Flight Safety Information - December 27, 2023 No. 248 In This Issue : Incident: Envoy E170 at Chicago on Dec 23rd 2023, flaps/slat failure : Incident: Hop! E170 at Turin on Dec 22nd 2023, smoke in cabin : Incident: Fedex MD11 at San Juan on Dec 21st 2023, hydraulic failure : Incident: Sun Express B738 at Amsterdam on Dec 24th 2023, unsafe gear : Pilot killed after small plane crashes into home in East Texas, FAA investigating : Air ambulance charity issues drone safety warning : Maintenance issue discovered in multiple Marine helicopters in Japan : Hawaiian Airlines open to offers if Alaska buyout bid fails : Woman had loaded gun in bag for Christmas Eve flight at D.C.-area airport : Call for CFIs and Student pilots: Need your help to alleviate Pilot Fatigue! : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Envoy E170 at Chicago on Dec 23rd 2023, flaps/slat failure An Envoy Airlines Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N778RH performing flight AA-3808 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Westchester,NY (USA), was climbing out of Chicago when the crew, upon being handed off to Chicago Center, reported they had a flap/slat failure, stopped the climb at 15,000 feet and returned to Chicago for a safe landing on runway 10C at a rather normal speed about 100 minutes after departure. A replacement Embraer ERJ-170 registration N874RW reached Westchester with a delay of about 4.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=512ee81f&opt=0 Incident: Hop! E170 at Turin on Dec 22nd 2023, smoke in cabin A Hop! Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of Air France, registration F-HBXN performing flight AF-1702 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Turin (Italy), was on approach to Turin when the crew declared emergency reporting smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on Turin's runway 36 about 11 minutes later. The return flight AF-1703 was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Turin about 100 hours (4 days 4 hours) later. https://avherald.com/h?article=512e5ddf&opt=0 Incident: Fedex MD11 at San Juan on Dec 21st 2023, hydraulic failure A Fedex Federal Express McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration N592FE performing flight FX-251 from Memphis,TN (USA) to San Juan (Puerto Rico), was descending towards San Juan when the crew reported they might have issues with the green hydraulic system. The aircraft continued the approach, requested and was cleared for runway 08 and was on final approach to San Juan's runway 08 when the crew went around. The aircraft positioned for another approach to San Juan's runway 08 and landed without further incident. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 36 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=512e53ef&opt=0 Incident: Sun Express B738 at Amsterdam on Dec 24th 2023, unsafe gear A Sun Express Boeing 737-800, registration TC-SEI performing flight XQ-772 from Ankara (Turkey) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was on final approach to Amsterdam's runway 22 when the crew initiated a go around due to an unsafe gear indication. The crew subsequently performed an alternate gear extension but again received an unsafe gear indication. The aircraft subsequently performed a low approach to Amsterdam's runway 18R to have the gear visually checked from the ground, according to tower the gear seemed all down. The aircraft positioned for an approach to Amsterdam's runway 27, landed safely and stopped on the runway about 55 minutes after initiating the first go around. After an inspection by emergency services the aircraft taxied to the apron. According to information The Aviation Herald received both landing gear indicator sets did not work making it impossible for the crew to determine whether all gear had been down and locked. https://avherald.com/h?article=512e516c&opt=0 Pilot killed after small plane crashes into home in East Texas, FAA investigating A Cirrus SR22 single-engine plane crashed into a home in Van Zandt County, east of Dallas, on Tuesday evening, killing the pilot. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, state troopers responded to a residence in the area of Private Road 7005 and Van Zandt County 3119 around 6 p.m. after reports of a plane crashing into the side of a home. Authorities said when they arrived at the scene, they found one person dead inside the plane as a result of the crash. No one was at home when the crash happened, and no other injuries have been reported. The name of the pilot has not been released to the public. The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will oversee the investigation and provide updates. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/pilot-killed-after-small-plane-crashes-into-home-in-east-texas-faa-investigating/3419952/ Air ambulance charity issues drone safety warning An air ambulance charity has warned of the problems drones can cause to its life-saving work. As many people start to use drones received as Christmas gifts, the Midlands Air Ambulance (MAA) has warned they can pose a huge safety risk if flown near its aircraft. The charity has urged people to take care and not to fly them near helicopters or close to emergencies that its crews are attending. It said there had been several reported incidents in recent years when flight paths had crossed. Ian Jones from the charity said: “A patient requiring the advanced clinical skills that we provide will most likely be experiencing the worst day of their lives. "Flying a drone that could disrupt our ability to rapidly reach or treat those in critical need can have an adverse effect on their situation.” The charity said pilots are trained to divert if they see a drone, meaning a helicopter might land further away from the scene of an emergency and cause delays reaching a patient. 'Privacy and dignity' The charity also raised concerns about patients’ privacy and dignity. It said it had now become commonplace to see people filming emergency services personnel while they responded to incidents. There have even been rare occasions where people have flown a drone overhead to film more of what is happening, MAA said. It urged people to respect the privacy of those being treated and not to distract medics from their work. The charity said it appreciated people taking an interest in its work, but highlighted that it is illegal to fly near its bases as they are restricted flying zones. https://au.news.yahoo.com/air-ambulance-charity-issues-drone-111935878.html Maintenance issue discovered in multiple Marine helicopters in Japan The aircraft involved were the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and the UH-1Y Venom utility helicopter. An unspecified maintenance issue in multiple aircraft at a Marine base in Japan is prompting the Marine Corps to take “corrective actions,” according to the Corps. The aircraft involved were the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and the UH-1Y Venom utility helicopter, Capt. Tyler King said Dec. 18 in an emailed statement to Marine Corps Times. The problem occurred at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, according to the Naval Safety Command’s list of mishaps. The Marine Corps is keeping the nature of the problem under wraps while it investigates what happened. “The maintenance actions do not stem from a flight mishap or personnel injury but were in the normal conduct of preventative maintenance,” King said, without specifying the number of helicopters involved. The Viper, which can fire at targets in the air and on the ground, and the Venom, which can perform a wide range of missions, are both Bell-made helicopters and part of the same family of aircraft, according to Naval Air Systems Command. The Marine Corps had 159 Vipers and 128 Venoms in its inventory in 2022, according to the aviation planning document released that year. King declined in a follow-up email to clarify how the recent issue came about. “At this time, with an open investigation I do not have any further information whether the issue arose from maintenance or was discovered by it,” the spokesman said. The aircraft wing was “taking corrective actions to ensure our aircrew and aircraft are performing within the highest standards of safety and procedural compliance,” King said. The maintenance issue didn’t raise any “immediate” concerns related to the safety of flight, according to the spokesman. Still, Naval Safety Command listed the incident as a Class A mishap, the most serious kind. In cases where no one was killed or permanently disabled, a Class A mishap indicates military aircraft sustained at least $2.5 million in damage. King’s statement didn’t specify the unit where the mishap took place, except that it took place under 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, the Corps’ Pacific-based aviation element. The air station where the incident occurred is home to Marine Aircraft Group 36, whose maintenance unit is Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/12/26/maintenance-issue-discovered-in-multiple-marine-helicopters-in-japan/ Hawaiian Airlines open to offers if Alaska buyout bid fails Hawaiian Airlines (HA, Honolulu) will remain open to buyout offers even if the planned takeover bid from Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) fails to proceed. The December 18, 2023, SEC filing contains scripted answers to employee questions about the proposed USD1.9 billion merger. "The board, subject to certain constraints, may consider other unsolicited offers for Hawaiian Airlines with the best interest of our shareholders in mind," the filing read, responding to a question about whether the board remained open to other offers should Alaska Airlines' takeover bid not finalise. Earlier this month, Alaska Airlines announced that it would acquire Hawaiian Airlines. The takeover has the support of Hawaiian's board but remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. "However, we are focused on the agreement we reached with Alaska Airlines, which we believe is the best path forward for our company. And both companies are committed to taking the steps necessary to proceed with shareholder approval and regulatory review of the combination," the filing added. Most questions and answers concerned labour issues, what would happen to Hawaiian Airlines employees, and their work conditions if the Alaska takeover offer proceeds. According to the answers, it would be business as usual for Hawaiian's employees until the transaction closes. "Your pay and benefits will remain unchanged until the transaction closes, which we expect to happen 12-18 months from the Board's initial approval," the filing noted. "While it's still too early to know exactly how and when our benefits plan will combine with Alaska's, we expect the combined entity to offer competitive pay and benefits and provide more career advancement and geographic mobility opportunities for employees." The filing confirmed that each airline would continue to operate as standalone entities until the takeover bid is approved. However, after that, Hawaiian would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, with Honolulu becoming a regional headquarters for the combined entity. After the transaction closes, the two airlines will move on to the one air operator's certificate, and Hawaiian employees will become Alaska employees. "Alaska has committed to maintaining and growing union-represented jobs in Hawaii, including preserving pilot, flight attendant, and maintenance bases in Honolulu, along with our airport operations and cargo throughout the state," the filing reads. "Until the transaction closes, we will continue operating our standalone business, and Alaska Airlines remains a competitor." Regarding fleet planning, the Hawaiian Airlines filing said fleet composition decisions have yet to be made. However, the airline expects the combined entity to make decisions based on maximizing operational efficiency and customer experience. Recently, ch-aviation reported that one potential outcome of the takeover would be Hawaiian's B717-200s eventually replaced by B737 MAX types ordered by Alaska Airlines. "In a combined entity, allocation of pilots to fleet types will be governed by the joint collective bargaining agreement terms. We expect that being a part of the larger, combined airline will present new opportunities for pilots," the filing said. Hawaiian also noted that while it would continue to work with its ground handling contractors and other vendors until the takeover transaction closes, "it is too early to know" whether these agreements will remain in place once Alaska Airlines assumes control. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/135480-hawaiian-airlines-open-to-offers-if-alaska-buyout-bid-fails Woman had loaded gun in bag for Christmas Eve flight at D.C.-area airport TSA agents found the gun on the woman’s carry-on luggage at a security checkpoint at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. She was cited and faces a fine, which could be thousands of dollars. A woman at a Washington, D.C.-area airport took a loaded handgun in her carry-on bag for a flight on Christmas Eve, the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday. The 9 mm handgun was found at a security checkpoint at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in Arlington County, Virginia, just south of the nation’s capital, and never made it onto the plane, the TSA said. The agency did not identify the woman, who is from Bethesda, Maryland, in a news release. She was cited by police on a weapons charge, and the gun, which was loaded with six rounds, was confiscated, it said. She also faces a fine, which can go up to $15,000, the TSA said. “This traveler was cited by the police and will likely receive a federal civil penalty of thousands of dollars,” John Busch, the TSA’s federal security director for the airport, said in a statement. “Responsible gun owners know where their guns are at all times and they know not to bring them to an airport checkpoint.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/woman-loaded-gun-bag-christmas-eve-flight-dc-area-airport-rcna131251 Call for CFIs and Student pilots: Need your help to alleviate Pilot Fatigue! CFIs and Flight Students, Greetings from Oklahoma State University! My name is Md Mijanur Rahman, and I am a graduate student working under the supervision of Dr. Nicoletta Fala at the Aviation Engineering Operations Analysis (ÆON) lab in the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology. We are conducting research to understand and alleviate the impact of fatigue on the quality and safety of flight training from a CFI and student perspective. This research could help the flight training industry improve the work environment of the CFI, improve safety, and raise the quality of training provided to student pilots. As a part of this research, we are seeking your voluntary participation in an online survey regarding work-induced fatigue in a flight training environment. This survey will take anywhere from 15 mins (Student Pilots) to 30 mins (CFIs) depending on your role. Your responses will allow us to elicit information and perceptions on the organization of work and the factors that contribute to fatigue and burnout at collegiate and independent flight schools. To compensate you for your time, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of ten $50 gift cards. We will ask you to provide your contact information in a second survey if you wish to participate in the drawing to maintain anonymity in your responses. If you are interested, please click here or copy and paste the following link in your browser’s address bar: https://okstate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0wyWrqmHNsMJfy6 We would also like your help in recruiting qualified CFIs and Students as research participants. To help us in this effort, please forward this email to friends and colleagues. We appreciate your time and willingness to help. 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