Flight Safety Information - May 6, 2025 No. 090 In This Issue : Incident: Lingus UK A333 over Atlantic on May 5th 2025, engine problems : Incident: Varesh B733 at Dushanbe on Apr 10th 2025, runway overrun on landing : Inside the multi-day meltdown at Newark airport : A Flight Risk Assessment Tool For BizAv : Army suspends helicopter flights near Reagan National airport after DOT’s complaints about safety : Kuwait Airways fires CEO after criticism by civil aviation authority, sources say : A Flight Risk Assessment Tool For BizAv : With augmented reality, CAE takes pilot training anywhere : Emirates to Add 1,500 Pilots by 2027 : World’s longest-range private jet can fly 9,000 miles nonstop at 717 mph top speed : Thousands of machinists strike at jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney : Calendar of Events : TODAY'S PHOTO Incident: Lingus UK A333 over Atlantic on May 5th 2025, engine problems An Air Lingus UK Airbus A330-300, registration G-EILA performing flight EG-935 from Manchester,EN (UK) to Orlando,FL (USA) with 304 people, was enroute at FL330 about 460nm southwest of Shannon (Ireland) when the crew decided to declare PAN PAN, turn around and divert to Shannon due to problems with their right hand engine (CF6). On approach the crew advised they were conducting an overweight landing and would stop at the end of the runway for an inspection by emergency services. After landing on Shannon's runway 06 the crew requested an inspection of the brakes. The aircraft is still on the ground in Shannon about 6 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5275469a&opt=0 Incident: Varesh B733 at Dushanbe on Apr 10th 2025, runway overrun on landing A Varesh Airlines Boeing 737-300, registration EP-VAI performing flight VRH-6805 from Tehran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Dushanbe (Tajikistan) with 106 passengers and 10 crew, landed on Dushanbe's runway 09 but overran the end of the runway and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained minor damage. Iran's AAIB reported the investigation was delegated to Iran, the occurrence was rated a serious incident. The pilot in command, an instructor, was occupying the right hand seat and was pilot monitoring, the captain in the left hand seat was pilot flying. The AAIB summarized the sequence of events: On 06:05:28 UTC, after contacting Approach Radar Controller, the flight was cleared to initiate “ILS approach for RWY 09”. By commencing the ILS approach, the cockpit crew experienced raining on final and the tower controller reported weather condition including the thunderstorm in the vicinity of the airport as an unusual weather phenomenon, despite, the cockpit crew continued the approach and after receiving gusting wind information, was cleared for landing on 06:08:39 UTC. Pilot report shows: “During landing flare, the visibility became poor as the runway edge lights were difficult to see due to heavy precipitation” so, the captain (PF) experienced a long flare on the runway inadvertently. After landing, the thrust reversers were activated and maximum manual braking applied by the captain but the runway distance remaining was not sufficient for stopping and finally aircraft overran the runway end and a “Runway Excursion” occurred and came to rest in a grass-covered and muddy area beyond the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) while the empennage section was on the paved surface. The AAIB described the damage: - Nose landing gear tire burst; - Damage to the external cowling of No.2 engine; - Minor damage to the right main landing gear and the air-ground switch system; and - Interring of mud and objects into the engines, landing gears, and the intake of cabin air system. https://avherald.com/h?article=52753e6c&opt=0 Inside the multi-day meltdown at Newark airport Air traffic controllers in Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control had been guiding planes to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey last week when communication went down. “Approach, are you there?” one pilot asked the controller, who had stopped responding. United Airlines flight 1951, flying from New Orleans to Newark, a major hub for the company, tried to radio the controller five times before they got a response. “United 1951, how do you hear me?” the controller finally asks, according to air traffic control conversations recorded by the website LiveATC.net. “I got you loud and clear, United 1951,” the pilot responds. But those 30 seconds of silence when communication went down ultimately cascaded into a weeklong meltdown at Newark, one of the nation’s largest airports. It resulted in delays and cancellations for thousands of customers, controllers taking leave for trauma, and renewed scrutiny on an outdated air traffic control system. The chaos also highlighted the challenges of an understaffed air traffic control system, the latest incident in an already turbulent year for aviation that included a deadly collision between a passenger jet and US army helicopter. “I don’t know where you are” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News Monday traffic controllers had lost the primary communication and the backup line did not immediately take over. Audio obtained by CNN shows the tense moments from the afternoon of April 28. “United (flight) 674, radar contact lost,” a controller tells a pilot flying to Newark from Charleston, South Carolina. “We lost our radar so just stay on the arrival and maintain 6000 (feet).” The same flight, traveling at hundreds of miles an hour, returns to the radar but does not show up in an accurate position. The connectivity between Federal Aviation Administration radar and the frequencies that air traffic controllers use to manage planes flying in and out of the airport “completely failed,” a source with knowledge of the situation said. Without radar, another approach controller told the pilot of a smaller aircraft to rely on towers for clearance. “Do I have bravo clearance?” the pilot asks. Bravo clearance is permission to enter into the airspace surrounding a larger airport, like Newark Liberty International. “No, you do not have a bravo clearance. We lost our radar and it’s not working correctly. Radar service terminates… If you want a bravo clearance, you can just call the tower when you get closer,” the controller said. About 15 – 20 flights were being controlled by Newark Liberty International Airport approach controllers when communication and radar went down on Monday, April 28, according to an analysis by flight tracking site Flightradar24. The number is based on the altitude of aircraft bound for and departing Newark and audio from the approach radio frequency, Ian Petchenik, the Director of Communications for the site tells CNN. No crashes occurred, but at least five FAA employees took 45 days of trauma leave afterward. The incident has compounded existing staffing shortages and equipment failures and contributed to frustrating hourslong delays for passengers, Duffy told Fox News. More than 150 flights into or out of the airport on Monday were canceled, with more than 350 flights delayed, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. The FAA has indicated it expects delays at the airport to continue due to the staffing shortages. Duffy added that authorities will have to slow traffic at Newark before restoring full capacity. A traumatic event The current shortage of air traffic controllers is nearly the worst in 30 years, said the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which represents 10,800 certified air traffic controllers across the country. The control facility responsible for traffic at Newark has been “chronically understaffed for years,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a Friday message addressing the delays. He also said the shortage was compounded by over 20% of FAA controllers who “walked off the job” at Newark Airport last week. A CNN analysis of FAA airspace advisories shows at least 14 straight days of FAA-imposed delays for flights to or from Newark. The controller’s union said workers did not “walk off the job.” “The controllers didn’t just walk off the job they were traumatized, their equipment failed,” the source with knowledge of the situation said. “It’s written in the regulations if they experience a traumatic event —they can take time off to go see psychiatrist.. the people working that day did that.” But filling those empty positions is not an issue that can be sorted overnight, according to the FAA. Air traffic control applicants must be less than 31 years old so they can work the mandatory 20 or 25 years needed to qualify for pensions before their mandatory retirement age of 56, according to the FAA. Physical stamina and mental sharpness is also required to do the job. “While we cannot quickly replace (the controllers) due to this highly specialized profession, we continue to train controllers who will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace,” the FAA said. A frail system in place Flights arriving to Newark were experiencing an average delay of 4 hours and 54 minutes as of Monday evening. One passenger, Geraldine Wallace, told CNN Sunday she was anxious about the staffing shortage after her flight was delayed for almost three hours. Mark Wallace, her partner, told CNN he was more worried about equipment failures. “As concerning as the manpower issue is, according to news reports, the equipment that they’re using out of Philadelphia is antiquated,” he said. The Department of Transportation will announce a plan Thursday to transform the air traffic control system, remodeling an outdated system that contributed to days of delays at Newark International Airport, Duffy, the transportation secretary, told Fox News on Monday. The system used to manage air traffic at Newark is “incredibly old,” Duffy said. “We use floppy disks. We use copper wires,” he said Friday. “The system that we’re using is not effective to control the traffic that we have in the airspace today.” Duffy has since pledged to implement a new, “state-of-the-art” system at air traffic control facilities across the country that would be the “envy of the world” – but said it might take three to four years. “We are going to radically transform the way air traffic control looks,” Duffy told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. President Donald Trump has “bought into the plan,” he said. Duffy also reiterated that the airspace was still safe. Peter Goelz, former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board, said he wasn’t sure he’d want to fly out of Newark for the next 10 days. “We have a very safe system, but anytime it’s stressed like this, where you have controllers who are feeling under maximum pressure, it impacts safety – and people have a right to be concerned,” Goelz told CNN. “You cannot expect humans to function at their highest level for sustained periods of time with this kind of pressure on them.