Flight Safety Information - August 21, 2024 No. 167 In This Issue : Incident: Malaysian A333 near Alice Springs on Aug 19th 2024, engine problem : Incident: Malaysian A333 at Kuala Lumpur on Aug 20th 2024, engine problem : Cessna 550 Citation II - Fatal Accident on Takeoff (Texas) : Boeing 737-924ER (WL) - Ground Damage (Boston) : NATA, AACA Partner on Alaska Aviation Safety : Boeing grounds 777-9 aircraft after issue found in development : JetBlue crew praised for putting out cellphone fire on flight from Los Angeles to Boston : As Air Traffic Navigation Services crumbles, air safety in South Africa suffers : High-Ranking NetJets Pilots Union Leaders Handed ‘Unprecedented’ Termination : NASA’s supersonic X-59 is on the brink of making history with its revolutionary first flight : Bombardier’s Global 7500 Business Jet Blazes Forward, Sets More Than 50 Speed Records in Under 50 Weeks : Man with 'bloody head' refused to deboard American Airlines flight, arrested : Flying has never been safer, and continues to improve : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : Calendar of Events Incident: Malaysian A333 near Alice Springs on Aug 19th 2024, engine problem A Malaysian Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration 9M-MTJ performing flight MH-128 from Melbourne,VI (Australia) to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), was enroute at FL380 about 170nm westnorthwest of Alice Springs,NT (Australia) when the crew decided to turn around and divert to Alice Springs reporting a problem with one of the engines (PW4168A). The aircraft landed safely on Alice Springs' runway 12 about 2:45 hours later. The aircraft is still on the ground in Alice Springs about 27 hours after landing. The airline reported the aircraft diverted due to a technical issue. The airport reported the crew reported an engine problem. https://avherald.com/h?article=51ca6421&opt=0 Incident: Malaysian A333 at Kuala Lumpur on Aug 20th 2024, engine problem A Malaysian Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration 9M-MTG performing flight MH-386 from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Shanghai Pudong (China), was climbing out of Kuala Lumpur's runway 14R when the crew stopped the climb at about FL220 reporting engine (PW4168A) problems. The aircraft descended (normally) to FL070, entered holds to burn off fuel and landed safely back on Kuala Lumpur's runway 14L about 70 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Kuala Lumpur about 7 hours after landing back. Before the occurrence flight the aircraft had last flown on April 21st 2024, 4 months earlier, underwent maintenance and was on its first flight past maintenance. https://avherald.com/h?article=51ca6147&opt=0 Cessna 550 Citation II - Fatal Accident on Takeoff (Texas) Date: Tuesday 20 August 2024 Time: 07:00 LT Type: Cessna 550 Citation II Owner/operator: N689VP LLC Registration: N689VP MSN: 550-0689 Year of manufacture: 1991 Engine model: P&W JT15D-4 Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: Odessa-Schlemeyer Field (ODO/KODO), Odessa, TX - United States of America Phase: Take off Nature: Private Departure airport: Odessa Schlemeyer Field, TX (KODO) Destination airport: Houston-Ellington Field, TX (EFD/KEFD) Investigating agency: NTSB Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Cessna 550 Citation II crashed into a residential area after departure from runway 16 at Odessa-Schlemeyer Field (ODO/KODO), Texas. The aircraft struck powerlines along Yukon Road, 290 m past the end of the runway. It continued until impacting an alley near a few mobile homes and some shop buildings. A large post crash fire ensued. Both occupants died and the aircraft was destroyed. Runway 16/34 is 5003 x 75 ft, asphalt and in excellent condition. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/412380 Boeing 737-924ER (WL) - Ground Damage (Boston) Date: Tuesday 20 August 2024 Time: 04:51 UTC Type: Boeing 737-924ER (WL) Owner/operator: United Airlines Registration: N63899 MSN: 62816/6195 Year of manufacture: 2016 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Boston-Logan International Airport, MA (BOS/KBOS) - United States of America Phase: Taxi Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR/KEWR) Destination airport: Boston-Logan International Airport, MA (BOS/KBOS) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: United Airlines flight UA1298, a Boeing 737-924ER (N63899), and United Airlines flight UA2627, a Boeing 737-824 (N76288), were involved in a ground contact incident at Boston-Logan International Airport, MA (BOS). UA2627 had landed and parked at gate B28 at 04:45 UTC. At the same time UA1298 taxied to gate B29 after landing. While turning into B29, the left wingtip struck the right stabilizer of UA2627. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/412478 NATA, AACA Partner on Alaska Aviation Safety National Air Transportation Association joining with Alaska Air Carriers Association to advance aviation The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and Alaska Air Carriers Association (AACA) have agreed to partner on projects of mutual benefit, most notably aviation safety in Alaska. Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced today, they will “exchange expertise and information through committee engagement and collaboration on business, outreach, and event opportunities” designed to advance air safety and air carrier success. “Together, NATA and AACA will provide a unified voice for aviation businesses and connect industry leaders with engaged communities through annual conferences, committee meetings, and networking events,” said NATA COO Keith DeBerry. “Air carriers across the country, especially in states like Alaska, face many unique challenges in this competitive industry—some evident and others simmering beneath the surface. The knowledge-sharing, best practice development, insights, and overall support of the aviation community through this agreement is instrumental in elevating the industry and assisting in times of need. We look forward to a mutually beneficial, collaborative partnership between AACA and NATA in furthering the mission of our collective membership and each respective organization,” said NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. NATA has advocated for the air charter operators and other aeronautical service providers for 84 years. Founded in 1966 to serve Alaska’s air carriers, AACA has expanded to include all commercial aviation entities in the state. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-20/nata-aaca-partner-alaska-aviation-safety Boeing grounds 777-9 aircraft after issue found in development Test flights of the experimental aircraft have been halted after a design issue was discovered, Boeing says. SEATTLE — Boeing is grounding a new aircraft currently in development after a problem was found with a part unique to the 777-9 model, according to the aerospace company. The issue, a spokesperson said, is in the design of a part that connects the engine to the wing; there are two of these parts per engine with two engines per 777-9 aircraft. Until this issue is worked out, Boeing said the plane will not be flying. The Boeing 777-9 took its first flight in January 2020. Four and a half years later, the aircraft billed as the world's largest and most efficient twin-engine jet is grounded. However, the experimental aircraft has never flown passengers nor flown for any airline as it is still in development. “It is a big deal, because it’s one of many failures recently. They’ve had a long list of design and manufacturing failures, and they just keep coming one after another,” said former Boeing employee-turned-whistleblower Joe Jacobson. Boeing said it identified a “component that did not perform as designed” and that it has reported the issue to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “Yes, it should have been caught very early on. This sound like a major design error,” Jacobson said. Jacobson spent a decade at Boeing before moving to the FAA where he spent more than 20 years. He said this problem is part of a larger issue – one that’s resulted in high profile incidents for the aircraft manufacturer in recent years. “This is a couple of decades of not investing in the company, giving the money to investors and executives and not reinvesting in the company,” Jacobson said. Boeing is currently under investigation after, in January, a door plug blew out midflight over Oregon. The failure calling into question the companies production process – accused of prioritizing profit over safety. "We are seeing a new normal, this is what Boeing should be doing. Stopping the line occasionally because not everything is going to go 100% right, listening to their people with an astute ear and never every trying to gloss something over," said aviation expert John Nance. To date just four 777-9 aircraft are cleared for test flights while 481 orders have been placed the plane remains several years behind schedule. https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/boeing-grounds-777-9-aircraft-after-issue-found-development/281-c4c2f8bf-d073-4ca5-86fb-0f80a1ead9c2 JetBlue crew praised for putting out cellphone fire on flight from Los Angeles to Boston BOSTON - There was a scare on a JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston Tuesday morning when smoke from a cellphone fire started filling up the plane's cabin. JetBlue cellphone fire JetBlue flight 988 was approaching Logan Airport when, the airline said, "a customer's mobile phone malfunctioned and created smoke in the cabin." Laura Benson of Brockton, Massachusetts was a passenger on the flight. She told WBZ-TV she was a few seats back from first-class where she saw smoke from the electrical fire. "Really harsh smell" "I saw really thick, heavy smoke billowing out of the seat area," Benson said. "You smelled the plastic first, like a really harsh smell, and then the cabin just filled up with smoke and you saw the crew go right into action." "Crewmembers addressed the situation consistent with their training. The flight landed safely, and no injuries or aircraft damage were reported," JetBlue said in a statement. Benson said the crew quickly removed two passengers from the area. "They went and they got the fire extinguisher, made sure that everyone was safe and out of the seat and that they were actually safely put into other seats, and then they announced that they were putting the air on to get the air cleared up because at that point your eyes started hurting," Benson said. "I believe they moved the phone into the bathroom and closed the bathroom doors." JetBlue crew praised Benson was impressed by the crew's quick reaction because she said it could've been worse. "There was a clap at the end and we just said thank you," she said. "JetBlue will work with relevant agencies to complete an investigation of this incident," the airline said. Back in 2019, a Virgin Atlantic flight made an emergency landing at Logan Airport when a cell phone battery pack set a seat cushion on fire. Some airlines have been looking into adding fire containment bags for electronic fires on flights. The bag suppresses and contains the smoke and flames. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/jetblue-smoke-cabin-logan-airport/ As Air Traffic Navigation Services crumbles, air safety in South Africa suffers Recent announcements from Air Traffic Navigation Services have caused enormous costs and inconvenience to airlines and passengers. It’s time for an investigation into the conduct of the senior management and board of this critical entity. In recent weeks, we’ve seen alarming announcements from Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS), which have led to restrictions on aircraft landings and take-offs at many airport runways across the country. These developments are deeply concerning for several reasons, not least of which is the potential impact on the safety of the flying public. The effects on the airline industry and travellers have been severe, with planes unable to land at night or in poor weather. This has on occasion forced pilots into holding patterns while waiting for low visibility conditions to improve or to divert to other airports. The costs and inconvenience to airlines and passengers are enormous. How did we get here? What has occurred to cause such disarray in this crucial government-controlled organisation, which is tasked with designing, managing and optimising South Africa’s airspace to ensure safe and efficient navigation? The tourism and travel industries are heavily reliant on the smooth operation, long-term planning, and professionalism of ATNS. Accordingly, the organisation’s leadership is – or at least ought to be – acutely aware of required standards and the need to plan effectively to implement updates to required protocols, airport flight designs for each runway, along with equipment upgrades. For this to happen, ATNS needs to be staffed by competent, well-trained personnel responsible for each component to meet both local and international safety requirements. When ATNS fails to fulfil its responsibilities, problems inevitably arise, the likes of which we are now witnessing. These issues didn’t just start a few weeks ago; they began well over a year ago when the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) raised concerns about the lack of due process being followed at ATNS. After a 12-month extension, ATNS missed that deadline and reluctantly the SACAA again provided a further six-month extension for ATNS to get its house in order. Not surprisingly, ATNS also missed that deadline. The recent apologies from ATNS, stating it is “working to minimise delays and reduce the impact on airlines and passengers”, does little to address the fact that this situation was preventable. Simply put, the ATNS management should never have allowed things to deteriorate to this extent. Outsourcing increasing A closer look at what has transpired reveals that senior managers and the board of directors at ATNS have fallen short of their leadership and oversight functions. Years of established processes designed to ensure good governance, robust internal controls and audits appear to have been neglected. Red flags, concerns and complaints raised by staff and external customers appear to have been ignored. This, in turn, has led to a backlash from some within the ATNS leadership team who appear to either be overwhelmed or driven by other agendas, leading to not only the loss of essential skills, but also the sidelining, castigating, or suspending of those who speak up or ask difficult questions. There are troubling signs that senior ATNS management is allowing essential functions typically handled by internal staff to be outsourced to external service providers. Some of these providers are reportedly staffed by former ATNS employees who have either set up their own companies or joined other firms now supplying or seeking to supply services to ATNS. What was once a highly efficient and functional institution is now unravelling in a depletion of its internal competencies and beginning to rely on external providers. These providers can then demand higher fees over time, as they can exploit a weakened institution, a very similar pattern that has emerged across many dysfunctional government organisations and municipalities, who lose their ability to be self-sufficient and disciplined in fulfilling their mandate. This is the playbook that unfolded when Dudu Myeni, who once chaired South African Airways (SAA), made similar missteps in seeking to outsource critical functions like its treasury and aircraft financing to external providers at potentially exorbitant costs to the airline. While that decision was arrested in time, this was not enough to prevent a host of other gross mismanagement activities that eventually saw the airline placed into business rescue, and for Myeni to be declared a delinquent director for life. Investigation needed Given these developments at the ATNS, it’s obvious to see why its management has recently requested significant tariff increases, which will inevitably drive up the cost of flight travel in South Africa. Aside from the large bonuses sought by ATNS management – bonuses they certainly do not deserve given the organisation’s recent inefficiencies – what justifies such above-inflation increases? The need to upgrade ageing systems and technology may be real, but this points again to poor management and the failure to account for these necessary upgrades through proper planning and provisions allocated for future system and equipment upgrades. ATNS appears to be on the path to becoming yet another failed government institution, lacking the foresight, leadership and controls required to remain the world-class organisation it once was. In June 2023, the Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Willie Walsh, criticised both the Airports Company of SA (ACSA) and ATNS as “grievous examples of airports and air navigation service providers shifting the costs of their inefficiencies on to airlines”. He wasn’t wrong. It is time for new Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy to commission a thorough independent investigation into the conduct and lack of governance applied by the senior management and board of this critical entity. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2024-08-20-as-air-traffic-navigation-services-crumbles-air-safety-in-south-africa-suffers/ High-Ranking NetJets Pilots Union Leaders Handed ‘Unprecedented’ Termination The labor group says its vice president and strategy chairman were allegedly fired in early August. The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots alleged the two pilots were terminated because of their role in negotiating the union’s new five-year agreement with the private jet operator. Two high-ranking elected officials within the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP)—including the union’s vice president—were recently terminated from the company in what the labor group is calling an “unprecedented” move. The NJASAP represents NetJets’ 3,430 pilots and recently signed a new contract with the world’s largest private jet operator. In a news release published on Monday, the NJASAP alleged the two pilots were terminated because of their role in negotiating the five-year agreement, which was overwhelmingly ratified in April. The union also said the termination decision was “unlawful, unjust and in retaliation for the $1.6B in improvements the pilots negotiated during midterm bargaining that concluded earlier this year.” NetJets said it had no comment on the matter. The terminated pilots included the NJASAP vice president and strategy group chairman. According to the union, they were both captains with 23 and 18 years at the company, respectively. The two pilots had “unblemished professional records,” NJASAP president Captain Pedro Leroux said in the release. “Choosing to terminate two high-ranking union leaders is not simply another hurdle to resetting the landscape, but a move reflective of a strategy that is not sustainable in the long term," Leroux said. This move is the latest in an ongoing back-and-forth between NetJets and its pilots union. In June, the company sued the NJASAP for defamation over safety and pilot training claims. https://www.flyingmag.com/business/high-ranking-netjets-pilots-union-leaders-handed-unprecedented-termination/ NASA’s supersonic X-59 is on the brink of making history with its revolutionary first flight It will be the first of its kind to fly at the speed of sound However, it will not produce a sonic boom NASA’s experimental X-59 quiet supersonic jet is in the final stages of testing before its historic first flight. If successful, it will be the first supersonic aircraft to reach the speed of sound without creating a sonic boom. The aircraft will also set the stage for a new era of supersonic travel. The people at NASA are preparing the X-59 for its first real flight. But before it can do that it will need to pass a trio of important structural tests and critical inspections on the flight path. The quiet supersonic jet is designed to minimize the sound of the sonic boom as the plane approaches the speed of sound. It will also be the first of its kind to fly and gather sound data for future missions. If everything goes smoothly it can open the door for commercial supersonic planes in the future. Just earlier this year, the X-59 supersonic jet passed a critical Flight Readiness Review test. Now, it is being prepared for the final testing before its maiden flight. “The testing not only tells us how structurally sound the aircraft is, but also what kind of forces it can take once it is in the air,” says Walt Silva, Senior Research Scientist at NASA. The people at NASA are also looking forward to the first flight, one that might go down in aviation history. “First flights are always very intense,” said Natalie Spivey, an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. “There’s lots of anticipation, but we’re ready to get there and see how the aircraft responds in the air. It’ll be very exciting,” she added. However, NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic jet is not the only player in this field. Companies like Boom Supersonic have even completed the construction of the first US supersonic airline factory. https://supercarblondie.com/nasa-x-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-first-flight/ Bombardier’s Global 7500 Business Jet Blazes Forward, Sets More Than 50 Speed Records in Under 50 Weeks • New record-setting missions include essential city pairs from Miami to São Paulo, Tokyo to Los Angeles, Jeddah to London and London to Bahrain, accentuating the jet’s outstanding performance attributes • Records continue to mount as Global 7500 aircraft is showcased for customer demonstrations and other essential missions worldwide With a fleet nearing 200 deliveries and more than 180,000 flying hours in the books, the Global 7500 continues to set the industry standard in the ultra-long-range class: proven, reliable and luxurious Inflight Bombardier Global 7500 - sea MONTRÉAL, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier today announced that its industry-leading Global 7500 business jet continues to pile up speed records, adding to its already impressive record-setting performances by reaching more than 50 records in less than 50 weeks. Some of the most impressive new industry records (1) include essential city pairs from Miami to São Paulo, Tokyo to Los Angeles, Jeddah to London and London to Bahrain. To further accentuate the Global 7500 aircraft’s incredible performance attributes, the average speed of its 10 fastest new records is clocked at more than 1,000 km/h. Exceptional performance and pristine luxury are the Global 7500 jet’s calling cards. With a top speed of Mach 0.925 and a baseline range of 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km), the Global 7500 is the ultimate record-setting time machine, bringing key destinations closer and closer. The aircraft’s Smooth Flĕx Wing is like an in-air shock absorber, designed with a sophisticated slats and flap system that generates exceptional lift on takeoff and approach, maximizing aerodynamic efficiency and boosting performance while improving safety and offering the industry’s smoothest ride. It also reduces fuel burn, lowers emissions and produces excellent short-field and high-speed performance – the type of journey its discerning customers strive for. “With every new speed record, the Global 7500 aircraft builds on its well-deserved reputation as the most impressive ultra long-range aircraft in the skies today,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Aircraft Sales and Bombardier Defense. “In terms of its design attributes, unique technological advancements and more, the Global 7500 aircraft is unmatched for its reliability, productivity and style.” Performance attributes notwithstanding, the Global 7500 aircraft is in a class by itself in terms of design excellence. This exquisite business jet is the ultimate home office in the sky, a productive business tool that offers customers all the accoutrements of their preferred work environment. The aircraft boasts a stunning, spacious interior featuring four true living spaces, a full-size, superbly equipped kitchen and a dedicated crew suite, offering customers the ultimate in-flight experience. Other innovative design elements set the benchmark for the most exceptional cabin interior in business aviation, including Bombardier’s patented Nuage seat, which features the industry’s first zero-gravity position. The incredible attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft will be enhanced even more with the introduction of the Global 8000 (2) aircraft, announced in 2022. Bombardier’s flagship of a new era will boast an industry-leading range of 8,000 nautical miles and an unbeatable top speed of Mach 0.94, making it the ultimate all-in-one business aircraft. It will also feature the lowest cabin altitude of less than 2,900 feet when flying at 41,000 ft. – lower than any business jet today. Bombardier’s Global 8000 aircraft development is ongoing and the program is progressing to plan toward entry into service in 2025. About Bombardier At Bombardier (BBD-B.TO), we design, build, modify and maintain the world’s best-performing aircraft for the world’s most discerning people and businesses, governments and militaries. That means not simply exceeding standards, but understanding customers well enough to anticipate their unspoken needs. For them, we are committed to pioneering the future of aviation—innovating to make flying more reliable, efficient and sustainable. And we are passionate about delivering unrivaled craftsmanship and care, giving our customers greater confidence and the elevated experience they deserve and expect. Because people who shape the world will always need the most productive and responsible ways to move through it. Bombardier customers operate a fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft, supported by a vast network of Bombardier team members worldwide and 10 service facilities across six countries. Bombardier’s performance-leading jets are proudly manufactured in aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. For Information For corporate news and information, including Bombardier’s Environmental, Social and Governance report, as well as the company’s plans to cover all its flight operations with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend utilizing the Book and Claim system visit bombardier.com. Learn more about Bombardier’s industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com. Follow us on X (Twitter) @Bombardier. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/08/21/2933421/0/en/Bombardier-s-Global-7500-Business-Jet-Blazes-Forward-Sets-More-Than-50-Speed-Records-in-Under-50-Weeks.html Man with 'bloody head' refused to deboard American Airlines flight, arrested A Florida airport incident ended in arrests on Tuesday when a couple refused to disembark from an American Airlines flight after the crew raised concerns about a man’s bloodied head. Eugenio Ernesto Hernandez-Garnier, 27, and his wife, Yusleydis Blanca Loyola, 32, were forcibly removed from their Las Vegas-bound flight at Miami International Airport, reported the New York Post. Hernandez-Garnier boarded the plane with a visibly bloody head and a bandage that appeared to be falling off, according to a live TikTok video posted by Loyola. Crew members initially requested Hernandez-Garnier clean the blood and replace his bandages, which he claimed he did not have. They soon decided to ask him to leave the plane, citing health and contamination concerns. When Hernandez-Garnier and Loyola refused to comply, citing various reasons, the crew called for police intervention. The situation escalated when police arrived and attempted to escort the couple off the plane. The couple continued to resist, leading to their arrest, reported the New York Post. Loyola was heard on TikTok yelling in Spanish, explaining that the blood was from recent surgery. Meanwhile, fellow passengers, who were also asked to deplane due to the health risk, cheered as the couple was escorted away. Both Hernandez-Garnier and Loyola were first taken to the hospital for evaluation before being booked at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Loyola’s mugshot shows her in a hospital gown, while Hernandez-Garnier’s shows blood on his head. The couple faces charges of trespassing after a warning and resisting an officer without violence. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/man-with-bloody-head-refused-to-deboard-american-airlines-flight-arrested/articleshow/112667766.cms Flying has never been safer, and continues to improve Many airline passengers naturally worry about flying. However, commercial air travel continues to become increasingly safe on a global scale, according to a new study led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The study has revealed that the risk of a fatality from commercial air travel between 2018 and 2022 was one per every 13.7 million passenger boardings worldwide. This is a significant improvement from the risk of one per 7.9 million boardings in the period from 2008 to 2017, and a remarkable advancement compared to the one per every 350,000 boardings that occurred between 1968 and 1977. Air travel safety is constantly improving “Aviation safety continues to get better,” said Arnold Barnett, an MIT expert in air travel safety and operations and co-author of the study. “You might think there is some irreducible risk level we can’t get below. And yet, the chance of dying during an air journey keeps dropping by about seven percent annually, and continues to go down by a factor of two every decade.” Of course, there are no guarantees of perpetual improvement; recent near-collisions on U.S. runways have garnered attention, underscoring that airline safety requires continuous effort. The Covid-19 pandemic may have introduced a temporary new risk associated with flying. The study examines this risk separately from the long-term safety trends, which focus on accidents and deliberate attacks on aviation. Air travel safety has nearly doubled each decade Barnett likens the long-term improvements in air safety to “Moore’s Law,” the principle that computing power roughly doubles every 18 months. In this case, commercial air travel has become about twice as safe with each passing decade since the late 1960s. “Here we have an aerial version of Moore’s Law,” said Barnett, who has contributed to refining air travel safety statistics for many years. In terms of per-boarding risk, passengers today are approximately 39 times safer than they were during the 1968-1977 period. Avian safety during the pandemic The study also includes a separate finding about the impact of Covid-19, focusing on the transmission of the virus by airline passengers during the pandemic. This analysis is not part of the main data, which evaluates airline incidents during normal operations. Nonetheless, Barnett believed it was important to investigate the specific case of viral transmission during the pandemic. Covid-19 transmission on passenger planes The study estimates that between June 2020 and February 2021, before vaccines were widely available, around 1,200 deaths in the U.S. were associated, directly or indirectly, with Covid-19 transmission on passenger planes. Most of these fatalities likely involved people who contracted the virus from others who had been infected during air travel. Covid deaths linked to air travel Additionally, the study estimates that globally, from March 2020 through December 2022, about 4,760 deaths were linked to Covid-19 transmission on airplanes. These estimates are based on available data regarding transmission rates and daily death rates, taking into account the age distribution of air passengers during the pandemic. Interestingly, older Americans did not seem to fly less during the pandemic, even though their risk of death from infection was higher than that of younger travelers. “There’s no simple answer to this,” Barnett said. “But we worked to come up with realistic and conservative estimates, so that people can learn important lessons about what happened. I believe people should at least look at these numbers.” Fatalities outside of the pandemic To study fatalities during normal airline operations, the researchers used data from the Flight Safety Foundation, the World Bank, and the International Air Transport Association. To assess air travel risks, various metrics have been used, including deaths per billion passenger miles and fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours. However, Barnett argues that deaths per passenger boarding is the most “defensible” and understandable statistic, as it directly answers the question: If you have a boarding pass for a flight, what are your odds of dying? This statistic also accounts for incidents that might occur in airport terminals. Having previously developed this metric, Barnett has updated his findings multiple times, creating a comprehensive view of air safety over time: Commercial air fatalities per passenger boarding: 1968-1977: one per 350,000 1978-1987: one per 750,000 1988-1997: one per 1.3 million 1998-2007: one per 2.7 million 2007-2017: one per 7.9 million 2018-2022: one per 13.7 million As Barnett’s data shows, these improvements are not just incidental but represent a long-term trend. While the new paper is more focused on empirical outcomes than on explaining them, Barnett suggests several contributing factors, including technological advances like collision avoidance systems in planes, extensive training, and rigorous work by organizations such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency and the National Transportation Safety Board. Disparities in air travel safety However, there are still disparities in air travel safety across the globe. The study categorizes countries into three tiers based on their commercial air safety records. In the third tier, the fatality rate per passenger boarding during the 2018-2022 period was 36.5 times higher than in the top tier. This highlights that air travel safety varies significantly depending on the region. The first tier of countries includes the United States, European Union countries, other European states like Norway and Switzerland, as well as Australia, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, and New Zealand. The second tier comprises nations such as Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea, where the death risk per boarding was about one per 80 million over 2018-2022. The third tier encompasses all other countries. While air travel fatalities per boarding in these countries were cut roughly in half during the 2018-2022 period, Barnett notes that while it’s positive they are improving, they could potentially accelerate their progress by learning from the leading countries. “The remaining countries continue to improve by something like a factor of two, but they’re still behind the top two groups,” Barnett observed. Impressive rate of improvement Overall, Barnett points out that, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, and considering accident avoidance, particularly in countries with the lowest fatality rates, it is remarkable that air safety continues to improve. Progress is never guaranteed in this area, but the leading countries in air safety, along with their government officials and airlines, consistently find ways to enhance flight safety. “After decades of sharp improvements, it’s really hard to keep improving at the same rate. And yet they do,” Barnett concluded. The study is published in the Journal of Air Transport Management. https://www.earth.com/news/flying-has-never-been-safer-and-continues-to-improve/ 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