Flight Safety Information - October 4, 2024 No. 198 In This Issue : Incident: United B789 over Hudson Bay on Sep 26th 2024, captain's displays went blank : Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Oct 2nd 2024, could not retract landing gear : Incident: Easyjet Europe A320 at London on Sep 29th 2024, fumes on board : Incident: Qantas B738 over Tasman Sea on Oct 2nd 2024, odour on board : Senators ask Justice Department to take tougher action against Boeing executives over safety issues : Frankfurt airport faces disruptions due to air traffic system fault : Spirit Airlines shares plunge on report of potential bankruptcy filing : Lufthansa Technik Equips LATAM's 777 Aircraft with AeroSHARK : Gulfstream announces more than 100 customer pilots earn type rating for all-new G700 : IndiGo Strengthens Commitment to Safety with Advanced Risk Management Technology : This September, let's end childhood cancer. Together. : Calendar of Events Incident: United B789 over Hudson Bay on Sep 26th 2024, captain's displays went blank A United Boeing 787-9, registration N27958 performing flight UA-231 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute at FL350 over the Hudson Bay (Canada) when the crew decided to divert to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA) due to both PDF and ND displays of the captain going blank and both flight management computers entering a degraded mode. The aircraft landed safely on Chicago's runway 10C about 80 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported the captain's primary flight and navigation displays failed showing a blank display, the flight management computers entered a degraded mode with limited capabilities, lateral navigation was not possible, however, heading and track mode remained available. The crew declared Mayday and diverted to O'Hare via alternate navigation and vectors. https://avherald.com/h?article=51e82b9c&opt=0 Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Oct 2nd 2024, could not retract landing gear A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N819NW performing flight DL-161 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Minneapolis,MN (USA), was climbing out of Amsterdam when the crew stopped the climb at FL060 reporting they could not retract their landing gear and decided to return to Amsterdam. The aircraft landed safely on runway 06 about 40 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 44 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51e829ea&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet Europe A320 at London on Sep 29th 2024, fumes on board An Easyjet Europe Airbus A320-200, registration OE-IJV performing flight U2-8380 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Bordeaux (France), was climbing out of London Gatwick when the crew stopped the climb at FL120 due to fumes on board followed by smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft returned to Gatwick for a safe landing on runway 08R about 25 minutes after departure. The airline reported: "flight EJU8380 going from London Gatwick to Bordeaux on 29 September returned to stand in London Gatwick due to a technical issue which resulted in a smoke smell." Passengers reported there had been a fume event and smoke in the cockpit. The flight was cancelled, they were rebooked onto the next day. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 13.5 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51e828b0&opt=0 Incident: Qantas B738 over Tasman Sea on Oct 2nd 2024, odour on board A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-XZL performing flight QF-163 from Sydney,NS (Australia) to Wellington (New Zealand) with 144 people on board, was enroute at FL370 over the Tasman Sea about 400nm southeast of Sydney when the crew decided to return to Sydney due to an unusual odour on board. The aircraft landed safely back in Sydney about 2:05 hours after departure. The aircraft departed again after about 18 hours on the ground in Sydney and reached Wellington with a delay of about 19 hours. The airline reported an unsual odour in the cabin prompted the crew to return to Sydney, all passengers disembarked into the terminal, one cabin crew was taken to a hospital for assessment and released. The aircraft was inspected and released for service again. The source of the odour remains unclear. https://avherald.com/h?article=51e82721&opt=0 Senators ask Justice Department to take tougher action against Boeing executives over safety issues Two U.S. senators have asked the Department of Justice to take tougher action against Boeing executives by holding them criminally accountable for safety issues that have impacted its airplanes. In a letter dated Wednesday and sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said the department's past efforts to effect change at Boeing have failed “because of its continued refusal to criminally prosecute responsible individuals.” (asterisk)For too long, corporate executives have routinely escaped prosecution for criminal misconduct. This coddling comes at the expense of customer and worker safety, and it must end,” the senators wrote. “We therefore urge you to carefully review the behavior and potential culpability of Boeing’s executives and hold criminally accountable any individuals that have promoted a culture at the company that disregards passenger safety in violation of federal laws and regulations.” Boeing declined by email to comment. The senators' letter comes ahead of a federal hearing next week over Boeing’s agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy in connection with the 737 Max jetliner, two of which crashed, killing 346 people. Families of some of the passengers killed in the crashes object to the agreement. They want to put Boeing on trial, where it could face tougher punishment. The Justice Department argued in court filings that conspiracy to defraud the government is the most serious charge it can prove. Prosecutors said they lack evidence to show that Boeing’s actions caused the crashes in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia. Relatives of victims and their lawyers have called the settlement a sweetheart deal that fails to consider the loss of so many lives. Some of the lawyers have argued that the Justice Department treated Boeing gently because the company is a big government contractor. The agreement calls for Boeing to pay a fine of at least $243.6 million, invest $455 million in compliance and safety programs, and be placed on probation for three years. Boeing — which is also grappling with a nearly three-week-long strike of 33,000 machinists — has faced a series of safety concerns in the past year. Just last week, federal safety investigators issued urgent recommendations to Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration after determining pedals that pilots use to steer 737 Max jetliners on runways can become jammed because moisture can leak into a rudder assembly and freeze. And earlier this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, Oregon, leaving a gaping hole in the plane and creating decompression so violent that it blew open the cockpit door and tore off the co-pilot’s headset. The plug had been opened at a Boeing factory to let workers fix damaged rivets, but bolts that help secure the panel were not replaced when the plug was closed. There were no major injuries, and the pilots were able to return to Portland and land the plane safely. https://www.yahoo.com/news/senators-ask-justice-department-tougher-010439571.html Frankfurt airport faces disruptions due to air traffic system fault BERLIN, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Frankfurt Airport warned on Friday of flight delays and cancellations due to a technical problem with the German traffic control system but later said that the issue had been resolved. DFS, which operates German air traffic control, has detected a nationwide problem in data transmission but it appears to be improving, a spokesperson said, adding that other airports including Dusseldorf could be affected. A spokesperson for Frankfurt airport operator Fraport (FRAG.DE), opens new tab said technical faults had been affecting the system since around 10 a.m. (0800 GMT). The airport advised travellers to check the status of their flight with the website of their airlines. Frankfurt is Germany's busiest airport, with some 60 million people travelling via the airport last year. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/frankfurt-airport-warns-disruptions-due-air-traffic-system-fault-2024-10-04/ Spirit Airlines shares plunge on report of potential bankruptcy filing Spirit Airlines (SAVE) shares slumped 40% before the bell on Friday after the Wall Street Journal reported that the ultra-low-cost carrier was in talks with its bondholders about a potential bankruptcy filing. The stock has lost more than 85% of its value this year as the carrier struggled with the fallout of a failed $3.8-billion-merger with JetBlue Airways. Spirit's long-term debt and finance leases amounted to approximately $3.06 billion, excluding current maturities, as of Dec. 31. "We suspect Spirit should be able to renegotiate with creditors outside of bankruptcy," Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth said but raised concerns on whether the airline can reduce its fixed costs without entering Chapter 11 protection. The timing of such a filing, should it happen, would not be imminent, according to the report. The airline, which has struggled to report profit in recent quarters, also had to ground several Airbus planes due to problems with the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines. The company has flagged a steeper loss in the third quarter due to what it called an "intense competitive battle" for price-sensitive leisure travelers and an oversupply of airline seats in the domestic market. Spirit CEO Ted Christie had in June shrugged off concerns of a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy and said he was "encouraged" by the plan it had in place after its JetBlue merger fell through. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/spirit-airlines-shares-plunge-report-102623768.html Lufthansa Technik Equips LATAM's 777 Aircraft with AeroSHARK Lufthansa Technik AG announces LATAM Airlines Group S.A. as the first external customer and carrier based in the Americas region to use the fuel-saving AeroSHARK film. Since December 2023, a modified aircraft has shown approximately a one percent reduction in jet fuel consumption in daily operations. Based on the positive results, LATAM now plans to retrofit four more Boeing 777 aircraft with AeroSHARK. In December 2023, LATAM had its first Boeing 777-300ER fitted with the bionic surface film in São Paulo, becoming the first airline outside the Lufthansa Group and in the Americas region to adopt this innovative CO2-saving solution. Since then, the Latin American airline has been testing the sharkskin technology in daily operations. Given the proven results, LATAM has now decided to install the innovative film on four additional aircraft. Five AeroSHARK-modified aircraft operated by the subsidiary LATAM Airlines Brazil will soon be cruising the skies. "Our fleet modernization strategy is a cornerstone of our commitment to sustainability and our vision of achieving net zero by 2050. We remain focused on innovation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, ensuring our fleet evolves in line with our environmental goals," said Sebastián Acuto, Director of Fleet and Projects at LATAM Airlines Group. AeroSHARK is a surface film that mimics the flow-optimized structure of sharkskin. Developed jointly by BASF and Lufthansa Technik, it features riblets measuring about 50 micrometers. When several hundred square meters of this film are applied to the fuselage and engine nacelles, it reduces drag, leading to a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by around one percent. For LATAM Airlines Brazil's five Boeing 777-300ER that will be equipped with AeroSHARK, this translates to expected annual savings of up to 2,000 metric tons of kerosene and 6,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. This is equivalent to approximately 28 scheduled flights from São Paulo to Miami on a Boeing 777. "LATAM's decision confirms once again: AeroSHARK works. This further encourages us to use our engineering skills and innovative strength to contribute to aviation with lower CO2 emissions," said Robin Johansson, Senior Director Sales Latin America and Caribbean at Lufthansa Technik. "We look forward to collaborating with more customers globally and applying our fuel-saving sharkskin technology to even more aircraft." Lufthansa Technik's goal is to support many more airlines around the world in achieving their sustainability goals. The global MRO market leader and BASF are consistently developing AeroSHARK further. Current areas of focus include approvals for ever larger areas on the Boeing 777-300ER and 777F as well as for further aircraft types. The company recently announced to extend the roll-out of the sharkskin technology to Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Including LATAM's first modified 777-300ER, a total of 21 aircraft from different airlines worldwide are now in service with the nature-inspired technology - and the number is steadily increasing. The next modification of an aircraft for LATAM is planned in November of this year. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/press-release/55233158/lufthansa-technik-equips-latams-777-aircraft-with-aeroshark Gulfstream announces more than 100 customer pilots earn type rating for all-new G700 Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that over 100 customer pilots have earned their type rating for the G700 aircraft at the FlightSafety International training center, marking a significant milestone in the aircraft's readiness for service and the maturity of the G700 program following its FAA certification. Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced more than 100 customer pilots have earned type rating for the Gulfstream G700 from the Savannah-based FlightSafety International training center since the aircraft earned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification on March 29. In addition to the 100 customer pilots who have earned the G700 type rating, 80 Gulfstream corporate pilots and more than 20 FlightSafety International G700 instructors have earned their G700 type rating. “Pilots are coming to Savannah from around the world to earn their G700 type rating as aircraft deliveries increase,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Thanks to the innovative and intuitive Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck and the maturity of the G700 program, the ease with which customers are taking delivery is impressive.” The G700 features Gulfstream’s award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck with active control sidesticks and the industry’s most extensive use of touch-screen technology paired with Phase-of-Flight intelligence to reduce pilot workload and flight start-up time. The flight deck also includes Gulfstream’s new Combined Vision System (CVS) and the award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System. CVS integrates Gulfstream’s Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) and Synthetic Vision System (SVS) into a single on-screen image shown on both the primary flight display and dual head-up display (HUD), further enhancing situational awareness for pilots and increasing access to more airports worldwide. In addition to FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certifications, the G700 has earned type certificate validations in nine nations, most recently from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority. https://www.griceconnect.com/local-news/gulfstream-announces-more-than-100-customer-pilots-earn-type-rating-for-all-new-g700-9576649 IndiGo Strengthens Commitment to Safety with Advanced Risk Management Technology IndiGo, India’s leading airline, today announced the integration of a cutting-edge, AI-powered risk management platform to further enhance its operational safety and efficiency. This initiative underscores IndiGo's unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards across its expanding network, particularly as the airline expands its international footprint. This advanced technology platform utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, including open-source intelligence (OSINT) and official aviation bodies like European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This comprehensive approach provides IndiGo with real-time alerts and actionable insights on a wide range of potential security risks, encompassing both airspace security and potential disruptions at airports and cities within its network. Capt. Ashim Mittra, Senior Vice President - Flight Operations, IndiGo, said, "As IndiGo expands globally, the safety and security of our passengers and crew remain paramount. This new technology empowers us to proactively identify potential risks by providing real-time intelligence, allowing us to make well-informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of everyone onboard. By integrating this intelligence into our operations, we can adjust flight plans proactively, minimize disruptions for our passengers, and ensure the highest level of safety across our expanding network." This investment in advanced risk management technology reinforces IndiGo's position as a leader in aviation safety and its commitment to providing passengers with a secure and reliable travel experience. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/travel/indigo-strengthens-commitment-to-safety-with-advanced-risk-management-technology-1828045 CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 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