Flight Safety Information - November 21, 2024 No. 232 In This Issue : Incident: KLM B789 at Amsterdam on Nov 20th 2024, odour in cabin : Incident: Queshm F100 at Tehran on Nov 20th 2024, cracked windshield : Incident: Jet2 B738 near Santiago on Nov 18th 2024, smoke in cabin : Boeing 737-8LD (WL) - Bird Strike on Departure (South Africa) : Russia Feels The Heat Of Aircraft Engines, Half Of Its Airbus A320neo Fleet Grounded Owing To Engine Problems And Sanctions. : Passengers duct tape man who allegedly tried to open door during flight: Officials : Couple’s handguns go missing at Charlotte airport; TSA, airline investigating : Missionary Flights International approved by FAA to continue flights to Haiti : Embry Riddle Students Eligible for Immediate FAA Air Traffic Controller Employment : KC-46 tankers get car-style remote start that ignites aircraft anywhere via mobile : U.S. Navy Receives Aircraft Carrier Boost : Senators ask Biden administration to back higher pilot retirement age : Bombardier’s Global 7500 Business Jet Soars to New Heights, Continues Record-Setting Pace with 75 Speed Records : Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says the company's staff 'spend more time arguing' than strategizing about how to beat Airbus: report : Boeing laying off 220 employees in SC : Advance Your Aviation Career with Purdue's Online Master's Program : POSITION AVAILABLE: Senior Survival Factors Investigator (NTSB) : Calendar of Events Incident: KLM B789 at Amsterdam on Nov 20th 2024, odour in cabin A KLM Boeing 787-9, registration PH-BHH performing flight KL-676 (dep Nov 19th) from Edmonton,AB (Canada) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was descending towards Amsterdam when a strange odour was detected in the back of the cabin, the source of which could not be identified. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Amsterdam's runway 27 with emergency services on standby and taxied to the apron. The airline reported a first inspection of the aircraft revealed no irregularities, the source of the smell is under investigation. The aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam and is currently estimated to return to service on Nov 22nd 2024. https://avherald.com/h?article=52097fb5&opt=0 Incident: Queshm F100 at Tehran on Nov 20th 2024, cracked windshield A Queshm Air Fokker 100, registration EP-FQJ performing flight QB-1240 from Tehran Mehrabad to Queshm (Iran), was climbing out of Tehran when the crew stopped the climb at FL150 reporting a cracked windshield. The aircraft entered a hold for about 50 minutes before returning to Tehran for a safe landing about 80 minutes after departure. A replacement Fokker 100 registration EP-FQF reached Queshm with a delay of 7 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=520923ff&opt=0 Incident: Jet2 B738 near Santiago on Nov 18th 2024, smoke in cabin A Jet2.com Boeing 737-800, registration G-GDFP performing flight LS-138 from Fuerteventura,CI (Spain) to Glasgow,SC (UK) with 170 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 80nm northwest of Santiago de Compostela,SP (Spain) when the crew decided to divert to Santiago reporting smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on Santiago de Compostela's runway 35 about 20 minutes later. Emergency services escorted the aircraft to the apron. The aircraft remained on the ground in Santiago for about 20 hours, then positioned to Manchester,EN (UK) and is still on the ground in Manchester about 28 hours after landing in Manchester. https://avherald.com/h?article=520922a3&opt=0 Boeing 737-8LD (WL) - Bird Strike on Departure (South Africa) Date: Thursday 21 November 2024 Time: 07:52 UTC Type: Boeing 737-8LD (WL) Owner/operator: Safair Registration: ZS-ZWA MSN: 40851/4094 Year of manufacture: 2012 Engine model: CFMI CFM56-7B Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Category: Incident Location: Lanseria International Airport (FALA) - South Africa Phase: Initial climb Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Lanseria International Airport (HLA/FALA) Destination airport: Durban International Airport (DUR/FADN) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Safair flight FA474, a Boeing 737-800, suffered a bird strike on departure from Lanseria International Airport. This caused issued with the no.2 engine, forcing the crew to divert to Johannesburg-OR Tambo International Airport. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/461989 Russia Feels The Heat Of Aircraft Engines, Half Of Its Airbus A320neo Fleet Grounded Owing To Engine Problems And Sanctions. As of mid-November, Russian airlines have grounded 34 out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo planes in their fleets, Kommersant reports. The groundings stem from difficulties in sourcing replacement engines, manufactured by the U.S. company Pratt & Whitney, due to Western sanctions. S7 Airlines, one of Russia’s largest carriers, has been hit hardest, with 31 of its 39 A320neo and A321neo jets grounded. Some airlines, including S7, reportedly plan to return roughly half of the grounded planes to service next summer before their expected decommissioning. Russian airlines have grounded 34 of their 66 Airbus A320neo family aircraft due to unresolved engine issues exacerbated by Western sanctions, the Kommersant business newspaper reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The grounded jets are equipped with engines made by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, formerly known as Raytheon. Last year, RTX identified a “rare condition” in the metal used for manufacturing certain engine parts, requiring “accelerated removals and inspections.” Concern for Russia’s aviation sector is, 30 Russian carriers, which collectively account for more than 25% of domestic passenger traffic, may face bankruptcy in 2025 due to mounting financial pressures, according to the Russian daily Izvestia. These airlines are struggling with major debt related to leasing foreign aircraft, a situation exacerbated by the economic fallout from international sanctions. Since the imposition of Western sanctions in year 2022, many of these carriers have stopped making payments on leased aircraft, leading to debt accumulation. As per sources, the Russian government plans to allow these airlines to write off some of these debts in 2025. Sanctions imposed on Russia have heavily impacted its aviation sector, halting the delivery of new aircraft and spare parts from major manufacturers Boeing and Airbus. Kommersant said that without proper maintenance, the A320neo and A321neo aircraft are expected to be decommissioned starting in 2026. The A320neo and A321neo models account for about 10% of the foreign-made aircraft in Russia’s fleet, potentially disrupting 10-15% of passenger air traffic in 2025 and beyond. The company hit hardest has been S7 Airlines, which has suspended 31 out of its 39 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, all aged between three and seven years. According to Kommersant, the airline plans to conserve the planes’ engines until the next high travel season, when it hopes to return most of the planes to service. However, two other sources said that the engines on more than 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. In addition to S7’s fleet, there are 27 other A320neo and A321neo aircraft in Russia. However, most of these are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are considered somewhat less problematic than Pratt & Whitney engines. If no new repair options emerge, Russia could have to start retiring its Airbus planes on a large scale by 2026. A320/A321neo models make up about 10 percent of foreign long-haul planes in Russia. Kommersant’s sources said they don’t expect these planes’ removal from service to have a major impact on the overall volume of air travel in the country. Since March 2022, major Western manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing have suspended aircraft parts and maintenance support, severely damaging Russian airlines, including Aeroflot, the country’s flagship carrier. Since the sanctions took effect, Russia has invested over US$12 billion to sustain its civil aviation industry. This funding has been allocated to aircraft production and airlines’ financial aid. To address these sanction induced disruptions in aviation sector, Russia has ambitious plans to supply Russian airlines with up to 1,000 domestically produced aircraft by 2030. However, production delays remain a major challenge. https://fl360aero.com/detail/russia-feels-the-heat-of-aircraft-engines-half-of-its-airbus-a320neo-fleet-grounded-owing-to-engine-problems-and-sanctions/1948 Passengers duct tape man who allegedly tried to open door during flight: Officials The man was taken for a mental health evaluation after landing. A group of passengers sprung into action and stopped a man who allegedly tried to open the cabin door mid-flight during a trip to Dallas Tuesday morning by restraining him with duct tape, officials said. The incident took place on an American Airlines flight 1915 from Milwaukee when the Canadian national allegedly approached a flight attendant and asked to open the cabin door while they were in flight and grew more agitated when he was denied, according to the report issued by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Department of Public Safety. The suspect allegedly tried to rush towards the door, striking the flight attendant who was blocking it, according to the report. Passengers rushed to assist the flight attendant and tried to subdue the unruly passenger who allegedly kept asking to leave the plane, the report said. A flight attendant handed the passengers duct tape as they restrained him, according to the report. They were able to tape up his wrists and ankles and lay him on his stomach for the remainder of the flight, the report said. "He was going for the door. So I just grabbed this guy from behind and kept him from pulling the thing on the door," Doug McCright, one of the passengers who subdued the man, told ABC News. Airport police and the FBI detained the man, put him in a wheelchair and took him off the flight for a medical evaluation, according to the report and the FBI. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday evening and the investigation is ongoing, officials said. The flight attendant who was confronted by the passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment after she said her wrist and neck were injured during the altercation, according to the report. The Federal Aviation Administration said it's investigating the incident. A spokesperson for American Airlines deferred questions about the incident to law enforcement. "The safety and security of our customers and team members is our top priority and we thank our team members and customers for managing a difficult situation," the airline said in a statement. https://abcnews.go.com/US/passengers-duct-tape-man-allegedly-open-door-flight/story?id=116067265 Couple’s handguns go missing at Charlotte airport; TSA, airline investigating The woman said the guns were properly locked and cased. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A New England couple claims their guns were stolen from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, despite following every Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) guideline for transporting firearms. Chelsey Simoni said she and her husband flew home to Boston from Charlotte on a Delta flight Monday night after helping with Hurricane Helene relief efforts in western North Carolina. They said they checked a TSA-approved gun case, with locks, carrying two customized handguns. However, when they arrived in Boston and went to retrieve their case, the locks were missing and both guns were gone, Simoni said. “That’s a significant concern,” she said. “Like you just let two firearms go out to who knows where after I did everything I could to protect them and lock them, secure them, and do everything by the book.” According to Simoni, Massachusetts State Police told her the guns were removed from their case prior to the plane taking off from Charlotte Douglas. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed Wednesday it was investigating the incident. TSA and Delta Air Lines are also investigating. “We are investigating in cooperation with TSA and Charlotte Douglas International Airport and reaching out to the customer to gather more information,” a Delta spokesperson said. Simoni, an Army veteran, has transported guns many times before. In this case, the two handguns were valued around $4,000. “I’m not so frustrated for the fact I’m going to lose $4,000 or so odd dollars,” Simoni said. “I’m more frustrated for the fact peoples’ lives are at stake because we have someone who A, we don’t know who it is, and B, has two firearms they can do whatever they like with. That’s what I’m frustrated about.” None of the investigating agencies have determined what happened to the weapons. If the guns were in fact stolen, Simoni’s biggest concern is whose hands they are in now. “I definitely advise people to drive if they’re going to take their firearms somewhere,” she said. “I don’t advise they fly, because this is a significant moral burden on me right now that I don’t wish on anybody.” Simoni said she spoke to a Delta representative on Wednesday, but still has not been told what happened to her guns. https://www.wbtv.com/2024/11/21/couples-handguns-go-missing-charlotte-airport-tsa-airline-investigating/ Missionary Flights International approved by FAA to continue flights to Haiti Fort Pierce missionaries to Haiti will resume operations after receiving a flight ban waiver Wednesday. Missionary Flights International may land at airports in northern Haiti, which are safer than its usual destination of Port-au-Prince, until the Federal Aviation Administration lifts its flight ban on Dec. 12, President Joe Karabensh said. “We still have new rules and procedures laid out by the FAA to follow,” Karabensh said, without expounding on them. The nonprofit supplies 600 organizations with 300 workers. When the FAA banned flights to Haiti Nov. 12, the nonprofit had 50,000 pounds of goods waiting to be delivered and a group of doctors waiting to return to the U.S. "They were going for a week, not five weeks,” Karabensh said, referencing the 30-day flight ban the FAA imposed after three airlines’ passenger jets were hit by gunfire while flying over Haiti's capital on Nov. 11. The FAA initially allowed MFI only two flights to evacuate its doctors and other members, the second of which was on Nov. 18. Then it granted a waiver to resume operations through northern airports in Pignon and Cap Haitien, with flights planned for Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, Karabensh said. https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/st-lucie-county/2024/11/21/missionary-flights-international-of-fort-pierce-granted-faa-fly-waiver/76461733007/ Embry Riddle Students Eligible for Immediate FAA Air Traffic Controller Employment Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has earned Federal Aviation Administration approval for a critical training initiative that offers students in its air traffic control program an accelerated employment path. The FAA announced on Nov. 20 that it had signed an agreement allowing Embry Riddle to take part in the Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI). Through the Enhanced AT-CTI program, graduates of Embry Riddle’s Air Traffic Management program may be placed directly in FAA facilities for controller training, provided they pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam and meet medical and security requirements. “The FAA is working to strengthen our controller workforce and create a continuous pipeline of talent,” Tim Arel, chief operating officer of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization, said in an agency news release. “The safety of the National Airspace System and the traveling public is always our number one priority. Working with schools like Embry Riddle Aeronautical University will continue that mission.” Embry Riddle’s Daytona Beach, Florida, campus is the third university to sign an agreement with the FAA for the Enhanced AT-CTI initiative, which was first announced in February. “Embry Riddle is proud to be among the first schools to be signed to the Enhanced AT-CTI program and to be part of an important effort by the FAA to fill the air traffic controller pipeline,” said Embry Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. “Graduates of our Air Traffic Management program will greatly benefit from this partnership, and our nation’s aviation system stands to gain as well, as these students are eager and well-prepared to safeguard the flying public.” Embry Riddle’s Air Traffic Management program had to undergo an extensive audit by the FAA to show that it provides the same high-level curriculum and advanced technology offered at the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City. The technology includes an integrated system of new simulators connected with AI-assisted voice recognition, said Dr. Mike McCormick, associate professor and Air Traffic Management program coordinator at Embry Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus. The simulators will be installed in the three Air Traffic Control (ATC) labs on the Daytona Beach Campus in December by the contractor UFA, and a new curriculum will be introduced for the Spring 2025 semester, McCormick said. “This approval provides recognition of the world-class education we provide here at Embry Riddle and lets us help FAA solve air traffic controller shortages,” McCormick said. “But it also benefits our students by giving them alternatives, plus the ability to get hired quickly after graduation.” The Enhanced AT-CTI program will allow Embry Riddle students to prepare for and take the Air Traffic Skills Assessment exam on campus, McCormick said. “We find that when students don’t make it at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, it’s usually because of stress,” said McCormick. “With the Enhanced AT-CTI program, they will be among their peers and living here.” Additionally, if students do not pass on their first attempt, they have a second chance at taking the test at the academy. “The new program will save me time and money,” said Kyra Hanson, an Air Traffic Management student graduating in Spring 2025. McCormick has been working for months to meet the FAA’s detailed criteria for the Enhanced AT-CTI program. Tulsa Community College and the University of Oklahoma were the first two schools approved, according to an FAA announcement in October. Embry Riddle’s Air Traffic Management program has 242 students at its Daytona Beach Campus. Dr. Alan Stolzer, dean of the College of Aviation at the Daytona Beach Campus, said that Embry Riddle’s inclusion in the program attests to the university’s high standards, cutting-edge simulation technology and quality of testing. “We look forward to further collaborations with the FAA to ensure our training continues to match the academy’s rigorous standards,” Stolzer said. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-students-eligible-for-immediate-faa-air-traffic-controller-employment KC-46 tankers get car-style remote start that ignites aircraft anywhere via mobile The design can work anywhere in the United States using cellular signals and in a few seconds delay from states away. KC-46 tankers get car-style remote start that ignites aircraft anywhere via mobile USAF's KC-46 tankers. Airmen from the US Air Force’s 22nd Air Refueling Wing Innovation Lab at McConnell Air Force Base have invented a new remote start device for the KC-46A Pegasus, called the Auxiliary Power Unit Start System. The APRUSS uses remote activation, cutting down on mission response times and enhancing mission efficiency by ensuring the aircraft is ready when crews arrive at the aircraft. “Our team has programmed, designed, developed and successfully conducted its first operational test on a KC-46 using the APRUSS,” said Capt. Timothy Schwanke, 22nd ARW Innovation Lab chief. “This has already proven to significantly reduce the alert time for the KC-46 crews as they are conducting routine training. Prior to this, the KC-46 had a severe disadvantage to alert timing in comparison to its KC-135 Stratotanker counterpart, and the APURSS device has effectively reversed those statistics.” Car-style remote start The Innovation Lab worked with FirePoint Innovation, a technology-based hub at Wichita State University, who set up a meeting and tour of the lab with the National Security Innovation Network president and team. The NSIN was intrigued by the APRUSS project and contacted the Defense Innovation Unit, securing $250,000 from them to continue the research and development of the remote start device. Staff Sgt. Hunter Diedrich, 22nd ARW Innovation Lab noncommissioned officer in charge, and Senior Airman Douglas Vargas, Innovation Lab intern, oversaw the designing and building of the prototype. While Diedrich tackled the physical design, Vargas focused on the software aspect. The APRUSS’s first operational test succeeded without issues. “We were relieved when the APRUSS worked the first time because we had a few unknowns if the actuator would be strong enough to press the button and if the unit was going to be able to stay on the aircraft,” Diedrich said. “The design can work anywhere in the United States using cellular signals. We can trigger the APRUSS with a few seconds delay from states away.” KC-46 tanker FirePoint and the Innovation Lab have also recently partnered with another local Wichita company, PWI, leading on continued research, development, prototyping, and commercialization of APURSS for McConnell AFB and the entire Air Force KC-46 fleet. “McConnell AFB is the only base that is working this concept, but it is anticipated that all KC-46 units will want this device once it is developed at a larger scale,” Schwanke said. The remote starter would be used during exercise and real-world missions at its final stage. Optimally, each base would have enough for each aircraft with backups and spares. With the help of external companies to further develop and commercialize the APRUSS, the 22nd ARW Innovation Lab hopes to turn its ideas into reality for the entire KC-46 fleet. The KC-46A is the first phase in recapitalizing the US Air Force’s aging tanker fleet. With greater refueling, cargo, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities than the KC-135, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and partner-nation receivers. The KC-46A can refuel most fixed-wing, receiver-capable aircraft at full operational capability. The KC-46A is equipped with a refueling boom driven by a fly-by-wire control system and can handle fuel offload rates required for large aircraft. https://interestingengineering.com/military/kc46-tankers-get-remote-start U.S. Navy Receives Aircraft Carrier Boost The United States, which has the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet with 11 in service, will soon begin building two "flattops" in a single dry dock concurrently for the first time. Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., said on Tuesday that its Virginia-based Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully transferred the mid-body hull section of the third Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, the Enterprise. On October 31, more than 100 million gallons of water filled the dry dock, which floated the Enterprise's hull section for the first time, allowing it to be transferred from the east end of the dry dock to the west end of it, where the warship will continue its construction. Meanwhile, the Enterprise's sister ship and the fourth ship in the class, the Doris Miller, will begin its assembly at the east end of the same dry dock in early next year, marking what the shipbuilder called "a historic first" dual construction of the Gerald R. Ford-class. Future U.S. Aircraft Carrier Enterprise The mid-body hull section of future United States Navy aircraft carrier 'Enterprise' on October 31 is moved within the dry dock for the first time. This allows the shipyard to begin assembling two aircraft carriers. China, which has the world's largest navy with more than 370 ships and submarines, is reportedly working on a nuclear propulsion system for a carrier-sized warship. All of the country's three "flattops" are conventionally powered. Congress mandates the U.S. Navy to operate "not less than 11 operational aircraft carriers," and the fleet is composed of two classes of nuclear-powered "flattops," including 10 ships of the Nimitz-class, as well as USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship of its class. Huntington Ingalls Industries, the sole designer and builder of U.S. aircraft carriers, said that modifications of the dry dock and implementation of a two-ship contract enable the concurrent assembly of the Enterprise and the Doris Miller in the same dry dock. The Gerald R. Ford-class, which will replace the preceding Nimitz-class, is regarded as the most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier. It introduces 23 new technologies, including an electromagnetic aircraft launch system that can generate a higher sortie rate. The 100,000-ton Gerald R. Ford was put into service in 2017 and completed its maiden, eight-month-long combat deployment in January. The U.S. Navy described the warship as a "generational leap" in the naval service branch's capacity to project power globally. U.S. Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS 'Gerald R. Ford' sails in the Atlantic Ocean on November 12, 2024. The nuclear-powered vessel is the lead ship of its class. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy The second ship in the class, the John F. Kennedy, has begun testing of its electromagnetic aircraft launch system in February, which replaces steam catapults used by the Nimitz-class. It is under construction at the shipyard and is scheduled for delivery in July 2025. However, the delivery date of the Enterprise has been deferred by 18 months, from March 2028 to September 2029, according to a U.S. Navy budget document submitted to Congress in March. The Doris Miller has a scheduled delivery date of February 2032. The Gerald R. Ford and the John F. Kennedy are named after the two presidents, while the Enterprise is the ninth U.S. warship to bear the name since the American Revolution. Doris Miller was an African American sailor who fought attacking Japanese forces during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross—the second highest military decoration. He died in 1943 during a battle at sea. https://www.newsweek.com/us-navy-receives-aircraft-carrier-boost-1989297 Senators ask Biden administration to back higher pilot retirement age U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a press conference following the Senate Republicans weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 19, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Summary • Congress rejected raising retirement age to 67 from 65 • Senators did not suggest a specific retirement age Nov 20 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of five U.S. senators including incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday to back international efforts to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age. Last year, Congress rejected a push to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65. International rules prevent airline pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the United States. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/senators-want-biden-administration-back-hiking-mandatory-pilot-retirement-age-2024-11-20/ Bombardier’s Global 7500 Business Jet Soars to New Heights, Continues Record-Setting Pace with 75 Speed Records • Industry-defining business aircraft establishes new record-setting missions including essential city pairs from Miami to São Paulo, Tokyo to Los Angeles, Tokyo to San Jose, Jeddah to London and Los Angeles to Auckland, underscoring its outstanding performance attributes • The Global 7500 jet boasts a top speed of Mach 0.925 and a baseline range of 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km), making it the ultimate record-setting business aircraft • With a fleet of close to 200 aircraft and some 200,000-plus flying hours, the proven Global 7500 sets the industry standard in the ultra-long-range class • Inflight Bombardier Global 7500 clouds bank (1) MONTRÉAL, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier today announced that its industry-leading Global 7500 business jet has soared to new record-setting heights, adding to its already impressive speed record performances with more than 75 records in the books – a truly incredible accomplishment.(1) The new records include Miami to São Paulo, Tokyo to Los Angeles, Tokyo to San Jose, Jeddah to London and Los Angeles to Auckland. These accomplishments build on earlier records, including an 8,225 nautical mile flight in October 2019 from Sydney, Australia to Detroit, Michigan, the longest flight ever recorded in business aviation. “These blazing new speed records continue to show that the Global 7500 is the proven, undisputed leader in its category and the business aircraft with amazing performance, bringing our customers to far-flung destinations quickly and reliably,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Aircraft Sales and Bombardier Defense. “What’s even more impressive about these records is they are flown as part of routine aircraft movements, including some missions that have passengers onboard. We have on more than one occasion been thrilled to have customers and prospects be aboard for the record setting city pairs.” The Global 7500 features a top speed of Mach 0.925 and a baseline range of 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km), making it the ultimate record-setting time machine. The impressive performance attributes of the aircraft were on full display with some of the new records, including Tokyo to Hong Kong in just 3 hours and 40 minutes; New Delhi to Tokyo in just 7 hours; and Los Angeles to Auckland in 11 hours and 55 minutes. The aircraft’s unique Smooth Flĕx Wing is like an in-air shock absorber, designed with a sophisticated slats and flap system that generates exceptional lift on takeoff and approach, maximizing aerodynamic efficiency and boosting performance while improving safety and offering the industry’s smoothest ride. It also reduces fuel burn, lowers emissions and produces excellent short-field and high-speed performance – the type of journey its discerning customers expect. And while the Global 7500 sets the bar high when it comes to performance, it’s also an exquisite home office in the sky – a productive business tool offering customers all the accoutrements of their preferred work environment. The incredible attributes of the Global 7500 aircraft will be enhanced even more with the introduction of the Global 8000 (2) aircraft, announced in 2022. Bombardier’s flagship for a new era is anticipated to have an industry-leading range of 8,000 nautical miles and a top speed of Mach 0.94, making it the ultimate all-in-one business aircraft. It is also expected to have a low cabin altitude of less than 2,900 feet when flying at 41,000 ft. Manufacturing for Bombardier’s Global 8000 aircraft is currently underway at Bombardier manufacturing sites in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, and the program is progressing to plan toward entry into service in 2025. In anticipation of the planned entry-into-service of the Global 8000 business jet, an upgrade is currently available for purchase by existing Global 7500 aircraft customers through one of Bombardier’s aircraft service centres. Benefits of the upgrade will include enhancing the aircraft’s top speed, increasing its range and providing passengers with exceptionally low cabin altitudes. About Bombardier At Bombardier (BBD-B.TO), we design, build, modify and maintain the world’s best-performing aircraft for the world’s most discerning people and businesses, governments and militaries. That means not simply exceeding standards, but understanding customers well enough to anticipate their unspoken needs. For them, we are committed to pioneering the future of aviation—innovating to make flying more reliable, efficient and sustainable. And we are passionate about delivering unrivaled craftsmanship and care, giving our customers greater confidence and the elevated experience they deserve and expect. Because people who shape the world will always need the most productive and responsible ways to move through it. Bombardier customers operate a fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft, supported by a vast network of Bombardier team members worldwide and 10 service facilities across six countries. Bombardier’s performance-leading jets are proudly manufactured in aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. In 2024, Bombardier was honoured with the prestigious “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award for Brands and Communication Design. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/11/21/2985109/0/en/Bombardier-s-Global-7500-Business-Jet-Soars-to-New-Heights-Continues-Record-Setting-Pace-with-75-Speed-Records.html Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says the company's staff 'spend more time arguing' than strategizing about how to beat Airbus: report Boeing's CEO Kelly Ortberg has a message for his staff: Stop fighting and get to work. Ortberg urged employees to "focus on the task at hand" instead of squabbling. The CEO also spoke with President-elect Donald Trump about the impact of his potential tariffs. Boeing's CEO Kelly Ortberg has a stern warning for his staff — stop squabbling and get to work. The Wall Street Journal obtained and verified a recording of Ortberg's remarks at Boeing's hourlong town hall meeting on Wednesday. "We spend more time arguing amongst ourselves than thinking about how we're going to beat Airbus," he said at the all-hands meeting, The WSJ reported. "Everybody is tired of the drumbeat of what's wrong with Boeing. I'm tired of it and I haven't been here that long," Ortberg added. During the meeting, Ortberg also told staff not to "sit at the water cooler and bitch about people," per The WSJ's transcription of the recording. "Let's focus on the task at hand," Ortberg said. Representatives for Boeing did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular office hours. Ortberg, who took over as chief of the beleaguered planemaker in August, has had to deal with many problems in his first months at the company, including a massive seven-week worker strike and multibillion-dollar losses. The WSJ also reported that Ortberg has spoken with President-elect Donald Trump about the impact of potential tariffs on Boeing. Trump has proposed broad tariffs on imports, including 60% tariffs on goods from China. Ortberg told staff that a potential trade war with China might impact the company's plane exports to Chinese airlines. Boeing has seen its stock price fall about 40% since the start of the year. The all-hands meeting also came amid a raft of layoffs being rolled out at Boeing. In October, Boeing said it would cut 10% of its 170,000-strong global workforce. The reduction plan will include 2,199 employees in Washington and another 50 in Oregon, according to the company's filings. As part of the cuts, Boeing is laying off more than 400 workers who are part of its professional aerospace labor union. The Seattle Times reported on Friday that 438 members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) received pink slips. In a note to employees on October 11, Ortberg said Boeing was in a "difficult position" and that "restoring our company requires tough decisions." But there are some bright spots: the company has resumed production of its 737 Max airplanes, and secured its first order since the strike. Aviation company Avia Solutions Group announced on November 12 that it had placed an order for 80 Boeing 737 Max planes. In the company's third-quarterly statement on October 23, Ortberg vowed to make the company "iconic" again. "It will take time to return Boeing to its former legacy, but with the right focus and culture, we can be an iconic company and aerospace leader once again," he said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-ceo-kelly-ortberg-says-040941211.html Boeing laying off 220 employees in SC About 220 South Carolina Boeing workers will be out of work after the new year. The financially struggling aerospace company announced the layoffs, expected to begin Jan. 17. All but eight of the employees losing their jobs work in North Charleston, where the 787 Dreamliner is assembled. Also being let go is one person each working from Beaufort, Columbia, and Moncks Corner, as well as five employees in Charleston, according to a federally required notice filed with the state employment agency. “The Boeing Company has made the difficult decision to reduce its workforce,” Elizabeth French, part of Boeing’s exit management team, said in the letter filed Nov. 18 with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. Boeing reported a financial loss of more than $8 billion so far this year, with $6 billion of that coming between July and September. In response, CEO Kelly Ortberg announced in October the company would cut 10% of its workforce, or about 17,000 employees nationwide. About 2,200 Boeing employees in Washington state and Oregon also received notices this week that they would be laid of Dec. 20, five days before Christmas. The layoffs follow a seven-week strike by 33,000 unionized machinists on the West Coast — mostly in Washington but also Oregon and California — as the company and union negotiated a new contract. Boeing machinists approve contract, strike ends Those union members ratified the new deal the first week of November. Ortberg has said the cuts were caused by overstaffing, not the work stoppage. The strike did not include non-unionized workers in South Carolina. The Palmetto State job cuts amount to 2.8% of Boeing’s reported 7,864 employees statewide. The layoffs include business and training staff, engineers, information technology workers, analysts, quality control, and supply chain staff, according to the notice. Eligible employees will receive severance pay and subsidized health care benefits for up to three months after leaving the company, according to a statement from the company. Meanwhile, the state’s unemployment rate rose again for the eighth straight month to 4.7% in October, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Employment and Workforce. The national rate stayed steady at 4.1%. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-laying-off-220-employees-162833078.html POSITION AVAILABLE: Senior Survival Factors Investigator National Transportation Safety Board Office of Aviation Safety The incumbent will serve as a Senior Survival Factors Investigator located in the Office of Aviation Safety (OAS), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and serve as an expert Survival Factors Investigator in aircraft accident investigations and is responsible for the investigation of the survival factors aspects of aircraft accidents, planning and conducting survival factors examinations, studies, factual and analytical reports. Duties As a Senior Survival Factors Investigator, GS-1801-14, you will perform the following major duties: Serves as Group Chair responsible for documenting, analyzing, and evaluating survival factors issues described in the position summary above. These include but are not limited to cabin safety and flight attendant training, occupant protection, airport operations, and airport and community emergency management factors that may arise during major aviation accident/incident investigations. Organizes, supervises, and coordinates the activities of the representatives from the operators, manufactures, professional organizations, FAA, and other participating agencies, including experts in other fields in the course of a survival factors investigation. Independently identifies and assesses the significance of survival factors found during on-scene accident investigations. Analyzes and interprets the data uncovered. The purpose of such analysis is to l) advance the knowledge of survival factors in the operation of aviation systems; 2) provide practical applications of theory in the survival factors for the purpose of publication and general education; and 3) form a basis for the application of practical solutions to the prevention of future accidents of similar nature. Determines requirements for special tests, studies, and/or assistance that may be necessary in one or more aspects of a given investigation. Monitors these activities and evaluates findings in terms of relevancy to the probable cause and/or safety recommendations. Studies usually involve the novel and/or innovative application of research results in analyzing survival factors. Develops and prepares documentation in the form of reports, photographs, pertinent records, and other appropriate material. Prepares timely and technically correct factual and analytical reports that accurately reflect the pertinent findings in the survival factors areas to be used in the subsequent analysis and probable cause determination. Maintains currency in survival factors affecting aviation safety including emergent research and operational practices, accident investigation methodology. Requirements Conditions of Employment • U.S. Citizenship.Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.Resume and supporting documents (see "How to Apply" section.).Suitability for Federal employment.Financial Interest in transportation enterprises will be evaluated on a case-by-case-basis.Bargaining Unit Position: YES - Bargaining unit represented by NTSB-AFGE Local 2211.Direct Deposit is required.A probationary period may be required.Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level) by the closing date of this announcement. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.This position is being announced concurrently under Public (U.S Citizens) procedures under Vacancy Number AS-12586916-25-KAT To be considered under both Public (US Citizens) and Government-Wide procedures, you must apply to both announcements.You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifications GS-14: You MUST have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector). Specialized experience is defined as: Experience in leading a team investigating civil aviation accident survival factors from initial investigative activities to the identification of cause and preventative safety actions; leading the development and implementation of a plan for conducting a component examination or follow-up investigation; using data to support decision making in determining investigation scope and the development of findings in the areas of survival factors; carrying out investigative research needed to further the study of crashworthiness and survival factors issues in the aviation industry; applying knowledge of civil aviation survival factors safety issues and investigation evidence in the development of recommendations to improve occupant protection and survivability. For more information see link: General Inspection Investigation Enforcement and Compliance Series 1801 (opm.gov) NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating. APPLY HERE 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