Flight Safety Information - January 8, 2025 No. 006 In This Issue : Incident: Camair B737 near Garoua on Jan 5th 2025, loss of cabin pressure : Incident: Edelweiss A343 over Iraq on Jan 6th 2025, engine shut down in flight : The Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) Announces Newly Appointed Chief Operating Officer Jason Starke : Cessna 208 Caravan 675 - Fatal Accident (Australia) : Swiss flight attendant died due to 'severe lack of oxygen' after the plane filled with smoke : Bird feathers found in South Korea passenger jet engine after crash which killed 179 : Miami Mystery: G550 Jet Hits Unknown Object at 27,000 Feet : Passenger opens aircraft door before takeoff at Logan Airport : United 777 Engine Failure : Veteran United Airlines Flight Attendant Slams ‘Lazy’ Post-Pandemic New Hires Who Lack ‘Class, Etiquette, And Professionalism’ : New Report Alleges The FAA Doesn't Investigate The Majority Of Whistleblower Complaints : Russian Aviation Crisis: Two Passenger Jets Suffer Mid-Flight Engine Failures : Qantas Retires Final Boeing 717 Aircraft : China Certifies Its First All-Electric General Aviation Aircraft : The Federal Aviation Administration Boosts Pilot and Technician Training Through New Grants : Calendar of Events Incident: Camair B737 near Garoua on Jan 5th 2025, loss of cabin pressure A Camair Boeing 737-700, registration TJ-QCA performing flight QC-222 from Yaounde to Garoua (Cameroon), was in the initial descent towards Garoua when the cabin pressure was lost, the passenger oxygen masks were released. The aircraft performed an emergency descent and continued for a safe landing at Garoua. The airline reported a cabin depressurization occurred during the approach to Garoua requiring the immediate deployment of oxygen masks. The aircraft remained on the ground in Garoua for about 2 days, then positioned to Douala (Cameroon). https://avherald.com/h?article=522888ad&opt=0 Incident: Edelweiss A343 over Iraq on Jan 6th 2025, engine shut down in flight An Edelweiss Airbus A340-300, registration HB-JMG performing flight WK-66 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Male (Maldives), was enroute at FL350 over Iraq when the crew descended the aircraft to FL310 due to an engine (CFM56) failure. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) for a safe landing on runway 12L about 90 minutes after leaving FL350. The aircraft is still on the ground about 16 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52287767&opt=0 The Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) Announces Newly Appointed Chief Operating Officer Jason Starke Industry icon formally joins the BASC Leadership Team to help steer the premiere SMS Verification/SMS Excellence provider! Jason Starke has been named the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Business Aviation Safety Consortium. With BASC's continually growing membership, outreach and influence, industry standing, subject matter expertise, and ever-changing playing field, it was becoming ever more apparent that there was a need to create and fill a new leadership role in the organization. The moment Jason became available, the discussions began on how best to partner to keep BASC as the premiere SMS Verification and Operational Excellence Partner. Jason has been a raving fan of BASC since its inception and has communicated regularly with the BASC team and Clients over the past eight years. Rick Malczynski, Founder and President of BASC, has personally known Jason for almost fifteen years and has more closely interacted with him over the past ten years. Jason has acted as a BASC Facilitator/Auditor, and has been the IEP Review Team Lead for the past year, and will continue to fulfill those roles. He was recently appointed as Chairman of the BASC Standardization Board. Jason Starke’s professional journey began in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a satellite systems operator. He earned his B.S. in Meteorology from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Aviation Science from Everglades University. He also holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from North Central University. Prior to joining BASC, Jason held leadership positions at Baldwin, International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), and Universal Weather and Aviation. Operational highlights include the Director of Safety at Priester Aviation and as a Flight Safety International instructor. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and is rated in the CE-500, CL-600, and HS-125. He also holds a 14 CFR 107 remote pilot in command license for UAS operations. Jason has served on the Safety Management and Flight Operations panels at ICAO and has been an active member of the NBAA Safety Committee since 2013. Additionally, he serves as an instructor at the University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering, in the Aviation Safety Management System course. Jason, Crystal, and their two teenage sons reside in Houston, Texas. Rick Malczynski will continue in his role as Founder and President. ### About the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (AviationConsortium.com, LLC or BASC): Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BASC serves as a logical partner for SMS, regulatory, and operational excellence verification for high performing business aviation organizations. BASC was founded in 2016 and accepted the first member in January of 2017. For more information, visit http://www.aviationconsortium.com Cessna 208 Caravan 675 - Fatal Accident (Australia) Date: Tuesday 7 January 2025 Time: c 16:00 LT Type: Cessna 208 Caravan 675 Owner/operator: Swan River Seaplanes Registration: VH-WTY MSN: 20800586 Year of manufacture: 2016 Engine model: P&W Canada PT6A-114A Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 7 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Category: Accident Location: off Rottnest Island, near Thomson Bay, WA - Australia Phase: Take off Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Rottnest Island, WA Destination airport: YEQY Investigating agency: ATSB Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A float equipped Cessna 208 Caravan 675 crashed during a takeoff attempt from Thomson Bay off Rottnest Island, Western Australia. The pilot and two occupants perished, three occupants suffered serious injuries and one occupant remained uninjured. A video of the accident shows the plane banking left immediately after take-off. The wingtip hit the water and the aircraft nosed down into the water. Some sources reported that the aircraft hit a rock before banking left. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/470116 Swiss flight attendant died due to 'severe lack of oxygen' after the plane filled with smoke A Swiss International Air Lines flight made an emergency landing last month. The Airbus A220's cabin was filled with smoke after encountering an engine problem. An autopsy said a flight attendant died due to hypoxic brain damage, Blick reported. A 23-year-old Swiss International Air Lines flight attendant died due to a "severe lack of oxygen to the brain," according to an autopsy reported by Blick, Switzerland's largest newspaper. It comes after an incident on December 23, when Swiss Flight 1885 encountered engine problems, and the cabin was filled with smoke. The Airbus A220 was flying from Bucharest, Romania, to Zurich when it made an emergency landing in Graz, Austria. All 74 passengers and five crew members were evacuated, 17 of whom required medical attention, the airline said. A week later, Swiss announced that one of the flight's cabin crew members died in the hospital in Graz. "We are devastated at our dear colleague's death," said CEO Jens Fehlinger. "His loss has left us all in the deepest shock and grief. Our thoughts are with his family, whose pain we cannot imagine." Blick reported that the public prosecutor's office in Graz has launched an investigation into the flight attendant's death. A spokesperson told the newspaper that a Friday autopsy found the provisional cause of death to be hypoxic brain damage and cerebral edema, meaning brain swelling. "The brain was massively damaged by a severe lack of oxygen, and the young flight attendant died of it in the intensive care unit," the spokesperson told Blick. "We are also looking into the role played by the respiratory mask that the flight attendant was wearing," he added. The Graz public prosecutor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider. Swiss said the investigation's initial findings point to a problem in one of the plane's Pratt & Whitney engines. "We have no indication that the safety of the aircraft type is in question," it added. https://www.yahoo.com/news/swiss-flight-attendant-died-due-113524124.html Bird feathers found in South Korea passenger jet engine after crash which killed 179 On 29 December Jeju Air 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800 jet, was flying from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan, South Korea, when it crash-landed, killing 179 people. Bird feathers have been found in the engine of a South Korean passenger jet that crashed, killing 179 people. Jeju Air 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800 jet, was flying from the Thai capital of Bangkok to Muan, South Korea, on 29 December when it crash-landed, skidding off the runway into a wall and exploding into flames. Of the 175 passengers and six crew members on board, only two crew survived and were pulled from the wreckage. Park Sang-woo, South Korea's transport minister, plans to resign, saying: "I feel heavy responsibility for this disaster." He added he would try to find the right time to resign after addressing the current situation. Lead investigator Lee Seung-yeol said feathers were found in one of the engines recovered from the crash scene. He added that video footage showed there was a bird strike on one of the engines. Police are also investigating how the airfield wall the plane hit was constructed. Last week officers raided Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport. On Monday, two investigators left for the US to recover and analyse a flight data recorder which was damaged during the crash. The device, and a cockpit voice recorder, are the two black boxes that contain key information about the crash. Mr Lee said it would take three days to extract the data and another two to conduct a preliminary analysis. https://news.sky.com/story/bird-feathers-found-in-south-korea-passenger-jet-engine-after-crash-which-killed-179-13285066 Miami Mystery: G550 Jet Hits Unknown Object at 27,000 Feet A Gulfstream G550 private jet struck an unidentified metallic object while operating in regulated airspace near Miami at 27,000 feet on 11 December 2024. What exactly struck the light jet at 27,000 feet as it transited from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE) to New York’s Westchester County Airport (KHPN) is not known. Damage was subsequently reported to one of the aircraft’s engine cowlings. A report by the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network refers to the midair incident. ASN states that the incident involved a privately-owned Gulfstream G550, registered N553RB. The ASN report referred to the collision and subsequent reported damage. “The aircraft struck a bird or UAS and post flight inspection revealed damage to the right engine cowling.” While most bird strikes happen at lower altitudes, some birds can fly at extremely high altitudes. There have been documented cases of bird strikes at 27,000 feet and even higher. However, these incidents at high altitude are extremely rare. ASA’s Ryan Graves Speaks Out Ryan Graves, the executive director of the organization Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA) spoke out on the event. He took to social media earlier this month to discuss the mid-air incident. Led by former US Navy aviator Ryan Graves, Americans for Safe Aerospace is a non-profit organization. ASA dedicates itself to aerospace safety and national security with a focus on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Posting on X, Graves revealed that ASA had received a whistleblower information on the Miami incident. The whistleblower alleged a mid air collision between the private jet and an unidentified object. The source claimed the event took place off the Florida coast on December 11th. The incident, which occurred at 27,000 feet, reportedly resulted in engine damage and an emergency landing. The whistleblower claims the object, likely a drone, was operating illegally in restricted airspace without a flight plan or transponder. Graves expressed concern that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be downplaying the incident involving the unknown object. According to the ASA head, the incident took place in Class A controlled airspace. He stated that the object which the light jet struck was not squawking a transponder code. There was no record of a flight plan having been filed. Of course, a birdstrike would explain the lack of a required flight plan and transponder code. However, Graves relevantly states that there was no biological indicator of a bird strike. In addition, video of the engine showed metal damage. “We can largely eliminate the possibility of common objects. A weather balloon would have been transponding. This altitude is too high for hobby drones and illegal for any drone,” said Graves. “I am concerned the incident is being downplayed by FAA,” he concluded. The ‘incident’ classification change could potentially avoid the need for a formal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). It would also obviate the need for a mandatory public announcement. What exactly struck the Gulfstream G500 at 27,000 feet in regulated airspace remains a mystery. https://aviationsourcenews.com/miami-mystery-g550-jet-hit-by-unknown-object-at-27000-feet/#google_vignette Passenger opens aircraft door before takeoff at Logan Airport BOSTON (WWLP) – A passenger aboard a JetBlue flight was arrested Tuesday evening at Logan Airport after opening the aircraft door and leaving the plane before takeoff. Healey will sign health care oversight bill According to state police, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on a departing flight. The individual, who reportedly wanted to leave the plane, opened the door without warning. Other passengers quickly restrained the person until law enforcement arrived to detain them. Authorities confirmed that the passenger is expected to face charges and will be arraigned in East Boston District Court on Wednesday. The individual’s identity has not been released, as charges are still being finalized. Preliminary investigation confirmed that this was an isolated incident and poses no threat to public safety, according to police. We will continue to update this story as soon as new information becomes available. https://www.wwlp.com/news/digital-first/passenger-opens-aircraft-door-before-takeoff-at-logan-airport/ United 777 Engine Failure The detail of the incident is shared by a passenger on the Reddit forum who wrote, “During flight UA1828 Jan 3rd, 2025, the pilot announced we lost an engine (Boeing 777-200) and had to divert to Atlanta, 40 minutes later we landed. Obviously, an aircraft can fly on one engine, but during those 40 minutes, your mind sure does wander.” According to FlightRadar24, United Airlines flight UA1828 took off from Orlando at 9:35 PM UTC. After being airborne for around one hour, the flight crew reported that they have lost one of the engines. Following this they made a precautionary landing at Atlanta at 11:33 PM UTC. The passenger disembarked safely from the aircraft at Gate 17 in Concourse E. The flight was operated by Boeing 777-200ER, registered as N221UA. Further, it is a 23.6-year-old aircraft powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engines. United Boeing 777-200ER has a total of 362 seats including 32 First Class and 330 Economy Seats. However, the exact number of passengers onboard the flight is not known. The airline changed the aircraft and it took off after 7 hours from Atlanta at 6:54 AM UTC and landed safely at Chicago at 8:30 AM UTC. United Airlines (UA) flight from Orlando (MCO) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) operated by Boeing 777 reported engine failure mid-air and was diverted to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on January 3, 2025. Diversion Protocols Airlines implement strict protocols regarding diversion airport selection during emergencies, particularly in critical scenarios involving engine failures on twin-engine aircraft. The industry mandates landing at the “nearest suitable airport” during specific non-normal conditions, prioritizing immediate safety over operational convenience. The aviation sector defines the “nearest suitable airport” through comprehensive airline manuals and non-normal checklists. These documents specify requirements including adequate runway length, favorable weather conditions, and sufficient firefighting capabilities. This definition explicitly excludes non-safety considerations such as maintenance facilities, backup aircraft availability, or passenger service infrastructure. Most mechanical diversions operate outside the “nearest suitable airport” mandate, even when declaring emergencies. Airlines permit diversions to airports with maintenance and customer service capabilities during less severe mechanical issues. However, specific scenarios trigger mandatory “nearest suitable” criteria, including twin-engine aircraft experiencing engine failure, uncontrollable fires, or critical electrical system failures. Similar Incidents Air India Flight AI2820, operating from Bengaluru to Delhi, experienced an engine stall on January 5, 2025. The incident involved an Airbus A320 aircraft, formerly operated by Vistara, registered as VT-TQE. The 3.8-year-old aircraft utilizes CFM LEAP-1A engines. Delta Air Lines encountered a significant incident when flames were seen from an A330 aircraft engine during its takeoff from Atlanta International Airport bound for Sao Paulo on January 1, 2025. The airline transferred 257 passengers to a replacement aircraft, resulting in a five-hour arrival delay at their Brazilian destination. American Airlines Flight 1722 executed an emergency landing at JFK Airport on November 13, 2024, following a bird strike incident after departing LaGuardia Airport. The Charlotte-bound aircraft suffered engine failure and subsequent fire when a bird collided with the engine during the initial climb phase. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/01/08/united-airlines-777-experience-engine-failure/#google_vignette Veteran United Airlines Flight Attendant Slams ‘Lazy’ Post-Pandemic New Hires Who Lack ‘Class, Etiquette, And Professionalism’ A veteran United Airlines flight attendant has slammed colleagues hired during a rush by the Chicago-based carrier to bolster its inflight workforce as travel demand quickly bounced back from the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling them lazy and lacking in class, etiquette, and professionalism. The frustrated crew member made the allegations in response to a complaint from a United passenger who claimed the flight attendants on a recent flight were rowdy and yelling profanities at one another for the duration of the service. a man standing in front of a group of people in blue uniforms New hire flight attendants at United Airlines’ massive training facility in Houston, Texas. Credit: UAL “These are the post-covid symptoms of hiring people from the workers-release program,” the veteran flight attendant said in response to the complaint posted on the social media platform Reddit. At the height of the pandemic, many senior flight attendant took up ‘early out’ offers from United, permanently hanging up their wings over fears that the aviation industry would never be the same again. But when passengers started to return to the skies in their droves, airlines were left on the back foot and had to hire fresh new workers as quickly as possible to keep up with the demand. “Standards went out the window, 100%,” the veteran crew member said of the recruitment campaigns run by many airlines, not just United, who found themselves in the same situation. “The new hires we’ve been getting the last few years are, for the most part, unanimously hated amongst the entire workgroup,” the disgruntled crew member continued. “You can’t generalize every single one, of course, but for every good one, there are 10 awful, embarrassing godawful ones.” “They aren’t hired for their attention to class, etiquette, professionalism, service, etc. like it once was. A scary amount of these people only have Taco Bell and McDonald’s as prior work experience on their resume.” The flight attendant alleges that their new hire colleagues have no sense of decorum, find any passenger request an inconvenience, and “cannot manage to get through a flight without an airpod in their ear.” “Getting paid nearly $70/hr to hand out drinks with a smile is easy f**king work. They do nothing but undermine the rest of the professionals in the workgroup.” This kind of complaint is certainly not unique to United Airlines and rivals like Delta, who once boasted that it was easier to get into an Ivy League School than score a job as one of its flight attendants, went on massive hiring sprees in the years after 2020. Customers and veteran flight attendants at Delta have also complained of declining standards amongst some crew members hired during this period. Interestingly, both Delta and United ran flight attendant recruitment campaigns late last year and were reportedly far more willing to reject candidates than during the post-pandemic hiring rounds. That being said, Delta did have to send an email to interviewees that they must wear “proper undergarments” during their assessment day. The email also instructed candidates to “maintain their personal cleanliness and hygiene” and ensure their fingernails were clean. It’s not just US-based carriers that have faced concerns about new hire cabin crew, with some passengers also making complaints about flight attendants at famously strict Gulf-based carriers like Emirates and even Qatar Airways. In the case of United Airlines, however, allegations of declining service standards could also be linked to a contract dispute that is rumbling on between the carrier and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA). After more than three years of bargaining, little progress has been made in securing an updated contract, and while it’s illegal for flight attendants to take so-called ‘self-help’ action until released to do so by the independent National Mediation Board, there’s the perception that morale has been seriously impacted by the feud. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2025/01/08/veteran-united-airlines-flight-attendant-slams-lazy-post-pandemic-new-hires-who-lack-class-etiquette-and-professionalism/ New Report Alleges The FAA Doesn't Investigate The Majority Of Whistleblower Complaints With everything Boeing has gone through in the last few years, particularly after the Alaska Airlines midair blowout incident a year ago, there’s been intense scrutiny of the production practices at the company. Among the many things that surfaced during this time was the culture of reporting malpractices in the organizartion and its factories. While the process of pointing out company flaws by employees within the aerospace sector has received some strength in recent times, a new report points out major gaps in the entire system. Few complaints get investigated A report by The Seattle Times has pointed out significant shortcomings in the way employee complaints are treated at the aerospace sector in the United States. It says that between 2020 and 2023, 728 safety complaints were made regarding the safety of aircraft, out of which the Federal Aviation Administration authorized 285 for investigation. Of these, no violations were found in 223 cases. Out of the total complaints, 263 were closed on preliminary review. The Seattle Times cites congressional reports and says that the Office of Audit and Evaluation dismissed nearly 4 out of 10 complaints before reaching the fact-finding phase. Not easy being a whistleblower It’s never easy to escalate company flaws at higher levels, as most of the time these come at tremendous personal and professional risk for the employees who make them. Over 90% of these complaints between 2020 and 2023 were found to have no violation by the FAA. As pointed out by The Seattle Times, if a complaint lacks sufficient information to investigate, it is dismissed by the FAA during the preliminary stages. Another reason for not pursuing them is if it’s a repeat allegation that’s already being investigated. A former FAA employee, Jason Brock, was referenced in the report. He worked at the agency for 14 years and was asked by his supervisor to install runway lights, something he was not qualified to do. He filed a complaint with the FAA about the supervisor, but that was rejected by the agency’s Office of Audit and Evaluation. Brock was also asked to leave in 2020 for refusing to do the work. He filed an appeal against his firing with the FAA-run Guaranteed Fair Treatment, but there wasn’t enough workforce to hear his case. Brock was quoted as saying, “Guaranteed Fair Treatment Program? Yeah, right. It hurts my heart to know that there are other cases like mine.” Another example is of Santiago Paredes, who worked as a quality inspector at Spirit AeroSystems for more than a decade. He says that when his constant complaints of manufacturing flaws at the company went unnoticed, he chose to quit his job and move out of Wichita with his family. However, Paredes says that whistleblowing comes at a price and that his actions have had him being labeled as a ‘problem employee.’ He also said that the quality director at his new company received a call from someone at Spirit in an attempt to impact his employment. Whistleblowers in the aerospace sector often self-finance their cases and have to manage their finances while paying essential bills. More often than not, they lose their fight, as their opponents are large corporations backed by a team of lawyers and lobbyists. Boeing Quality Investigator Claims Faulty Parts Have Been Used "Repeatedly" To Produce Planes Faster The Boeing employee says that nonconforming parts often made their way to airplanes. Jackie Garrick, president and CEO of Whistleblowers of America, a nonprofit aimed at supporting whistleblowers' mental health, was quoted by The Seattle Times as saying, “It’s a David versus Goliath power imbalance. David had God on his side. Most whistleblowers are pretty much alone.” Flawed system Whistleblower advocates who are familiar with the workings of the FAA say that while the agency’s website claims the process of its in-house whistleblower and appeals as being independent, that’s not exactly the case. Tom Devine, a whistleblower attorney, says that the FAA’s administrator is the final authority on its investigations and many other whistleblower advocates have pointed out that oversight agencies are often influenced by the industries that they are supposed to regulate. The entire report can be found at The Seattle Times. Simple Flying also reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration for comments on these findings and a company spokesperson stated the following: “Voluntary reporting without fear of reprisal is a critical component in aviation safety, and FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker has made employee safety reporting a priority. The Office of Audit and Evaluation is an independent body within the FAA and it ensures the agency thoroughly investigates every report that includes sufficient information.” https://simpleflying.com/new-report-the-faa-ignores-majority-whistleblower-complaints/ Russian Aviation Crisis: Two Passenger Jets Suffer Mid-Flight Engine Failures Following these incidents, both airlines announced that the affected aircraft had been grounded for technical inspections and further assessment. Two Russian commercial flights were forced to return to their departure airports shortly after takeoff due to engine failures, The Moscow Times reported, citing Aviatorschina Telegram channel. The first incident occurred on Friday, Jan. 3, with a Ural Airlines Airbus A321neo on a flight from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to Yekaterinburg. At an altitude of 4,500 meters, the aircraft’s left engine failed. The crew quickly informed air traffic controllers of the issue and decided to return to the departure airport. The second case involved a NordStar Airlines Boeing 737 operating a flight from Volgograd to Yekaterinburg on the evening of Jan. 2. At an altitude of 11,300 meters, the plane’s left engine also malfunctioned, forcing the crew to turn back and land at Gumrak Airport in Volgograd. Following these incidents, both airlines announced that the affected aircraft had been grounded for technical inspections and further assessment of their condition. According to the report, before the war in Ukraine, Russia’s fleet consisted of 1,031 aircraft, with two-thirds manufactured by Boeing and Airbus. However, Western sanctions have since banned the maintenance of these aircraft and restricted the supply of new parts, pushing airlines to resort to “cannibalizing” planes—using parts from some aircraft to repair others. Analysts from Oliver Wyman predict that by 2026, Russia’s aviation fleet could shrink by more than half. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has also flagged Russia with a “red flag” designation, indicating a low level of flight safety—a rating shared by only a handful of countries, including Bhutan, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Compounding these issues, aviation incidents in Russia have reached a six-year high. By November 2024, 208 incidents had been recorded—a 30% increase compared to the same period in 2023. In late November and early December alone, three Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft suffered failures during flights. In August, Kyiv Post reported that some airlines are now rationing fuel as Moscow’s already struggling commercial airlines stagger from one crisis to another. Pilots from Pobeda Airlines, a low-cost carrier in the Aeroflot group, have raised alarms over dangerously low fuel levels, alleging that aircraft are sometimes refueled below the minimum required for safe journeys. While avoiding mention of the effect of Ukrainian strikes against Russian fuel depots, the pilots described these practices as “criminal,” blaming economic pressures and rising fuel prices. They argue that the reduced fuel margins, combined with inadequate maintenance, severely compromise safety. Russian aviation fuel prices, according to the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, have risen by 30% since March 2022, further straining operations. Reports suggest fuel calculations are being made for the shortest possible routes, with no allowance for weather deviations or airport delays. https://www.kyivpost.com/post/44980 Qantas Retires Final Boeing 717 Aircraft ‍DALLAS — Qantas (QF) has retired its last Boeing 717, which temporarily entered service at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, it incorporated Airbus A220-300 models into its fleet. The aircraft (registration VH-YQW) landed in Brisbane (BNE) on December 30. It has been donated to an aviation school and will reportedly be used for training and education. The Boeing 717, which was supposed to be retired in October 2024, was briefly returned to service in November last year - while newer A220-300 aircraft were being entered into the QF fleet. After VH-YQW ended its “final flying days” at the end of October, it returned to the skies in early November before making its final flight to BNE in late December. Its service return was necessary to integrate new A220s into QF’s domestic fleet. Qantas Domestic Fleet In October 2024, QantasLink announced it would discontinue operating the Boeing 717 after more than two decades in service with the Qantas Group. The first two of 29 Airbus A220s entered service with QF in March last year. Another four aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to QF by mid-2025. The A220 offers various benefits for QF. These aircraft offer almost double the range, lower emissions per seat, and a more comfortable passenger experience than the 717. The 717 first entered the QF fleet after the QF Group acquired former Impulse Airways (VQ) in 2001. Impulse had operated low-cost flights on trunk routes within Australia with its Beechcraft 1900D and Boeing 717 fleet. QF acquired VQ in 2001 to form the basis of Qantas's new regional airline, Qantaslink. QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said the 717 had a long history with QF. The aircraft launched airline partner Jetstar’s inaugural services in 2004. QantasLink was one of the last three commercial airlines worldwide to operate the 717. The aircraft could carry around 100 passengers on flights and was widely used for regional services. https://www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/qantas-retires-final-boeing-717-aircraft China Certifies Its First All-Electric General Aviation Aircraft China's first Electric Aircraft has officially been certified by the State regulatory body. The RX4E is a light propeller aircraft that seats four people. It was developed by the Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA) for use in areas with limited road infrastructure. Cleared to fly Chinese state media confirmed that the RX4E has secured Type Certification issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China ( CAAC ) on December 29th, 2024. The RX4E is the first purely electric aircraft designed in accordance with CCAR-23, China's civil aviation regulations governing airworthiness for normal category aircraft, which the CAAC said signals a breakthrough in new energy aviation technology. The type certificate will allow the aircraft to advance past the experimental phase and enter mass production. The aircraft was independently developed by the Liaoning General Aviation Academy of Shenyang Aerospace University and can achieve a maximum flight time of 1.5 hours. The type certification process took just over five years, and three models of the aircraft have accumulated over 1,200 flight hours and 1,800 takeoffs and landings since the RX4E made its maiden flight in 2019. In a LinkedIn post, LGAA's global sales partner, Volar Air Mobility, "We are pleased to share that the RX4E, a four-seater electric aircraft developed by the Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA), has secured Type Certification (TC No.: 0095A) issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on 29 Dec 2024. With this, the RX4E has become the World’s First electric aircraft certified under Part 23 regulations (commercial use). "This milestone marks a new era for sustainable aviation, paving the way for commercialization of Electric Aircraft in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market. "As LGAA’s global partner, Volar is committed to introducing the RX e-series globally. This green aviation solution aims to bridge gaps in short-haul regional air mobility, specifically in developing countries with limited road infrastructure." According to the Global Times, the aircraft made its maiden flight from the Cai Hu airport near Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province. An electric alternative The RX4E is now the world's first electric aircraft certified under Part 23 regulations for commercial use. The aircraft is designed with an upper single wing, low flat tail, front propeller, and front three-point nonretractable landing gear. The aircraft uses a significant amount of carbon fiber composite materials, which account for 77% of the total structural weight of the plane. The RX4E is also the world's first electric aircraft with battery-swapping technology. The aircraft features a wingspan of 13.5 meters and a length of 8.4 meters, with a maximum takeoff weight of 1,260 kg, including the 860kg of the aircraft itself. It is powered by a lithium battery with a total capacity of 70 kWh and has an electric propulsion system capable of reaching a maximum output of 140 kW for a top speed of 260km per hour or a cruising speed of 200km/hr. With a flight time of one and a half hours, the plane has a range of around 300km. The aircraft is being designed for a wide range of potential uses. According to its manufacturers, it can be used for private or commercial license pilot training, aviation experience flights, personal entertainment flights, tourism, agriculture, and forestry detection. The primary mission, however, is to connect areas with limited infrastructure thanks to the aircraft's ability to land on hard grass or sand. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, the founding chairman of Hong Kong-based Volar Air Mobility, Henry Hooi Hing-lee, confirmed the company has agreements with the developers to commercialize the plane in 15 countries: “The electric aircraft seeks to address the local population’s needs, particularly in countries where the road infrastructure is perhaps lacking. “We also intend to work with local partners to potentially manufacture the RX series of green aircraft in each of the continents.” Still to come, LGAA is also exploring a hydrogen variant of the RX4E that it hopes to certify in the coming years. https://simpleflying.com/china-certifies-first-electric-aircraft/ The Federal Aviation Administration Boosts Pilot and Technician Training Through New Grants The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is paving the way for the future of aviation by offering two grant programs designed to foster a diverse and skilled workforce of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians. Building the Future of Aviation Careers The Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants aim to inspire and educate students to become aircraft pilots or operators of unmanned aircraft systems. Meanwhile, the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants focus on preparing individuals for careers as aviation maintenance technicians. Both programs are essential to addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the aviation industry. Funding Opportunities for Eligible Organizations Organizations eligible to apply for these grants can request up to $1 million per grant, per fiscal year. Applications must be submitted through grants.gov by February 5, 2025. Last year, the FAA awarded a total of $13.5 million in grants to over 30 schools and organizations, supporting initiatives that enhance access to aviation education and training across the United States. Detailed Guidelines for Applicants The FAA’s Notice of Funding Opportunity outlines key details, including eligibility criteria, application deadlines, evaluation processes, and submission requirements. This document serves as a comprehensive guide for organizations interested in applying. Through these grants, the FAA continues its commitment to cultivating a highly skilled and diverse aviation workforce, ensuring the industry’s growth and innovation in the years to come. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/the-federal-aviation-administration-boosts-pilot-and-technician-training-through-new-grants/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS · Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) · · "Automation in Transportation: Lessons for Safe Implementation," on March 11-12, 2025, in Washington, DC. · 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