Flight Safety Information - June 6, 2025 No. 113 In This Issue : Incident: United B772 over Canada on May 23rd 2025, first officer incapacitated : Incident: Vueling A320 at Amsterdam on Jun 4th 2025, gear problem on departure : 5 June 2025 - Scenic Air Safaris Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX accident : American Airlines plane that caught fire had engine parts installed incorrectly, NTSB finds : Back to basics: Army revamps flight school after deadly crashes : India directs Turkish Airlines to maintain compliance after safety lapses : Senators propose sweeping air safety reforms after January fatal collision : Bomb threat forces evacuation of Spirit Airlines flight : Europe has Now Banned 169 Airlines with Two New Additions : Riyadh Air Expected To Order Airbus A350-1000 As Flagship Aircraft : Aeroflot CEO Wants Limits on Western Aircraft in Russia : IndiGo Sets A New Benchmark In Aviation Excellence With The SkyBreathe® Pilot App, Maximizing Efficiency, Safety, And Environmental Responsibility : US-Boeing deal over 737 Max crashes ‘morally repugnant’, says lawyer for victims’ families : Analysis-Boeing rebuilding trust as airline bosses see improved jet quality : GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST : Calendar of Events Incident: United B772 over Canada on May 23rd 2025, first officer incapacitated A United Boeing 777-200, registration N797UA performing flight UA-194 from San Francisco,CA (USA) to Munich (Germany) with 286 people on board, was enroute at FL350 over New Foundland and Labrador (Canada) about 5.5 hours into the flight when the captain decided to call the relief first officer from the crew rest to replace the first officer and to divert to Washington Dulles,DC (USA). The aircraft landed safely on Dulles' runway 19C about 2:40 hours later. The Canadian TSB reported the first officer showed symptoms of food poisoning, the crew declared a medical emergency with air traffic control. https://avherald.com/h?article=528aa14c&opt=0 Incident: Vueling A320 at Amsterdam on Jun 4th 2025, gear problem on departure A Vueling Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration EC-KCU performing flight VY-8364 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Malaga,SP (Spain), was climbing out of Amsterdam's runway 24 when the crew levelled off at FL060 and decided to return to Amsterdam advising ATC they had a problem with the landing gear, no assistance was needed. The aircraft landed safely back on Amsterdam's runway 18R about 40 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 34 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=528a96c6&opt=0 5 June 2025 - Scenic Air Safaris Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX accident Date: Thursday 5 June 2025 Time: Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Owner/operator: Scenic Air Safaris Registration: 5Y-SXI MSN: 208B5482 Year of manufacture: 2018 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Category: Accident Location: Retiti Airstrip - Kenya Phase: Take off Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Retiti Airstrip Destination airport: Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX crashed on takeoff from Retiti Airstrip in Kenya. The left-hand wing was severed. Retiti Airstrip is an unpaved airstrip, about 800 m long, at an elevation of about 2625 feet. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/517424 American Airlines plane that caught fire had engine parts installed incorrectly, NTSB finds The American Airlines flight that caught fire soon after taking off from Denver International Airport in March had several parts installed incorrectly and fuel leaks, according to a preliminary report released Thursday. The Dallas-bound aircraft had one loose part inside the right engine installed in the wrong direction and fuel leaking from the fitting of another part that was also fastened incorrectly, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report. Soon after the plane took off, the crew noticed issues with the right engine, the report said. American Airlines Passengers Evacuate Flight On Wing Of Plane After Landing In Georgia, Video Shows "The captain noted high engine vibration indications for the right engine," the report stated, while the crew discussed whether they needed to divert before contacting American Airlines dispatchers. They landed safely, but soon after arriving at a gate, passengers and crew members noticed fire and smoke filling the cabin. Images and video showed passengers evacuating the aircraft and standing on the wings of the plane. "One of the flight attendants tried calling the flight crew" while another "knocked on the cockpit door to alert the flight crew," the report said. The NTSB report also showed streaks on the outside of the engine from the leaking fuel. The plane was towed to a hangar for examination. An American Airlines plane that caught fire in Denver had dark streaking which was consistent with in-flight streamlines, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report. During an inspection of the damage, investigators saw that the plane "exhibited heat/smoke/burn indications near the right engine nacelle, right wing, right side of the fuselage aft of the wing, the right main landing gear, and the right main landing gear wheel well," the report said. In addition, "the lockwire of a fuel fitting on the variable stator vane (VSV)" was loose and installed in the incorrect direction, in addition to other issues. Further examination of the engines found that one fan blade platform was fractured, according to the report. Another part of the plane that controls airflow through the turbine’s compressor was found to be "incorrectly fastened and secured … allowing fuel to leak from the fitting." American Airlines said 172 passengers and six crew members were on board at the time of the incident. The airplane had "substantial damage" while 12 passengers and the six crew members sustained minor injuries, according to the report. https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-plane-caught-fire-005338621.html Back to basics: Army revamps flight school after deadly crashes In the wake of a string of deadly military aviation accidents over the past several years, the U.S. Army is launching a major overhaul of how it trains new pilots that focuses on getting back to the basics. The overhaul includes rethinking the type of aircraft used for training, along with a likely shift to a contractor-owned-and-operated schoolhouse. “I think I have one sacred responsibility and that is to deliver competent aviators to the government,” Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, commander of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence Command, said at an Army aviation conference in Nashville, Tennessee, last month. “I’m not sure that I’m doing that in spades right now.” The fatal Jan. 29 collision of a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., and a spate of Army aviation mishaps over the last several years have been at the forefront of the minds of Army aviation leaders as they attempt to rein in the crisis and improve aviation safety. In addition to other efforts to try to reemphasize a culture of rigorous training and safety, the Army began taking a hard look at redeveloping its basic training program at Fort Novosel, Alabama, fueled by the most mishap-heavy years in Army aviation history since 2007. The Army found inexperienced crews were “out-driving their headlights, out-training the experience that was in their force at whatever level,” then-commander of the AACE, Maj. Gen. Mac McCurry, told Defense News on a 2024 trip to Fort Novosel, Alabama, home of Army aviation training. Now, the Army is in hyperdrive to reimagine how it trains aviators in an increasingly complex world where combat proficiency is waning and experience gaps at the highest levels are growing. Pivoting the chopper The motivation to make changes was compounded by the Army’s decision in 2013 to retire its TH-67 training aircraft and replace them with more expensive LUH-72A Lakota light utility twin-engine helicopters. The decision was a matter of necessity. The Army faced the choice of either needing to comply with congressional sequestration requirements that mandated cutting every program evenly across the board or making tough choices internally to avoid making salami slices across its budget. But critics worried the Lakota was too exquisite and pricey for basic training. “It is a very good helicopter,” Gill told Defense News in a recent interview. “But in some cases, it assists the student in things that we wouldn’t want the student assisted in.” For instance, the automated flight control system “will help you with heading control. If you jumped in a very simple aircraft … if you don’t push the pedal commensurate with how you apply the collective, you will start spinning in a circle and then if you push too much, you go the other way,” Gill said. “So that’s the first time you learn to hover. It’s a little bit of that dance. They don’t have that challenge in the Lakota because it helps them.” Army aviators coming out of basic training now “don’t have that early struggle, where you really have to kind of learn to control the airplane,” he added. The easier-to-fly Lakotas are also turning out to be harder to maintain. Airbus, the Lakota’s manufacturer, is headquartered in France. Calling in a company maintenance engineer when a fleet-wide issue needs to be addressed is sometimes up against the tyranny of distance, Gill said. A twin-engine helicopter also requires twice the components. “You don’t need to be a helicopter pilot or mechanic to understand that there are more things to maintain,” Gill said. “Sometimes that means more things can break.” The Lakota has cost the Army roughly $3,000 per flight hour, which is nearly the same as the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk, Gill said. Some of the training aircraft that the Army is taking a look at now could potentially cost between $500 and $1,300 an hour. In 2020, the Army commissioned a study through Boston Consulting Group that determined the service could save “hundreds of millions of dollars” by transitioning to a single-engine trainer. An additional study with a College of William & Mary MBA fellowship program determined that a contractor-owned, contractor-operated, or COCO, model would be preferable to the current government-owned and operated method. Boston Consulting has been rehired, Gill said, to dive deeper into a business case analysis for a basic aviator training COCO model. Course correction The Army is now running a pilot program with Robinson Helicopter that began at the beginning of April where it is sending some of its current flight students to Gainesville, Florida, to learn to fly using a Robinson R66 helicopter and to go through a Federal Aviation Administration private pilot training program. As part of the program, the students will log five solo flight hours. An FAA private helicopter certification requires 10 hours. “I think that flying in that unsupervised fashion is just critically important to the development of the mature aviator that we expect we would generate out of the world’s greatest flight training program. The FAA is doing it, why in the world wouldn’t we do it with Army aviators,” Gill said. “So the question is what’s going to happen on the back end of that final program? Are we going to produce a less proficient aviator than I’m building at Fort Novosel in the UH-72,” Gill asked. “I’m very interested in what this pilot program is going to tell us,” he said. “I think I have one sacred responsibility and that is to deliver competent aviators to the government,” Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, AACE commander, recently said. Gill, right, is shown here speaking with a soldier in Powidz, Poland, on April 28. (Sgt. James Lefty Larimer/U.S. Army) Should the Army choose a COCO model to train its aviators, much of the daily headaches schoolhouse leaders face would transfer to the company hired to train them. “The brilliance of the COCO model is that it’s not my thing to worry about,” Gill said. “Now all I say is, ‘I want 1,350 pilots at the end of the year; you figure out how.’” The number of helicopters needed in the fleet, maintenance requirements, the number of instructor pilots and their experience levels and every other aspect of training aviators will be determined by an industry partner. Industry will need to come with the tools that produce solid aviators. “The need for better stick and rudder skills is at the core of both battle readiness and even just safety,” David Smith, Robinson Helicopter CEO, told Defense News in a recent interview. “We talk about a high degree of automation in some of these products that doesn’t produce a great stick and rudder aviator.” Opting for a simpler helicopter, like the R66, will also “drastically reduce the cost,” Smith said, “because our products just don’t have as many things that can fail, so they tend to be more reliable in service.” Textron’s Bell is also looking to get back into the Army aviation training game after the service retired its TH-67 in favor of the Lakota. “We fully intend to give them a turnkey contractor-owned, contractor-operated flight school solution,” Carl Coffman, Bell’s vice president of military sales and strategy, told Defense News at the Army Aviation Association of America’s annual conference last month. Bell is pitching its 505 Jet Ranger X as part of the package, but Coffman said, “We’re not trying to sell the Army an aircraft. I’m trying to sell you a service.” Lockheed Martin also announced last month it would be pitching a turnkey solution. Spooling up the rotors The Army spends roughly $1.5 billion to run its flight school annually and produces 1,350 aviators, Gill said. To transition to a new flight program, the Army will have to, for a time, pay to keep Lakotas in the fleet, he acknowledged. “The challenge for the Army is, in order to do this, it costs more money up front,” he said. The Army announced last month it would be ending some programs, consolidating commands and restructuring formations, including eliminating 11 air cavalry squadrons from the force. Gill sees opportunity in the elimination of those squadrons. Money freed from operational flight hours could potentially go toward training hours instead. Industry also has to be prepared to “own a good amount of the risk,” in addition to the funding the Army would provide to establish the new training program, Gill said. The Army wants to move quickly to establish the program. Gill said the plan is to release a draft request for proposals this month. Another industry day will be held in July where companies can bring their capabilities for demonstration opportunities. Then the service will release a final request for proposal in the fall or winter of calendar year 2025 and evaluate proposals in 2026. “I would like to get this thing going early in [fiscal] 2027,” Gill said. Companies have estimated they could likely get a program up and running within two years, but Gill said he has directed industry to try to truncate that timeline by half. “We cannot do this fast enough,” he said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/back-basics-army-revamps-flight-120300027.html India directs Turkish Airlines to maintain compliance after safety lapses (Reuters) -India directed Turkish Airlines to ensure full compliance with aviation regulations following lapses found during inspections of the carrier's passenger and cargo flights at several cities, the country's civil aviation ministry said on Wednesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation conducted inspections of state-backed Turkish Airlines' passenger and cargo flights at four Indian cities from May 29 to June 2, the aviation ministry said in a statement. The aviation regulator found lapses during the inspections, including cargo containing "Dangerous Goods" that require DGCA permission for carriage of explosives across India. The goods were not mentioned in the declaration, the ministry said. Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment. The inspection comes after India's IndiGo said last week it would terminate its leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines by August 31. The agreement came under public criticism in India after Turkey came out in support of Pakistan during the recent conflict between the two South Asian neighbours. "Further follow-up inspections will be conducted as necessary to ensure continuous safety oversight," the aviation ministry said. The DGCA conducted the inspections in the Indian cities of Delhi and Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/india-directs-turkish-airlines-maintain-154702289.html Senators propose sweeping air safety reforms after January fatal collision A group of Democratic senators proposed new air safety legislation Thursday following the January collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. • KEY TAKEAWAYS • Democratic senators propose air safety reforms after a fatal collision near Reagan National Airport in January. • • The legislation mandates FAA safety reviews and advanced aircraft-tracking technology use. • Sen. Maria Cantwell highlights gaps in aviation safety oversight, urging FAA action. WASHINGTON — A group of seven Democratic senators on Thursday introduced sweeping air safety legislation after a fatal collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet in January near Reagan Washington National Airport killed 67 people. Lawmakers have questioned why the Federal Aviation Administration failed to act for years to address close calls involving helicopters near Reagan. The legislation would require a review of helicopter and passenger operations at major airports, mandate new FAA safety reviews after fatal passenger airline accidents and require the use of ADS-B, an advanced aircraft-tracking technology. The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, a Republican, has held a series of aviation hearings and called for action by the FAA and the Army to reduce the risks of collisions. Cruz did not respond immediately to a request for comment on whether he supported the Democratic proposal. Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee that oversees the FAA, said the collision "exposed critical gaps in aviation safety oversight." She said the legislation "closes dangerous loopholes that allowed aircraft to operate without essential safety technology, mandates modern surveillance systems that enhance pilot awareness of nearby aircraft, and ensures the FAA finally acts on the data instead of ignoring it." The Army Black Hawk helicopter did not have ADS-B operating during a routine training mission when it collided with the American jet. The FAA in April said it would require ADS-B use near Reagan National by government helicopters except in cases such as "active national security missions." Families of those killed in the American jet's crash said the bill "marks a meaningful step forward in aviation safety — a cause that is no longer abstract for our families, but personal and deeply urgent." The FAA has suspended Army helicopter flights around the Pentagon after a May 1 near-miss incident. There have also been a series of other troubling near-misses in recent months. The National Transportation Safety Board said in March that since 2021, there have been more than 15,200 occurrences between commercial airplanes and helicopters with lateral separation distance of less than 1 nautical mile and vertical separation of less than 400 feet, and 85 close-call incidents during that period at Washington Reagan. Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau acknowledged in March that the data was troubling. "Clearly something was missed," Rocheleau said. https://www.ksl.com/article/51325828/senators-propose-sweeping-air-safety-reforms-after-january-fatal-collision Bomb threat forces evacuation of Spirit Airlines flight A bomb threat reported on a Spirit Airlines flight before it took off forced an evacuation Thursday morning. Law enforcement was requested to meet with Spirit Airlines Flight 2145 before it left Detroit for Los Angeles due to a “potential security issue.” “On Thursday morning, the Wayne County Airport Authority’s Emergency & Support Services and Airfield Operations teams along with the TSA [Transportation Security Administration] responded to a bomb threat involving a Spirit Airlines aircraft at Detroit Metropolitan Airport,” a Detroit Metropolitan Airport spokesperson said in a statement. The plane taxied and passengers were “safely” deplaned and transported by bus to another area for rescreening. “The Guests were rescreened, and the aircraft was inspected and cleared by law enforcement. The safety of our Guests and Team Members is our top priority and we are working to get our Guests to their destination as soon as possible,” a Spirit Airlines spokesperson said in a statement obtained by NewsNation. The flight departed Thursday afternoon for Los Angeles, according to tracking websites. The incident is under investigation, according to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/5335167-bomb-threat-evacuation-spirit-airlines-flight/ Europe has Now Banned 169 Airlines with Two New Additions The addition of Suriname and Tanzania brings the total number of banned airlines to 169. BRUSSELS- The European Union Commission has imposed an operating ban on all airlines certified in Suriname and Tanzania, adding both countries to the European Union’s Air Safety List due to serious safety oversight deficiencies. The decision affects all carriers registered in these jurisdictions, preventing them from operating within European Union airspace. Europe Bans 169 Airlines The European Commission determined that neither Suriname nor Tanzania met international aviation safety standards, prompting the inclusion of their airlines on the prohibited list. Officials conducted a detailed technical assessment that revealed serious deficiencies in national aviation oversight capabilities within both countries. The ruling emerged from a meeting held in Brussels last month, where the European Commission collaborated with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to evaluate aviation