Flight Safety Information - August 15, 2024 No. 163 In This Issue : Incident: United B772 near Sacramento on Aug 13th 2024, engine trouble : Incident: Vistara A20N at Mumbai on Aug 14th 2024, hydraulic failure : Incident: Swiss A333 at Zurich on Aug 14th 2024, rejected takeoff due to suspected bird strike : Black box shows Brazil plane crashed 1 minute after pilots sensed trouble, local media says : Two fighter jet pilots die in France after mid-air crash : Planes are made to handle bad weather, so why is your flight canceled? : Man with no ticket boards 2 flights at Munich airport : American Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Syracuse airport for smoke in plane’s cabin : Woman hurls computer monitor at Frontier Airlines staff in Chicago : Garmin Announces Runway/Taxiway Safety Software : NTSB Safety Investigation Targets Part 135 Operators : EL AL Israel Airlines Finalizes Order for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX Jets : U.S.-Iranian National Indicted for Illegally Exporting Aircraft Components to Iran : USAIG, Vertical Aviation International (VAI) and VLinc Team Up to Boost Access to VAI’s Operational Risk and Resilience Accreditation Initiative : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : Calendar of Events Incident: United B772 near Sacramento on Aug 13th 2024, engine trouble A United Boeing 777-200, registration N204UA performing flight UA-507 from San Francisco,CA (USA) to Rome Fiumicino (Italy), was enroute at FL300 about 70nm northeast of Sacramento,CA (USA) when the crew reported engine (PW4090) trouble and decided to divert to Sacramento where the aircraft landed safely on runway 17L about 35 minutes later. The FAA reported: "United Airlines Flight 507 landed safely at Sacramento International Airport in California around 5:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday, August 13, after the crew reported a possible engine issue. The Boeing 777-200 departed San Francisco International Airport and was headed to Rome, Italy. The FAA will investigate." The aircraft is still on the ground in Sacramento about 17 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c6540c&opt=0 Incident: Vistara A20N at Mumbai on Aug 14th 2024, hydraulic failure A Vistara Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-TQK performing flight UK-995 from Delhi to Mumbai (India) with 167 people on board, was descending towards Mumbai when the crew reported a hydraulic failure. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Mumbai's runway 27 about 25 minutes later. The airline reported a priority landing due to a minor problem. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c64df7&opt=0 Incident: Swiss A333 at Zurich on Aug 14th 2024, rejected takeoff due to suspected bird strike A Swiss International Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration HB-JHH performing flight LX-6 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA) with 233 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Zurich's runway 16 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 140 knots over ground) reporting a bird strike at the front of the aircraft and requested emergency services to check the aircraft for any damage. The aircraft came to a stop on the intersection of runway 16/34 and 10/28. After inspection by emergency services and cooling of the brakes - the crew indicated they would start their engines and taxi off the runway after the brakes reached a sufficiently cool temperature - the aircraft returned to the apron about 35 minutes after the rejected takeoff. The aircraft was able to depart about 2:15 hours after the rejected takeoff and is currently estimated to reach Chicago with a delay of about 1:40 hours. The airline reported a suspected bird strike prompted the rejected takeoff, about 40 minutes later the aircraft was towed to the apron. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c6386d&opt=0 Black box shows Brazil plane crashed 1 minute after pilots sensed trouble, local media says SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Authorities investigating the Brazilian plane crash that killed all 62 on board last week now have the full transcript of the "black box" but its content did not immediately explain the cause of the accident, local TV station Globo said on Wednesday. The transcript from the cockpit voice recorder shows the pilot and copilot noticed a steep loss of altitude about one minute before the crash, TV Globo reported in its main newscast Jornal Nacional on Wednesday evening, citing unnamed people working on the investigation. TV Globo did not release the audio nor the transcript. According to TV Globo, the transcript covers about two hours of audio recording, including a question from the copilot to the pilot about what was going on, and saying the plane needed "more power" to be stabilized. The plane, an ATR-72 turboprop from local airline Voepass, was bound for Sao Paulo from Cascavel, in the southern state of Parana, and crashed at around 1:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) in the town of Vinhedo, some 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo. The crash killed all aboard but no one on the ground was hurt. Video shared on social media right after