Flight Safety Information - February 26, 2024 No. 041 In This Issue : Incident: Qatar B788 and Ethiopian A359 over Somalia on Feb 24th 2024, TCAS saves the day after conflicting ATC instructions : Incident: Thai Asia A320 enroute on Feb 24th 2024, battery thermal runaway : Incident: Spirit A321 at Chicago on Feb 23rd 2024, could not retract landing gear : United Airlines 737 suffers cabin pressure loss over Pacific : Emirates Airlines crew’s heroic response: subduing aggressive drunk passenger mid-flight : IATA Expands Turbulence Data Sharing with The Weather Company to Enhance Flight Safety : Eastern Airlines moved its headquarters to Kansas City, expecting to create 165 jobs : New technology in airport may eliminate need for a boarding pass in TSA : Ryanair demands compensation from Boeing for aircraft delivery delays : American Airlines Expected To Announce Game-Changing Aircraft Order March 4, Eyeing Airbus A350s : Ravn cuts workforce two years after pilots unionize : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Qatar B788 and Ethiopian A359 over Somalia on Feb 24th 2024, TCAS saves the day after conflicting ATC instructions A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8, registration A7-BCN performing flight QR-1383 from Doha (Qatar) to Entebbe (Uganda), was enroute at FL380 in Somaliland's/Somalia's Airspace about 180nm northeast of Hargeisa (Somaliland) in contact with Mogadishu Center, when the aircraft received instruction to climb to FL400. An Ethiopian Airlines Airbus A350-900, registration ET-ATY performing flight ET-602 from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), was enroute at FL390 in Somaliland's/Somalia's Airspace about 180nm northeast of Hargeisa in contact with Somaliland Hargeisa Center. Climbing through FL385 the Boeing received a TCAS resolution advisory to descend and descended back to FL380 resolving the conflict. https://avherald.com/h?article=51566d70&opt=0 Incident: Thai Asia A320 enroute on Feb 24th 2024, battery thermal runaway A Thai AirAsia Airbus A320-200, registration HS-ABX performing flight FD-3188 from Bangkok Don Muang to Nakhon Si Thammarat (Thailand), was enroute when smoke emanated from an overhead locker. A passenger's power bank suffered a thermal runaway. Cabin crew used a fire extinguisher and secured the power bank in a container. The aircraft continued to destination for a safe landing. The aircraft was able to perform the return flight on schedule. https://avherald.com/h?article=5155b74f&opt=0 Incident: Spirit A321 at Chicago on Feb 23rd 2024, could not retract landing gear A Spirit Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N662NK performing flight NK-635 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Atlanta,GA (USA) with 218 people on board, was climbing out of Chicago's runway 10L when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet declaring emergency reporting they were unable to retract their landing gear. The aircraft positioned for an approach to runway 10C and landed without further incident about 20 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200 registration N672NK reached Atlanta with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Chicago 34 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=5155b120&opt=0 United Airlines 737 suffers cabin pressure loss over Pacific A United Airlines flight operating from Kahului, Hawaii to San Francisco, CA was forced to initiate an emergency descent and divert to Honolulu after it experienced the loss of cabin pressure whilst en route on 16 February. United Airlines flight UA1639, a Boeing 737-800 registered N77510, was operating the scheduled service from Kahului (OGG) to San Francisco (SFO) after it experienced a loss of cabin pressure in the cruise over the Pacific Ocean. Flight UA1639 was in the cruise at flight level FL350 (35,000 feet) at approximately 200 nautical miles from Honolulu when the pressurization incident occurred. Emergency Descent & Diversion Flight crew initiated an emergency descent procedure to 10,000 feet and diverted to Honolulu (HNL). Flight data for the service shows that United flight UA 1639 made an on-time departure out of Kahului (OGG) at 2333 local time on 16 February, before setting because normally and climbing to flight level FL350. The fight subsequently initiated the high rate emergency descent at approximately 10:12 UTC before laying in a diversion course to Honolulu (HNL), where it landed without further incident just over one hour later. The flight did not declare a formal emergency, and passenger oxygen masks were deployed as a standard contingency measure following the cabin depressurization. The aircraft operating the subject UA1639 service to San Francisco was a Boeing 737-800 registered N77510; a 15-year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the US carrier United Airlines. The flight service was subsequently cancelled and the aircraft remained grounded at Honolulu for three days after the in-flight incident. https://aviationsourcenews.com/incident/united-airlines-737-suffers-cabin-pressure-loss-over-pacific/ Emirates Airlines crew’s heroic response: subduing aggressive drunk passenger mid-flight In a display of swift action, the crew of an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai, U.A.E. to Islamabad, Pakistan, on the morning of February 25th, garnered praise for their handling of an aggressive drunk passenger. In a short clip that appeared online, the passenger is seen headbutting a male crew member. Shortly after, the passenger is taken to the ground and handcuffed. Instances of disruptive behavior aboard flights pose significant challenges to airlines and crew members alike, jeopardizing the safety and comfort of passengers and crew. In response, many airlines prioritize comprehensive training programs to equip their staff with the tools and techniques needed to manage unruly incidents with professionalism and efficiency. The owner of social media page “A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew” explains that – every year – Emirates crew receives Taekwondo training to learn how to effectively restrain passengers in such cases. In another short clip that appeared on social media platform X, the unruly passenger has been placed onto a wheelchair. https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/emirates-airline/crews-heroic-response-subduing-aggressive-drunk-passenger-mid-flight/ IATA Expands Turbulence Data Sharing with The Weather Company to Enhance Flight Safety The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is broadening the scope of its Turbulence Aware data dissemination, making it accessible through premier aviation solutions by The Weather Company. This initiative targets the lion’s share of commercial carriers in North America and numerous international operators. With this upgrade, associated carriers will soon tap into the Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) turbulence data via The Weather Company’s Fusion™ and Pilotbrief® platforms. IATA’s Turbulence Aware will integrate as an extra layer within these platforms, ensuring that pilots, dispatchers, and flight planners receive critical turbulence data seamlessly in their essential operational tools, eliminating the need to juggle between different interfaces. Turbulence poses risks to safety on board, influences flight scheduling, impacts customer satisfaction, and necessitates additional equipment maintenance, among other concerns. The strategic fusion of IATA’s Turbulence Aware data with The Weather Company’s forecasting prowess—recognized as the top forecaster globally—seeks to enhance the management of weather and turbulence effects for airlines worldwide. The provision of precise, real-time turbulence insights empowers flight crews and dispatchers to select the most favorable routes, circumvent turbulence, and maintain optimal altitudes to boost fuel efficiency and cut down CO2 emissions. Introduced in 2018, IATA’s Turbulence Aware initiative aims at reducing turbulence-related injuries to passengers and crew, as well as diminishing fuel expenses, by aggregating anonymous EDR turbulence data from thousands of flights by participating airlines. EDR is recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the standard metric for measuring turbulence intensity. Ravi Vanmali, The Weather Company’s aviation head, emphasizes the increasing importance of incorporating precise, real-time weather data and insights into aviation decision-making processes, especially as climate change intensifies weather unpredictability. He notes that dependable weather forecasts, augmented by expert analysis, can significantly aid airlines and pilots in navigating adverse weather and turbulence, thereby safeguarding crew and passenger well-being and minimizing financial repercussions. Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Products & Services, highlights the goal of simplifying access to turbulence data. Through partnership with The Weather Company, IATA aims to make Turbulence Aware data readily available within pilots’ and dispatchers’ current operational systems, streamlining the decision-making process in turbulence management and avoidance. As weather patterns evolve with climate change, managing turbulence remains a complex challenge that affects flight safety and efficiency. Turbulence Aware stands out as a pivotal enhancement in turbulence reporting, helping to avoid unnecessary fuel consumption. Currently, the IATA Turbulence Aware Platform boasts participation from 21 airlines, with over 2,000 aircraft contributing data daily. In 2023, the platform amassed more than 380 million turbulence observations, significantly enhancing the travel experience for over 700 million passengers by ensuring safer and more comfortable flights. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/iata-expands-turbulence-data-sharing-with-the-weather-company-to-enhance-flight-safety/ Eastern Airlines moved its headquarters to Kansas City, expecting to create 165 jobs Eastern Airlines expects to create 165 jobs in Kansas City with the relocation of its headquarters. Eastern Airlines expects to create 165 jobs in Kansas City with the relocation of its headquarters. Eastern Airlines currently operates 12 airplanes, though it does not offer commercial passenger service out of Kansas City. Relocating its headquarters here required a $4.7 million investment. Eastern Airlines announced it is relocating its headquarters to Kansas City, investing over $4.7 million in a move the company expects to create 165 new jobs. Eastern Airlines, a cargo and charter airline, is one of three subsidiaries owned by Eastern Air Holdings. Eastern Airlines leadership cited the success of the holding company's other two Kansas City businesses, as well as the city's new airport terminal, as factors contributing to the move, according to a news release. “Kansas City and its airport have a great legacy in our industry,” Stephen Buscher, Eastern Airlines' chief financial officer, said in the release. “We did look at a number of cities to rebase our headquarters, but the enthusiasm of Missouri and the city combined with the generous assistance of the Missouri Works program made our decision easy.” Missouri Works is a state government program designed to help create jobs and expand facilities through tax incentives. Eastern Airlines transitioned its headquarters from Wayne, Pennsylvania, to a site at 11500 N. Ambassador Drive in Platte County near the Kansas City International Airport at the end of 2023. The relocation required a $4.7 million capital investment, according to regional economic development leaders. The company has had a presence in Kansas City since 2021 when it purchased a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, Alta Aero Technic, LLC, and formed a passenger-to-freighter design company called Foxtrot Aero, LLC. The new terminal in Kansas City opened in spring 2023. In addition to bringing jobs and investment, the new headquarters could drive growth in knowledge of the aviation industry within the local workforce, according to an emailed statement from Steven Anthony, vice president of business development for the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City. More immediately, the move will create new jobs for maintenance workers, pilots and flight operations workers, among others — with an average salary of $96,000. “We believe any headquarters location is a big deal for Kansas City to showcase itself as a world class city, and a place where business leaders can imagine their workforce having an exceptional quality of life,” Anthony said in an emailed statement. The company currently operates 12 airplanes, though it does not offer commercial passenger service out of Kansas City. Eastern Airlines was founded in 1926 and grew into one of the largest U.S. carriers. It shut down in 1991, hampered by labor strife, a challenging route structure and bankruptcy brought on by a high debt load. Today, Eastern Airlines seeks to cater to "underserved markets across the globe," according to its website. https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-02-22/eastern-airlines-moved-its-headquarters-to-kansas-city-expecting-to-create-165-jobs New technology in airport may eliminate need for a boarding pass in TSA NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk International Airport started implementing a new technology that confirms the validity of a flyer’s identity and their flight information. The first generation version of the Credential Authentication Technology, or CAT, units would scan a traveler’s photo identification in order to confirm the traveler’s identity as well as their flight details. The new CAT units, referred to as CAT-2, can also take a real-time photo of the traveler. CAT-2 compares the traveler’s photo on the ID against the in-person, real-time photo. Once the CAT-2 confirms the match, a TSA officer verifies and the traveler can proceed through the checkpoint, without ever exchanging a boarding pass. The photos are not saved after they’ve properly identified the person, a release states. https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/new-technology-in-airport-may-eliminate-need-for-a-boarding-pass-in-tsa/ Ryanair demands compensation from Boeing for aircraft delivery delays Michael O’Leary says manufacturing ‘sh_t show’ has led to the airline having to lower passenger forecasts Ryanair had expected to receive 57 737 Max-8 aircraft by June to deploy over the peak summer months, but has revised down its estimates as manufacturing issues have gripped Boeing. Ryanair is demanding compensation from Boeing for worsening aircraft delivery delays that have forced the airline to lower its forecasts for passenger numbers and warn it is on the cusp of cancelling some flights this summer. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, said he was “genuinely not sure” how many 737 Max aircraft Boeing will deliver in time for the peak summer months, noting the US aerospace company was plunged into a manufacturing “shit show” after the fuselage blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Boeing has encountered intense scrutiny over the incident, and the US aviation regulator has blocked it from expanding production of the 737 Max, its most popular plane. Alaska Airlines and Panama’s Copa Airlines have called for Boeing to compensate for the losses caused by the accident and the subsequent grounding of planes. O’Leary’s comments show Boeing could face more compensation claims for the delays across its production process. “There is a debate with Boeing as to whether we’re entitled to some compensation for these delayed deliveries,” O’Leary said at a press conference on Friday. Our focus is not getting compensation out of Boeing, our focus is getting the bloody aeroplanes out of them Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive He said the discussions centred on whether the production issues constituted “excusable delays”, which would not be liable for compensation as laid out in the contract with Boeing. “We’ve been very firm with the view it’s inexcusable,” he adding: “Our growth has been constrained because at this point in time we don’t really know how many aircraft we are going to get . . . there is a shit show going on in [Boeing’s main production line] Seattle,” he said. Ryanair had expected to receive 57 737 Max-8 aircraft by June to deploy over the peak summer months, but has been regularly revising down its estimates as manufacturing issues have gripped Boeing. “Boeing, would try to claim that it’s excusable. I think we will get some modest compensation out of Boeing. But our focus is not getting compensation out of Boeing, our focus is getting the bloody aeroplanes out of them,” he added. O’Leary said his airline would probably receive between 40 and 45 aircraft although the number could fall below 40. Ryanair’s summer 2024 schedule is based on receiving at least 50 aircraft from Boeing, and O’Leary said the airline would have to announce “minor schedule cuts” by the end of March if only 40 arrived by the end of March. He said Ryanair would cut flights from routes with multiple daily frequencies to avoid disruption to customers. “We will be able to offer affected customers alternative flights on the same day or other days.” Ryanair now expects to carry 183.5mn passengers in its current financial year ending in March, down from a planned 185mn. However he added that the Boeing problems would hit passengers numbers in its following financial year, which will be “towards 200mn” instead of a forecast 205mn. The Irish executive said demand for flying had “never looked” brighter, but the engineering issues, which have also hit other airlines because of inspections on engines used on some Airbus aircraft, would result in higher fares for customers. He said the airline was “on track to make something around €1.9bn” in profits this year. The airline guided it would make between €1.85bn and €1.95bn in its most recent results in January. O’Leary, whose growth ambitions are reliant on Boeing aircraft, has been consistently supportive of the company’s top executives despite the production problems. Some other airlines bosses, including at United Airlines and Emirates, have been harsher in their criticism as frustration among Boeing customers grows. Boeing said it was communicating with customers over some delivery schedules. It added: “We deeply regret the impact this is having on our valued customer, Ryanair. We’re working to address their concerns and taking action on a comprehensive plan to strengthen 737 quality and delivery performance.” https://www.ft.com/content/a00a1875-a3ee-4c38-aee8-8267cc1459fe American Airlines Expected To Announce Game-Changing Aircraft Order March 4, Eyeing Airbus A350s American Airlines is working on an order for new planes. However it may not just be for narrowbody planes as I and others have reported. There’s discussion of a widebody order potentially as well – even for the Airbus A350 as a replacement for aging Boeing 777-200s. An announcement, at least for new smaller planes, may come as soon as March 4 which is the airline’s upcoming Investor Day as noted by aviation watchdog JonNYC. I’ve expected a new aircraft order. In fact, I was first to report that American is considering a narrowbody order. CEO Robert Isom told employees in July, “We’re going to need aircraft, and I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point we make a commitment to some narrowbody aircraft as we get past 2027.” I have not been expecting a widebody aircraft order. They’ve deferred delivery of several of the Boeing 787-9s that they already have on order. While (like everyone else) American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has been unhappy with Boeing I still expect they’ll get a better deal from Boeing on MAX aircraft to replace older Airbus A319, A320, and some 737-800 aircraft. Delivery slots would be harder to come by for Airbus, though American has suggested that for an airline their size airframe manufacturers will figure it out. As far as widebodies, adding the A350 to the fleet would be a complete reversal of the airline’s strategy over the past 7 years as they’ve tried to reduce the diversity of their operation. American Airlines retired too many aircraft during the pandemic. At least there was demand for the carrier’s Boeing 767s as freighters. Northern Pacific wanted some 757s. They were even still paying leases on Airbus A330s. With so many planes off the table, they were unable to take advantage of last year’s travel boom to Europe that fueled profits at Delta and United However, they argued that they positioned themselves well for the future by simplifying their widebody fleet – all Boeing, all 787/777. It would be surreal for the airline, which cancelled its order for the A350 inherited from US Airways in spring 2018, to grow its widebody fleet by adding the complexity of this new aircraft type. Update: American used to have an A350 simulator, but already sold it. Hah. The airline has also talked down a 787-10 as a replacement for its Boeing 777-300ERs. But the A350 would presumably be opening up destinations that American has been loathe to fly to, doesn’t think would be profitable for them, and would likely require a shift in route strategy. https://viewfromthewing.com/american-airlines-expected-to-announce-game-changing-aircraft-order-march-4-eyeing-airbus-a350s/ Ravn cuts workforce two years after pilots unionize Ravn Alaska has just cut 130 jobs, about one-quarter of its workforce. The Anchorage-based regional airlines that flies between Anchorage and western Alaska towns and cities announced the layoffs to workers Friday. The airline flies Beechcraft and DeHavilland Dash 8s. Late last year, Ravn stopped serving two of its 12 destinations — Kenai and Aniak. The airlines had declared bankruptcy in 2020, sold off some of its aircraft, and reorganized. Its parent company is FLOAT Alaska. Ravn is suffering from a labor shortage, competition, and inflation, it reported. But in 2022, its pilots joined a union — Airline Pilots Association. Two years later, their company is evidently struggling to stay alive. “In late 2022, the pilots’ Negotiating Committee began preparing for negotiations and surveyed the pilot group with the goal of securing a first collective bargaining agreement. Bargaining began in early 2023 and is ongoing,” reported the pilots union. Ravn’s CEO is Rob McKinney, also CEO of what launched as Northern Pacific Airways last summer and then changed its named last year to New Pacific Airlines. That company has also struggled. First it planned to fly to Asia through Alaska. Then it inaugurated its service from Ontario, Calif. to Las Vegas, Nevada. It appears to be operating now to Nashville, Tenn. and Reno, Nevada airports from Ontario. Must Read Alaska sources say Ravn raised pay by about 30% in the fall of 2022 to remain competitive. But the market has been strong for pilots, that a regional airline operating turboprops is not competitive in the labor market, although turboprops used to be a stepping stone for jets. Now, it is an unnecessary diversion for the careers of many pilots. “Apart from being home every night Ravn has nothing to attract new pilots or retain the ones it had,” a pilot said. “If (when) they cease operations, I seriously doubt that they will be replaced by a similar carrier. The Operational Overhead for a Part 121 carrier in a very seasonal market like ours makes it almost impossible to be profitable.” Some believe that the future for aviation in Alaska is going to be newer, faster single and twin-engine turboprop aircraft like the Pilates PC-12, Cessna 408, and maybe some legacy Beech 1900’s. Ryan Air, Bering Air, ACE, and Kenai Aviation could see some tremendous market growth if they choose, sources said. https://mustreadalaska.com/ravn-cuts-workforce-two-years-after-pilots-unionize/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 2024 Women in Aviation International Conference - March 21-23 (Orlando) • SMU Air Law Symposium - March 21-22, 2024 ( Dallas, TX) • 2024 ACSF Safety Symposium – Air Charter Safety Foundation - April 1-3, 2024 • Blazetech - Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation Course June 4 - 7, 2024 • Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. (APSCON 2024) - July 29 - August 3; Houston TX • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 0-11 September, 2024, Singapore • • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) Curt Lewis