safety standards across multiple jurisdictions. The assessment process examined each country’s ability to maintain adequate safety oversight of its certified airlines. The addition of Suriname and Tanzania brings the total number of banned airlines to 169, representing a significant expansion of the EU’s aviation safety enforcement. The comprehensive list includes 142 airlines certified across 17 different states that demonstrate inadequate safety oversight by their respective aviation authorities. Russian airlines comprise 22 of the banned carriers, while 5 additional airlines face prohibition based on individual serious safety deficiencies. These specifically named carriers include Air Zimbabwe (UM) from Zimbabwe, Avior Airlines (9V) from Venezuela, Iran Aseman Airlines (EP) from Iran, Fly Baghdad (IF) from Iraq, and Iraqi Airways (IA) from Iraq. Operational Restrictions Two airlines remain subject to operational restrictions rather than complete bans, allowing them limited access to EU airspace with specific aircraft types only. Iran Air (IR) from Iran and Air Koryo (JS) from North Korea operate under these conditional arrangements, demonstrating the Commission’s graduated approach to safety enforcement. Surinam Airways (PY), serving as the primary airline and national flag carrier of Suriname, faces immediate operational disruptions from the ban. The airline has suspended services to and from Cayenne, the capital city of French Guiana, which falls under EU safety jurisdiction as an overseas region and department of France. Air Tanzania (TC), the flag carrier of Tanzania, was previously added to the EU safety list last year, indicating ongoing concerns about the country’s aviation oversight capabilities. The complete ban now encompasses all airlines certified within Tanzanian jurisdiction. Safety is Top Priority Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, emphasised that passenger safety remains the European Union’s primary concern in aviation matters. He confirmed that the Commission conducted thorough technical assessments before adding airlines from both countries to the prohibition list. The Commissioner urged both Suriname and Tanzania to address their aviation oversight deficiencies promptly, stating that the European Commission stands ready to provide support for their efforts toward achieving full compliance with international safety standards. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/06/06/europe-has-now-banned-169-airlines/ Riyadh Air Expected To Order Airbus A350-1000 As Flagship Aircraft In the coming weeks, Riyadh Air is expected to place a huge aircraft order, for what will ultimately be the carrier’s flagship aircraft. Riyadh Air choosing Airbus A350 over Boeing 777X Airline startup Riyadh Air is expected to launch operations in late 2025, as Saudi Arabia’s ambitious new carrier, connecting Riyadh (RUH) to the world. The company has huge growth plans, and so far has ordered up to 72 Boeing 787-9s, and up to 60 Airbus A321neos. We’ve known that the airline plans to order another wide body aircraft, and until recently, the airline was reportedly deciding between the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X. According to widespread reports, Riyadh Air has ultimately decided to go with Airbus, and an order is expected to be announced at the upcoming Paris Air Show, taking place June 16 through June 22, 2025. While exact details remain to be seen, the plan is for the airline to order roughly 50 Airbus A350s, with a particular focus on the A350-1000, which is the largest variant of the jet. We don’t know if the airline will exclusively order that aircraft, or if there might also be some of the smaller A350-900 variant in the mix. The A350-1000 is one of the most in demand wide body jets, given its long range, high capacity, and great unit costs. One wonders how far into the future these deliveries will happen, given the challenges with securing a meaningful number of A350-1000 delivery slots. It’s not surprising to see Riyadh Air select the A350, given that the 777X hasn’t even been certified yet, and is six years behind schedule. So going with the 777X seems like a bit of a gamble. Then again, once it’s actually flying, it should be a pretty great aircraft. This won’t be Riyadh Air’s first Airbus aircraft order The A350 will be Riyadh Air’s flagship aircraft While Riyadh Air will be launching operations with the Boeing 787, the long term plan is for the upcoming Airbus A350 to be the carrier’s flagship aircraft. That’s to say that eventually (who knows when), the A350 will operate from Riyadh to the carrier’s most important markets. For example, Riyadh Air has recently unveiled its planned Boeing 787s cabins, and they look great. However, the airline opted not to offer first class on these jets, though does plan to offer first class on its upcoming flagship aircraft (the A350). Riyadh Air has made a lot of promises about its passenger experience, and I look forward to seeing what kind of an experience the airline is actually able to deliver. It’s certainly one of the most well funded and thoughtful airline startups we’ve seen in a long time. Bottom line In the next couple of weeks, Riyadh Air is expected to place an order for roughly 50 Airbus A350s, with a particular focus on the A350-1000 variant. So far, Riyadh Air has ordered the 787-9 and A321neo, and we’ve known that the airline was trying to decide between the A350 and 777X for its flagship aircraft. It sounds like Airbus has won that battle… The A350-1000 - like the A350-900 - has more range than the 777-9, the first version to launch. In order to get the range that the 35K offers, Boeing is offering the 777-8 so the wait for an airplane with comparable range is realistically 5 years plus. The A350-1000 - like the A350-900 - has more range than the 777-9, the first version to launch. In order to get the range that the 35K offers, Boeing is offering the 777-8 so the wait for an airplane with comparable range is realistically 5 years plus. and the 35K is going to be smaller than the 777-9 which is better suited as a 747-8 or A380 replacement. https://onemileatatime.com/news/riyadh-air-airbus-a350-order/ Aeroflot CEO Wants Limits on Western Aircraft in Russia The CEO of Russia’s flagship carrier, Aeroflot, said the government needs to regulate the share of domestic and foreign aircraft in order to prop up its ambitious domestic manufacturing plans and overcome wartime sanctions. Aeroflot’s fleet of Airbus and Boeing planes has been hit by a slew of incidents after the U.S. and EU banned the supply of aircraft and components to Russia over the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That summer, Russia announced plans to build more than 1,000 civilian aircraft by 2030. In the three years since, the number of aircraft to roll off production lines remained in the single digits amid delays and manufacturing challenges. Aeroflot CEO Sergei Alexandrovsky told the Kommersant business newspaper that the airline has adapted to the sanctions. “We’ve significantly adjusted and improved our forecasts. I don’t rule out that we’ll be able to further raise our forecast over time,” he said. Aeroflot’s confidence stems from the mutual understanding with Russia’s aviation industry that “we need an efficient fleet of aircraft currently being developed,” Alexandrovsky said. “Even if opportunities open to access international markets and supplies of foreign aircraft, the ratio of Russian and Western aircraft should be fairly strictly regulated at the state level,” he told Kommersant. He acknowledged “growing pains” with domestic civilian aircraft, but said they could be “smoothed out” by gradually phasing in the new fleet of Yakovlev MC-21 and Superjets. “After all, we won’t get 100 new planes right away,” he told Kommersant, also admitting that other airlines could balk at the protectionist proposals given the prevalence of Boeing and Airbus aircraft in their fleet. “But whether they like it or not is not an issue,” he said. “At stake is the future of Russia’s aviation industry and the return on investments that the state has made into making new modern domestic aircraft.” “We absolutely believe that our industry will be able to meet the high standards it has set for itself.” https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/06/05/aeroflot-ceo-wants-limits-on-western-aircraft-in-russia-a89352 IndiGo Sets A New Benchmark In Aviation Excellence With The SkyBreathe® Pilot App, Maximizing Efficiency, Safety, And Environmental Responsibility IndiGo, India’s leading airline, is setting a new benchmark in aviation excellence with the introduction of the SkyBreathe® Pilot App. This innovative app is not just a technological advancement but a monumental step towards maximizing flight efficiency, enhancing safety, and ensuring environmental responsibility. By leveraging cutting-edge data analytics and intelligent automation, the SkyBreathe® Pilot App equips pilots with real-time insights to make data-driven decisions at every stage of the flight. This empowers them to optimize operations and reduce fuel consumption, directly contributing to IndiGo’s commitment to a greener, more sustainable future. The app is an essential part of IndiGo’s broader digital transformation strategy, which aims to integrate modern technologies into every facet of its operations. The SkyBreathe® Pilot App is designed to provide enhanced situational awareness, allowing pilots to manage their flight with precision, improving overall safety standards. By providing actionable insights, the app aids in streamlining flight preparation, helping to reduce operational inefficiencies, and ultimately elevating the airline’s performance. In addition to improving operational efficiency, IndiGo’s implementation of this app underscores the airline’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. By incorporating sustainability into its operational framework, IndiGo not only enhances its service offerings but also significantly reduces its carbon footprint. This launch marks a significant milestone in the airline’s journey to merge cutting-edge technology with sustainability, creating a new standard for aviation that prioritizes operational excellence, passenger safety, and environmental responsibility. With this new initiative, IndiGo is setting a bold precedent for the future of aviation, where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. IndiGo, India’s top airline, has introduced the cutting-edge SkyBreathe® Pilot App, marking a significant step towards enhancing safety, optimizing operational efficiency, and promoting environmental sustainability. This new mobile application is a key component of IndiGo’s ongoing digital transformation strategy and aligns with its long-term sustainability objectives. The app will be deployed across the airline’s Airbus fleet, providing pilots with enhanced situational awareness. The SkyBreathe® Pilot App leverages real-time data analytics to provide pilots with critical information that can be used to optimize flight operations. With its ability to monitor every phase of the flight, the app ensures that pilots are equipped with the most relevant and up-to-date insights, enabling them to make informed decisions that improve both safety and efficiency. By analyzing data such as fuel consumption, altitude, and speed, the app allows for more accurate route planning and timely adjustments that reduce fuel waste, operational delays, and overall flight time. This data-driven approach is a game-changer in an industry where efficiency directly correlates to both cost savings and environmental impact. The Pilot App harnesses real-time data analytics and intelligent automation, tracking every stage of the flight to optimize flight preparation. By offering actionable insights, the app empowers pilots to make data-driven decisions that lead to measurable improvements in both operational performance and overall efficiency. Mr. Isidre Porqueras, Chief Operating Officer, IndiGo said, “Safety and Sustainability are core to our values. By investing in smart technologies, we aim to continue improving our operational efficiency; ensuring that our growth plans align with our environmental commitments. Introduction of the SkyBreathe®App is more than just a software upgrade; it is a transformation of how we manage and operate the fleet. The system enhances visibility, promotes responsible operational practices, and directly contributes to lowering our environmental footprint.” This rollout is a key element of IndiGo’s comprehensive digital transformation plan, designed to integrate cutting-edge technologies that enhance operational efficiency and elevate the customer experience. Through this initiative, IndiGo reinforces its dedication to innovation, safety, and a sustainable, eco-friendly future. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/indigo-sets-a-new-benchmark-in-aviation-excellence-with-the-skybreathe-pilot-app-maximizing-efficiency-safety-and-environmental-responsibility/ US-Boeing deal over 737 Max crashes ‘morally repugnant’, says lawyer for victims’ families Boeing has agreed to pay $1.1bn (£812m) to avoid prosecution over two plane crashes that killed 346 people, in a deal that a lawyer for 16 families of the victims has described as “morally repugnant”. The plane manufacturer has secured a deal – agreed in principle last month – with the US Department of Justice (DoJ), which includes paying $444.5m to the families of those who died in the crashes of 737 Max jetliners in 2018 and 2019. The company has also agreed to invest $445m towards improving its compliance, safety and quality programmes, according to an agreement signed by the DoJ and Boeing last week, detailed in a US court filing. On top of this, Boeing has already paid $243m of a $487.2m criminal penalty agreed in 2021. Sanjiv Singh, the counsel for family members of some of the victims of the plane crash in Indonesia in 2018, told the BBC the deal allowed Boeing to “sidestep true criminal accountability”. The aerospace company has previously said it was “deeply sorry” for the families’ losses and was committed to honouring the memories of the victims by pursuing broad and deep changes within the business. If the deal is approved by a federal judge, the fraud charge in the criminal case against Boeing will be dismissed. Two Boeing planes crashed off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019. Many relatives of the victims have spent years pursuing a public trial, more severe penalties for Boeing and the prosecution of former company officials. In October 2018, 189 people were killed when Lion Air flight 610 fell into the Java Sea off Indonesia. In March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa airport, which killed 157 people. Both incidents were linked to faulty flight control systems. The second crash prompted the grounding of the 737 Max plane for almost two years. The company avoided prosecution in 2021 after it reached a settlement with the US DoJ, which included the $243.6m fine. However, last year prosecutors argued that Boeing had violated the terms of the 2021 agreement by failing to make promised changes to detect and prevent violations of federal anti-fraud laws. Last July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to the felony fraud charge instead of enduring what may have been a lengthy public trial. However, in December, the US district judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth rejected the deal. The judge said the diversity, equity and inclusion policies in government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in picking an independent monitor to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement. Boeing was approached for comment. A company spokesperson told the BBC regarding the new agreement with the DoJ: “Boeing is committed to complying with its obligations under this resolution, which include a substantial additional fine and commitments to further institutional improvements and investments.