Flight Safety Information - August 28, 2024 No. 172 In This Issue : Incident: Lufthansa A320 at Frankfurt on Aug 27th 2024, bird strike : Incident: TUI B738 enroute on Aug 27th 2024, cracked windshield : Incident: Arabia Maroc A320 near Madrid on Aug 23rd 2024, automation failure, alternate law : Delta Workers Killed After a Boeing Plane’s Tire Unexpectedly Explodes : Shortage of Pilots, Parts, Planes, Fuel Could Kill (Literally) Russian Aviation : Pilot Faces Prison For Falsifying Medical Application : FAA to drone pilots: ‘Unsafe behaviour will cost you’ : FAA Conducts Audit Ahead Of Planned U.S.-Kazakhstan Flights : Air India steps up crew safety, makes incident reporting easier : Why Japan isn't getting enough pilots : Boom Supersonic Completes 2nd XB-1 Test Flight At Mojave Air & Space Port : Luxembourg Air Rescue expands fleet with new long-haul ambulance jet : Two more Chinese airlines to start flying China-made COMAC C919 jet : Malaysia Airlines has licence reduced, faces monthly audits after technical issues : Calendar of Events Incident: Lufthansa A320 at Frankfurt on Aug 27th 2024, bird strike A Lufthansa Airbus A320-200, registration D-AIZX performing flight LH-200 from Frankfurt/Main to Berlin (Germany), was climbing out of Frankfurt's runway 07C when the right hand engine (CFM56) ingested a number of birds prompting the crew to stop the climb at 3000 feet, shut the engine down and return to Frankfurt for a safe landing on runway 07C about 15 minutes after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration D-AIQS reached Berlin with a delay of about 2.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 17.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51cf97f7&opt=0 Incident: TUI B738 enroute on Aug 27th 2024, cracked windshield A TUI Airways Boeing 737-800, registration G-TUKO performing flight BY-4218 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Kefallinia (Greece), was enroute at FL360 near Frankfurt/Main (Germany) when the crew decided to return to London Gatwick due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft landed safely back on Gatwick's runway 26L about 2:10 hours after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground about 21 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51cf6fbd&opt=0 Incident: Arabia Maroc A320 near Madrid on Aug 23rd 2024, automation failure, alternate law An Air Arabia Maroc Airbus A320-200, registration CN-NMP performing flight 3O-137 from Tetouan (Morocco) to Brussels (Belgium) with 174 passengers and 5 crew, was enroute at FL380 about 20nm southeast of Madrid,SP (Spain) when the crew decided to divert to Madrid after the aircraft's Fly by Wire reverted to Alternate Law associated with the loss of both autopilots and autothrust. The aircraft landed safely on Madrid's runway 32R about 50 minutes after leaving FL380. The aircraft was able to continue the flight after about 3.5 hours on the ground and reached Brussels with a delay of about 4.5 hours. According to information The Aviation Herald received one of the three ADIRUs was found faulty. Later additional information emerged, that the aircraft had been dispatched with ADR3 had been inoperative and the aircraft was operating under minimum equipment list requirements. https://avherald.com/h?article=51cef851&opt=0 Delta Workers Killed After a Boeing Plane’s Tire Unexpectedly Explodes Tuesday got off to a tragic start at Atlanta’s international airport after a tire unexpectedly exploded on a Delta Air Lines jet and killed two workers instantly. The incident took place just after 5 a.m. in a maintenance hangar near the airport’s international terminal, officials said. The plane, a 31-year-old Boeing 757-232, had been grounded since it completed a flight from Las Vegas on Sunday night. Delta confirmed the deaths in a statement and added that a third worker was injured in the blast. Sources told WSB-TV that the surviving worker was seriously injured. “The Delta family is heartbroken at the loss of two team members and the injury of another following an incident this morning,” the airline’s statement said. “We have extended our full support to family members and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.” No details about what caused the explosion were released by late Tuesday morning. The incident does not appear to have impacted departures or arrivals at Hartsfield-Jackson, which is Delta’s main hub and is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. It’s been a rough year for Boeing, which has been marred by a number of high-publicity incidents that have brought its reputation into question. Boeing’s first signs of trouble in 2024 came in just its second week, when a door plug blew out soon after takeoff on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 flight, ripping off a teenager’s shirt and sending the cabin into chaos. There was a particularly tumultuous period for the company in March, beginning with a Boeing 737 Max 8 veering off a runway after its landing gear collapsed on March 3. Days later, a wheel fell off a Boeing 777-200 as it took off from San Francisco, crushing cars in a packed airport parking lot below but miraculously not injuring anybody. A Boeing 777 was forced make an emergency landing on March 11 after hydraulic fluid spewed from its landing gear area, and a United Airlines 737 was grounded after it was discovered that a panel was missing after landing in Oregon. Then, on March 20, a Boeing 737 headed to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing in Aruba after an engine blew out on takeoff. After other eye-popping incidents in April, United said it planned to reduce reliance on Boeing after it lost $124 million in the first quarter of 2024. In a statement, it blamed the bad quarter on Boeing’s gaffes. John Laughter, the president of Delta TechOps, where Tuesday’s incident occurred, sent a note to his staff after the tragedy that was obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta. “We are extending our full support to their families at this difficult time and conducting an investigation to determine what happened,” he wrote. “Please know your safety and wellbeing comes first—always, and that your leaders are here for you. Please continue to take good care of yourself and one another. We’re all in this together, and we’ll get through this by supporting each other.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-workers-killed-boeing-plane-150117115.html Shortage of Pilots, Parts, Planes, Fuel Could Kill (Literally) Russian Aviation With reports that some airlines are now rationing fuel Moscow’s already struggling commercial airlines stagger from one crisis to another. The Russian commercial aviation issues Telegram channel “Авиаторщина (Aviatorism)” reports that pilots from one of the low-cost airlines from the Aeroflot group, Pobeda Airlines, are complaining their management have instituted a potentially dangerous fuel procedure. The aviators say that their aircraft are being refueled to levels that are dangerously close to, in some cases below, the minimum levels, necessary for a particular journey. Some have made their concerns known formally to the “competent authorities,” calling the actions of the airline “criminal.” In their view this behavior, which seems to be done for economic reasons reduces the margin of safety, which is already compromised to an unacceptable degree by factors such as inadequate maintenance schedules. While avoiding mention of the effect of Ukrainian strikes against Russian fuel depots the pilots say these decisions are as a result of recent price rises and restricted availability of some aviation fuel. According to SPIMEX, the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, Russian aviation fuel prices have increased by 30 percent since March 2022. One pilot is cited as saying fuel calculations are being made based on the shortest route between airports, making no allowance for any deviation for bad weather or over airport stacking during busy times. He says that on numerous occasions when entering the standard approach path to an airport into the aircraft’s computer it tells him he has insufficient fuel. He also says that after refueling and prior to take off the aircraft control systems give warnings of a fuel shortage for an intended journey and advise the use of alternate destinations. Another pilot is quoted as saying that aircraft crews are reluctant to request additional fuel because if they do, they are taken to task by management which on top of everything else is placing pilots and crew under unbearable stress. “Everything else” includes the increasing level of “in-flight” emergencies being suffered by Russian airlines as a result of the impact of Western sanctions on the availability of spare parts and maintenance of aircraft, much of which relied on foreign expertise to carry it out, and lack of personnel. In February the Wall Street Journal, citing the German research company Jacdec reported that Russian airlines had suffered 74 in flight emergencies in 2023 more than double the 36 events reported in 2022. Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, recorded more than 400 instances of equipment failure involving engines, landing gear, flaps, aircraft software and hydraulic systems prior to flights. The Moscow Times, citing Russia’s Air Incident channel reported that the trend in failures had continued into 2024, with more than 20 serious air incidents including six instances of in-flight engine failure in the first three months of the year. The pressure not only on pilots but also cabin crew and ground crew members has been made even worse, since the 2021 COVID pandemic and the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, by the number of Russian airline staff that have voted with their feet. According to a RFE/RL report this has particularly affected experienced pilots and cabin crew who can earn twice their Russian salary and have better (and safer) working conditions working with Middle east airlines and even carriers in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and elsewhere are more attractive than in their own country. Another concern is that the reducing size and reliability of the existing fleets are now being flown by newly trained pilots who lack the experience to deal with the growing types and numbers of in-flight problems. Another growing issue is aircraft availability. The combination of lack of spares for Russia’s Western aircraft, mainly Boeing and Airbus, because of sanctions and the failure of its industry to produce the promised domestic replacements is further eroding airlines’ ability to meet demand. At the start of the summer vacation season there was a 20 percent increase in flight cancellations due to lack of serviceable aircraft compared with the previous year. Each month seems to bring yet another issue to challenge Russia’s commercial airlines with thoughts of phrases involving straws and camels’ backs springing to mind as Moscow’s aviation industry increasingly faces a perfect storm. https://www.kyivpost.com/post/38083 Pilot Faces Prison For Falsifying Medical Application The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported yesterday that a federal jury has convicted a pilot of twice making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration on his application for a… Mark Phelps The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported yesterday that a federal jury has convicted a pilot of twice making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration on his application for a Class 1 medical certificate. The case, dating back to June, involves pilot Olukayode Ojo, 36, of Dallas, Texas. Ojo was found guilty on Aug. 16 on two counts of making false statements. According to the TSA announcement, Ojo, whose LinkedIn post shows two years’, eight months’ experience as a first officer for Dana Airlines in Nigeria, had pleaded guilty and was convicted on two misdemeanor theft charges in February 2023 in Kentucky, where he allegedly stole luggage from the baggage carousel at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Ojo then falsified his applications for an FAA Class 1 medical certificate in March 2023 and March 2024 by unlawfully not reporting those criminal convictions. After his conviction in court on the federal charge of lying to the FAA, Ojo was ordered to be detained pending sentencing, which could involve up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000, according to the TSA announcement. https://www.avweb.com/uncategorized/dallas-pilot-made-false-statements-on-faa-class-1-medical-application/ FAA to drone pilots: ‘Unsafe behaviour will cost you’ The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US has taken a firm stance against irresponsible drone pilots, proposing civil penalties totalling $341,413 against 27 individuals for violating federal drone regulations. The crackdown comes in the wake of the Reauthorization Act of 2024, which significantly increased the maximum fine for violations to $75,000 per incident. In addition to financial penalties, the FAA retains the authority to suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates. “Violating the drone regulations puts lives at risk in the air and on the ground,” stated FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “Flying a small drone means you are flying an aircraft, and unsafe behaviour will cost you.” The fines, issued between October 2022 and June 2024, serve as a stark warning to drone operators who flout safety rules and endanger both air and ground traffic. Among the most severe penalties was a $32,700 fine levied against an individual who interfered with a law enforcement operation in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The rogue pilot flew an improperly registered and unlit drone dangerously close to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, forcing the pilot to abandon a search for a burglary suspect to avoid a mid-air collision. The offender operated the drone at night without proper certification, anti-collision lighting, and exceeded the 400-foot altitude limit. Another significant case involved an $18,200 fine for operating an unregistered drone during the Miami Grand Prix Formula 1 event in May 2022. The pilot disregarded a temporary flight restriction (TFR) and violated multiple FAA regulations, including unauthorised operation in Class D airspace and flying without visual line of sight or proper certification. The Super Bowl LVI in February 2022 also saw drone-related infractions, with two individuals fined $16,000 and $4,000 respectively for operating drones near SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The airspace was classified as national defence airspace, adding to the severity of the violations. Other notable cases included a $7,760 fine for flying an unregistered drone inside Paul Brown Stadium during an NFL game in Cincinnati, and a $5,000 penalty for creating a collision hazard with a helicopter in Little Rock, Arkansas. Such enforcement actions underscore the importance of proper training, certification, and adherence to safety protocols when operating drones. The FAA has urged the public to report unsafe and unauthorised drone operations to their local Flight Standards District Office, assuring that all reports are reviewed and investigated when appropriate. To promote responsible drone use, the agency has made resources available to help pilots operate safely within regulations. The FAA’s B4UFLY app for iOS and Android enables pilots to check where they can fly their drones. https://iottechnews.com/news/faa-drone-pilots-unsafe-behaviour-will-cost-you/ FAA Conducts Audit Ahead Of Planned U.S.-Kazakhstan Flights The U.S. FAA has commenced an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) in Kazakhstan, a significant step toward the launch of direct flights between Kazakhstan and the U.S. by the end of 2025. According to the Kazakhstan Civil Aviation Committee, FAA representatives are conducting a technical review to evaluate the effectiveness of the country’s aviation authorities in overseeing flight safety. The assessment includes a comprehensive analysis of the country’s civil aviation system, with FAA experts set to provide recommendations to align with international safety standards. The review process also involves a technical visit to Air Astana. The move comes as Air Astana prepares to receive its first Boeing 787 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2025. CAPA – Centre for Aviation data shows the airline has three 787-8s and one 787-9 on order. Origin and destination (O&D) traffic between the U.S. and Kazakhstan amounted to about 116,000 two-way passengers in 2023, with Almaty-New York, Astana-New York and Almaty-Los Angeles being the largest city pairs. The number of O&D passengers last year marked a rise of 7.5% on 2019 levels. Earlier in August, Air Astana signed a codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL) and announced plans to launch a new route to Japan in spring 2026. A service connecting Almaty and Tokyo would become the sole nonstop scheduled flights linking the two countries. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/faa-conducts-audit-ahead-planned-us-kazakhstan-flights Air India steps up crew safety, makes incident reporting easier Post the London incident the airline management also reached out to its 8,000 cabin crew seeking their feedback on the hotels used for layovers Air India is making it easier for its crew to report crime or security related issues and is reviewing its hotel selection criteria after a flight attendant was assaulted in a hotel room in London earlier this month. The airline has since relocated its cabin crew to an another hotel in London and is reviewing selection policies with emphasis on comfort and safety. Air India also updated internal processes enabling crew to report safety and security related concerns. Last year the airline had selected Coruson software application for reporting of in-flight safety incidents. "We have also modified the Coruson system with tabs so that crew can more easily log safety or security concerns, and we encourage you to use this channel rather than informal ones so that issues can be tracked and overseen by the safety & security department," Air India's managing director & CEO Wilson Campbell wrote to employees in an email last week. Filing of complaints on Coruson system will enable it to record issues and resolve them in a co-ordinated manner, officials said. Post the London incident the airline management also reached out to its 8,000 cabin crew seeking their feedback on the hotels used for layovers. Air India flies to 80 domestic and overseas destinations. Crew duty norms require them to operate flights after certain minimum hours of rest and as such airlines globally offer hotel accommodation at domestic and overseas locations. While Air India management insists that safety and well being of its staff is its priority and its periodically monitors hotels it selects, crew members feel that these measures are belated steps. “It looks like it is an afterthought after the London incident. Crew had been flagging off security concerns about the London hotel from earlier but no action was initiated,” a flight attendant said. An another crew member pointed out that cleanliness and round the clock availability of food in a hotel is an important issue alongside safety is an important issue. Flights take off or land at odd hours and when crew reaches their hotel it may not serve meals at that time or has specific timings for restaurants. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/air-india-steps-up-crew-safety-makes-incident-reporting-easier/article68575562.ece Why Japan isn't getting enough pilots Japan faces a severe pilot shortage amid a surge in tourism, with a projected need for 1,000 additional pilots by 2030. Efforts to address the shortfall include converting foreign pilots’ licenses and extending pilot working ages, but challenges such as low salaries and local opposition persist As Japan experiences a surge in tourism, the country faces a significant pilot shortage that threatens to impact its aviation industry. Currently, Japan has approximately 7,100 pilots, but the government anticipates needing an additional 1,000 pilots by 2030 to support its goal of attracting 60 million tourists annually. To address this shortfall, the transport ministry is considering measures to expedite and reduce the cost of converting foreign pilots’ licenses to Japanese ones. Despite these efforts, attracting pilots from abroad presents several challenges. Local unions oppose the influx of foreign pilots, and Japanese airlines typically offer lower salaries compared to their international counterparts. Furthermore, many Japanese airline captains are expected to retire by 2030, exacerbating the shortage. “Major airlines will have to revise their internal operational processes to accommodate non-Japanese speaking pilots,” noted Nobuhito Abe, a partner at Kearney. He stressed that Japanese carriers have traditionally maintained very domestic operational procedures. The salary disparity is another significant issue. Captains at Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) earn about ¥25 million ($172,900) annually. In contrast, pilots with similar experience at Delta Air Lines or American Airlines can earn between $453,000 and $480,000. An influx of foreign pilots might also create tensions among local staff, who may feel that their career prospects could be negatively affected. In Japan, many pilots view their roles as lifelong careers. Traditionally, pilots are either recruited directly by ANA or JAL or graduate from the government-funded Civil Aviation College, which admits around 100 students annually. Currently, foreign pilots are rare in Japan’s aviation sector. JAL, which employs about 2,000 pilots, has only a few non-Japanese pilots, while ANA, with approximately 2,400 pilots, employs very few foreign staff. In contrast, airlines like Cathay Pacific and Emirates have diverse pilot teams from numerous nationalities. JAL has stated it is temporarily hiring contract-based foreign pilots to address the upcoming shortage but plans to continue focusing on hiring and training new pilots as permanent employees. ANA has declined to comment on its hiring practices. To tackle the pilot shortage, the expert panel set up by the transport ministry is also exploring ways to extend the working age of pilots beyond 65 and to attract more female pilots. Kentaro Fujibayashi of the Civil Aviation Bureau said the government is committed to increasing the number of pilots in Japan. “It’s a goal that we strive for and we’re going to do our best to achieve,” he said. If Japan cannot ensure a steady supply of pilots, it risks missing out on the economic benefits of increased tourism. Kotaro Toriumi, an independent airline and travel analyst, warned that failing to meet the pilot demand could jeopardize the country’s ambitious tourist targets. https://www.firstpost.com/world/why-japan-isnt-getting-enough-pilots-13808949.html Boom Supersonic Completes 2nd XB-1 Test Flight At Mojave Air & Space Port Summary • Boom Supersonic successfully completes the XB-1 demonstrator's second test flight. • No major issues uncovered during the second flight, with first supersonic test flight slated before year-end. • Boom Supersonic has made impressive progress towards returning supersonic travel to commercial aviation. Boom Supersonic has successfully completed the XB-1 demonstrator's second test flight. The company remains on track with its testing program and is shooting for a supersonic flight test by the end of this year. Boom's XB-1 second test flight The XB-1 demonstrator, fondly referred to as "Baby Boom" due to its smaller one-third scale, completed its second test flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave on August 26th. The aircraft flew for approximately 15 minutes and reached an altitude of 10,400 ft and speeds of 232 knots (277 mph) - at the controls was Boom Supersonic's Chief Test Pilot, Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, flying the XB-1 for the first time and in charge for the remainder of the aircraft's test program. Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, commented, "XB-1 had a fantastic second flight this morning. Initial results indicate we’ve successfully resolved the findings from Flight One and are excited to continue flight testing on the path to supersonic flight." During the flight, the demonstrator's landing gear successfully retracted and extended for the first time - other goals during the test included analyzing the plane's handling qualities and activating a new digital stability augmentation system (SAS), or roll damper, which was devised based on data from the first flight test back in March. According to Scholl, there were "no major issues uncovered" during the second flight, and the stability issues encountered on its first flight were resolved. Still plenty to come The company is hoping to achieve the XB-1's first supersonic test flight before the end of the year, but there is still a lot to do before then. The company has already received Special Flight Authorization (SFA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and estimates it will need around another ten flights before it can go supersonic. With a gap of five months between the first and second test flight, Boom hopes the third test flight will occur within the next month or so. Subsequent flights will push the flight envelope further, including in-flight checks of all systems and an assessment of the aircraft's flutter excitation system. 5 Airlines That Could Be Ideal Customers For The Boom Overture These carriers could prove a perfect fit for the supersonic aircraft. Boom's progress is impressive as the company aims to bring back supersonic travel to commercial aviation. It has already signed agreements with several high-profile global airlines, including the likes of American Airlines, Japan Airlines and United Airlines - American has a deal for 20 airframes and another 40 options, while United has a commitment for 15 aircraft and another 35 options. https://simpleflying.com/boom-supersonic-completes-2nd-xb-1-test-flight-mojave-air-space-port/?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=SF-202408280751&utm_source=SF-NL&user=Y3VydEBjdXJ0LWxld2lzLmNvbQ&lctg=6c1401e44573ffe067b2d163bc8243dc7531105f5d523e17feafec2c7d9f6620 Luxembourg Air Rescue expands fleet with new long-haul ambulance jet Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR) has added a new long-haul ambulance jet, the second of its kind, to its fleet. The newly acquired Bombardier Challenger 605 registered LX-AMB, a state-of-the-art jet with a range of up to 7,400 km, allows LAR to perform medical repatriations over long distances without refuelling stops. This jet, equipped with advanced medical facilities including two intensive care units, enhances LAR’s ability to quickly and safely repatriate patients from distant locations like the eastern U.S., Central Asia, and the Middle East. The new aircraft, registered as LX-AMB, was configured in the U.S. to meet LAR’s technical and medical standards and was officially welcomed in mid-August at Luxembourg Airport. With this addition, LAR’s fleet now includes two Challenger 605 jets and three medium-range Learjet 45 XR aircraft, optimising their capacity for both medium and long-haul medical flights. This expansion comes in response to the growing need for medical repatriations from increasingly distant destinations. The new jet has already been put to use, making trips to locations such as Addis Ababa and Paramaribo. LAR President René Closter emphasised that the new jet will improve comfort and maintain high standards of care for patients during long-haul flights. https://www.aviation24.be/manufacturers/bombardier/global-7000/luxembourg-air-rescue-expands-fleet-with-new-long-haul-ambulance-jet/ Two more Chinese airlines to start flying China-made COMAC C919 jet BEIJING (Reuters) -Air China and China Southern Airlines will become the second and third Chinese carriers to fly China's homegrown COMAC C919 passenger jet after receiving their first planes on Wednesday, state-run Chinese Central TV (CCTV) said. The two state-owned carriers received the C919 at Chinese planemaker COMAC's Pudong base in Shanghai, according to CCTV. The C919 delivered to Air China has 158 seats, with eight business class and 150 economy class. Air China and China Southern are expected to receive another two C919 jets each this year, according to domestic media outlet Yicai. COMAC is trying to break into a passenger jet market dominated by Western manufacturers Airbus and Boeing that has been hit by aircraft shortages and a Boeing safety crisis. The C919 entered domestic service in May last year with China Eastern, which flies seven of the jets domestically. China's three big state-owned airlines have each ordered 100 C919s, and COMAC has said more than 1,000 have been ordered overall. The C919 seats up to 192 people and is in a similar category to Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo planes. COMAC this year has increased sales and production plans and has been marketing the C919 abroad, especially in Southeast Asia and also to growing aviation market Saudi Arabia. It is also developing a wide-body plane design. Zhongtai Securities last month said it expected COMAC to be able to produce 100 aircraft a year by around 2030, with total jets produced exceeding 1,000 by 2035. Airbus delivered 735 commercial aircraft in 2023. Industry sources caution that COMAC is a long way from making inroads internationally, especially without benchmark certifications from the United States or European Union - which COMAC is pursuing - or more efficient planes. A forecast from aviation consultancy Cirium in May sees just under 1,700 C919 deliveries by 2042, giving the C919 around a 25% market share compared to Boeing's 30% and Airbus's 45%. The first C919 delivery to a private airline is expected by year-end. Shanghai-based Suparna Airlines, a subsidiary of China's fourth biggest carrier Hainan Airlines which has 60 C919s on order, has said it eventually aims to fly only C919s. China will more than double its commercial airplane fleet by 2043 and will need 8,830 new planes, Boeing's annual Commercial Market Outlook said in July. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/two-more-chinese-airlines-start-071132115.html Malaysia Airlines has licence reduced, faces monthly audits after technical issues The airline must submit monthly reports on its mitigation plan, including recruitment and a focus on safety and maintenance, to the aviation authority Malaysia’s civil aviation regulator has cut the duration of Malaysia Airlines’ air operator certificate from three years to one, following a probe into technical issues faced by the state carrier, the transport minister said on Wednesday. The airline’s parent, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), had said on Saturday it plans to temporarily reduce its flights and routes across its carriers until December, after service disruptions earlier this month. Following the investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM), Malaysia Airlines has prepared a mitigation plan, minister Anthony Loke said. Malaysia Airlines will also have to provide monthly reports to CAAM, Loke said. MAG, which also operates carrier Firefly and Muslim pilgrimage service provider Amal, has said it would take immediate steps to address significant issues that had led to operational difficulties including supply chain, technical and manpower constraints, and other post-pandemic challenges. It also said it had been affected by delayed deliveries of new aircraft, leading to fewer planes being available for operations. Based on the findings, Loke said among the significant issues that caused the recent technical disruptions are mechanical components and a lack of skilled workers to carry out aircraft maintenance. “Recruitment programmes will also be carried out aggressively by the airline,” he said. Sixty-three of the 411 skilled workers at the Malaysia Airlines engineering department had also left the company since January. He added that the national carrier will also have to source sufficient aircraft spare parts from its original equipment manufacturer. Loke said CAAM will continue to monitor and carry out special audits on airlines operating in Malaysia to ensure all safety and security aspects are strictly followed. “All airlines must abide. There is no compromise when it comes to passenger safety,” he said, adding that the report was also presented to the Cabinet. Loke said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim views the matter seriously and had also chaired a meeting with Khazanah Nasional’s board of directors on Tuesday. Khazanah Nasional is the sole shareholder of Malaysia Airlines via its subsidiary, MAG. “The Prime Minister had instructed Khazanah to carry out immediate mitigation measures which will be relayed to the Malaysia Airlines management for further action,” he said. This comes after the recent spate of technical incidents plaguing the national carrier, which led to incidents of MAS flights turning back and making emergency stops. On August 22, a MAS flight heading to Medina had to return to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and this is the third such incident this month. According to data available on the aircraft tracking site FlightRadar24, MH152 turned back while flying over the Nicobar Islands in the Andaman Sea. A day earlier, Shanghai-bound MAS flight MH386 was forced to turn back to KLIA due to a cabin pressure issue. On August 20, flight MH128 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne had to make an emergency stop at Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territories. Last week, former Transport Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong urged the Transport Ministry to immediately investigate and assist Malaysia Airlines to prevent similar incidents from happening. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3276254/malaysia-airlines-now-under-monthly-audits-reduced-licence-after-technical-issues 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