Flight Safety Information - August 14, 2024 No. 162 In This Issue : Beechcraft B100 King Air - Gear Up Landing/Fire (Canada) : Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 Islander - Forced Landing (Colombia) : Pilot directly sets list of rules for rowdy passengers, video shows : Federal board urges stricter safety rules for loading and dispatching charter flights like air tours : Cabin pressurisation snag: AI London-bound flight returns to Mumbai 3 hours after take off : Louisiana Woman Shines Laser Pointers at Aircraft, Faces Up to 5 Years in Prison : Aircraft Involved in Deadly Brazil Crash Had Suffered Previous Accidents : Two days in a row: Another gun intercepted by TSA at Pittsburgh International Airport : SkyWest Airlines facing federal lawsuit over alleged ‘fake company union’ : NTSB Calls for Certified Dispatchers, Expanded Manifests in Part 135 : Moldova Suspends Companies That Brokered Airplane-Parts Sales To Russia : LATAM Plans Possible Purchase Of Up To 30 Embraer Aircraft : Rolls-Royce secures engine deal for aircraft fleet : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : Calendar of Events Beechcraft B100 King Air - Gear Up Landing/Fire (Canada) Date: Tuesday 13 August 2024 Time: c. 12:25 LT Type: Beechcraft B100 King Air Owner/operator: FLYGTA Airlines Inc Registration: C-FTFT MSN: BE-49 Year of manufacture: 1978 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: Lake Simcoe Regional Airport (YLK/CYLS), ON - Canada Phase: Landing Nature: Training Departure airport: Toronto-Pearson International Airport, ON (YYZ/CYYZ) Destination airport: Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, ON (YLK/CYLS) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A FLYGTA Airlines Inc Beechcraft B100 King Air, performing flight TOR804, callsign "Homerun 804", experienced a gear up landing on runway 28 at Lake Simcoe Regional Airport (YLK/CYLS), Ontario. The three crew members were not injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/410623 Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 Islander - Forced Landing (Colombia) Date: Monday 12 August 2024 Time: c 15:02 LT Type: Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 Islander Owner/operator: Servicios Aereos Especiales (SAE) Registration: HK-2822 MSN: 2109 Year of manufacture: 1981 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: near Yerbabuena, Chía, Cundinamarca - Colombia Phase: Initial climb Nature: Ambulance Departure airport: Guaymaral Airport (SKGY) Destination airport: SKNA Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 Islander crashed in a vegetated area near Yerbabuena, Chía, Cundinamarca, when attempting a forced landing. The aircraft had taken off from Guaymaral Airport (SKGY) a few minutes before the accident. The four occupants received minor injuries and the aircraft was written off. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/410406 Pilot directly sets list of rules for rowdy passengers, video shows Pilot sets behavior rules for rowdy passengers, video shows The pilot spoke to the passengers before leaving the Glasgow Airport. A pilot stepped out of the cockpit to directly speak to passengers that were being "rowdy," video shows. The video was filmed by passenger Stephanie Still on August 9 before taking off from the Glasgow Airport. The pilot spoke directly to the passengers, saying he had been told that some passengers were being loud at the gate before boarding the plane. Still said some had too much to drink and were acting inappropriately at the gate. As crews were getting the cabin ready for departure. The captain said that "rowdy behavior" would not be tolerated. "It's not fair on anybody else on board, and it's certainly not fair on my crew," he said. The flight took off to Tenerife, Spain. There were no reports of disruptive behavior after the pilot's nearly two minute announcement. https://abc7chicago.com/post/pilot-directly-sets-list-rules-rowdy-passengers-video-shows-glasgow-airport-flight-tenerife-spain/15181402/ Federal board urges stricter safety rules for loading and dispatching charter flights like air tours WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal safety agency is recommending that air tours and other commercial aircraft operators be required to have certificated dispatchers to help pilots plan their flights. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that and other recommendations are based on a study of more than 500 accidents, some of them fatal. The NTSB said it began the study after seeing a “cluster of safety issues” from investigations of crashes between 2010 and 2022. The recommendations would not apply to major airlines, which operate under the most stringent U.S. rules. The NTSB noted that historically airlines have had lower accident rates than charter operations. The board said the Federal Aviation Administration should require air tours, commuter services, air ambulances and business jet charters to employ certificated flight dispatchers. The board said it found 12 accidents with a total of 45 deaths where flight dispatch was “deficient” because current regulations don’t require people performing the work to meet particular standards. The NTSB said it found four accidents and 11 deaths involving small planes that were not loaded in a safe manner. It recommended expanding a current rule on weight and balance documentation to single-engine planes. The board also repeated a previous recommendation that planes used in non-scheduled commercial operation be outfitted to collect data that indicates when pilots fail to follow proper procedures. The FAA said it takes NTSB recommendations seriously and will respond “within an appropriate timeframe.” https://apnews.com/article/ntsb-safety-recommendations-commercial-flights-92310b204c39f9c814a3a7d0d6f8c7a6 Cabin pressurisation snag: AI London-bound flight returns to Mumbai 3 hours after take off An Air India Boeing 777 from Mumbai to London experienced a cabin pressurisation issue shortly after takeoff and returned to Mumbai. The aircraft landed safely, and passengers were offered alternative travel arrangements or refunds. The airline stressed that passenger safety remains a top priority. The issue caused an air-turnback but not an emergency landing. NEW DELHI: An Air India Boeing 777 (VT-ALX) with about 310 people on board had an issue with its cabin de-pressurisation on Wednesday after taking off from Mumbai for London and safely returned to the origin. Flight tracking sites show the aircraft had taken off at 8.36 am the crew decided to return from near Jaipur. It landed in Mumbai at 11.28 am. “This was an air-turnback and not an emergency landing. The aircraft had some cabin pressurisation issue,” said people in the know. An AI spokesperson said: “AI129 operating from Mumbai to London made an air-return to Mumbai due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely at Mumbai for precautionary checks. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our guests due to this unexpected disruption. We have already made alternative arrangements to fly the passengers to their destination. Guests have also been offered full refunds on cancellation and complimentary rescheduling to another date, if so desired by them. At Air India, the safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew remains top priority.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/cabin-pressurisation-snag-ai-london-bound-flight-returns-to-mumbai-3-hours-after-take-off/articleshow/112521522.cms Louisiana Woman Shines Laser Pointers at Aircraft, Faces Up to 5 Years in Prison SHREVEPORT, La. (KPEL News) - A Shreveport woman is in serious trouble after shining laser pointers at two aircraft, which is a major federal crime. April Nicole Poitras, 45, of Shreveport, entered a guilty plea in federal court to multiple charges and faces up to 5 years in prison and up to a quarter million dollars in fines. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the guilty plea on Tuesday afternoon. In August of last year, a Cessna 172L flying at 3,500 feed above Caddo Parish, was "illuminated by a green laser from the ground," according to information presented in court. The incident was reported to local law enforcement, who was called out to the scene in multiple vehicles, including a police helicopter. However, the same green laser illuminated the helicopter, which helped a deputy from the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office identify Poitras, who was found with a laser pointer. She admitted at the scene that she was purposefully aiming it at the aircraft. As a result of her arrest and guilty plea, Poitras faces a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Laser pointers might seem like fun toys or useful tools, but they can become really dangerous when pointed at the sky, the FAA says. Aiming a laser at an airplane can blind or distract pilots, putting the lives of thousands of passengers at risk. In 2023 alone, pilots reported over 13,000 laser strikes to the FAA. The danger isn’t just to the pilot and passengers; it extends to people on the ground as well. An out-of-control aircraft poses a threat to anyone in its path. In 2023 alone, over 13,000 laser strikes were reported by pilots to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), highlighting the frequency and seriousness of this issue. What you might not know is that pointing a laser at an airplane is actually a federal crime. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and law enforcement take these situations very seriously, and if you’re caught, you could face both criminal charges and big fines. The fines for shining a laser at a plane can be as much as $11,000 for a single incident—and up to $30,800 for multiple strikes. In 2021, the FAA issued $120,000 in fines for laser strikes. So, while a laser pointer might seem harmless, using it irresponsibly can have serious consequences. Educating people, especially young individuals, about the dangers of laser strikes is crucial in preventing these incidents. Understanding the risks and the legal consequences can deter people from engaging in this reckless behavior. It’s essential to treat laser pointers with care and respect, recognizing that what seems like a harmless action could lead to catastrophic results. https://kpel965.com/louisiana-woman-shines-laser-pointers-at-aircraft-faces-up-to-5-years-in-prison/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral Aircraft Involved in Deadly Brazil Crash Had Suffered Previous Accidents Shocking details have emerged in the wake of Voepass Flight 2283's horrifying crash on Friday, August 9th. While the flight's investigation is ongoing, new details reveal that the same aircraft had suffered another incident earlier this year. The aircraft operating the ill-fated Flight 2283 was a 14-year-old ATR72 registered