force Special Operations Command. The aircraft is assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo. The Air Force has not been flying its tiltrotors, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters Tuesday, adding that the United States promised to be transparent and share detailed information about the crash investigation. Kihara said the U.S. also assured him that all Ospreys deployed in Japan have been operating only after careful inspection and maintenance. “Regarding flight safety, we still have concerns,” he said at the news conference in Tokyo. “Therefore, I have been saying that there is a need to continue receiving thorough information.” Japan grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys the day after the crash. The Japanese government is reviewing the U.S. military’s flight safety measures, Kihara said, adding that there are no plans to make additional requests of the U.S. side before the review is complete. On Monday, U.S. and Japanese divers discovered the Osprey’s fuselage, along with the remains of five crew members, who have not been publicly identified. The body of Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Mass., was recovered Wednesday shortly after the crash. Two crew members were still unaccounted for as of Tuesday evening. Japan is focusing on helping the U.S. find them, Kihara told the reporters. “The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will do their best to carry out search operations in cooperation with the Japan coast guard, the U.S. military, and others in order to rescue those in need of rescue as soon as possible,” he said. The Japanese coast guard made no progress in its search Tuesday, according to a news release from the 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters. The service said it planned to continue the operation on Wednesday. https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2023-12-05/osprey-flight-safety-japan-crash-12261644.html Emergency landing made by United Airlines flight at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport Friday, a flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport for an emergency landing after smoke was reported onboard. GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - Friday, a flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport for an emergency landing after smoke was reported onboard the plane. The plane, which officials say was a United Airlines flight traveling from Pensacola to Houston, was over the Gulf just west of Horn Island when the smoke was reported. It was then that the plane rerouted its course and headed for Gulfport-Biloxi International. The aircraft landed safely at the airport around 5:30 p.m. 40 people were on board at the time of the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration has since issued the following statement: CommutAir Flight 4303 landed safely at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi around 5:30 p.m. local time on Friday, Dec. 1 after the crew reported smoke in the lavatory. The Embraer 145 departed Pensacola International Airport and was en route to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The FAA will investigate. https://www.wlox.com/2023/12/02/emergency-landing-made-by-united-airlines-flight-gulfport-biloxi-international-airport/ Pakistan International Airlines accounts frozen amid safety review by EU The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) froze the accounts of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday, coinciding with the presence of a team from the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Pakistan. Additionally, Pakistan State Oil issued a threat to stop oil supply to the airline unless outstanding dues were settled by Thursday. Expressing disappointment, a PIA spokesperson informed Dawn that the FBR’s decision to freeze accounts occurred during the visit of an EASA delegation, currently in the country to assess flight safety issues. The airline management, in communication with the FBR, disclosed that 28 PIA accounts had been frozen, expressing hope for a prompt resolution. In 2020, EASA prohibited PIA from operating flights to Europe following a plane crash in Karachi on May 22, 2020. This action was taken in response to former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s statement in parliament, revealing concerns about the qualifications of 40% of Pakistani pilots. On Wednesday, a four-member EASA delegation conducted inspections of PIA’s operations, apron, engineering area, and flight safety tools in Karachi. The team had previously reviewed measures implemented by the Civil Aviation Authority regarding pilot licenses and airworthiness on Tuesday. https://www.firstpost.com/world/pakistan-international-airlines-accounts-frozen-amid-safety-review-by-eu-13448042.html Pratt & Whitney to remain sole source for F-35 jet engine upgrades Senior Airman Zachary Rufus/Nellis AFB Public Affairs Pentagon officials announced this week that East Hartford-based Pratt & Whitney will remain the sole source for upgrades of the F-35 jet engine. U.S. Reps. John Larson, D-1, Joe Courtney, D-2 and Rosa DeLauro, D-3, jointly announced the Pentagon's decision. Prior to the announcement, Pratt & Whitney was awarded a $66 million contract in July to support engine modernization efforts. That contract was made possible through the efforts of Courtney and DeLauro, who are ranking members of the Appropriations Committee and Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, which is responsible for overseeing defense appropriations. Funding for the upgrades was included in President Joe Biden's budget for fiscal 2024, which was submitted in March, Pratt, which is a subsidiary of aerospace giant RTX Corp., has its headquarters in Larson's district. Larson said the Pentagon's decision to source the engine upgrades with Pratt left him feeling "both gratified and proud." "This is the right decision for our warfighter, partner nations across the globe, and for American taxpayers,” said Larson in a written statement. “The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine is the most advanced, reliable, and capable production fighter engine the world has ever known. Today’s announcement will save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars over the life of the program and protect thousands of manufacturing jobs in our state." Courtney said when the Defense Department submitted its budget request for fiscal year 2024, "the decision was crystal clear – upgrading the existing F135 engine is the most efficient and cost-effective strategy to deliver increased capability for our service members and international program partners in the F-35 enterprise. "This award by the Department of Defense validates the critical importance that the employees of Pratt & Whitney deliver to the warfighter," Courtney said. "As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I look forward to ensuring this modernization program stays on track and will continue to advocate for additional resources needed in years to come." DeLauro called Pratt "one of the foremost leaders in advanced technology and defense manufacturing." "The company also employs more than 11,126 people in East Hartford and Middletown and is core to our state’s economy," she said. "This contract will support good paying, union jobs across our state, and I am proud to have advocated for it." https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/pratt-remains-sole-source-for-jet-engine-upgrades-18533261.php 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