Flight Safety Information - August 13, 2024 No. 161 In This Issue : Incident: Azul E295 at Florianopolis on Aug 12th 2024, burst both left main tyres on landing : Incident: Modern Logistics B734 at Sao Paulo on Aug 12th 2024, burst tyre on departure : Incident: Easyjet Switzerland A320 near Geneva on Aug 7th 2024, down to one generator : Incident: Cayman B38M at New York on Aug 10th 2024, flaps problem : Atlas Air cargo jet makes emergency return to Japan airport : French Safety Agency to Assist in Brazil Plane Crash Investigation : Maryland woman caught with loaded gun at Reagan National Airport : 4 flight attendants hospitalized for injuries from turbulence : FAA Denies Association Of Flight Attendants Request For New Cabin Air Quality Rule : FAA Suggests Boeing 787 Landing Gears Need To Be Inspected : FAA Clears Piper M700 for Unpaved Field Operations : airBaltic places order for 10 additional A220 aircraft bringing airline’s total order to 90 : Brazil's Embraer says Virgin Australia ordered 8 of its regional jets : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : Calendar of Events Incident: Azul E295 at Florianopolis on Aug 12th 2024, burst both left main tyres on landing An Azul Linhas Aereas Embraer ERJ-195-E2, registration PS-AEM performing flight AD-4225 (dep Aug 11th) from Belo Horizonte,MG to Florianopolis,SC (Brazil), landed on Florianopolis' runway 32 but burst both left main tyres. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway and was disabled. The onward sector was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Florianopolis about 14.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c51245&opt=0 Incident: Modern Logistics B734 at Sao Paulo on Aug 12th 2024, burst tyre on departure A Modern Logistics Boeing 737-400, registration PP-YBB performing flight WD9704 from Sao Paulo Viracopos,SP to an unknown destination (Brazil), was enroute at FL310 over Belo Horizonte,MG (Brazil) when the crew decided to return to Viracopos due to tyre damage. The aircraft performed a low approach to runway 33 to have the landing gear checked from the ground, which confirmed one of the left main tyres was damaged, then entered a hold to prepare for landing. The aircraft landed on runway 33 about 90 minutes after the low approach with a lot of white smoke emanating from the tyres. The crew subsequently reported now both left main tyres were deflated disabling the aircraft on the runway. The airport needed to be closed. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c5107a&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet Switzerland A320 near Geneva on Aug 7th 2024, down to one generator An Easyjet Switzerland Airbus A320-200, registration HB-JZX performing flight U2-1379 from Geneva (Switzerland) to Madrid,SP (Spain), was enroute at FL320 about 130nm southwest of Geneva when the crew initiated the return to Geneva reporting two of their three generators had failed. The aircraft landed safely back on Geneva's runway 22 about 55 minutes after departure. The aircraft returned to service about 21 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c5059a&opt=0 Incident: Cayman B38M at New York on Aug 10th 2024, flaps problem A Cayman Airways Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration VP-CIZ performing flight KX-792 from George Town (Cayman Islands) to New York JFK,NY (USA), was on approach to New York when the aircraft entered a hold at 10,000 feet due to a problem with the flaps. The passengers were told to brace for landing. The aircraft subsequently positioned for an approach to runway 31L and landed safely at a higher speed than normal (about 170 knots over ground). The aircraft is still on the ground in New York about 39 hours after landing. The airline reported it was a false alarm triggered by a faulty sensor. The aircraft had encountered stuck flaps just 2 days earlier, see Incident: Cayman B38M at George Town on Aug 8th 2024, stuck flaps. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c503db&opt=0 Atlas Air cargo jet makes emergency return to Japan airport An Atlas Air cargo plane bound for Los Angeles returned to Narita airport near Tokyo early Tuesday for an emergency landing, causing the temporary closure of a runway. The U.S. carrier's Flight 7106 landed back at the airport at around 1:10 a.m. after detecting a malfunction in the hydraulic system. The Boeing 747 aircraft had a punctured tire, with a broken wheel. Due to the incident, Runway A at the airport was closed for about 7 hours. The transport ministry's airport office said seven crew were onboard the cargo plane but nobody was injured. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/08/a82285366bb1-atlas-air-cargo-jet-makes-emergency-return-to-japan-airport.html#google_vignette French Safety Agency to Assist in Brazil Plane Crash Investigation On Friday, a Voepass plane with 58 passengers and 4 crew members crashed in a residential area. On Monday, the Office of Investigations and Analyses (BEA), the French institution responsible for investigating air accidents, announced its participation in the investigation into the crash of the Voepass airline plane. On Friday, this plane crashed in Sao Paulo, leaving 62 occupants dead, according to Brazilian authorities, who assigned the leadership of the accident investigation to the Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA). Specifically, the French agency BEA indicated that five of its experts are on the ground, accompanied by technical advisors from the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The crashed plane was a 72-500 turboprop manufactured by ATR, a joint subsidiary of Airbus and the Italian company Leonardo, with its assembly plant located in the French city of Toulouse. The text reads, “Plane crash in Vinhedo kills all 62 people on board. Plane leaving Cascavel bound for Guarulhos crashed in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo.” This aircraft has the capacity to transport 68 passengers and a range of up to 772 nautical miles (about 1,430 kilometers). The Voepass plane, which was covering the route between the city of Cascavel and Sao Paulo with 58 passengers and 4 crew members, crashed when it was about 80 kilometers from reaching its destination. Despite crashing in a residential area, the aircraft did not impact any buildings and did not cause any casualties on the ground. https://www.telesurenglish.net/french-aviation-safety-agency-to-assist-in-brazil-plane-crash-investigation/ Maryland woman caught with loaded gun at Reagan National Airport A Silver Spring woman is the latest to face fines and a criminal charge after TSA officers intercepted a loaded gun in her carry-on luggage at Reagan National Airport. The incident occurred this past Thursday, Aug. 8, when Transportation Security Administration screeners discovered a 9mm firearm loaded with six bullets, including one in the chamber, during a routine security check. Airport police responded to the checkpoint, confiscated the weapon and issued the woman a criminal citation. The case highlights the ongoing problem of travelers attempting to bring firearms through airport security checkpoints. “It is troubling to see travelers continue to bring their firearms to our checkpoints instead of properly packing them for a flight,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. Busch expressed concern about the potential dangers of unsecured firearms in airport settings. “A loaded, unsecured firearm, with an unwitting owner, is just a tragedy waiting to happen,” he said. The incident marks the 26th gun intercepted at National Airport checkpoints so far in 2024. This continues a trend of increasing firearm interceptions at the airport in recent years. In 2023, TSA officers caught 39 guns at DCA checkpoints, up from 29 in 2022 and 30 in 2021. The numbers have risen significantly since 2018 when 16 firearms were intercepted. Travelers caught with firearms at TSA checkpoints face severe consequences, including potential criminal charges and civil penalties of up to $15,000. The TSA emphasizes that firearms are never permitted through security checkpoints, regardless of whether a traveler has a concealed carry permit. Busch noted that many travelers claim they simply forgot the gun was in their bag. “Nearly all the travelers we encounter with a firearm say, ‘I forgot it was there,'” Busch said. “That is very concerning.” The TSA provides clear guidelines for travelers who wish to legally transport firearms on flights. “If you want to travel with your firearm, all that we ask is that you pack it the right way,” Busch explained. “It is a fairly simple process.” The proper procedure involves packing an unloaded gun in a hard-sided, locked case and declaring it at the airline check-in counter. The airline then ensures the firearm is transported in the plane’s cargo hold, inaccessible during the flight. In addition to financial penalties, travelers caught with firearms at checkpoints may lose TSA PreCheck privileges if they are members of the program. https://www.arlnow.com/2024/08/12/maryland-woman-caught-with-loaded-gun-at-reagan-national-airport/ 4 flight attendants hospitalized for injuries from turbulence Four American Airlines flight attendants were injured during turbulence last week, the airline said. American Airlines flight 2905 departed from Tampa at 5:39 p.m. Thursday heading to Charlotte when the Airbus A321 encountered "unexpected turbulence," an American Airlines spokesperson told USA TODAY. Four of the six flight attendants working the flight were taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. No further information on their injuries has been disclosed. None of the 154 passengers were injured from the turbulence and the aircraft landed safely at its destination on-time. Why is turbulence increasing? Rougher skies may be from climate change, scientists say "We thank our crew members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding," the airline said in a statement. This incident is just the latest in a series of turbulence-related events, which is becoming more common, even in the warmer months. Climate change-driven impacts on the atmosphere will likely cause more frequent and severe turbulence, particularly clear air turbulence, which is harder for pilots to predict because there are no visible warning signs. In May, a Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence that resulted in 30 people injured and one person dead from a heart attack. Earlier this month, Korean Air announced it would stop serving instant ramen as a safety precaution due to worsening turbulence. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2024/08/12/flight-attendants-hospitalized-from-turbulence/74774047007/ FAA Denies Association Of Flight Attendants Request For New Cabin Air Quality Rule Summary • The FAA has denied a petition from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) to change the rules regarding smoke and fume events. • The FAA argued that the latest Reauthorization Act has already mandated the regulator to study the topic. • Meanwhile, the AFA-CWA criticized the legislation's language for being too ambiguous. • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has denied a request from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) to change the way airlines report smoke and fume events on commercial flights. No criteria to change the rules In a response to the AFA-CWA, the FAA stated that after a review and considering the current priorities of the regulator, it has determined that the union’s petition does not meet the criteria to pursue rulemaking at this time. “However, the issue of cabin air safety and quality will be studied further in the near term, and if future rulemaking is determined to be necessary […]. In the meantime, your comments and arguments for the proposed rule changes in your petition will be placed in a database, which the FAA will examine when the FAA considers future rulemaking.” The FAA argued that the newest Reauthorization Act directed the regulator to address these issues in a comprehensive way. Congress has mandated the regulator to develop a standardized system for crew members to study and issue recommendations on cabin air quality. If appropriate, the FAA would issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish requirements for commercial airlines – operating under Part 121 rules – to address risks that would be identified by the aforementioned study. The NPRM could propose changes to how flight crew members are trained to handle smoke or fume events, the required actions to respond to such events, and the installation of onboard detectors. US Congress Introduces Bill To Curb Toxic Aircraft Fumes A new bill introduced in Congress could force the airline industry to adopt new protective measures. Challenges defining the frequency of fume events Judith Anderson, the Industrial hygienist of the air safety, health, and security department of the AFA-CWA , sent the petition on behalf of the union to the FAA on November 8, 2023. Anderson, noting that the union has represented over 50,000 US-based flight attendants since 1945, highlighted that her 2021 scientifically published study concluded that in a ten-year span, engine oil and hydraulic fluid in bleed air was the second most prevalent type of onboard fume and smoke events. “Still, it is challenging to define the actual frequency of engine oil and hydraulic fume events. Part of the reason is the wording of the FAA regulations intended to solicit the reports.” As a result, the proposed petition would improve the FAA Service Difficult Reports (SDR) dataset about smoke and fume events, with the data being more accessible and useful. According to the petition, the most common sources of these events were: • Air conditioning packs • Smoking or defective batteries • Bleed air (specific type of contamination undefined) • Deicing fluid • Blown, disconnected, or clogged duct and/or insulation • Electrical item/system • Engine oil • Engine wash • Fan • Fuel/exhaust • Hydraulic fluid • Oven/galley equipment • Other, not classified • Unidentified What Are Fume Events & How Are Aircraft Designed To Eliminate Them? Toxins from various sources feeding into the cabin air supply can be very dangerous - particularly over the long term. Ambiguous language The AFA-CWA stated that the current rules could be more precise in the way that they were worded and published. Currently, the FAA requires airlines to notify about each failed, malfunctioning, or defective component that has caused a smoke or fume event onboard an aircraft “The FAA does not appear to have defined “during flight,” but the Agency has defined “flight time” as the period during which an aircraft is moving under its own power for the purpose of flight.” However, that does mean that airlines do not have to report events that happen at the gate and that the rule omitted carriers from the requirement of reporting such events when a malfunction was not identified. The union stated that these were significant omissions since first, there was an industry-wide consensus that Auxiliary Power Unity (APU) events may persist after pushback even if the APU has been turned off. APU-related fume events typically start at the gate, the union highlighted. As such, limiting reporting events to those that happen ‘during flight’ limited the number of APU-sourced smoke events, with the AFA-CWA proposing to change the language of the rule to include events that happen ‘during operation.’ Secondly, some fume occurrences could happen due to worn-out engine bearings or seals, for example, which would not be classified as a mechanical failure. As a result, these events should be still reported. In addition to the language change, the AFA-CWA proposed that each fume event would be reported to the SDR with two standardized questions, namely the source of the smoke/fume and the was the type of event confirmed or only suspected. The union argued that it was in the public interest to have a more accurate FAA SDR dataset and that the proposed changes would require minimal compliance costs since US-based airlines already report these events. https://simpleflying.com/faa-denies-association-flight-attendants-request-new-cabin-air-quality-rule/ FAA Suggests Boeing 787 Landing Gears Need To Be Inspected The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed an airworthiness directive after the company had reported that certain 787 main landing gear inspections were not performed during the production process. To be more specific, during the manufacturing process of four drag brace lower link assemblies of the main landing gear, a fluorescent penetrant inspection was not performed. https://simpleflying.com/video/a-quality-escape-faa-suggests-boeing-787-landing-gears-need-to-be-inspected/ FAA Clears Piper M700 for Unpaved Field Operations The agency’s latest certification follows the Fury’s type certification in March. M700 Fury name harkens back to a Royal Air Force biplane fighter of the 1930s. [Leonardo Correa Luna] Piper Aircraft's M700 Fury has received FAA approval for unpaved field operations, the company announced Monday. According to Piper, the M700 Fury, which was certified in March, underwent "rigorous testing for unpaved field certification." “The Fury's performance was exceptional," Ron Gunnarson, vice president of sales, marketing, and customer support at Piper Aircraft, said in a statement. “The aircraft’s robust design and construction quality ensured seamless operations in all test conditions. The certification process was also smooth with the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight test being completed in just one day.” Safety is key with the Piper Fury, according to the company. The airframe comes standard with a G3000 avionics suite, including autothrottle, emergency descent mode, electronic stability protection, SurfaceWatch, SafeTaxi, and Garmin PlaneSync, along with the HALO Safety System, featuring Garmin Emergency Autoland. The system is designed to allow the aircraft to land safely at the nearest suitable airport in the event the pilot is incapacitated. The powerplant of the M700 Fury is a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 700 SHP capable of a maximum cruise speed of 301 ktas. The Fury has a standard useful load of 2,320 pounds and a range of approximately 1,852 nm. The single-engine aircraft can be configured for executive transport, a cargo hauler, or both. https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/faa-clears-piper-m700-for-unpaved-field-operations/ airBaltic places order for 10 additional A220 aircraft bringing airline’s total order to 90 Mirabel, Canada, - 13 August 2024 - airBaltic confirms an incremental order for an additional 10 A220-300s. This new and fourth reorder will take the airline’s total firm order to 90 A220 aircraft. Already operating a strong fleet of close to 50 A220-300s, airBaltic is currently the largest A220 customer in Europe and the largest A220-300 operator in the world. The Latvian flag carrier has a long standing history operating the Airbus A220-300, having been the launch customer in 2016. Since 2020, the airline has operated an A220-exclusive fleet. With a firm order for 90 A220-300, airBaltic further reinforces its position as the largest A220 customer in Europe. Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic, said: “For the first time in the company’s history, airBaltic plans to operate a fleet of close to 100 A220-300 aircraft, and these exercised options are the next step in the right direction. Over the years, this aircraft type has proven its operational capabilities and value – it has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic. By exercising these options, we are strengthening our unwavering support and trust in the A220 Programme and are looking forward to our fleet expansion over the upcoming years.” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business, said: “We are honored and thankful that airBaltic is placing its fourth follow-up order. This latest agreement from Latvia’s flag carrier is a strong endorsement of the superior value and operational opportunities offered by this latest generation aircraft. The A220 is quite simply the most efficient aircraft in its size category, with a spacious cabin driving the best Net Promoter Scores with passengers wherever it is operated, and the range capability to fly non-stop to any destination on the carrier’s current network and beyond.” The A220 is the most modern airliner in its class, carrying between 120 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). It has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, ensuring superior comfort. Combining state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF™ engines, the A220 brings customers a 50% reduced noise footprint when compared to previous generation aircraft and around 40% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. The aircraft offers 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030. As at the end of July, Airbus won more than 900 orders from around 30 customers for the A220, of which around 350 have been delivered. The A220 is already in successful service with more than 20 operators worldwide on 1,400+ routes. https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-08-airbaltic-places-order-for-10-additional-a220-aircraft-bringing Brazil's Embraer says Virgin Australia ordered 8 of its regional jets PARIS/SAO PAULO, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Brazilian planemaker Embraer (EMBR3.SA), opens new tab said on Monday it had secured a firm order for eight E190-E2 regional jets from Virgin Australia. Reuters reported earlier in the day before the announcement that industry sources said Embraer was poised to secure the order winning a competition against the A220, the smallest model of Europe's Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab. In a separate statement, Virgin Australia said the "significant investment" in Embraer aircraft would secure the future growth of its Western Australia-based regional and charter business, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA). The E190-E2 jets will join Virgin Australia's fleet starting in October 2025 and will ultimately replace its long-serving Fokker 100 fleet, the Australian carrier said. The companies did not say how much the order was worth. According to price estimates from consultancy Cirium Ascend, such an order would be worth just under $300 million after typical industry discounts. Embraer said the order will be added to its third quarter book, with deliveries expected to start in the second half of 2025. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/embraer-poised-win-e190-e2-jet-order-virgin-australia-sources-say-2024-08-12/ GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY My name is Brian Huh, and I'm a graduate student in applied psychology studying aviation human factors at the University of Southern California (USC). I'm currently assisting the ISASI Human Factors Working Group, under the direction of Toni Flint, Treena Forshaw, and Daniel Scalese, in its effort to enhance the existing, outdated Human Factors Guide. Our research aims to gather insights from aviation professionals to ensure this guide remains a valuable resource for a wide audience within the aviation safety community. We're focusing on identifying key areas of information and addressing specific challenges in the field of human factors in aviation safety. As part of this research, we've developed a survey to collect feedback from professionals like yourself. The survey takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and will close on August 12, 2024. Your input would be invaluable in shaping this comprehensive guide for aviation safety. And the Link to the Survey: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bmv6n323oHr3Rwq -Survey title: Aviation Investigator Needs Assessment Survey -Purpose: To inform the next iteration of the ISASI Human Factors Guide -Content: Feedback on the current guide, professional experiences, and challenges in applying human factors principles -Estimated Time to Complete: 20-30 minutes Your input is crucial in shaping this comprehensive guide. We realize the turnaround time is short, which is due to the deadlines associated with Brian's graduate program requirements. Even a small number of additional responses could be extremely valuable for this research. CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS 2024), Aug. 13-15, Beijing, China. • Stay Informed with NATA’s Regulatory Intel for Certification Success Webinar; August 22nd. Register: https://mynata.my.site.com/nata/s/lt-event?id=a1YRj0000012lrtMAA • 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