Flight Safety Information - November 28, 2025 No. 237 In This Issue : Incident: India A20N at Delhi on Nov 27th 2025, cargo smoke indication : Incident: United B763 near Boston on Nov 27th 2025, airspeed indication problem : Incident: Southwest B738 near Las Vegas on Nov 26th 2025, indication prompts diversion : Incident: American B738 near Belize on Nov 26th 2025, electrical problems, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Indigo B789 at Amsterdam on Nov 26th 2025, technical issue with landing gear : A Delta flight from Paris to Minneapolis U-turned after less than 20 minutes in the air : 'Panicked' Plane Passenger Opens Emergency Door on Runway, Deploying Inflatable Slide : Air France-KLM to expand maintenance workforce by 1,000 people : Western Global Airlines Furloughs Pilots Due To Extended MD-11 Grounding : Republic Airways Becomes The World's Largest Embraer E-Jet Operator : UPRTA International to Host “2025 UPRT Safety Summit for Pilots Worldwide” : Baikonur launch pad damaged after Russian Soyuz launch to International Space Station : EASA Safety Conference Warns Against Complacency : PhD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST : Calendar of Event Incident: India A20N at Delhi on Nov 27th 2025, cargo smoke indication An Air India Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-EXO performing flight AI-2939 from Delhi to Ahmedabad (India) with 170 people on board, was climbing out of Delhi's runway 29R when the crew stopped the climb at 6500 feet after receiving a cargo smoke indication. The aircraft returned to Delhi for a safe landing on runway 29L about 20 minutes after departure. The airline reported the aircraft returned due to a smoke indication, which was subsequently found false. A replacement Airbus A320-200N registration VT-RIO reached Ahmedabad with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 9 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=53040465&opt=0 Incident: United B763 near Boston on Nov 27th 2025, airspeed indication problem A United Boeing 767-300, registration N665UA performing flight UA-934 from Newark,NJ (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute at FL300 near Boston,MA (USA) when the crew decided to return to Newark due to problems with their airspeed indications. The aircraft landed safely back on Newark's runway 22L about 80 minutes after departure. Passengers reported the crew announced airspeed indication problems. https://avherald.com/h?article=530402a9&opt=0 Incident: Southwest B738 near Las Vegas on Nov 26th 2025, indication prompts diversion A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8513F performing flight WN-651 from San Diego,CA to Indianapolis,IN (USA) with 141 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 140nm southeast of Las Vegas,NV (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Las Vegas advising ATC they had some indication. On approach to Las Vegas the crew requested to cancel the approach and entered a hold advising ATC, the indication had ceased and had now re-occurred, so they needed to run the associated checklists again, the crew requested a long straight in approach. ATC advised, they had declared emergency for the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely on Las Vegas' runway 26L about 45 minutes after leaving FL350. While taxiing to the apron the crew advised they "ran out of cooling" and requested emergency services to check for smoke or hot spots. The airline reported a maintenance indicator prompted the diversion. A replacement Boeing 737-8 MAX registration N8718Q reached Indianapolis with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 19.5 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=5303f7c9&opt=0 Incident: American B738 near Belize on Nov 26th 2025, electrical problems, engine shut down in flight An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N951AA performing flight AA-327 from Miami,FL (USA) to San Salvador (El Salvador) with 177 people on board, was enroute at FL310 about 160nm east of Belize City (Belize) when the crew descended the aircraft to FL290 and diverted to Belize, subsequently the crew shut the right hand engine (CFM56) down. The aircraft landed safely on Belize's runway 07 about 35 minutes after leaving FL310. A passenger reported there had been a strange odour on board and some abnormal vibrations, the captain announced he had needed to shut the right hand generator down, they were still continuing to San Salvador. About 20 minutes later the captain announced, they were diverting to Belize City. There was smoke in the back of the cabin. The crew shut the right hand engine down. https://avherald.com/h?article=5303ea37&opt=0 Incident: Indigo B789 at Amsterdam on Nov 26th 2025, technical issue with landing gear An Indigo Boeing 787-9, registration LN-LNR performing flight 6E-22 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Mumbai (India), was climbing out of Amsterdam's runway 18L cleared to climb to FL130 when the crew requested to stop climb at FL100 advising of a technical issue. Subsequently the crew requested to stop their climb at FL080 stating they had technical issues with their landing gear, it did not totally retract. The aircraft was cleared for FL080, dumped fuel and subsequently returned to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 18R about one hour after departure. Ground observers reported the aircraft sounded like a turboprop on climbing out. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2 hours, then departed again and is currently estimated to reach Mumbai with a delay of about 3 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=53033fb6&opt=0 A Delta flight from Paris to Minneapolis U-turned after less than 20 minutes in the air A Delta flight returned to Paris minutes after takeoff due to a flap-related mechanical alert. The Airbus A330 declared an emergency and was in the air for less than an hour. The jet landed safely in Paris, and passengers were rebooked as the aircraft underwent checks. A Delta Air Lines flight from Paris to Minneapolis was forced to turn back less than 20 minutes after takeoff on Wednesday. Delta Flight 153, operating from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Minneapolis-Saint Paul, took off around 10:53 a.m. local time before leveling off over northern France and beginning a wide U-turn, Flightradar24 data shows. The plane, an Airbus A330, never climbed above 9,500 feet and spent less than an hour airborne before landing back in Paris at about 11:47 a.m. A Delta spokesperson told Business Insider the flight, carrying 177 passengers, turned back "due to an indication of a mechanical issue," which the airline said was related to the aircraft's flaps — the movable panels on a plane's wings that are used during takeoff and landing to generate lift at low speeds. Because the aircraft was still heavily loaded with fuel for a transatlantic crossing, the crew declared an emergency due to excessive fuel weight, Delta said. The move allows aircraft to receive priority handling on approach and landing when returning shortly after takeoff. Passengers are being reaccommodated on later flights departing CDG throughout Wednesday afternoon, the airline said, adding: "We apologize to our customers for their delay in travel." The aircraft is now undergoing evaluation and maintenance in Paris. This is not the first time an aircraft has been forced to return to its departure airport due to flap-related issues. In June, a British Airways Boeing 787 bound for Chennai turned back to London shortly after takeoff after pilots reported a suspected flap problem. The aircraft entered a series of holding patterns to dump fuel before landing safely at Heathrow. A British Airways spokesperson at the time said the return was a "standard precaution." https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/delta-flight-paris-minneapolis-u-152210483.html 'Panicked' Plane Passenger Opens Emergency Door on Runway, Deploying Inflatable Slide The Atlanta Police Department responded to the incident at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday A plane passenger opened the emergency exit door and deployed the inflatable slide at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 25 The incident occurred as a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam was taxiing The passenger has been charged with reckless conduct, criminal damage to property and interfering with security measures A plane passenger has been charged after opening an emergency door while the plane was taxiing in Atlanta. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, the Atlanta Police Department confirmed in a press release that they responded to the incident at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, “A KLM flight bound for Amsterdam was delayed after a passenger made a 911 call reporting a possible weapon was onboard the flight. The aircraft, identified as Flight 622, returned to Ramp 9 where APD officers boarded the flight and took custody of the caller, Mr. Johannes Van Heertum (age 32),” authorities said. They added, “Preliminary investigation indicates Van Heertum believed he saw another passenger with a weapon and appeared to have panicked, ultimately opening the emergency exit door and deploying the inflatable slide while the plane was taxiing.” "Van Heertum also appeared to be experiencing a mental health episode,” the police continued. “He was evaluated by EMTs at the International Terminal Precinct before being charged with Reckless Conduct, Criminal Damage to Property, and Interfering with Security Measures.” The man was then taken “to Clayton County Jail without incident.” “Nothing further at this time,” they concluded. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Getty KLM plane preparing for landing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport Getty KLM plane preparing for landing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport In a statement to PEOPLE, KLM airlines confirmed they had to cancel the flight. "On November 25, an incident involving an unruly passenger occurred during taxiing of flight KL622 from Atlanta to Amsterdam, during which the passenger opened the emergency door. Local authorities are investigating this incident," they wrote. The airline added, "Unfortunately, we had to cancel the flight. All other passengers have been rebooked onto the next available flights." Many passengers who were aboard the aircraft opened up about the “terrifying” moment. "He said someone had a gun on board, he was really loud," Jack Anderson told Fox 5 Atlanta. "So we could all hear it." "Easiest way, I think, is to get rid of the psychotic passenger here at this position with the police presence," a crew member told an air traffic controller, the outlet reported. Passenger Jane Anderson added, “Things kind of escalated quickly and he ran and they pounced on him, but he had already opened the door to the aircraft.” "We are glad that he didn't open it mid-flight," Jack said. The police also wrote in their statement that “information is preliminary in nature and can change as the investigation progresses and new information comes to light.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/panicked-plane-passenger-opens-emergency-161245851.html Air France-KLM to expand maintenance workforce by 1,000 people Although the Air France-KLM Group is widely recognised for its passenger transport operations, it is also a heavyweight in both cargo services and aircraft maintenance. The Group’s maintenance division employs 13,500 specialists, including 7,200 based in France, who care not only for the Air France and KLM fleets but also for more than 3,000 aircraft belonging to over 200 client airlines around the world. With 20 maintenance centres and eight logistics hubs spread across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia, Air France-KLM Engineering & Maintenance has established itself as one of the industry’s leading global providers. Following the post-COVID rebound, aircraft maintenance activity has intensified sharply, generating significant recruitment requirements. Since 2022, the division has hired nearly 500 new permanent employees per year in France alone. Looking ahead, the Group expects to recruit more than 1,000 additional staff by the end of 2027. Many of these roles will be based at Paris-Orly, the site of a state-of-the-art workshop inaugurated in 2023. This facility specialises in the latest generation of aircraft engines, which offer lower fuel consumption and cut noise levels by up to 50%. Representing an investment of nearly €30 million, and supported by both the French State and the Île-de-France Region, the new workshop reflects the Group’s dual ambition: reducing its environmental impact while strengthening employment in the southern Paris region. Each year, Air France-KLM Engineering & Maintenance offers around 350 apprenticeship contracts and 300 internships. These programmes provide young people with access to high-value technical skills across key areas such as airframe maintenance, engine servicing, electronic and mechanical equipment support, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, aero structures and logistics. As global aviation recovers and fleets modernise, the Group’s investment in talent aims to secure long-term expertise for one of the world’s busiest maintenance networks. https://avitrader.com/2025/11/28/air-france-klm-to-expand-maintenance-workforce-by-1000-people/ Western Global Airlines Furloughs Pilots Due To Extended MD-11 Grounding Cargo carrier Western Global Airlines has reportedly furloughed pilots due to the extended grounding of its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet. The news follows the UPS Airlines MD-11 accident on November 4, 2025, which resulted in the FAA grounding the aircraft type. The carrier informed its pilots via email that it hoped the MD-11 grounding would be short-lived, as the aircraft type represents the largest portion of its overall fleet. However, Boeing has advised that more extensive and highly invasive inspections are required. The furloughs became effective on November 22, 2025. An internal memo announcing the pilot furloughs was first posted on LinkedIn by airline pilot and podcast host Nik Fialka on November 24, 2025. All 14 Of Western Global Airlines' MD-11s Have Been Taken Out Of Service Western Global Airlines’ fleet is composed primarily of MD-11 freighters. The carrier operates a total of 14 MD-11s with an average age of 30.3 years, according to ch-aviation. Also, the carrier is awaiting one additional MD-11 freighter delivery. The other part of the carrier’s fleet consists of four Boeing 747-400 freighters. As a result, Western Global is almost entirely dependent on its MD-11 fleet, unlike cargo operators such as UPS or FedEx Express, where the MD-11 represents only a small fraction of their overall fleets. Due to the extended grounding and the additional inspections and repairs required by Boeing, Western Global Airlines decided to furlough its pilots, stating that the situation left the company “no choice.” In the memo, WGA stated that: “In the entire twelve-year history of WGA, we never had any furloughs or pay cuts. However, the current situation is untenable, threatens the Company’s survival, and leaves WGA no choice. As a result, this letter is to notify you that, due to circumstances over which the Company has no control, you are being furloughed effective November 22, 2025.” The US Federal Aviation Administration grounded the MD-11 fleet on November 8, 2025, just four days after the UPS MD-11 crash. Western Global Airlines, which notes that it has maintained a perfect safety record, is among the carriers most significantly affected by the grounding. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board has released frame-by-frame imagery of the UPS Flight 2976 accident. The visuals capture the moment an engine separated from the aircraft, sending the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 crashing into an industrial park only seconds after takeoff. The November 4 crash resulted in the deaths of all three crew members on board, along with 11 bystanders on the ground. It has been highlighted that fatigue cracks were identified in the hardware that attaches the engine to the wing, and there were repeated symptoms of overstressing. More information will likely become clear as the agency completes its full investigation into the deadly accident. While Western Global Airlines is among the carriers most affected by the FAA’s MD-11 grounding, UPS Airlines and Fedex Express are also experiencing significant impacts. UPS operates 26 MD-11 freighters, and FedEx has 58 examples of the cargo aircraft in its fleet. It is worth noting that the MD-11 that was involved in the UPS crash had more than 34 years of service under its belt and was in the process of being phased out by the airline. According to CNN, the NTSB is reviewing similar past incidents to help determine the cause of the crash, including the American Airlines Flight 191. That accident, which involved a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, resulted in the deaths of all 271 people on board and two individuals on the ground. In that case, the left engine pylon assembly detached from the aircraft, striking the runway, causing the plane to roll to the left and erupt in flames. https://simpleflying.com/western-global-airlines-furloughs-pilots-extended-md-11-grounding/ Republic Airways Becomes The World's Largest Embraer E-Jet Operator Announced this Tuesday, on November 25, Republic Airways and Mesa Airlines completed a merger that saw Republic become the United States’ and the world's largest operator of Embraer E-Jet aircraft. The fleet total now comes to 310 regional jets that will service roughly 1,300 daily departures. Republic is continuing to support American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines while integrating the Mesa operations under United in a new 10-year contract. The capacity purchase agreement integrates the two operations, which will gradually transition to a single organization. Republic and Mesa will maintain parallel operations while the combined company works to consolidate the two airlines to operate as a single carrier. More than 8,000 aviation professionals across the two companies will be combined into reorganized positions. Republic is targeting continued growth and development in the wake of the historic merger with a long-term strategy. Republic and Mesa are two of the most well-known and established regional airline operations in America. Each carrier brings its own culture of aviation excellence and professional pride to the new group under one roof. Republic Airways was founded in 1974, and Mesa stood up shortly after in 1980. Today, its fleet is exclusively composed of Embraer 170/175 aircraft. The combined company will trade under the ticker RJET on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. David Grizzle, CEO of Republic Airways, said: “This merger establishes a combined company with a common mission to provide safe, clean, and reliable service to connect people and communities across America.” The Republic Airways network includes more than 100 cities in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico. The new, post-merger company is the second-largest regional airline in the US, just behind the industry leader, SkyWest Airlines. The remaining regional carriers of Envoy Air, PSA Airlines, and Piedmont Airlines operate smaller fleets, though collectively form a large part of American Eagle. The Republic network centers around the major hubs of its partners, with a concentration in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Mesa provides extensive feeder service to United's hubs, particularly in Houston and Washington, DC. The combined network operates from 12 crew bases. Republic Bases Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Pittsburgh (PIT), Washington D.C.-National (DCA), Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), Columbus (CMH), Indianapolis (IND), and Louisville (SDF). The two networks are complementary, with Mesa's existing strong presence in Texas and DC. United will be enhanced with Republic's extensive operations in the Northeast for all three major partner airlines that it supports. The merger provides a stronger capital base and financial stability. The bolstered financial position should allow for investments and sustained profitability, supporting continued smooth operations as well as long-term growth. SkyWest remains the undisputed largest regional airline in the US. It is often ranked in the top 10 airlines overall in the US by passenger volume, not just in comparison to regional airlines. It operates a significantly larger fleet of over 500 aircraft and is unique in partnering with all four major airlines: United, Delta, American, and Alaska. Unlike Republic, SkyWest has a fleet with a variety of Bombardier CRJ jet models. SkyWest supports around 2,500 daily departures with around 245 cities in its portfolio. The majority of the destinations that SkyWest serves are in the Western and Central United States, differing from the Republic network and strategy. The merger between Republic