Flight Safety Information - October 14, 2024 No. 204 In This Issue : Incident: Alaska B739 near Missoula on Oct 11th 2024, cracked windshield : Incident: Eurowings A319 at Dusseldorf on Oct 11th 2024, loss of cabin pressure : Incident: India Express B738 at Tiruchirappalli on Oct 11th 2024, could not retract landing gear due to hydraulic failure : Boeing to axe a tenth of its workers as strike continues : A United Boeing 787 with 176 people on board had to divert after the pilot's screens went blank over remote northern Canada : Low Cost Airline Safety Downgrade : FAA investigating possible navigation, electrical issues on Mesa Airlines flight from Austin : FAA opens two investigations into plane that reportedly had electrical and steering issues mid-flight : USDOT Inspector Says FAA Weaknesses Limit Its Ability To Resolve Boeing Issues : Failed Food Inspection In Detroit Causes Airlines To Cease Inflight Catering : US Prosecutors Charge CEO of Nigeria’s Biggest Airline With Obstruction of Justice Over Fake Boeing 737 Airplanes : Taiwan's China Airlines says no political pressure on new aircraft order : Calendar of Events Incident: Alaska B739 near Missoula on Oct 11th 2024, cracked windshield An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900, registration N288AK performing flight AS-345 from Columbus,OH to Seattle,WA (USA), was enroute at FL360 about 100nm east of Missoula,MT when the crew decided to divert to Missoula due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft landed safely on Missoula's runway 29 about 25 minutes later. A replacement Boeing 737-900 registration N402AS reached Seattle with a delay of about 7:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Missoula about 19 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51ed757e&opt=0 Aries Aviation International Selects ProDIGIQ’s ProSafeT Safety Management System Thousand Oaks, California, October 11th, 2024 - At Aries Aviation International, safety is our top priority. We are committed to maintaining a Safety Management System and a robust Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) program that promotes a safe and healthy work environment for all employees, contractors, and visitors. Our goal is to prevent injuries and incidents through proactive hazard identification, risk assessment, and effective safety controls. We strive to comply with all applicable safety laws, regulations, and industry standards, continuously improving our safety performance through regular audits, reviews, and employee training programs. Safety is integrated into our daily operations and is the responsibility of every employee, from management to the front line. By fostering a culture of safety, we aim to protect our most valuable assets – our people – and ensure the sustainability and success of our organization. Aries is a long-standing member of the International Airborne Geophysics Safety Association (IAGSA). The mandate of this association is to continually improve safety within the Airborne Geophysics Survey and Special Missions industry. The comprehensive training programs we utilize provide our crew members with the skills and knowledge required to safely operate aircraft at low altitudes and in challenging conditions while maintaining the customer specifications required for accurate data acquisition. Aries Aviation International is pleased to announce our partnership with ProSafeT (ProDIGIQ), an industry leader in aviation safety and quality assurance. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to maintaining a leading-edge safety reporting system and further enhancing our existing safety culture. Through this partnership, Aries Aviation International will leverage ProSafeT's advanced tools and expertise to conduct accurate and comprehensive risk assessments. This strategic alliance will empower us to stay proactive in identifying and addressing safety concerns, ensuring the highest standards of safety across our operations. Developed in 2016 through a public-private partnership with the FAA and a consortium of airlines, ProSafeT meets and exceeds all compliance for its aviation clients, fostering a culture of safety excellence within operations. After announcing its collaboration with Aries Aviation International, ProDIGIQ's CEO, Arpit Malaviya, emphasized “We are excited to be partnering with Aries and how it resonates with our goal of advancing aviation safety globally. ProSafeT will be a valuable asset to the Aries team and will have a tangible impact on the company.” The ProSafeT platform is the best-in-class Safety, Audit, and Quality Management platform. It is 100% designed, built, and supported in the USA to provide unparalleled quality and customer service. After almost one decade in the market, ProSafeT has established itself as a mature and comprehensive software partner to a variety of organizations across the globe. At Aries, we take immense pride in our impeccable aviation safety record. Our dedication to safety is unwavering, and we continually seek innovative approaches to address safety challenges. Our ability to successfully undergo rigorous external audits for major governments, oil & gas, and mining clients underscores the effectiveness of our well-established safety programs. These programs are the cornerstone of our operations, ensuring that safety is embedded in every facet of our work. They enable us to not only meet but exceed industry standards, safeguarding our employees, clients, and stakeholders alike. At Aries, safety isn’t just a priority—it’s a fundamental value that drives our success. About ProDIGIQ ProDIGIQ is a leading U.S.-based global aviation software company headquartered in Southern California. Since its foundation in 2008, ProDIGIQ has been committed to creating the world’s best aviation software to make an indelible impact on worldwide aviation. To learn more, visit www.prodigiq.com About Aries Aviation International Aries Aviation International specializes in providing highly modified aircraft, experienced crew, and maintenance solutions to the remote sensing industry worldwide. Incident: Eurowings A319 at Dusseldorf on Oct 11th 2024, loss of cabin pressure An Eurowings Airbus A319-100, registration D-ABGQ performing flight EW-9732 from Dusseldorf (Germany) to Krakow (Poland), was climbing through FL300 out of Dusseldorf when the crew initiated an emergency descent to FL100 and decided to return to Dusseldorf due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft landed safely back on Dusseldorf's runway 23L about 55 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the aircraft suffered an emergency descent due to the failure of PACK 1 causing the loss of cabin pressure. The flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Dusseldorf about 15 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51ed3d92&opt=0 Incident: India Express B738 at Tiruchirappalli on Oct 11th 2024, could not retract landing gear due to hydraulic failure An Air India Express Boeing 737-800, registration VT-AYB performing flight IX_613 from Tiruchirappalli (India) to Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) with 141 people on board, was climbing out of Tiruchirappalli's runway 09 when the crew stopped the climb at 4000 feet and entered a hold due to being unable to retract the landing gear as result of a hydraulic failure. The aircraft returned to Tiruchirappalli for a safe landing on runway 27 about 2.5 hours later. The aircraft is still on the ground about 12 hours after landing back. India's DGCA reported they have been instructed to conduct a thorough examination of the aircraft to determine the causes of the hydraulic failure. https://avherald.com/h?article=51ed3b60&opt=0 Boeing to axe a tenth of its workers as strike continues Boeing will axe its workforce by a tenth - cutting 17,000 jobs - and delay production as the aeroplane maker deals with issues across its business. Chief executive Kelly Ortberg said in an email to staff that "executives, managers, and employees'" jobs are all at risk. The business also warned of losses in its weapons and military equipment manufacturing arm, and pushed back the delivery date of its 777X plane. The news comes as the business grapples with staff striking and mounting concerns around the quality of its planes. Mr Ortberg said in the email that the company will reduce its headcount "over the coming months". "Next week, your leadership team will share more tailored information about what this means for your organization," he said, adding that it will not proceed with the next cycle of furloughs. "The state of our business and our future recovery require tough actions," said Mr Ortberg. As well as cutting jobs, the company also is delaying production of its 777X due to "the challenges we have faced in development, as well as from the flight test pause and ongoing work stoppage", a possible reference to the ongoing strike that has been going on for several weeks. "We have notified customers that we now expect first delivery in 2026," he said. A month-long union strike at Boeing has grown contentious, as approximately 33,000 workers sought a better pay package. Talks appeared to fall apart this week, and the union's lead negotiator, John Holden, told Reuters, "We're in this for the long haul and our members understand that." The global credit ratings agency S&P has put Boeing on CreditWatch, a sign that they could downgrade the aeroplane manufacturer's rating if the strike drags out. The company was already under congressional scrutiny after a January incident, during which a defect caused a panel to blow out on a Boeing 737-MAX jet shortly after takeoff. No-one was injured, and Boeing’s then-chief executive Dave Calhoun said the company was "acknowledging our mistake". https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-axe-10-staff-slow-211751959.html A United Boeing 787 with 176 people on board had to divert after the pilot's screens went blank over remote northern Canada A United Airlines plane diverted and made an unplanned landing after cockpit screens went blank while it was flying over Canada's far north. The incident occurred on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating Flight 231 from Los Angeles to London on September 26. The airline told Business Insider that there were 165 passengers and 11 crew members on board. According to a Transportation Safety Board of Canada report, while over Hudson Bay, the "captain's primary flight display and navigation display failed to a blank display." Both flight management computers also entered "a degraded mode with limited capabilities." The TSBC's report added that this meant the plane was left without lateral navigation or LNAV — an autopilot mode that involves following a programmed flight path. An emergency was declared, and the 787 changed course toward Chicago. Pilots could still use some other key autopilot features and communicate with the ground via satellite and radio. Despite the computer difficulties, the pilots used "alternate navigation and vectors" to land at Chicago O'Hare International Airport without further incident. In a statement shared with Business Insider, a United Airlines spokesperson confirmed that the plane diverted "to address a potential technology issue." "The flight landed safely and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate," they added. "We arranged for a different aircraft to take our customers to their destination." The TSBC recorded the incident as a class 5 occurrence, meaning it is not subject to a comprehensive investigation. Last week, United Airlines was cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration after a six-month safety review. The regulator said it found no "significant safety issues" following several incidents early in 2024, including a tire falling off a Boeing 777 during takeoff. https://www.businessinsider.com/united-boeing-787-cockpit-screens-went-blank-over-remote-canada-2024-10 Low Cost Airline Safety Downgrade T’way Air, a low-cost Korean carrier, has seen its safety rating downgraded from 7 to 4 by AirlineRatings.com following a series of operational and safety violations. The airline was recently fined 2 billion won ($1.48 million USD) by the Ministry of Transport for five breaches of aviation safety regulations, sparking concerns about its reliability and safety standards. This downgrade reflects the growing scrutiny on T’way Air as it grapples with maintenance issues, flight delays, and cancellations. Key safety issues include: Maintenance and Mechanical Defects: One of the most prominent cases occurred in July 2024 when a T'way Air Airbus A330-300 (HL8501) was grounded due to a hydraulic system defect. This grounding marked the first time since 2018 that a specific aircraft was ordered out of operation for safety reasons. The issue was detected after the aircraft was scheduled for a flight from Incheon to Zagreb, Croatia, and T'way Air had to swap it with another aircraft, which led to further operational delays. Mechanical problems have been a persistent issue, with the number of reported maintenance-related incidents increasing sharply. From 33 cases in 2020, the number jumped to 67 in 2021, 68 in 2022, and surged to 510 in 2023. By June 2024, 315 cases had already been reported. Fines and Penalties for Safety Violations: In 2024, T'way Air was fined 2 billion won ($1.48 million) by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) for five separate violations of aviation safety regulations. These infractions were found during special inspections conducted by the ministry. The violations were related to both operational procedures and aircraft maintenance issues, raising serious concerns about the airline's adherence to safety standards. Frequent Flight Delays and Cancellations: The airline has also experienced a surge in flight delays and cancellations due to maintenance concerns. Between 2020 and mid-2023, T'way Air recorded 993 incidents of delays or cancellations linked to technical problems with its aircraft. The frequency of these issues spiked dramatically, with 68 cases in 2022 rising to 510 in 2023, signaling a growing problem in operational reliability. About T’WAY T'way Air is a low-cost carrier (LCC) based in South Korea, known for offering affordable regional and international flights. Established in 2004 as Hansung Airlines, it rebranded to T'way Air in 2010. The airline operates a growing fleet, primarily consisting of Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and has expanded its routes to cover destinations across Asia, including Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. In recent years, it has also ventured into long-haul routes, including flights to European cities, beginning in 2023. Headquartered in Seoul, T'way Air primarily uses Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport as its hubs. The airline is positioned as a budget-friendly alternative to full-service carriers, attracting travelers with its competitive pricing. While its focus has traditionally been on short- to medium-haul flights, the introduction of larger aircraft like the Airbus A330-300 has allowed T'way Air to extend its services to longer routes. https://www.airlineratings.com/articles/low-cost-airline-safety-downgrade- FAA investigating possible navigation, electrical issues on Mesa Airlines flight from Austin AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into an Oct. 9 Mesa Airlines flight “after the crew reported possible electrical and navigational issues.” Mesa Airlines Flight 6078 left from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday, the FAA said. The Embraer ERJ-175 plane landed safely at George Bush Intercontinental Airport around 1 p.m. Data: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on track for record year According to Flight Aware, the Austin-Houston route resumed operations Thursday. KXAN has reached out to Mesa Airlines for information. Mesa operates United Express in partnership with United Airlines with hubs in Houston, Louisville, Washington-Dulles and Phoenix, according to the airline. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is not investigating the incident. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-airport/faa-investigating-possible-navigation-electrical-issues-on-mesa-airlines-flight-from-austin/ FAA opens two investigations into plane that reportedly had electrical and steering issues mid-flight The latest incident from the Mesa Airlines plane occurred while it was traveling from Austin to Houston. AUSTIN, Texas — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after reports that a plane traveling from Austin to Houston lost power mid-flight. "Got a little bit of turbulence, a little bit of shakiness," said passenger Karen Rambin. Rambin said that her flight from Austin to George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Oct. 9 was fine for the most part, but when they landed and saw airside operations waiting on them, she knew something was wrong. "When he (the pilot) said they towed us back in or going to tow us back in, I kind of thought, 'Hmm what's going on,' you know," said Rambin. "I didn't really understand at that point, but I kept hearing mid-air and it, it did frighten me. It was harrowing." Rambin said she learned that the Embraer ERJ-175 plane she was traveling on had steering issues and lost power mid-flight. The plane is operated by Mesa Airlines, which is a regional airline that operates flights on behalf of United Airlines as a United Express partner. The FAA said it has began investigations into the flight. "This information is preliminary and subject to change," a statement from the administration read. Mesa Airlines Flight 6078 landed safely at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston around 1 p.m. local time on Oct. 9 after the crew reported "possible electrical and navigational issues." KVUE learned that the exact same plane had reported the same issue on July 31. "Mesa Airlines Flight 6248 returned safely to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston around 1:30 p.m. local time on July 31, 2024, after the crew reported possible electrical and navigational issues. The Embraer ERJ-175 was headed to Jacksonville, Florida. The FAA is investigating," an FAA statement read regarding an investigation into that flight. "If you lose electrical, those actuators stop working so you manually have to fly the aircraft and that's much more difficult, especially for the size of the aircraft we are speaking about," said aviation attorney and pilot Jeff Kelly. "It would be something they trained to do, but still in, anytime there's an emergency, it's something that gets your blood pressure going for sure. Kelly said while his background is in operating smaller aircrafts, an issue like this is unusual. "It's very, very abnormal," said Kelly. "Thankfully, the quality of manufacturing nowadays is such that you rarely see this. So this is something that's definitely out of the ordinary." When KVUE asked Mesa Airlines about the incidents and the possibility of the plane having SIMILAR issue during other flights, a spokesperson with airline responded by saying, "Mesa flight 6078 encountered a momentary technology issue on Wednesday and arrived in Houston without incident. The aircraft is out of service while it undergoes a thorough inspection by our maintenance team." Rambin is thankful the pilot on her flight knew how to handle the situation. "I think they need to be safer," said Rambin. "I think they need to ground the plane if the plane has had those kind of issues." https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-houston-flight-plane-loses-power-mid-flight/269-ed5c3b54-9ed7-4797-88aa-eb15a00865a3 USDOT Inspector Says FAA Weaknesses Limit Its Ability To Resolve Boeing Issues The US Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General said the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) weaknesses in the oversight process limit its ability to solve issues with Boeing 737 and 787 production. This news coincides with further challenges at Boeing, including another delay in the 777X program. The background The document, released on October 9, 2024, follows manufacturing issues and complaints about Boeing aircraft production deficiencies and alleged staff pressure. At the request of the US Congress, the DOT Inspector General conducted a review explicitly focused on the production of the 737 and 787. Lawmakers sought answers about several years of ongoing quality and safety concerns related to Boeing's manufacturing, particularly issues that resulted in the blowout of a Boeing 737 MAX 9's mid-cabin door in early January 2024. The report overall concludes that the FAA has not adequately assessed a production system as vast and intricate as Boeing's. The Inspector General found that "FAA's approach to overseeing Boeing manufacturing and production does not use data-driven assessments to target audits." The report found that 15 of 34 allegations of undue pressure the review team checked remained unresolved by the FAA for more than a year. Further, two of these cases have been open for more than two years. The document also revealed that the FAA has not adequately ensured that the American plane maker and its suppliers can produce parts that conform to the approved design. It stated: "FAA does not require its inspectors to review First Article Inspections that are intended to ensure a manufacturer's processes can, at the outset, produce parts that meet engineering and design requirements." In addition, the report stated that the FAA's compliance system cannot track milestones or identify if there have been repeated compliance issues. Additionally, the FAA has not evaluated the effectiveness of Boeing's Safety Management System. In response to the 40-page document, a Boeing spokesperson told The Seattle Times: "We continue to engage transparently with regulators and other stakeholders to improve quality and safety and regain the trust of the flying public. Our plan emphasizes workforce training, simplifying manufacturing plans, eliminating defects, strengthening our safety and quality culture, and monitoring the health of our entire production system, including with suppliers." Safety Alert For Boeing 737 Operators Issued By FAA Warns Of Potential Rudder Jams The safety alert directs pilots and airline operators to review Boeing's procedure for responding to a jammed rudder. The document included 16 recommendations for the FAA to improve its oversight of Boeing aircraft production. The recommendations included developing and implementing guidance for inspectors on assessing risks in Boeing manufacturing facilities and creating a structured oversight approach for planning and conducting audits to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of Boeing's production. Additionally, the review recommended evaluating the Aircraft Certification Audit Information System to ensure it meets inspectors' needs, clarify FAA Order 8120.23A for defining findings, and update guidance to require inspectors to assess Boeing’s risk evaluations of suppliers, integrating these assessments into FAA audit planning. https://simpleflying.com/usdot-faa-weaknesses-limit-boeing-resolvement/ Failed Food Inspection In Detroit Causes Airlines To Cease Inflight Catering Flights originating from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) on Saturday were believed to have no catering onboard due to an alleged “surprise” food inspection. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, were believed to be affected after the inspection “failed.” The news comes after multiple passengers were sickened from spoiled food in July on a Delta-operated flight from Detroit to Amsterdam. The crew discovered that the main cabin meals had black mold, which prompted a diversion to New York. “...and they failed” Bill Hanley was traveling on American in first class from DTW to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on Saturday. In a Facebook post, the passenger explained the ordeal. “Fun one today. Detroit to Dallas the pilot announced that the FDA did a surprise inspection of food operations at the airport and they failed. So there was no catering for any flights out of Detroit today. I was in first and had a snack box. No biggie. Kinda scary though.” Hanley also mentioned that the inspection “happened last night” and heard that United Airlines had also announced the same news to its passengers. However, United told Simple Flying that its flights are only catered from its hubs, meaning all inbound DTW flights are stocked with meals for the outbound flights. Despite Hanley referring to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), others suggested that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) or local health agencies performed the inspection. One person commented that a Delta flight from DTW to Tampa International Airport (TPA) was also uncatered, including beverages. “The reason a Delta flight to Tampa was not catered. But still a mystery why there were no beverages on that flight,” they explained. A DTW spokesperson told Simple Flying on Saturday that “airlines have their own contracts with catering companies.” It is unclear where the inspection occurred, or what may have violated the food examinations. The exact caterer is also unknown. Simple Flying initially contacted American on Saturday, and Delta on Sunday, but the carriers could not be immediately reached for comment. The big three all provide inflight hot meals in first class on domestic flights, depending on the mileage and length of the flight. On flights of shorter durations, only pre-packaged snacks or snack boxes are served. It's happened before The last reported incident from Detroit involved 24 Delta passengers having to be treated after they were served spoiled food. The meals contained chicken with what was believed to be black mold, according to PEOPLE. One passenger who consumed the food said they did not finish it "because it tasted really really sour." https://simpleflying.com/airlines-catering-flights-detroit-food-inspection-fail/ US Prosecutors Charge CEO of Nigeria’s Biggest Airline With Obstruction of Justice Over Fake Boeing 737 Airplanes US prosecutors have charged the chairman and CEO of Nigeria’s largest domestic airline with obstruction of justice after he allegedly submitted false documents in an attempt to end a separate bank fraud and money laundering investigation. Allen Onyema, a former lawyer and successful Nigerian businessman, founded Air Peace in 2013 and, over the last 11 years, has grown the carrier to become the largest airline in Nigeria and West Africa. But U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan alleges that Onyema used the airline as a cover to illegally funnel millions of dollars from Nigeria into Atlanta-based bank accounts, using the purchase of fake Boeing 737 aircraft as a cover. According to prosecutors, Onyema and the airline’s chief financial officer, Ejiroghene Eghagha, submitted a series of export letters of credit to get banks to transfer more than $20 million into US-registered bank accounts. The letters of credit were for the purchase of five Boeing 737 aircraft and were accompanied by purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals to make the transaction look genuine. Prosecutors, however, claim that all the documents were fake and that the Boeing 737 aircraft never even existed. Onyema would have known this because he owned the Georgia-based company from which Air Peace said it was purchasing the 737 airplanes. After successfully funneling the money into an Atlanta bank, Onyema stands accused of laundering $16 million into other accounts that he owned. In 2019, the Northern District of Georgia for bank fraud grew suspicious of Onyema’s business dealings and opened an investigation into the Boeing 737 purchase from Springfield Aviation. In order to throw investigators off the scent, Onyema allegedly persuaded a manager at Springfield Aviation to draw up a key business contract but without a date. He then presented this contract to investigators as proof that the 737 transaction was genuine. By the point the contract had reached fraud investigators, Onyema had allegedly dated the document from 2016, which is just before the multi-million-dollar fraud began. Onyema, now 61 years old, had already been charged with a slew of money laundering and bank fraud indictments but now faces a superseding indictment alleging an additional count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. “After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation of his conduct,” commented Buchanan. “The diligence of our federal investigative partners revealed the defendants’ alleged obstruction scheme, making it possible for the defendants to be held accountable for their aggravated conduct of attempting to impede a federal investigation.” https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2024/10/12/us-prosecutors-charge-ceo-of-nigerias-biggest-airline-with-obstruction-of-justice-over-fake-boeing-737-airplanes/ Taiwan's China Airlines says no political pressure on new aircraft order TAIPEI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Taiwan's China Airlines (2610.TW), opens new tab is not facing any political pressure on its decision about whether to buy Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab or Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab aircraft for a refreshment of its long-haul fleet, the company's chairman said on Saturday. Taiwan's largest carrier has been weighing Boeing's 777X and the Airbus A350-1000 as replacements for its fleet of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs, mostly used on U.S. and some high-density regional routes, according to industry sources. China Airlines Chairman Hsieh Shih-chien told reporters the company was still in the process of evaluating which aircraft to take and, asked if there was any political pressure on the decision, replied "no". "When it comes to buying aircraft, it is only China Airlines ourselves who makes the assessment. I want to clarify this," Hsieh added. Multibillion-dollar deals for new aircraft often have to take political as well as business considerations into account - especially in the case of Taiwan, given its international situation and pressure it faces to give in to China's sovereignty claims, which are rejected by the democratically elected government in Taipei. The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier despite a lack of formal diplomatic ties, and China Airlines' majority owner is the Taiwan government. A senior industry source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter, that on the China Airlines deal the timing was a complicating factor given November's U.S. election. In 2022, shortly after then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei - which set off Chinese war games - China Airlines announced a $4.6 billion order for Boeing's 787 to replace its ageing fleet of Airbus A330s. China Airlines already operates 15 of the smaller Airbus A350-900s, as well as nine of the freighter version of the 777. Hsieh said the 787s would start arriving from next year, while a further 11 Airbus A321s, which are replacing its older Boeing 737-800s, would all come before 2026. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/taiwans-china-airlines-says-no-political-pressure-new-aircraft-order-2024-10-12/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Safeskies Australia Conference, Canberra Australia - 16th and 17th of October 2024 - www.safeskiesaustralia.org • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) • INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT - November 5 - 7, 2024 (Rio De Janeiro) • NATA’s Aviation Business Conference (ABC) - November 12-13,2024, Nashville, TN • Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis