Flight Safety Information - December 17, 2024 No. 250 In This Issue : Lux B38M near Munich on Dec 15th 2024, pilot incapacitation : Westjet Encore DH8D at Vancouver on Nov 30th 2024, propeller trouble : Ethiopian B773 near Addis Ababa on Dec 14th 2024, technical problem with cargo hold, evacuation : FAA and EASA Recommit To Collaborate on Aviation Safety : Duckworth’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee Emphasizes Urgent Need to Improve Air Traffic Control Systems to Prevent Near-Misses & Protect Flying Public : LOT E175 at Warsaw on Dec 4th 2024, cabin did not pressurize : Sprint AT72 near Zagreb on Dec 12th 2024, loss of pressurization and basic instruments, temporary loss of engine control : EU updates Air Safety List : Incident: SAS A21N at Copenhagen on Dec 20th 2023, electrical odour : Calendar of Events Incident: By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Dec 17th 2024 12:58Z, last updated Tuesday, Dec 17th 2024 12:58Z A Luxair Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration LX-LBL performing flight LG-9010 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Luxembourg (Luxembourg), was enroute at FL380 about 50nm southeast of Munich (Germany) when the crew decided to divert to Munich reporting a medical emergency on board. The aircraft landed safely on Munich's runway 26R about 30 minutes after leaving FL380. According to information The Aviation Herald received, the first officer became ill and was unable to continue duties. A replacement crew was flown to Munich with the next line flight and took the aircraft to Luxembourg. The airline reported the aircraft diverted due to a medical emergency. The captain and crew informed the passengers of the emergency landing. The aircraft remained on the ground in Munich for about 7.5 hours, then departed Munich and reached Luxembourg with a delay of about 7:40 hours Lux B38M near Munich on Dec 15th 2024, pilot incapacitation Westjet Encore DH8D at Vancouver on Nov 30th 2024, propeller trouble By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Dec 16th 2024 19:32Z, last updated Monday, Dec 16th 2024 19:32Z A Westjet Encore de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration C-FENU performing flight WR-3185 from Vancouver,BC to Victoria,BC (Canada) with 82 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Vancouver's runway 08R when the crew noticed the right hand propeller was slower and with a higher torque than normal. The Propeller Electronic Control (PEC) caution activated. The crew declared PAN PAN, worked the related checklist, shut the engine down and returned to Vancouver for a safe landing on runway 08R about 30 minutes after departure. The Canadian TSB reported maintenance found the right hand engine's alternating current generator had failed, the engine and generator are being replaced. The aircraft is still on the ground in Vancouver 17 days after the occurrence. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/WEN3185/history/20241201/0631Z/CYVR/CYYJ https://avherald.com/h?article=521a2d96&opt=0 Incident: Ethiopian B773 near Addis Ababa on Dec 14th 2024, technical problem with cargo hold, evacuation By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Dec 16th 2024 15:16Z, last updated Tuesday, Dec 17th 2024 13:36Z An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration ET-BBG performing flight ET-612 from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), was enroute at FL350 about 150nm northeast of Addis Ababa when the crew decided to return to Addis Ababa descending the aircraft to FL160 initially. The aircraft landed safely back on Addis Ababa's runway 07R about 55 minutes after departure. The aircraft was evacuated. A replacement Boeing 787-9 registration ET-AXT reached Dubai with a delay of about 12 hours. Some aviation website spreads rumours that according to "unconfirmed reports" an engine (GE90) might have failed. The airline stated: "Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 612 from Addis Ababa to Dubai experienced a technical issue approximately 30 minutes after takeoff on December 14, 2024. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft returned to Addis Ababa and landed safely." According to ATC recordings The Aviation Herald received on Dec 16th 2024 the crew advised on approach they would stop on the runway and evacuate the aircraft, they requested tower to inform emergency services that the cargo hold should not be opened. After handoff to tower the communication with tower was routine until after landing, when tower instructed the crew to vacate the runway and change to ground frequency, the crew however advised they had just stopped on the runway and an evacuation was in progress. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Addis Ababa about 64 hours after landing. The aircraft had arrived at Ethiopian Airlines on Dec 9th 2024 only after a positioning/delivery flight from Victorville,CA (USA) and began service with Ethiopian Airlines on Dec 12th 2024. Ethiopian B773 near Addis Ababa on Dec 14th 2024, technical problem with cargo hold, evacuation FAA and EASA Recommit To Collaborate on Aviation Safety Declaration of Intent signed a month ahead of the new U.S. administration taking office FAA administrator Mike Whitaker (left) and EASA executive director Florian Guillermet signed a new Declaration of Intent agreement in Chicago. By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor December 11, 2024 On Tuesday, the FAA and its European counterpart EASA announced that they have re-committed to working closely together to support safe and secure civil aviation. FAA administrator Mike Whitaker and EASA executive director Florian Guillermet signed a new Declaration of Intent agreement in Chicago during an event last week to mark the 80th anniversary of ICAO’s Chicago Convention on air transport. Under the terms of the Declaration, FAA and EASA have agreed to continue sharing knowledge and best practices on safety data and risk management, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, innovation, research, and sustainability. The agencies also reinforced their commitment to seeking regulatory alignments as far as possible and to provide technical support in other regions of the world. “Aviation safety and modernization is a joint effort that requires collaboration with our international partners,” Whitaker said. “Emerging technologies are transforming the global aviation system and require constant collaboration to reevaluate and adapt our strategic direction as new challenges and opportunities present themselves.” The latest discussions between FAA and Cologne, Germany-based EASA were held around five weeks ahead of the new Trump Administration taking office on January 20. Executives from two European OEMs, speaking with AIN on condition of anonymity, have expressed concern that President-elect Trump’s declared “America First” doctrine could result in a dilution of cooperation with foreign regulators, and so slow efforts to certify European aircraft and systems in the U.S. “Building on the European Union-U.S. agreement on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety, the Declaration of Intent will generate a new momentum in our EASA-FAA relationship, and allow for better alignment on priorities voiced by the global aeronautical industry,” Guillermet commented. The December 5 event held at the Chicago Hilton hotel included an extraordinary session of the ICAO Council as well as three high-level roundtable meetings on sustainability, investment, and innovation. Speakers included senior executives from Airbus, Boeing, United Airlines, and the World Wildlife Fund. FAA and EASA Recommit To Collaborate on Aviation Safety Duckworth’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee Emphasizes Urgent Need to Improve Air Traffic Control Systems to Prevent Near-Misses & Protect Flying Public Celia Olivas - Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth December 16, 2024 11:30 AM WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—led a subcommittee hearing focused on the challenges facing our passenger aviation system amid the busy holiday travel season, where she underscored the urgent need to invest in updated air traffic control (ATC) systems and equipment to prevent near-misses and protect the flying public. This hearing comes amid the chilling surge in near-deadly close calls involving commercial airlines that is adding serious pressure to our aviation workforce and putting the safety of the flying public at risk, and after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a September report that determined a significant amount of ATC equipment was outdated, unsustainable and in urgent need of modernization. Full videos of Senator Duckworth’s opening remarks and questions are available on YouTube. “The safety of the flying public depends upon well-equipped air traffic control systems—and right now, it is deeply troubling that more than one third of them are unsustainable,” said Aviation Safety Chair and Senator Duckworth. “While our new bipartisan FAA Reauthorization law—which I’m proud to have co-authored—makes important investments in air traffic controller staffing and surface detection technology, the alarming rise in close calls coming out of the pandemic underscores that we cannot rest on our laurels. Safety requires constant vigilance, and I’m proud to have led this important hearing to help us better understand what Congress must do to help modernize our ATC systems and ensure our air traffic controllers have the support and equipment they need to keep passengers and crew safe.” In her opening statement during today’s hearing, Duckworth recounted multiple near-misses that occurred at airports across the country this year, underscoring the urgent need for the FAA to act swiftly to modernize ATC systems. In April, a JetBlue plane had to abort takeoff to avoid colliding with a Southwest plane on the runway—the two aircraft came within 1,000 feet of each other. In May, at the same airport, an American Airlines plane had to abort takeoff to after reaching nearly 100 miles per hour to avoid another plane that was about to land on an intersecting runway. And most recently, in September, an Alaska Airlines plane had to break so hard during its takeoff to avoid a Southwest plane that was about to cross the same runway that its tires reportedly blew out. Last month, Duckworth held a listening session with Chicagoland members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to hear their concerns and discuss some of the challenges our passenger aviation system faces ahead of the busy holiday travel season. Thanks to provisions that Duckworth championed in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization law she helped co-author, FAA is working to boost air traffic controller training and staffing and grow the aviation workforce to enhance safety, grow capacity and reduce passenger delays. Additionally, the law requires FAA to deploy more airport surface situation awareness technology to help prevent runway incursions and close calls and included several of Duckworth’s provisions to improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities. Duckworth’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee Emphasizes Urgent Need to Improve Air Traffic Control Systems to Prevent Near-Misses & Protect Flying Public Incident: LOT E175 at Warsaw on Dec 4th 2024, cabin did not pressurize By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Dec 16th 2024 18:15Z, last updated Monday, Dec 16th 2024 18:15Z A LOT Polish Airlines Embraer ERJ-175, registration SP-LIA performing flight LO-269 from Warsaw (Poland) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was climbing through FL280 when the crew received a "CABIN ALTITUDE HIGH" indication, requested and was cleared to descend to FL220 and later FL110 and returned to Warsaw for a safe landing on runway 33 about 55 minutes after departure. Poland's PKBWL rated the occurrence an incident and opened an investigation. LOT E175 at Warsaw on Dec 4th 2024, cabin did not pressurize Sprint AT72 near Zagreb on Dec 12th 2024, loss of pressurization and basic instruments, temporary loss of engine control By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Dec 16th 2024 18:05Z, last updated Monday, Dec 16th 2024 18:05Z A Sprintair Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-200 freighter, registration SP-SPG performing flight SAR-7802 from Cologne (Germany) to Sofia (Bulgaria), was enroute at FL210 about 70nm eastsoutheast of Zagreb (Croatia) when the crew decided to divert to Zagreb following the loss of cabin pressure, momentary loss of engine control and loss of basic flight instruments. The aircraft landed safely on Zagreb's runway 04 about 30 minutes later. Poland's PKBWL rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. Sprint AT72 near Zagreb on Dec 12th 2024, loss of pressurization and basic instruments, temporary loss of engine control EU updates Air Safety List The EU has issued an updated list of airlines considered unsafe and banned from flying in the EU. The latest update adds Air Tanzania to the list due to safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, while suspensions previously imposed on Pakistan International Airlines were lifted. Currently, 129 airlines are banned from EU skies: • 100 airlines certified in 15 countries, due to inadequate safety oversight by their national aviation authorities • 22 airlines certified in Russia, as well as 7 airlines from other countries, based on serious safety deficiencies • EU’s commitment to safe flying Flying is one of the safest ways to travel, thanks to the EU air safety policies. These policies ensure the highest levels of safety for passengers and promote cost-efficient rules that facilitate the free movement of products, services and people. The EU aviation safety system is overseen by the European Commission, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and National Aviation Authorities. Its rules apply in all EU countries and cover all key areas of aviation including airworthiness, aircrew, aerodromes, air operations and the provision of air navigation services. The implementation of the single aviation market has significantly increased air traffic and the number of airlines operating in Europe. To keep pace, the EU has prioritised work on effective aviation safety standards. The EU Air Safety List bans or restricts unsafe third-country air carriers that fail to meet international safety standards from flying in European skies and informs passengers of any such carriers. The EU’s approach to safety management in aviation is based on occurrence reporting where safety-related events in civil aviation are tracked, analysed and followed up. Common rules on accident investigations are also designed to prevent the reoccurrence of dangerous incidents. Aviation safety is a global concern, making international cooperation essential. The EU works closely with the International Civil Aviation Organization, provides technical assistance to and cooperates with third countries, and negotiates bilateral aviation safety agreements with key international partners to help ensure safe skies around the world. For more information: EU Air Safety List EU updates Air Safety List SAS A21N at Copenhagen on Dec 20th 2023, electrical odour By Simon Hradecky, created Friday, Jan 12th 2024 19:58Z, last updated Monday, Dec 16th 2024 17:51Z A SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration SE-DMS performing positioning flight SK-9228 from Copenhagen (Denmark) to Oslo (Norway) with 2 crew, was climbing through about FL200 when the crew felt an electrical smell, donned their oxygen masks, declared Mayday and returned to Copenhagen for a safe landing on runway 22L about 25 minutes after departure. Denmark's Havarikommissionen (HCL) reported there was minor damage, the occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated. On Dec 16th 2024 the HCL released their interim statement describing the onsite examination: Shortly after engine shut down, maintenance crew inspected the avionics compartment. In the contactor box 107VU, the maintenance crew noticed a GFI relay (124QH) with black soot and a burnt hole in the plastic housing. The adjacent relay (17QA) had on parts of its casing black soot deposits from the GFI relay (124QH). There were no other damages to this relay (17QA). For quarantine, the maintenance crew removed the GFI relay (124QH) and the adjacent relay (17QA). There were no other damages to the GFI relay mating installation or wiring in the aircraft No circuit breakers were in open position. The AAIB summarized the sequence of events: The flight was an IFR ferry flight from Copenhagen (EKCH) to Oslo (ENGM). The commander was Pilot Monitoring (PM), and the first officer was Pilot Flying (PF). Prior to the flight additional fuel was uplifted as ballast. Upon arriving in the cockpit, the flight crew noticed on the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) display, that the fuel distribution in the fuel tanks was not as expected. There was still fuel in the Additional Center Tanks (ACT), which the flight crew expected to be empty. In addition, ECAM presented a fuel message “ACT XFR FAULT”. The flight crew performed the associated ECAM fuel message procedure to clear the fault by selecting on manual transfer of fuel from the ACT to the center tank. After approximately five minutes, the ECAM fuel message “ACT XFR FAULT” disappeared. The flight crew switched off the “manual fuel transfer”. During climb from EKCH and at approximately 5,000 feet (ft), the ECAM fuel message “ACT XRF FAULT” came on again, and the flight crew performed the associated ECAM fuel message procedure to clear the fault. During climb when passing Flight Level (FL) 250, the first officer said “I smell electrical fire”. The commander inhaled a few times and said, “You are right, oxygen mask on, divert back to Copenhagen”. The commander transmitted to Sweden Control,” MAYDAY, immediate return and descend to Copenhagen”. Sweden Control responded, “Turn right inbound LAMOX (approach waypoint for runway 22L), descend to FL 180”. The first officer started the approach to EKCH, and the commander consulted the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) “Abnormal and emergency procedures/Smoke/ Fumes/AVNCS smoke” checklist. During the approach, the first officer set the transponder to code 7700. The flight crew landed on runway 22L and vacated the runway via taxiway B5. The flight crew stopped on the taxiway. The onsite fire brigade did externally neither observe nor detect any fire or smoke. Upon removing the commander’s oxygen mask, the smell of electrical fire/burning was now less noticeable. The flight crew taxied the aircraft to a remote parking stand followed by the fire brigade. The flight crew shut down both engines, and the fire brigade came on board. The smell of electrical fire/burning was only present in the cockpit area and not in the passenger cabin. Upon opening the door to the avionics compartment under the cockpit floor, a strong smell of electrical fire/burning was present. There was no sign of neither smoke nor trace of fire. The failed GFI relay (Photo: HCL): Incident: SAS A21N at Copenhagen on Dec 20th 2023, electrical odour CALENDAR OF EVENTS • 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