and Mesa will create a line in the sand between two major independent players in the regional jet market. Republic will essentially be the go-to regional jet operator for every smaller field east of the Mississippi River. Lending credence to Republic's recent growth and progress are the overall positive reviews from customers after experiencing the Embraer E175. Most flyers consider the aircraft to be much more spacious and comfortable compared to the Bombardier CRJ jets, which are still the primary platform used by SkyWest. It would be a significant undertaking for Republic to challenge SkyWest for dominance in the regional jet market, but in the long view, it is by no means impossible. https://simpleflying.com/republic-airways-worlds-largest-embraer-e-jet-operator/ UPRTA International to Host “2025 UPRT Safety Summit for Pilots Worldwide” Aviation leaders unite to eliminate the Loss of Control In-Flight threat The Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Association, International (UPRTA International), is proud to announce its annual UPRT Safety Summit for Pilots Worldwide, taking place December 17, 2025. This single-day virtual event will feature leading experts from across the aviation industry to present and share best practices, new strategies, and the association’s strategic plan to save lives by eliminating the Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I) threat. LOC-I: Aviation’s Most Persistent Killer Loss of Control In-Flight remains the leading cause of fatalities across all segments of aviation, a tragic reality that has persisted for over a decade. • According to Boeing’s annual statistical summary, LOC-I tops the list of fatal airline accidents worldwide. • In the past decade alone, LOC-I accidents involving airliners have claimed 428 lives. • AOPA’s Air Safety Institute reports that 40% of general aviation accidents are attributed to LOC-I. • In general aviation, a fatal LOC-I accident occurs once every four days. To confront this global safety challenge, the aviation community has developed Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) programs—a proven strategy that strengthens pilots’ manual flying skills and equips them to recover safely from unexpected in-flight upset events. A Global Commitment to Safety “At UPRTA International, we drive upset training excellence in aviation to save lives globally,” said UPRTA International President Paul “BJ” Ransbury. “Guided by our core values of safety, leadership, empowerment, and commitment, we’re uniting the industry to set new standards, deliver best practices, and ensure every pilot is prepared to prevent Loss of Control InFlight — protecting lives on every flight.” UPRTA International Executive Vice President of Operations Dave Carbaugh added, “Loss of Control In-Flight remains aviation’s most persistent and deadly threat. The UPRT Safety Summit will give pilots and operators critical insight into how global best practices are evolving beyond compliance — to truly save lives — and how UPRTA is helping shape the future of upset prevention and recovery.” Summit Highlights The 2025 UPRT Safety Summit for Pilots Worldwide will feature presentations from UPRTA International’s senior leadership and expert working groups representing multiple sectors, including: • Flight Department – Business aviation, government, and military • General Aviation – Owner-pilot associations and individual pilots • Safety Management Systems – Risk management, safety profiles, operational manuals • Science – Human factors and data-driven safety analysis • Regulatory – Airlines and flight schools Registration Information The 2025 UPRT Safety Summit for Pilots Worldwide is free to attend and will begin at 14:00Z on Thursday, December 17, 2025. Register here: http://bit.ly/2025uprta About UPRTA, International UPRTA International is a nonprofit association dedicated to saving lives with the mission of eliminating Loss of Control In-Flight accidents through the global adoption of comprehensive Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) programs. By uniting industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, operators, and training experts, UPRTA International drives the development and implementation of best practices that enhance flight safety and protect both pilots and the traveling public. For more information, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8HMjiHwr2s About the UPRT Safety Summit for Pilots Worldwide UPRTA International hosts the UPRT Safety Summit annually to provide pilots, instructors, operators, and regulators with direct access to world-leading experts in upset prevention and recovery. The Summit focuses on the LOC-I threat and equips participants with life-saving knowledge, practical training strategies, and regulatory insights to advance aviation safety worldwide. Media Contact: Stuart “Kipp” Lau Executive Vice President – Industry Liaison Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Association, International email: slau@uprta.org Tel: (502) 649-3211 Website: www.UPRTA.org Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Association, International World Headquarters: 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 900, South Building | Washington, DC 20004 www.uprta.org Baikonur launch pad damaged after Russian Soyuz launch to International Space Station MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft with two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut on board successfully ‌docked with the International Space Station on Thursday, Russian ‌space agency Roscosmos said. But the agency later reported that the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan had sustained damage from the launch. It said ⁠the damage would ‌be quickly repaired. The Soyuz 2.1a rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at ‍12:28 p.m. Moscow time (0928 GMT). Late on Thursday, Russian news agencies quoted Roscosmos as saying the launch had taken place without ‌incident, but damage was observed after an inspection of the launch area. "Damage to a number of elements of the launch pad was detected. An assessment of the state of the launch complex ⁠is being conducted now," the agencies quoted Roscosmos as saying. "All the necessary reserve elements are there to restore it and the damage ‍will be ⁠eliminated very soon." It said the crew was on board the station and in good ⁠health. A US-Russian crew of three began a mission to the International Space Station aboard a Russian spacecraft following a successful launch. A Soyuz booster rocket lifted off at 2.27pm local time (9.27am GMT) from the Russia-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan to put the Soyuz MS-28 into orbit. The spacecraft carried Nasa astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian crewmates, Sergei Mikaev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov. They were scheduled to dock at the station about three hours after lift-off. Rocket blasts off The craft will dock with the International Space Station (Roscosmos space corporation, via AP) All three are expected to spend about eight months at the orbiting outpost. Nasa said this is the first spaceflight for Williams, a physicist, and Mikaev, a military pilot. This is the second flight for Kud-Sverchkov. At the International Space Station, the trio will join Nasa astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Jonny Kim, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Alexei Zubritsky and Oleg Platonov. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/baikonur-launch-pad-damaged-russian-210512525.html EASA Safety Conference Warns Against Complacency The conference was held in the Danish capital Copenhagen earlier this month EASA Aviation Safety Conference EASA held its 2025 Annual Safety Conference in the Danish capital Copenhagen on November 12 and 13. Complacency is the biggest safety risk in Europe, according to speakers at EASA’s Annual Safety Conference held in the Danish capital Copenhagen earlier this month. Experts from across the continent’s aviation sector also called for regulations to be reviewed, updated, and simplified to concentrate the safety focus in an increasingly complex operating environment. “In aviation, we have to constantly reconsider how safe we are,” said EASA executive director Florian Guillermet, reflecting on what the agency has characterized as strong safety performance in recent years. “Our discussions show that we are starting to get a better grip on safety risks at stake today and that we have a common mindset. Now we need to come together to take the right actions, including to ensure that we don’t do compliance for the sake of compliance but for the sake of safety, to keep standards high, while ensuring we have a competitive European aviation industry.” Conference speakers pointed to multiple safety incidents, including runway incursions and incorrect altimeter settings that came close to resulting in accidents. The conference also addressed potential risks from lithium batteries causing fires on board aircraft. EASA recently launched a stakeholder survey to gather inputs on possible rule simplification. Conference participants indicated strong support for so-called smart regulation, while some speakers cautioned against compromising safety by changing or removing requirements without a robust framework. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2025-11-26/easa-safety-conference-warns-against-complacency PhD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST My name is Nathan Schultz, and I am a doctoral candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the Ph.D. in Aviation program. I am conducting my dissertation research under the guidance of Dr. Scott Winter. We are interested in understanding pilot perspectives on operating at airports under various weather conditions. I am seeking participants to complete a brief online survey (5-7 minutes). Eligibility Requirements: -Must be 18 years of age or older -Must hold an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) certification -Must be a current or former pilot of crewed aircraft (UAS-only pilots are not eligible) Additional Information: -Participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous -There will be no compensation for participation -The study has been approved by the Embry-Riddle Institutional Review Board (IRB) Please use the following electronic questionnaire link: https://forms.gle/x6rbqNRGiRYm96ADA Best regards, Nathan Schultz PhD in Aviation, Candidate Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah . The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis