Flight Safety Information - July 23, 2024 No. 146 In This Issue : Incident: PAL Express A320 at Zamboanga on Jul 12th 2024, touched down before runway threshold : Incident: Max B733 at Yola on Jul 21st 2024, rejected takeoff due to tyre damage : Incident: KLM B789 at Buenos Aires on Jul 21st 2024, damage in flight : Incident: Easyjet Europe A320 near Cologne on Jul 21st 2024, acrid smell on board : Incident: Edelweiss A343 at Zurich on Jul 22nd 2024, pilot incapacitation : Safety regulators are investigating another low flight by a Southwest jet, this time in Florida : National Airlines Selects Four Boeing 777 Freighters to Expand Global Fleet : Russia pulled military aircraft from service because of poor quality parts: report : Boeing projects global need for 2.4 million new commercial pilots, technicians, cabin crew : British Airways invests £21M in Speedbird Pilot Academy, doubles cadet intake : Global Aerospace Offers Valuable Insights on What Every Aging Pilot Should Know About Flying, Safety and Insurance : Delta people working 24/7 to restore operation, support customers, get crews to right place at right time : Calendar of Events Incident: PAL Express A320 at Zamboanga on Jul 12th 2024, touched down before runway threshold A PAL Express Airbus A320-200, registration RP-C8612 performing flight PR-2997 from Manila to Zamboanga (Philippines), was on approach to Zamboanga's runway 27 but touched down ahead of the runway threshold. The aircraft rolled out without further incident. Philippines AAIIB reported the aircraft touched down before the runway threshold and opened an investigation into the occurrence rated a serious incident. The aircraft sustained minor damage. https://avherald.com/h?article=51b74a29&opt=0 Incident: Max B733 at Yola on Jul 21st 2024, rejected takeoff due to tyre damage A Max Air Boeing 737-300, registration 5N-ADG performing flight VM-1649 from Yola to Abuja (Nigeria) with 119 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Yola's runway 35 when two loud bangs were heard prompting the crew to reject takeoff at high speed. The aircraft slowed without further incident and stopped on the runway about 300 meters/1000 feet short of the runway end. Two main tyres were found burst, the other two main tyres deflated after the aircraft stopped. Nigeria's NSIB opened an investigation into the occurrence. https://avherald.com/h?article=51b7448e&opt=0 Incident: KLM B789 at Buenos Aires on Jul 21st 2024, damage in flight A KLM Boeing 787-9, registration PH-BHA performing flight KL-702 from Santiago (Chile) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza,BA (Argentina), departed Santiago's runway 17L, climbed to FL390 enroute, touched down on Ezeiza's runway 11 at 12:37L (15:37Z) and taxied to the apron completing a seemingly uneventful flight. A post flight inspection however revealed damage to the aircraft. The onward flight to Amsterdam (Netherlands) needed to be cancelled. Argentina's JST opened an investigation stating: "The JST is investigating the incident with the Boeing 787-9 aircraft registered PH-BHA that occurred at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires at approximately 15:37 UTC. The investigation is being conducted by the Headquarters." The airline stated: "After a normal landing procedure on 21 July, it was determined that the aircraft operating flight KL702 from Santiago de Chile to Buenos Aires was damaged. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the flight to Amsterdam. Passengers have been rebooked on another flight. The circumstances are being investigated." The aircraft is still on the ground in Buenos Aires about 23 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51b739b6&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet Europe A320 near Cologne on Jul 21st 2024, acrid smell on board An Easyjet Europe Airbus A320-200, registration OE-IWW performing flight U2-4633 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Berlin (Germany), was enroute at FL350 about 50nm south of Cologne when the crew declared emergency reporting an acrid smell on board. The aircraft diverted to Cologne for a safe landing on runway 31R about 20 minutes later. The airport reported a technical problem as cause of the diversion. The airline reported the passengers were transferred to Berlin. The aircraft is still on the ground in Cologne about 18.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51b73816&opt=0 Incident: Edelweiss A343 at Zurich on Jul 22nd 2024, pilot incapacitation An Edelweiss Airbus A340-300, registration HB-JMF performing flight WK-5 from Tampa,FL (USA) to Zurich (Switzerland), was on approach to Zurich when the crew declared emergency reporting pilot incapacitation. The aircraft landed safely on Zurich's runway 14 and taxied to the apron. The airline reported one of the three pilots on board suffered a medical condition about 90 minutes prior to landing. The other two pilots performed the landing in Zurich. https://avherald.com/h?article=51b72e01&opt=0 Safety regulators are investigating another low flight by a Southwest jet, this time in Florida WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials are investigating an incident in which a Southwest Airlines jet flew as low as 150 feet (45 meters) over water while it was still about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from its intended landing spot at the airport in Tampa, Florida. The pilots skipped over the Tampa airport and landed instead at Fort Lauderdale, 200 miles (320 kilometers) away. The July 14 flight followed a similar incident last month in Oklahoma City in which a Southwest jet flew at an unusually low altitude while still miles from the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that it is investigating the incident. Southwest flight 425, which took off from Columbus, Ohio, reached its low point as it flew over Old Tampa Bay near the Courtney Campbell Causeway, according to Flightradar24. Three previous Southwest flights to Tampa passed the same point at about 1,225 feet (375 meters) in altitude, the flight-tracking service said. “Southwest Flight 425 safely diverted to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on July 14 after the crew discontinued their planned approach into Tampa International Airport,” the airline said in a statement. Dallas-based Southwest said it is in contact with the FAA “to understand and address any irregularities. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.” The FAA is still investigating a June 18 flight in which a Southwest jet triggered a low-altitude alert at about 525 feet (160 meters) above ground and 9 miles (14 kilometers) from the Oklahoma City airport. An air traffic controller reached out to that crew after getting an automated warning in the control tower. The plane circled the airport – a “go-around” – before making an uneventful landing. In April, a Southwest flight went into a dive off the coast of Hawaii and came within 400 feet (120 meters) of the ocean before the plane began to climb. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating a Southwest jet that did an unusual “Dutch roll” and was discovered to have damage to its tail after a flight from Phoenix to Oakland, California. Investigators say the plane had been parked outside during a severe storm. https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-low-flight-florida-faa-65880ddd3cf820a088172ab121c6de30 National Airlines Selects Four Boeing 777 Freighters to Expand Global Fleet - World's most capable twin-engine freighter provides market-leading range and reliability to meet global air cargo demand FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and National Airlines announced today the global carrier has committed to place its first order for four 777 Freighters. Currently the longest-range twin-engine freighter with unrivaled payload capacity, the 777 Freighter will help maximize the airline's commercial cargo service and boost market share across its global operations. "We are elated by this remarkable order of four Boeing 777 Freighters. This demonstrates our commitment to offering efficient, resourceful, and modern air freight services to support our global customers' increasing transportation demands," said Christopher Alf, chairman of National Airlines. "The order affirms our fleet growth plan as we enter into the next chapter of National. We sincerely appreciate the support by Boeing and all its associated teams in this journey ahead." Once finalized, National Airlines' first direct purchase of Boeing airplanes will be posted to Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website. The 777 Freighter can fly farther (9,200 km / 4,970 nmi) and carry more freight (107 tonnes) than any other twin-engine cargo jet today. This capability enables operators to fly more freight on more nonstop routes with better operating economics. "We appreciate National Airlines for its trust in Boeing and the 777 Freighter to grow the carrier's global fleet and deliver greater value for its customers," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "With its cargo capacity, range and reliability, operators continue to rely on the 777 Freighter to build their future fleets, making it the best-selling freighter of all time." The 777 Freighters will join National Airline's expanding fleet of nine 747-400 freighters. Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing 747 operations, the 777 Freighter allows carriers to easily transfer cargo between the two airplanes to streamline ground logistics and leverage additional cost savings through fleet commonality. Boeing has delivered more than 270 777 Freighters to date. As the market leader in freighter airplanes, Boeing provides more than 90% of the worldwide dedicated freighter capacity, including production and converted airplanes. Over the next 20 years, Boeing's 2024 Commercial Market Outlook predicts an additional 2,845 freighters will enter service to meet growing global trade and e-commerce. As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers. https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2024-07-22-National-Airlines-Selects-Four-Boeing-777-Freighters-to-Expand-Global-Fleet Russia pulled military aircraft from service because of poor quality parts: report Five Russian Il-76MD-90A military transportation aircraft have been grounded by the issue, per reports. • Russia grounded five Il-76MD-90A aircraft due to poor-quality parts. • The wheel bearings were swapped at a Moscow factory, with a criminal investigation now underway. • The Russian air force's fleet of Il-76MD-90A aircraft has suffered significant attrition since 2022. Russia was forced to take five military aircraft out of service due to key parts being swapped out for poor-quality ones, according to local media reports. The issue affects the landing gear of Russia's Il-76MD-90A, a large modernized strategic aircraft designed for ferrying troops and military equipment. As of the end of 2023, Russia had around 18 Il-76MD-90As, independent Russian outlet Important Stories reported, citing open sources. This would mean that more than a quarter of Russia's fleet of Il-76MD-90As were taken out of action. It's unclear exactly when the aircraft were taken out of service, and what their present status is. A criminal investigation is now underway after it was found that a factory in Moscow had bought and installed poor-quality wheel bearings instead of those specified by the Ministry of Defence, according to pro-Kremlin newspaper Kommersant. Kommersant reported that some time between 2017 and 2022, company representatives shipped the wheels with forged papers, saying they had been brought from the right source and approved by the Russian MOD. They were then sent to Aviastar SP, Russia's massive military aircraft factory, it said. Prosecutors said that the switch had caused significant harm to the defense ministry, according to the outlet. Il-76MD-90As have been a target for Ukraine since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. At least six Il-76s have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the war, according to open-source tracking project Oryx. In January, Russia accused Ukraine of shooting down an Il-76 that it said was carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war. Ukraine later said it had been tricked into downing it. Two others were damaged and two destroyed on a Russian airfield some 400 miles from the border with Ukraine last September, in an attack that sparked further concern about Russia's ability to protect its own airspace. https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-pulled-military-aircraft-service-poor-quality-parts-report-ukraine-2024-7 Boeing projects global need for 2.4 million new commercial pilots, technicians, cabin crew South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa are fastest-growing regions for staffing Avalon 25Over the next 20 years, Boeing projects a continued significant demand for aviation personnel as the global commercial airplane fleet continues to expand. The company’s 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO) shows the industry will require nearly 2.4 million new professionals to support the growing commercial fleet and meet the long-term increase in air travel. According to the latest PTO, commercial carriers will need the following new personnel through 2043 to sustain the global commercial fleet: • 674,000 pilots. • 716,000 maintenance technicians. • 980,000 cabin crew members. “Driven by aviation traffic trending above pre-pandemic levels, personnel attrition and commercial fleet growth, the demand for aviation personnel continues to rise,” said Chris Broom, vice president, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing Global Services. “We are focused on being a reliable and innovative partner in the lifecycle of aviation training. Our offerings are rooted in competency-based training and assessment programs to help ensure high quality aviation training starting in flight schools and in commercial operations while helping enhance aviation safety through immersive and virtual training solutions.” Through 2043, the PTO projects: • Demand for new personnel driven primarily by single aisle airplanes, except in Africa and Middle East where widebody airplane demand leads. • Eurasia, China and North America drive demand for more than half of new industry personnel. • South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa are the fastest-growing regions for personnel with staffing demand expected to more than triple over 20 years. • Two-thirds of new personnel will address replacement due to attrition, while one- third supports growth in the commercial fleet. • The PTO forecast includes these projections for industry needs through 2043: Region New Pilots New Technicians New Cabin Crew Global 674,000 716,000 980,000 Africa 23,000 25,000 28,000 China 130,000 137,000 163,000 Eurasia 155,000 167,000 240,000 Latin America 39,000 42,000 54,000 Middle East 68,000 63,000 104,000 North America 123,000 123,000 184,000 Northeast Asia 25,000 30,000 43,000 Oceania 11,000 12,000 18,000 South Asia 40,000 40,000 49,000 Southeast Asia 60,000 77,000 97,000 https://asianaviation.com/boeing-projects-global-need-for-2-4-million-new-commercial-pilots-technicians-cabin-crew/ British Airways invests £21M in Speedbird Pilot Academy, doubles cadet intake British Airways has announced a £21 million investment in its Speedbird Pilot Academy, which will allow up to 200 aspiring pilots to train without the burden of self-funding the £100,000 cost. The airline made the announcement at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow. The Speedbird Pilot Academy, launched last year, already supports 100 future pilots chosen from over 20,000 applicants. The 2025 program has now doubled its intake to 200 cadets. The two-year training course will enable them to become qualified First Officers with the airline, which currently employs around 4,000 pilots. “The standard of applicants we see for this programme are consistently high so as part of our commitment to attracting the very best candidates from right across society, we’ve increased the 2025 cohort to give as many people as possible the chance of realising their dream,” said Sean Doyle, British Airways Chairman and CEO. Applicants must be 17-55 years old and have six GCSEs grade A-C or 5-9, including Maths, English, and a Science, or equivalent qualifications. Applicants need to be fluent in English and, if applicable, have achieved ICAO Level 6 on completion of training. Non-native English speakers must have an IELTS score of 5.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any individual area. Training involves Ground School (six-eight months), Basic Flight Training (six months), Advanced Flight Training (four-six months), Upset Recovery Training (three flights), and Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation Course (three-four weeks). https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/british-airways-invests-21m-speedbird-pilot-training-program Global Aerospace Offers Valuable Insights on What Every Aging Pilot Should Know About Flying, Safety and Insurance Important Considerations for Aging Pilots Morris Plains, July 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Whether at industry conferences or at various trade shows, conventions, and fly-ins, colleagues and industry professionals agree that an urgent challenge facing the insurance industry today is how best to serve an aging pilot population. mature pilot in cockpit of private jet The issue is not unique to aviation insurance. Auto insurers, for example, assess higher premiums to drivers who are under 25 and over 60. The justification behind this approach — in certain contexts, backed by actuarial studies — is that reaction times often degrade as we get older, and experience is a key component for the younger end of the spectrum. From an underwriting perspective, this is only one of many factors that may form part of a risk assessment. Costs to repair, downtime, parts availability, and rising costs are additional considerations that present industry wide hurdles. Age is just another component to consider. Older… and Wiser Any conversation about age and flying must be balanced in presenting the data. It’s true that the number of accidents increases for pilots 55 and older. However, older adults tend to have more free time and disposable income, so the increase may be explained by the flying frequency. What’s more, the decades of experience that most older pilots have may offset the increase in their reaction times and other skills. Consequently, it’s not fair or accurate to draw a straight line from “Top of Their Game” to “Grounded” on an age graph. Plus, because pilots are required to have routine FAA medical or BasicMed exams, pilots are often healthier than the average person, so comparisons to the age-related skill loss in non-pilots are of little value. How To Stay Airborne as You Age What can pilots do to ensure they can continue pursuing their passion for flight as they age? As a first step, training and setting personal limits are the factors easiest to control. Any pilot, regardless of age, should consider when and how to gradually modify their flying habits to stay in sync with their skills. Steps for staying safely airborne include: • Get ongoing training. Whether with a Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) or an equivalent process, more frequent training beyond a Biennial Flight Review (BFR)—which is a requirement for pilots to maintain their license and competency—is recommended. These are commonly seen as minimum best practices. • Know your limits. This may mean operating an aircraft that matches both mission and ability, and utilizing insights from industry experts and peers. • Modify your missions. Taking shorter flights (especially on cross-country treks) and giving yourself more time to complete them can make flying safer and more enjoyable. • Carefully choose your flight paths and conditions. If possible, avoid busy airspace and fly when the air is smoothest. • Have a copilot. This is particularly important with IFR flights. How Insurers Help Older Pilots Keep Flying From the insurance provider and broker perspectives, there are ways to construct a policy appropriate to the risk profile. This can include deductibles, two-crew/mentor pilot requirements and liability-only options, to name just a just a few. These solutions can be worked out with your insurance broker or agent. There are companies that will continue to provide coverage if there are no major changes to the risk. You should establish a long-term relationship with those carriers as you get older. Addressing an Age-Old Problem: Planning Is the Key Pilots are methodical by nature; you have to be. Your safety and that of everyone affected by your flights requires it. That same proactive approach is vital when it comes to identifying and addressing age-related challenges. Fortunately, you can stay airborne by continuing your training, ensuring the flights you take and equipment you use are commensurate with your skills and working with an insurer and a broker committed to helping you keep flying safely. About Global Aerospace Global Aerospace has a century of experience and powerful passion for providing aviation insurance solutions that protect industry stakeholders and empower the industry to thrive. With financial stability from a pool of the world’s foremost capital, we leverage innovative ideas, advanced technology and a powerful synergy among diverse team members to underwrite and process claims for the many risks our clients face. Headquartered in the UK, we have offices in Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland and throughout the United States. Learn more at https://www.global-aero.com/ Global Aerospace Media Contact Suzanne Keneally Vice President, Group Head of Communications +1 973-490-8588 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/07/23/2916918/0/en/Global-Aerospace-Offers-Valuable-Insights-on-What-Every-Aging-Pilot-Should-Know-About-Flying-Safety-and-Insurance.html Delta people working 24/7 to restore operation, support customers, get crews to right place at right time Delta people worked Monday to get the airline’s complex global operation back on track after cybersecurity vendor CrowdStrike’s faulty Windows update rendered IT systems of companies across the globe inoperable. “We’ve got everyone around the company working around the clock to get this operation where it needs to be,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a video message to employees on Monday. “Keep taking great care of our customers and each other in the coming days.” Upward of half of Delta’s IT systems worldwide are Windows based. The CrowdStrike error required Delta’s IT teams to manually repair and reboot each of the affected systems, with additional time then needed for applications to synchronize and start communicating with each other. Delta’s crews are fully staffed and ready to serve our customers, but one of Delta’s most critical systems – which ensures all flights have a full crew in the right place at the right time – is deeply complex and is requiring the most time and manual support to synchronize. Across the operation, Delta teams are working tirelessly to care for customers impacted by delays and cancellations as the airline works to put flight crews and aircraft back in position following the disruption. We’re also working to make it right for our customers, starting with these steps: Extending a travel waiver. Delta extended a travel waiver for all customers with travel booked from July 19-23. The waiver offers customers the ability to make a one-time change to their itinerary. The fare difference for customers will be waived when rebooked travel occurs on or before July 28, in the same cabin of service as originally booked. Customers are encouraged to manage changes to their travel via delta.com or the Fly Delta app. Right to a Refund Upon Request. Customers whose travel has been disrupted due to a canceled or significantly delayed flight may choose to cancel their travel and receive an eCredit for the unflown portion of the trip, or may instead request a refund for the unflown portion of the trip at delta.com/refund. Issuing SkyMiles Program miles or a travel voucher in an amount based on the customer’s affected travels. Covering eligible expenses resulting from this flight disruption, including providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations where available and ground transportation. Reimbursement of eligible expenses. Customers who have incurred hotel, meal or ground transportation expenses while in transit during this operational disruption may submit eligible expenses for reimbursement.* Reaching out to customers about cancellations and rebooking options. Delta is notifying customers about delays and cancellations in their itinerary via the Fly Delta app and text message, and offering rebooking options that can be managed online. While customers can monitor and manage their itineraries on Delta.com or on the Fly Delta app, these online tools have been inundated with traffic, causing intermittent performance challenges. Delta teams are working to stabilize those tools. Also note that our ability to respond to service messages on social media platforms such as X are limited. *Delta does not reimburse prepaid expenses, including but not limited to hotel reservations at the customer’s destination, vacation experiences, lost wages, concerts or other tickets. https://news.delta.com/update/july-19-22-2024-operation/delta-people-working-247-restore-operation-support-customers-get CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. (APSCON 2024) - July 29 - August 3; Houston TX • 2024 FAA Drone and AAM Symposium, July 30-August 1 | Baltimore, MD • 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 • DEFENCE AVIATION SAFETY 2024 - 2 OCTOBER - 3 OCTOBER 2024 - LONDON • 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