the accident showed the ATR-72 aircraft spinning out of control as it plunged down behind a cluster of trees near houses, followed by a large plume of black smoke. The pilots did not report an emergency or adverse weather conditions, the Brazilian air force said on Friday in a statement. TV Globo said that, according to people investigating the crash, analysis of the audio alone will not make it possible for now to determine the cause of the crash. TV Globo also said the authorities did not identify any characteristic sounds, such as from fire, electrical collapse or engine breakdowns, although the audio was said to be difficult to listen to. A potential icing issue on the plane's wing was neither discarded nor confirmed by authorities, TV Globo said. Videos of the crash analyzed by aviation experts led some to speculate that ice had built up on the plane. Brazil's aviation accident investigation center, Cenipa, could not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment about the TV Globo report outside of regular business hours. https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-box-shows-brazil-plane-012404634.html Two fighter jet pilots die in France after mid-air crash Instructor and student pilot died during training mission crash, while third pilot ejected, in a rare accident involving the Rafale military aircraft Two French pilots have died after their Rafale jets collided in mid-air in eastern France, President Emmanuel Macron has said, in a rare accident involving the cutting-edge military aircraft. One pilot ejected after the crash over northeastern France on Wednesday, but authorities had launched a desperate search for a missing instructor and a student pilot on the second jet. “We learn with sadness the death of Capt Sebastien Mabire and Lt Matthis Laurens in an air accident in a Rafale training mission,” Macron posted on X. “The nation shares the grief of their families and brothers in arms at airbase 113 in Saint-Dizier” in eastern France, he added. “One of the pilots was found safe and sound,” defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said earlier on X. It was not immediately clear what caused the collision that authorities said occurred over Colombey-les-Belles, a town in northeastern France. “The military authorities will report on the causes of the accident,” said the local prefecture. The supersonic Rafale “multi-role” fighter – used to hunt enemy planes, strike ground and sea targets, carry out reconnaissance and even carry France’s nuclear warheads – has become a bestseller for the French arms industry. “We heard a loud noise, around 12.30pm (10.30 GMT),” Patrice Bonneaux, deputy mayor of Colombey-les-Belles, told AFP. It was not the usual sonic boom of a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier, he said. “It was a strange noise, a percussive sound”. “I assumed that two planes had collided, but we didn’t believe it,” he said, adding that a road bordering a nearby forest had been cordoned off. In December 2007, a Rafale jet crashed near Neuvic in southwestern France. Investigators concluded that the pilot had become disoriented. That was believed to be the first crash of a Rafale. In September 2009, two Rafale aircraft went down as they flew back to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off the coast of Perpignan after completing a test flight. One pilot died. France has sold the Rafale to Egypt, India, Greece, Indonesia, Croatia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Lecornu said in January that France had ordered 42 new Rafale fighter jets, with the first to be delivered in 2027. The French military has now ordered more than 230 Rafales since the jet went into service. Macron has urged defence manufacturers to boost production and innovation as Europe seeks to increase arms supplies to buttress Ukraine, which has been struggling to fight off Russia’s invasion, now in its third year. https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/15/rafale-fighter-jets-crash-franch-two-pilots-dead-mid-air-collision Planes are made to handle bad weather, so why is your flight canceled? • Planes are designed to withstand tremendous forces on their components when they’re flying. • But there’s more to keeping flying safe than the structural capabilities of airplanes. The decision to delay or cancel a flight due to weather ultimately comes down to safety. Sometimes, I’ll be on a flight going through a patch of turbulence and think to myself: “OK, this is unpleasant, but I know I’m safe.” Planes are designed to withstand tough weather conditions, which begs the question: Why do weather delays happen?” It turns out there’s a lot going on behind the scenes of weather disruptions. “Airplanes themselves are very capable,” Ken Byrnes, assistant dean and chairman of flight training at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University told me. “When you look at how these aircraft are designed, they’re designed to withstand tremendous loads.” Airplanes can structurally handle much more than Mother Nature is ever likely to throw at them, but that’s just one aspect of the “go” or “no-go” decision for a flight. All flyers know weather is often enemy number one of a smooth travel day. Here’s why. Why