PS-VPB. On March 11th, 2024, this aircraft was operating Flight 2290, a domestic service from Recife (REC) to Salvador (SSA). While en route, the crew received a "low hydraulic quantity" indication. Following this, the flight continued to Salvador and landed safely. However, once the ATR72 touched down on Runway 10, the plane suffered a tail strike preventing it from continuing service. PS-VPB remained on the ground in Salvador for over two weeks following the incident. It was then ferried to Voepass' maintenance facilities in Ribeirão Preto and remained there until July 9th. CENIPA, Brazil's entity that investigates aircraft incidents, categorized the March 11th incident as "minor" and there was no detailed investigation into it. However, some Brazilian media claimed to have seen the maintenance logs for PS-VPB that noted serious structural damage following the tail strike. This would explain why the plane was grounded for almost three and a half additional months. More Issues PS-VPB returned to service on July 9th. However, the aircraft lost cabin pressure on its first flight back from maintenance. This prompted the ATR to once again be grounded but this time for four days. As of July 13th, the plane once again began operating regular flights. This streak would tragically end with the demise of Flight 2290 as it was nearing São Paulo. Furthermore, passengers who flew this aircraft in recent history leading up to the crash noted that it was always incredibly hot onboard. It seemed that the air condition system never worked properly, unlike other aircraft in the Voepass fleet. Given these details, it is easy to draw connections and say that PS-VPB's prior incidents played a significant role in its tragic demise. However, the investigation of Flight 2283 is ongoing. Preliminary reports have suggested that the aircraft suffered severe icing leading to various control systems being compromised. However, there is no official confirmation of this. The details regarding PS-VPB's troubled past are undoubtedly important and will be closely scrutinized in the Flight 2283 investigation. https://aeroxplorer.com/articles/aircraft-involved-in-deadly-brazil-crash-had-suffered-previous-accidents.php Two days in a row: Another gun intercepted by TSA at Pittsburgh International Airport Pittsburgh man arrested on a weapons charge PITTSBURGH — For the second day in a row, Transportation Security Administration officers intercepted a gun at Pittsburgh International Airport. The TSA said a 9mm gun with a bullet in the chamber was intercepted Tuesday. A Pittsburgh man was arrested on a weapons charge. It comes after a .380-caliber firearm was intercepted Monday. https://www.wtae.com/article/two-days-in-a-row-another-gun-intercepted-by-tsa-at-pittsburgh-international-airport/61874591 SkyWest Airlines facing federal lawsuit over alleged ‘fake company union’ Largest regional airline in North America also sued by flight attendant union for alleged retaliatory firings SkyWest Airlines, the largest regional airline in North America, is facing legal action over an alleged “fake” company union that the airline operates and the allegedly retaliatory firings of flight attendants who were engaged in union organizing efforts. A lawsuit was filed by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) in October 2023. The US Department of Labor also filed a lawsuit last month against the company over the “company union”, alleging SkyWest Inflight Association (SIA) did not perform its legal duties as a representative agency and barred two employees from running in an election for leadership positions due to their support for an independent union at the airline. The legal battles come as the conservative presidential plan for Trump’s second term, Project 2025, has called for enacting labor law reforms to permit employers to create non-union employee involvement organizations that are run jointly by management. The National Labor Relations Act currently makes it an unfair labor practice for employers “to dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any labor organization or contribute financial or other support to it”. SkyWest Airlines, which operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, is accused of financially supporting and controlling the SIA and a handbook for SIA representatives states the airline supports and funds the organization. In an interview with the Guardian, a former president of the SkyWest Inflight Association from October 2020 to October 2021, said he believed the company funded and controlled the union and improperly administered elections. The AFA requested he go by his first name only, Romero, as he was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Romero also alleged he experienced racial discrimination and was pushed to resign. Romero explained he was elected president of SIA in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests around the US in 2020 as corporations were making efforts to appear sympathetic to diversity, equity and inclusion issues. He said when he first assumed the role, he was excited to enact needed changes but immediately noticed issues and the lack of separation between management and the group and that leadership roles in the group had been a stepping stone to management positions. “The site is supposed to be the separation of the labor union organization and management, but there’s just so many things that just crossover,” he said. He explained that he would submit expense reports to Skywest to directly pay the SkyWest Inflight Association staff and add to their work schedules to get paid for activities related to the SIA: “That’s how we would get our money, that is how the organization is paid for by the company, the same company that is supposed to be separate,” he said. He also alleged all public statements and messages from SIA went through SkyWest’s communications department to review and approve them. “It’s such a conflict of interest even from the point of they were implementing things for union busting tactics, we would be brought into meetings and we were able to see what domiciles (airports where staff were based) had union activity going on,” he continued. Romero said when he was first elected, board members would criticize him and alleged one claimed he had a criminal record because they found someone with a similar name, who they didn’t know, had one. He alleged the vice-president had a close relationship with management and consistently undermined him to discuss policies and changes. He also claimed the SIA elections were never properly administered, such as mail notices not being sent out to employees ahead of elections and flaws with their voting system – allegations made in the Department of Labor’s lawsuit. In September 2021, days after Romero said he sent the SIA vice-president a cease and desist letter for continuing to meet and speak with management over changes and issues that he believes he should have been included in, he was informed by the vice-president that a recall election by the board was going to be held to remove him. Then Romero said racist text messages were anonymously leaked about his removal as president. Other flight attendants started a Justice for Romero campaign and a third-party investigation into the texts was started by the SkyWest Inflight Association. Although he never saw any investigative report, Romero said he didn’t hold any trust in it because they seemed to focus on trying to find out who leaked the messages rather than who wrote it. “They were trying to figure out who the whistleblower was compared to who the alleged perpetrator was and that pissed me off,” he said. “They said it was not conclusive.” He was moved to special projects from working as a flight attendant during the investigation and has since left the company. “I feel like they really just thought I was going to be somebody that’s going to be a yes man,” concluded Romero. “There is utterly no separation between management and the labor union, from the pay to the voter operating system. Flight attendants deserve to be able to have the opportunity to choose its representative labor organization.” The October 2023 lawsuit filed by AFA-CWA is still in the discovery process and the union recently filed an amended complaint to include new allegations that SkyWest Airlines managers have surveilled union organizing activities of flight attendants. “The DOL’s lawsuit again makes clear the SkyWest Inflight Association is an illegal company union operating at the behest of management and not for Flight Attendants it claims to represent,” said AFA-CWA in a statement. “As we have seen, SkyWest management will do whatever they can – including firing long-time workers – to intimidate and attempt to control Flight Attendants. SkyWest Flight Attendants are organizing to form a true union with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA under the Railway Labor Act. SkyWest Flight Attendants want these legal rights at work, a real voice at their airline, protection as aviation’s first responders, and the ability to collectively bargain at the nation’s largest regional airline.” SkyWest Airlines did not answer questions relating to Romero’s allegations about the SkyWest Inflight Association or about the allegations of discrimination he says he experienced. Commenting in response to the lawsuit filed by the AFA, a spokesperson said: “The Association of Flight Attendants’ (AFA’s) lawsuit is baseless and without merit, and we are confident the courts will agree when the facts are recognized. SkyWest has a legally binding collective bargaining agreement with SIA as recognized by federal courts, the Department of Labor and in accordance with the Railway Labor Act. The bottom line is that SkyWest Airlines and SIA are separate organizations whose collaboration has gained SkyWest flight attendants the best overall pay and benefits in the regional airline industry.” The current president of SkyWest Inflight Association, Brent Coates, said in a statement: “We value the time and effort of each of our leaders, past and present, and have absolutely no tolerance for racism or discrimination of any kind. “The opinions of a former SIA official – who was on SIA’s Board for less than a year (some years ago) and left office long before their term would have expired – is a poor measure of SIA’s impact and success in negotiating what is clearly the best contract in the regional industry. “With respect to both lawsuits, SIA is confident in our positions. In the AFA suit, we have already filed counterclaims alleging violations of the rights of SIA and the SkyWest Flight Attendants under several federal and state laws. We look forward to responding to both lawsuits in court. SIA remains focused on providing the highest level of professional representation by listening to and actively advocating for SkyWest Flight Attendants.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/14/skywest-airlines-fake-union-lawsuit NTSB Calls for Certified Dispatchers, Expanded Manifests in Part 135 • NTSB's new safety report explored more than 500 Part 135 accidents • An NTSB special investigation identified specific vulnerabilities around Part 135 in the areas of dispatch, load manifests, data collection, and flight data monitoring. The NTSB is calling for the FAA to require that Part 135 operations use certified flight dispatchers, expand the load manifest requirements to single-pilot operations, improve data collection, and mandate flight data monitoring programs. These were among a handful of new and reiterated recommendations that the NTSB made as a result of a special investigation it conducted into 116 fatal and 460 nonfatal accidents from 2010 to 2022 involving commuter air carriers, air tour operators, air ambulance services, and on-demand charters, among others flying under Part 135. Launching the investigation in 2022 “after a cluster of safety issues emerged” from recent Part 135 accidents, the NTSB said it identified vulnerabilities in several areas. These included unsafe loading conditions, a lack of certificated dispatchers for some operations, and a need for flight data monitoring. Part 135 operations historically have higher accident rates than Part 121, the NTSB noted in its recently released Special Investigation Report AIR-24-03, Safety and Industry Data Improvements for Part 135 Operations. “However, the diverse mission demands some segment of the Part 135 industry may inherently involve unique risks that typically do not exist for Part 121 operations,” the board said. “Closing the safety gap for these segments of part 135 must involve targeted solutions that effectively mitigate unique risks without hindering operators’ ability to provide their services.” The NTSB identified a dozen accidents that involved operational control or flight-locating deficiencies and resulted in 45 fatalities and 13 serious injuries. “These deficiencies could all be addressed through the required use of certificated dispatchers.” Defined operational control responsibilities, standardized certification criteria and training, and competency checks of the dispatchers would ensure that they effectively support pilots with preflight and in-flight decision making, the agency maintained, and recommended that the FAA required Part 135 operators, except single-pilot and single-pilot-in-command (PIC) operators, to use certified dispatchers who share responsibility with the PIC for the safety and operational control of flights. Five more accidents involved single-engine aircraft with weight and balance issues, resulting in 11 fatalities and six serious injuries. “These accidents suggest persistent, systemic operational pressures or deficiencies related to single-engine aircraft loading,” the NTSB said. “Requiring load manifests and record-keeping for single-engine aircraft operated under Part 135 would not only help pilots detect and correct unsafe loading conditions but also provide operators and FAA inspectors the information needed to support proactive, comprehensive assessments to identify any related operational risk areas.” As such, NTSB recommended the FAA expand the applicability of load manifest and recordkeeping requirements to include Part 135 single-engine aircraft operations. Other accidents reinforced the NTSB’s belief that Part 135 operators should establish flight data monitoring programs and install recording devices to support them. The agency already recommended such programs in 2016 and noted that they can support safety management systems (SMS). This led the agency to reiterate its flight data recording and flight data monitoring recommendations. The agency further noted additional accidents underscore the need for SMS, but recognized that the FAA has issued a rule with such a requirement and has responded to the safety board’s recommendation for guidance to help small operators appropriately scale such programs. Another concern that the NTSB identified was the need for improved data collection and reporting methods. “We found that neither the accident and incident data without our database nor the flight activity data compiled by the FAA could fully support a comprehensive assessment of the safety of the Part 135 industry,” the agency said, recommending that the FAA develop a single method for generating activity data that identifies the activity of the operator, the operating authority, and scope (for example, standard, basic, single-pilot, or single PIC). https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-13/ntsb-calls-certified-dispatchers-expanded-manifests-part Moldova Suspends Companies That Brokered Airplane-Parts Sales To Russia Moldova has suspended the activity of three companies -- Airrock Solutions, Aerostage Services, and Maxjet Service -- that had brokered airplane-parts sales to Russia. The decision was made during an August 7 meeting of the Council for the Promotion of Investment Projects, headed by Prime Minister Dorin Recean. In February, an investigation by RFE/RL's Moldovan Service found that the three companies had brokered airplane-parts sales worth more than $15 million to Russian firms in 2022-23. The sales did not violate Moldovan law but were made after Brussels adopted sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-russia-eu-sanctions-airplane-parts/33076958.html LATAM Plans Possible Purchase Of Up To 30 Embraer Aircraft Summary • LATAM Brasil is looking into purchasing up to 30 Embraer planes to expand its fleet, considering both E2 and Airbus A220 aircraft. • The Brazilian government is encouraging LATAM to buy Brazilian-made planes, while the airline also reviews Airbus and Boeing options. • LATAM's fleet currently includes a mix of Airbus narrowbodies and Boeing widebodies. LATAM Brasil, the Brazilian branch of the LATAM Airlines Group, is considering a purchase of up to 30 Embraer aircraft. Considering expansion LATAM Brasil is the former TAM Linhas Aéreas, which merged with LAN Chile in 2012. Historically, the Brazilian airline flew Airbus narrowbodies and Airbus and Boeing widebodies, and at one point, was the only South American carrier operating the A350. Today, the LATAM Airlines Group has Airbus narrowbodies and Boeing widebodies, but is considering other aircraft. According to a report from Reuters earlier today, LATAM Brasil is close to purchasing up to 30 second-generation Embraer E-Jets, of the E2 family. This information came from Silvio Costa Filho, Brazil’s Ports and Airports Minister. According to Filho, he met with LATAM CEO Roberto Alvo and Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio da Silva to talk about the airline’s growth plans. The current administration has worked with Embraer and Azul Linhas Aéreas to support them financially and is now encouraging LATAM Brasil to purchase Brazilian-made aircraft. Currently, the push for Embraer aircraft is appealing to airlines because the Brazilian manufacturer has a smaller backlog than Boeing and Airbus. LATAM is also considering the Airbus A220. Filho said, “LATAM has indeed opened talks with Embraer and we have been working so they can analyze a purchase of Embraer planes. But we cannot impose a deal, that would be incomprehensible and a very bad sign for free markets.” Previous remarks from the airline Last week, Jerome Cadier, LATAM Brasil CEO told journalists that the airline was considering Embraer’s E2 aircraft and the Airbus A220. Both would be a new addition to the fleet as the airline currently operates aircraft in the Airbus A320 family, as well as the Boeing 777 and 787s. Cadier highlighted that LATAM Brasil is constantly analyzing opportunities for growth. The grounding of some of its Airbus aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney engines has prevented further growth. Current fleet According to the ch-aviation database, LATAM Brasil has 160 aircraft in its fleet, with another two to be delivered. With recent deliveries, the average aircraft age has been brought down to 8.9 years. Of the 160 planes, only 21 are Boeing and widebodies. LATAM Brasil Airbus A320 - TAM Livery - pushback at GRU Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying The fleet breakdown is as follows: Airbus A319 19 Airbus A320 (ceo) 57 Airbus A320neo 18 Airbus A321 31 Airbus A321neo 14 Boeing 777-300ER 10 Boeing 787-9 11 The oldest subfleet is the A319, with an average age of 14.8 years, while the youngest is the A321neo, at 0.6 years old. LATAM announced in 2021 that it would retire all of its Airbus A350 aircraft as the entire fleet had been grounded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The planes had a short life in Brazil, with the first aircraft being delivered in 2015 and the first retirement coming in July 2020. At the time, LATAM Brasil was the only South American operator of the A350. Azul Linhas Aéreas eventually operated two of the type, for a very short period, before getting rid of its planes. https://simpleflying.com/latam-embraer-aircraft/ Rolls-Royce secures engine deal for aircraft fleet Rolls-Royce has won a significant deal to supply dozens of engines for a new fleet of aircraft. The Derby-based firm's civil aerospace division will build 60 Trent 7000 engines - to power 30 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft - ordered by the Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific. The airline has also signed a TotalCare service agreement with Rolls-Royce, covering wing and maintenance work for the aircraft. Ewen McDonald, chief customer officer for Rolls-Royce's civil aerospace division, said the combined aircraft and engines will reduce emissions by 14%. The Trent 7000 is the latest addition of Rolls-Royce engines and exclusively powers the Airbus A330neo Mr McDonald added: “The Trent 7000, coupled with TotalCare, is a compelling proposition for airline customers and this order shows significant confidence in the Trent 7000/A330neo combination. “This will make Cathay Pacific the world’s largest operator of Trent 7000 engines, which will benefit from the £1bn investment we’re making to the Trent engine family. “All of us at Rolls-Royce are proud of the trust that Cathay Pacific is placing in us, and we look forward to supporting these new aircraft as they enter service.” Cathay Pacific said the aircraft and engine combination will provide "excellent comfort" for passengers and "improved fuel efficiency". https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lm7l30ryo 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 • 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 • Safety is not a Secret - September 27-28, 2024 JUNGLE AVIATION AND RELAY SERVICE JAARS.ORG • 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