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-boeing-deal-over-737-074323723.html Analysis-Boeing rebuilding trust as airline bosses see improved jet quality NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Airline bosses are tentatively voicing greater confidence in Boeing's ability to deliver jets at the right quality in a step towards ending years of reputational damage for the embattled planemaker. An annual summit of airline leaders in New Delhi this week struck a more optimistic tone about Boeing's recovery from overlapping safety, regulatory and industrial crises, though executives stressed Boeing still had much work left to do. "What we've seen quarter to quarter is an improvement in safety, an improvement in quality," Seattle-based Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told Reuters at the International Air Transport Association's annual meeting. "Are they yet there? No, there's still a lot of work." In January last year, a door missing four bolts blew off a new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX jet at 16,000 feet. The ripple effect from the incident caused a crisis throughout the aviation industry, hitting suppliers, carriers and passengers. Planemakers often have to run the gauntlet of airline criticism at IATA's annual meeting, where IATA head Willie Walsh last year urged Boeing to learn from errors that fuelled a crisis beginning with fatal crashes of two MAX jets in 2018 and 2019. One of Boeing's most vocal recent critics has been Tim Clark, president of Emirates, the largest customer for big jets like the Boeing 777 and its long-delayed successor the 777X. At his annual sit-down with reporters at the summit this year, Clark spoke more positively about getting "clearer messages" from Boeing's recently appointed leadership. He welcomed a change of style under CEO Kelly Ortberg, revealing he had never met Ortberg's ousted predecessor Dave Calhoun. "It was nice to meet the head of Boeing," he said. Clark, whose airline has 205 of the still uncertified 777X on order, suggested growing confidence from Boeing in private. "When I talk about cautious optimism, in the last few years I had seen none of that" he said. Ortberg, who took the helm last August, has said he will address safety and quality concerns and repair trust with regulators, staff and customers. Boeing customers said the measures are showing some results. While Boeing is still trying to ramp up production, there have been improvements in quality and visibility of deliveries. "There is still further to go but it is definitely an improving story," said Peter Barrett, CEO of lessor SMBC Aviation, a major leasing company and Boeing customer. AIRLINE INSPECTORS Few are taking Boeing's recovery solely on trust. Alaska Airlines has sent its own quality inspectors to Boeing's production lines and commissioned a quarterly audit. Alaska's Minicucci said Boeing had put in a "very diligent, deliberate process" to reduce out-of-sequence work, a disruption to normal factory flows blamed in part for the oversight of the missing bolts. He noted that Ortberg, who has moved to Seattle to be closer to the biggest jet plants, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope, appointed last March, regularly tour factories. "They're getting out there, they're walking the floor, they're feeling what's going on," Minicucci said. "I think that's different to what happened in the past." Other customers have noted progress, despite a bruising strike last year which halted most of Boeing's jet production. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, who took part in a revolt by U.S. airlines that triggered Calhoun's exit after the Alaska incident, said last week Boeing had "turned the corner". WORK REMAINS TO COMPLETE RECOVERY Still, few airline chiefs have any illusions about the scale of turnaround needed to restore the status of Boeing factories. "When I was there last year... I thought this is going nowhere at this rate," Clark said, adding he would return this year to see for himself the progress made since then. Boeing declined to comment on specific airline opinions. Nor does the brighter public tone mean airlines will necessarily ease pressure in private as they wait for new jets. But several airline executives at the IATA event acknowledged that Boeing had passed one key test of support at the industry's biggest annual podium, as it slowly stabilises production. "We have got a lot of work still to do (but) there is a lot of positivity from customers on our performance in the first five months of the year," Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales Brad McMullen said. It now faces a decisive test as regulators review higher output after Boeing hit a temporary ceiling of 38 MAX jets a month. It also seeks certification of models including the 777X. The acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday higher output would not happen straightaway. Originally due to receive the 777X in 2020, Clark held out little hope of getting the upgraded jet before IATA meets again in June next year. Boeing has said it is now due in 2026. "The important thing is they get it out and it's certified to the rigours of the new Boeing: the new approach to building aircraft, safety of operation and all the quality controls that they were having difficulties with prior to that," Clark said. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/analysis-boeing-rebuilding-trust-airline-154712916.html GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST Calling all U.S. airplane pilots! I am a doctoral student at FIU. My research focuses on pilot decision making and digital twins. I will greatly appreciate your help sharing the link to my survey with your network: https://fiu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3rPGG1cVfuOWiyO Thank you! AI generated with the prompt: pilot midair 😂 -- Respectfully, Garrett Feldman, MBA (786)286-9170 CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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. . NTSB set hearing date in Boeing 737-9 plug door incident investigation - June 24, 2025 . Gulf Flight Safety Association (GFSA) Conference, June 25 & 26 2025 Riyadh Air Headquarters . 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