Flight Safety Information - July 11, 2024 No. 137 In This Issue : Incident: Qantas A388 at Singapore on Jul 7th 2024, hydraulic failure : Incident: American B738 at Tampa on Jul 10th 2024, rejected takeoff due to burst tyre, brakes fire : Accident: Porter DH8D at Fredericton on Jun 28th 2024, tail strike : Feds Say Air Force Employee Skipped Key Maintenance Ahead of 2017 Plane Crash that Killed 16 Troops : FAA Probe Into Near Miss Between Passenger Jets : Firefighting pilot killed in small plane crash in Montana : NTSB Eyes Latent Storm Damage In Southwest ‘Dutch Roll’ Probe : Former Anchorage pastor banned from Alaska Airlines after allegedly hitting wife on flight : Passenger bites flight attendant on United Airlines flight that took off from MIA, forcing emergency landing : ICAO Launches Probe Of U.S. Aviation Safety Infrastructure : Argentina liberalizes aviation industry, invites foreign carriers : Frontier Ranked Worst Airline For Complaints In 2023 : Hydrogen could power the next-gen aircraft of tomorrow : The Push For More Black Pilots Gets Federal Funding Boost : Delta Air, Riyadh Air unveil strategic partnership : Air India to transfer twenty A320s to low-cost subsidiary : Calendar of Events Incident: Qantas A388 at Singapore on Jul 7th 2024, hydraulic failure A Qantas Airbus A380-800, registration VH-OQH performing flight QF-1 from Singapore (Singapore) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was climbing out of Singapore's runway 20C when the crew stopped the climb at FL160 reporting a hydraulic failure. The aircraft entered a hold to dump fuel and returned to Singapore for a safe landing on runway 20C about 68 minutes after departure. The aircraft vacated the runway and was taxiing towards the apron on the parallel taxiway when three tyres deflated disabling the aircraft on the taxiway. The aircraft is still on the ground in Singapore on Jul 10th 2024. https://avherald.com/h?article=51af7455&opt=0 Incident: American B738 at Tampa on Jul 10th 2024, rejected takeoff due to burst tyre, brakes fire An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N908AN performing flight AA-590 from Tampa,FL to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was accelerating for takeoff on Tampa's runway 19R when a number of tyres on the right hand main gear burst prompting the crew to reject takeoff at high speed (about 150 knots over ground). The aircraft slowed safely, vacated the runway at the last exit and stopped clear of the runway, a fire ensued on the right hand main gear. Emergency services responded and put the fire out. The aircraft is still on the ground in Tampa about 5.5 hours after the rejected takeoff. The flight was cancelled. https://avherald.com/h?article=51af69d1&opt=0 Accident: Porter DH8D at Fredericton on Jun 28th 2024, tail strike A Porter Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration C-GLQP performing flight PD-2375 from Ottawa,ON to Fredericton,NB (Canada), was landing on Fredricton's runway 27 at 14:00L (17:00Z) when the aircraft's tail struck the runway. The crew initiated a go around, climbed to 2000 feet and positioned for another approach to runway 27. The aircraft landed without further incident about 8 minutes after the go around. The aircraft was unable to continue its schedule and is still on the ground in Fredericton (standing Jul 10th 2024). The Canadian TSB reported: "During approach to landing phase, the aircraft experienced a tail strike which resulted in the flight crew conducted a go around. Returning to the airport, the flight completed a visual circuit and landed without further incident. The touch runway sensor was illuminated, and the flight crew contacted company operations to advise of the occurrence. Ground crew personal discovered that the underside of the fuselage near the rear cargo door was substantially damaged and reported it immediately. The TSB deployed two investigators to gather information and examine the aircraft." https://avherald.com/h?article=51af5ef0&opt=0 Feds Say Air Force Employee Skipped Key Maintenance Ahead of 2017 Plane Crash that Killed 16 Troops A former Air Force civilian engineer who led maintenance at Robins Air Force Base removed a crucial inspection procedure that could have identified a worn propeller blade before it caused a KC-130 Hercules crash in 2017 that killed 16 troops, federal prosecutors allege in newly released court documents. James Michael Fisher, 67, the former lead engineer responsible for C-130 propeller maintenance at the Georgia base, was arrested July 2 by federal authorities as part of the investigation into the crash in Mississippi. He faces two charges relating to false statements and two charges relating to obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors alleged in an indictment that Fisher allowed technicians to stop conducting a key inspection procedure on propeller bores, causing a defective propeller blade to be placed back into service even though "intergranular cracking was not detected and remediated at Robins." "Fisher was also one of the key decision-makers who removed the critical inspection procedure in August 2011," prosecutors allege. Federal prosecutors say the propeller blade was placed back onto the Marine Corps KC-130, call sign "Yanky 72," which was carrying 15 Marines and one Navy sailor when it suddenly crashed in a soybean field in Leflore County, Mississippi, on July 10, 2017. The cause of the crash was determined to be a propeller blade that came loose. That "initiated the catastrophic sequence of events resulting in the midair breakup of the aircraft and its uncontrollable descent and ultimate destruction," a Marine Corps crash investigation found. The revelation of Fisher's connection to the "Yanky 72 incident" comes on the 7th anniversary of the July 10 crash. The crash investigation revealed "gross negligence" in the maintenance culture at Robins Air Force Base, but "Fisher and the System Program Office avoided scrutiny," federal prosecutors said. A criminal investigation was opened in 2020. During that criminal investigation, "federal agents learned that the earlier Marine Corps investigators were misled about what maintenance procedures were in place in the late summer of 2011," adding that "in August 2011, engineers at Robins authorized the removal of a critical inspection procedure for detecting C-130 propeller blade defects," the indictment states. Investigators began zeroing in on Air Force Materiel Command Form 202, a document that must be filed when maintenance personnel need to request permission to deviate from technical manuals when making repairs. Fisher had allegedly signed off on such a request to remove a certain inspection designed to examine propeller cracking in August 2011 and denied doing so. "Fisher's statement that he would have never removed the penetrant inspections was false," the indictment claims. "Federal agents later uncovered the Aug. 19, 2011, email in which Fisher stated that he had 'no problem' removing the penetrant inspections and also discovered the other Blanket Form 202s in 2012 and 2013 in which Fisher, as the assigned engineer, had recommended removal of penetrant inspections." Fisher is accused of making false statements to investigators and hiding information regarding those forms from officials looking into the crash. "Fisher attempted to obstruct the criminal investigation by intentionally withholding documents showing that he played a crucial role in removing the critical inspection procedure and providing false statements to federal agents in order to cover up his role in removing the critical inspection procedure," the indictment alleges. Fisher did not return a phone call and text messages Wednesday seeking comment on the latest information in the indictment. Court records do not say what the next step for the case will be or when Fisher is next expected in court. However, records from the time of his arrest in Florida note that the 67-year-old is currently free on a $10,000 bond and had to surrender three U.S. passports. Fisher was living in Portugal leading up to the arrest, a Justice Department press release said. Documents filed with the case say that Fisher faces up to 20 years in prison for concealing records, eight years for a charge of tampering with a witness, and five years for a charge of lying to investigators. All four of the charges also carry a potential fine of up to $250,000, though courts rarely impose the maximum penalty on defendants. https://www.yahoo.com/news/feds-air-force-employee-skipped-190319120.html FAA Probe Into Near Miss Between Passenger Jets Two jets nearly collided over Syracuse, New York, on Monday morning, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration. While catastrophe was avoided, at one point the two aircraft were only 725 feet apart due to an apparent communication error by air traffic control at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. One plane was instructed to take off by the airport's air traffic control, despite another being cleared for landing on the same runway. Both planes were CRJs manufactured by Bombardier Aviation, according to plane-tracking website FlightAware. The incident occurred at around 11:45 ET on Monday. The incoming plane was American Airlines flight 5511, operated by its regional branch, PSA Airlines. The passenger jet had 79 people onboard as it made its descent following an hour-long flight from Washington, D.C. However, it was at this point that a Delta Airlines Flight, which was carrying 76 passengers and four crew, began to take off from the same runway. The pilot of the LaGuardia Airport-bound Delta flight can be heard on air traffic control announcing his departure, saying: "Delta 5421. Ready for the sky. Runway 2 8 ready for takeoff." Air traffic control responded: "Cleared for takeoff on 2 8. 5421." The American Airlines pilot then chimed in: "Wait, who's cleared to takeoff on 2 8?" The incoming plane received instructions from air traffic control to cancel his landing and "go around," which the pilot promptly followed. Newsweek has contacted Syracuse airport regarding the actions of its air traffic control. Flight radar data shows that the plane flew upward over the runway to an altitude of around 1,800 feet as the Delta Bombardier CRJ700 began its ascent. While the planes avoided a catastrophic crash, which would have endangered all 159 onboard the two jets, at one point they were only 725 feet apart. The near miss was caught on dashcam footage from the North Syracuse Police Department, obtained by WSYR. Delta Airlines told CBS News: "Delta will work with aviation authorities as we always do in our shared commitment to safety above all else." The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident. On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the regulator said: "An air traffic controller instructed PSA Airlines 5511 to go around at Syracuse Hancock International Airport to keep it separated from an aircraft that was departing on the same runway." Newsweek has contacted the FAA by phone and email regarding the status of its investigation. The incident is the latest in a series of mishaps on American runways, and comes at a time of increased scrutiny over airlines and plane manufacturers in light of Boeing's ongoing criminal case and well-publicized safety issues. On Monday, a wheel flew off of a United Airlines passenger jet as it took off from Los Angeles International Airport. The Boeing 757-200 was carrying 174 passengers and seven crew, and was able to continue its journey to Denver International Airport despite the loss of its landing gear wheel. https://www.newsweek.com/planes-near-miss-crash-syracuse-faa-investigation-air-traffic-control-1923699 Firefighting pilot killed in small plane crash in Montana A pilot died when a single-engine firefighting aircraft crashed into a Montana reservoir Wednesday afternoon while scooping up water to fight a nearby blaze, officials said. The crash was reported shortly after noon on Hauser Reservoir on the Missouri River northeast of Helena in Lewis and Clark County. Law enforcement and search and rescue teams in boats responded, along with divers from Gallatin County. Officials said later in a news conference that the "scooper" plane's pilot, a 45-year-old woman, died. They did not provide a name pending notification of next of kin who do not live in the United States, the Independent Record newspaper reported. "This is not just coming in and flying and picking up water. These are dangerous types of environments," Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said. The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Forest Service will investigate the crash of the Air Tractor AT-802, which was working for the Forest Service and contracted out of Idaho. The pilot was part of a crew fighting the nearby Horse Gulch Fire, a 600-acre human-caused blaze burning in dense timber in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest about 5 miles south of the town of York. The fire started Tuesday, and the sheriff's office ordered some residents to evacuate Wednesday afternoon. The fire has no containment. "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the young female wildland firefighter who tragically lost her life responding to the Horse Gulch fire in Helena, Montana," Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Idaho Gov. Brad Little said in a joint statement. "Our first responders and wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to quickly respond to threats and protect our communities. It's a true act of bravery to run toward a fire." High temperatures in the Helena area have been above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for several days and were forecast to reach 100 degrees on Wednesday. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pilot-killed-firefighting-plane-crash-montana-horse-gulch-fire/ NTSB Eyes Latent Storm Damage In Southwest ‘Dutch Roll’ Probe A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 that exhibited anomalous rudder movements may have been damaged during heavy winds while parked overnight on the ground days before the inflight occurrence, a preliminary NTSB report suggests. Investigators have pieced together an aircraft timeline that ends with the May 25 incident and includes an overnight stay during a storm with heavy, shifting wind and one routine overnight maintenance check, all within nine days. The storm winds reportedly exceeded certification limits for gust-damping systems. Investigators are looking at the period leading up to the inflight incident to determine when the rudder system damage occurred. While the report includes no analysis, it suggests that the inflight problems did not cause the damage but were in all likelihood a symptom of a pre-existing issue. Southwest Flight 746, an 18-month-old 737-8 with registration N8825Q, was cruising at 34,000 ft. (FL340) on a routine flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California, when the pilots detected “a small amount of Dutch roll,” or repetitive rolling and yawing inherent in most aircraft designs, as it encountered light turbulence, the report said, quoting the captain. The first officer (FO) said the back-and-forth tail movement “was noticeable, but not excessive,” the report said. “The flight crew discussed the event and noted that they felt the rudder pedals move during the oscillations,” the report said. “They deduced that the oscillations were not caused by the turbulence, as the rudder pedals should not move with the yaw damper system” that automatically moves the rudder to offset Dutch roll, it added. The oscillations lasted “a few seconds,” and the crew asked for and received a lower cruise altitude. The aircraft encountered similar flight conditions, prompting more oscillations. The flight crew advised Southwest maintenance control of its issue via the aircraft communication addressing and reporting system. The crew continued to Oakland without incident. Southwest then removed the aircraft from service and inspected it. “The examination revealed damage to the vertical stabilizer trailing edge ribs above and below the standby rudder power control unit (PCU),” the NTSB said. The nature of the damage “is considered substantial” because it weakened affected fittings, the board added. Southwest mechanics replaced the main PCU and, during functional testing of the new part, “identified additional structural damage” to the standby rudder PCU support bracket and ribs. Southwest notified NTSB of its findings in early June, prompting the board to open its investigation. Among the areas of interest was the aircraft’s overnight stay at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport May 16-17. A line of storms passed through the area that included heavy rain, shifting winds, and a peak gust of 73 kt (84 mph), weather data examined by NTSB found. FAA Part 25 certification requirements for flight control systems include the ability to withstand 65 kt ground gusts “from any direction.” The 737 rudder system does not have a gust-lock function. The main rudder PCU bypass valves provide gust-damping, which protects the system against damage from strong winds. The bypass valves are automatically activated when hydraulic pressure falls below a certain level, such as when the aircraft is parked and shut down. The standby PCU does not have similar functionality, NTSB said. Investigators are also reviewing a scheduled overnight check the aircraft underwent May 23 in Houston. Among the tasks was testing the standby rudder actuation system, including the standby PCU. The system passed with no issues noted, NTSB found. Flight data recorder data showed this was the last time the standby system was powered on, NTSB said. The report does not make any direct links from the inflight incident and the storm or routine overnight work in Houston. Investigators, working with PCU supplier Hannifin, tested both units removed from the incident aircraft. No issues were found. Southwest inspected all 231 of its 737 MAX-family aircraft from June 17-20 for PCU system damage. “No damage or anomalies were found,” NTSB said. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/ntsb-eyes-latent-storm-damage-southwest-dutch-roll-probe Former Anchorage pastor banned from Alaska Airlines after allegedly hitting wife on flight ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) - A former Anchorage pastor is facing a federal charge of assault after allegedly hitting his wife in the head during a flight. According to a criminal complaint, Roger Allan Holmberg Sr. was being disruptive when he hit his wife during a July 2 flight between Seattle and Anchorage. Authorities said Holmberg was upset that his wife got upgraded to first class based on her higher mileage status, while he was not. Patti Holmberg said her husband “wanted me to read something on his cell phone, so I just glanced over his phone, and I gave it right back to him, and then he sat down,” she explained. “And then a few moments later, he got back up and hit me on the head.” The pastor and his wife were traveling to Anchorage to discuss business related to potential housing opportunities for religious missions, according to Patti Holmberg. She says her husband seemed to be angry from the very start of the day, allegedly taking his verbal frustrations out on wheelchair attendants at the airports through which they traveled that day. Patti Holmberg claims her husband has exhibited a history of abuse from which she has suffered recent injuries. “I can’t continue on this way,” said Patti Holmberg. Alaska Airlines confirmed Wednesday that Roger Allan Holmberg Sr. has now been banned from all flights with the airline. Alaska’s News Source made repeated attempts to reach Holmberg Sr. on Wednesday for comment and a response to the allegations. Reached Wednesday, the public defender’s office said Holmberg Sr. has made the decision to retain private counsel. However, an attorney is not yet listed in the online court record for the case. Roger Holmberg Sr. previously served as a pastor at Grace Baptist Temple in Anchorage, according to his wife. Patti Holmberg wants to encourage other women who may be suffering from domestic abuse to speak up and seek help. “I wish more women could, you know, stand up for themselves and just say that person is not worth my time. You know, I love him, but I love him enough to let him go,” Patti Holmberg said. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/07/11/former-anchorage-pastor-banned-alaska-airlines-after-allegedly-hitting-wife-flight/ Passenger bites flight attendant on United Airlines flight that took off from MIA, forcing emergency landing MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - A United Airlines flight that took from South Florida was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger bit a flight attendant and yelled profanities at other passengers. United Flight 762 was heading to Newark, New Jersey after taking off from Miami International Airport on Tuesday. Cellphone video obtained by TMZ shows a tense situation where a woman was screaming at other passengers. Flight attendants tried to de-escalate the situation and zip-tie the woman. That’s when the subject bit one of the flight attendant’s shoulders, ripping off a piece of his uniform. “Suck my [expletive],” said the woman to another passenger. Another cellphone video shows the woman restrained but continuing to scream profanities at other passengers and, allegedly threatening to kill a woman, said, “Go back to Russia, old lady.” “Let go of me, I’m an [expletive] girl. You tryin’ to kill me,” said the woman to the flight crew who was trying to restrain her. The woman continued to berate the passengers and accuse the flight crew of having “attitude problems.” The flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Orlando International Airport, where authorities were waiting at the gate. The woman was removed by authorities, and the flight crew was replaced by a new crew. The emergency landing delayed the flight by three and a half hours. Police were seen escorting the woman out of the airport. Cellphone video captures passengers clapping once the woman was removed from the plane. United Airlines released a statement to 7News following the situation. It reads: United Flight 762 from Miami to Newark stopped in Orlando on Tuesday evening after a passenger became aggressive and disruptive. Our flight attendants worked to de-escalate the situation and protect other customers and after landing in Orlando, law enforcement met the flight, and the passenger was removed. We’re grateful to our team for their professionalism and for looking out for the safety of our customers and their fellow United employees. United Airlines No injuries were reported. The woman is facing several charges. https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/passenger-bites-flight-attendant-on-united-airlines-flight-that-took-off-from-mia-forcing-emergency-landing/ ICAO Launches Probe Of U.S. Aviation Safety Infrastructure The FAA reported yesterday (July 9) that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is initiating an audit of the U.S. civil aviation oversight system. According to a report by Reuters, the probe marks the first time ICAO has called for such a probe since 2007. The two-week audit will involve 12 auditors from 10 countries and begin this week. The results are expected to be released in January. The FAA, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the U.S. Department of Defense and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be under the microscope, along with other agencies involved in aviation matters in the U.S. According to the Reuters report, 790 questions will examine eight separate areas of civil aviation legislation, regulation, accident history, incident investigation and air navigation systems. A positive score in the audit would enable the U.S. aviation infrastructure to “demonstrate leadership in meeting robust aviation safety standards and to encourage nations around the world to do the same,” according to the FAA. The Reuters report cites FAA struggles with shortages of air traffic controllers that have contributed to a series of near-collisions—some blamed on controller error. It cites a staffing shortfall of 3,000 controllers causing mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks to meet coverage. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/icao-launches-probe-of-u-s-aviation-safety-infrastructure/ Argentina liberalizes aviation industry, invites foreign carriers Argentina is set to liberalize its air travel market. The Milei government, which was elected in November 2023 on a platform promising to enact thorough economic reforms in the country, is moving ahead with plans previously outlined in December 2023 to change the legal framework that regulates Argentinian commercial aviation. On July 10, 2024, the government issued decree “599/2024”, which contains a broad-ranging package of measures aimed at cutting red tape in the industry. Argentina is making it easier for foreign airlines to set up operations in the country and it will also liberalize the number of routes and frequencies that carriers can operate, only subject to governmental nod of approval. Under the new regulations, foreign carriers could, subject to some conditions, also enter the Argentinian domestic market. In this regard, industry observers have pointed out that carriers from Brazil, Chile, Perú, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay, and Canada could, in theory, benefit from this possibility due to the bilateral agreements Argentina has signed with these countries. Ahead of the expected approval of these measures, one Chilean airline, Sky Airlines, already announced its intention to operate domestic flights within Argentina. Crucially, the decree is also scrapping pricing limitations. Airlines will now be free to set up fares without the minimum price threshold that previously existed, which was widely regarded as hampering the development of a proper low-cost airline industry. Other measures are aimed at airport ramp services, which will also be liberalized, and the small air operator, which from now on will be able to offer commercial services under a specific regulatory regime. The latter measure is expected to incentivize the development of a domestic regional air travel industry and boost the connectivity between smaller airports. The new decree represents a tectonic shift in the market playing field. However, the government’s next actions regarding the national flag carrier, Aerolíneas Argentinas, which, as of H1 2024 has a market share of over 60%, are still not known. During this electoral campaign, President Javier Milei promised to privatize the airline or sell it to its workers for a symbolic amount. Although chronically loss-making, Aerolíneas Argentinas unexpectedly managed to close the fiscal year 2023 with a US$32 million profit. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/argentina-liberalizes-aviation-industry-invites-foreign-carriers Frontier Ranked Worst Airline For Complaints In 2023 The Denver-based ultra-low-cost airline racked up twice as many complaints per passenger as the next-worst airline, according to a new report. Airline passengers in the U.S. were not happy campers in 2023. Complaints against domestic airlines jumped by nearly 29%—hitting a new record—despite passenger volume increasing by only 11% compared to 2022, according to a new report by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, the consumer advocacy organization’s report, based on data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) last Friday. Through its online complaints and comments portal, the agency’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) received an estimated 61,233 complaints against U.S. airlines last year, breaking the previous record of 47,591 in 2022. Over the past three years, complaints made up an average of 91% of consumer submissions, with the remainder made up of opinions, compliments and information requests. Two ultra-low-cost airlines fared the worst for customer complaints. Frontier Airlines garnered 32.99 complaints per 100,000 passengers, more than twice as many as the next-worst airline, Spirit Airlines (14.76). Rounding out the bottom three was JetBlue Airways (13.32). Alaska Airlines had the best complaint ratio at just 2.34 per 100,000 passengers, followed by Southwest Airlines (3.61). Among legacy carriers, Delta fared the best, with 3.64 complaints per 100,000 passengers, handily beating American (5.97) and United (7.47). Only three airlines—Alaska, Southwest and Allegiant—had better complaint-to-passenger ratios last year than in 2022. Fewer Cancellations and Delays, More Flexibility for Consumers Cancellations—one of the biggest reasons for complaints in previous years—dropped by more than half, from 2.7% of all scheduled flights in 2022 to 1.2% in 2023. That’s the lowest rate of flight cancellations in over 10 years despite a record amount of air travel, according to the DOT. Meanwhile, there were slightly fewer flight delays in 2023 than the previous year. Of the 7.28 million flights scheduled by the top 10 U.S. airlines in 2023, 78.3% arrived on time compared to 76.7% in 2022. Nearly 70% of flight delays were weather-related, according to the DOT. In April, the Biden administration announced a new rule requiring airlines to offer automatic cash refunds for cancellations instead of waiting for customers to request them. In May, Frontier and Spirit eliminated nearly all change and cancellation fees, which lets travelers modify flights without penalty. These moves bring these ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) in line with the larger airlines, which got rid of most change fees during the pandemic (except for the cheapest, most restrictive tickets). As a result, this summer is the first where virtually all commercial airline passengers who encounter flight cancellations and significant delays have the flexibility to change their plans without incurring a fee. “We have been disappointed in our historical complaints,” a Frontier Airlines spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Forbes. “However, we are pleased to have seen a recent drop in complaints due to better operational reliability, the reopening of our call center and the New Frontier which offers clear, upfront low-cost pricing, and no change fees.” Compared to global airlines, U.S. airlines had a lackluster showing in the list of the world’s best airlines for 2024 by AirlineRatings.com, the only global safety and product rating website, whose rankings are based on major safety and government audits with 12 key factors, including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, safety rating, product rating, innovation and forward fleet orders. In AirlineRatings’ ranking, JetBlue came in at No. 16, followed by Hawaiian Airlines (No. 17) and Alaska Airlines (No. 18). The legacy carriers were at the bottom of the list, with Delta Air Lines at No. 23, United Airlines at No. 24 and American Airlines at No. 25. Southwest did not break into the top 25 global airlines, but was nevertheless deemed the best low-cost airline in the Americas region. https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2024/07/09/frontier-worst-for-airline-complaints-2023/ Hydrogen could power the next-gen aircraft of tomorrow Electric air taxi startup Joby Aviation is developing a hydrogen-powered version of its vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that could enable longer routes between cities. Why it matters: Hydrogen fuel cells — already used in cars, trucks and industrial equipment — could be a game-changer for the aviation industry, which is under intense pressure to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Driving the news: Joby successfully flew a 523-mile demonstration flight using a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-electric air taxi, it said today. The test flight, completed last month in California, involved a converted prototype of Joby's electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft already in development. It was outfitted with a liquid hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen-electric propulsion. A trail of water vapor, seen in the photo above, is the only emission. How it works: Hydrogen-powered aircraft can burn liquid hydrogen directly in an engine, or they can use gaseous hydrogen in a fuel cell system. With fuel cells, the hydrogen spurs an electrochemical reaction that produces electricity to charge the aircraft's batteries while in flight. That electricity drives the electric motor and spins the propellers, with water as the only byproduct. Zoom in: Joby's primary focus remains launching an electric air taxi as early as 2025 for short hops between urban centers and airports, starting in New York, Los Angeles and Dubai. But repurposing its existing eVTOL design for the hydrogen demonstration flight is an efficient way for Joby to begin exploring the potential for longer routes. "The vast majority of the design, testing and certification work we've completed on our battery-electric aircraft carries over to commercializing hydrogen-electric flight," founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt tells Axios. Between the lines: Because Joby is building a vertically integrated operation, different aircraft will be able to use the same vertiport facilities, operations personnel and booking software. The Pentagon — Joby's largest customer — is also keen on hydrogen because it supports the military's clean energy goals, Jacob Wilson, acting branch chief of the U.S. Air Force's AFWERX Agility Prime advanced technology program, said in a statement. Catch up quick: Joby has been working on hydrogen flight since 2021, when it acquired H2Fly, a German company that last year completed the world's first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft. The big picture: Decarbonizing aviation is a monumental challenge, which is why the industry is exploring a range of solutions — including more efficient planes and engines and increased use of sustainable aviation fuels. There's a potential sweet spot for hydrogen on short-haul flights of several hundred miles or so — especially for VTOLs, which don't need a runway. Passengers could fly from the heart of San Francisco to San Diego or Boston to Baltimore, for example, without having to go to the airport. Hydrogen also allows for quicker refueling compared to battery-electric technology. To meet climate targets, however, hydrogen must be produced from renewable sources. State of play: American Airlines recently agreed to buy 100 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia, a fuel cell aviation startup, to power its regional jets. Massachusetts-based Alaka'i Technologies is developing a hydrogen-powered VTOL that would compete with Joby, Archer and other eVTOL companies. Reality check: Another hydrogen aircraft startup, Universal Hydrogen, is shutting down amid financial struggles. What we're watching: Congress recently passed a bipartisan bill that directs the Federal Aviation Administration to research and develop strategies for using hydrogen fuel within the next year. https://www.axios.com/2024/07/11/electric-air-taxis-hydrogen The Push For More Black Pilots Gets Federal Funding Boost Airlines and schools that train pilots and mechanics are eager for new federal funding to help fill thousands of empty slots. Justin Mutawassim’s dream of becoming a pilot took flight 22 years ago when, at age 5, he stepped on a plane for the first time during a family trip to Disney World. “I just had a fascination with the airplane itself and how it flew,” Mutawassim recalled in a recent phone interview. That fascination took hold. Today, the Atlanta resident is a pilot for Delta Air Lines, a career opportunity that has elevated his economic prospects. At 27, he says he’s on track to make about $500,000 this year. It’s a big take for a relatively young pilot, but Delta isn’t only paying him to fly. The company also pays Mutawassim to support some of its pilot recruiting initiatives, including its Propel Pilot Career Path Program and its partnership with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, an advocacy group working to increase minority participation in the industry. “I work quite a bit,” Mutawassim said. Mutawassim’s high-flying career highlights one of his industry’s biggest challenges and a potentially huge opportunity for workers looking to expand their options. As many of his fellow Black Georgians search for better-paying jobs to keep up with the rising cost of living, airlines are working to hire more people of color in high-paying aviation careers, including mechanics, air traffic controllers, and especially pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in May, is expected to provide a major funding boost to the industry’s diversity efforts. The law appropriates $105 billion to fund the FAA through 2028, including $240 million to promote flight deck diversity by lowering the high cost of flight training and expanding the pool of prospective candidates. The bill originally set aside $120 million to fund diversity efforts, but Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, said he successfully pushed to double that figure earlier this year. Warnock said the airline industry’s push for more pilots of color is especially needed in his home state, which is home to the world’s busiest airport as well as many Black Georgians seeking better-paying career opportunities. “There are a lot of good-paying jobs in the aviation space and I want to make sure that we’re tapping into all of our talents all over our state,” Warnock told Capital B Atlanta. “We’re not going to have enough people working in that space if we don’t increase diversity, which is why I have language in the bill that enables that to happen.” The need for more Black pilots The airline industry’s need — and the opportunity for those in need of a career boost — is propelled by demographic trends and federal rules. Thousands of Baby Boomer and Gen X pilots are expected to retire soon — if they haven’t already — because of federal safety regulations requiring pilots employed by airlines to retire by the age of 65. That mandate, the high cost of training, and a dearth of pilots exiting the military have contributed to a commercial airline pilot shortage coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left an estimated 400,000 airline workers laid off, furloughed, or at risk of losing their jobs. Tapping into the Black labor pool, which is underrepresented in the aviation industry, is one way to help fill that gap. Black Americans made up fewer than 4% of pilots in 2023 despite making up nearly 14% of the U.S. population. Filling that need could be transformative for workers. The median household income for Black families in Atlanta is about $28,000, according to the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, a nonprofit group whose mission is to build Black wealth in the metro area and across the South. Meanwhile, airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earned a median annual wage of more than $219,000 in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median income for air traffic controllers was $137,000 last year. Airline mechanics earned about $75,000 annually. Barriers to entry It’s unclear when the FAA will begin accepting applications for diversity recruitment program funding. The agency declined to say when and how the money will be distributed or what’s needed for applicants to qualify. “We will comply with the requirements of the Reauthorization Act and we will keep you apprised of our progress,” the FAA told Capital B Atlanta via email. But aviation instructors like Omar Brock plan to apply when the time comes. The 35-year-old Brock is an Atlanta native, a Middle Georgia State University graduate, and a flight instructor who created the Brock Foundation in 2020 to help propel diversity in aviation. Brock’s nonprofit is one of many similar organizations that partners with local school districts to introduce students to the aviation sector at a young age. Brock says many Black kids don’t consider aviation careers because they’re never exposed to them when they’re young. Programs like his, which partners with schools in Morrow and others in Clayton County, help make that connection. “They have to see it before the dream materializes,” Brock told Capital B Atlanta of the students he and his volunteer pilots help mentor. Those made aware of the benefits can’t always afford the cost. Pilot training at ATP Flight School, a local program that partners with Delta’s Propel program, can cost just shy of $109,000. Propel also partners with multiple other schools, including Middle Georgia State University and Elizabeth City State University, a historically Black college in North Carolina. Brock said not all school districts have the resources to pay for students to take flight training classes, but he believes the FAA Reauthorization Act can help change that. “Always having funding in place to meet your goals and your aspirations is important for a smaller nonprofit like [mine],” he said. “If I can stand on my own two feet and have funding in place to equip the students in terms of paying for their training and making sure that they have everything that they need, then it’s a no-brainer for me.” Brock graduated from Middle Georgia State University’s School of Aviation in Eastman, where minority student enrollment has surged from less than 10% in 2014 to an estimated 38% this year, according to Adon Clark, the school’s dean. Clark said his school’s Black enrollment is higher than others due in part to its more affordable tuition costs and its efforts to improve diversity since he became dean in 2014. He estimates the total cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot to be about $96,000 at MGA. MGA’s outreach efforts include recruiting students from Georgia high schools and colleges, hosting an aviation summer camp for middle-school kids, and working with groups like the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals. “Now that there’s a shortage, there’s a lot more information out there about the jobs,” Clark said. “And the industry also recognizes the need to diversify the workforce.” https://atlanta.capitalbnews.org/black-pilots-needed/ Delta Air, Riyadh Air unveil strategic partnership CHICAGO (Reuters) -Riyadh Air has partnered with U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines as the Saudi startup carrier grows its potential network ahead of launching commercial operations next year, the airlines said on Tuesday. Riyadh Air, owned by Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF, will be a second national airline, based in the capital Riyadh, alongside existing flag carrier Saudia, based in Jeddah. Under the agreement, Atlanta-based Delta will serve as Riyadh Air's exclusive partner in North America, offering its customers access to hundreds of U.S. destinations. For Delta's customers, the partnership will open new destinations in Saudi Arabia, the airlines said. The U.S. carrier also plans to launch future nonstop service to Riyadh. Currently, no U.S. airline files to Saudi Arabia. Delta's first partnership with a Gulf carrier marks a shift from the last decade when the Atlanta-based airline along with United and American Airlines lobbied to curb competition from Gulf state carriers. In 2022, however, United unveiled a codeshare agreement with Dubai's Emirates. American Airlines has a similar arrangement with Qatar Airways. The tie-up between Delta and Riyadh Air envisions codesharing, which will allow them to sell seats on each other's flights, but will require regulatory approvals. In the future, the two carriers plan to expand the partnership into a joint venture, allowing collaboration on network planning. Such an arrangement would require immunity from antitrust laws. Currently, Delta has joint ventures with Air France-KLM, British airline Virgin Atlantic, Chile's LATAM Airlines and Korean Air. Riyadh Air is trying to build its network through a series of bilateral partnerships and code shares rather than relying purely on its own planes, or joining a formal airline alliance. Last month, it announced partnerships with Singapore Airlines and Air China. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/riyadh-air-partners-delta-air-163212760.html Air India to transfer twenty A320s to low-cost subsidiary Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) will take up to twenty A320 types from parent Air India (AI, Delhi International) under a fleet optimisation strategy that will see the low-cost carrier increase its flying across domestic and short-haul international routes. Air India will also transfer cabin crew and pilots to Air India Express. According to the Hindu Business Line news outlet, the aircraft will be transferred in phases over the next few months. Air India Express, which is in the process of merging with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), is predominately a Boeing operator, with twenty-six B737-800s and twenty-six B737-8s, alongside four A320-200Ns and one A320-200. However, that imbalance will resolve when AIX Connect's twenty-three A320-200s and single A320-200N are folded into the fleet. Combined with the incoming Air India stock, the merged low-cost entity will be a predominantly Airbus operator. Air India presently operates nine A320-200s and forty-six A320-200Ns, with another 125 on order. The news site notes that all but one are configured into a dual-class cabin. However, Air India is expected to convert the 20 heading to Air India Express into a single-cabin configuration. ch-aviation has contacted Air India for comment. The fleet transfer is one piece of a broader overhaul of the Tata Sonswned airlines that will see Vistara (UK, Delhi International) merge with Air India in addition to a merger between the Tata-owned low-cost carriers. The mergers will reduce the number of Tata Sons airline brands to two. This week, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said harmonisation processes between the various airlines are underway. The group hopes to complete the mergers by the end of this year. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/142319-air-india-to-transfer-twenty-a320s-to-low-cost-subsidiary CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 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 • Safeskies Australia Conference, Canberra Australia - 16th and 17th of October 2024 - www.safeskiesaustralia.org • 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