Flight Safety Information - May 16, 2024 No. 098 In This Issue : Incident: United B789 near Singapore on May 14th 2024, uncontained engine failure : Incident: Terra B744 at Makassar on May 15th 2024, engine stall on takeoff : Airbus A320-232 - Smoke in the Cockpit (North Atlantic) : FAA will soon be able to hire thousands of new staff as reauthorization bill heads to Biden’s desk : Airline Worker Miraculously Escapes Serious Injury After Falling From Open Aircraft Door When Colleagues Remove the Airstairs Too Soon : CVG Airport hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony for Frontier Airlines crew base : FAA CLEARS UNITED AIRLINES TO CERTIFY NEW AIRCRAFT, LAUNCH NEW ROUTES : IndiGo in talks for up to 100 regional aircraft order : Sun City Aviation Hosts AOPA's 2024 Rusty Pilots Seminar : Gulfstream G700 long-range business jet awarded EASA certification : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: United B789 near Singapore on May 14th 2024, uncontained engine failure A United Boeing 787-9, registration N27957 performing flight UA-28 from Singapore (Singapore) to San Francisco,CA (USA) with 197 passengers and 14 crew, was enroute at FL310 about 200nm east of Singapore when the crew shut the left hand engine (GEnx) down, drifted down to FL150 and returned to Singapore for a safe landing on runway 20C about 90 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT DEPARTED, SHORTLY AFTER REPORTED A #1 LEFT ENGINE FAILURE AND RETURNED TO AIRPORT, POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED A HOLE IN THE LEFT ENGINE COWLING AND ENGINE CASE, SINGAPORE." The airline reported the aircraft returned to resolve an engine issue. https://avherald.com/h?article=518a977a&opt=0 Incident: Terra B744 at Makassar on May 15th 2024, engine stall on takeoff A Terra Avia Boeing 747-400 on behalf of Garuda Indonesia, registration ER-BOS performing flight GA-1105 from Makassar (Indonesia) to Madinah (Saudi Arabia) with 450 pilgrims on board, was rotating for departure from Makassar's runway 21 when the #4 engine (outboard right hand, PW4056) emitted one loud bang and streaks of flames. The crew continued the takeoff, climbed to safe altitude and returned to Makassar for a safe landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=518a8699&opt=0 Airbus A320-232 - Smoke in the Cockpit (North Atlantic) Date: Wednesday 15 May 2024 Time: 17:15 UTC Type: Airbus A320-232 Owner/operator: British Airways Registration: G-EUYK MSN: 4551 Year of manufacture: 2010 Engine model: IAE V2527-A5 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Aircraft damage: None Location: over North Sea - Atlantic Ocean Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) Destination airport: Oslo-Gardermoen Airport (OSL/ENGM) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: British Airways flight BA764, an Airbus A320-232, was en route over the North Sea at FL310 when smoke was observed in the cockpit. The flight diverted to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport (AMS), where it landed at 17:37 UTC. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/387974 FAA will soon be able to hire thousands of new staff as reauthorization bill heads to Biden’s desk The agency is hopeful the hiring spree will mitigate flight delays, employee fatigue and near accidents at airports. The House on Wednesday approved a reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, sending to President Biden's desk a $105 billion measure that will lead to the hiring of thousands of new air traffic controllers. The Senate approved the measure last week after a bipartisan breakthrough that followed months of negotiations and several short-term extensions of the agency's authority. Employee groups, stakeholders and the agency itself had pressed for a resolution, in large part so they could receive the funding and approval to address the significant staffing shortfalls in the agency. Biden is expected to sign the measure into law before FAA’s authority expires on Friday. The measure includes a provision to require FAA to hire to the maximum level it can process at its air traffic controller training academy for the next five years. The policy marks a major victory for the workforce’s union, the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, which has sought to reverse recent trends that have caused FAA to employ more than 1,000 fewer controllers today than it did in 2012. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker applauded Congress on Wednesday, noting he was grateful to have more air traffic controllers and other resources. “It gives us the stability to ensure we carry out our mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world, even as we facilitate the aviation system of the future,” Whitaker said. The bill tasks a third party with determining which staffing model FAA should use to determine future workforce levels. In the interim, the agency has to use the more aggressive approach a previous working group recommended that called for a total of 14,000 ATCs. The agency is currently targeting just 12,000 controllers and employs around 11,000. The measure calls on FAA officials to identify any factors that could inhibit training and hiring, as well as their plans for clearing those hurdles. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and helped write the bill, said the measure marked the first “major upgrade” to controller hiring in decades. The staffing efforts will ensure the country sets “the gold standard in safety,” she added. The package dropped a provision the Senate had originally included to require a second training academy for air traffic controllers, instead calling for expanded capacity at the existing facility. The measure will create a workforce and recruitment plan for instructors at the academy, as well as for positions related to aircraft certification and aviation safety. Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, the union that represents safety and certification personnel, has said the staffing needs were similarly dire in those categories. PASS President David Spero said FAA must move quickly to implement the provisions of the bill and recent safety issues with Boeing aircraft demonstrate the urgency of fully staffing the agency. “We have been sounding alarm bells for more than a year about how inadequate staffing among both our Technical Operations and Aviation Safety workforces can have a detrimental impact on aviation safety,” Spero said. Another provision of the bill will allow FAA to consider employees’ telework status when setting pay rates. Agency officials, the White House and lawmakers in both parties have stressed that growing FAA's workforce is a top priority and a failure to address it could reduce safety and increase flight delays. According to recent findings by the National Airspace System Safety Review Team that FAA formed after 10 safety incidents occurred in late 2022 and early 2023, the staffing reductions occurred despite a marked increase in the complexity of the agency’s operations. The capacity deficiencies have created inefficient operations, the panel found, requiring a constant reshuffling of resources to ensure the airspace can function. In the process, it said, employees are being stretched thin and “critical redundancy” is being eliminated. In recent weeks, near misses have occurred on the runways at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia. Overtime use is at an all-time high within FAA, which the review team said is leading to more absenteeism, lower productivity and increased fatigue. Insufficient staffing is forcing FAA to negotiate schedule reductions with certain areas to maintain the safety of operations, implement more ground stops and combine locations to fall under one post. Whitaker recently commissioned a report on employee fatigue and he announced last month that per the report’s findings, he will begin requiring at least 10 hours off between shifts for controllers—up from nine hours currently—and 12 hours before overnight shifts. Whitaker noted FAA reached its goal of hiring 1,500 ATCs in 2023 and is on pace to meet its target of 1,800 hires this year. “Getting more qualified individuals into our air traffic facilities will help alleviate the demands on the current workforce,” Whitaker said. NATCA President Rich Santa praised the bill when it was unveiled for both the hiring provisions and for expanding simulator training and academy capacity. “These changes, as part of a comprehensive hiring, training, and staffing plan will, over the term of this five-year authorization bill, make great improvements to staffing our air traffic control facilities, which will reduce fatigue and improve safety and efficiency,” Santa said. https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/05/faa-will-soon-be-able-hire-thousands-new-staff-reauthorization-bill-heads-bidens-desk/396599/ Airline Worker Miraculously Escapes Serious Injury After Falling From Open Aircraft Door When Colleagues Remove the Airstairs Too Soon An airline worker in Indonesia has miraculously escaped serious injury after falling out of an open aircraft door in Indonesia when his colleagues accidentally removed the airstairs away from the door just as he stepped off the airplane. The exact location and date of the alarming incident are still unknown, but we do know that the recent accident occurred on a Transnusa Airlines Airbus A320 somewhere in Indonesia. The ground worker had been completing his duties onboard the aircraft and was about to step off so that the aircraft could depart when the airstairs were removed prematurely. In a shocking video, however, the ground worker doesn’t notice that the airstairs are being removed because he is still talking to people inside the plane and steps backwards onto where he thought the airstairs should be. The incident is reminiscent of a 2020 accident at Helsinki Airport when a Finnair flight attendant was seriously injured when he fell approximately 3.6 metres to the ground from the rear door of an Airbus A320. In that incident, the aircraft was again parked at a remote gate, and the airstairs were removed from the rear of the aircraft when the flight attendant was standing halfway between the airplane and the airstairs. Back in 2018, an Air India flight attendant suffered much more serious injuries after she fell from the open door of a larger Boeing 777. The 53-year-old veteran crew member sustained a broken leg and broke both her heels after attempting to close the cabin door without any ground service equipment in place. Matt’s take While thankfully rare, accidents such as these are not unheard of and are a major cause for concern within the aviation industry. In the latest case, the third-party ground service provider should not have been removing the airstairs from the side of the plane until the cabin door was shut. That would have prevented not only this latest accident but also the type of accident demonstrated by the Air India incident in which a crew member was left to close a cabin door without a jetty or airstairs attached to the side of the aircraft. Interestingly, despite safety concerns, some airlines still regularly allow crew members to open and close cabin doors without any ground service equipment attached. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2024/05/16/watch-airline-worker-miarcously-escapes-serious-injury-after-falling-from-open-aircraft-door-when-colleagues-remove-the-airstairs-too-soon/ CVG Airport hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony for Frontier Airlines crew base HEBRON, Ky. — Frontier Airlines is celebrating the opening of a new crew base at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The base is expected to employ 80 pilots and 160 flight attendants within its first year of operation. It's projected to generate nearly $27 million in local wages. “We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of this new crew base at CVG, which will help support our growing operations here and bring quality jobs to the Cincinnati area,” said Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier Airlines. In February, Frontier Airlines announced a significant increase in service out of CVG Airport. The six new routes include services to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Boston, Houston, Portland, Maine, Pensacola and Charlotte. The routes to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Boston, Houston and Charlotte will operate four times a week, while the routes to Portland, Maine, and Pensacola will operate three times per week. https://www.wlwt.com/article/frontier-airlines-crew-base-ceremony-cvg-airport-cincinnati/60805724 FAA CLEARS UNITED AIRLINES TO CERTIFY NEW AIRCRAFT, LAUNCH NEW ROUTES The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given United Airlines the green light to restart new aircraft certification and to launch new routes in a major step forward for the carrier. United Airlines Will Restart Certification Activities, Including New Aircraft And Routes In March, after a string of unrelated maintenance-related incidents made headlines around the world, the FAA decided to take “an even closer look at multiple areas” of United’s operations. In a memo to employees at the time, United suggested a “variety” of certification activities would be suspended for an unspecified period of time: As part of this effort, the FAA will also pause a variety of certification activities for a period of time. Those activities will differ depending on the work group and we will learn more from the FAA about that soon. It was later revealed that the pause of certification activities included new aircraft deliveries and new routes. But that suspension will now be lifted. A note to employees that went out yesterday evening and was reviewed by Live And Let’s Fly notes that United has been cleared to “begin the process of restarting our certification activities.” Today, we got some good news: after a careful review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United has taken to date, our FAA Certificate Management Office has allowed us to begin the process of restarting our certification activities, including new aircraft and routes, and we will continue to coordinate closely with the FAA. Of course “begin the process of restarting our certification activities” could be a very different matter than saying United can now restart certification activities effective immediately. But a source inside United tells Live And Let’s Fly that the suspension has been effectively lifted. This news, however, does not mean that the increased FAA presence will disappear: Importantly though, our work with the FAA continues. There is more work to do, and we remain open to their perspective on things that can make us an even safer airline. That means we will continue to see an FAA presence in our operation as they review our work processes, manuals and facilities. The work continues. CONCLUSION United Airlines will soon be able to certify aircraft and launch new routes once again after a two-month pause. Even so, the FAA will continue to exercise increased scrutiny over United’s operations for the foreseeable future. https://liveandletsfly.com/united-airlines-restart-certification/ IndiGo in talks for up to 100 regional aircraft order Low-fare airline, IndiGo, is reportedly in talks with three leading aircraft manufacturers, ATR, Embraer and Airbus, to place an order for up to 100 regional aircraft. This follows IndiGo’s recent order for 30 A350-900s, as it plans to widen its network. According to the Indian Economic Times, sources close to the matter said that ATR seems to be at the front of these discussions. It is expected to stick with this type, to benefit from economies of scale as the airline expands. However, the A220 and E175 are also being assessed as potential candidates. IndiGo already operates 45 ATR 72-600 aircraft, and is expecting the delivery of 5 more this year. ATR expects the Indian market to become its largest in the next five to ten years, as travel demand rises in the country, accelerated by its UDAN regional connectivity scheme. “People are seeking greater convenience and faster modes of transportation,” said Jean-Pierre Clercin, ATR’s Asia-Pacific commercial head, during a press briefing in February. “While other modes of transportation are expanding, they are not keeping pace with the growing demand. Consequently, regional aviation is poised to play a significant role.” Alongside the ATRs, IndiGo’s fleet currently consists of Airbus A320 and A321s, as well as two Boeing 777 on short-term lease from codeshare partner, Turkish Airlines. https://www.laranews.net/indigo-in-talks-for-100-regional-aircraft-order/ Sun City Aviation Hosts AOPA's 2024 Rusty Pilots Seminar Sun City Aviation hosts AOPA's 2024 Rusty Pilots Seminar to help lapsed pilots refresh their skills. Register now for expert guidance and hands-on training. PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, May 15, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sun City Aviation is proud to announce that it will be hosting the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) "Get Back in the Left Seat" Rusty Pilots Seminar on Saturday, June 8 from 9 AM to 12:30 PM. This highly anticipated event will take place at the North Perry Airport (KHWO), offering a unique opportunity for pilots who have taken a break from flying to refresh their skills and knowledge. The Rusty Pilots Seminar aims to assist lapsed pilots in regaining their currency and confidence by covering essential topics such as airspace regulations, weather briefings, preflight planning, and more. Participants will benefit from the expertise of AOPA-certified instructors, engaging in interactive discussions and practical exercises. In addition to the seminar, attendees will have the opportunity to tour Sun City Aviation's state-of-the-art facilities, including their modern fleet of aircraft and advanced flight simulators. This event also provides a chance for pilots to network with fellow aviators and explore the latest in aviation technology and services. Registration for the Rusty Pilots Seminar is now open. Interested pilots can sign up on the AOPA website or contact Sun City Aviation directly for more information. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. About Sun City Aviation: Sun City Aviation Academy, located at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida, offers comprehensive flight training programs for aspiring pilots of all levels. Founded in December 2022 by Luke Poulos, the academy is committed to providing top-tier instruction and personalized training experiences. The academy’s offerings include private, instrument, commercial, and multi-engine flight training, as well as youth programs and discovery flights. With a team of experienced instructors and a fleet of modern aircraft, Sun City Aviation is dedicated to training professional, safe, and proficient pilots. https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/711795133/sun-city-aviation-hosts-aopa-s-2024-rusty-pilots-seminar Gulfstream G700 long-range business jet awarded EASA certification On May 15, 2024, just over a month after receiving certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Gulfstream Aerospace announced that the latest addition to its product range, the ultra-long range G700 business jet, has also now been awarded the necessary approvals from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The G700 is the largest and fastest aircraft in the Gulfstream family to date, though it will eventually be surpassed by the larger G800 which is still under development. Designed to carry up to 19 passengers, the G700 has a top speed of Mach 0.935 and a range of up to 7,750 nautical miles (14,353km) when cruising at Mach 0.85. Each aircraft has a price tag in the region of $75 million. “The Gulfstream team is proud to add EASA to our growing G700 certification accomplishments,” said Mark Burns, President of Gulfstream Aerospace. “During the flight test program, we took the G700 across the globe, and the response to the aircraft’s cabin size, flexibility, and performance has been outstanding. This EASA certification unlocks G700 deliveries for many more of our international customers, and we are excited to see our next-generation fleet grow around the world.” “We appreciate the support and partnership of the EASA G700 certification team in reaching this achievement,” Burns added. The Gulfstream G700 was initially launched at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2019, just prior to the COVID pandemic outbreak. The aircraft is effectively a stretched version of the successful Gulfstream G50 and it originally had a projected maximum range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,890km). The cockpit was shared with the previous Gulfstream models, G500 and G600. However, since its official launch, the G700 has undertaken a lengthy period of flight testing through its certification process. During 2021, the G700 set a speed record while flying between Gulfstream Aerospace’s plant in Savannah, Georgia to Doha in Qatar and then from Doha to Paris. The aircraft completed these two demonstration flights in 13 hours and six minutes, and six hours and 15 minutes respectively – both records for the fastest flight between the stated cities at that point. Following additional fight testing, Gulfstream declared that the G700 had displayed other significant performance improvements, including a range increase of 250 nautical miles (463km), bringing the type’s maximum range to 7,750 nautical miles (14,353km). In addition, the G700’s FAA certification process confirmed two additional performance improvements, offering customers greater flexibility and airport availability, with a required takeoff distance of 5,995 ft (1,829m) and a landing distance of 3,150 ft (960 m) – both distances shorter than those originally announced. According to Gulfstream Aerospace, the G700 features “the most spacious cabin in business aviation and includes options for a grand suite with an expanded lavatory or the industry’s largest ‘ultra-galley’. It can be configured with up to five living areas and features whisper-quiet noise levels, 20 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows, and 100% fresh, never recirculated air.” In April 2024, Phebe Novakovic, Chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, announced that the Savannah-based aircraft manufacturer would hand over between 50 and 52 of the 7,700-nm jets by the end of 2024. It has already delivered two aircraft to their new owners, and Qatar Executive, the business jet division of Qatar Airways will hold a special ceremony for its first G700 on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH). Gulfstream now advises that the first 20 G700s are ready for delivery to customers, with another seven or eight of the twinjets to be delivered in June 2024. The manufacturer is aiming for 13 G700 deliveries per quarter in the coming years, in response to the higher-than-expected demand for the ultra-long-range capabilities of the G700. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/gulfstream-g700-easa-certification CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Blazetech - Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation Course June 4 - 7, 2024 • (APTSC) Asia and Pacific Turboprop Safety Conference - June 26 - 27, 2024 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia • Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. (APSCON 2024) - July 29 - August 3; Houston TX • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 0-11 September, 2024, Singapore • Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London • 2024 Ground Handling Safety Symposium (GHSS) - September 17-18, 2024 - Fort Worth, TX • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • International Congress of Aerospace Medicine ICAM 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal, 3 - 5 October 2024 • Aviation Health Conference back on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th October 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis