Flight Safety Information - April 25, 2025 No. 084 In This Issue : Incident: Lufthansa CRJ9 at Frankfurt on Apr 22nd 2025, cabin pressure problems : Incident: Lufthansa CRJ9 at Frankfurt on Apr 21st 2025, noisy door : Incident: Avianca B788 near Madrid on Apr 23rd 2025, engine problem : Incident: Lufthansa A388 over Canada on Apr 23rd 2025, stuck iPad : Aurigny aircraft damaged after 'tail strike' : Officials: Texas A&M to manage FAA's advanced technology aviation site : Embraer Executive Jets Reaches New Backlog High : Embry-Riddle program aims to fill air traffic controller shortage : 96 women pilots to compete in Annual Air Race Classic with stop in Gillette : Calendar of Events Incident: Lufthansa CRJ9 at Frankfurt on Apr 22nd 2025, cabin pressure problems A Lufthansa Canadair CRJ-900, registration D-ACNX performing flight LH-1220 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Salzburg (Austria), was climbing through FL250 out of Frankfurt's runway 18 when the crew decided to return to Frankfurt due to problems with the cabin pressure. The aircraft landed safely on Frankfurt's runway 25C about 30 minutes after departure. The aircraft had needed to return to Frankfurt about 9 hours earlier, see Incident: Lufthansa CRJ9 at Frankfurt on Apr 21st 2025, noisy door. The aircraft remained on the ground in Frankfurt for about 31 hours, then performed a test flight and returned to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=526e289a&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa CRJ9 at Frankfurt on Apr 21st 2025, noisy door A Lufthansa Canadair CRJ-900, registration D-ACNX performing flight LH-1390 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Poznan (Poland), was climbing out of Frankfurt's runway 18 when the crew stopped the climb at FL220 and decided to return to Frankfurt reporting there were pressurization problems with one of the doors and strong noise in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely back on Frankfurt's runway 25L about 25 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground over night for about 9 hours, then departed for another flight but needed to return again. https://avherald.com/h?article=526e2772&opt=0 Incident: Avianca B788 near Madrid on Apr 23rd 2025, engine problem An Avianca Boeing 787-8, registration N795AV performing flight AV-17 from Madrid,SP (Spain) to Medellin (Colombia), was climbing out of Madrid when the crew stopped the climb at FL200 and entered a hold due to problems with the right hand engine (Trent 1000). The crew decided to return to Madrid, entered a hold and landed safely back on Madrid's runway 32L about one hour after departure. Emergency services responded and checked the right hand engine after landing. The aircraft is still on the ground in Madrid about 28.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=526e2573&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa A388 over Canada on Apr 23rd 2025, stuck iPad A Lufthansa Airbus A380-800, registration D-AIMC performing flight LH-453 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Munich (Germany), was enroute at FL350 over Canada about 300nm northnorthwest of Winnipeg,MB (Canada) when the crew decided to divert to Boston,MA (USA) where the aircraft landed overweight on runway 33L about 3 hours later. According to information The Aviation Herald received the iPad of a business class passenger had disappeared and became stuck in the seat raising concerns the battery might have taken damage. The aircraft remained on the ground in Boston for about 75 minutes, then continued to Munich and reached Munich with a delay of about 3 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=526e23a1&opt=0 Aurigny aircraft damaged after 'tail strike' The extent of the damage is not yet known, the airline has said An Aurigny aircraft (ATR-72-600) has been taken out of service following a "tail strike", a spokesperson for the airline has said. They added the airline's engineering team and partners were examining the aircraft G-PEMB to assess damage sustained when the tail of the plane hit the runway on 15 April, and determine the timeline for its safe return to service. The spokesperson said Aurigny would be "implementing additional aircraft resilience measures" through leasing after the incident. They added: "We remain committed to maintaining a reliable and safe service for our customers." Last week, an Aurigny spokesperson said: "We can confirm that there was a harder than normal landing in the gusty weather conditions as one of our flights arrived at Guernsey Airport yesterday [15 April]." The airline said no one was injured. Aircraft G-PEMB joined the Aurigny fleet in July after the airline had previously sold its only jet. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c230z1ynzero Officials: Texas A&M to manage FAA's advanced technology aviation site April 23 (UPI) -- The FAA's new Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) will be managed by the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), federal officials announced Wednesday. "From drones delivering your packages to powered lift technologies like air taxis, we are at the cusp of an aviation revolution," stated U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The Federal Aviation Administration's CAAT, a facet to the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, "will ensure we make that dream a reality and unleash American innovation safely," Duffy, 53, added. Last year in May, then-President Joe Biden signed the sweeping $105 billion bipartisan bill to improve aviation safety and invest in airport infrastructure. "Texas is the perfect place for our new Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies," the secretary said, adding that the Lone Star State has "already established itself as a leader in commercial drone safety testing." It was one of site proposals from multiple states and will include research and testing sites throughout Texas and in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. "I'm confident this new research and testing center will help the private sector create thousands of high-paying jobs and grow the Texas economy through billions in new investments," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who wrote the language in the FAA reauthorization creating the CAAT. The facilities also will include an airspace laboratory, flight demonstration zones and testing corridors. According to officials, the purpose of instituting the CAAT is to focus on testing and safety integrating of new and emerging aviation technology, including its Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) program. Department of Transportation officials say it signals a driving of innovation as a collaboration between government, academia and industry. Cruz, 54, said he's "grateful" to see Texas A&M leading the initiative and "cultivating the next generation of aviation leaders." TAMUS was ultimately picked to manage the center, according to officials, due to its proximity to major international airports and a FAA regional headquarters, existing infrastructure for advanced aviation technology testing and "strong academic programs and industry partnerships." "This is a significant win for Texas that will impact communities across our state," Cruz continued. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/04/23/Texas-AM-FAA-Center-for-Advanced-Aviation-Tech-Sean-Duffy-Ted-Cruz/9141745427710/#google_vignette Embraer Executive Jets Reaches New Backlog High Phenom and Praetor backlog now stands at $7.6 billion Embraer’s executive jet division has reached a new peak in terms of backlog. The Brazilian airframer is now sitting on $7.6 billion in orders. Embraer has set a new backlog record high for its Executive Jets division. In its first-quarter delivery numbers released this week, the Brazil-based airframer reported that its business jet backlog rose to $7.6 billion, 3% higher than its previous record just established in the fourth quarter. The company delivered 23 business jets in the first quarter—14 Phenoms light jets (two Phenom 100EXs and 12 Phenom 300s) and nine midsize Praetors (three Praetor 500s and six Praetor 600s). This was 28% higher than in the same period a year ago, reflecting continuing progress in the OEM’s plan to even out its deliveries throughout the year rather than backloading them to the fourth quarter. Those 23 aircraft deliveries represent 15% of the 150-aircraft midpoint of Embraer’s anticipated 2025 delivery total (between 145 and 155 business jets), up from its average of 11% of its yearly deliveries in the first quarter for the past five years. “Our production-leveling initiative, bolstered by the expansion of our industrial capacity, aligns well with Embraer Executive Jets’ market guidance for this year, and we’re very excited to see this increase of 28% in the first quarter customer deliveries,” said Michael Amalfitano, the division’s president and CEO. In February, the Phenom 300 was announced as the most-delivered jet in its class for the 13th consecutive year, as well as the most-delivered twinjet for the fifth year in a row, according to statistics from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-04-24/embraer-executive-jets-reaches-new-backlog-high Embry-Riddle program aims to fill air traffic controller shortage DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — FAA officials say they are struggling to get enough air traffic controllers in towers across the country. What You Need To Know The FAA reports it needs more air traffic controllers in order to continue to maintain the safety in the skies Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is working towards a solution with a program aimed at training future controllers Four seniors are expected to be tested for completion of the program next week Experts tasked with reviewing the national airspace system say these staffing shortages could lead to problems. “The situation has the potential, and I say the potential, to decrease our safety margins and impact the efficiency of our national airspace system,” said Robert Sumwalt, executive director of the Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is looking to solve this problem with its enhanced air traffic collegiate training initiative, which was approved by the FAA. The first graduates of the program are set to undergo final testing next week. As long as they pass their evaluations, they’ll be the first class to bypass the FAA’s training academy and join the workforce. Among them is Kyra Hanson, who has always loved puzzles and pursed the career after taking an aptitude test in high school. Now the puzzles she works on are in the sky. “It’s kind of like a game a little bit,” Hanson said. “You’re just dealing with positioning things and making sure that they don’t hit each other.” From the state-of-the-art labs at Embry-Riddle, she is training to be an air traffic controller, making sure every plane gets to where it is going safely. “That’s where I find the fun in it and that’s where the challenge is, and I think that’s what appeals to a lot of people is the creative problem solving,” Hanson said. Instead of having to wait years to enroll in the FAA’s academy, she is one of the first students learning everything she needs at Embry-Riddle as part of their enhanced air traffic collegiate training initiative. The school's Air Traffic Management Program coordinator, Dr. Michael McCormick, said they are one of the first schools in the country to do this in an effort to speed up the hiring of air traffic controllers. “The FAA academy in Oklahoma City is at its physical limits,” McCormick said. “It cannot push any more people through. It’s running 24/7 to train students in the academy. So, in order to actually have a positive sum total at the end, you have to have an alternative way of doing it. And we’re very proud to be part of that alternative.” Experts say that when there are not enough air traffic controllers, airports often have to take measures like ground stops, or gate holds to make sure safety is not compromised. But they say that does take a toll on efficiency — which could continue to get worse. “If the FAA continues this current trajectory, when you factor in retirement and other attrition, we’ll have a net increase of around 200 controllers between now and 2032,” Sumwalt said. “And quite simply, the math doesn’t add up.” While Hanson is one of the first four students set to graduate from the program, going forward, officials at Embry-Riddle estimate the program will produce upwards of 120 new air traffic controllers every year — which they expect to make a huge impact on reducing the shortage. As for Hanson, she’s excited to get started in her new career and make a difference of her own. “It’s just nice knowing that you’re doing something that’s actually important,” she said. Embry-Riddle officials said they are 26 more students who will be evaluated next semester, and there are about 270 in the pipeline for the program. https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2025/04/23/erau-program-aims-to-fill-air-traffic-controller-shortage 96 women pilots to compete in Annual Air Race Classic with stop in Gillette GILLETTE, Wyo. — Ninety-six women pilots are set to take to the skies for the 48th annual Air Race Classic, a cross-country airplane race exclusively for women that includes a stop in Gillette. Forty-three teams from across the United States will participate in the 2,426-mile competition, which kicks off Tuesday, June 17, in Fairhope, Alabama, and concludes Friday, June 20, in Spokane, Washington. This year’s race marks the 96th anniversary of the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, also known as the Powder Puff Derby. That historic race saw Amelia Earhart and 19 other female pilots fly from Santa Monica, California, to Cleveland, Ohio, marking the beginning of women’s air racing in the United States. The ARC is now the premier event in women’s air racing, testing the piloting skills and decision-making abilities of women aviators of all ages and backgrounds. “The ARC Board of Directors and volunteers have been hard at work preparing for our 48th race,” Air Race Classic President Donna Harris said. “We look forward to celebrating the 96th anniversary of the Women’s Air Derby as we welcome back veteran racers and meet new competitors at our Start in Fairhope, Alabama.” The race route will take pilots through 10 states, starting on the Gulf Coast and continuing over Midwestern farmlands, across the Continental Divide, and finally to the Pacific Northwest. The finish line is at Felts Field in Spokane, Washington. Teams will depart from H L Sonny Callahan Airport in Fairhope, Alabama, starting at 8 a.m. June 17, taking off 30 seconds apart. The race includes eight intermediate stops: Starkville, Mississippi; Harrison, Arkansas; McPherson, Kansas; Sterling, Colorado; Gillette; Rock Springs; Jerome, Idaho; and La Grande, Oregon. At each stop, teams will fly over a timing line at high speed as they compete against the clock. While faster planes could complete the course in just two days, slower teams may arrive in Spokane just before the 5:30 p.m. deadline June 20. Each team consists of two or three pilots who will fly normally aspirated, piston-powered airplanes during daylight hours under visual flight conditions. To qualify, pilots and co-pilots must hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate with a minimum of 100 hours of pilot-in-command time. One pilot per team must have at least 500 hours of pilot-in-command time or a current instrument rating. Teams can also include a teammate holding at least a student pilot certificate. This year’s competition includes 18 teams from 12 colleges and universities in the Intercollegiate Class, including Auburn University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott, and the University of North Dakota. Individual racers from several universities are also participating in the Competition Class. Pilots in this year’s race come from 29 states, and the event includes two teams with family members flying together. To ensure fair competition, each aircraft receives a unique handicap. Teams race against their own best possible time, rather than directly against other teams. This system allows slower planes to compete equally with faster ones. Teams will need to strategically use weather conditions and winds to try and beat their handicap by the largest margin. The official race standings will not be determined until all teams have crossed the finish line in Spokane. This means the last team to arrive could potentially be the winner. https://county17.com/2025/04/24/96-women-pilots-to-compete-in-annual-air-race-classic-with-stop-in-gillette/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS · AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025 . 70th annual Business Aviation Safey Summit (BASS), May 6-7, 2025, Charlotte, N.C., organized by Flight Safety Foundation in partnership with NBAA and NATA. · Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore · Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Forum June 5-6, 2025 - Brussels . 2025 EASA-FAA International Aviation Safety Conference, 10 Jun 2025 to 12 Jun 2025, Cologne, Germany · The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 . Airborne Public Safety Association -APSCON / APSCON Unmanned 2025 in Phoenix, AZ | July 14-18, 2025 . 3rd annual Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS), July 15-17, 2025, Singapore, organized by Flight Safety Foundation and CAAS. . Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025; 10-11 September 2025; Manila, Philippines · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis