Flight Safety Information - September 12, 2024 No. 182 In This Issue : FAA Needs to Ensure Adequate Safety Metrics Before Boeing 737 MAX Production Can Grow, FAA Says : OneWeb launches alternative navigation service amid GPS vulnerability concerns : 1 dead in helicopter crash south of King Salmon : Removal of Check Pilot Medical Certificate Requirement- Final Rule : Free program offers training as an aircraft mechanic in Los Angeles : AINsight: Quality, Not Quantity, Defines Pilot Shortage : Stronger Flight and Training Hours Boost NetJets, FSI : OpsGroup Releases GPS Spoofing Workgroup Report : EASA Issues Updated Advisory on GNSS Outages and Navigation Disruptions : Graduate Research Survey : Calendar of Events FAA Needs to Ensure Adequate Safety Metrics Before Boeing 737 MAX Production Can Grow, FAA Says By Reuters Sept. 10, 2024, at 10:03 a.m. A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is assembled at the company's plant in Renton, Washington, U.S. June 25, 2024. Jennifer Buchanan/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday the agency must ensure the planemaker's safety processes are adequate before it will lift its 737 MAX production cap. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said he raised the issue with Boeing's new chief executive Kelly Ortberg and wants to ensure the planemaker follows through on its quality turnaround plan. "There have been comprehensive plans before, so I think the goal now is we really need to make sure that that's executed," Whitaker said at an industry conference. "We've capped production -- that was my first conversation with the new CEO. We need to make sure the safety metrics are exactly where they need to be to grow." Whitaker in late February gave Boeing 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues" after the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in-flight emergency. Whitaker after the incident took the unprecedented action of capping Boeing's 737 MAX production at 38 airplanes per month and has ramped up in-person oversight. Boeing delivered the quality plan on May 30. Whitaker said he would hold quarterly meetings with Boeing's CEO starting in September in Seattle. Whitaker said Tuesday he plans to soon hold that meeting. Whitaker also noted the Justice Department has taken an interest in Boeing "so they're also implementing monitoring protocols." Boeing in July agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay at least $243.6 million. Ortberg, who took over on Aug. 8 as CEO, said in an employee email last month after a meeting with Whitaker of the company's "focus on true culture change, empowering employees to speak up when they see potential issues and bringing the right resources together to solve them." (Reporting by David Shepardson) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters. Tags: United States https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2024-09-10/faa-needs-to-ensure-adequate-safety-metrics-before-boeing-737-max-production-can-grow-agency OneWeb launches alternative navigation service amid GPS vulnerability concerns The new service is available from OneWeb Technologies, the company’s U.S. proxy. OneWeb Technologies is in the process of merging with Eutelsat America Corp. Sandra Erwin September 10, 2024 Astra PNT receiver. Credit: OneWeb Technologies WASHINGTON — Satellite communications company OneWeb unveiled a new positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service amid global concerns about GPS vulnerability to jamming and interference in critical sectors such as defense, aviation and emergency services. The service, called Astra, is available from OneWeb Technologies, the company’s U.S. proxy. It seeks to ensure uninterrupted communications for OneWeb’s satellite broadband customers, even when GPS or other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals are unavailable or compromised. The system utilizes a software-defined outdoor receiver capable of accessing PNT signals from both GNSS and alternative PNT broadcast services such as Iridium satellites. Upon identifying an alternative PNT source, Astra generates an output signal compatible with the standard GPS L1 interface, the company said. The service offers different versions for the U.S. government and for allied governments. Kevin Steen, President and CEO of Eutelsat America Corp. and OneWeb Technologies, said Astra is a “game-changer for defense users operating in difficult environments.” Satellite operator Eutelsat merged with OneWeb in 2023. OneWeb has been pursuing PNT capabilities for several years. In 2023, the company collaborated with the UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to develop PNT technologies as part of its second-generation satellite constellation. The UK government has shown particular interest in this initiative as a potential alternative to the European Union’s Galileo navigation system, access to which was restricted following Brexit. https://spacenews.com/oneweb-launches-alternative-navigation-service-amid-gps-vulnerability-concerns/ 1 dead in helicopter crash south of King Salmon Deadly helicopter crash in King Salmon By Joe Cadotte Published: Sep. 7, 2024 at 9:27 PM CDT Note: See video in the original article. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A man was killed Saturday morning when the helicopter he was riding in crashed just after takeoff in Southwest Alaska. Louisiana resident Martin de Laureal, 73, was killed after a helicopter owned by Egli Air Haul crashed in the Naknek River about a quarter of a mile south of King Salmon, Alaska State Troopers confirmed. Good Samaritans and EMS got those on board out of the water before troopers arrived on scene, AST said. The helicopter, listed as a Bell 206B by the Federal Aviation Administration, crashed between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturday not long after departing from the King Salmon Airport, according to Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska Regional Office. The aircraft landed in the Naknek River where it remained partially submerged Saturday night. “Process of elimination at this point right now,” Johnson said. “Everything is on the table, but we are going to obviously be looking at the weather conditions at the time of the departure. I can tell you that this helicopter departed under what’s called Special VFR conditions, which means the flight needs to get, basically, clearance to be able to depart in less than favorable conditions.” NTSB investigators will continue their work once the aircraft is transported out of the water to King Salmon by boat or heavy lift helicopter. Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/09/08/1-dead-helicopter-crash-south-king-salmon/ The FAA Published this final rule with an effective date of July 18, 2024. Removal of Check Pilot Medical Certificate Requirement- Final Rule Robert Ruiz Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards, Federal Aviation Administration This action finalizes the substantive relief proposed in the notice of proposed rulemaking entitled Removal of Check Pilot Medical Certificate Requirement. It removes inconsistencies applicable to the qualification requirements for check pilots and flight instructors in domestic, flag, and supplemental operations and flight instructors in commuter and on-demand operations so that check pilots, check flight engineers, and flight instructors can continue to perform their functions in aircraft without a medical certificate unless they are serving as required flightcrew members. It also removes the medical certificate requirement for flight instructors in commuter and on-demand operations who perform their functions in aircraft and are not serving as required flightcrew members. Removing the conflicting medical certificate requirement enables the utilization of pilots who are otherwise qualified to function as check pilots, check flight engineers, and flight instructors in aircraft. Finally, this final rule updates related terminology. Federal Register: Removal of Check Pilot Medical Certificate Requirement https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7213922185088774144/?origin=NETWORK_CONVERSATIONS&midToken=AQH9pnXwDn90iQ&midSig=0I7TxYDp4Ztbk1&trk=eml-email_network_conversations_01-network~post-0-wrapper~link&trkEmail=eml-email_network_conversations_01-network~post-0-wrapper~link-null-730g4~ly7yj2d7~bm-null-null&eid=730g4-ly7yj2d7-bm&otpToken=MTMwNDE2ZTkxNTI2Y2ZjNGJlMmYwMmU4NDYxZmU0YmQ4Y2M3ZDA0OTlkYWM4NTZkNzNjMTA0Njg0YTUzNWRmOWYxYTRhZjk5NjNiNmNhYzVhZWE3NTMzMTE2NTEzNGE2NzMzMzhjY2FmMjhjNjUzNywxLDE%3D Free program offers training as an aircraft mechanic in Los Angeles The program, taught by the North Valley Occupational Center, offers an excellent opportunity to those seeking to enter the field of aviation mechanics. By Grecia Carrillo Published July 22, 2024 • Updated on July 22, 2024 at 1:32 pm KVEA A free program taught at the North Valley Occupational Center offers an excellent opportunity to those seeking to enter the field of aviation mechanics. The course has allowed students like Leia González to set goals for herself in the field. “I was originally interested in being a flight attendant, but later when I got into the program I became very interested in being a mechanic,” the young woman said. Gonzalez was part of the North Valley Occupational Center's Aircraft Mechanic Technical Program, where they learned different skills in this field. “They also managed to drive a plane, what we call a taxi,” said Emilio Mendez, assistant director of the North Valley Occupational Center. “They got on, they did a general inspection of the plane, they did everything except take it off.” Classes were held at the Van Nuys Airport, where students put their knowledge into practice. “My older brother is part of the Air Force and since I was little he has taught me. From there my passion was born,” Andy Xol Pedroza, who wants to become an airplane pilot, said. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/free-program-training-aircraft-mechanic-los-angeles/3465872/ AINsight: Quality, Not Quantity, Defines Pilot Shortage What exists isn't a shortage of pilots but rather a shortage of qualified pilots By Sheryl Barden • AIN Contributor August 16, 2024 Is the pilot shortage over? The short answer is no. We might be catching our breath and experiencing a little relief right now, but the underlying issues remain. What we have today isn’t exactly a shortage of pilots, but rather a shortage of qualified pilots, particularly in business aviation. Despite what some might say, the reality is that it’s still a pilot’s market—and a maintenance technician’s market, too. What does that mean for us? If you post a pilot opening today, you might see more applicants than you did last year. Some military pilots are bypassing the airlines entirely, looking straight to business aviation. And a few pilots who left business aviation for the airlines are now returning. Every week, I hear from retired airline pilots over age 65 who are eyeing opportunities in our space. But will companies invest in a type rating for someone at the very end of their career? And are they willing to transition from a strictly flying role to one that encompasses handling every phase of a trip? And yes, there’s growing interest from younger folks in business aviation. But here’s the challenge: How do we bring in low-time pilots and keep them? It’s not just about getting them hours—it’s about getting them the proficiency required for our operations. Few corporate operators are staffed with enough tenured pilots who can develop interns and manage ab initio-style programs. It takes a solid bench of mentor pilots to create qualified pilots. When you’re operating super-midsize to large business jets, often on complex domestic and international missions, you need more than just an ATP with 1,500 hours. You need pilots with a depth of experience. For instance, the pilot laid off from Wheels Up who has flown only King Airs isn’t necessarily ready to jump into a “heavy iron” operation. It’s not an easy transition. You can’t just blanket the industry with advice like, “Go to business aviation until you have 1,500 hours.” That’s not practical, and frankly, it’s not helpful. Who is hiring low-time pilots at that scale? None that I’m aware of. Some might argue that the pilot shortage is over or will soon be. I disagree. I think what we’re seeing now is a temporary lull, largely because of airliner delivery delays. This is causing the airlines to pause hiring. But once these aircraft hit the tarmac, those pilots will be snapped up. The real problem is that we’re not developing enough of the highly experienced, tenured pilots that corporate flight departments are looking for. The pool of these pilots isn’t coming from the regional airlines and military the way they used to. Fewer pilots are now making that transition to business aviation, and those who do often don’t have the needed experience. We need to focus on quality, not just quantity when it comes to recruiting pilots. The pilot pipeline predicament is real. Until we solve that, we’ll continue to face challenges in attracting the right talent to keep our operations running smoothly. The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by AIN Media Group. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-16/ainsight-quality-not-quantity-defines-pilot-shortage Stronger Flight and Training Hours Boost NetJets, FSI NetJets and FSI collectively saw revenues increase, earnings drop in the second quarter NetJets' fleet increased and is flying more this year, helping boost revenues. By Kerry Lynch • Editor, AIN monthly magazine August 15, 2024 Berkshire Hathaway’s aviation services businesses, which includes NetJets and FlightSafety International, saw revenues rise 10.4% year over year (YOY) in the second quarter and 9.5% in the first six months, but still resulted in an earnings dip. In its 10-Q report for the second quarter, Berkshire Hathaway cited several factors for the aviation services' revenue gains, including increases in aircraft in the fractional programs and flight hours across NetJets’ programs and training hours at FlightSafety. In addition, Berkshire Hathaway credited higher average rates across those programs for helping boost revenues. At the same time though, the investment giant reported that earnings from aviation services dropped by 8% YOY in the second quarter and 9.1% in the first six months. For these results, Berkshire Hathaway pointed to increased maintenance, personnel, fuel, and depreciation expenses. NetJets and FlightSafety are the largest businesses in Berkshire Hathaway’s broader services group, which also includes companies such as Dairy Queen, Cort, and the electronics distributor TTI, among others. The aviation services business revenues helped lead to a $30 million increase in the second quarter for the larger group and buffered the overall decline in the first half, which amounted to $138 million, Berkshire Hathaway reported. NetJets' activity continues to strengthen, with departures up 13% YOY last month and 44% above 2019 levels, according to Jefferies and WingX data. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-08-15/stronger-flight-and-training-hours-boost-netjets-fsi OpsGroup Releases GPS Spoofing Workgroup Report A team of more than 950 people spent six weeks developing the report © OpsGroups By Matt Thurber • Editor-in-Chief September 9, 2024 After forming a workgroup to study the issue of GPS/global navigation satellite system (GNSS) spoofing, flight operations support provider OpsGroup has released its GPS Spoofing Final Report, identifying key issues and work underway to mitigate spoofing problems. More than 950 people—including pilots, air traffic controllers, regulatory authorities, manufacturers, GPS experts, and industry group members—helped with the report. Spoofing occurs when a GPS/GNSS receiver is tricked into calculating a false position by equipment transmitting from the ground. This can show the aircraft in a different location than its actual position and prompt the navigation system to send the aircraft off the desired course. According to the OpsGroup report, “The greatest safety concern is the degraded functionality of the ground proximity warning system. The system does not operate correctly after spoofing, even if GPS coverage is restored. The number of false alerts is astounding. There is an increasing normalization of risk. As a result, there was widespread apprehension in the workgroup that the decades-long work to reduce controlled flight into terrain accidents is at great risk of being undone.” Further, once a GPS/GNSS receiver is spoofed, it could be contaminated with false data, the group warned. “This places doubt on the use of GPS at any point after spoofing, especially RNP [required navigation performance] approaches, and RNP en route use.” OpsGroup has noted a 500% increase in spoofing this year, now affecting an average of 1,500 flights per day, up from 300 per day in the first half of the year. A major concern is that flight crew aren’t being provided technical information about “GPS involvement in aircraft systems” and they are receiving “conflicting crew guidance and incomplete or insufficient procedures, all leading to misunderstandings and knowledge gaps.” In a survey that saw nearly 2,000 responses, OpsGroup reported, “The results show that a full 1,400 crewmembers (about 70%) rated their concern relating to GPS spoofing impact on flight safety as very high or extreme [and] 91% of all crewmembers rated their concern as moderate or higher.” While OpsGroup acknowledged that there are “no quick and easy solutions…The key focus in the short term is on mitigation, crew awareness, guidance, and training. In the longer term, the workgroup identified potential solutions to hardware, avionics, and system components… Consideration must be given to the potential for a deepening of the GPS vulnerability problem. In mid-2024, we are already seeing a major increase in both spoofing and impact to aircraft. Locations could widen further, and impacts could worsen.” The group did note that “the over-reliance on GPS for primary navigation places great importance on preserving a sufficient network of conventional ground-based navaids.” Some good news from the report: “With few exceptions, GPS spoofing is conducted by state actors as a result of regional conflict. The workgroup found no examples of a direct, targeted attack on a civilian aircraft.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2024-09-09/opsgroup-releases-gps-spoofing-workgroup-report EASA Issues Updated Advisory on GNSS Outages and Navigation Disruptions July 8, 2024 By Inside GNSS Galileo satellites. ESA. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has released a revised Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) addressing the growing issue of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) outages and disruptions. This updated advisory, SIB No. 2022-02R3, highlights the increasing sophistication and impact of GNSS jamming and spoofing, which have become significant concerns for aviation safety. Scope and Applicability The bulletin is directed at competent authorities, Air Traffic Management/Air Navigation Service (ATM/ANS) providers, air operators, aircraft and equipment manufacturers, and organizations involved in the design or production of ATM/ANS equipment. It aims to inform these stakeholders about the risks and necessary precautions related to GNSS interference. Increased Threats Since February 2022, there has been a marked increase in GNSS jamming and spoofing incidents. These disruptions particularly affect areas around conflict zones, as well as the south and eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, Middle East, Baltic Sea, and Arctic regions. The full list of affected flight information regions is available on the EASA website. Understanding Jamming and Spoofing • Jamming: This involves intentional radio frequency interference with GNSS signals, rendering the system ineffective for users in the affected area. • Spoofing: This involves broadcasting counterfeit satellite signals to deceive GNSS receivers, leading to incorrect position, navigation, and timing data. Jamming typically results in immediate and noticeable effects, while spoofing is more difficult to detect and poses a higher safety risk. Observed Symptoms and Impact Some symptoms of suspected GNSS spoofing include incoherence in navigation position, abnormal differences between ground speed and true airspeed, time and date shifts, and spurious Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) alerts. These disruptions can lead to significant operational issues, such as re-routing or diversions, loss of Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS), and misleading surveillance data. Mitigation Recommendations EASA recommends several measures to mitigate the risks associated with GNSS interference: • Contingency Procedures: Establish coordinated procedures between authorities, ATM/ANS providers, and airspace users. • Alternative Navigation Infrastructure: Ensure that non-GNSS based systems like Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) stations are operational. • Information Collection and Reporting: Implement processes to collect and share information on GNSS degradations. Specific Recommendations For Air Operators: • Train flight crews to recognize and respond to GNSS interference. • Report any GNSS anomalies to air traffic services. • Evaluate operational risks and maintain alternative navigation procedures. For ATM/ANS Providers: • Establish monitoring and reporting processes for GNSS degradations. • Ensure ground navigation infrastructure supports non-GNSS procedures. • Provide navigation assistance and maintain communication coverage in case of GNSS jamming or spoofing. For Manufacturers: • Assess the impact of GNSS interference on products and provide guidance to users. • Support operators with instructions for managing GNSS-related issues. Conclusion EASA continues to monitor and assess the situation, although the current conditions do not warrant immediate safety directives or airworthiness actions. Stakeholders are urged to implement the recommended measures to mitigate the impact of GNSS jamming and spoofing on aviation safety. For further details, refer to the full EASA Safety Information Bulletin and the EASA website for updated information on affected regions. https://insidegnss.com/easa-issues-updated-advisory-on-gnss-outages-and-navigation-disruptions/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 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) • 2024 CHC Safety & Quality Summit – November 12-14, 2024, Vancouver, BC, Canada • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis