Flight Safety Information - August 23, 2024 No. 169 In This Issue : Incident: Fuji Dream E170 at Nagoya on Aug 22nd 2024, loss of nose wheel steering on landing : Incident: Jetblue A321 near Boston on Aug 20th 2024, smoking cellphone : Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Fatal Accident (Thailand) : Plane carrying 9 people crashes in forest near Thailand’s capital : ‘Lie To Fly’ explores case of pilot accused of trying to cut plane engines over Oregon : Italian aviation authorities investigate after turbulence injures two easyJet flight attendants : F.A.A. Refers More Unruly Passenger Cases to Justice Department : Why India’s Commercial Aviation Industry is Poised for Unprecedented Growth : Airlink partners with AviAssist to enhance African aviation safety : Hong Kong Airlines Plans Long Haul Flights With Used 787s : NBAA To Recognize Laurent and Pierre Beaudoin : Record breaking aircraft deliveries in July 2024 as industry rallies : European Air Ambulance Adds Second Challenger 605 : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : Calendar of Events Incident: Fuji Dream E170 at Nagoya on Aug 22nd 2024, loss of nose wheel steering on landing A Fuju Dream Airlines Embraer ERJ-170, registration JA02FJ performing flight JH-944 from Nankoku to Nagoya (Japan), landed on Nagoya's runway 18 but became disabled on the runway after landing due to the loss of nose wheel steering. The aircraft was towed off the runway about 30 minutes later. The aircraft was able to return to service after about 5 hours on the ground. https://avherald.com/h?article=51cb9d5b&opt=0 Incident: Jetblue A321 near Boston on Aug 20th 2024, smoking cellphone A Jetblue Airbus A321-200, registration N985JT performing flight B6-988 (dep Aug 19th) from Los Angeles,CA to Boston,MA (USA), was nearing Boston when a passenger's cellphone began to emit thick smoke. Cabin crew reacted, extinguished the fire and secured the phone. The aircraft continued for a safe landing at Boston. The airline reported a customer's cellphone malfunctioned and created smoke in the cabin. Crewmembers addressed the situation consistent with their training. There were no injuries and no damage to the aircraft. A passenger reported there was a harsh smell of plastics first, then the cabin started to fill with smoke, cabin crew got fire extinguishers, discharged them, and secured the phone. The aircraft remained on the ground in Boston for 4 hours then continued service. https://avherald.com/h?article=51cb89cb&opt=0 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Fatal Accident (Thailand) Date: Thursday 22 August 2024 Time: c. 14:57 LT Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Owner/operator: Thai Flying Service Co Ltd Registration: HS-SKR MSN: 208B1241 Year of manufacture: 2007 Fatalities: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: Wat Khao Din, Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province - Thailand Phase: Enroute Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK/VTBS) Destination airport: Ko Mai Si Airport (Soneva Kiri Hotel Private Airport) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Thai Flying Service Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, performing flight TFT209, crashed under unknown circumstances in Wat Khao Din, Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province. The nine occupants perished and the aircraft was destroyed. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/413073 Plane carrying 9 people crashes in forest near Thailand’s capital A plane carrying nine people crashed near the Thai capital Bangkok on Thursday, prompting a massive search operation in which workers trudged across mud and dug through the thick cover of mangrove trees late into the night. Two Thai pilots, along with five Chinese and two Thai passengers on board are believed to have been killed, according to authorities, as they investigate the crash. The small aircraft departed from Bangkok’s main international airport at 2:46 p.m. local time, headed to Trat airport in the country’s east, according to the Chachoengsao provincial office of the government’s public relations department. It lost contact about 10 minutes into the flight, the office said in a statement. Residents of Chachoengsao’s Bang Pakong district described seeing the plane fall from the sky and “explode loudly” upon impact, with debris damaging nearby homes. “I was sitting in front of my house. The plane flew over my house with a loud engine sound. Just seconds after that it crashed just here, with a loud crash,” one resident told officials, in a video shared by the provincial office. Soneva Kiri, a luxury resort located on the island on Koh Kood, confirmed to CNN in a statement that it employed the two Thai passengers. The resort’s guests usually arrive via private plane at the nearby airport, then take a speedboat to the island. The resort said it was fully cooperating with authorities in the investigation. The cause of the crash remains unclear. Parts of the aircraft were found scattered in the mud, along with nearly 70 body parts, which have been sent to a police hospital for identification, the provincial office said. But the search was delayed by several hours due to logistical difficulties, it said. The crash took place in a mangrove forest, where the ground was wet due to overspill from a nearby river. Photos and videos released by the office show large crowds of rescue workers and emergency staff on site, wearing headlamps as night fell and sifting through wreckage – including suitcases and open bags. Large excavators dug through the mud and mangrove trees, with some workers standing in knee-deep ponds to fish out debris. The river’s high tide made the search even more challenging, with rescue teams having to pump out water and build embankments to prevent more water from flowing in, the provincial office said. The search was paused at 2 a.m., and resumed on Friday morning. Authorities will analyze the aircraft debris to determine the cause of the crash, the office said – adding that the plane did not have a black box, and had communicated directly with air traffic control. https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/22/asia/thailand-plane-crash-intl-hnk/index.html ‘Lie To Fly’ explores case of pilot accused of trying to cut plane engines over Oregon When news broke in October 2023 that an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot was accused of trying to cut the engines of a plane midflight, forcing it to make an emergency landing at Portland International Airport, reactions came quickly. What kind of lunatic would do such a thing, many wondered, endangering the lives of more than 80 people on board? When it was reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive and other sources that the accused, Joseph Emerson, told investigators that he had taken “magic mushrooms” 48 hours before the incident, the story only seemed to get stranger. A new documentary, “The New York Times Presents: Lie To Fly,” looks into some of the larger issues raised by the Emerson case. Featuring interviews with Emerson, his wife, aviation and medical experts, and more, “Lie To Fly” explores how pilots are often reluctant to seek diagnoses and treatment for mental health issues, due to regulations that may prevent them from flying, and making a living. Emerson’s case is, without doubt, a dramatic one. As an Alaska Airlines pilot, Emerson was able to hitch a ride in the cockpit jump seat on a Horizon Air flight originating in Everett, Washington, and heading toward San Francisco, California. Horizon is a regional carrier that is owned by Alaska Airlines. But, as The Oregonian/OregonLive reported, halfway between Astoria and Portland, Emerson said, “I’m not OK,” according to a federal affidavit, and tried to shut off the plane’s engines. Crew members were ultimately able to subdue Emerson, and pilots diverted the craft to land at Portland International Airport, where Port of Portland police took Emerson into custody. Initially, Emerson faced 83 counts of attempted murder and reckless endangerment in state court, and was held in Multnomah County’s downtown Portland jail. A bald man in glasses and blue jail clothes stands in an booth in a courtroom Joseph David Emerson, 44, appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court for an indictment hearing on Dec. 7, 2023. Emerson, an airline pilot, is accused of attempting to turn off the engines of a plane he was riding in while off-duty in October. The revised indictment includes mostly misdemeanor charges, and Emerson posted bail after the hearing. Dave Killen / The Oregonian As The Oregonian/OregonLive also reported, according to authorities, Emerson had said he hadn’t slept in two days, was depressed by the death of his best friend, and had taken psychedelic mushrooms for the first time two days prior to the flight. In “Lie To Fly,” Emerson, who lives in Pleasant Hill, California, talks about growing up loving planes, and how when he was in junior high in Cheney, Washington, he made business cards with his name and the sentiment, soon to be a pilot, printed on them. Emerson’s wife, Sarah Stretch, says that her husband was always very devoted to his job with Alaska Airlines, considered the “hometown airline” because its headquarters are in Seattle. Emerson and others recall his close friendship with Scott Pinney, a fellow pilot who also served as the best man at Emerson and Stretch’s wedding. When Pinney died in 2018, Emerson was deeply shaken. "The New York Times Presents: Lie To Fly" Joseph Emerson is among those interviewed in the documentary, "The New York Times Presents: Lie To Fly." FX/The New York Times “There’s no right way to grieve,” Emerson says in the documentary, and he says he drank a lot of gin and tonics, which he admits wasn’t a healthy way to cope. His therapist raised the possibility of Emerson seeing a psychiatrist who could prescribe antidepressant medication, but Emerson said no, believing that if he took such medicine, he wouldn’t be able to fly an airplane. As “Lie To Fly” explains, Emerson’s reluctance had to do with the Federal Aviation Administration’s policies, which require pilots to disclose medical diagnoses, including depression and anxiety. The FAA process to determine whether a pilot is fit to fly can be very lengthy, as the documentary says, which leads to some pilots opting not to seek treatment, rather than risk losing their medical clearance to fly. The climax of the documentary comes as Emerson recalls joining a guys’ trip to rural Washington, in honor of Pinney. It was there he took psychedelic mushrooms, Emerson says. But instead of feeling better, Emerson says, the mushrooms made him fear that people were going to kill him, and he had a feeling of, “Am I alive?” "The New York Times Presents: Lie To Fly" The cockpit of the plane Joseph Emerson is accused of trying to bring down, as shown in "The New York Times Presents: Lie To Fly." FX/The New York Times Emerson talks about taking the jump seat in the cockpit of the plane that was heading to San Francisco, and having recurring thoughts of, “Is this real?” Video footage from inside the plane reflects some of the aftermath of Emerson’s alleged attempt to cut the engines, as we hear a pilot say a “jump seater went nuts,” and witness moments before police take Emerson off the plane, when Emerson seems to be strangely calm, as if in a daze. Stretch recalls arriving at the Multnomah County Justice Center, and being told her husband had been booked on 83 counts of attempted murder. There are also images from the Multnomah County Courthouse during Emerson’s Oct. 24, 2023 arraignment, during which we hear the voice of Nathan Vasquez, who says he’s representing the district attorney’s office in the state of Oregon. Video shows Emerson being led into the room, and he says when he saw his wife and met her eyes, “I realized it was real.” “There were two days of testimony before the grand jury,” Emerson recalls. “I answered questions as best I could.” In December, 2023, as The Oregonian/OregonLive reported, the grand jury tasked with reviewing the case reduced the charges facing Emerson, and issued an indictment that charged Emerson with 83 misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, plus one count of first-degree endangering an aircraft, a minor felony. Those charges are mentioned at the end of “Lie To Fly,” along with Emerson also being charged at the federal level with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants. Emerson has pleaded not guilty to all charges, as the documentary says, and he is expected to go to trial in the fall of 2024. https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2024/08/lie-to-fly-explores-case-of-man-accused-of-trying-to-cut-plane-engines-over-oregon.html Italian aviation authorities investigate after turbulence injures two easyJet flight attendants LONDON (AP) — Italian authorities have launched an investigation after two easyJet flight attendants were injured when their flight from Corfu to London’s Gatwick Airport was buffeted by turbulence earlier this week. As a result of the incident, the pilot made an unscheduled landing at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at 1:48 p.m. on Monday. The two crew members received medical treatment in Rome, and the passengers completed their journey on a replacement aircraft, easyJet said in a statement. Italy’s civil aviation authority opened a safety investigation into the incident, which it classified as an accident due to “the type and severity of the injuries reported.” While neither the agency nor easyJet released details of the injuries, news reports indicated that one flight attendant broke her leg and another had a severely sprained ankle. The incident comes less than three months after a 73-year-old British man died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of other passengers were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight ran into severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean. While turbulence-related deaths are rare, injuries have piled up in recent years, with some meteorologists and aviation analysts noting that reports of aircraft encountering turbulence have also increased. Meteorologists point to the impact of climate change, which increases the difference in temperature between the warm and cold air masses in the upper atmosphere that together form the jet stream of air flowing from east to west around the globe. These air masses collide and unsettle the jet stream, generating greater turbulence. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/italian-aviation-authorities-investigate-turbulence-144954292.html F.A.A. Refers More Unruly Passenger Cases to Justice Department A surge in disruptive passenger behavior since the beginning of the pandemic has put pressure on the Federal Aviation Administration. More than 300 cases regarding unruly passengers have been referred to the F.B.I. by the Federal Aviation Administration since 2021. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday that it had asked the Justice Department to consider bringing criminal charges in 43 serious and dangerous incidents from the past year involving unruly passengers aboard planes. Since late 2021, the F.A.A. has referred 310 cases to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, following a commitment between the two agencies to collaborate more closely on the criminal prosecution of unruly airline passengers when warranted. As of Aug. 18, airlines reported 1,375 incidents of unruly passengers to the F.A.A. In the past year, the agency has forwarded 43 cases to the F.B.I. for potential criminal charges. These incidents include attacks on crew members, sexual assaults on passengers and attempts to breach the cockpit. “There’s absolutely no excuse for unruly behavior,” Michael Whitaker, the F.A.A.’s administrator, said in a statement. “It threatens the safety of everyone on board, and we have zero tolerance for it.” Unruly passenger behavior surged during the pandemic, prompting the F.A.A. in 2021 to implement a zero-tolerance policy for such conduct and begin issuing fines instead of warning letters to offenders. The agency reported approximately 6,000 such incidents in 2021, a sharp rise compared with about 1,000 reports in 2020. The number of incidents reported in 2023 fell to 2,100 but still represented an uptick from the years preceding the pandemic. The F.A.A. lacks criminal enforcement authority and can only impose fines for unruly and violent behavior, with penalties up to $37,000 per violation. More serious cases that the agency believes warrant criminal prosecution must be referred to the F.B.I. Typically, the aviation agency only refers the most egregious cases. In April 2021, the F.A.A. announced that its zero-tolerance policy would become permanent, even after a court order ended the mask mandate that had caused friction with passengers who did not want to comply. Later that year, Stephen Dickson, the agency’s administrator at the time, sent a letter to airport leaders highlighting alcohol as a frequent contributor to unruly behavior. “Our investigations show that alcohol often contributes to this unsafe behavior,” Mr. Dickson wrote. A 2021 national survey conducted by the Association of Flight Attendants union revealed that nearly all flight attendants had dealt with unruly passengers that year, and one in five had been attacked. The survey identified mask compliance, alcohol, routine safety reminders, flight delays, and cancellations as common factors in these interactions. Many instances involved multiple contributing factors. “The vast majority of passengers comply with all flight crew instructions and follow all federal laws and regulations that apply to air travel, however, one incident is one too many,” said Marli Collier, a spokeswoman with Airlines for America, a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers. The flight attendants’ union called for increased action from the Justice Department and the F.A.A. to curb passenger misbehavior. In response, the two government entities established an information-sharing protocol for referring unruly passenger cases to the F.B.I. The aviation agency also announced a new partnership with the Transportation Security Administration, under which fined unruly passengers may lose PreCheck privileges. Sara Nelson, the international president of the flight attendants’ union, said travel woes had helped fuel the rise in troubling passenger behavior. Struggles getting home because of flight delays and cancellations add to the frustration for passengers, she said. She also pointed to increased drinking at airport bars before boarding as passengers wait for delayed aircraft as a contributing factor. “The entire system is stretched very thin and all of the basic human needs that need to be addressed for people to just simply be able to follow the rules and remain calm are now at stressor points,” Ms. Nelson said. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/21/us/politics/faa-unruly-passengers-fbi.html Why India’s Commercial Aviation Industry is Poised for Unprecedented Growth Large populations of potential travelers can often drive a sustained demand for commercial flights, which helps existing carriers grow and spurs the arrival of new entrants into the market. Looking closely at how travel demand builds and evolves in emerging countries, where air travel has long been considered a luxury, we observe that a growing, travel-minded middle class is often the initial catalyst for aviation industry growth in the leisure travel segment. Furthermore, a strong economy with thriving enterprises across different industries generates business travelers who are willing to pay extra for business travel seats that may be more spacious and/or near the front of the plane. As these combined factors accelerate the growth of a country’s commercial aviation industry – new, modern airports are built, more competition appears, and air carriers invest to strengthen their position in targeted market segments. With infrastructure investments underway and the demand for air travel rising, India’s commercial aviation industry is poised for unprecedented growth. Considering these factors, it’s not surprising that India has one of the world’s fastest-growing commercial aviation industries. Aviation rises on the subcontinent In April 2023, India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. Its population’s median age of 28.7 is younger than most other countries, and more than 1.5 million engineers graduate from its universities every year. These young engineers and other graduates in the country have the middle class thriving. According to the Economic Times: “The middle class is the fastest-growing major segment of India’s population in both percentage and absolute terms, rising at 6.3 percent per year between 1995 and 2021. It now represents 31 percent of the population and is expected to be 38 percent by 2031 and 60 percent in 2047.” Today, India’s middle class is considered one of the largest in the world. This is driving a steady increase in the demand for air travel, which India’s commercial aviation industry is rushing to meet. Although the populations of India and China are similar in numbers, according to Jefferies analysts, there were only 646 active registered aircraft in India in February 2023, compared to the 3922 active aircraft in China during the same period. India’s airlines are determined to bridge this gap, and placed large aircraft orders at the 2023 air shows—ordering 1,120 new aircraft—ostensibly to meet growing demand. In April 2023, India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. Its population’s median age of 28.7 is younger than most other countries, and more than 1.5 million engineers graduate from its universities every year. These young engineers and other graduates in the country have the middle class thriving. When these aircraft are delivered to the Indian air carriers, many will be tasked with meeting the increased demand for air travel among the Indian population. But more travelers could soon be on the way. With Tata Group now owning Air India Group, plans are underway to position India as a new connecting point between the East and the West—a position held by Middle Eastern airports and airlines for decades. If the Tata Group and other Indian airlines accomplish this, the number of passengers flying into and out of India will increase quickly, which will require investments in more than just new aircraft. Prepare for takeoff While India is emerging as a highly-skilled hub for low-cost engineering and manufacturing, its infrastructure has not improved fast enough to meet its people’s increased desire for air travel. India’s aviation facilities are already struggling to accommodate escalating air traffic. This has led India’s government to prioritize and invest in an aviation-heavy infrastructure roadmap. In the past few decades, the country has worked to shift the focus of its aviation industry towards economic drivers. As a result, Indian and foreign capital has flooded into the country, and companies have formed public-private partnerships with the Indian government that will help to advance the country’s aviation master plan. The Indian government also implemented an initiative called Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik, or UDAN, to connect more rural areas by launching new routes. This initiative aims to operationalize 1000 routes and revive or develop 100 unserved and underserved airports and heliports by 2024. Today, India’s middle class is considered one of the largest in the world. This is driving a steady increase in the demand for air travel, which India’s commercial aviation industry is rushing to meet. As an early step towards more efficient usage of India air space, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has decreased authorized lateral separation between two aircraft from 10 Nautical Miles (NM) to 5 NM, and air traffic management procedures and systems are being updated accordingly. Additionally, performance-based navigation approaches, aided by GPS-Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), the India Government’s regional satellite-based augmentation system, are being evaluated. These performance-based navigation approaches could help maintain airport traffic fluidity under all weather conditions while also allowing airports to handle a steadier flow of passengers without compromising safety or requiring costly investments to update ground infrastructures. With infrastructure investments underway and the demand for air travel rising, India’s commercial aviation industry is poised for unprecedented growth. However, India’s airlines—including new entrants to the space—will need to find innovative solutions to the complex equation that has made the Indian commercial aviation space so challenging in the past: when flying in India’s sky, margins can be narrow, and profitability can be difficult. https://connectedaviationtoday.com/why-indias-commercial-aviation-industry-is-poised-for-unprecedented-growth/ Airlink partners with AviAssist to enhance African aviation safety South African airline Airlink has joined forces with the AviAssist Foundation to offer a Human Factors in Aviation course, aimed at enhancing safety practices across the African aviation industry. The two-day course, scheduled for September 19-20, 2024, will take place at Airlink's Training Centre of Excellence near Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. Sponsored by the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure, KLM, Airbus, Boeing, and ATR, the course will cover crucial topics such as teamwork, stress management, risk assessment, and safety culture. It targets a wide range of aviation professionals, including airlines, air traffic controllers, and airport staff. Airlink CEO Rodger Foster emphasized the importance of addressing human factors in maintaining aviation safety. AviAssist director Tom Kok praised the partnership, noting Airlink's extensive African network as an ideal platform for distributing safety information. The collaboration highlights the industry's commitment to shared knowledge and safety improvements. By hosting the course at its state-of-the-art training facility, Airlink demonstrates its dedication to promoting safety beyond its own operations, contributing to the broader African aviation community. https://atta.travel/resource/airlink-partners-with-aviassist-to-enhance-african-aviation-safety.html Hong Kong Airlines Plans Long Haul Flights With Used 787s Hong Kong Airlines once again wants to expand by launching long haul flights, after that strategy nearly liquidated the airline back in 2019… Hong Kong Airlines eyes North America flights Hong Kong Airlines CEO Jeff Sun Jianfeng has stated in an interview with Bloomberg that the airline intends to once again launch long haul flights as of 2025. Specifically, the airline wants to acquire at least three secondhand Boeing 787s, and use those for this service. As far as destinations go, North America is clearly the target, and the airline is evaluating the possibility of service to Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle (SEA), Toronto (YYZ), and Vancouver (YVR). Now, for some background on