does weather mess up flights? It's complicated. Planes can withstand the weather Next time you’re flying through turbulence, look out the window at the wing. You’ll notice it flexing. It’s supposed to do that. The flex actually helps the plane stay more stable in rough air, and also means the wing is absorbing and dissipating the forces it’s encountering safely. As Byrnes said, planes are designed to withstand tremendous forces on their components when they’re flying. All parts of an airplane’s structure are tested to make sure they can stay intact even in severe flying conditions. “A lot goes into reducing the risk through the design capability,” he told me. In testing, airplane wings will be flexed way beyond their regular inflight limits. Similarly, airplane engines are designed to withstand natural obstacles like hail, torrential rain and bird strikes within certain limits. Why bad weather can make flying dangerous anyway There’s more to keeping flying safe than the structural capabilities of airplanes, however. “They may be physically capable to withstand the loads but the aerodynamic pressures that may occur within storms may make it very difficult to continue to fly,” Byrnes said. “There are a couple of things you want to avoid, first would be windshear, any changes in wind or directions.” Rapidly shifty or changing wind conditions can affect the aerodynamic characteristics of the plane and could result in a loss of lift. “We want to avoid those more turbulent conditions. They can cause an airplane to stall,” Byrnes said. “At a high altitude that is more forgiving. At a low altitude, that is very unforgiving. There’s no room to recover.” That’s part of why bad weather is especially difficult on airport operations. Incoming suboptimal weather conditions can often be avoided by changing the flight plan, but at an airfield, a storm is virtually impossible for arriving and departing aircraft to avoid. “In that condition, it’s more important to ensure that you have enough lift to stay aloft,” Byrnes said. “The closer you are to ground, the less altitude you have to recover.” It’s all about safety As with pretty much everything in aviation, the decision to delay or cancel a flight due to weather ultimately comes down to safety. “The goal of the airline is to provide the highest level of customer service, but at the utmost safety,” Byrnes said. “They’re not going to take risks that are unnecessary in order to meet that demand because it’s just not worth it.” An airplane’s flight capabilities aren’t the only safety consideration, either. We’ve seen time and again recently that passengers these days are pretty bad at obeying the seatbelt sign. While an airplane may be designed to withstand severe turbulence, the human body is not if it’s not strapped in, so rough weather can present a danger to the people inside the cabin even if the aircraft itself is perfectly safe from an engineering standpoint. Laura Einsetler, a captain at a major U.S. airline and author of the Captain Laura blog, told me that flight crews will never intentionally fly through severe weather, but sometimes they have no choice but to go through more moderate turbulence. If that happens, she said, she’ll do everything she can to prepare her passengers for the bumps, but it ultimately comes down to each individual to keep the cabin safe for everyone. “Unfortunately, we’ve flown enough we make the announcement and nobody listens,” she said. “It’s important for passengers to observe what the flight attendants are doing and saying in addition to the PA announcements we’re making to keep themselves safe at all times.” The domino effect of weather on flying Delays from bad weather often have a compounding effect on flying. A single delayed flight puts the plane and its crew out of sync with the airline’s schedule and can also cause headaches for air traffic control as flight plans get adjusted. If something goes wrong with your own travel plans, it’s important to keep in mind these two pointers from Byrnes: • First, remember that the airline is putting your safety first. As much as you may want to get going, the airline wants to get you to your destination safely and comfortably. You’d probably leave a negative social media comment if your next flight became an hours-long roller coaster through a storm. • Second, stay patient and kind with airline employees. As frustrating as delays can be, you’re all in the experience together. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/2024/08/14/weather-flight-delays-cancellations-cruising-altitude/74785211007/ Man with no ticket boards 2 flights at Munich airport A man from Norway successfully boarded two flights without a boarding pass or valid ticket at Germany's second-largest airport. After initially being caught, he slipped through security the next day and flew to Sweden. The airport said it was looking into the security breaches but that it would take time to clarify the circumstancesImage: Markus Mainka/picture alliance Advertisement A Norwegian traveler boarded two flights at Munich airport, without a valid ticket for either plane, police said Tuesday. While his deception was quickly discovered the first time around, he was able to try the same trick only a day later — and took off on a flight headed to Sweden. What we know about the security scam The 39-year-old managed to hoodwink security staff at Bavaria's biggest hub for the first time on August 4. Although passengers would normally scan their boarding passes at an automatic gate, Germany's Bild newspaper reported that the sneaky Scandinavian stood near another traveler and squeezed through without one. He also slipped past airline staff at the gate and boarded a plane headed for the northern German city of Hamburg. The aircraft was fully booked and, because the man did not have a seat, his trickery was revealed. While the would-be stowaway was handed over to police and charged, he was promptly released and returned to the airport a day later. Using the same technique, he sneaked on board a flight to Stockholm that was not fully booked, police spokesman Sebastian Pinta said. This time, the plane took off with him on board. It was not specified what airline was involved. Shock find in Stockholm When he arrived in the Swedish capital, the man quickly attracted the attention of airport staff because he wanted to fly back to Munich immediately. The individual was arrested by Swedish police, who also found that he had a knife with a 10-centimeter blade on him. Despite this, Pinta said the man was deemed to have posed no threat. Munich Airport spokesman Henner Euring said the circumstances of the breach were being clarified but that it would take some time. "We are investigating how the passenger was able to bypass the automatic boarding pass check before the security check. The airline is also checking the boarding pass check at the boarding gates, where it is responsible for the check." German police said the man was under investigation for unlawful entry and transport fraud. It was unclear if the man had been asked to show any form of identification at any point. https://www.dw.com/en/man-with-no-ticket-boards-2-flights-at-munich-airport/a-69932965 American Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Syracuse airport for smoke in plane’s cabin An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Syracuse's airport due to smoke in the plane's cabin on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. Syracuse, N.Y. — An American Airlines flight from Boston to Rochester was diverted to the Syracuse airport Wednesday afternoon. The Embraer RJ145 jet made an emergency landing around 3:20 p.m. at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport due to smoke in its cabin, airport officials said. https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2024/08/american-airlines-flight-makes-emergency-landing-at-syracuse-airport-for-smoke-in-planes-cabin.html Woman hurls computer monitor at Frontier Airlines staff in Chicago • A woman shocked travelers at Chicago's O'Hare Airport as she went behind a check-in counter and hurled a computer monitor toward Frontier Airlines staff. CHICAGO -- A woman shocked travelers at Chicago's O'Hare Airport as she went behind a check-in counter and hurled a computer monitor toward Frontier Airlines staff. The shocking outburst was all caught on video and posted online July 30. According to reports, the woman missed her flight and then "lost it" after staff didn't allow her to board. Video shows the woman throw the monitor, which hit a man who appeared to have tried to intervene in the situation. The woman then knocks over another monitor that was on the counter. Chicago police said the woman fled the scene and was not arrested. Police are still looking for her. https://abc7.com/post/woman-chicago-airport-hurls-computer-monitor-frontier-airlines-staff-video-shows/15187395/ Garmin Announces Runway/Taxiway Safety Software Garmin announced this morning (Aug. 14) it has received certification for its runway occupancy awareness (ROA) software dubbed Surface Indications and Alert (SURF-IA). The software leverages ADS-B traffic information to… Garmin announced this morning (Aug. 14) it has received certification for its runway occupancy awareness (ROA) software dubbed Surface Indications and Alert (SURF-IA). The software leverages ADS-B traffic information to call out potential runway incursions involving airborne traffic, aircraft on the ground and ground vehicles. Textron Aviation received FAA certification for the product installed on a G1000 NXi-equipped Cessna Caravan. ROA technology assesses GPS and ADS-B traffic data for its relevance to the airport’s runway and taxiway status, alerting crews to possible runway or taxiway incursions. Caution and warning alerts are presented visually and aurally to advise the crew of possible hazardous conflicts. “ROA provides visual crew-alerting system (CAS) caution and warning annunciations on the pilot’s primary flight display (PFD) and highlights the runway yellow or red, depending on the level of threat, on Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT),” according to Garmin. Alerts are based on the level of the potential hazard, ranging from “no immediate collision hazard” to a “warning level alert” during which a collision could occur within 15 seconds. Next up will be certification for the ROA software to be included in the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the G5000 avionics suite in the Cessna Citation Excel, XLS, XLS+ and XLS Gen2, scheduled for September. Garmin said it “expects for the technology to be certified on more Garmin-equipped aircraft in the coming months.” Initially, the software will be available for integrated flight decks ranging from the G1000 NXi to the G5000, according to Garmin. Phil Straub, Garmin executive VP and managing director for aviation, said, “With the rate of runway incursions increasing, there is a real need for increased safety tools in the cockpit. Equipping pilots with this technology can reduce the risk of runway incursions and help provide confidence for pilots navigating busy and complex airports.” https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/new-garmin-safety-tool-designed-to-help-prevent-surface-incursions/ NTSB Safety Investigation Targets Part 135 Operators The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the results of a special investigation involving more than 500 accidents between 2010 and 2022. The study focused on commercial operations involving… The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the results of a special investigation involving more than 500 accidents between 2010 and 2022. The study focused on commercial operations involving commuter air carriers, air tour operators, air ambulance services, on-demand business charter flights and some other operations. The NTSB reported it launched the investigation in 2022 following “a cluster of safety issues” involving Part 135 operators. The initiative did not include Part 121 major airline operations. Recommendations included three new safety measures issued to the FAA and reiterating a pair of previously recommended safety enhancements. The new recommendations started with unsafe loading conditions. The report cited four accidents involving single-engine aircraft where improper loading was identified. It recommends mandating that flight manifests and weight-and-balance documentation be recorded for all aircraft operated under Part 135. Next up was certification for dispatchers for certain operations. Twelve accidents cited in the investigation time frame were blamed, at least in part, on non-certified flight dispatchers. The NTSB said, “Certificated flight dispatchers would expand the safety margins of many Part 135 operations because of improved quality control over functions such as preflight weather, fuel and route planning, active monitoring of conditions along the route of flight and timely notification of emergency response organizations if an aircraft is overdue.” Finally, the investigation noted that improved flight data monitoring programs “could provide Part 135 operators with objective information on how their pilots conduct flights, and a periodic revive of such information could assist operators in detecting and correcting unsafe deviation from company standard operating procedures.” The NTSB said that Special Investigation Report AIR-24-03, titled “Safety and Industry Data Improvements for Part 135 Operations,” is available at the above link. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/two-year-investigation-leads-ntsb-to-new-part-135-safety-recommendations/ EL AL Israel Airlines Finalizes Order for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX Jets - EL AL chooses 737 MAX to modernize and grow its single-aisle fleet - 737 MAX order is EL AL's largest airplane purchase in its 76-year history SEATTLE, Aug. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and EL AL Israel Airlines today confirmed the Israeli flag carrier finalized an agreement for up to 31 737 MAX jets, supporting the airline's plans to renew its fleet of Next-Generation 737 airplanes. "This is a significant milestone for EL AL, which will allow us to offer our customers the most advanced service and technology experience in the industry," said Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia. CEO EL AL Israel Airlines. "The implementation of the long-term procurement plan, which began with the purchase of additional 787 Dreamliners earlier this year and culminates in the current deal, once again demonstrates our commitment to the Israeli public and the state." Ben-Tal Ganancia added: "EL AL has a central role in ensuring open skies for Israel. The implementation of our strategic plan - which aims to expand the fleet, increase the value proposition for customers and increase capacity and seating - will ensure a strong and growing company for many years to come." With the 737 MAX family, EL AL will achieve the best per-seat economics in its class, improved environmental performance and increased passenger comfort. In particular, the 737 MAX will reduce fuel use and emissions 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces and have a 50% smaller noise footprint. "We are honored EL AL has chosen Boeing airplanes to power its past, present and future as we continue to build on seven decades of partnership," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We know EL AL depends on the versatility and reliability of Boeing airplanes, and we look forward to delivering the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner jets that will reshape and grow the airline in the coming decades." EL AL's 737 MAX order follows its purchase earlier this year of three additional 787-9 airplanes with options for six more as the airline further expands its 787 Dreamliner fleet. The carrier will take delivery of a new 787-9 this year and plans to receive two more new 787-9s on lease in the coming years. 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://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/el-al-israel-airlines-finalizes-order-for-up-to-31-boeing-737-max-jets-302223378.html U.S.-Iranian National Indicted for Illegally Exporting Aircraft Components to Iran A U.S.-Iranian national, Jeffrey Chance Nader, has been indicted for unlawfully exporting aircraft components to Iran, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Nader, 66, faces charges related to the illegal export of American-manufactured aircraft components, including those used in military aircraft, to Iran, violating U.S. economic sanctions and other federal laws. He was arrested in California on Tuesday. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen emphasized the commitment to investigate and hold accountable those who supply sensitive technology to hostile governments, contravening U.S. sanctions. The indictment alleges that Nader and his associates conspired to purchase and export nearly three dozen aircraft components, some of which are used in military aircraft like the F-4 fighter jet operated by Iran’s armed forces. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves highlighted the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring U.S. parts, citing Iran’s attacks on U.S. allies and its supply of drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. The investigation, conducted by the FBI and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, revealed that Nader falsely identified himself and his company, Pro Aero Capital, to U.S.-based suppliers as the end user of the items. Despite attempts to ship the components to the United Arab Emirates for eventual delivery to Iran, the items were intercepted by a Commerce Department special agent and were not successfully exported. Iran’s History of Illegally Acquiring Aircraft Parts Iran has a longstanding history of attempting to acquire aircraft parts through illicit means, often circumventing international sanctions, to sustain and expand its military capabilities. Drone and Aircraft Engine Parts (2012-2023): Over the past decade, Iran has imported at least $236 million worth of aircraft and drone engine parts from countries including Turkey, the UAE, Germany, Ukraine, and even the United States. This includes $26 million worth of items listed as prohibited under U.S. Treasury sanctions imported in just the first eight months of the current Iranian year, which began on March 21, 2023. Mahan Air’s Role: Mahan Air, an airline linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been instrumental in Iran’s efforts to bypass sanctions. The airline has been used to transport weapons, military equipment, and IRGC personnel to conflict zones such as Syria. This activity highlights Iran’s ongoing attempts to acquire necessary equipment for its military and regional proxies. Purchase of Decommissioned Airliners (2023): In December 2023, Iran imported four decommissioned Airbus A340 airliners through questionable channels. These aircraft, previously operated by Turkish Airlines, were reportedly transferred to Johannesburg, South Africa, before being diverted to Tehran. The planes have reportedly joined Mahan Air’s fleet, which underscores Iran’s strategy to update its aging fleet despite international restrictions. Increased Imports Post-Ukraine Invasion (2022): Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Iran’s import of aircraft propulsion parts increased significantly. In the eight months ending in November 2023, the import volume exceeded that of the entire previous year. Key sources of these imports included Turkey, Hong Kong, the UAE, and China. https://irannewsupdate.com/news/news-digest/u-s-iranian-national-indicted-for-illegally-exporting-aircraft-components-to-iran/ USAIG, Vertical Aviation International (VAI) and VLinc Team Up to Boost Access to VAI’s Operational Risk and Resilience Accreditation Initiative New York, NY (August 15, 2024)…USAIG, one of the world’s leading aviation-specific insurance providers, has added support for ORRA participation to its portfolio of safety-enhancing services available to eligible policyholders through its Performance Vector program. Performance Vector is available to most USAIG policyholders that insure a turbine-powered aircraft or place multiple policies with USAIG.* Each eligible policy can select and receive one program option annually as a policy benefit to enhance organizational loss control and safety efforts. The ORRA program, which replaced VAI’s legacy Accreditation Program of Safety, is for helicopter operators seeking to transcend traditional risk management and elevate their ability to manage risks and improve operational processes. Adaptable to the demands of operators of differing size and scope, ORRA provides a robust, flexible framework that meets operators at any stage of SMS implementation and empowers a trajectory of advancement from there. VAI has partnered with VLinc Corporation to administer the ORRA Program. Participating operators are incentivized and guided to achieve increasing degrees of operational risk and resilience functionality based on a comprehensive framework of ORRA Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). A VLinc coach engages directly as a vital resource to keep progress on track, with accreditation and recognition earned upon reaching program milestones: • Participant (virtual guided policy and procedural self-assessment) • Bronze Level (virtual self-assessment with virtual VLinc validation) • Silver Level (Implementation assessed as ‘operational’ through on-site VLinc validation) • Gold Level (Implementation assessed as ‘effective’ through on-site VLinc validation) A USAIG Performance Vector ORRA enrollment will typically provide up to $2500 per policy year, which can fully or partially subsidize policyholders’ ORRA program fees, depending on the organization’s ORRA stage level and timing of expenses incurred. To maximize the impact, policyholders wishing to apply their USAIG benefit toward ORRA should ask their aviation insurance broker to affect a Performance Vector enrollment before incurring ORRA fees. USAIG President and CEO John Brogan sees ORRA as the right way to advance operational risk management and safety in the helicopter industry. He notes, “It’s undeniably tough to add fortifying operational policies and driving positive cultural change to the long list of challenges that confront helicopter operators, but ORRA’s coach-assisted model provides a clear path to achieve those aims.” Brogan added, “We’ve made this addition to Performance Vector because, frankly, I want to see as many of our helicopter-operating policyholders as possible achieve ORRA accreditation.” "To have USAIG—an expert in managing risk—see the value in our ORRA program is a testament to its ability to deliver measurable results to helicopter operators,” says James Viola, VAI president and CEO. “We are excited to work with our ORRA partners, including USAIG and VLinc, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, to help operators improve safety, save on costs, and increase their chances for business success.” USAIG continually upgrades its popular Performance Vector suite of safety programs to keep pace with changes and improvements in aviation safety protocols. For additional information about the program, please visit the “Safety” tab at www.usaig.com or email safety@usaig.com. *Check with your broker, underwriter, or policy documents to confirm eligibility. About USAIG United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG) provides a full spectrum of coverage options for owners, operators, manufacturers, and maintainers of corporate, private, and commercial aircraft. In 1928, our founders – World War I pilots and businessmen David Beebe and Reed Chambers – saw the need for an insurance company that truly understood aviation. We remain a world aviation insurance leader delivering innovative, custom-tailored insurance products and services, including Performance Vector safety programs and Performance Vector PLUS good experience returns. United States Aviation Underwriters, Inc. manages USAIG, maintaining the industry’s largest network of underwriting and field claims offices. USAU’s wholly owned subsidiary, Toronto-based Canadian Aviation Insurance Managers manages the Canadian Aircraft Insurance Group insurance pool. USAIG is a subsidiary of General Re Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram. About VAI Vertical Aviation International (VAI), formerly Helicopter Association International (HAI), is the world’s leading membership association dedicated to the vertical aviation industry, which encompasses all aircraft capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing. Throughout its 75 years of fueling industry growth through connection, advocacy, safety, education, and support for its members’ success, VAI has leveraged the power of vertical flight to strengthen communities worldwide. The association welcomes all facets of the vertical aviation industry, including manufacturers, operators, suppliers and vendors, pilots and maintenance technicians, and other aviation professionals. About VLinc VLinc is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business founded in 2013 that’s done significant work in requirements development and configuration management for major capability development projects as well as logistics systems analysis and engineering support on DHS acquisitions. Years of experience in government and non-government systems development, acquisition, maintenance management, and transformation support underscore the company’s ability to lead large, medium, and small-scale efforts effectively and efficiently. The VLinc team leverages extensive aviation standardization program experience spanning the broad capabilities of VAI member organizations to deliver a high return on investment for ORRA participants. Contact: Joan Mirabile, Senior Vice President/ Marketing Communications Director Joan.Mirabile@usaig.com 212-952-0100 usaig.com 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 - Seminar, JUNGLE AVIATION AND RELAY SERVICE • 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