Flight Safety Information - October 7, 2024 No. 199 In This Issue : Incident: Frontier A321 at Las Vegas on Oct 5th 2024, fire at right main gear on landing : Incident: Republic E175 at Chicago on Oct 3rd 2024, smoke in cockpit : Pilots On Ground Coach Passenger In Landing King Air : Boeing 737 planes with a specific rudder part not to be used for low-visibility landings: DGCA : Italian prosecutors accuse 7 people, 2 firms over flawed Boeing plane parts : Airline Admits Woman Was Able To Take International Flight Without Ticket : Avolon agrees the purchase of 134 aircraft and sale of 85 aircraft in first 9 months of 2024 : KLM implements strategic overhaul to boost profitability and efficiency : Six Washington airports want to charge ahead preparing for electric aircraft : BOC Aviation signs leasing agreement with United Airlines for four Boeing aircraft : Dubai’s Emirates airline bans pagers, walkie-talkies after device attacks in Lebanon : Global Aerospace's SM4 Aviation Safety Program on the Factors Influencing the Advancement of Mental Health in Aviation : Industry first: FAA accepts Delta’s plan to use drones for maintenance inspections : Calendar of Events Incident: Frontier A321 at Las Vegas on Oct 5th 2024, fire at right main gear on landing A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N701FR performing flight F9-1326 from San Diego,CA to Las Vegas,NV (USA), landed on Las Vegas' runway 26L when large flames were seen from its right main gear. The aircraft stopped on the runway while emergency services responded and sprayed the right main gear with foam and water. There were no injuries. The airline reported the crew smelled the smoke and declared Mayday immediately but it is unclear whether they were aware of the severity of the fire. The FAA subsequently reported: "Frontier Airlines Flight 1326 made an emergency landing at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, after reporting smoke in the cockpit. Fire & Rescue extinguished a fire on one of the engines and passengers were deplaned by the stairs. The Airbus 321 departed from San Diego International Airport. The incident occurred around 4:20 p.m. local time on Saturday Oct. 5. The FAA will investigate." On Oct 6th 2024 the NTSB announced they have opened an investigation into the occurrence. It became known later that the crew donned their oxygen masks during the descent towards Las Vegas due to the smell of smoke in the cockpit, subsequently the radar contact (Mode-S) was briefly lost and recovered, the crew was not able to transmit on radio but were hearing ATC instructions, the crew acknowledged ATC instructions or replied yes/no with ident. The aircraft is still on the ground in Las Vegas about 3.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51e940ef&opt=0 Incident: Republic E175 at Chicago on Oct 3rd 2024, smoke in cockpit A Republic Airways Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of United, registration N742YX performing flight UA-3707 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Indianapolis,IN (USA), was climbing out of Chicago's runway 10L when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet reporting smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft returned to Chicago for a safe landing on runway 10L about 12 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "Republic Airways Flight 3707 returned to and landed safely at Chicago O’Hare International Airport around 8:20 p.m. local time on Thursday, Oct. 3, after the crew reported possible smoke in the cockpit. The Embraer 175 was headed to the Indianapolis International Airport. The FAA will investigate." https://avherald.com/h?article=51e9e3ff&opt=0 Pilots On Ground Coach Passenger In Landing King Air A passenger took control of a King Air C90 from its incapacitated pilot over Southern California on Friday and managed to put it safely on a runway at Meadows Field in Bakersfield. The plane ran off the end of the runway but was undamaged and no one was injured. First responders performed CPR at the scene and took the pilot to a hospital, according to KGET News. “I would say that the passenger did an outstanding job getting the aircraft down safely,” Kern County Airports Director Ron Brewster told the TV station. “He was a passenger with knowledge but no pilot’s certificate. … The pilot was transported to the hospital and we don’t have the disposition (of his condition) as of yet.” The FAA issued the following statement: The passenger of a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 90 landed at Meadows Field Airport in California around 1:40 p.m. local time on Friday, Oct. 4, after the pilot had a medical emergency. Two people were on board. The aircraft departed Henderson Executive Airport in Las Vegas and was headed to Monterey Regional Airport in California. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide all updates. The aircraft, owned by a private company in Henderson, Nevada, took off from Henderson Executive Airport at 11 a.m. bound for Monterey, California. According to FlightAware, the IFR flight plan took it on a loop through southern California before turning north toward Monterey and the track shows it maintaining a steady 219 knots at 20,000 feet for almost two hours when it turned south and began an erratic descent toward Bakersfield. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/passenger-lands-king-air/ Boeing 737 planes with a specific rudder part not to be used for low-visibility landings: DGCA Airlines have also been told to carry out a safety risk assessment The aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked operators of Boeing 737 aircraft with a specific rudder part to not use the planes for low-visibility landings in addition to carrying out a safety risk assessment. The advisory is effective for both Boeing 737 NG aircraft as well as the news MAXs, said a senior DGCA official. Though it was not known exactly how many aircraft could be impacted due to the DGCA order, the official said they were in touch with Boeing to seek clarity on the exact numbers. DGCA may issue advisory after U.S. warning on Boeing 737’s jammed rudder system Three Indian airlines have the 737 aircraft in their fleet, i.e Air India Express (61),Akasa (25) and SpiceJet (11 in service). However, it is not yet known which of them have the Collins Aerospace SVO-730 rudder actuator for which the advisory has been issued. The Hindu has sought a response from all the three airlines. “All Category III B approach, landing, and rollout operations (including practice or actual autoland) must be discontinued for airplanes until further notice,” the DGCA has advised airlines. CAT IIIB approach is a guided precision landing aid based on two radio beams which together provide pilots with both vertical and horizontal guidance during an approach to land. This can be used when the runway visibility range is less than 175 metre but not less than 50 metres. The DGCA action follows a warning from the U.S. accident investigation body, the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) about a jammed rudder control system on some Boeing 737 planes, which could impact as many as 40 airlines outside the U.S. The warning followed an inquiry into a February incident involving a United Airlines flight where the pilots of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft complained that the rudder pedal getting stuck. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/boeing-737-planes-with-a-specific-rudder-part-not-to-be-used-for-low-visibility-landings-dgca/article68728359.ece Italian prosecutors accuse 7 people, 2 firms over flawed Boeing plane parts MILAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Italian prosecutors on Saturday accused seven people and two sub-contractors of crimes including fraud and breaching airplane safety rules following an investigation into suspected flawed parts produced by an Italian company for Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab. The prosecutors launched their investigation in late 2021, opens new tab after Boeing said some parts for its 787 Dreamliner plane supplied by a company working for Italian aerospace group Leonardo (LDOF.MI), opens new tab had been improperly manufactured. Investigators found that two Italian sub-contractors used cheaper and non-compliant forms of titanium and aluminium to make certain parts, saving significant sums of money on their raw material costs, the prosecutors said in a statement, without naming the sub-contractors or the seven people. "This resulted in the realisation of airplane parts with significantly lower static and stress resistance characteristics, with repercussions on aviation safety," the prosecutors in the southern city of Brindisi said. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that former Leonardo supplier Manufacturing Process Specification (MPS) and its now-bankrupt predecessor company Processi Speciali were the two firms at the centre of the probe. MPS owner Antonio Ingrosso and his father Vincenzo, who headed Processi Speciali, were two of the seven people involved in the probe. The two men are "convinced that they have acted respecting fully the law," their lawyer told Reuters. The seven people and two sub-contractors will now be given time to present any new evidence in their defence, before the prosecutors decide whether to request a judge to call a trial. Aerospace experts working with prosecutors certified at least 4,829 non-compliant components made of titanium and 1,158 made of aluminium, the prosecutors said. "The expert work and investigations concluded that some non-compliant structural components could, in the long run, create harm to the safety of the aircraft, requiring the U.S. company to initiate an extraordinary maintenance campaign of the aircraft involved," they said, adding Boeing and Leonardo were victims of the alleged crimes and had cooperated with the probe. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/italian-prosecutors-accuse-7-people-2-firms-over-flawed-boeing-plane-parts-2024-10-05/ Airline Admits Woman Was Able To Take International Flight Without Ticket Investigations are underway after a woman managed to board a flight from Copenhagen to Pisa in Italy without a proper ticket, finding herself lost in the Italian airport. The elderly woman, who had just arrived in Copenhagen on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, somehow managed to board a Ryanair flight to Pisa, which took off at 9:06 a.m. on September 9. Her family, still in Copenhagen, were searching for her at the airport unaware that she had boarded the flight. Thankfully, when she landed in Pisa and was found walking around the airport, local authorities were notified and supported the woman. Although the woman had passed through security screenings, the fact that she boarded without the correct boarding pass has raised concerns about airport procedures. Lise Agerley Kürstein, head of corporate communication and media relations at Copenhagen Airport, told Newsweek: "We take this incident very seriously. It will be part of our ongoing efforts to adjust and tighten our guidelines to maintain safety. Following the recent incident, we have had follow-up discussions with the airline, and a number of procedures are now being tightened." Ryanair planes at CPH airport A picture from Copenhagen with Ryanair aircraft on the ground on hard standing. The airport and airline have issued statements after a woman was able to board a flight without the correct ticket. Alphotographic/Getty Images Kürstein made it clear that the passenger hadn't intentionally snuck onto the flight, explaining that it was a failure at the gate. "An error occurred at the gate, allowing the passenger to board the wrong flight. It is the responsibility of the airlines and the handling companies to check passengers and their boarding passes before they board the aircraft," she said. A spokesperson for Ryanair told Newsweek: "This elderly passenger incorrectly boarded this flight from Copenhagen to Pisa after the gate agent at Copenhagen Airport failed to check her travel documentation during boarding. We are working with the handling agents in Copenhagen to ensure that this error does not recur." Fortunately, there was no immediate safety risk. "She was in transit, had gone through security, and her luggage had been screened. Therefore, she did not pose any security risk, nor was she in possession of any dangerous items," Kürstein said. But the woman's family were left concerned when they couldn't find her in the airport. Once in Pisa, local police were informed of the mistake and helped the woman, reuniting her with her family soon after. This isn't the first time such an incident has occurred. In 2018, an 80-year-old woman mistakenly flew 1,400 miles in the wrong direction on a United Airlines flight without the correct boarding pass. https://www.newsweek.com/woman-took-international-flight-without-ticket-no-one-realized-1963664 Avolon agrees the purchase of 134 aircraft and sale of 85 aircraft in first 9 months of 2024 Avolon, a global aviation finance company, issues an update for the third quarter (‘Q3’) of 2024. Q3 Fleet Activity – Sold 11 aircraft during the quarter, ending the quarter with 59 aircraft agreed for sale; – Delivered 9 new aircraft and transitioned 5 aircraft to a total of 11 customers; – Entered into letters of intent for the sale and leaseback of 9 aircraft; – Customer base of 141 airlines operating in 62 countries; and, – Ended the quarter with an owned and managed fleet of 577 aircraft, with total orders and commitments for 442 fuel-efficient, new technology aircraft. Acquisition of Castlelake Aviation Limited – Avolon to acquire a portfolio of 105 aircraft, 2 engines and 13 aircraft commitments* • Total assets of approximately $5.0 billion; Average aircraft age of 4.7 years; 70% of the portfolio invested in new technology aircraft; – Up to US$3.3 billion of transferable debt available to Avolon on closing, with the balance funded from Avolon’s existing sources of liquidity; – Pro forma for the transaction, Avolon would have an owned, managed and committed fleet of 1,137 aircraft as of September 30th and Avolon’s balance sheet metrics remain within target investment grade ranges; and, – Expected to close in Q1 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. *All figures as of March 31st, 2024 Avolon is a global aviation finance company connecting capital with customers to drive the transformation of aviation and the economic and social benefits of global travel. https://www.traveldailymedia.com/avolon-agrees-the-purchase-of-134-aircraft-and-sale-of-85-aircraft-in-first-9-months-of-2024/ KLM implements strategic overhaul to boost profitability and efficiency KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) has announced a series of measures aimed at enhancing its operational and financial performance. This comprehensive plan includes increasing productivity, simplifying the organisational structure, reducing costs and deferring non-essential investments. While KLM's revenues are on the rise, these steps have become necessary due to increasing costs related to equipment, staffing, and airport fees. The airline is also heavily investing in a fleet renewal programme, which involves billions of euros, to transition towards cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft. The overall objective of these measures is to improve KLM's operating results by €450 million in the short term and align with Air France-KLM's ambition to achieve a sustainable profit margin exceeding 8% by 2026-2028. The strategy reflects KLM's commitment to maintaining its service network and preserving as many jobs as possible. The airline has engaged with its Works Council and trade unions regarding these proposed measures, and further consultations are expected before finalising decisions. Key elements of the plan include a 5% increase in labour productivity by 2025 through automation and mechanisation, tackling the ongoing pilot and technician shortages and minimising flight cancellations. If necessary, KLM will consider partial outsourcing of maintenance operations to address the technician shortage and supply chain issues affecting spare parts availability. To reduce overheads, KLM plans to reorganise its flight services and training divisions, and reassess investments in new headquarters and maintenance facilities, while preserving its fleet upgrade commitments. The airline is also trialling new in-flight products and optimising aircraft layouts to boost annual revenues by at least €100 million. The restructuring will focus on streamlining operations, eliminating redundancies, and exploring options for outsourcing or discontinuing activities that are not directly linked to flight operations. KLM's CEO, Marjan Rintel, emphasised that these changes are crucial for building a robust and future-proof airline, ensuring that KLM continues to connect the Netherlands to the world for many years to come. https://avitrader.com/2024/10/07/klm-implements-strategic-overhaul-to-boost-profitability-and-efficiency/ Six Washington airports want to charge ahead preparing for electric aircraft All-electric passenger planes are still experimental. But regional airport managers are eager to install charging infrastructure to accommodate them. Washington airports have applied for federal grant funding to install electric aircraft charging stations, like this one in Vermont near the headquarters of manufacturer Beta Technologies. (Beta courtesy photo) The managers of half a dozen Washington airports see a future where you could hop across Puget Sound or the Cascade Mountains in minutes on a non-polluting electric commuter plane or air taxi. They want to be ready for that day by winning government funding to install pricey charging stations for battery-powered aircraft now. A bunch of manufacturers have flown small prototypes of all-electric passenger aircraft, but none are certified for commercial service in North America. The electric aviation sector is still at a very early stage where many things are unclear, including key questions such as what charging standard to use and whether rechargeable batteries will even be broadly adopted for flight propulsion. The six public airports that threw in together on a federal grant application for airside charging infrastructure are Chehalis-Centralia, Yakima, Friday Harbor, Port Angeles, Everett’s Paine Field and Boeing Field in Seattle. Chehalis-Centralia took the lead on the nearly $10 million funding request, which would pay for one or two charging stations per airport. Companies in the Northwest focused on climate-friendly aircraft and what they do Eviation: Arlington, Washington, electric commuter plane designer MagniX: Everett, Washington, electric airplane motors ZeroAvia: Everett, Washington, hydrogen-electric powertrains AeroTEC: Moses Lake, Washington, electric and hydrogen fuel cell flight testing and engineering Twelve: Moses Lake, Washington, zero fossil fuel synthetic jet fuel Harbour Air: Vancouver, Canada, electric seaplane conversions “Right now, we are in somewhat of a chicken-and-egg type scenario where we don’t have the aircraft certified yet and we don’t have the infrastructure to support the aircraft yet,” said Chehalis-Centralia Airport Director Brandon Rakes. “Our responsibility is to have the infrastructure in place to be ready for this,” Rakes told the Washington Legislature’s Aviation Caucus during a briefing on September 28. “If we get out ahead of this, it will make it much easier for all of us.” The U.S. Department of Transportation has $800 million to distribute nationally for this round of a competitive grant program to build out the nation’s electric charging and alternative fuels network for vehicles. The money was set aside by Congress as part of the big bipartisan infrastructure package passed in late 2021. A Transportation Department spokeswoman on Wednesday declined to estimate when the current grant applicants would be notified if they were successful. The states of California, Oregon and Washington secured a hefty $102 million during a previous round of grant awards under this program to launch an electric truck recharging and hydrogen refueling network along the length of Interstate 5. The electric aircraft that would potentially plug in locally in the future are not the type to whisk you across the country, but Rakes said they could carry you across the state. A visualization his airport presented to legislators and staff portrayed a new terminal with vertical takeoff and landing hexacopters outside capable of carrying four to six passengers. “We’re talking 30-minute flights,” Rakes said. “Here in the Northwest, that provides a lot of opportunity for us.” Yakima stands out with a declared objective to relieve crowding at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by giving short-haul travelers an alternative. The long-term aspiration is to turn Yakima’s airport into a centrally located mini-hub where passengers who board at a community or regional airport near their home could bypass SeaTac on the way to another airport using small electric aircraft. “We’ve been working aggressively on a strategy to be able to accommodate multiple electric aircraft of various different sizes from locations across the state, but in particular focused on 17 airports in the greater Puget Sound, to be able to take the pressure off of SeaTac,” Yakima Air Terminal Director Rob Hodgman said. The lower refueling and maintenance costs of electric engines could improve the viability of airline service to smaller cities. Port Angeles lost its only scheduled passenger airline service in 2014 and Chehalis-Centralia never has had it in modern times. The Pacific Northwest is home to quite a bit of research and development activity to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint, including private companies focused on designing all-new electric planes and converting existing propeller aircraft to electric or hydrogen power. These companies are finding the path to getting Federal Aviation Administration or Transport Canada certification of their alternative energy powertrains is taking years longer than initially anticipated. Chehalis-Centralia airport manager Rakes is hedging his bets by lining up multiple state and federal grants for possible fuels of the future. Notably, the municipal airport last month secured nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for feasibility and pre-design work for a hydrogen production and fueling center. That facility is envisioned to serve both ground and air vehicles. The airport is located close to I-5. Rakes said the electric aircraft charging stations would also be dual-use ideally, as more and more airports are switching to all-electric ground handling vehicles. Weight and space are at a premium in an airplane, a reason why airline executives are cautious of battery power. Jet fuel has much greater energy density than current lithium-ion batteries. Consequently, more money is flowing toward biofuels and synthetic jet fuel – known in industry-speak as sustainable aviation fuel or SAF for short. Green hydrogen has vocal champions too as a long-term answer for aviation fueling. If the allied Washington airports receive their desired charging infrastructure grant, a vendor they are likely to consider is Beta Technologies. That Vermont-based company is developing related business lines in electric aircraft manufacturing and charging stations. The charging stations are rolling out quicker, with about 20 airports in the eastern and southern U.S. already online and some 50 more in permitting or under construction. https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/10/03/six-washington-airports-want-to-charge-ahead-installing-electric-airplane-chargers/ BOC Aviation signs leasing agreement with United Airlines for four Boeing aircraft BOC Aviation Limited has entered into a lease transaction involving three Boeing 737-9 and one 787-9 aircraft with United Airlines. The three B737-9 are all powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines and the B787-9 by General Electric GEnx engines. All four aircraft are currently in operation by the airline. “We are delighted to be supporting our long-time customer, United, once again, as it continues its fleet renewal programme,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BOC Aviation in a press release. “The financing of these four latest generation Boeing aircraft provides us with an incremental investment opportunity as we continue to grow our business.” https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/united-airlines/boc-aviation-signs-leasing-agreement/ Dubai’s Emirates airline bans pagers, walkie-talkies after device attacks in Lebanon Dubai’s Emirates airline has banned pagers and walkie-talkies from its planes, following last month’s attacks on such devices carried by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. “All Passengers travelling on flights to, from or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie talkies in checked or cabin baggage,” the airline wrote in a statement posted on its website Friday. “Such items found in passengers’ hand luggage or checked baggage will be confiscated by Dubai Police,” it added. It comes weeks after pagers exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, followed by walkie-talkies detonating in a similar fashion. Lebanese officials blamed Israel for the attacks. At least 37 people, including children, were killed in the twin device attacks, and nearly 3,000 others were injured, according to Lebanese officials. A Lebanese security source told CNN at the time that the explosive material was “laced” inside the pager’s lithium battery and was hidden in such a sophisticated way that it was virtually undetectable. As conflict continues to intensify in the Middle East, flights continue to face disruption. In its latest update Friday, Emirates, the region’s largest airline, said flights from and to Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, remain canceled up until and including October 15. Passengers transiting through Dubai to get to Beirut will also “not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice,” it said. Emirates added that it will resume services to Jordan’s capital, Amman, on Sunday, while its flights to and from Iraq and Iran will remain canceled up to and including Monday. Several other airlines have also canceled flights to Beirut and other regional airports. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/05/travel/emirates-airline-bans-pagers-walkie-talkies-intl/index.html Global Aerospace's SM4 Aviation Safety Program on the Factors Influencing the Advancement of Mental Health in Aviation Peer Support Programs: Transforming How Aviation Addresses Mental Health Morris Plains, NJ, Oct. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In our July 2023 article, “A Flight Toward Wellbeing: The Changing Landscape of Mental Health in Aviation,” we initiated a dialogue about the mental health challenges aviation professionals face. While the industry has evolved in acknowledging these issues, stigma still impedes many from seeking available resources. Here, the significance of Peer Support Programs (PSPs) has been increasingly recognized. These initiatives offer a confidential haven where concerns can be openly discussed, free from judgment. airplane mechanics talking in the hangar The aftermath of the Germanwings tragedy largely influenced the pivot towards a robust PSP network. It highlighted an urgent need for support systems that preserve an individual's privacy yet ensure public safety, hence propelling PSPs to the forefront as indispensable support mechanisms. PSPs uniquely provide non-diagnostic assistance, guiding those in need towards professional resources without fear often associated with mental health services—a critical step for an industry that demands exceptional resilience from its professionals. The establishment of the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) by the FAA in December 2023 bolstered the standing of PSPs. Tasked with crafting strategies to overcome reporting barriers, the ARC, through its two working groups, embodies the collaborative effort to improve mental wellbeing in aviation. Supporting the efficacy of PSPs, Mental Health America's report from 2019 consolidates evidence of their value across various sectors—underscoring improved mental health, reduced hospitalizations, and enhanced engagement in treatment, affirming their role as an essential part of a broader mental health support system. The fear that openness about mental health challenges could have repercussions that echo through their careers, particularly if shared with workplace-associated medical personnel, cannot stand in the way of getting support when it is needed. With this in mind, consider these crucial factors influencing decisions to seek support through mental health programs. Factors Influencing Willingness To Report Mental Health Issues 1. Fear of Professional Repercussions: The fear of losing job credentials or impacting career progression is a significant deterrent. By providing a confidential, peer-led support structure, PSPs help alleviate fears of formal reporting. 2. Perceived Stigma: Stigma is rooted in cultural and societal norms. PSPs work to dismantle these by fostering an environment of normalized, open discussions about mental health. Hearing colleagues share their experiences can powerfully reduce isolation and encourage others to seek help. 3. Lack of Awareness: Many professionals lack awareness of mental health resources. PSPs serve as immediate and accessible contact points, increasing visibility and utilization of available mental health support services. 4. Trust and Confidentiality: Trust is crucial when discussing personal mental health issues. PSPs build trust by ensuring conversations remain confidential unless a significant safety risk is identified. PSPs mitigate these factors by providing an entry point for those hesitant to seek formal help and can refer individuals to appropriate professional resources when necessary. PSPs are not designed to replace professional mental health services. Unlike these traditional services that may involve diagnosis and treatment plans, PSPs offer non-diagnostic support. This reduces the fear of being labelled and creates a more approachable entry point for discussing mental health concerns. PSPs: Advancing Mental Health in Aviation Today, PSPs are recognized as transformative in aviation mental health, building an environment of trust and mutual understanding. Peer support provides a reliable avenue for open discussion of mental health challenges, an instrumental step in changing how the industry prioritizes mental health. PSPs are not just another industry trend but have set the stage for a new era where mental wellbeing is as critical as technical skill. Mental health resilience, built on honest conversations and genuine peer support, fosters an environment where reaching out for help signals strength, not weakness. It's this forward-thinking mindset that drives us into a future where the health of our minds is given the same priority as the mechanics of the aircraft. Let's usher in a future that ensures every member of our aviation family has the support they need to work at their best and truly thrive in their role. About Global Aerospace SM4 Aviation Safety Program The Global Aerospace SM4 Safety Program has revolutionized the way insurance specialists help their clients achieve higher levels of operational safety. SM4 was built on the concept of integrating four critical safety components: planning, prevention, response and recovery. Its mission is to help organizations manage risk, enrich training efforts, strengthen safety culture and improve safety management systems. https://sm4.global-aero.com/ Global Aerospace SM4 Aviation Safety Program Media Contact Suzanne Keneally Vice President, Group Head of Communications +1 973-490-8588 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/10/06/2958605/0/en/Global-Aerospace-s-SM4-Aviation-Safety-Program-on-the-Factors-Influencing-the-Advancement-of-Mental-Health-in-Aviation.html Industry first: FAA accepts Delta’s plan to use drones for maintenance inspections Delta is the first U.S. commercial operator to receive FAA Certificate Management Office concurrence for our plans to use these drones for maintenance inspections across our fleet. The FAA recently accepted Delta’s application to utilize camera-based, small drones to conduct visual inspections of our aircraft in the operation. Delta TechOps was granted this acceptance earlier this year and has thoughtfully been implementing drone inspections into our maintenance processes. These conditional visual inspections will initially be used following lightning strike events, and the use of drone inspections has been added to the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) for Delta’s entire mainline fleet. Delta is the first U.S. commercial operator to receive FAA Certificate Management Office concurrence for our plans to use these drones for maintenance inspections across our fleet. The small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are semi-autonomous drones that navigate around an aircraft taking images without manual inputs from a pilot. Once images of the airframe are captured, trained TechOps technicians and inspectors will evaluate those photos to determine airworthiness prior to returning the aircraft to service much like they have historically. While TechOps has long had safety protocols in place to provide for the safe inspection of aircraft, the introduction of drone technology removes the risks associated with technicians and inspectors working from heights. Along with reducing the risk of injuries, the technology will also help technicians and inspectors make decisions on aircraft conditions up to 82% faster. Implementing drone technology enables aircraft to be returned to service more quickly and supports efforts to reduce delays and cancellations for our customers. https://news.delta.com/industry-first-faa-accepts-deltas-plan-use-drones-maintenance-inspections Air traffic controllers are so overworked, the FAA created a shortcut for new college grads FAA introduces new program to address staffing shortage. Still staring down the barrel of a sector-wide shortage, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is fast-tracking young adults to the tarmac. This Wednesday, the FAA announced it was starting a pilot program that allows students of two schools to bypass requirements to receive extra training at the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy, and instead jumpstart their career right after graduation. Individuals graduating from two Oklahoma schools—Tulsa Community College and the University of Oklahoma—will be trained on a curriculum that “ensure[s] graduates have the necessary skills to begin immediate facility training,” notes the FAA. The cut-around comes in handy considering that the FAA’s training program is backlogged. The FAA has been wringing its hands about a potentially disastrous dearth of air traffic controllers for some time now. The job involves high stakes, and having a deficit of said employees fuels a number of near misses of airplane collisions, as close calls involving crashes happen on average multiple times a week per a 2023 New York Times investigation. In April, Congress took note of said narrowly avoided crashes and passed a $105 billion bill to address the underlying issues that plague the airline industry. The Senate approved the act in May. The bill is set to increase the number of traffic controllers, funneling $67 billion into hiring and retention efforts and requiring the FAA to address staffing gaps. The FAA also is also required to update its technology system. “The FAA is working to hire and train more air traffic controllers, in order to reverse the decades-long decline in our workforce and ensure the safety of the flying public,” FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a statement regarding the new program. And the FAA is looking to grow the program, encouraging Interested schools to submit to year-round open applications. Whitaker called the staffing woes “years in the making” in 2023. The FAA has pointed to the complex hiring process and long hours as factors in this crunch, notes Bloomberg. Back in the early 1980s, the former union for air traffic controllers was protesting these same lengthy days as well as paltry pay. The president at the time, Ronald Reagan, gutted the workforce, fired the more than 11,000 striking workers, and banned them from getting rehired as part of an aggressive policy that was only overturned 12 years later. It left a lasting legacy on the workforce and organized labor in general. And the FAA specifically was faced with a carnage that spelled out long-term hiring woes as it had to recruit an entirely new pool of employees. Fast-forward two decades later, and the FAA has just barely exceeded its yearly goal of hiring 1,800 traffic controllers by 2024. It represents “the largest number of hires in nearly a decade,” and it “marks important progress in the FAA’s work to reverse the decades-long air traffic controller staffing level decline,” writes the FAA in a statement released in September. Noting that it “will continue to take aggressive action” to increase its workforce, the FAA has goals to hire 2,000 more controllers in 2025. https://fortune.com/2024/10/04/air-traffic-controllers-staffing-shortage-new-grads-faa/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 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) • NATA’s Aviation Business Conference (ABC) - November 12-13,2024, Nashville, TN • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis