Flight Safety Information - August 19, 2024 No. 165 In This Issue : Accident: RAM B738 at Monrovia on Aug 17th 2024, temporary runway excursion on landing : Incident: Arkia E195 at Tel Aviv on Aug 18th 2024, cracked windshield : Incident: Lufthansa A333 at Lagos on Aug 13th 2024, smoke in cockpit : Incident: Lufthansa A359 over Caspian Sea on Aug 16th 2024, hydraulic issues : Incident: Swiss B773 at Astana on Aug 17th 2024, runway excursion during backtrack : Passengers safe after business jet emergency landing in Washington : Quality, Not Quantity, Defines Pilot Shortage : American Eagle aircraft collides with tug tractor at Philadelphia Airport : American Airlines Cancels All Flights to Israel Until April 2025 Amid Escalating Regional Tensions : Cockroaches on a plane: Luggage on insect-infested aircraft sent back from Manchester to Morocco : Aviation’s recruiting problem shifting from pilots to technicians, cabin crew : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : Calendar of Events Accident: RAM B738 at Monrovia on Aug 17th 2024, temporary runway excursion on landing A RAM Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800, registration CN-RGW performing flight AT-567 from Casablanca (Morocco) to Monrovia (Liberia), landed on Monrovia's runway 04 at 06:15L (05:15Z) but after touch down veered left beyond the edge of the runway before returning onto the runway centerline. The aircraft slowed without further incident, vacated the runway and taxied to the apron. The aircraft received substantial damage and was unable to continue its schedule, the return flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Monrovia about 11 hours after landing. On Aug 19th 2024 Liberia's Ministry of Information stated that the aircraft landed on Aug 17th 2024 at 06:15L (05:15Z), taxied and docked at the jetway without reported incident. However, inspection teams of Liberia's Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) and Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) have been dispatched to the aircraft, that was found to have touched down without incident but then veered off the runway. The passengers remained unaware of the occurrence. Both LCAA and AAIB have opened investigations into the occurrence. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c844f7&opt=0 Incident: Arkia E195 at Tel Aviv on Aug 18th 2024, cracked windshield An Arkia Embraer ERJ-195, registration 4X-EMC performing flight IZ-163 from Tel Aviv (Israel) to Larnaca (Cyprus), was climbing through FL240 out of Tel Aviv when the captain's cockpit window developed cracks prompting the crew to return to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport for a safe landing. The aircraft is still on the ground in Tel Aviv about 8 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c902e4&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa A333 at Lagos on Aug 13th 2024, smoke in cockpit A Lufthansa Airbus A330-300, registration D-AIKO performing flight LH-569 from Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) to Lagos (Nigeria), was on approach to Lagos when the crew donned their oxygen masks reporting smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Lagos' runway 18R and taxied to the apron. The aircraft remained on the ground in Lagos for about 18 hours, then performed the onward sector LH-569 to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), then remained on the ground in Frankfurt for another 63 hours (2 days 15 hours) before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c84e78&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa A359 over Caspian Sea on Aug 16th 2024, hydraulic issues A Lufthansa Airbus A350-900, registration D-AIXG performing flihgt LH-714 from Munich (Germany) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan) with 292 people on board, was enroute at FL370 over the Caspian Sea about 60nm south of Aktau (Kazakhstan) when the crew decided to return to Munich due to hydraulic problems. The aircraft climbed to FL380 for the return and landed safely back in Munich about 4:20 hours later. The airline reported a "classic" irregularity with a hydraulic indicator. The passenger were rebooked onto the next day. The aircraft is still on the ground in Munich about 40 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c8d399&opt=0 Incident: Swiss B773 at Astana on Aug 17th 2024, runway excursion during backtrack A Swiss International Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration HB-JNI performing flight LX-161 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Zurich (Switzerland) with 319 people on board, was enroute at FL320 over Kazakhstan when the crew decided to divert to Astana due to a medical emergency on board. The aircraft landed safely on Astana's runway 22 about 40 minutes later. While turning to backtrack the runway to the apron the nose gear went off the paved surface and became stuck on soft ground. The airline reported the aircraft had safely landed, during turning around on the runway the aircraft went off the runway however and became stuck. It needed to be towed back onto the runway and to the apron. The aircraft is now being checked. The aircraft is still on the ground in Astana about 6 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51c849e1&opt=0 Passengers safe after business jet emergency landing in Washington WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN) - Authorities say a business jet veered off of a runway and caught fire during a landing in Washington Sunday morning. City Manager Jonathan Russell told WITN, " The pilot and co-pilot walked away without a scratch.” Russell says the aircraft included a man and woman who were on a return trip from Dallas. He said an airport employee assisting first responders to contain the fire was injured but later treated and released from the hospital. Beaufort County officials originally told WITN that the pilot suffered minor injuries in the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration says that it happened 5:40 p.m. and that there were two people on the Cessna Citation business jet. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate with the NTSB in charge of the investigation. The NTSB in an response to an email from WITN said there is no info to report at this time. Russell says police, Washington Fire Rescue and the Old Ford Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. https://www.witn.com/2024/08/18/plane-catches-fire-while-landing-washington-pilot-injured/ Quality, Not Quantity, Defines Pilot Shortage What exists isn't a shortage of pilots but rather a shortage of qualified pilots Is the pilot shortage over? The short answer is no. We might be catching our breath and experiencing a little relief right now, but the underlying issues remain. What we have today isn’t exactly a shortage of pilots, but rather a shortage of qualified pilots, particularly in business aviation. Despite what some might say, the reality is that it’s still a pilot’s market—and a maintenance technician’s market, too. What does that mean for us? If you post a pilot opening today, you might see more applicants than you did last year. Some military pilots are bypassing the airlines entirely, looking straight to business aviation. And a few pilots who left business aviation for the airlines are now returning. Every week, I hear from retired airline pilots over age 65 who are eyeing opportunities in our space. But will companies invest in a type rating for someone at the very end of their career? And are they willing to transition from a strictly flying role to one that encompasses handling every phase of a trip? And yes, there’s growing interest from younger folks in business aviation. But here’s the challenge: How do we bring in low-time pilots and keep them? It’s not just about getting them hours—it’s about getting them the proficiency required for our operations. Few corporate operators are staffed with enough tenured pilots who can develop interns and manage ab initio-style programs. It takes a solid bench of mentor pilots to create qualified pilots. When you’re operating super-midsize to large business jets, often on complex domestic and international missions, you need more than just an ATP with 1,500 hours. You need pilots with a depth of experience. For instance, the pilot laid off from Wheels Up who has flown only King Airs isn’t necessarily ready to jump into a “heavy iron” operation. It’s not an easy transition. You can’t just blanket the industry with advice like, “Go to business aviation until you have 1,500 hours.” That’s not practical, and frankly, it’s not helpful. Who is hiring low-time pilots at that scale? None that I’m aware of. Some might argue that the pilot shortage is over or will soon be. I disagree. I think what we’re seeing now is a temporary lull, largely because of airliner delivery delays. This is causing the airlines to pause hiring. But once these aircraft hit the tarmac, those pilots will be snapped up. The real problem is that we’re not developing enough of the highly experienced, tenured pilots that corporate flight departments are looking for. The pool of these pilots isn’t coming from the regional airlines and military the way they used to. Fewer pilots are now making that transition to business aviation, and those who do often don’t have the needed experience. We need to focus on quality, not just quantity when it comes to recruiting pilots. The pilot pipeline predicament is real. Until we solve that, we’ll continue to face challenges in attracting the right talent to keep our operations running smoothly. Sheryl Barden, CAM, is CEO of Aviation Personnel International, the longest-running recruiting and HR consulting firm exclusively serving business aviation. A thought leader on all things related to business aviation professionals, Barden is an NBAA CAM Fellow and formerly served on NBAA’s board of directors and its advisory council. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-16/ainsight-quality-not-quantity-defines-pilot-shortage American Eagle aircraft collides with tug tractor at Philadelphia Airport The NTSB detailed the incident when a Piedmont Airlines employee was sucked into the engine of an Embraer E175 The incident occurred on August 17, 2024, when an American Eagle Embraer E175 aircraft registered N136HQ, operated by Republic Airways, was heading from Kansas City International Airport (MCI) to Philadelphia International Airport, operating flight 4487. The flight departed MCI at 17:09 local time and arrived at its destination around three hours later, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. After landing at PHL, the plane collided with the tug during pushback. “We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans and apologize for the inconvenience this caused,” Ethan Klapper, a spokesperson for American Airlines told local media. The aircraft was carrying 65 passengers and four crew members at the time of collision. No passengers or crew were reported to be injured during the incident, but the tug driver was transported to a nearby hospital. As of August 19, 2024, the aircraft was still removed from service for inspection. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/american-eagle-collides-with-tug-tractor-at-phl-airport American Airlines Cancels All Flights to Israel Until April 2025 Amid Escalating Regional Tensions As regional tensions simmer, 20 international airlines have now halted flights to and from Israel, with American Airlines extending its suspension until April 2025. American Airlines Cancels All Flights to Israel Until April 2025 Amid Escalating Regional Tensions American Airlines suspends Israel flights. Marrakech - American Airlines has extended the suspension of all flights to and from Israel until April 2025, making it the latest international carrier to halt air travel to the country amid rising fears of regional conflict. The move comes as Israel remains on high alert for potential retaliatory attacks from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah following a series of targeted assassinations and military actions. According to Israeli media reports, at least 20 foreign airlines have now suspended flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. American Airlines did not provide specific reasons for the extended flight cancellations, but the decision aligns with growing international concerns over Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which has now entered its tenth month of relentless violence. Since October 7 of last year, Israel’s attacks on Gaza have killed nearly 40,100 Palestinians and injured over 92,600 more, in what global leaders and human rights organizations are calling a total humanitarian catastrophe. The United Nations has repeatedly warned of devastating consequences for civilians in Gaza, where Israel’s 16-year blockade and repeated bombings have crippled infrastructure and left residents struggling to access basic necessities. Tensions in the region have been further inflamed by Israel’s suspected involvement in a series of high-profile assassinations targeting Palestinian and Lebanese resistance leaders. On July 31, Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Tehran, while Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr was assassinated in an airstrike in Beirut the day prior. Both Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the killings, and have vowed retaliation. In response to the growing threats, Israel has raised its military alert status and the United States has bolstered its forces in the region. However, calls are growing in the international community for Israel to be held accountable for its genocidal actions in Gaza and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The flight cancellations by American Airlines and other carriers underscore the volatility of the situation and the risks posed by Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/08/364636/american-airlines-cancels-all-flights-to-israel-until-april-2025-amid-escalating-regional-tensions Cockroaches on a plane: Luggage on insect-infested aircraft sent back from Manchester to Morocco Exclusive: ‘Colleagues say I should burn my baggage rather than bringing it into my home’ says passenger More than 100 holidaymakers who returned from Morocco to Manchester airport last week are still waiting for their luggage – apparently after the aircraft hold was found to be infested with cockroaches. Royal Air Maroc flight AT818 from Casablanca arrived on time in Manchester at 5.20pm on Thursday, 15 August. But at 7pm, arriving passengers were still waiting for their baggage. One traveller, Karen Gee, said: “Checking my AirTag, I could see my case was indeed in Manchester. After 90 minutes of waiting in the baggage hall with no one’s luggage appearing and no communication, the nature of the problem was revealed. “Apparently the aircraft hold was found to contain a cockroach infestation and consequently no staff members were allowed near it for health and safety reasons.” After a further half-hour the passengers were told to go home and wait for their bags. By this stage the Boeing 737 had taken off to fly back to the Royal Air Maroc hub at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport. Ms Gee, a senior travel industry executive from Shropshire, said: “On Friday I checked my AirTag again and could see that my case was back in Casablanca so presumably they just sealed the aircraft and flew it back to base with the full flight of luggage on board.” Once in Casablanca, the Manchester bags were offloaded and the aircraft continued in normal service. The 15-year-old Boeing 737 made a scheduled flight to Abuja in Nigeria that night, and has since been to a wide range of destinations including Geneva and Paris. The luggage was not loaded on to the next Royal Air Maroc flight to Manchester, which operated normally on Sunday. On Monday morning – day five since the infestation was discovered – Ms Gee’s AirTag shows her baggage still to be at Casablanca airport. While Ms Gee waits for the luggage to be returned to her, she told The Independent: “Mine is a soft Antler suitcase, so I’m feeling super anxious that the cockroaches will have easily found a way inside to lay eggs or similar – especially as they are known to be incredibly resilient and difficult to get rid of, apparently surviving nuclear wars. “Of course I’d like my stuff back but I don’t want to take any risks bringing it into my home. I asked some colleagues what they thought I should do and the overriding answer was not to take the risk and just burn it.” But Professor Tim Coulson, joint head of the Oxford University Department of Biology, offered some reassurance about the limits of cockroach abilities. The author of The Universal History of Us told The Independent: “They’d be extremely unlikely to be able to burrow through the material most suitcases are made from. “However, they could hide in the cavities where the wheels are attached, or work through any gaps if suitcases are not zipped up properly.” The next flight from Casablanca to Manchester is on Tuesday. The Independent has sought responses from Royal Air Maroc, the ground handler Swissport and Manchester airport. Royal Air Maroc is a member of the Oneworld alliance, alongside British Airways. Insects have caused problems for British airline passengers in the past – but usually when they block the speed-measuring pitot tubes. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cockroach-infestation-plane-luggage-missing-manchester-morocco-b2598269.html Aviation’s recruiting problem shifting from pilots to technicians, cabin crew Boeing issued the latest edition of its annual Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO) last month, forecasting demand for 2.3 million new aviation personnel by 2043. Of these, 649,000 are new pilots, 690,000 are new technicians, and 938,000 are new cabin crew. "Driven by aviation traffic trending above pre-pandemic levels, personnel attrition, and commercial fleet growth, the demand for aviation personnel continues to rise," said Chris Broom, vice president of Commercial Training Solutions at Boeing Global Services. The Seattle-based OEM says demand for new personnel will be driven primarily by single-aisle airplanes, except in Africa and the Middle East, where widebody airplane demand will be the key factor. According to the forecast, greater Europe — what Boeing now calls “Eurasia” — China and North America will account for more than half of new industry personnel. The company believes South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa will be the fastest-growing regions for personnel, with demand expected to more than triple within 20 years. Two-thirds of new personnel will address replacement due to retiring staff and other attrition, while one-third will support growth in the commercial fleet. https://leehamnews.com/2024/08/19/aviations-recruiting-problem-shifting-from-pilots-to-technicians-cabin-crew/ 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