Flight Safety Information - November 15, 2024 No. 228 In This Issue : Incident: Peace B733 at Abuja on Nov 14th 2024, rejected takeoff due to bird strike : Airbus A330-343 - In-Flight Turbulence/Diversion (Greenland) : Japan will resume V-22 flights after inquiry finds pilot error caused incident last month : Michael Graham Talks Safety Culture at Standdown : American Airlines flight narrowly avoids mountain with 'expedited climb' : American Airlines Airbus A321neo Flies Near Honolulu's Mountainous Terrain After Crew Error : Alaska Airlines flight from Dulles makes emergency landing at LAX : United Airlines Passenger Allegedly Assaults Crew At Washington Dulles International Airport : International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) Announces Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Winners : Apple debuts a cool new way to help airlines find your missing bag : American Airlines Begins Retrofitting Ex-Alaska Airlines Airbus A321neos : As airlines avoid Israel, UAE’s FlyDubai and Etihad keep up flights for both diplomacy and dollars : Airline Has Elderly Woman Removed from Plane by Cops for Refusing to Pay for 'Frozen' Tuna Sub: 'I Think I've Been Arrested Over a Sandwich' : US Air Force Approves Merlin AI Pilot for KC-135 Stratotanker : Calendar of Events Incident: Peace B733 at Abuja on Nov 14th 2024, rejected takeoff due to bird strike An Air Peace Boeing 737-300, registration 5N-BUQ performing flight P4-7131 from Abuja to Lagos (Nigeria), was accelerating for takeoff when the crew rejected takeoff. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. A passenger reported the captain announced they had suffered a bird strike. The airline reported their flight suffered a bird strike before takeoff prompting a ramp return. https://avherald.com/h?article=520511f4&opt=0 Airbus A330-343 - In-Flight Turbulence/Diversion (Greenland) Date: Thursday 14 November 2024 Time: Type: Airbus A330-343 Owner/operator: Scandinavian Airlines System - SAS Registration: LN-RKS MSN: 1665 Year of manufacture: 2015 Engine model: Rolls-Royce Trent 772-B60 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Over Greenland - Greenland Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN/ESSA) Destination airport: Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA) Confidence Rating: Little or no information is available Narrative: SAS Flight SK957, an Airbus A330-343, diverted to Copenhagen, Denmark, after an in-flight event en route from Stockholm to Miami. Unconfirmed reports suggest the aircraft hit turbulence. ADS-B data show the aircraft starting a descent over the eastern coast of Greenland from FL360 (16:15 UTC) to FL276 (16:22) before the aircraft climbed back to cruising altitude. After almost having reached to coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the aircraft turned around and continued a diversion to Copenhagen. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/460505 Japan will resume V-22 flights after inquiry finds pilot error caused incident last month The Japanese army's fleet of hybrid-helicopter aircraft have been cleared to resume operations after being grounded following an incident last month TOKYO -- Japan's fleet of hybrid-helicopter military aircraft have been cleared to resume operations after being grounded following an incident last month. A V-22 Osprey tilted and hit the ground as it was taking off during a joint exercise with the U.S. military on Oct. 27. An investigation has found human error was the cause. The aircraft was carrying 16 people when it “became unstable” on takeoff from a Japanese military base on Yonaguni, a remote island southwest of Okinawa. The flight was aborted and nobody was injured, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, or JGSDF, said at the time. In a statement on Thursday, the JGSDF said that the pilots had failed to turn on a switch designed to temporarily increase engine output during takeoff, causing the aircraft to descend and sway uncontrollably. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said that an internal investigation determined that the incident was caused by a human error, not by “physical or external factors.” He said that the fleet of more than a dozen V-22s would resume flight operations from Thursday after a review of safety and training measures. It was the first major incident involving Japan's V-22s since November 2023, when a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey crashed off Japan’s southern coast, killing eight people. The fleet only resumed flight operations earlier this year, but the use of the V-22 remains controversial, particularly in Okinawa where residents have questioned its safety record. The small southern island is home to half of about 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/japan-resume-22-flights-after-inquiry-finds-pilot-115855052 Michael Graham Talks Safety Culture at Standdown Influence shapes safety culture in aviation Michael Graham addresses the audience at Safety Standdown in Wichita NTSB board member Michael Graham addressed attendees this week at the Bombardier Safety Standdown to discuss how influence shapes safety and what we can learn from recent close calls. His presentation, “Impacts of Influence,” examined the ways people can influence aviation culture in sometimes surprising ways. To make his point, he delved into two case studies of runway incursion incidents at JFK and in Austin, Texas, over the past two years. Graham, referencing the overarching event theme of "Elevate Your Influence," opened by reflecting on the pervasive influence of advertising, government, and social media on buying habits and behaviors. He noted that sometimes simple actions can have a significant influence, which could be either positive or negative. He played a 90-second 2012 Dollar Shave Club Ad, which he said cost about $4,500 to produce and load to YouTube, and led to a 12,000-person membership increase within two days. “Four years later…they sold the company for $1 billion,” Graham said. “Do you think that when he posted that, he thought it was going to have that much influence? Sometimes it's the real simple things that make a big difference out there.” Growing up in Albuquerque, Graham was inspired to become an aviator by watching airplanes flying over his home. His parents and teachers helped shape his values and career aspirations. A commanding officer in his first fleet squadron impacted his leadership and career development. Graham drew a line from these critical early influences to the importance of developing younger, inexperienced members of the aviation community and stressed the importance of setting a good example, even when not being watched. “I think it's really important that the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me,” he said. “And each one of you can be that out there. I'm going to try to influence you today. “I hope you read our accident reports like I did, and learn from them, and apply the lessons learned there, because that's the most important stuff. It's not what happened, but understanding how and why, so we can prevent future accidents like that from happening again. I'm going to talk to you about a couple of near misses here—and the FAA would call them ‘close calls.’” Looking at the history of runway incursions, Graham noted that audience members might look at statistics and see a steady state with no recent fatalities domestically. “That doesn’t mean that the potential is not there,” he cautioned. Recent data shows an uptick in runway incursions, particularly in Alpha and Bravo airports. “We actually have 11 incursions that we’re investigating right now,” Graham said. He outlined a runway incursion incident at JFK Airport that occurred nearly two years ago, which was impacted by pilot task saturation, changed clearances, and lack of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for verifying which runway the crew was crossing after being cleared to cross. Action by ATC alerted one of the crews to abort its takeoff in time to avoid a collision. Graham said the information came from crew interviews about a month after the incident rather than from cockpit voice recorders (CVR) because the two-hour recording limit meant that data had been recorded over. “One of the things that we recommended out of this was for [Part] 91K, 135, 121, operators that you incorporate into your SOP, a better procedural cross-check if you don't have this already, by verbalizing the runway that you're crossing, so others can be tied in, especially if they're doing other tasks at the time, and that should be based on runway signs,” Graham said. “Now, I know some of you have the technology out there that tells you where you're at, so use that. You’ve always got to be vigilant out there.” The NTSB has also asked that airlines investigate their data to look for surface navigational errors caused by crew performing other tasks at the time, and if so, to work to mitigate it. In addition, “For 24 years now, since 2000, there are two things we’ve been asking for: surface detection equipment in the towers and detection equipment in the cockpit that will visually and orally alert flight crews of traffic on the runway or taxiway, approaching to land, or taking off,” Graham said. “I am aware there is one avionics manufacturer that has this technology. It's all using ADS-B data, and there's another one who has most of the avionics in the larger airliners that is very close to completing this technology for the cockpit…and we’ve gotta retrofit it” for aircraft in fleets that fly for decades. Graham went on to detail an incident between a Southwest Airlines 737 and a FedEx 767 in Austin. The Southwest airplane was given takeoff clearance while on the taxiway and advised of another aircraft on approach; it subsequently taxied onto the runway and then paused for an engine run-up, reducing separation with the approaching FedEx airplane. There were low-visibility conditions, and the air traffic controller could not see aircraft from the tower, on the surface, or on approach. The FedEx airplane, on a low-visibility approach, called for a missed approach just in time. The incident highlights the importance of pilots informing ATC of additional time needed on the runway for runups or similar procedures—particularly in conditions in which the tower has no visual contact with aircraft. Graham reiterated the call for the installation of surface detection equipment and said that, in this case, the CVR recording had also been lost due to the two-hour recording limit. He also emphasized there is a continued need for vigilance among aviation professionals and clear communication between pilots and ATC. “Anybody who's heard me speak in the last couple of years, or anybody from the NTSB for that case, is probably aware that we were really hounding the FAA on requiring 25-hour CVRs out there,” Graham said. “In 2023, all the incursions that we investigated out of all that, and the one collision we had down at Houston Hobby between the Hawker and the Citation Mustang—you know how many CVR readouts we got from all those? Zero. We got zero. “The two-hour CVR is old and dated. There's no reason why we can't have 25-hour CVRs. They're doing them over in Europe on the new aircraft. Congress got involved with the reauthorization of the FAA here this year, and they said, ‘Hey, FAA, guess what, you're required now to have these within one year on new aircraft and within six years retrofitted out there.’ So hopefully that will help.” Graham previously served as director of flight operations safety, security, and standardization at Textron Aviation. He served in the U.S. Navy, with flight time in A-7s and F/A-18s; holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico; and is a certified Airline Transport Pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours. The Safety Standdown event and webcast, which is marking its 28th year, continues through today. There is no charge for attendance. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2024-11-13/michael-graham-talks-safety-culture-safety-standdown American Airlines flight narrowly avoids mountain with 'expedited climb' The FAA is investigating the incident, which occurred Wednesday. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. An American Airlines flight had to "perform an expedited climb" in order to avoid a mountain during a routine departure out of Hawaii on Wednesday. The plane had just departed from Honolulu International Airport and was on its way to Los Angeles International Airport. Air traffic control can be heard telling the pilot "turn right and expedite your climb through terrain" on audio from the flight provided by LIVEATC.NET. According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, "An air traffic controller instructed American Airlines Flight 298 to perform an expedited climb after the crew did not make the assigned turn while departing from Honolulu International Airport." The FAA's statement continued, "The controller's actions ensured the aircraft remained safely above nearby terrain." "The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority," American Airlines said in a statement. "During the climb out of Honolulu on November 13, the crew of American Airlines flight 298 requested and received right-turn clearance and complied with controller instructions. There was no Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) alert as there were no issues with terrain clearance based on the trajectory of the aircraft," the statement continued. MORE: Bloody assault of sleeping passenger on United Airlines flight is under investigation: FAA The incident occurred around 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The FAA will continue to investigate. https://abcnews.go.com/US/american-airlines-flight-narrowly-avoids-mountain-expedited-climb/story?id=115884273 American Airlines Airbus A321neo Flies Near Honolulu's Mountainous Terrain After Crew Error The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after an Airbus A321neo operated by American Airlines performed an unusual takeoff path near Honolulu on Wednesday. Rather than making an immediate right turn upon departure, the crew missed instructions and flew the aircraft straight out east. Honolulu’s north and east perimeters sit below mountainous terrain with elevations over 3,000 feet. Air Traffic Control (ATC) subsequently intervened and instructed the crew to expedite their climb to avoid the mountain range. Details of the incident The flight involved was AA298, which originated at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and was bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Data from Flightradar24 shows that the aircraft, registered as N418AN, pushed back from gate C4 at 00:35 on Wednesday, which was 50 minutes past its scheduled departure time of 23:45 on Tuesday. It is unclear why the flight was delayed. After taxiing for 14 minutes, the aircraft took off at 00:49 from Runway 8L. The runway is not as commonly utilized for eastbound departures compared to Runway 8R, which is known as Honolulu's Reef Runway. Two minutes after takeoff, flight data indicates the plane was at 2,900 feet and traveling north of downtown Honolulu at a speed of 238 knots. It continued east, passing just to the south of Kōnāhuanui mountain peak, which has an elevation of 3,150 feet. At 00:52, just three minutes after takeoff, the aircraft had reached an altitude of 5,300 feet and was climbing rapidly. It subsequently made a right turn and flew southwest of Puʻu OʻKona, which stands at roughly 2,350 feet. “Did not make the assigned turn” The FAA confirmed the incident with Simple Flying on Thursday. In a statement, the agency said the aircraft “remained safely above nearby terrain,” but cited the flight crew for failing to follow ATC instructions. “An air traffic controller instructed American Airlines Flight 298 to perform an expedited climb after the crew did not make the assigned turn while departing from Honolulu International Airport. The controller’s actions ensured the aircraft remained safely above nearby terrain. The Airbus A321neo was flying to Los Angeles International Airport. The FAA is investigating the event, which occurred around 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Nov. 13.” According to Hawaii’s Department of Transportation, the standard departure procedure from Runway 8L instructs pilots to maintain their runway heading to Hawaii 92, also known as Nimitz Highway. The heading instruction prompts the aircraft to immediately bank right upon takeoff, fly parallel to the highway, and climb out over the center of Honolulu Harbor. Once the aircraft is “one mile due south of Diamond Head,” pilots are then prompted to “turn left and resume own navigation.” It could have been worse Despite ATC instructing the pilots to expedite their climb to keep the aircraft away from the terrain, its proximity to the mountain range is being speculated as dangerous nonetheless. One Airliners.net forum user, believed to be a Hawaiian Airlines A321neo pilot, commented that if AA298 “had lost an engine there isn’t a chance” the flight “would have cleared those mountains.” The self-claimed pilot also acknowledged the unusual flight path, but noted the aircraft’s ground proximity warning system (GPWS) would have notified the crew if they came too close to the terrain. “I have never and mean never not got a PDC (Pre-Departure Clearance) not saying right turn 155, climb 5000 when departing HNL,” they explained. “ATC does not vector you till after that initial turn, it's in your departure clearance. Yes, the GPWS would advise you but they shouldn't be there in the first place.” Simple Flying contacted American on Thursday to learn more details about the incident, but the carrier did not respond. AA298 continued to Los Angeles without incident and landed safely just after 07:30. https://simpleflying.com/american-airlines-airbus-a321neo-mountainous-terrain-crew-error/ Alaska Airlines flight from Dulles makes emergency landing at LAX los angeles An Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing at LAX after blowing out a tire during its takeoff at Dulles International Airport near Washington D.C. The aircraft landed at LAX at about 8:10 p.m. without incident. First responders were standing by on the runway as a precaution. Out of the 175 passengers and six crew members aboard Flight 309, no one was injured. "While this incident is a rare occurrence, our flight crews train extensively to safely manage through many scenarios," the airliner stated. Alaska stated that the pilot declared the emergency landing as a precaution to ensure the flight had extra support if needed. The company said it would investigate what caused the Boeing 737-900 to malfunction. The aircraft will not be in service during the investigation. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/alaska-airlines-flight-from-dulles-makes-emergency-landing-at-lax/ United Airlines Passenger Allegedly Assaults Crew At Washington Dulles International Airport A believed-to-be United Airlines flight attendant is recovering after an “altercation” onboard a flight on Monday. It happened at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) before departing for Denver International Airport (DEN). The alleged crew member was taken to a nearby hospital after reportedly being physically assaulted by a passenger described as a " person in crisis." While one victim has been confirmed, a secondary witness claims United replaced two crew members before the flight departed. Details of the incident Data from Flightradar24 shows that UA1017 was operated by a Boeing 777-200ER. It was scheduled to depart from Gate D3 at 17:20 but did not push back until approximately 18:39. The exact timing of the incident is not clear, but law enforcement responded to the gate about 20 minutes after the flight’s scheduled departure time. A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), the operator of Washington Dulles, confirmed the incident with Simple Flying on Wednesday. “On November 11 around 5:40 p.m., Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police, as well as fire and rescue personnel, responded to United flight 1017 at its gate at Dulles International an altercation on an aircraft. Officers determined the suspect was a person in crisis, and they were transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. In addition, one victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No charges were filed.” "Screaming from the jetway" Details on the extent of the victim’s injuries were not made available. Additionally, it is not clear what may have motivated the suspect’s behavior. A secondary witness on an Airliners.net forum claimed the suspect was female and was screaming on the jetway as police removed her from the aircraft. The witness also said United replaced two flight attendants as a result of the incident. “Just heard from a passenger on UA1017 out of IAD that a female passenger attacked - physically assaulted - one or two flight attendants.,” they said. “The offender has been removed by police, but her screaming from the Jetway can still be heard onboard. I believe this attack happened before pushback. Two F.A.s are being replaced.” Simple Flying reached out to United on Monday to learn more details about the incident, and then subsequently followed up on Tuesday, but the Chicago-based carrier has not responded to requests for comment. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the union representing United’s flight attendants, has also not commented on the incident. Continuing to Denver Once the situation was resolved, it appeared that UA1017 continued without further incidents, but was evidently delayed. The 777-200ER taxied to Runway 30 and was airborne at 19:23 – nearly two hours after its anticipated takeoff time of 17:30, according to FlightAware. The aircraft headed west and quickly reached 29,000 feet only 13 minutes after departure. About four minutes later, it climbed further to reach its cruising altitude of 34,000 feet. After flying for about two hours and 20 minutes, the plane was over northeast Colorado and began its descent. It landed safely in the Mile High City on Runway 16L at 20:33 local time. It arrived at Gate B33 just six minutes at 20:39, which was one hour and 17 minutes past its scheduled arrival time, according to FlightAware. https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-crew-assaulted-washington-dulles/ International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) Announces Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Winners Gustavo Sanchez Cortes and Ben Wright Announced as Kapustin Scholarship winners at ISASI Annual Conference, Lisbon, Portugal Air Safety Through Investigation”— ISASI STERLING, VA, UNITED STATES, November 15, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- On October 3, 2024, the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) announced the two winners of the Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship at the ISASI Annual Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. Gustavo Sanchez Cortes is a driven Ph.D. Candidate at Purdue University's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. Gustavo Holds a Master's degree in Aviation and Aerospace Management from Purdue University and a master's in Aeronautical Military Sciences from the Colombian Air Force University. Before pursuing his Ph.D., Gustavo served with distinction in the Colombian Air Force for 20 years. Gustavo's research interests encompass a broad spectrum within aviation, including air travel accessibility, advanced air mobility, aviation human factors, and aviation safety. Gustavo’s submission titled “Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Investigating Aviation Accidents,” explored the use of AI for accident investigations in the areas of machine learning, expert systems, robotics, and natural language processing. Ben Wright’s passion for aviation began when he started flying gliders at age 13, soloed at 14, and gained his cross-country endorsement at 16. Since then, he has completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology combining his love of flying with his recently completed Master’s degree in Safety and Human Factors in Aviation from Cranfield University. Ben’s submission titled “Improving Eye Witness Testimony (EWT) in Air Accident Investigation Through the use of AI Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPTs),” explored the problem of inaccuracies in EWTs. In part Ben’s paper explored using AI chatbots to reducing the time to obtain EWTs and thus reduce the affect of external factors. ABOUT ISASI ISASI is a society formed to promote air safety by the exchange of ideas, experiences and information about aircraft accident investigations, and to aid in the advancement of flight safety; to promote technical advancement by providing professional education through lectures, displays and presentations and by the exchange of information for mutual development of improved investigations; to broaden professional relationships among members; to maintain and increase the prestige, standing and influence of the Air Safety Investigator in matters of air safety. The Society was founded in the United States under articles of incorporation in the District of Columbia on August 14, 1964. At the organizational meeting, the governing by-laws of the Society were adopted, and the first slate of officers elected. Mr. Joseph 0. Fluett of the U. S. Civil Aeronautics Board and the initiator of the preliminary action to establish the Society, was elected the first President. The primary purpose of the Society, quickly named SASI, was to promote that part of the aeronautical endeavor wherein lies the moral obligation of the Air Safety Investigator to the Public, and to promote the education of its members, of those directly associated with aeronautical problems, and of the general public concerning those problems peculiar to the work of the Air Safety Investigator. With the establishment of the Canadian and Australian Societies' and over 100 individual members from 35 countries, the international nature of the Society was recognized in 1977, and the name of the Society was changed to The International Society of Air Safety Investigators to reflect the changes. Affiliated National Societies are located in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the United States. The executive officers are: Barbara M. Dunn, President; Olivier Ferrante, Vice President; Chad Balentine, Secretary; and Eric Prince, Treasurer. ABOUT THE RUDOLF KAPUSTIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP The Kapustin Scholarship's purpose is to encourage and assist college-level students interested in the field of aviation safety and aircraft occurrence investigation. The Scholarship fund was established through donations and will provide an annual allocation of funds for the scholarship if funds are available. An award of $2000 will be made to each student who wins the competitive writing requirement, meets the application requirements and registers for the ISASI annual seminar. The award will be used to cover costs for the seminar registration fees, travel, and lodging/meals expenses. In addition, the scholarship winners are offered: * A one year membership to ISASI * The Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI) offers tuition-free attendance to ANY regularly scheduled SCSI course to the winner of the ISASI Scholarship. This includes the two-week Aircraft Accident Investigator course or any other investigation courses. * The Transportation Safety Institute offers a tuition free course for the winner of the Scholarship. Travel to/from the course and accommodations are not included. * The Cranfield University Safety and Accident Investigation Centre offers tuition-free attendance at its 5-day Accident Investigation course which runs as part of its Masters Degree program at the Cranfield campus, 50 miles north of London, UK. * The University of Southern California Aviation Safety and Security Program offers tuition-free attendance to any regularly-scheduled class offered in Los Angeles, Alhambra, Washington, DC, or online. This includes the two-week Aircraft Accident Investigation class taught in Alhambra, California. Barbara Dunn ISASI +1 703-430-9668 https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/760443837/international-society-of-air-safety-investigators-isasi-announces-rudolf-kapustin-memorial-scholarship-winners Apple debuts a cool new way to help airlines find your missing bag The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Apple is giving travelers another reason to pack an AirTag in their checked bag. The tech giant announced on Monday that it will enable a new feature, dubbed Share Item Location, for AirTags and other accessories that are connected to the Find My network. This feature will allow travelers to share the location of an item with a third party, including airlines. You'll be able to share a link to a missing AirTag by clicking through the Find My app on your Apple device. Recipients of the link will be able to view "a website that shows a location of the item on an interactive map. The website will automatically update when a new location is available and will show a timestamp of the most recent update," says Apple. The use case for travel is pretty compelling. If you pack an AirTag in your checked bag, you'll be able to temporarily share the location of your mishandled or delayed bag with an airline to help speed up the process of finding the bag. Armed with additional location information, it should make it easier for airlines to reunite missing bags with their respective owners. Share Item Location is currently being tested on Apple devices running the public beta iOS 18.2. In the coming weeks, this updated software will be available for free for all users with an iPhone XS and later. To protect your privacy, Share Item Location will be disabled as soon as you're reunited with your missing item or after seven days have elapsed, whichever comes sooner. You can also disable Share Item Location from the Find My app at any time. Note that location information is end-to-end encrypted, meaning that Apple and Find My accessory manufacturers can't access a device's location or information. Apple is initially partnering directly with 15 airlines on this integration, with the full list available below. Apple says that access to each Find My link will be limited to "a small number of people, and recipients will be required to authenticate to view the link through either an Apple Account or a partner email address" — another measure to boost privacy. Aer Lingus Air Canada Air New Zealand Austrian Airlines British Airways Brussels Airlines Delta Air Lines Eurowings Iberia KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Lufthansa Qantas Singapore Airlines Swiss International Air Lines Turkish Airlines United Virgin Atlantic Vueling APPLE "The Find My network and AirTag have proven to be a powerful combination for users while traveling, providing invaluable location information when bags have been misplaced or mishandled. With Share Item Location, we're excited to give users a new way to easily share this information directly with third parties like airlines, all while protecting their privacy," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, in a statement. To further boost support for this new feature, Apple is in talks with airline baggage tracking technology provider SITA to build support for Share Item Location into WorldTracer (the software solution used by over 500 airlines across more than 2,800 worldwide airports to help find missing and mishandled bags). "We know many of our customers are already traveling with AirTag in their checked bags, and this feature will soon make it easier for them to share location information with us safely and securely, helping our customer service agents work more efficiently and giving our customers added peace of mind. We plan to accept Find My item locations in select airports initially, with the goal of introducing the service systemwide in early 2025," said David Kinzelman, United's chief customer officer, in a statement. AirTags retail for about $19 a pop or about $70 for a four-pack. They make a great holiday gift and are a must-have for travelers. But better yet, they often go on sale -- and right now, they are at the lowest prices we've seen in a long time. For more about Apple's AirTags, be sure to check out TPG's guide to using them. https://thepointsguy.com/news/apple-airtag-share-location-with-airlines/ American Airlines Begins Retrofitting Ex-Alaska Airlines Airbus A321neos The first Airbus A321neo, registered as N950XV, is now at San Antonio International Airport for modifications. San Antonio – American Airlines (AA) has begun retrofitting the first of ten Airbus A321neo aircraft it acquired from Alaska Airlines (AS), with the initial aircraft, registered as N950XV, now at San Antonio International Airport for modifications. The first Airbus A321neo in this retrofit process was reportedly ferried from Miami International Airport (MIA) to San Antonio last week, as reported by aviation observer JonNYC. This retrofit program aligns with AA’s strategy to standardize its narrowbody fleet, enhancing operational flexibility and offering a consistent onboard experience for passengers across its domestic routes. The ten A321neo aircraft were originally part of Alaska Airlines’ fleet after it acquired them from Virgin America in 2016. Last year, Alaska Airlines (AS) decided to sell these planes as part of its long-term plan to streamline its operations by focusing solely on Boeing 737 aircraft. Alaska concluded A321neo operations on September 30, 2023, with its last revenue flight marking the end of its dual-fleet model, a significant milestone in its shift toward a Boeing-exclusive lineup. During Alaska’s recent earnings call on October 19, CEO Ben Minicucci emphasized that the airline’s all-Boeing fleet strategy positions it to capitalize on cost efficiencies, benefiting maintenance, training, and overall fleet management. Alaska’s Vice President of Finance, Emily Halverson, added that the A321neos were acquired from the lessors before transferring ownership to American Airlines, ensuring a smooth transition. American Airlines (AA) is outfitting the ex-Alaska A321neos with its Oasis cabin interior, which already features on much of its existing narrowbody fleet. Oasis interiors include a streamlined design with dark blue seats in the main cabin, gray recliner seats in first class, and updated bulkheads. However, this layout has faced criticism for limited legroom and the absence of seatback screens, elements that some passengers feel create an experience similar to that of low-cost carriers. Since Alaska’s original A321neo configuration also lacked seatback screens, the transition to Oasis won’t significantly impact passenger expectations on these jets. Despite this cabin update, American’s ex-Alaska A321neos will retain structural differences compared to other A321neos in its fleet. These early-production jets do not feature Airbus’s Cabin Flex (ACF) configuration, which influences exit placement and allows newer A321neos to hold a maximum of 196 passengers, as reported by Simple Flying. The ex-Alaska jets have a conventional eight-exit layout, limiting them to 190 seats. However, they will match the seat count on American’s A321ceos, which will streamline the airline’s aircraft scheduling and utilization. Next Steps in the Retrofit Program Following the retrofit of the N950XV, American will continue with the remaining nine aircraft. While the retrofit timeline for each aircraft is estimated to take several weeks, this project underlines America’s commitment to a unified cabin experience across its A321neo and A321ceo fleet, ultimately creating a more efficient and flexible fleet for its network needs. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/11/15/american-airlines-begins-retrofitting-ex-alaska-airlines-airbus-a321neos/ As airlines avoid Israel, UAE’s FlyDubai and Etihad keep up flights for both diplomacy and dollars BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel (AP) — At Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, more than a year of war has taken its toll. Global airlines have canceled flights, gates are empty and pictures of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip guide the few arriving passengers to baggage claim. But one check-in desk remains flush with travelers: the one serving flights to the United Arab Emirates, which have kept up a bridge for Israelis to the outside world throughout the war. The Emirati flights, in addition to bolstering the airlines’ bottom line, have shined a light on the countries’ burgeoning ties — which have survived the wars raging across the Middle East and could be further strengthened as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office. “It’s a political and economic statement,” said Joshua Teitelbaum, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University. “They are the main foreign airlines that continue to fly.” Since the wars began with Hamas’ initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, many international airlines have halted, restarted and halted again their flights into Israel’s main gateway to the rest of the world. The concern is real for the carriers, who remember the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine 10 years ago and Iran shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 after takeoff from Tehran in 2020. But FlyDubai, the sister airline to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has kept up multiple flights daily and kept Israel connected to the wider world even as its other low-cost competitors have stopped flights. Abu Dhabi’s Etihad has continued its flights as well. While maintaining the flight schedule remains politically important for the UAE after its 2020 diplomatic recognition of Israel, it also provided a further shot in the arm for revenues — particularly for FlyDubai. Since the wars started, international carriers such as Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc., Germany’s Lufthansa and other major airlines halted their flights. Some resumed, only to stop again after Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel and Israel’s Oct. 26 retaliatory strike on the Islamic Republic. Tehran has threatened to strike Israel again. That’s brought major business to Israel’s national carrier El Al, which had struggled in the coronavirus pandemic and prior years. The airline posted its best-ever half-year results this year, recording a $227 million profit as compared to $58 million profit in the same period last year. El Al stock has risen by as much 200% over the last year, as compared to a 29% rise in the wider Tel Aviv 125 stock market index. El Al, however, lacks the routes and connections of major international carriers. Low-cost carriers as well have stopped flying into Israel during periods of the war, sending the price of El Al tickets ever higher. Passenger numbers through Ben Gurion halved compared to the same period the year before, El Al said in its second-quarter financial results. However, FlyDubai has kept flying. The carrier has operated over 1,800 flights to Israel since October last year, cancelling only 77 flights overall, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. In September alone, it flew over 200 flights. As a line snaked toward the FlyDubai check-in counters at Ben Gurion Airport, UAE-bound Motti Eis said the flights were “a symbol that the Emirates countries decided to keep the peace.” FlyDubai declined to answer questions from The Associated Press about the flights. Etihad, the flag carrier for Abu Dhabi, has kept flying into Tel Aviv, but the number of its flights has been dwarfed by FlyDubai. FlyDubai had 3.6% market share at Ben Gurion, compared to El Al’s 43.2% in the second half of 2024. However, at least two of the foreign low-cost airlines with greater market, Wizz Air and Blue Bird, stopped flying for extended periods this year. Etihad said it maintains a close watch on the situation in the region, but continues its daily flights to and from Tel Aviv. “Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, employing best practices in safety and security practices, enabling Etihad and other airlines to provide essential air connectivity as long as it is secure to do so,” the airline said in a statement. But beyond the financial impact, the decision also takes root in the UAE’s decision to recognize Israel in 2020, under agreements brokered by then President Trump known as the Abraham Accords. While Abu Dhabi has repeatedly expressed concern and outrage as Israel’s conduct during the wars, Israel’s Consulate in Dubai and Embassy remain open in the country. And while Dubai broadly speaking remains focused on business in the country, Abu Dhabi’s focus long has been on its geopolitical aims — which since the 2011 Arab Spring have been squarely focused on challenging Islamist movements, and those who back them, in the wider region. The UAE, a hereditary autocracy, long has viewed those groups as serious challenges to its power. The Emirati government, in response to questions from the AP over the flights, sent a story published by its state-run WAM news agency about its participation in a Nov. 1 conference in Riyadh in support of a two-state solution to the decades long Israel-Palestinian crisis. The UAE has called repeatedly for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, along with the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. However, likely given the wider anger in the Arab world over Israel’s devastating militant campaign in Gaza, Dubai International Airport no longer advertises on its electronic billboard the location of the check-in for Tel Aviv. It sits in a distant corner of one of the airport’s terminals, next to a Dubai police stand. Private security guards also keep watch over the line, while individuals who appeared to be undercover police officers watched the gate, a higher level of security than normally noticed at the airport. But in the lines, Hebrew and Arabic can be heard and those traveling routinely have their blue-backed Israeli passports out in their hands. “It’s just a symbol of the UAE’s commitment to the relationship,” said Dina Esfandiary, a senior advisor on the Middle East at the International Crisis Group, a think tank. “No matter what happens, no matter where the war goes, no matter how much Israel flouts international law, the UAE has decided that this is a step they took, that the relationship remains beneficial to them.” https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-flydubai-el-al-airlines-816f5ac4fe206d35889989f0d40feda5 Airline Has Elderly Woman Removed from Plane by Cops for Refusing to Pay for 'Frozen' Tuna Sub: 'I Think I've Been Arrested Over a Sandwich' A 79-year-old woman was escorted off a flight by armed police in Turkey after a dispute over a "frozen" tuna sandwich, according to a report. The incident unfolded on November 3, on a flight from London Stansted Airport to Bodrum, Turkey on a Jet2 flight. The woman, known as Lily, ordered a £9 ($11.43) tuna sandwich, but refused to pay for it after discovering it was frozen in the middle, according to the BBC. The airline insisted on payment because she had opened the sandwich, which then further escalated the situation. After landing, Lily and her daughter were met by four armed police officers who escorted them off the plane. "They called the police. Not one... but four police at the end, at the door," Lily said on a BBC program. "I was in shock, I was saying to people, 'I think I've been arrested over a sandwich'." Jet2 stated that the passenger displayed disruptive behavior, including consuming her own alcohol, while Lily denied the allegations, calling the accusations a "disgusting lie." "As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to such behaviour, and we make it very clear that customers cannot consume their own alcohol on flights," an airline spokesperson said. "We will always support our crew in instances when they are subjected to rude or unpleasant behaviour while prioritising the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew." While no charges were filed, Lily's daughter sent a formal complaint to Jet2, criticizing their behavior and handling of the situation. Meanwhile, the airline remains adamant they did no wrong. "I don't know what they're talking about," Lily said. "I think they're so embarrassed over this sandwich and the police and the way we were treated ...They are the ones that behaved disgustingly and disturbed me all the way through the flight." https://www.latintimes.com/airline-has-elderly-woman-removed-plane-cops-refusing-pay-frozen-tuna-sub-i-think-ive-565894 US Air Force Approves Merlin AI Pilot for KC-135 Stratotanker The US Air Force has approved Merlin’s airworthiness plan for testing the Merlin Pilot autonomous flight system on the KC-135 Stratotanker. This achievement “allows Merlin to progress towards aircraft integration, design completion, and testing operations,” the company stated in a press release. It will also enable the evaluation of the scalability of the Merlin Pilot’s advanced AI capabilities for large transport aircraft. Merlin will collaborate with Air Mobility Command and Air Force Materiel Command to conduct ground and flight testing in 2025, aiming to automate some of the tasks currently performed by the crew. “Integrating the Merlin Pilot onto one of most important aircraft in the USAF’s fleet is crucial to advancing military aviation into a new era of pilot efficiency and national security,” said Matt George, CEO and founder of Merlin. Merlin Pilot Merlin Pilot is equipped with advanced sensor technologies that enable it to monitor the aircraft’s state and surrounding environment while guiding the flight and recommending trajectory adjustments. The system also features a communication module powered by Natural Language Processing algorithms, allowing for verbal interaction with air traffic control “the same way a human pilot does,” the company claims. Master Plan The company has developed a Master Plan to integrate its systems across various aircraft and expand production capabilities. The plan includes an intense testing phase to meet certification standards, enabling the automated pilot system to operate autonomously from take-off to landing. Once the Merlin Pilot capabilities are optimized, the company plans to scale up military and civil transportation production. In September, the firm launched the first flight test campaign for its self-piloting Cessna Caravan aircraft after integrating the glass cockpit with new sensors, a communication system, and advanced avionics. Earlier this year, Merlin secured a $105 million contract to develop automated aircrew capabilities for the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft of the US Special Operations Command. https://thedefensepost.com/2024/11/15/us-merlin-ai-pilot-stratotanker/ 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