Flight Safety Information - May 28, 2024 No. 106 In This Issue : Incident: Spirit A21N at Montego Bay on May 26th 2024, lost pressure, prepared for possible water landing : Incident: Super Air Jet A320 at Weda on May 25th 2024, overran runway on landing : Incident: LH Cityline CRJ9 near Hanover on May 26th 2024, smoke in cockpit : United jet catches fire, aborts takeoff at O’Hare Airport : Plane to Tampa diverted from Denver to Colorado Springs due to ‘possible smell of smoke’ in cabin : "Bomb Blast @30 Minutes" Message In Plane Toilet, Fliers Exit Using Slide : Airspace Risks Are Part of Permacrisis Threat to Aviation Safety : Intelsat Multi-Orbit Inflight Connectivity Coming to Japan Airlines : The evolution of the cockpit : China Eastern Airlines gets another C919 aircraft : Dave Huntzinger - Aviation Safety, Security and Risk Management Pioneer : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Spirit A21N at Montego Bay on May 26th 2024, lost pressure, prepared for possible water landing A Spirit Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration N718NK performing flight NK-270 from Montego Bay (Jamaica) to Fort Lauderdale,FL (USA), was climbing out of Montego Bay's runway 07 when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet and positioned for a return to runway 07. The aircraft landed safely back on runway 07 about 22 minutes after departure. Passengers reported the crew indicated the aircraft had "lost pressure", cabin crew prepared them for a possible water landing and instructed them to brace for the possible water landing. Photographic evidence showed passengers removed their life vests from the seats. The airport reported the flight experienced "challenges". The airline reported an investigation on the occurrence has been opened. A replacement A321-200 registration N686NK reached Fort Lauderdale with a delay of about 7:15 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=5192677d&opt=0 Incident: Super Air Jet A320 at Weda on May 25th 2024, overran runway on landing A Super Air Jet Airbus A320-200, registration PK-STD performing flight IU-2180 from Manado to Weda (Indonesia) with 172 people on board, landed on Weda's runway 27 but overran the end of the runway by about 30 meters/100 feet and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground. The passengers disembarked via mobile stairs, the aircraft received minor if any damage. The aircraft had overflown runway 09 in a low approach before. The airport reported the aircraft landed on runway 27 in rainy conditions but overran the end of the runway and became stuck in the dirt with all gear. Indonesia's KNKT opened an investigation into the occurrence. The aircraft is still on the ground in Weda about 58 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=519263cf&opt=0 Incident: LH Cityline CRJ9 ner Hanover on May 26th 2024, smoke in cockpit A Lufthansa Cityline Canadair CRJ-900, registration D-ACNB performing flight LH-839 from Billund (Denmark) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 89 passengers and 4 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 20nm eastnortheast of Hanover (Germany) when the crew decided to divert to Hanover reporting smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely on Hanover's runway 09R about 20 minutes later. The airport reported the 89 passengers and 4 crew left the aircraft normally, there were no injuries. There had been no fire on board. It is unclear and under investigation why smoke surfaced in the cockpit. https://avherald.com/h?article=519256bc&opt=0 United jet catches fire, aborts takeoff at O’Hare Airport United Airlines flight 2901 to Seattle had an engine catch fire about 2 p.m. Monday. No injuries were reported. All 148 passengers about a Seattle-bound United jet were safely evacuated after a fire prior to takeoff from O’Hare Airport on Monday.Scott Olson/Getty Images file photo A United Airlines jet aborted takeoff after the plane’s engine caught fire Monday afternoon at O’Hare International Airport. Flight 2901, heading to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, had an engine catch fire about 2 p.m. when the aircraft was on the taxiway, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The Airbus A320 was towed back to the gate, where passengers deplaned, the FAA said. No injuries were reported. “United flight 2091 from Chicago to Seattle was delayed prior to departure due to an issue with the engine, which our local ground crew and emergency responders immediately addressed,” United Airlines said in a statement. United Airlines was working to make alternative travel plans for the 148 passengers on board, the company said. The FAA temporarily halted arriving planes at O’Hare. Normal operations resumed about 2:45 p.m., the agency said. https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/05/27/united-jet-catches-fire-aborts-takeoff-at-ohare-airport-aviation-transportation-faa-holiday-travel Plane to Tampa diverted from Denver to Colorado Springs due to ‘possible smell of smoke’ in cabin Southwest plane diverted to Colorado Springs Airport COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - A Southwest plane on the way to Tampa was diverted Monday evening. According to Southwest Airlines, the plane was diverted from Denver to Colorado Springs after flight attendants reported a possible smell of smoke in the cabin. Southwest has not yet released if smoke was ultimately found. Southwest tells 11 News, “We are working to accommodate Customers on another aircraft to Tampa while maintenance personnel evaluate the original aircraft.” The Colorado Springs Airport said that as of around 9 p.m. Monday, passengers were being bussed back to the terminal. Southwest has not released how many people were on board. https://www.kktv.com/2024/05/28/plane-diverted-denver-colorado-springs-due-aircraft-issue/ "Bomb Blast @30 Minutes" Message In Plane Toilet, Fliers Exit Using Slide The IndiGo flight, which was scheduled to take off from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport around 5 am, was stopped on the runway minutes before departure. 