Flight Safety Information - August 1, 2024 No. 153 In This Issue : Incident: Smartwings B738 near Rome on Jun 11th 2024, engine shut down in flight : Cessna 208 Caravan I - Failed Takeoff (Colombia) : F-16 fighter jet loses fuel tanks in training exercise over Lake Huron : A first officer fainted during a flight to Lisbon. It's a reminder why commercial airplanes should always have 2 pilots. : American Airlines Passenger Charged After Allegedly Attempting to Open Aircraft Exterior Doors Mid-Flight : Boeing 737 MAX crash families say planemaker should face much higher fine : ‘Unwanted sauna’: Should airplane cabins have a standard temperature? : Construction company in Idaho airport hangar collapse ignored safety standards, OSHA says : Philippine Airlines mulls large aircraft order : United Airlines set to purchase sustainable jet fuel at O’Hare International Airport : JetBlue To Use Sustainable Jet Fuel At New York’s JFK Airport : Calendar of Events Incident: Smartwings B738 near Rome on Jun 11th 2024, engine shut down in flight A Smartwings Boeing 737-800, registration OK-TVG performing flight QS-2816 from Prague (Czech Republic) to Djerba (Tunisia), was enroute at FL350 about 110nm eastnortheast of Rome (Italy) when the crew decided to shut their left hand engine (CFM56) down due to oil quantity and pressure indications. The aircraft landed safely on Rome's runway 16L about 30 minutes later. Czechia's UZPLN reported the crew received an ENG 1 LOW OIL QTY indication, checked the other parameters which were in normal range. However, some time later the crew observed the oil pressure was decreasing, therefore the crew then shut the engine down. Maintenance discovered an oil leak, a ruptured oil line, the oil line was replaced and the defective part sent for further analysis. https://avherald.com/h?article=51bd3077&opt=0 Cessna 208 Caravan I - Failed Takeoff (Colombia) Date: Wednesday 31 July 2024 Time: Type: Cessna 208 Caravan I Owner/operator: Aeronáutica Civil de Columbia Registration: HK-3200-G MSN: 20800068 Year of manufacture: 1985 Engine model: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Category: Accident Location: Bahia Cupica Airfield, Chocó, Juradó - Colombia Phase: Take off Nature: Calibration/Inspection Departure airport: Bahia Cupica Airfield Destination airport: Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Cessna 208 Caravan I (Blackhawk 850hp PWC PT6A-42A conversion), operated by Aeronáutica Civil de Columbia, failed to takeoff from Bahia Cupica Airfield, Chocó, Juradó, and came to rest in several trees in a wooded area. There were four employees of the Colombian CAA on board who were going to inspect the conditions of the runway for its improvement. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/406317 F-16 fighter jet loses fuel tanks in training exercise over Lake Huron TAWAS CITY, MI — Malfunctioning fuel tanks on an F-16 fighter jet caused an in-flight emergency during a training exercise over Lake Huron on July 31. The aircraft landed safely at the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport shortly after the incident took place, according to a news release from the Ohio Air National Guard. https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2024/07/f-16-fighter-jet-loses-fuel-tanks-in-training-exercise-over-lake-huron.html A first officer fainted during a flight to Lisbon. It's a reminder why commercial airplanes should always have 2 pilots. • An easyJet first officer fainted during a flight from London to Lisbon on Saturday. • The captain landed the plane safely, highlighting the importance of the two-pilot rule. • Regulators and pilot unions oppose single-pilot operations, citing safety concerns. Passengers don't usually get on a flight expecting their pilot to fall ill. But on the rare occasion that it does happen, the two-pilot minimum rule means somebody can land the plane safely. On Saturday, for example, an easyJet first officer fainted during a flight from London to Lisbon with nearly 200 passengers on board. An airline spokesperson told Business Insider that the plane was "met by the paramedics upon landing due to a pilot feeling unwell." "The captain landed the flight routinely in line with procedures and passengers disembarked normally," they said. "At no point was the safety of the flight compromised." Mark Stephens, a retired Delta pilot, recently told BI that domestic or short-haul flights should have at least two pilots, while international or long-haul flights should have two pilots and two captains. Safety in numbers The incident on Saturday highlights the importance of having an additional pilot on board. Over the years, there have been reports of medical emergencies in midair, including sudden illnesses such as heart attacks or even death. On these occasions, the remaining pilot or pilots should focus on diverting or landing the plane safely while the rest of the crew tends to the pilot who is injured or unwell. In March 2023, a Southwest Airlines pilot had stomach pains and became "incapacitated" during a flight from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio. A pilot from another airline who was on board as a passenger stepped in to help the remaining Southwest pilot land the plane, the outlet said. Related stories The concept of single-pilot operations has been debated and criticized by regulators and pilot unions in Europe and the US. Reuters reported in February 2023 that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency rejected an industry push to allow planes to be operated by one pilot by 2030. Andrea Boiardi, chief expert of operational suitability at the regulator, told Reuters at the time that the idea of a single-pilot flight was "absolutely not realistic." While single-pilot flights can take place, it is rare and would require approval from the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization, individual airlines, and their pilot unions, Reuters said. https://www.businessinsider.com/commercial-airlines-two-pilots-rule-medical-emergency-2024-8 American Airlines Passenger Charged After Allegedly Attempting to Open Aircraft Exterior Doors Mid-Flight Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an alleged unruly passenger onboard an American Airlines flight after engaging in disruptive and life-threatening behavior, including attempting to open the aircraft exterior doors mid-flight. According to court documents, Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, of Delanco, New Jersey, a passenger onboard American Airlines flight #2101, assaulted and intimidated a flight attendant and aircraft crew members on July 18, 2024. As a result of Gapco’s alleged unruly behavior, the flight, which originated from Seattle, Washington, and was en route to Dallas, Texas, was diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport. As alleged in the complaint and detention memo, Gapco failed to follow instructions to remain in his seat, propositioned a flight attendant for sex, was repeatedly loud, vaped, bothered other passengers, locked himself in the lavatory, and attempted to open the aircraft exterior doors multiple times while the aircraft was in flight. As a result, Gapco was restrained by flight crew members and other passengers with flexible restraints to his feet and hands during the flight. Upon landing he was arrested by law enforcement at Salt Lake City International Airport. Gapco is charged with interference with a flight crew, and attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. His initial appearance on the indictment is August 1, 2024, at 1:15 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and Salt Lake City Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. https://finchannel.com/american-airlines-passenger-charged-after-allegedly-attempting-to-open-aircraft-exterior-doors-mid-flight/121996/americas/2024/08/ Boeing 737 MAX crash families say planemaker should face much higher fine WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - Families for some of the 346 people killed in two fatal Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 737 MAX crashes said on Wednesday a U.S. judge should reject the planemaker's proposed plea deal with the Justice Department and the government should seek a much higher fine. On July 24, the planemaker finalized an agreement to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay up to $487 million after breaching a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement. Paul Cassell, a lawyer for some of the families, said in a court filing the fine "is inadequate -- or, at the very least, rests on misleading accounting and inaccurate accounting." He added the fine "fails to reflect that Boeing’s crime killed 346 innocent victims." Cassell called that decision "not only inaccurate—it is morally reprehensible." Adrian Vuckovich, another lawyer representing relatives, said in a separate filing "we suggest that Boeing should be required to pay a substantial fine which recognizes the value of each of the 346 people killed, the substantial harm to others and pay a fine which is consistent with fines paid by other corporate criminal defendants." The families cited O'Connor's statement in a February 2023 ruling: "Boeing's crime may properly be considered the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history." Spokespeople for Boeing and the Justice Department did not immediately comment on the families' filings. The DOJ told Boeing earlier this month it could accept a settlement that branded the planemaker a felon or fight the charge in court. The Justice Department said in May that Boeing had breached its obligations in the agreement that shielded the planemaker from criminal prosecution stemming from misrepresentations about a key software feature tied to fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 in Indonesia and Ethiopia. The Justice Department has a separate criminal probe ongoing into the Alaska Airlines (ALK.N), opens new tab jet that was missing four key bolts. As part of the guilty plea deal, Boeing agreed to pay the maximum fine of $487.2 million and the DOJ recommended the court credit its previous 2021 payment of $243.6 million against that, which was required by 2021 deal. The deal also imposes an independent monitor, who will have to publicly file annual progress reports, to oversee the firm's compliance. The company's board -- including new CEO -- must meet with the victims' families within four months of sentencing. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/boeing-737-max-crash-families-say-planemaker-should-face-much-higher-fine-2024-07-31/ ‘Unwanted sauna’: Should airplane cabins have a standard temperature? Global heat records are raising concerns about the temperature air travellers may face while waiting to jet off to their destinations, with one former pilot stressing passengers shouldn't feel like they're in a sauna. Two weeks ago, the Earth set a record for the hottest day on record, which was then broken the very next day. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, told Global News that stifling heat can make for an uncomfortable beginning to a trip. "Some of these temperatures in the cabin can get very hot, especially during the summer season, sometimes going above 100 degrees (Fahrenheit)," he said. "Passengers need to know they are not going to be treated to an unwanted sauna," he wrote. Some organizations want a regulatory standard put in place for cabin temperatures. The Association of Flight Attendants, for example, petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2018, calling for a minimum federal standard of 80 F or 26.7 C during boarding, with a higher limit of 85 F if in-flight entertainment screens are on. The petition is currently being studied by the Department of Transportation. According to the association, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently requires there be no more than a 5 F difference in either direction between cockpit and cabin, "but does not specify an acceptable range in temperatures." Under a law signed in May, the U.S. government is required to study the impacts of temperature in the aircraft cabin on both passengers and crew. The FAA told Global News in an email that airlines are required to provide a comfortable cabin temperature during a tarmac delay, and that, with some exceptions, passengers must be given the option to leave a domestic flight if on the tarmac for three hours or more. Aviation management professor John Gradek told Global News it can be difficult to set a standard because conditions differ where a plane lands. For example, in February, it may be hot Mumbai while it's very cold in Toronto. "You deal with the flight crew, you deal with the cabin crew, and you make your point known, and they will adjust the temperature based on what they can or can't do," he said. "Putting regulatory approvals and parameters around it is an additional boondoggle that may not be appropriate." There are still things people can do to keep things cool, including pulling window shades down or opening up overhead air vents — though depending on the aircraft, that's not always possible. Air vents typically cannot be operated on the ground as they require the engine to be on. The plane can utilize its auxillary power unit (APU) in order for air conditioning to be turned on, however Shahidi said it can pose problems for airlines including a country's environmental regulations which could come into play given the carbon emissions using an APU can produce. While American organizations are trying to get standards put in place, Canada does have some regulations in place. Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations set out by the federal government state that "if feasible," the temperature on board an aircraft shall be maintained at a level no less than 18 C — or 64 F — and no more than 29 C or 84 F. The Canadian Transportation Agency, like the U.S., also requires airlines give passengers the opportunity to disembark if a plane is delayed on the tarmac at an airport in Canada for three hours. Global News reached out to Transport Canada for more information on standards around cabin temperature, but did not hear back by publication. Porter Airlines in a statement to Global News added in addition to following such regulations around heat, airplanes are typically connected to ground power at airports to run systems such as air conditioning, adding that the APU is used to support cooling systems as a "supplementary measure in certain conditions." WestJet told Global News that air conditioning is provided at most Canadian airports as part of the airline's terminal fees, but said its staff also work with airport partners to manage temperature fluctuations. As well, if necessary, delaying boarding until the flight is ready to depart may be done to limit how long passengers spend onboard the aircraft. Gradek said that while airlines want to get people onboard, it's unlikely carriers would rush people onto a plane that is too hot, adding that it is up to the airlines to ensure the plane is both not too hot or too cold. Global News reached out to Air Canada about its temperature standards but did not hear back by publication. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/unwanted-sauna-should-airplane-cabins-have-a-standard-temperature/ar-BB1qYBQQ Construction company in Idaho airport hangar collapse ignored safety standards, OSHA says BOISE, Idaho. (AP) — Federal safety investigators on Monday cited a construction company in the deadly collapse of an Idaho airport hangar, saying it exercised a “blatant disregard” for federal safety standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed nearly $200,000 in penalties for Big D Builders, Inc., KBOI-TV reported. The penalties stem from one willful violation and three serious violations of federal safety regulations. “Big D Builders’ blatant disregard for federal safety regulations cost three workers their lives and caused at least eight others to suffer painful injuries,” OSHA Area Director David Kearns said. Big D Builders, based in Meridian, Idaho, in an emailed statement on Monday said the company had no comment on the report or its findings because of a pending lawsuit filed by the families of two of the construction workers who were killed. Federal inspectors found the company had started building the hangar without sufficient bracing or tensioned wires and that numerous indications that the structure was unstable and bending were ignored. “The company’s irresponsible construction methods left the aircraft hangar’s structure extremely vulnerable,” Kearns said. https://apnews.com/article/boise-airport-hangar-collapse-osha-big-d-builders-a3112243b794201417b706a40670338e Philippine Airlines mulls large aircraft order The CEO of Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) says the carrier is considering placing a large aircraft order to support an expected increase in demand. Stanley Ng told the ABS CBN News outlet that studies were underway and suggested any order would be for around 75 aircraft. Specifically, Ng told the outlet that including current orders, Philippine Airlines was eyeing an order backlog of about 100 aircraft. Currently, Philippine Airlines has thirteen A321-200N and nine A350-1000s on order. Based on assurances from Airbus, the airline expects the first of the A321N types to arrive in mid-2026, and the first of the A350s to begin arriving in the second half of 2025. Manila's Business World also reports that Philippines Airlines is talking to financial institutions about borrowing around USD500 million to exercise options to secure three more A350-1000s. Ng called the extra aircraft a "buffer," adding that it would take the number of aircraft currently on order to 25. "We are talking to the banks right now for the funding,” he said. The CEO said it was important to plan ahead and be ready for growth. "It’s thinking ahead also,” he said. Asked if the future order would be for 100 aircraft, Ng said "if you add those pending orders, maybe around that number.” According to ch-aviation PRO airlines data, Philippine Airlines operates to 72 airports in 21 countries with a fleet of 80 aircraft, including fifteen A320-200s, twenty-two A321-200s, six A321-200Ns, two A321-200NX, eleven A330-300s, two A350-900s, nine B777-300ERs, and eleven DHC-8-Q400s. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/143098-philippine-airlines-mulls-large-aircraft-order United Airlines set to purchase sustainable jet fuel at O’Hare International Airport • The airline is also using it in Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Amsterdam. • A major airline is set to become the first in Illinois to buy sustainable jet fuel. United Airlines is set to purchase one million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, at O’Hare International Airport through the end of year. The first supply is set to be delivered in August. The fuel at O’Hare will be derived from fats, oils and greases like used cooking oil, but can also be made from agricultural waste. The airline said the initiative is made possible by tax credits passed by the Illinois General Assembly. “The tax credits they championed and enacted incentivized SAF adoption by airlines like United and helped grow the overall marketplace,” said United President Brett Hart during a news conference Wednesday. In 2023, Illinois passed an incentive to support sustainable aviation fuel, creating a $1.50 per gallon purchase tax credit to support the supply and use of the fuel within the state. “Our persistence in the fight against climate change is what inspired the sustainable aviation fuel credit, and it’s our world class agricultural industry, our evolving infrastructure, and our state’s natural advantages that have positioned us for success in this pursuit,” said Gov. J.B. Pritzker. SAF can be a replacement for traditional aviation fuel, and any plane should be able to fly with it, without needing costly modifications. Existing regulations only allow SAF to be used in a 50% blend with traditional jet fuel for commercial flights. The fuel can emit up to 85% less carbon on a life cycle basis, compared to jet fuel. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Illinois ranked fifth in the country for jet fuel consumption in 2022. O’Hare is the fifth airport in the world where United has bought SAF for operational use, the most airports of any U.S. airline. The airline is also using it in Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Amsterdam. https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/united-airlines-set-purchase-sustainable-jet-fuel-ohare-international JetBlue To Use Sustainable Jet Fuel At New York’s JFK Airport Summary • JetBlue announces purchase of sustainable aviation fuel for use in New York, showing commitment to sustainability in the industry. • Deal with Valero Energy Corp and World Fuel Services to provide over 3 million gallons of SAF to JFK operations. • JetBlue hopes to double its SAF purchase over 2023, also using SAF in California airports. Earlier today, JetBlue became the latest carrier to announce it would purchase sustainable aviation fuel, and this time, it will be destined for use in New York. Furthering commitment to sustainability The aviation industry worldwide aims to achieve net-zero emissions, and airlines and manufacturers are working on ways to achieve this goal. So far, the most tangible action point is to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). However, companies are attempting to create hydrogen-powered engines and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Earlier today, JetBlue announced a new SAF purchase of more than three million gallons. The airline will purchase SAF from a unit of Valero Energy Corp and will receive it from World Kinect. Starting in the fourth quarter of this year, World Fuel Services (WFS) will provide the SAF to JetBlue for its operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The new deal will last twelve months. During this time, JetBlue will receive one million gallons of neat SAF, which is about 3.3 million gallons blended. Additionally, JetBlue will have the option to purchase four million gallons, or about 13.3 million blended. “This newly available SAF in our hometown is a key signal of the growing engagement by major fuel producers and the potential of SAF to meaningfully address aviation’s carbon emissions. By leveraging Valero’s globally recognized expertise in energy markets and logistics, and by utilizing existing jet fuel distribution infrastructure, this new large-scale supply of SAF is set to be a pivotal moment as the industry grows the use of SAF. Truly maximizing the impact of this opportunity will require engagement across all sectors.” - Sara Bogdan, Managing Director of Sustainability and Environmental Social Governance, JetBlue JFK is not the first airport at which JetBlue will use SAF. The airline has a regular supply at two California airports, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Last year, JetBlue doubled its SAF purchase over 2022 and is on track to do the same this year. JetBlue operations at JFK According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, JetBlue has nearly 11,000 roundtrip flights to and from JFK next month. The New York-based airline has a seat offering of 1.75 million. From JFK, JetBlue operates routes to several countries and, of course, domestically. The busiest route in the network is a transcontinental route to LAX, which JetBlue will serve up to ten times daily in August. Its second-busiest route is to Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is served up to nine times daily and has more than 90,000 seats available. From JFK, the third-busiest route is international, to Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Throughout August, the route will be served up to nine times daily. The longest flight from JFK is to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) in the Netherlands. The 3,644-mile flight is operated daily with the airline’s Airbus A321LRs. Not far behind is the flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris. The flight, which is served twice daily, is 3,623 miles long. https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-saf-jfk-new-york/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 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