Flight Safety Information - March 15, 2024 No. 055 In This Issue : Boeing 737-823 (WL) - Bird Strike/Damage (Minneapolis-St. Paul) : Incident: Azul E195 at Belo Horizonte on Mar 14th 2024, electrical failure : Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London : Incident: PIA A320 near Karachi on Mar 11th 2024, INS failure : Seat belt saved passenger's life on Boeing 737 jet that suffered a blowout, new lawsuit says : Pakistani national airline forbids on-duty pilots, cabin crew from Ramzan fasting, Here's why : Aviation psychologist: Mental health is still a sensitive issue for most pilots : 'Nobody wants Boeing to fail;' aviation safety expert says company must clean up its act : Redding man arrested for pointing laser at aircraft : Venezuela bans Argentinian planes from its airspace : NTSB chair: Absence of Boeing records will complicate investigation into midair blowout : Delta flight diverted to Atlanta after passengers get into fight, with one having a lighter : DoT Inspector General To Audit FAA Efforts On Drone Integration : United asks Boeing to focus on -9s until -10 certification : Europe regulator says will take time needed to approve China jet : Ventura Air Services Elevates Safety Standards with ARGUS Platinum and IS-BAO Stage Two Certification Boeing 737-823 (WL) - Bird Strike/Damage (Minneapolis-St. Paul) Date: Thursday 14 March 2024 Time: 00:47 Type: Boeing 737-823 (WL) Owner/operator: American Airlines Registration: N880NN MSN: 40769/3854 Year of manufacture: 2011 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN (MSP/KMSP) - United States of America Phase: Approach Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA) Destination airport: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN (MSP/KMSP) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: American Airlines flight AA458 suffered a bird strike on approach for landing. The aircraft landed safely but became disabled on the runway due to NLG damage and fluid loss. Passengers deplaned normally after aircraft was towed to the gate. Runway was closed for clean up of debris and fluids. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/359053 Incident: Azul E195 at Belo Horizonte on Mar 14th 2024, electrical failure An Azul Linhas Aereas Embraer ERJ-195-E2, registration PS-AEC performing flight AD-4673 from Belo Horizonte,MG to Brasilia,DF (Brazil), was climbing through FL310 out of Belo Horizonte when the crew decided to turn around and return to Belo Horizonte reporting an electrical failure. The aircraft landed safely on Belo Horizonte's runway 16 about 45 minutes after departure. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Belo Horizonte for technical reasons. A replacement E295 registration PS-AED reached Brasilia with a delay of about 4:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Belo Horizonte about 4 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=516239b1&opt=0 Incident: PIA A320 near Karachi on Mar 11th 2024, INS failure A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration AP-BMX performing flight PK-217 from Peshawar (Pakistan) to Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), was enroute at FL340 about 300nm west of Karachi (Pakistan) when the crew decided to divert to Karachi due to the failure of the Inertial Navigation System (INS) #3 and the INS #2 being inaccurate/intermittent. The aircraft landed safely on Karachi's runway 25L about 50 minutes later. The aircraft remained on the ground in Karachi for about 4 hours, then continued the flight and reached Abu Dhabi with a delay of about 8 hours (including 2 hours late departure from Peshawar). According to information The Aviation Herald received INS#3 failed in flight, INS#2 was inaccurate/intermittent, hence the crew decided to divert to Karachi to have this rectified. Maintenance in Karachi replaced INS#3, swapped INS#1 and INS#2 and replaced the INS control panel. https://avherald.com/h?article=516235fc&opt=0 Seat belt saved passenger's life on Boeing 737 jet that suffered a blowout, new lawsuit says • More passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet when part of its fuselage blew out in January are suing — including one who says his life was saved by a seat belt SEATTLE -- More passengers who were aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet when part of its fuselage blew out in January are suing — including one who says his life was saved by a seat belt. The latest lawsuit, representing seven passengers, was filed in Washington’s King County Superior Court Thursday against Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Spirit AeroSystems and 10 people listed as John Does. Cuong Tran, of Upland, California, was sitting in the row behind where the side of the aircraft tore away and left a door-sized hole on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Jan. 5, according to a news release from attorney Timothy A. Loranger. Loranger, who filed the lawsuit, said air rushed out of the hole, pulling on Tran and others nearby. The suction tore Tran's shoes and socks from his feet and he felt his body lift off his seat, the news release said, adding that Tran's foot was hurt when it was jerked into the seat structure in front of him. “Our clients — and likely every passenger on that flight — suffered unnecessary trauma due to the failure of Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Alaska Airlines to ensure that the aircraft was in a safe and airworthy condition,” Loranger said. The lawsuit seeks punitive, compensatory and general damages for alleged negligence, product construction/manufacturing defect liability and failing in its duty to protect passengers from harm. Boeing responded to an email Thursday seeking comment saying, “We have nothing to add.” Alaska Airlines and Spirit AeroSystems didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The first six minutes of the flight from Portland, Oregon, to Southern California’s Ontario International Airport had been routine, the Boeing 737 Max 9 about halfway to its cruising altitude and traveling at more than 400 mph (640 kph). Then the piece of fuselage covering an inoperative emergency exit behind the left wing blew out. The pilots made an emergency landing back where they started in Portland. No one was seriously hurt. Another lawsuit against Boeing and Alaska Airlines was filed last month on behalf of 22 other passengers on the flight, also accusing the companies of negligence. In a preliminary report last month, the National Transportation Safety Board said four bolts that help keep the door plug in place were missing after the panel was removed so workers could repair nearby damaged rivets last September. The rivet repairs were done by contractors working for Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems. Boeing, under increased scrutiny since the incident, has acknowledged in a letter to Congress that it cannot find records for work done on the door panel of the Alaska Airlines plane. The Department of Justice has also launched a criminal investigation. The probe would assist the department’s review of whether Boeing complied with a settlement that resolved a federal investigation into the safety of its 737 Max aircraft after two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/seat-belt-saved-passengers-life-boeing-737-jet-108138628 Pakistani national airline forbids on-duty pilots, cabin crew from Ramzan fasting, Here's why PIA has strictly informed its cockpit pilots and crew that it will not let them board domestic and international flights if they were found observing fasts during Ramzan Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has issued a letter forewarning its pilots and cabin crew about risks involving flying while observing fast during the holy month of Ramzan. The directive which came from the manager of the flight safety department at PIA, asked the pilots and crew to skip fasting during the days they are on duty. The reason behind this circular was to avert potential risks such as decreased alertness, impaired decision-making abilities, dehydration, and lower stamina that could lead to serious repercussions in emergency situations. “The PIA’s top management, based on these recommendations, has issued compliance orders to the pilots and cabin crew personnel with immediate effect,” an official of the Pakistani national carrier said. Lack of clear judgment by the two pilots and human error were the reasons identified by the aircraft investigation board in an investigation a month ago on the PIA Airbus flight crash near the Karachi Airport that led loss of 101 lives, including 99 passengers onboard in May 2020. The investigation report attributed responsibility to the airlines and the civil aviation authority for lacking protocols regarding fasting during Ramzan. Keeping in mind the regulations and margin of safety the airline has strictly informed its cockpit pilots and crew that they won’t be allowed to board domestic and international flights if they were found observing fasts during Ramzan. According to the PIA’s financial report, the airline suffered a loss of Rs 60.71 billion in the first six months of 2023 because of the struggling Pakistani economy and lowering currency value. The airlines has been recently authorized by PM Shehbaz Sharif for privatisation. https://www.firstpost.com/world/pakistani-international-airline-pia-ramzan-fasts-ban-pilots-13749059.html Aviation psychologist: Mental health is still a sensitive issue for most pilots Aviation is an incredibly exciting yet particularly demanding field. The knowledge of weather, aerodynamics, propulsion, navigation, and all the other technical disciplines is crucial to keeping everyone in the air safe and comfortable. But there is more to it than that: for aviation operations to run smoothly, you also need a comprehensive understanding of what is simultaneously their most fragile and most resilient component – the human being. In their highly specific and little-known psychology subspecialty, aviation psychologists explore how human factors affect the performance and well-being of aviation professionals. As Agne Novikiene, Aviation Psychologist at Avion Express, says, her job involves not only selecting the right people for pilot training but also helping airborne personnel open up about their challenges at work. Agne Novikiene, Aviation Psychologist at Avion Express Secretive about struggles Pilots are the face of aviation, but stress can dim the glamour of their job. After all, it is their responsibility to get everyone on the plane safely to their destination. However, according to Agne, pilots can be tight-lipped about the anxieties they face. “When you talk about mental health with pilots, they all nod their heads and agree that it’s important and that they, just like the rest of us, can face psychological difficulties. But because it’s a topic closely related to a pilot’s ability to exercise their license; it’s challenging for them to talk about their struggles.” When a person struggles to acknowledge vulnerability, the situation merits a sensitive approach. Agne says that simple questions work best in such cases. “I approach stressed pilots from a place of genuine interest. If I see that a person is emotional or concerned about something, I simply try to ask about it. You can’t go about trying to trick people into opening up, but rather gently lead them there.” In Agne’s experience, cabin crew tends to be more open about their struggles than pilots. But in their client-facing work, passengers can become an additional source of stress. “Passengers can sometimes be a difficult crowd to manage. It gets particularly tense in case of emergencies, when they must calmly deal with very stressful situations, and help others do the same.” Constant training builds confidence A profession with no room for error seems a very stressful line of work. Yet when asked about on-the-job stress, experienced pilots can give surprising answers, Agne says. “The majority of experienced pilots I speak to would say that their job is not particularly stressful. Their profession is quite unique because it involves constant training, and I believe that builds better confidence at work.” No matter how many thousands of flight hours pilots have, aviation safety requirements mandate that they prove their knowledge and skills every year. Yearly training involves simulator practice for emergency situations, technical testing to ensure a high level of technical proficiency, and crew resource management training, among other tests. Plus, depending on the type of flying they do and their age, pilots need to undergo medical and mental fitness tests. According to Agne, pilots train consistently and rigorously, so certain things that seem very stressful to passengers are not for the pilots: “For instance, engine failure Many pilots would say that it’s a totally manageable situation. If the other engine works, you can still fly, so all is good.” Although the flying portion of the job might not make it too stressful, the lifestyle of aviation professionals can be somewhat challenging overall. These careers require extended periods away from home and loved ones, and many time zone changes during the day. It is important to understand that being a pilot or a cabin crew member means building your life around your job, Agne explains, and sometimes aspiring pilots forget this: “If we look at the information that’s out there about aviation careers, especially piloting, it’s mainly about how exciting it is, and very little about how challenging. The fact is that working in aviation, you often must adapt your life to the roster and miss spending the holidays with your family. During one recent interview, a pilot told me that he’s been celebrating his birthday alone in his hotel room for many, many years now. So, this lifestyle can feel quite lonely at times.” What does it take to be a pilot? All professional hazards notwithstanding, people are drawn to flying planes for a living. Thousands of airline pilot certificates are issued every year, mitigating the pilot shortage caused by the increasing demand of global air travel. Over her more than a decade-long career in aviation, Agne has screened many aspiring pilots. And while her list of qualities a person needs to become a pilot is long, Agne believes that responsibility, ownership, and willingness to accept your mistakes are all crucial to enter the aviation game. “The way I see it, we are all humans, and we all make mistakes. But it’s very important that we are able to acknowledge our errors and to inform others about them if needed.” For Agne, taking responsibility for a mistake is not a sign of incompetence, or an opportunity to beat yourself about something going wrong. Any mistake is a chance to learn – to bridge the lack of skills or knowledge, become better, and never repeat the same mistake. “For me, one of the scariest things is people denying their mistakes, simply not accepting that they have done something wrong. Then there’s no chance for development because they already think that they’re perfect. In a field such as aviation, that brings a lot of risks.” Pilot selection process that Agne works on is meant to weed out such unsuitable candidates. She says that deciding to, as they call it, recommend, or not recommend a candidate is one of the most challenging parts of her job. “Sometimes it’s difficult to make the final call because there’s always a mix of different elements at play. People have certain strengths, certain weaknesses, and it can be a struggle to find the right answer.” But in aviation, it is crucial to avoid any possible risks at any stage of operations. So even if the person that Agne interviews is nice and has interesting experiences, any human sympathy she feels towards them cannot overshadow the lack of core qualities. “I sometimes feel like a very bad person, having to make a decision that won’t make that person happy no matter how much I like them. But that’s the industry we’re in.” Why aviation is not like other sectors? Despite the challenges, Agne enjoys working in aviation psychology. As a person who likes complex things, she says that aviation sometimes is as complex as it gets. “In this field, there’s a need for precision and ownership from everyone involved so that we would maintain the same high level of safety that we are so proud of. From an HR perspective, we need to ensure that the right people work here and that they understand why they have to work in a certain way. Simply thinking about possible outcomes if we start skipping things makes your heart beat out of your chest.” The inclusive, international nature of the field is also a positive. Agne says that in aviation, there is always a lot of willingness to truly listen and understand everyone’s opinions and ideas. “At work, I speak with people from all over Europe and beyond, and they bring in their attitudes and values, and somehow it all finds its place. The atmosphere, I’d say, is beyond democratic.” And while Agne mostly works on the ground, being a part of the aviation industry allows her to feel at least some of the fascination surrounding planes and flying. “For many people who don’t work in aviation, these careers are something amazing. When I tell people about my job, they usually find it very interesting. Of course, the fascination is five times more intense when you’re a pilot, but I like to think that I too can feel the magic of aviation.” https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/aviation-psychologist-mental-health-is-still-a-sensitive-issue-for-most-pilots 'Nobody wants Boeing to fail;' aviation safety expert says company must clean up its act (TND) — Boeing is going through a tough period, and one aviation safety expert said the company must do everything in its power to repair its damaged reputation. “Nobody wants Boeing to fail, because (the) ramifications are too big,” said Daniel Kwasi Adjekum, a professor of aviation and aerospace sciences at the University of North Dakota. The aerospace industry is dominated by Boeing and Airbus, and Boeing’s production is crucial to meet growing demand for air travel, he said. “They only want them to clean up their act,” Adjekum said. A red-hot spotlight of scrutiny has been trained on Boeing since a panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner Jan. 5 above Oregon. The pilots were able to safely land the plane that had a hole in its side. Past Tragedies This week also marked the fifth anniversary of the Boeing Max aircraft crash operated by Ethiopian Airlines that left 157 people dead. That deadly crash occurred less than five months after a Boeing Max aircraft crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people. Thankfully, no one lost their life earlier this year when the door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines flight. But Adjekum said it raises questions as to why a big company like Boeing hadn’t seemed to learn the hard lessons from its past. “And that's where the safety culture comes in,” Adjekum said. Boeing’s 737 Max 9 jetliners first took flight in April 2017 and were certified by the Federal Aviation Administration for passenger service about a year later, according to The Seattle Times. The first of the two deadly crashes involving another model of the Boeing Max planes occurred just months later. And the Max planes were grounded for over a year and a half. Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion, including a $244 million fine, to settle an investigation into the crashes of the flights operated by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines, according to The Associated Press. Current Investigations For months, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have been probing the Jan. 5 incident involving the Boeing plane operated by Alaska Airlines. The Department of Justice has now reportedly also launched an investigation of the Jan. 5 incident, focused on whether Boeing complied with the settlement stemming from the deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019, according to The Wall Street Journal. Boeing has been given 90 days to outline its action plan in response to the FAA’s recently concluded audit that Adjekum said showed “a lot of lapses in internal controls (and) production quality control issues.” The FAA reportedly examined 89 aspects of production at Boeing's plant in Renton, Washington, and 33 failed. The FAA said Boeing’s action plan must also address the findings from an expert review panel report that examined Boeing’s safety culture. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, meanwhile, said Boeing has been unable to provide requested documentation as to who previously worked on the panel that blew off the Alaska Airlines jetliner. “Boeing has informed us that they are unable to find the records documenting this work. A verbal request was made by our investigators for security camera footage to help obtain this information; however, they were informed the footage was overwritten. The absence of those records will complicate the NTSB’s investigation moving forward,” Homendy wrote this week in a letter to lawmakers. Adjekum said proper documentation is critical to an effective safety management system. Boeing is likely to be cooperative with federal regulators, he said. But, he said, “We have yet to see how accountable Boeing will be to itself, and also how the FAA is holding them accountable.” Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said in an employee memo in late January, shortly after the grounded Max 9 fleet returned to the skies, that, “This increased scrutiny ... will make us better.” Calhoun said they had “much to prove to earn our stakeholders’ confidence. There is no message or slogan to do that. It will take transparency and demonstrated action – that starts with each of us along with a commitment to listening to each other and speaking up.” https://nbcmontana.com/news/nation-world/nobody-wants-boeing-to-fail-aviation-safety-expert-says-company-must-clean-up-its-act-airlines-timeline-max-9-aircraft-planes-travel-seattle-washington-oregon-university-of-north-dakota-aerospace-faa-ntsb-justice-department Redding man arrested for pointing laser at aircraft REDDING, Calif. — A Redding man has been arrested for shining a laser at aircraft at the Redding Airport on Wednesday night, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) announced. At around 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday night, March 13, the SCSO says they received a report of a suspect shining a green laser pointer at several aircraft during take-off and landing. The SCSO says they were advised by the Redding Aircraft Control Team that the laser's location was near Primrose Avenue and Fig Tree Lane. Deputies then responded to the area and reportedly found several people in the backyard of a home near the 20,000 block of Fig Tree Ln. They say deputies contacted Michael Ybarra, 36, who admitted to shining the laser at the aircraft. The SCSO says Ybarra was also found to be on felony probation out of Shasta County for grant theft. Ultimately, the sheriff's office says Ybarra was arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail for discharging a laser at an aircraft and for violating the terms of his probation. In their press release of the incident on Thursday night, the SCSO wrote a reminder to the community that pointing a laser at an occupied aircraft, while in motion or in flight, is punishable as a felony with a maximum sentence of three years in prison. https://krcrtv.com/news/local/redding-man-arrested-for-pointing-laser-at-aircraft Venezuela bans Argentinian planes from its airspace Venezuela’s government has closed its airspace to all Argentinian-registered aircraft in retaliation against Argentina’s involvement in the seizure, delivery to the United States Department of Justice, and scrapping of B747-300M YV3531 (msn 23413), formerly operated by Emtrasur Cargo (Caracas Simón Bolivar). The decision was made by the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and was backed by the country’s parliament, said Pedro Infante, vice president at the nation’s assembly. The closure will last “until our company is duly compensated for the damages caused,” he added. A spokesperson for the Argentinian government said the country would not be extorted by friends of terrorism and that it had initiated diplomatic measures against Venezuela. Aerolíneas Argentinas (AR, Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery) confirmed to ch-aviation it has been forced to reroute some of its flights to avoid Venezuelan airspace; however, there has been no impact on its schedules. According to Flightradar24 ADS-B data, its flights from Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini (Ezeiza) to Punta Cana and New York JFK flew over Venezuela but in recent days the New York service has been rerouted over Colombian airspace, while the service to Punta Cana transits Guyana’s Esequibo region, which is, coincidentally, claimed by the Venezuelan government. YV3531 was detained in Argentina on June 6, 2022. The United States later issued a seizure warrant for the aircraft, alleging that it was transferred from Mahan Air (W5, Tehran Mehrabad) to Emtrasur Cargo, a now-dormant subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned Conviasa (V0, Caracas Simón Bolivar), in violation of US sanctions. After a lengthy legal procedure in Argentina, the B747 was ferried from Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini to Miami Dade-Collier on February 12, 2024, where it was dismantled. The release of the aircraft to the US authorities was made possible after the recent change of power in Argentina wherein Pro-US president Javier Milei took over from the more Venezuela-friendly Alberto Fernández. ch-aviation has asked Venezuela's civil aviation authority (INAC) for comment. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/138146-venezuela-bans-argentinian-planes-from-its-airspace NTSB chair: Absence of Boeing records will complicate investigation into midair blowout The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday that the lack of Boeing records will complicate the investigation into the midair blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this year. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy sent a letter to Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to update the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on whether the NTSB has received documentation from Boeing in connection to the installation of the door plug that blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9. The NTSB launched an investigation shortly after the Jan. 5 incident. In a preliminary report released last month, the NTSB said four bolts meant to help secure the door plug were missing after it was opened for rivet repair work in September. Homendy said during a committee hearing last week that the repairs were performed by contractors who worked for Boeing’s supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. As of Wednesday, she said the NTSB still does not know who performed the repairs, noting Boeing was unable to provide video footage of the installation. “To date, we still do not know who performed the work to open, reinstall, and close the door plug on the accident aircraft. Boeing has informed us that they are unable to find the records documenting this work,” she wrote in the letter. “A verbal request was made by our investigators for security camera footage to help obtain this information; however, they were informed the footage was overwritten. The absence of those records will complicate the NTSB’s investigation moving forward,” she added. A Boeing official told The Hill it is standard practice for video recordings to be maintained on a rolling 30-day basis. Homendy said federal investigators first asked for documents that would have contained this information on Jan. 9, just four days after the incident. She said investigators later identified the door crew manager, but his attorney told the NTSB he would not be able to provide a statement or interview due to medical issues. She then said Boeing provided thevNTSB “with names of individuals who may provide insight regarding the work performed to open, reinstall, and close the door plug in September 2023” on Feb. 2. Homendy said the NTSB sent another request on March 2 asking for the names of all those who reported to the door crew manager during September. However, she said Boeing’s response did not include those who worked on the door panel. When she called Boeing CEO David Calhoun about it, she said he stated Boeing had no records of the work being performed and that he could not provide that information. She also reiterated in the letter the NTSB is not looking for the names of people for “punitive purposes,” but instead “to learn about Boeing’s quality-assurance processes and safety culture.” Boeing said in a statement that it will continue to work with the investigation. “We will continue supporting this investigation in the transparent and proactive fashion we have supported all regulatory inquiries into this accident. We have worked hard to honor the rules about the release of investigative information in an environment of intense interest from our employees, customers, and other stakeholders, and we will continue our efforts to do so,” the statement read. https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/4532128-ntsb-chair-boeing-investigation-records/ Delta flight diverted to Atlanta after passengers get into fight, with one having a lighter Officials said Delta Flight 420 was on its way from Dallas to New York when crew reported a "passenger disturbance." ATLANTA — A Delta flight on its way to New York was diverted to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Thursday afternoon due to two "unruly" passengers, according to a spokesperson with Delta Air Lines. Officials said Delta Flight 420 was on its way from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York -- when crews reported a "passenger disturbance." According to officials, the flight crew decided to land in Atlanta to have the two passengers who got into a fight on the plane removed. One of the passengers had a lighter, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation said the plane was not set on fire. The plane then landed safely in Atlanta around 3:20 p.m. and resumed its flight to JFK after the incident. In total, there were two pilots, three flight attendants and 92 passengers onboard the Airbus A220. "Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will work with law enforcement authorities to that end. We appreciate the civility and understanding of the remainder of our Dallas to New York customers and apologize for the delay in their travels," Delta Air Lines said in a statement. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it will be investigating the incident. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/delta-flight-diverted-atlanta-unruly-passengers/85-1aeeb127-493c-4859-9832-29768991edcf DoT Inspector General To Audit FAA Efforts On Drone Integration Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operation of unmanned and autonomous systems (UAS) operations took a big step forward today (March 13). The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Transportation (DoT) filed a memorandum on the FAA’s efforts to establish a regulatory framework for such operations. According to the memo, “Nationwide interest in using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as ‘drones,’ in complex operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) is expanding.” The FAA reports that more than 369,000 commercial drones were registered as of the end of last year, with nearly 1 million expected to enter service by 2027. The DoT acknowledges there are safety challenges associated with incorporating drones into the National Airspace System, but asserts that expanding BVLOS capability is vital to retaining a technology leadership role for the U.S. And advancing the capability of drones can also benefit safety across all modes of transportation. “For example,” the OIG memo says, “drones can perform dangerous bridge inspections or replace vehicles on roads, reducing the risk of accidents and loss of life.” FAA efforts on behalf of expanding drone operations include flight tests in partnership with both government and industry stakeholders and looking into recommendations from a rulemaking committee devoted to BVLOS issues. The OIG is initiating an audit this month to oversee the FAA’s integration efforts “due to their importance for maintaining U.S. leadership in aeronautics as well as their potential for introducing risks to the National Airspace System.” The audit will assess ongoing development of the FAA’s regulatory framework for BVLOS drone operations. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/dot-inspector-general-to-audit-faa-efforts-on-drone-integration/ United asks Boeing to focus on -9s until -10 certification United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) has asked Boeing to stop building B737-10s for the airline until the variant is certified and focus on the B737-9s, which can be delivered in a more predictable timeframe, Bloomberg has reported. "We've asked Boeing to stop building -10s, which they've done, for us and start building -9s. It's impossible to say when the -10 is going to get certified," Chief Executive Scott Kirby said during a J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference. "The -10 is out for us until it's certified". The airline confirmed it is "in the market for the A321-200neo" to fill the gap on its large narrowbody subfleet. However, Kirby was quick to emphasise that United would only opt for the European aircraft if the airline secured "a deal where the economics work... If we don't, we won't, and will wind up with more -9s". The carrier is the largest customer for the -10 with 277 aircraft on firm order from the manufacturer. However, United has been openly frustrated by the delays in certification and said recently that the January 5 mid-air door panel blowout of an AL! AS-o' B737-9 was the "straw that broke the camel's back". The airline subsequently removed the type from its internal fleet plan and reduced the expected deliveries of the -10s in 2024 from 80 to zero. United Airlines already operates seventy-nine B737-9s and has a further 31 on order. Its fleet also includes eighty-five B737-8s with a further 41 on order. The airline is the world's largest operator of the -9 and the second-largest of the -8 (after Southwest Airlines), the ch-aviation fleets module shows. Delta Air Lines, which has firm orders for 100 B737-10s, does not expect deliveries of the type before 2027. The carrier already has 130 A321neo on order, of which six have been delivered so far, and an additional fifty A321-200NY(XLR)s. Airbus has reportedly approached lessors about amending their delivery slots to lure United with relatively quick delivery slots. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/138152-united-asks-boeing-to-focus-on-9s-until-10-certification Europe regulator says will take time needed to approve China jet COLOGNE (Reuters) – Europe’s air safety regulator will take whatever time is needed to approve China’s C919 passenger jet, its top official told Reuters, dampening Beijing’s hopes of quickly breaking into a market marked by jet shortages and a Boeing safety crisis. China is stepping up regulatory pressure to win foreign backing for its new jet, but industry sources have warned the landmark approvals from Western regulators could take years. The COMAC C919 narrow body jet – designed to compete with best-selling models of dominant planemakers Airbus and Boeing – entered service in China last May after winning domestic safety certification in 2022. Luc Tytgat, acting executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), said COMAC had initially asked for European approval in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped work. It re-launched the bid in November, requesting that the work be completed by 2026. “Honestly I don’t know if we will be able to do it yet: the plane is too new to us to know how easy or difficult it will be,” he said in an interview at EASA’s Cologne headquarters. “Since 2019, things continued to be done in China so we now have to be briefed on the changes,” he added. The comments come weeks after China’s state-owned planemaker flew the C919 at the Singapore Airshow as it promotes the jet as a new alternative at a time when Airbus waiting lists are full and Boeing faces production quality concerns over its 737 MAX. To land significant export deals, COMAC needs to win widespread acceptance of its design from foreign regulators led by EASA and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Under an EU-China agreement signed in 2019, European regulators must decide whether to grant their own “validation” of China’s certification of the jet to ensure any imports meet their own safety standards. Without this approval, the C919 cannot fly in Europe. “For us it will be a big work to reconnect and go for familiarisation with what the plane looks like today,” Tytgat said. Tytgat’s comments suggest EASA is at the “technical familiarisation” stage, which experts say is the first part of a certification process that can last five years or more. Western regulators have toughened certification of planes since fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 exposed flaws in design and oversight. But the scrutiny is expected to be particularly intense for the first jet from a new manufacturer. Irish budget carrier Ryanair has said in the past it would look at the Chinese jet. However, so far no European airline has pressed EASA to speed up certification work so that it can place an order, Tytgat said. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced at a meeting in Beijing in January that it planned to promote the internationalization of the C919 in 2024. According to official reports, CAAC will work this year towards obtaining European recognition for the plane. The regulator has not given details of the plan. China’s regulator and its planemaker did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Following its international air show debut in Singapore, COMAC took its planes on a promotional tour of east Asia, landing in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia where it met airline and government officials. The last stop is Malaysia where the planes arrived on Tuesday. https://wtvbam.com/2024/03/14/europe-regulator-says-will-take-time-needed-to-approve-china-jet/ Ventura Air Services Elevates Safety Standards with ARGUS Platinum and IS-BAO Stage Two Certification Ventura Air Services, offering private jet charter and aircraft management since 1955, has renewed its ARGUS Platinum rating and achieved IS-BAO Stage Two certification, demonstrating a commitment to safety. Ventura Air Services Elevates Safety Standards with ARGUS Platinum and IS-BAO Stage Two Certification Farmingdale, NY, March 14, 2024 --(PR.com)-- Ventura Air Services, a provider of private jet charter and aircraft management services since 1955, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its commitment to safety. The company has recently achieved upgraded safety ratings, having renewed their ARGUS Platinum rating for a second straight certification and has now attained IS-BAO Stage Two certification. Ventura Air Services has consistently prioritized safety as a core tenet of its business, and these prestigious certifications underscore its unwavering dedication to excellence in aviation safety. The ARGUS Platinum designation is reserved only for a select group of operators. This groundbreaking program revolutionizes the monitoring of operational safety performance by providing real-time visibility to significant operator changes. With this certification, Ventura Air Services demonstrates its commitment to maintaining the highest level of safety standards in the industry. In addition, Ventura has attained the prestigious IS-BAO Stage Two certification, which validates that safety management activities are effectively targeted and managed to mitigate risks. This certification ensures that safety protocols are seamlessly integrated into the operator's business, fostering a positive and consistent safety culture across all operations. "Ventura Air Services is immensely proud to have achieved safety ratings of ARGUS Platinum and the upgrade to IS-BAO Stage Two,” said Sam Wolf, President at Ventura Air Services. “These achievements represent our commitment to prioritizing safety as a fundamental value in our business operations. We continuously strive to exceed industry standards and provide our clients with the utmost confidence and peace of mind when choosing Ventura for their private jet charter and management services." Ventura Air Services' dedication to excellence, safety, and exceptional service solidify its position as a trusted leader in the private jet charter and aircraft management industry. About Ventura Since 1955, Ventura has established itself as a premier provider of private jet charter and aircraft management services, delivering exceptional travel experiences to clients around the world. With in-house aircraft maintenance and avionics departments and an expanding fleet of Citation Excels and Challenger 604s, Ventura is poised to continue building on its reputation as an industry leader. Ventura’s unique and innovative business model offers point-to-point pricing, operational excellence, and a commitment to safety and reliability that sets them apart in the industry. For more information, visit venturajet.com. https://www.pr.com/press-release/907956 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 • Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) Curt Lewis