Flight Safety Information - November 13, 2024 No. 226 In This Issue : Incident: Southwest B737 at San Jose on Nov 12th 2024, engine trouble : Accident: Lufthansa B748 over Atlantic on Nov 11th 2024, turbulence causes 11 injuries : Incident: Jetblue A320 at Fort Lauderdale on Nov 11th 2024, bird strike : Incident: Delta A320 at Denver on Nov 11th 2024, dented radome : FAA bars US airlines from Haiti after gunfire hits three planes : FAA Wants AI Tool to Improve Aviation Safety : ITA Airways Plans Tripoli Flights Despite EASA Safety Warning : Indonesian Volcanic Eruption Causes Flight Cancellations to and From Tourist Island of Bali : Spirit Airlines continues 'constructive talks' with creditors : Airbus forecasts Asia Pacific region to require 19,500 new aircraft by 2043 : Vietnam Airlines to request bids for 50 narrowbody jets next year : New client orders 40 Boeing planes, may order 40 more : Boeing says it will take several weeks to resume production of planes after the strike : Calendar of Events Incident: Southwest B737 at San Jose on Nov 12th 2024, engine trouble A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N915WN performing flight WN-2395 from San Jose,CA to Burbank,CA (USA) with 67 passengers and 5 crew, was climbing through about FL210 out of San Jose when the crew decided to return to San Jose due to issues with one of the engines (CFM56). The aircraft landed safely back on San Jose's runway 30L about 35 minutes after departure. https://avherald.com/h?article=5203df9d&opt=0 Accident: Lufthansa B748 over Atlantic on Nov 11th 2024, turbulence causes 11 injuries A Lufthansa Boeing 747-800, registration D-ABYP performing flight LH-511 from Buenos Aires,BA (Argentina) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 329 passengers and 19 crew, was enroute over the Atlantic Ocean passing through the Intertropical Convergence Zone when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing a number of injuries on board. The aircraft continued to Frankfurt for a landing without further incident. 5 passengers and 6 cabin crew received minor injuries as result of the turbulence. The airline reported the aircraft encountered turbulence while flying through the Intertropical Convergence Zone. During the approach to Frankfurt the crew requested medical assistance. 5 passengers and 6 cabin crew received minor injuries. The aircraft is still on the ground in Frankfurt about 10 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5203da2c&opt=0 Incident: Jetblue A320 at Fort Lauderdale on Nov 11th 2024, bird strike A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N612JB performing flight B6-1609 from Fort Lauderdale,FL (USA) to Port au Prince (Haiti), was enroute about two thirds into the flight to Port au Prince, when the crew decided to return to Fort Lauderdale due to an aircraft being shot at, see Accident: Spirit A20N at Port au Prince on Nov 11th 2024, aircraft being shot at. About an hour later the aircraft was on approach to Fort Lauderdale when a bird impacted the aircraft. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Fort Lauderdale's runway 10L. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD ON LANDING AND POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL." The aircraft is still on the ground in Fort Lauderdale about 25 hours after landing and is estimated to return to service on Nov 13th 2024. https://avherald.com/h?article=5203d2ca&opt=0 Incident: Delta A320 at Denver on Nov 11th 2024, dented radome A Delta Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N351NW performing flight DL-1648 from Detroit,MI to Denver,CO (USA) with 148 passengers and 6 crew, landed on Denver's runway 16L with the nose radome dented. The aircraft taxied to the apron. The airline reported the crew received indication of a mechanical issue in the nose of the aircraft. There is no report that the aircraft had been hit by anything. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT LANDED AND POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED NOSE CONE COLLAPSED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS DURING FLIGHT, DENVER, CO." https://avherald.com/h?article=5203cb95&opt=0 FAA bars US airlines from Haiti after gunfire hits three planes WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it will bar U.S. airlines from operating in Haiti for 30 days after three commercial jetliners were struck by gunfire on Monday. The FBI said separately it was investigating the incidents and working with law enforcement partners. The FAA issued a Notice to Air Mission prohibiting U.S. airlines from operating flights in the Haiti's territory and airspace below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) for 30 days, citing "safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing security instability." American Airlines said on Tuesday that it was the third U.S. airline to have a plane struck by a bullet in Haiti. The carrier said American Flight 819 landed in Miami on Monday from Port-au-Prince and a post-flight inspection indicated the exterior of the aircraft had been impacted by a bullet. "We are working closely with all relevant authorities to investigate this incident," American Airlines said. On Monday, a Spirit Airlines flight destined for the Haitian capital was struck by gunfire, forcing it to be diverted to the neighboring Dominican Republic, while a JetBlue Airways flight returning from Port-au-Prince was discovered with bullet damage after arriving in New York. Spirit said its plane had been damaged and taken out of commission upon landing in the northern Dominican city of Santiago. A flight attendant was injured in the incident, while no passengers were harmed. American Airlines said it was suspending service to Haiti through Feb. 12. Armed gangs in Haiti's capital have shot at aircraft in recent weeks as the security situation deteriorates. Last month, a U.N. helicopter was hit by gunfire over Port-au-Prince. On Monday, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime took office pledging to improve security. Fils-Aime was appointed by the Caribbean island nation's transitional council over the weekend to succeed Garry Conille, who only lasted in the role six months. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/faa-bars-us-airlines-haiti-203401802.html FAA Wants AI Tool to Improve Aviation Safety The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking input from industry on next-generation safety and non-safety analytics capabilities, including the use of AI for “deep analysis” to “generate actionable insights.” According to an initial market analysis posted to Sam.gov, the FAA is looking for feedback on a possible procurement strategy or acquisition solution for AI tools and data analytic services. Responses are due by Nov. 22. “This initiative will not only accelerate the FAA’s safety and non-safety related capabilities but will also leverage the provider’s advanced technical expertise to ensure continuous improvement in aviation standards and practices both within and outside the FAA,” the agency wrote. Specifically, the FAA is looking for new tools to help enhance predictive analytics to proactively identify and mitigate safety and non-safety risks as well as advance the overall safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System with rapid response capabilities to address emerging risks. The FAA said it is looking for a candidate that possesses state-of-the-art analytical tools to enhance operational safety and reduce errors, including the use of AI to transform and expand aviation safety and non-safety insights. “The FAA is contemplating various acquisitions solutions including QVLs, Multiple award contracts, BOAs, BPAs, etc. but is still conducting research for the acquisition strategy and open to industry input,” the FAA said. According to the Department of Transportation’s AI use case inventory posted earlier this year, the FAA is currently leveraging eight unclassified AI tools. The current AI tools in use include natural language processing, automated voice processing, and weather predictions. https://www.meritalk.com/articles/faa-wants-ai-tool-to-improve-aviation-safety/ ITA Airways Plans Tripoli Flights Despite EASA Safety Warning ITA Airways' service to Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport will use Airbus A319 aircraft. Italy’s flag carrier ITA Airways has announced plans launch a route to Tripoli in January despite the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) extending its flight ban over Libyan airspace until the end of April. The airline intends to commence flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport from Jan. 12, 2025. The service, operating on Thursdays and Sundays, will use Airbus A319 aircraft. “Libya is a highly important market, and this route will enhance trade between our nations while supporting the many Italian businesses operating in the North African country,” ITA General Manager Andrea Benassi says. Libya has faced a period of turmoil following a NATO-backed uprising that led to the overthrow and death of long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The aftermath resulted in the emergence of rival administrations in the eastern and western regions of the country. Libya’s main international gateway, Tripoli International Airport, was badly damaged during the 2014 civil war, with Mitiga International Airport taking over as the country’s main hub since then. ITA Airways’ planned entry into the market comes despite EASA’s latest Conflict Zone Information Bulletin, issued on Oct. 31 and valid until the end of April 2025. The bulletin advises airlines to avoid Libyan airspace at all altitudes and flight levels due to the “high risk” of intentional or unintentional attacks on civil aviation. However, exceptions are permitted for flights to coastal airports under certain conditions: approaches must be made from the sea; operations must be fully coordinated with local authorities and air traffic control; and a thorough risk assessment must be conducted. The coastal location of Mitiga International Airport will therefore allow ITA to approach from over the Mediterranean Sea. The carrier says it has also “worked tirelessly” in close cooperation with the respective Italian and Libyan governments, as well as Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority ENAC, to bring the route to fruition. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/ita-airways-plans-tripoli-flights-despite-easa-safety-warning Indonesian Volcanic Eruption Causes Flight Cancellations to and From Tourist Island of Bali DENPASAR, Indonesia — Several international airlines canceled flights to and from Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali on Wednesday as an ongoing volcanic eruption left travelers stranded at airports. Tourists told The Associated Press that they have been stuck at Bali’s airport since Tuesday after their flights were suddenly canceled. “The airline did not provide accommodation, leaving us stranded at this airport,” said Charlie Austin from Perth, Australia, who was on vacation in Bali with his family. Another Australian tourist, Issabella Butler, opted to find another airline that could fly her home. “The important thing is that we have to be able to get out of here,” she said. Media reports said that thousands of people were stranded at airports in Indonesia and Australia, but an exact number wasn’t given. Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano on the remote island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province spewed towering columns of hot ash high into the air since its initial huge eruption on Nov. 4 killed nine people and injured dozens of others. The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) volcano shot up ash at least 17 times on Tuesday, with the largest column recorded at 9 kilometers (5½ miles) high, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation said in a statement. Authorities on Tuesday expanded the danger zone as the volcano erupted again to 9 kilometers (5½ miles) as volcanic materials, including smoldering rocks, lava, and hot, thumb-size fragments of gravel and ash, were thrown up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater since Friday. Over the past four days, 84 flights, including 36 scheduled to depart and 48 due to arrive, were affected. Shahab said that at least 26 domestic flights and 64 overseas ones were canceled on Wednesday alone, including airlines from Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar, India and Malaysia. For these cancellations, the airlines were offering travelers a refund, or to reschedule or reroute, he said. Three Australian airlines have also canceled or delayed a number of flights. Jetstar has paused its flights to Bali until at least Thursday, it said on its website, saying it was “currently not safe” to operate the route. Virgin Australia’s website showed 10 services to and from Bali were canceled on Wednesday. Qantas said it has delayed three flights. Some airlines are offering fare refunds for upcoming Bali flights to passengers who don’t want to travel. Air New Zealand canceled a flight to Denpasar scheduled for Wednesday and a return service to Auckland due to depart Bali on Thursday. Passengers would be rebooked and the airline would continue to monitor the movement of ash in the coming days, Chief Operating Officer Alex Marren said. Korean Air said two of its flights headed to Bali were forced to turn back because of volcanic ash caused by the eruption. The airline said Wednesday that the two flights—carrying about 400 passengers combined—that departed South Korea’s Incheon international airport on Tuesday turned back toward the origin departure a few hours later, following forecasts that said Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport could be affected by the volcanic ash. The two planes arrived in Incheon early Wednesday. About 6,500 people were evacuated in January after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki began erupting, spewing thick clouds and forcing the government to close the island’s Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport. No casualties or major damage were reported, but the airport has remained closed because of seismic activity. Three other airports in neighboring districts of Ende, Larantuka and Bajawa have been closed since Monday after Indonesia’s Air Navigation issued a safety warning because of volcanic ash. Lewotobi Laki Laki is one of a pair of stratovolcanoes in the East Flores district of East Nusa Tenggara province, known locally as the husband-and-wife mountains. “Laki laki” means man, while its mate is Lewotobi Perempuan, or woman. It’s one of the 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, an archipelago of 280 million people. The country is prone to earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity because it sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean. https://time.com/7176026/indonesia-volcano-bali-flights-cancelled/ Spirit Airlines continues 'constructive talks' with creditors (Reuters) -Spirit Airlines (SAVE) is in constructive discussion with its creditors and continues to explore strategic alternatives to improve liquidity, the ultra-low-cost carrier said on Tuesday. The negotiations, with a supermajority of the noteholders, have remained productive, advanced materially and are resuming in the near term, it added. If the agreement fails, it will lead to the cancellation of existing equity and it will consider all alternatives, the statement said. The company said its adjusted operating margin in the third quarter would be down 12% from last year. Earlier in the day, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection after merger talks with Frontier Airlines broke down. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Shares of the company were down 39% at $1.8 after the bell. The stock has fallen nearly 80% this year, while the S&P 500 passenger airlines index jumped 52%. The Dania Beach, Florida-based airline has been losing money despite strong travel demand. It has failed to report a profit in the last five out of six quarters, raising doubts about its ability to manage looming debt maturities. Spirit said in October that it would furlough about 330 pilots on Jan. 31 as part of its efforts to cut costs and shore up its finances. The company is also selling 23 older Airbus aircraft for $519 million. The sale proceeds are estimated to provide $225 million of liquidity next year. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/spirit-airlines-prepares-file-bankruptcy-223322001.html Airbus forecasts Asia Pacific region to require 19,500 new aircraft by 2043 Airbus has released its latest forecast for the Asia Pacific aviation market, predicting that the region will require 19,500 new aircraft over the next 20 years. Airbus said that this demand represents 46% of the global requirement, which is expected to reach around 42,430 new aircraft by the year 2043. At the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Annual Assembly of Presidents held in Brunei, Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia Pacific, said that the findings underscore the region’s continued growth and importance in the global aviation market. The forecast includes China and India and reflects a year-on-year growth of 3% in terms of new aircraft required. For single-aisle aircraft such as the A220 and A320neo Family, Airbus predicts a demand of 16,000 in the region. Demand for medium and large-sized long-range aircraft like the A330neo and Boeing 787 is averaged to be around 3,500. Anand said that key recent widebody aircraft orders in the region include Cathay Pacific (A330neo), as well as EVA Air, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air (A350). The European aircraft manufacturer estimates that nearly 71% of aircraft deliveries will support fleet expansion, while 29% will replace older models to contribute to decarbonization efforts. The next generation of Airbus widebody aircraft offers an immediate 25% improvement in fuel efficiency. In terms of cargo segment, Asia-Pacific will require 250 new widebody freighter aircraft, representing 10% of global demand for new freighters. Based on the A350 platform, Airbus said the A350F is expected to meet this demand with efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. A key endorsement of the new-generation freighter aircraft comes from STARLUX Airlines, which ordered five A350Fs in early 2024. E-commerce and global trade are driving demand for efficient cargo transport, making widebody aircraft integral to reliable delivery across continents. Airbus also said that the A330ceo replacement cycle is underway, with some 540 A330ceos currently operating in the region. The A330neo is positioned as the replacement. With its commonality in pilot training and technical operations, Airbus expects the transition to be seamless for airlines. “As one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, the Asia Pacific region is poised for significant growth over the next two decades,” Stanley said during a media presentation in Brunei, attended by AeroTime. “With rising demand for both passenger and cargo operations, we are well-positioned to help our airline partners meet their long-term goals with the most efficient, sustainable, and advanced aircraft available, while contributing to decarbonisation efforts across the industry.” With regard to passenger traffic, the Asia Pacific region is expected to see an annual growth rate of 4.8%, outpacing the current global growth rate of 3.6%. Widebody aircraft are pivotal to this growth, not only enhancing passenger connectivity but also supporting the region’s increasing cargo needs. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airbus-forecasts-asia-pacific-region-to-require-19500-new-aircraft-by-2043 Vietnam Airlines to request bids for 50 narrowbody jets next year BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Reuters) -Vietnam Airlines will issue requests for proposals to aircraft manufacturers next year to purchase 50 narrowbody jets, its CEO said on Wednesday. The carrier last year signed a provisional deal with Boeing for 50 737 MAX planes that has yet to be finalised. "In Vietnam we have to go through the bidding process, we have to open to others... The door is still open for everyone," Vietnam Airlines CEO Le Hong Ha told Reuters on the sidelines of an Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines event in Brunei. "Boeing is one option, they have a very good offer for us." Airbus and Boeing are the main global manufacturers of single-aisle aircraft, with Airbus' A320neo family competing against the 737 MAX, though Chinese planemaker COMAC is trying to make inroads with its C919. Vietnam Airlines' current narrowbody fleet consists of only Airbus planes, its website showed. The airline needs 170 new aircraft by 2035, its CEO said. The requests for proposals leave open a possibility for COMAC to offer the C919. China has increasingly been marketing its planes to Vietnam. Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met a senior COMAC official last week in China who said the Vietnamese market had strong potential, Vietnam's state news agency reported. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/vietnam-airlines-request-bids-50-055437487.html New client orders 40 Boeing planes, may order 40 more WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Boeing announced Tuesday that a new customer has ordered 40 of its 737 MAX 8 planes and has the potential to order 40 more later. Spirit AeroSystems builds the fuselages for the planes. The customer is Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) provider. It has 11 air operator certificates, including Avion Express, Smartlynx, Klasjet, Air Explore, BBN, Ascend Airways and Skytran, that operate on behalf of various scheduled airlines and tour operators. “As the world’s largest ACMI provider, carrying over 35 million passengers annually for our clients, we have committed to a strategic approach of expanding our capacity to meet our customers’ seasonal needs, and our first order with Boeing is a key pillar of this,” Gediminas Ziemelis, Avia Solutions Group chairman, said in a news release. Boeing to pay Spirit AeroSystems up to $350M in advance payments He said the Boeing planes will give Avia’s customers operational flexibility and greater fuel efficiency. Boeing said the 737-8 is the world’s most versatile single-aisle plane, capable of operating profitably on short- and medium-haul routes. “By choosing the 737-8, Avia Solutions Group is aligning with its customers’ plans to operate increasingly fuel-efficient fleets that improve the passenger experience,” Brad McMullen, a Boeing senior vice president, said. The 737-8 MAX can seat between 162 and 210 passengers, depending on how it is configured. It also has a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/client-orders-40-boeing-planes-170705217.html Boeing says it will take several weeks to resume production of planes after the strike DALLAS (AP) — Boeing says it will be several weeks before it fully resumes building passenger planes, as factory workers return following a strike that lasted nearly two months. A Boeing spokesperson said Tuesday that the delay in restarting plants in Washington state and Oregon is due to multiple steps needed to resume production. Airline customers have grown increasingly upset over delays in getting new planes from Boeing — delays that started long before 33,000 machinists went on strike Sept. 13. Boeing's schedule for gaining certification of new 737 Max models has also been pushed back. Irish airline Ryanair still expects to get its first 737 Max 10s in the first half of 2027, but the CEO of American Airlines declined to predict Tuesday when his airline might see the largest version of the Max, which has not yet been certified by U.S. regulators. “I can't go run Boeing — it's not my expertise, it's not where I come from,” Robert Isom said. “Let's just get one quality aircraft off the line first." After that, Boeing can worry about ramping up production of the Max and meeting airline delivery schedules, Isom told reporters outside an airline conference in Dallas. Boeing workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace They faced a deadline of Tuesday to return to work after voting last week to accept a Boeing contract offer that will raise pay rates 38% over four years but won't restore pensions that were frozen a decade ago. The strike shut down production of the 737 Max and 777 passenger planes and a cargo-carrying version of the 767 plane. Boeing continued building 787s, which are produced by nonunion workers in South Carolina. The strike cut deeply into the cash that Boeing receives when it delivers new planes. Boeing said Tuesday that it delivered 14 planes in October including planes that were finished before the strike began. Boeing said it took orders for 63 planes, including 40 737 Max jets by leasing company Avia Solutions Group. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-says-several-weeks-resume-154442816.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Elevate Your Organization's Safety Practices with ERAU’s SMS Course in Daytona Beach Nov. 19-21 • The Gulf Flight Safety Association (GFSA) - 26/27 of November 2024; Manama, Bahrain • Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) • Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center | Denver Colorado, March 27-29, 2025 • 59th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium is scheduled March 31 - April 2, 2025 • Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Safety Symposium April 7-9, 2025 • AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025 • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore • The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 Curt Lewis