Flight Safety Information - December 18, 2023 No. 241 In This Issue : Incident: Kenya B738 at Nairobi on Dec 15th 2023, tyre damage on departure : Incident: Eurowings Malta A320 at Berlin on Dec 15th 2023, unsafe gear : Incident: Mahan E145 at Yasuj on Dec 13th 2023, engine problem : NTSB report: Pilot's decision to leave his seat led to death in fall from plane : "12 Days of Drones" gives drone pilots new rules to fly safely : NASA selects GE Aerospace to help develop more fuel efficient engines for single-aisle aircraft : Spirit Airlines flight attendants hospitalized due to fumes exposure in aircraft : Cathay Pacific teams up for aviation talent development : FAA resorting to memes to fight increase in unruly passengers : American Airlines flight from Philadelphia-Dallas declares emergency : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Kenya B738 at Nairobi on Dec 15th 2023, tyre damage on departure A Kenya Airways Boeing 737-800, registration 5Y-CYD performing flight KQ-310 from Nairobi (Kenya) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), departed Nairobi's runway 06, climbed to cruise level 350 and was enroute about one hour into the flight when the crew was informed that tyre debris had been found on the runway and was attributed to their aircraft. After consultation with maintenance and dispatch the crew decided to return to Nairobi as a precaution. The aircraft burned off fuel and landed safely on Nairobi's runway 06 about 105 minutes after turning around and about 3 hours after departure. The airline reported tyre debris was found on the departure runway prompting a precautionary return to Nairobi. The passengers were taken to hotels and rebooked onto the next day. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 31 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=51288bd6&opt=0 Incident: Eurowings Malta A320 at Berlin on Dec 15th 2023, unsafe gear A Eurowings Europe Malta Airbus A320-200, registration 9H-EWD performing flight EW-4342 from Salzburg (Austria) to Berlin (Germany) with 144 people on board, was on approach to Berlin's runway 25L when the crew initiated a go around due to an unsafe gear indication. The crew repositioned for another approach to runway 25L, landed without further incident about 17 minutes after the go around and stopped on the taxiway clear of the runway for inspections. About 30 minutes after landing the aircraft was towed to the apron. The airport reported the aircraft had a problem with the landing gear but managed to land without incident. Later the airport added, the gear was successfully lowered by manual extension. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Berlin about 3 hours after landing, all further sectors of Dec 15th 2023 assigned to the aircraft were cancelled. https://avherald.com/h?article=51271aab&opt=0 Incident: Mahan E145 at Yasuj on Dec 13th 2023, engine problem A Mahan Air Embraer ERJ-145, registration EP-MEO performing flight W5-4523 from Yasuj to Tehran Mehrabad (Iran) with 46 people on board, was in the climb out of Yasuj when the crew detected a problem with the right hand engine (Ae3007) and decided to divert to Shiraz (Iran), about 90nm southeast of Yasuj. The aircraft landed safely in Shiraz. Yasuj Airport reported the crew reported an engine malfunction about six minutes into the flight and diverted to Shiraz. The passengers were rebooked onto other flights. https://avherald.com/h?article=5127124a&opt=0 NTSB report: Pilot's decision to leave his seat led to death in fall from plane A document from the National Transportation Safety Board reported that Charles Hew Crooks said he was sorry before getting up from his seat, removing his headset and running toward the open rear ramp door. NTSB report: Co-pilot was stressed, emotional before he jumped from plane headed for RDU New information about the man who died before a plane made an emergency landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in 2022 indicates he jumped from the plane. Whether that was intentional or not remains a mystery. Although the other pilot in the plane that day – the pilot-in-command – reported that Charles Hew Crooks' jump was intentional, the NTSB report says, “There was insufficient information to support that assertion.” “It’s possible in his haste he lost his footing and inadvertently fell," investigators wrote. Crooks died on July 29, 2022. Questions surrounded his death for months after the plane he co-piloted landed without him on board. Crooks' body was found in the backyard of a Fuquay-Varina home that same day. A report from the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that the pilot-in-command (PIC) said that Crooks ( the Second-in-Command or SIC) said he was sorry before getting up from his seat, removing his headset and running out of the plane through the rear ramp door. The report states Crooks became visibly upset 20 minutes after he damaged the plane’s landing gear in an aborted landing attempt. “We have lost the right wheel. We’d like to proceed to Raleigh and make the landing in Raleigh," the pilot-in-command said. He then then told the controller that the co-pilot (Crooks) had jumped out of the back of the plane without a parachute. The report goes on to state: "The operator and family also indicated that the SIC felt that the accident flight with the PIC, who was also the chief pilot for the operator, was very important. This would have added to the SIC’s stress and emotional response after the hard landing, during which he was the pilot flying. In the 20 minutes of flight while serving as the monitoring pilot, the SIC was actively engaged in communicating with air traffic control, reviewing emergency procedures, and providing recommendations to the PIC on the landing runway at the diversion airport." A plane made an emergency landing after a malfunction with the landing gear in July of 2022 at RDU Airport. A plane made an emergency landing after a malfunction with the landing gear in July of 2022 at RDU Airport. The plane was carrying skydivers and was initially scheduled to land in Raeford. After the skydivers jumped, Crooks reported a problem with the plane's landing gear. As the plane descended below the treeline, it encountered wind shear and, with Crooks at the controls, lost the right wheel, the report says. The NTSB said the wind shear during landing caused the hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear. Crooks and the pilot in command declared an emergency, reported the loss of the wheel and requested to divert to a larger airport to land. The pilot-in-command took over, and Crooks jumped. Laurent Bert-Roussel, a pilot who was trained by Crooks, still has questions about Crooks' choice. "I could not really believe that Charlie could decide to jump out of an aircraft, which is basically committing suicide, just because of an incident in an aircraft. For me as an airline pilot it doesn’t make any sense at all," he said. A co-pilot died after jumping out of a plane in July of 2022. The plane made an emergency landing at RDU Airport. RDU Airport eventually received a report that a small 10-person plane made an emergency landing there with just one pilot on board. A family in the Fuquay-Varina neighborhood where Crooks was found told WRAL News they were in their home when they heard a loud thud outside. They didn't see anything in their backyard, but within several hours, the street was filled with police. That night, investigators found Crooks' body caught in the trees in their backyard without a parachute. A toxicology report noted finding kratom, a drug used to combat anxiety, in Crooks' system, which has the potential to cause impairment. However, the report concluded there was insufficient evidence to determine whether the kratom use contributed to what happened. Crooks was a pilot for Rampart Aviation, which has a contract with the military to provide training and other services. Asked about Crooks' actions, the company said the investigation was closed and they would not comment. https://www.wral.com/story/ntsb-report-pilot-s-decision-to-leave-his-seat-led-to-death-in-fall-from-plane/21197217/ "12 Days of Drones" gives drone pilots new rules to fly safely RICHFIELD, Minn. — Just because they're not new doesn't make them any less popular. Hub Hobby in Richfield has them on a front display. "We have a lot of parents that are looking to get something for their child, we have a lot of adults that are looking for just a fun toy," explained Hub Hobby cashier Jonathan Meyer. Drones now come in all shapes and sizes. They're used for fun, for business, we even use them too. The technology keeps improving and so does the price. "Prices have dropped. So originally, something like this would have been a couple hundred dollars, you know? Maybe 10 years ago," said Meyer. "And it's slowly but surely whittled down in price where you can get something with everything in the box included for around 50 bucks." So they're affordable, accessible and everywhere. The Federal Aviation Administration now estimates there are more drones in America than there are airplanes and they both share the same airspace. The key reason the FAA launched "12 Days of Drones." Important reminders for what's required before your drone even takes off. Among them is a mandate that almost all recreational pilots must register their drones with the FAA and take the free recreational pilot test. Also fly below 400 feet, stay away from airports and keep your drone where you can see it. Kevin Morris of the FAA was able to share knowledge as a lifelong aviator. "We in the United States, we have the most complex and yet the safest Airspace System in the world. And our job at the FAA is to keep it that way." Not following the rules could mean some hefty fines. There are local ordinances like privacy and trespassing to think about too which is why the folks back at Hub Hobby recommend maybe starting small. Very small. "You learn to ride a bicycle before you jump onto a Harley," said Meyer. "Same kind of thing." https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/12-days-of-drones-gives-drone-pilots-new-rules-to-fly-safely/ NASA selects GE Aerospace to help develop more fuel efficient engines for single-aisle aircraft Part of NASA's Advanced Air Vehicles program, HyTEC was established to accelerate the development of turbofan engine small core technologies. WASHINGTON - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that the agency selected GE Aerospace of Cincinnati to work with the agency's Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) project, which aims to develop more fuel-efficient engines for single-aisle aircraft. The HyTEC's Phase 2 Integrated Core Technology Demonstration is a cost-sharing contract with a maximum value of approximately $68.1 million and a five-year performance period that begins 15 Feb. 2024. The contract is awarded with a 50% minimum GE Aerospace cost share during the contract period. Part of NASA's Advanced Air Vehicles program, HyTEC was established to accelerate the development of turbofan engine small core technologies. The first phase of the project focused on developing several key engine core technologies, including high-pressure compressors, high-pressure turbines, advanced materials, electric hybridization, and compact combustors, through subsystem or component tests. To meet the goal of HyTEC Phase 2, GE Aerospace will integrate these technologies into an engine core to perform a compact, high-power density core ground demonstration by the end of September 2028. As part of the first phase, NASA tapped RTX's Pratt & Whitney division in Hartford, Connecticut as a collaborator to advance new combustor designs for small-core engines. An aircraft engine’s combustor, also known as the combustion chamber, is where fuel is added to compressed air and ignited, creating the high-temperature gas that powers the engine. “In order to meet the Aviation Climate Action Plan’s carbon emissions goals, future single-aisle aircraft engines will have to be able to burn sustainable aviation fuels,” said Tony Nerone, HyTEC project manager at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. “HyTEC’s role is to develop these small core engine combustors that are more efficient, more durable, and able to use sustainable aviation fuel without compromising the engine performance and while providing significant emissions benefits.” https://www.militaryaerospace.com/commercial-aerospace/article/14302834/nasa-selects-ge-aerospace-to-help-develop-more-fuel-efficient-engines-for-single-aisle-aircraft Spirit Airlines flight attendants hospitalized due to fumes exposure in aircraft Three Spirit Airlines flight attendants were taken to hospital after they were exposed to fumes while carrying out preflight checks on an aircraft. New Jersey State Police confirmed that troopers were sent to Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) on December 17, 2023, after the crew members were exposed to fumes around 5:45 am local time. The Spirit Airlines flight attendants were subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation by doctors. The news website NJ.com, said Jeffrey Lebron, a detective and police spokesperson, confirmed details of the incident later in the day. “The Spirit Airline aircraft was empty at the time of the fumes exposure. The status of the three flight attendants is unknown at this time,” Lebron said. According to the Philly Voice, the flight attendants were on a plane that was due to leave for Fort Meyers in Florida at 6:35 am. The flight was subsequently delayed. New Jersey State Police have not confirmed what type of fumes the crew were exposed to but have said that the injuries they sustained were not “life-threatening”. AeroTime has contacted Spirit Airlines about the incident for comment. Local authorities are said to be investigating what caused the flight attendants to be hospitalized. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/spirit-airlines-flight-attendants-exposed-fumes-hospital Cathay Pacific teams up for aviation talent development Cathay Pacific is thrilled to announce the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC) and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC). These collaborations aim to jointly foster exceptional talent with an international perspective and exceptional capabilities, supporting the high-quality advancement of the aviation industry in Mainland China. The MOU signing took place at the Asia Pacific Region Innovation & Capacity Building Symposium 2023, witnessed by notable figures such as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong and Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Deputy Administrator Cui Xiaofeng. During the ceremony, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam exchanged the MOUs with CAUC President Ding Shuiting and CAFUC President Guan Lixin. Amidst a significant rebound in the civil aviation industry and its comprehensive recovery phase, the demand for top-tier talent and industry development underscores the importance of establishing a robust talent pipeline. Cathay Pacific has been dedicated to nurturing aviation professionals and aims to continue this commitment by shaping new aviation talent. Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the airline’s dedication to rebuilding connectivity between Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the global sphere. He emphasized their commitment to supporting the 14th Five-Year Plan and integrating into national development. Lam expressed delight in partnering with esteemed higher-education institutions under CAAC’s direct administration. He stressed the partnership’s goal of providing substantial talent support for Mainland China’s aviation industry while aiming to attract exceptional individuals from the region. CAUC President Ding Shuiting reiterated the long-standing collaboration between CAUC and Cathay Pacific, emphasizing the newly signed MOU as a significant milestone. Both institutions aim to engage comprehensively in talent development, academic exchanges, technological innovation, and sustainable growth to cultivate highly skilled professionals with an international outlook. CAFUC President Guan Lixin expressed pleasure in outlining shared intentions for collaboration with Cathay Pacific in talent development, staff training, and more. The partnership seeks to leverage CAFUC’s expertise in cultivating civil aviation talent to support Hong Kong SAR Government’s initiatives and contribute to the recovery and development of Hong Kong’s civil aviation industry. The MOUs between Cathay Pacific and the universities involve exploring innovative training methods across various aviation sectors and establishing scholarships to support young talents from Mainland China. Furthermore, the collaboration aims to strengthen ties in technology and innovation, fostering civil aviation research and development. Cathay Pacific will actively engage in on-campus recruitment, offer internships, and facilitate knowledge sharing between experts, professors, and students from both institutions. Additionally, the airline will collaborate with CAUC in sustainable aviation development, exploring new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technologies. Cathay Pacific, proud of its roots in Hong Kong and its connection to the Chinese Mainland, actively recruits from Mainland China. The airline recently initiated its first cabin crew recruitment event and opened recruitment to cadet pilots from Mainland China. Looking ahead, Cathay aims to expand its recruitment initiatives, targeting to recruit around 4,000 individuals, including cabin crew, cadet pilots, IT professionals, ground employees, and customer service officers, by 2025. Currently operating over 170 weekly return flights to 16 airports in 15 cities in Mainland China, Cathay Pacific remains committed to providing comprehensive intermodal services, ensuring seamless connectivity for travelers from the Greater Bay Area via Hong Kong International Airport to destinations worldwide. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/cathay-pacific-teams-up-for-aviation-talent-development/ FAA resorting to memes to fight increase in unruly passengers Throughout 2023, there were several shocking instances of unruly passengers on flights to California or San Francisco — including the SFO-bound flight disrupted by an off-duty pilot, a passenger attempting to breach the cockpit on a California-bound flight and a Southwest flight to Hawaii that was diverted to OAK due to a bomb threat. SFGATE wasn’t alone in recording the bad behavior. The FAA released its annual, year-end data set to illustrate the unruly passenger incidents that it investigated. The report illustrates how airline passengers continue to act out and although the number of cases has subsided from their peak two years ago, this year’s count was still significantly higher than pre-2021. The FAA said unruly passenger incidents have seen rapid growth since 2021. “The rate of unruly passenger incidents steadily dropped by over 80 percent since record highs in early 2021,” the FAA wrote. “But recent increases show there remains more work to do.” As of Dec. 10, the FAA had received 1,960 reports of unruly passengers in 2023 and, by year’s end, seems likely to surpass the 2,000-case mark for the third straight year. In 2019, the administration recorded 1,161 cases. As expected with more traveling over the summer, July through September had the higher rates of incidents in 2023. The FAA has a “zero-tolerance policy” toward unruly passengers and referred 22 of the most severe cases to the FBI for prosecution in