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/inside-multi-day-meltdown-newark-050050308.html A Flight Risk Assessment Tool For BizAv Aviators share a common core requirement even though their missions and operating environments contain vast differences. They must be adept at proactively identifying risks and formulating strategies to mitigate those risks. While the two accidents described below could segway into a wide spectrum of important safety topics, a key common element that will be the focus of this article is risk assessment. On Feb. 22, 2022, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Utah National Guard were performing winter mountain training. The mission included landing the helicopters in a tight formation simultaneously on a mountainside. The intended landing spot was within a short walking distance of the ski lifts in the high mountain bowl of the Snowbird ski resort. An abundance of skiers were on the slopes that day partaking in the fresh light snow that had fallen previously. A degraded visual environment is a serious and well-known risk. A pilot can experience a total loss of outside reference when rotor wash causes loose dirt, sand or snow to whip around the rotorcraft. The pilot is unable to see nearby objects to provide the outside visual references necessary for aircraft control near the ground. Once inside the cloud of snow or dust, crews are vulnerable to excessive sink rates, lateral drift and obstacle collisions. It interferes with the pilot’s ability to maintain geospatial awareness of the intended landing point. It can cause spatial disorientation as the blowing sand, dust or snow create the illusion of a tilted horizon. Blowing sand or snow around the cockpit windows can also lead the pilot to experience “Vection illusion,” where the helicopter appears to be turning when it is actually in a level hover. These can cause the pilot to make incorrect control inputs. The trailing Black Hawk drifted slightly to the right and subsequently rolled onto its side. The main rotor blades broke apart. A piece of the main rotor struck the adjacent helicopter’s tail rotor. The damage to the second helicopter’s tail rotor negated its ability to counter the torque from the main rotor, resulting in a complete spin. The pilot of the second Black Hawk was able to land in the soft snow with no serious injuries in a feat of laudable handling skills under extreme conditions. The estimated cost of damages to both helicopters was estimated at $9.23 million. It is also fortunate that the high velocity debris from the disintegrating main rotor blade did not strike any of the nearby skiers standing in the ski lift line. Astute readers who follow aviation accidents may recognize that this unit had another accident nearly two years later when an F-35 pilot, who had only 35 min. of experience in an AH-64 Apache simulator, was allowed to take the controls of an Apache while attempting to hover at the end of an orientation flight under the supervision of a chief warrant officer in the accompanying seat. The F-35 pilot, who was a colonel in a nearby Air Force Reserve unit, reverted to his fixed-wing training and applied an inappropriate control movement during a hovering attempt. The Apache was destroyed and the colonel suffered serious injuries that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. The subsequent investigation highlighted the F-35 pilot’s lack of qualifications as well as the pilot-in-command’s inadequate flight control management. The report also criticized the unit’s chain of command for failing to adequately enforce standard operating procedures, citing similar leadership failures in the 2022 accident. The investigation raised questions about the adequacy of current safety measures and oversight within the national guard unit. A User-Friendly Resource Is there a formal checklist in civilian aviation to help pilots proactively and systematically identify areas of possible risks and highlight hazards in need of mitigation? The answer is yes. The FAA has constructed a Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) that is user friendly and free to use on-line. One of the strengths of the FAA tool is that it recognizes the tendency for a pilot to get fixated on an individual risk. This can lead to overlooking other risks as well as the cumulative collection of other risks. The FRAT includes the general categories of Pilot, Flight Conditions, Airport, VFR Flight Plan, IFR Flight Plan, and Approaches. For example, the Pilot category asks quick questions about the pilot’s flight currency, sleep, dual instruction within the last 90 days, completion of a WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program phase, and instrument currency and proficiency. The on-line worksheet is simple to use, quickly tabulates the accumulated risk points, and provides an easy to understand green-yellow-red color coding to give the pilot a visual indication of the risk