Hong Kong Airlines, the carrier currently has a fleet of 21 Airbus planes, comprised of A320 and A330-family aircraft, which are primarily used for flights within Asia. However, the airline used to be much bigger… well, briefly. In 2017, the company began a huge expansion push, whereby the airline took delivery of Airbus A350s, with the goal of becoming a truly global airline. The airline ended up launching flights to the United States, including to Los Angeles and San Francisco. I even had the chance to review Hong Kong Airlines’ A350 business class. Well, that service lasted for all of a couple of years, and by early 2020, the carrier ended all long haul flights, and dumped its A350s. Hong Kong Airlines had been hemorrhaging money on its’ long haul flights. It also didn’t help that Hong Kong Airlines’ parent company, HNA Group, wasn’t exactly in a good financial spot either. For many months, the airline was teetering on the brink of liquidation, to the point that it couldn’t even pay its staff during some periods. Fortunately the airline managed to restructure, and has shrunk back into profitability. The airline has gone from having over 50 planes, to having just 21 planes. Hong Kong Airlines briefly flew A350s Does Hong Kong Airlines’ strategy make sense? Is there any merit to Hong Kong Airlines relaunching long haul flights, when that effort nearly ran the airline out of business several years back? I’m generally skeptical, given how poorly this worked out the first time around. It’s notoriously difficult to make money on ultra long haul flying, especially when you’re not the dominant business airline, with the bulk of corporate contracts. Hong Kong Airlines would struggle to get high yield business travelers, since the airline just won’t have the schedule, frequencies, or existing relationships, of Cathay Pacific. Making money on these kinds of routes off leisure travelers, especially as a non-preferred airline, isn’t going to be easy. We’re back to seeing sub-$700 roundtrip fares from the United States to Hong Kong, and that’s not going to make airlines any money. Now, Asia is in a weird spot when it comes to aviation, given the extent to which Mainland China’s international travel demand just hasn’t recovered. This is a blessing and curse for airlines, since airlines from Mainland China are operating much smaller international schedules than pre-pandemic. It means that a lot of travelers from Mainland China are routing through other hubs. At the same time, there also just aren’t as many of them. To Hong Kong Airlines’ credit, perhaps starting with used 787s would give the airline a better cost structure than flying with brand new A350s. Though the specific mention of 787s makes me wonder — has the airline already sourced these jets, because it’s a bit surprising to see an all-Airbus operator go this direction? My gut tells me that this strategy probably doesn’t make any sense, and exposes the airline to an unnecessary amount of risk, with limited upside. Is it possible this ends up being mildly profitable? Maybe. But I doubt it’ll be a goldmine. At the same time, I have to hope that executives at the airline know something I don’t, and aren’t just trying to run the airline into the ground again? This expansion strategy seems risky Bottom line Hong Kong Airlines is planning on resuming long haul flights, and is considering four destinations in North America. The airline plans to launch these flights with used Boeing 787s as of 2025. I’m skeptical of this plan, given that the airline tried this before, and it ended horribly. Could this work out better, with a lower structure, and a fundamentally different industry? Or is the airline setting itself up for failure again? https://onemileatatime.com/news/hong-kong-airlines-long-haul-flights-787/ NBAA To Recognize Laurent and Pierre Beaudoin Laurent and Pierre Beaudoin will be honored with one of NBAA's highest honors, the Meritorious Service Award NBAA will honor long-time former Bombardier leaders Laurent and Pierre Beaudoin with the association’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award, recognizing their leadership in fostering industry growth, business aviation safety, and sustainability. “Laurent and Pierre exemplify the pioneering spirit of this honor,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Their trailblazing leadership drove the creation of entirely new market categories for business and commercial aircraft and helped set the standard for excellence in safety and sustainability. Their work continues to inspire current and future generations of business aviation professionals.” Laurent Beaudoin joined Bombardier in 1963, became president three years later, and was ultimately named CEO in 1979. He took the company public and ventured into the aviation industry with the 1986 purchase of Canadair. Later tacking on a series of other manufacturers, including Learjet, Bombardier has since rolled out a series of business jets and regional aircraft. Laurent’s son, Pierre Beaudoin, joined Bombardier in 1985 and became president of the company’s business aircraft unit in 2001 before stepping into the role of president and CEO of the overall company in 2008 and ultimately chairman. NBAA credited them for leadership that led to the creation not only of new business jet market segments but also of the Bombardier Safety Standdown, which has brought key safety information to thousands of aviators. In addition, NBAA cited Bombardier’s leadership on sustainability, playing “a foundational role” in the 2009 Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change. One of its highest honors, NBAA established the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award to recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to aviation. Past recipients include Donald Douglas, Gene Cernan, Clay Lacy, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). This year’s award will be presented on October 22 during the opening keynote session of the 2024 NBAA-BACE at the Las Vegas Convention Center. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-22/nbaa-recognize-laurent-and-pierre-beaudoin Record breaking aircraft deliveries in July 2024 as industry rallies Aircraft deliveries in July 2024 represent the best month year to date, with 120 aircraft delivered by manufacturers. According to ADS, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors in the UK, this represents the best July for aircraft deliveries on record. 131 orders were confirmed in July 2024, largely announced at the Farnborough International Airshow. Those orders are 17% ahead of 2023, with 89 single-aisle aircraft ordered, a 46% increase on July 2023. The 42 wide-body aircraft ordered is 18% fewer than the previous July. Year to date aircraft orders, at 620, are two thirds below the same time period in 2023. The number of aircraft on backlog order is 8% ahead of the same time a year ago with 15,675 aircraft, equivalent to more than 10 years’ worth of work at current production rates. ADS estimates that it the work contained is worth at least £245bn to the UK aerospace sector. Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS Group commented: “Complications within the supply chain, coupled with regulatory uncertainty, continue to impact appetite for new aircraft. Despite this, and a healthy order backlog, it is reassuring to see Industry continue to ramp up production to reach record breaking delivery heights in July. “To combat these difficulties within our supply chain, the UK government must reconfirm its commitment to a coherent industrial strategy in order to better support our ecosystem to untap this significant potential addition to the UK economy.” https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/record-breaking-aircraft-deliveries-in-july-2024-as-industry-rallies/ European Air Ambulance Adds Second Challenger 605 Operation now flies five jets to rescue individuals and in partnership with other organizations Luxembourg-based European Air Ambulance has expanded its aeromedical fleet with a second Bombardier Challenger 605. The large-cabin business jet is equipped with two Spectrum Aeromed intensive care units and a third logistical stretcher. With the addition of this Challenger 605, European Air Ambulance’s fixed-wing fleet has grown to five airplanes—two 605s and three Bombardier Learjet 45XRs. All of the jets are used for air ambulance and organ transportation flights, with the Learjets flown on shorter trips and the Challengers available for overseas missions. The company transports people on about 1,000 missions to about 80 countries per year, including individuals or in partnership with insurance and assistance companies, governments and non-government organizations, and businesses. It can handle patients with infectious diseases, premature babies, and those with many other types of vulnerabilities. As a member of the nonprofit Luxembourg Air Rescue Group, European Air Ambulance’s fleet complements the group’s five MD Helicopters MD902s and two Airbus Helicopters H145D3s. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-22/european-air-ambulance-adds-second-challenger-605 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY My name is Brian Huh, and I'm a graduate student in applied psychology studying aviation human factors at the University of Southern California (USC). I'm currently assisting the ISASI Human Factors Working Group, under the direction of Toni Flint, Treena Forshaw, and Daniel Scalese, in its effort to enhance the existing, outdated Human Factors Guide. Our research aims to gather insights from aviation professionals to ensure this guide remains a valuable resource for a wide audience within the aviation safety community. We're focusing on identifying key areas of information and addressing specific challenges in the field of human factors in aviation safety. As part of this research, we've developed a survey to collect feedback from professionals like yourself. The survey takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and will close on August 12, 2024. Your input would be invaluable in shaping this comprehensive guide for aviation safety. And the Link to the Survey: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bmv6n323oHr3Rwq -Survey title: Aviation Investigator Needs Assessment Survey -Purpose: To inform the next iteration of the ISASI Human Factors Guide -Content: Feedback on the current guide, professional experiences, and challenges in applying human factors principles -Estimated Time to Complete: 20-30 minutes Your input is crucial in shaping this comprehensive guide. We realize the turnaround time is short, which is due to the deadlines associated with Brian's graduate program requirements. Even a small number of additional responses could be extremely valuable for this research. CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Asia Pacific 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