August. Airline passengers who act out face several tiers of punishment. They can earn a spot on an internal no-fly list for an airline, pay $37,000 per violation or, in the cases referred to the FBI, face a felony conviction. A spokesperson for the FAA explained to SFGATE in an email how it’s trying to diversify its messaging to get the point across. “We’re also aggressively getting the word out about what can happen to people who engage in this dangerous behavior,” Ian Gregor, a spokesperson for the FAA, wrote. “Here’s a link to the meme we developed for Halloween.” Across the airline industry, people are getting fed up with having to deal with inappropriate behavior on flights. In August, an American Airlines captain went viral for his pre-departure speech that condemned misbehavior. “You people should treat people the way you want to be treated,” the pilot said. “I have to say it every single flight, because people don’t, and they’re selfish and rude. And we won’t have it.” https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/faa-unruly-passenger-breakdown-2023-18552620.php American Airlines flight from Philadelphia-Dallas declares emergency An American Airlines flight operating out of Philadelphia for Dallas-Forth Worth has declared an emergency whilst en route. American Airlines flight AA1670, an Airbus A321 operating from Philadelphia (PHL) to Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) declared a general emergency with squawk code 7700 as it transited Maryland airspace after departure. The flight appears to be proceeded on the flight plan track for the destination at this time. American Airlines AA1670 Philadelphia-Dallas Update 10:55 UTC – Normal Ops American Airlines flight AA1670 has returned to a normal transponder code after squawking the emergency transponder code 7700 during the cruise at FL260 (26,000 feet). Flight data shows that the aircraft transmitted the emergency code for approximately three minutes from 10:37 UTC whilst on the outbound track over Maryland. The flight has since reverted to a normal code and is continuing on flight plan track for Dallas.]; having continued climb to cruising level FL320 (32,000 feet). Flight continuation to DFW It is unconfirmed whether the code transmission was erroneous data. The flight is presently continuing under normal operations. The aircraft operating today’s AA1670 rotation from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is an Airbus A321-231 registered N145AN; an 8-year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the US carrier American Airlines. The aircraft was originally delivered to the airline from the Hamburg plant on 1 October 2015 Data shows that flight AA1670 made an on-time departure out of PHL earlier today at 04:58 EST and established normally on the south westerly track for Dallas (DFW). The flight is now proceeding normally on track for the destination, and is continuing under normal flight procedures. https://aviationsourcenews.com/emergency/american-airlines-flight-from-philadelphia-dallas-declares-emergency/ GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY I am a professional pilot with 16 years of experience, flying the B777 for a major Middle Eastern airline. Concurrently, I'm pursuing an MSc in Air Transport Management at City University, London. My journey in aviation has been defined by a commitment to excellence and a passion for continually exploring new horizons within the industry. My research: I am conducting research for my MSc final project titled "Policy Drivers for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Adoption: Case Study India." The research aims to explore the policy mechanisms required for SAF adoption/deployment in the Indian aviation industry. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is an eco-friendly alternative aviation fuel derived from sustainable sources, proven to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 percent over its lifecycle. However, these fuels cost 2-4 times more than conventional jet fuels. This survey investigates the public perceptions and attitudes towards SAF and its potential implications for air travel. Valuable insights gained from this study will advance the understanding of public attitudes and perceptions of SAF adoption in the aviation industry. The perspectives shared will contribute to developing effective policy mechanisms for SAF deployment, assisting policymakers in aligning the aviation industry with sustainable practices. This is an anonymous survey targeted at air travelers and is designed to be completed in about 10 to 12 minutes. Link to the survey: https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5cGRH3H5CPfX1HM Kind regards, Deepak Nalla CALENDAR OF EVENTS • SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024 - February 20 - 25 • HAI Heli-Expo 2024 - February 26 - 29 - Anaheim, CA • 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