'Bomb Blast @30 Minutes' Message In Plane Toilet, Fliers Exit Using Slide IndiGo flight bomb threat: The flight was scheduled to take off from Delhi airport around 5 am. New Delhi: A hoax bomb blast message forced authorities to evacuate and conduct thorough searches of the Varanasi-bound IndiGo flight at the Delhi airport on Tuesday, officials said. The flight, 6E2211, with 176 passengers onboard, was scheduled to take off from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport around 5 am but was stopped on the runway minutes before departure after the pilot found a tissue paper with the message "bomb blast @30 minutes" written on it in the aircraft's washroom. "At 05:40 am, a phone call was received from the IGI airport regarding a bomb threat. A message 'BOMB BLAST @30 MINUTES' was written on a piece of paper inside the lavatory of the flight and was found by the pilot," a Delhi Fire Services official said. The aircraft was immediately taken to the isolation bay for further necessary action, the official said, adding that a quick response team was deployed, which found no suspicious items. All passengers were deboarded through the emergency door and are safe, the official said. — ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2024 The IndiGo also released an official statement and said that an alternate aircraft was arranged for passengers from Delhi to Varanasi. "The passengers were provided with refreshments and were boarded. The flight departed for Varanasi at 11:10 am. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers," the airline said. Earlier this month, a tissue paper with the word 'bomb' written on it was also found on an Air India flight lavatory at Delhi airport, but it had turned out to be a hoax. Police had said that they received information regarding a tissue paper found in the lavatory of an Air India flight scheduled to depart for Vadodara on May 15, with the word 'bomb' written on it. "Following standard security protocols, a thorough inspection was conducted, and no suspicious items were found," an official had said. Several hospitals and schools in Delhi have recently been targeted with bomb threat emails, that claimed the presence of explosives on their premises. However, investigators found the threats to be false alarms. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/varanasi-bound-indigo-flight-gets-bomb-threat-at-delhi-airport-5760637 Airspace Risks Are Part of Permacrisis Threat to Aviation Safety World Overflight Risk Conference will convene in Warsaw in July Business jet flying It’s a big, bad world out there and traveling around it in a business aircraft doesn’t provide insulation from these dangers. Security experts gathering at the EBACE 2024 show are urging the industry to make sure it has a solid protection plan. Airspace safety is increasingly compromised by armed conflict, or the threat of it, from Ukraine’s border with Russia through Israel, Iran, the Caucasus, and across Africa’s Sahel region. With this in mind, Osprey Flight Solutions has joined forces with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to hold the first World Overflight Risk Conference from July 2 to 4. The agenda for the event in the Polish capital Warsaw features experts from leading airlines, police and security forces, NATO, the European Commission, and EASA, as well as risk management and insurance specialists. UK-based Osprey intends to publish a white paper to summarize the conference’s main conclusions. The event is being run on a not-for-profit basis, with any profits to be donated to victims associations associated with the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which was shot down in July 2014 by Russian-affiliated forces in Ukraine, and Ukrainian International Airlines flight 752, which was destroyed by Iranian air defense missiles soon after takeoff from Tehran in January 2020. Health and safety group MedAire sees airspace threats as part of a wider array of security concerns that have fueled a sense of "permacrisis" in which risks appear to constantly morph and escalate. In addition to airspace closures, a recent spate of spoofing incidents to undermine the integrity of GPS navigation systems—and rocket and drone attacks by Iranian proxy forces—are causing operational disruption. “Charter operators and flight departments are having to reroute flights, and that means additional technical stops that have to be planned for. It means more money, time, and resources,” John Cauthen, security director of MedAire’s aviation and marine division, told AIN. MedAire aims to help clients understand and contextualize the threats they face. “Our security teams try to bring the pieces of the puzzle together and then make risk-based decisions on the basis that everyone has a different appetite for risk,” Cauthen said. To confront the threat of GPS signal spoofing, as has occurred in Middle East airspace recently, MedAire is providing training for flight crews. This provides guidance as to how pilots can ensure they are not being misled, and how they can fall back on training to make use of traditional charts and ground-based tools as backups. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-05-28/airspace-risks-are-part-permacrisis-threat-aviation Intelsat Multi-Orbit Inflight Connectivity Coming to Japan Airlines Boeing to complete Intelsat ESA factory installation on 737s With Intelsat, Japan Airlines’ passengers will soon benefit from multi-orbit connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home. MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, was selected by Japan Airlines to provide multi-orbit inflight connectivity service on more than 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to be delivered in the coming years. The airline will become one of the first in the Asia-Pacific region to offer reliable, multi-orbit service using Intelsat’s new electronically steered array (ESA) antenna. “Japan Airlines’ passengers will soon benefit from multi-orbit connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home, thanks to wide coverage and low latency” “Japan Airlines’ passengers will soon benefit from multi-orbit connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home, thanks to wide coverage and low latency,” said Dave Bijur, Senior Vice President for Commercial Aviation. “JAL was Intelsat’s first non-U.S. commercial aviation customer, and we look forward to continuing to support JAL’s market-leading inflight connectivity service in Japan where their guests enjoy free service.” The new service will be installed by Boeing in the factory, making JAL one of the first airlines to take delivery of a Boeing aircraft with ESA inflight service ready for immediate passenger use. The first linefit aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2026. The Intelsat ESA is less than seven centimeters tall and interoperates on both Intelsat’s family of geo-stationary satellites and its partner’s constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites. “Intelsat has been a trusted partner of JAL since 2013,” said Junko Sakihara, Deputy SVP, Customer Experience Division at Japan Airlines. “We are proud to have been among the first airlines in the world to offer free service for all passengers flying on our domestic routes starting in 2017 and look forward to the greater speed and reliability benefits the new multi-orbit service will bring to our customers.” In addition to JAL’s Boeing 737s and 767s flying with 2Ku service, JAL’s subsidiary airline, J-AIR Co., Ltd. is currently installing Intelsat’s 2Ku system on the carrier’s fleet of Embraer E190 aircraft. As recently announced, J-AIR will complete installation of the 2Ku system on 14 E190s in the coming months. When completed, J-AIR will be the first regional airline in Japan to offer inflight entertainment and connectivity services. About Intelsat Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation worldwide network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240528201516/en/Intelsat-Multi-Orbit-Inflight-Connectivity-Coming-to-Japan-Airlines The evolution of the cockpit The cockpit is the control room of an aircraft – everything that happens on a flight is managed from this centre of operations. Artemis Aerospace investigates how cockpit design has changed over the years. We’ve all seen photos of an aircraft cockpit – a bewildering array of lights, switches, panels, buttons, levers and monitors. Cockpit technology has evolved hugely over the years and pilots need regular simulator training to ensure they’re on top of all the changes. But how have cockpits developed and what changes have been made over the years? To start with, why is it called a cockpit? Originally the word meant a pit in which cockfighting took place in the 16th century. In 1609 a small ‘theatre’ in the round was set up in Drury Lane in London for cockfighting events; this became known as the Cockpit Theatre and subsequently went on host world-class drama and become a major cultural centre in Tudor England. Later on, cockpit became a nautical term, referring to a part of a ship in which the ‘cockswain’ sat. The cockswain was the pilot of a smaller boat which could be lowered into the water and rowed to collect visitors to the ship or take crew members ashore. By the 18th century the naval cockpit had become the area on board ship where the ship’s surgeon carried out treatment on sailors wounded in battle; eventually it became the name of the area in a vessel from where it is steered, which is usually a cavity at the stern. It wasn’t until the mid-twentieth century that the term ‘cockpit’ came to mean the place where a driver or pilot sits. In larger aircraft it’s more commonly known now as the flight deck. When the pioneering Wright brothers launched the world’s first aeroplane in 1903, the pilot simply lay across the lower wing to steer. World War I accelerated aircraft design on both sides, with cockpits being introduced in designs such as the Sopwith Camel, Handley Page Type O and Fokker D VII, although pilots were still completely exposed to the elements. By World War II pilots were finally given some shelter in their Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters, as prior to that the rise of commercial aviation began to demand more comfort for passengers. Other cockpit technologies which have evolved include the replacement in the 1970s of the old analogue gauges by digital ‘glass panel’ instrumentation. Standardisation of cockpits began to take shape in the 1940s with the ‘Basic T’, which placed the attitude and airspeed indicators, altimeter, heading indicator, turn co-ordinator and vertical speed control in a set pattern. The control sticks have also undergone numerous updates, such as yokes, or control columns. Using both hands, the pilot controls the pitch and roll of the plane using the yoke and rotates the control wheel to access the ailerons. The side stick control was first introduced in a commercial aircraft on the Airbus A320; it was designed to give a clear view of the central display panel, and meant that the pilot could operate it with one hand, giving more flexibility. However, some airlines continue to use the control column; it has been a longstanding debate in aviation as to which is the better option. The latest cockpit technology involves connectivity and data-sharing, AI assistance, touch screen displays and voice control features among others. It’s a constantly changing field of expertise and the extensive knowledge necessary to pilot an aircraft needs to be very regularly updated and augmented. The interval between training can vary, but it’s usually every six, nine or twelve months, depending on the airline or regulating authority. Training simulators are a crucial part of this. These cockpit substitutes enable pilots to train in every type of weather condition, for every possible eventuality, over any country and at any airport. Even the worst-case scenarios such as multiple engine failure during take-off at full capacity can be simulated so if it ever happens, the pilot will automatically know exactly how to handle it. In addition, rules and regulations change, safety practices are updated, aircraft are enhanced and upgraded, new aircraft and technology are unveiled, or a pilot might simply move to an aircraft they haven’t yet flown. Air traffic management and communication procedures change over time, and with commercial air traffic expected to grow significantly, pilots will have to manage increasing airspace congestion. As a result, flight simulators are used constantly, and the simulator equivalent of AOG (aircraft on ground) time, when one is out of action due to a fault, can be just as disastrous as it can for a real aircraft. Usually booked 22 hours a day, 7 days a week, a backlog can grow and pilots who have deadlines to complete their training can be left unable to fly. So it’s crucial that simulators function without lengthy breaks – and this is where component supplies specialists like Artemis come in - working with manufacturers, training centres and airlines to provide a rapid and reliable response to every possible issue, whether it’s simulator spares supply, component repair, manufacturing support or global logistics solutions. Artemis Aerospace offers an innovative approach to component solutions for the aviation sector. Established in 1999, the company has earned a reputation for outstanding customer service by solving problems and providing a range of realistic options that offer customers the flexibility and freedom to choose a solution that suits their timescale and budget. Its services include component supplies, component repairs, lessor support, flight simulation hardware support, consignment stock management and global aircraft logistics. With decades of expertise in global aviation logistics, the expert team works with trusted MROs, OEMs, and aftermarket suppliers around the world to offer 24/7 support to its global customer base. Website: www.artemisaerospace.com China Eastern Airlines gets another C919 aircraft SHANGHAI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The sixth C919 jetliner joined the China Eastern Airlines fleet on Tuesday, indicating the acceleration of commercial operation of China's homegrown large passenger aircraft. This came one year after the first commercial flight of C919 was made. The aircraft, delivered to China Eastern on Monday, landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Tuesday morning after a short flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. C919 was developed by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC). https://english.news.cn/20240528/e064f25bb82f4aa9a827ebae22ce0479/c.html Dave Huntzinger - Aviation Safety, Security and Risk Management Pioneer, accomplished airman, and most importantly, devoted husband, proud father and grandfather has sadly Flown West after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Prostate Cancer. Dave was without doubt one of the most informed safety professionals in business and commercial aviation, who could hold an audience captive when speaking or glued to the page when reading his Award-Winning articles. Thank you Dave, we heard every word. For those who knew Dave personally or had the privilege to work with him, we were never surprised by his “been-there-done-that” stories, his globe-trotting experiences flying over 50 aircraft types from the Coast Guard to the Airlines, and his down to earth love of life, fast cars, motorcycles, sunsets on the beach and a good IPA beer. Dave’s family are extremely grateful for your support during this sad time and for those who wish to reach out directly – they will be monitoring his email and this LinkedIn page. For those who wish to continue Dave’s fight: he and his wife Audrey appreciate your supporting The Michael J. Fox Foundation, The American Cancer Society and Prostate Cancer Foundation. 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 Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS 2024), Aug. 13-15, Beijing, China. • 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