level of the flight—a tool that applies well to the general aviation pilot. https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/safety-ops-regulation/flight-risk-assessment-tool-bizav-part-1 Army suspends helicopter flights near Reagan National airport after DOT’s complaints about safety The announcement came three days after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admonished military VIPs to “take a taxi or Uber” rather than fly choppers through D.C.’s crowded airspace. The Army on Monday said it has suspended helicopter flights into the Pentagon, following an incident last week involving a military helicopter flying near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that prompted air traffic controllers to divert two commercial flights that had been attempting to land. The suspension affects helicopter operations out of the 12th Aviation Battalion, which is tasked with evacuating political VIPs during an emergency, pending an internal inquiry, said Lt. Col. Patrick Husted, spokesperson for the unit that oversees Army operations within the nation’s capital. A Black Hawk helicopter from that same battalion collided with an airliner near Reagan National earlier this year, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft. According to an email sent by an FAA official Friday, an Army helicopter — also a Black Hawk — “took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport” on Thursday, prompting controllers at Reagan National to call for passenger planes to twice abort their landings. The incident sparked the the ire of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who on Friday took to social media to call the flight “unacceptable” — and said he’d be talking to the Defense Department “to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded.” Operations at the airport have been under intense scrutiny since the January crash, and its cause remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. At Duffy’s direction, DOT has already shuttered some helicopter flight routes near the airport, and managers in the control tower at the airport have been reassigned. Last week’s incident additionally sparked bipartisan outrage among lawmakers who are also probing the disaster, among other close calls concerning the airport. “The Army is once again putting the traveling public at risk,” Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in an X post Friday. He added that he’s “committed” to crafting legislation that would protect Reagan National travelers. The FAA on Monday did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Army decision to suspend Pentagon flights. Following the incident, the Army said it had conducted the Thursday helicopter flight “in accordance with published FAA flight routes.” Capt. Victoria Goldfedib, U.S. Army spokesperson, said that Pentagon controllers directed the helicopter to perform a go-around, flying over the helipad — which then prompted Reagan National controllers to take action to “ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.” Goldfedib said the Army “remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures” as the incident remains under investigation. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/05/army-helicopter-flights-reagan-airport-00327392 Kuwait Airways fires CEO after criticism by civil aviation authority, sources say KUWAIT, May 4 (Reuters) - The CEO of state-owned Kuwait Airways, Ahmad al-Kreebani, was fired last week and has been replaced by Abdulwahab Al-Shatti, who took over the job on Sunday, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. Kreebani's dismissal after two years in the job followed a decision by the country's civil aviation authority to withdraw its approval for his leadership of the airline, two sources from the authority told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/kuwait-airways-fires-ceo-after-criticism-by-civil-aviation-authority-sources-say-2025-05-04/ With augmented reality, CAE takes pilot training anywhere The initial version of the app is designed around the Bombardier Global 7500. However, CAE said they can program it for nearly any aircraft. Technological advances in the past several years continue at an exponential rate. While much of this amelioration is behind the scenes, only becoming evident to the user through easier or more accurate operation of the device in question, some developments are directly in our faces. Quite literally, in the case of the latest offering from Montreal-based global aviation training company CAE. Amongst the plethora of aeronautical wares and services debuting during NBAA-BACE 2024 in Las Vegas, N.V., this past fall, CAE unveiled a software innovation for an already groundbreaking device, an immersive pilot training application for the Apple Vision Pro. Virtual reality (VR) systems have been around in one form or another since the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the last decade that these apparatuses were offered to the mainstream public. The evolution and miniaturization of the necessary sensors and related hardware, along with reduced manufacturing costs, have placed a gadget once viewed as science fiction within the grasp of anyone seeking to view and interact with the world in an entirely new manner. Until recently, most VR devices were primarily developed for gaming. That all changed in early 2024, when Apple released the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. The product appears similar to others already on the market, but the Vision Pro sets itself apart with its higher resolution displays and progressively better approach to augmented reality (AR), the concept of adding computer-generated information to the real world. That was when CAE recognized an opportunity to apply this genre to the aviation world, specifically for pilot training. The challenge of creating a VR training program that appeals to pilots lies in the lack of any physical interaction with the aircraft and its systems. To overcome this, CAE engineers tapped into the powerful spatial computing and audio of the Vision Pro. Combined with high-resolution visuals, they came up with a solution that provides a sensation of sitting in a cockpit, moving control surfaces, pressing buttons, and operating switches. The experience is immersive to a level not previously achievable outside of multi-million-dollar, room-size simulators. And unlike those large, stationary machines, the Vision Pro App is highly portable. To be clear, this is not a replacement for the traditional flight simulator, but a supplement to what CAE already provides. “What we want to do is empower the learner,” Erick Fortin, CAE director of incubation, told Skies. “We want students not just to train in our classroom, but to bring it back to their hotel, bring it back to their homes. And if, for example, they have a full flight session the day after with us, they can be more prepared and more confident. This is something they can do at their own pace when they have the time.” By using spatial computing to bring true-to-life precision to flight deck interactions, the app will allow pilots to remotely complete training activities that are currently only available in training centres. The application has three modes of operation. In Exploration Mode, pilots are able to “touch” any controls within the cockpit and then be presented with a description of the selected control and its purpose — much like an instruction manual for the cockpit. Guided Mode allows the operator to progress through aircraft procedures via a virtual pathway from one action to the next in a specific sequence. This could be used to train programming in flight plans or tackling emergency procedures. Finally, in Flight Deck Interaction Mode pilots are free to roam about the AR cockpit, simulating various interactions to assist in muscle memory training. An example given was the requirement to pull the main battery switch before it can be flipped into position. The entire dynamic of the experience quickly becomes second nature and truly feels as though you are sitting in the cockpit and operating the equipment. The immersion genuinely sinks in the first time a comm selection knob is turned and the frequency is adjusted, all while never physically touching an actual control surface. The experience evokes memories of posters of aircraft cockpits that many aspiring pilots placed on their walls and studied. While there was no flight experience to be gained from those paper cockpits, they provided a visual representation of the controls and instruments to assist the trainee in what they would see once seated in the aircraft. CAE’s approach utilizing VR/AR takes those 2D memory aids and allows the student to not only view, but to interact with the cockpit before ever setting foot into the actual plane. And this can be done in any location at a significantly reduced cost. The application of this technology can certainly expand to other areas of flight training, including maintenance and product development, among others. The potential to segue into flight training exists, albeit further down planned use timelines. “The power and unique capabilities of Apple Vision Pro, combined with CAE’s training environment, will give pilots more flexibility and better prepare them for the transition from ground school to the simulator,” said Alexandre Prévost, CAE’s division president of Business Aviation Training. “With CAE’s Apple Vision Pro app, we are not only providing our customers more convenience but are also enhancing training efficiency at a time when the aviation industry faces an increased need to train new pilots.” The initial version of the app is designed around the Bombardier Global 7500. However, CAE said they can program it for nearly any aircraft. This would allow it to be incorporated into all their current training programs, both business and commercial. As part of CAE’s training ecosystem, the app will increase the effectiveness and speed of training pilots safely and enable them to train anytime from anywhere. With testing of the Apple Vision Pro app on the Global 7500 almost complete, the full rollout of the program is anticipated for Spring 2025, with additional aircraft models expected to follow. https://skiesmag.com/features/with-augmented-reality-cae-takes-pilot-training-anywhere/ Emirates to Add 1,500 Pilots by 2027 Airline has announced it will hire over 1,500 new pilots within the next two years as it continues a growth trajectory flying the world’s youngest fleet. Emirates aircraft Emirates aircraft in Dubai [Courtesy: Emirates] Emirates has announced it will hire over 1,500 new pilots within the next two years as it continues a growth trajectory flying the world’s youngest fleet. According to a news release published by the Dubai-based airline on Thursday, the commitment to hire new aviators came in honor of World Pilots’ Day on April 26. “With its phenomenal growth strategy in mind, Emirates is focused on hiring experienced pilots for roles in one of its four programmes: Direct Entry Captains, Accelerated Command, First Officers Type Rated and First Officers Non-Type Rated,” the release stated. “The new hires will be embraced into a 4,600 strong flight crew community.” The carrier has onboarded nearly 2,000 new pilots since 2022. This year, Emirates’ recruitment team will visit more than 40 cities around the world aiming to hire over 550 pilots. Emirates president Tim Clark said in February that the airline would like to grow its presence in the U.S. amid frustrations with delayed Boeing 777X deliveries. Flying for Emirates Emirates stated that over 80 pilots have benefited from its Accelerated Command program that fast-tracks first officers to the role of captain. Pilots for the carrier operate a modern fleet of 261 widebody aircraft, including Airbus A380s, Boeing 777s, and the A350, Emirates’ newest addition. Emirates flies to over 148 destinations across six continents. “Emirates pilots enjoy a competitive tax-free salary with profit sharing benefits—ensuring security and stability,” the release stated. “They have access to a world-class provident fund and retirement benefits as well as life, medical, and dental coverage.” Emirates chauffeurs its pilots to and from work from villas in gated communities using luxury cars. The airline offers 42 annual leave days along with tickets for family in first or business class. “Pilots are part of a vibrant community in Dubai where they live alongside colleagues from over 112 countries,” the release stated. “With excellent infrastructure, first-class hospitality, a buzzing nightlife, family-friendly communities, international schools, and amenities, Dubai is a city of choice for millions of expatriates.” Pilots interested in learning how to work internationally can read more here. https://www.flyingmag.com/emirates-to-add-1500-international-pilots-by-2027/ World’s longest-range private jet can fly 9,000 miles nonstop at 717 mph top speed Powered by Rolls-Royce engines and featuring a sleek aerodynamic design, the G800 reaches speeds of 570 knots, rivaling the fastest jets. The Gulfstream G800 has officially become the world’s longest-range private jet after earning certification from both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). With a maximum range of 9,000 miles, the jet is designed to fly nearly anywhere in the world without a single stop—except Sydney, if taking off from London. The G800 can cruise at Mach 0.85 and travel 8,200 nautical miles (15,186 kilometers), which is 200 nm more than earlier projections. If operated at Mach 0.87, it still covers 8,000 nm (14,816 km), and at a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, it can manage 7,000 nm (12,964 km). The jet’s maximum speed has also increased to Mach 0.935 (717 mph) from the earlier Mach 0.925. “This level of performance is game-changing for private aviation,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “With the certification of the G800, Gulfstream has again exceeded expectations thanks to the expertise and rigor of our flight test, certification and manufacturing teams.” The aircraft has also achieved improved takeoff and landing performance. It now needs only 5,812 feet (1,771 meters) for takeoff and 3,105 feet (946 meters) for landing under standard sea-level conditions, giving it access to a wider range of airports. Designed for speed and built for comfort The G800 offers not only range and speed—it’s also built for luxury and efficiency. With Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines and an aerodynamic wing design, the aircraft is capable of speeds up to 570 knots, just below the world’s fastest private jet, the Bombardier Global 8000. Inside, the G800 features up to four living areas or three living areas with a dedicated crew compartment. It can seat up to 19 passengers and offers sleeping arrangements for 10. Passengers can enjoy plush leather seats, a carpeted interior, and 16 signature Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows for unbeatable views. The cabin offers a whisper-quiet atmosphere, high-speed WiFi, and fresh air purified by a plasma ionization system. One of the standout features is the aircraft’s low cabin altitude of just 2,840 feet (866 meters) when flying at 41,000 feet (12,497 meters). This helps reduce fatigue and makes long-distance travel far more comfortable. “The Gulfstream team never ceases to test the boundaries of what is possible while ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality and customer commitment we are known for,” said Burns. “We have been preparing for this accomplishment and are poised for a seamless G800 entry into service as U.S. and European customer deliveries begin.” Another aviation giant on the horizon As Gulfstream celebrates its milestone, another massive aircraft is preparing to make its debut. Radia, an American company, has unveiled plans for WindRunner—the world’s largest plane, expected to enter service by 2030. WindRunner is being designed to solve a very specific problem: transporting enormous wind turbine blades. These blades, which currently reach up to 230 feet and are expected to grow to 330 feet, are too long for conventional air or road transport. Some wind energy projects even require custom-built roads just to move them. Measuring 356 feet in length—longer than a football pitch—and standing 79 feet tall, the WindRunner will be able to carry full wind turbine blades directly to construction sites. It will transport 12 times more cargo than a Boeing 747. Radia has been developing the aircraft for nearly a decade under the guidance of its CEO, rocket scientist Mark Lundstrom. The plane’s oversized cargo bay is specifically designed to handle turbine blades, helping accelerate the construction of clean energy infrastructure around the world. While the WindRunner focuses on utility, the G800 is all about delivering speed, range, and luxury to business aviation. Together, these two aircraft are redefining what’s possible in the sky—from high-end private travel to groundbreaking renewable energy logistics. https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/world-longest-range-private-aircraft-g800 Thousands of machinists strike at jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney About 3,000 labor union members have gone on strike at Pratt & Whitney over contract negotiations. EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — About 3,000 labor union members went on strike early Monday at jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut, as negotiations over wages, retirement benefits and job security broke down. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers were picketing at manufacturing locations in East Hartford and Middletown, after about 77% of nearly 2,100 union members voted to approve their first strike since 2001, union officials said. Their contract expired late Sunday. “Pratt and Whitney is a powerhouse in military and commercial aerospace products because our membership makes it so,” David Sullivan, the union’s eastern territory vice president, said in a statement. “This offer does not address the membership concerns, and the membership made their decision — we will continue to fight for a fair contract.” Picketing workers lined and crossed streets near the entrances to the East Hartford and Middletown plants on a rainy Monday morning. Many of the signs said “I am on strike! against Pratt & Whitney,” while some read “Solidarity for Security” and “Together We Rise.” Some workers said they were concerned that the company may move jobs and manufacturing out of the state to its plants in Georgia. “They’re not giving us job security. We need time to be here,” union member Scott Westberg told WFSB-TV. “We want to be in Connecticut a long time. They’re trying to deteriorate the middle class, which is what we are. We are the blue collar.” The company, a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based RTX Corp., called its latest wage and retirement proposal competitive, and said its workforce is among the most highly compensated in the region and industry. “Our message to union leaders throughout this thoughtful process has been simple: higher pay, better retirement savings, more days off and more flexibility,” the company said in a statement. “We have no immediate plans to resume negotiations at this time and we have contingency plans in place to maintain operations and to meet our customer commitments.” The strike comes as RTX faces a potential $850 million hit on profits this year because of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, if the tariff rates remain the same through the year. During its first-quarter earnings call on April 22, the company said its Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace subsidiaries would each shoulder just over $400 million of the potential tariffs hit. RTX is predicting $83 billion to $84 billion in adjusted sales companywide in 2025. The company’s first-quarter earnings were $1.5 billion. Pratt & Whitney’s adjusted operating profit in the quarter was $590 million. The company said its latest contract proposal included an immediate 4% wage increase, followed by a 3.5% increase in 2026 and a 3% increase in 2027. It also included a $5,000 contract ratification bonus and enhanced pension and 401k plan benefits. Pratt & Whitney makes engines for commercial and military jets, including the GTF line for Airbus commercial jets and the F135 for the military’s F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft fleet. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, both Democrats, issued a statement urging the company and union to continue negotiating. Members of Connecticut’s all-Democratic congressional delegation and Democratic state lawmakers said they were supporting the union workers. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2025/05/05/thousands-of-machinists-strike-at-jet-engine-maker-pratt-whitney/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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 . South Texas Business Aviation Association June 20th at the Galaxy FBO at Conroe Airport, Texas. . 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