Flight Safety Information - January 14, 2025 No. 010 In This Issue : Incident: Wizz A21N at Krakow on Jan 2nd 2025, cleared to land and landed on occupied runway : Incident: United B39M at Chicago on Jan 12th 2025, coyote strike on departure : Los Angeles couple says they were nearly crushed by ‘watermelon-size’ chunk of ice falling from JetBlue plane : Suspect who opened plane door in Boston charged with interfering aircraft operations : FBI searching for drone operator that damaged firefighting water scooper plane in Los Angeles : Ryanair calls for alcoholic drink limit at EU airports amid legal action against unruly passenger : Jet stream winds over 200 mph impact US flights : TSA finds record number of guns at Idaho airports in 2024 : United Airlines Pilots Replace Their ALPA Chair Before Her Term Ends : CEO of lessor SMBC Aviation says almost every aircraft being delayed : ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025, DENVER, COLORADO CALL FOR PAPERS : Volunteers needed for Greenwich led aeroplane evacuation trials : Calendar of Events Incident: Wizz A21N at Krakow on Jan 2nd 2025, cleared to land and landed on occupied runway A Wizz Air Airbus A321-200N, registration 9H-WBI performing flight W6-2068 from Milan Malpensa (Italy) to Krakow (Poland), was cleared to land and landed on Krakow's runway 25. Poland's PKBWL reported however, that the runway was occupied with a departing Jet2 Boeing 737-800 registration G-JZBA flight LS-950 to Manchester,EN (UK), rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. https://avherald.com/h?article=522c7104&opt=0 Incident: United B39M at Chicago on Jan 12th 2025, coyote strike on departure A United Boeing 737-9 MAX, registration N37507 performing flight UA-1727 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from runway 28R when the aircraft struck a coyote. The aircraft stopped the climb at 6000 feet and returned to Chicago for a safe landing on runway 28R about 40 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A COYOTE ON DEPARTURE DAMAGING RIGHT NOSE GEAR, CHICAGO, IL.", the aircraft sustained minor damage. The aircraft returned to service about 4 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=522c6540&opt=0 Los Angeles couple says they were nearly crushed by ‘watermelon-size’ chunk of ice falling from JetBlue plane A Los Angeles couple narrowly escaped “devastating physical injury” when a watermelon-size chunk of ice plummeted from a commercial airliner passing overhead and smashed through the roof of their home, landing inches from their bed and leaving the pair in ongoing fear for their lives. The ice fell from a JetBlue Airbus A321-231 traveling from New York City’s JFK International Airport to LAX, doing six-figures worth of physical damage and forcing the pair to move for fear of a repeat incident, according to a million-dollar lawsuit obtained by The Independent. Following the terrifying near-miss, Michael Reese and Leah Ferrarini would “cringe in fear with each plane that passed over their home which is approximately one every five minutes,” the complaint states. It says they can “no longer sleep comfortably… without thinking of the incident,” causing persistent insomnia that has had a real-world effect on their lives. “The insomnia has forced… Reese to turn down work as a commercial driver in the TV and Film Industry,” the complaint goes on. “The incident has overall made them anxious and depressed, feeling unsafe in what was their dream home.” In an email on Monday, a JetBlue spokesperson said, “At JetBlue, safety is our number one priority and guides everything we do. Due to ongoing litigation, we will not be commenting on this matter.” JetBlue argued in a response filed January 9 in LA federal court that it is not liable for the destruction caused by the falling ice, claiming it had been in conformity with all “statutes, governmental regulations, and industry standards” at the time. Reese and Ferrarini purchased the three-bed, two-bath house in the Century Heights section of Inglewood, an LA suburb just east of LAX, in June 2020, according to the complaint. “They worked with a contractor’s team to renovate and build their dream home where they intended to reside for many years,” it says. However, “this dream was ruined… on January 1, 2024, at or about 8:09 pm,” when “a large block of ice, the size of [a] watermelon,” suddenly slammed into their bedroom, directly by their pillows, and nearly striking them, the complaint continues. It came from JetBlue flight 2715, which was directly above Reese and Ferrarini’s house at that exact moment, according to the complaint. FAA inspectors allegedly found misthreaded fasteners connecting a valve that caused a leak, which then froze at altitude and broke free over Michael Reese and Leah Ferrarini’s home (AFP via Getty Images) FAA inspectors allegedly found misthreaded fasteners connecting a valve that caused a leak, which then froze at altitude and broke free over Michael Reese and Leah Ferrarini’s home (AFP via Getty Images) The complaint says the pair called 911 to report what had happened, and the local police and fire departments showed up to investigate. The FAA opened its own probe into the matter, according to the complaint, which says the agency found that the aircraft in question had “a history of potable water issues dating back to July 2023.” It was allegedly responsible for a similar incident in August 2023, when it discharged another slab of “clear ice” that crashed through the roof of a home in the Boston area, the complaint states. The shaken family living there initially thought their house had been struck by lightning, according to news reports at the time. Ten days after the ice fell through Reese and Ferrarini’s roof, the FAA ordered a review of the plane’s potable water and drainage systems, which were found to be defective, according to the complaint. It says inspectors found misthreaded fasteners connecting a valve that caused a leak, which then froze at altitude and broke free over Reese and Ferrarini’s home. However, the complaint contends, JetBlue should have performed the inspection a year earlier, following the incident in Shirley. Had the airline done so, it says Reese and Ferrarini’s home — and lives — would still be intact. Ice falling from aircraft is unusual, but not unheard of. In 2016, a large piece of “frozen excrement” slammed into a home near the Canadian capital of Ottawa, destroying a section of roof and nearly hitting a woman asleep in bed. In 2023, a homeowner in England was shocked to hear what she thought was “some sort of explosion” while she was on a call for work, only to find a huge block of ice, thought to have fallen from an airplane landing at Heathrow, had ripped an enormous hole in her ceiling. “I went up to the attic and saw ice everywhere and I was confused where it had come from — it was like something from a movie,” Carla George said at the time. Last year, a New Jersey family living in a flight path to Newark Liberty International Airport suffered major damage to their roof when an estimated 300-pound hunk of ice plowed into their home, tearing a hole clear through to the second floor. Reese and Ferrarini say their experience has had a “lasting and profound effect” on both of them, causing “severe emotional distress and necessitating treatment.” In addition to the property damage, which court filings say ran some $360,000, the two claim they no longer feel safe in their own home “with the constant fear that they may be struck again by falling debris from an aircraft,” according to their complaint. “Because they no longer feel safe in their home due to the incident, Plaintiffs are forced to move from their dream home and find another place to live for which they will incur substantial costs,” it states. Reese and Ferrarini are demanding a combined $300,000 for emotional distress; $300,000 for pain, suffering, and inconvenice; and $40,000 for present and future medical expenses. https://www.yahoo.com/news/los-angeles-couple-says-were-171918185.html Suspect who opened plane door in Boston charged with interfering aircraft operations BOSTON (WWLP) – The JetBlue passenger who allegedly opened a plane door before take off at Logan International Airport was in court on Wednesday. Shelter arrest raises concerns statewide Angel Luis Morales Torres, 23, of Puerto Rico is charged with interfering with aircraft operation, according to NBC Boston. The incident occurred Tuesday night after he allegedly opened the door of a plane. Torres was allegedly in the Boston area with his girlfriend to attend a friend’s graduation and they were heading back to Puerto Rico. In court, the attorney representing Torres said that he suffered a psychiatric episode on the plane. Other passengers on the plane said he had been fighting with his girlfriend moments before. His bail is set at $500 and he’s scheduled to return to court on March 4th. https://www.yahoo.com/news/suspect-opened-plane-door-boston-115519680.html FBI searching for drone operator that damaged firefighting water scooper plane in Los Angeles The FBI has released photos of a Super Scooper firefighting plane that was damaged when it collided with a drone that someone was flying near the site of the Los Angeles wildfires. According to fire officials, the plane hit a privately owned drone, which caused significant damage to its left wing. The impact put a 3x6 hold in the wind, which forced the plane to land for repairs and caused a 20-to-30-minute delay in its operations. Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's LA field office, said on Saturday that whoever flew the drone put people's lives in danger. "I'd just like to stress, that technique, using that super scooper aircraft, are our most effective technique to fight fires like this, and when this happens, it puts everybody's lives at risk," Davis said, according to ABC 7. Super Scooper planes fly low and pick up water, which is then dumped over wildfires. The FAA has restricted the airspace over the wildfires to prevent danger to the public and the firefighters and law enforcement operating in the area. Even with the restrictions in place, people are still flying drones in the region. Videos captured by drones of destroyed neighborhoods and raging fires have been shared on social media, but could get the pilots jail time. "Our biggest concern is that there are so many unauthorized drones in the area that they are impacting law enforcement and firefighters' efforts to suppress this fire and actually get it contained," Davis said. In the meantime, investigators are trying to find the owner of the drone that hit the Canadian aircraft. "We'll work backwards through investigative means to try and recreate that drone and figure out what company owns that drone and who it was assigned to," Davis said. On Thursday, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said anyone caught flying a drone in restricted airspace will face serious consequences. "If you're thinking that it's fine to send a drone up in the area for your own amusement, or you want to get information that nobody else can get, and you do it in one of these areas that for which drones are not permitted ... you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished to the full extent of the law," he said. The FAA said even when a temporary flight restriction isn't in place, drone pilots should keep their craft away from wildfires to prevent potentially interfering with firefighting or police operations. "It's a federal crime to interfere with firefighting aircraft regardless of whether restrictions are established, and violators can face stiff penalties," according to the FAA. https://www.yahoo.com/news/fbi-searching-drone-operator-damaged-195048592.html Ryanair calls for alcoholic drink limit at EU airports amid legal action against unruly passenger NEW YORK (AP) — Ryanair is calling on European authorities to limit the sale of alcoholic beverages at airports across the continent, as the Irish airline continues legal action against a passenger who it says caused a costly flight diversion last year. The budget airline is seeking more than 15,000 euros ($15,324) in damages over the April 2024 incident. Ryanair alleges that this passenger's “inexcusable behaviour” on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in Spain's Canary Islands was so disruptive that it forced the aircraft to divert to Porto, Portugal for safety — where crew members and over 160 other passengers were later delayed overnight. After announcing its civil suit against the passenger last week, Ryanair on Monday shared further information detailing the costs it incurred for excess fuel, lodging, legal fees and more as a result of this diversion. And the airline also suggested a drink limit for airports across the European Union. “It is time that EU authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports,” Ryanair wrote in a statement. "We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty-free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe.” Ryanair noted that it and other airlines already limit alcohol sales in-flight — but said that passengers can still consume excess alcohol at airports before boarding, particularly during flight delays, without similar restrictions. Aviation agencies have long expressed concern with disruptive, in-flight incidents — particularly those that result in violence against others on board, verbal abuse, harassment or other health hazards like smoking. Although still rare, reports of unruly passengers seen on planes have recently been on the rise. When reached for comment Monday, a spokesperson for European Union Aviation Safety Agency noted that, while the agency could not provide specifics, “both the number and severity of incidents” have increased in Europe since 2020. Worldwide, the International Air Transport Association found that there was one disruptive incident for every 480 flights in 2023 — the latest figures from the trade organization, which used data from more 24,500 reports and 50 operators worldwide. That's up from one every 568 in 2022. How many of those incidents involved alcohol was not immediately known. But, among efforts aimed at preventing in-flight disruptive behavior overall, the IATA and other aviation groups have previously underlined the importance of serving alcohol responsibly, not allowing travelers who are too intoxicated to board and participating in additional safety initiatives, like “One Too Many” in the U.K. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration reported that it received 2,102 reports of unruly passenger incidents last year, resulting in $7.5 million in fines levied. That incident count is up 1% from 2023, but still far below a 2021 peak of 5,973. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ryanair-calls-alcoholic-drink-limit-200517395.html Jet stream winds over 200 mph impact US flights (WKBN) — A powerful jet stream is roaring across the eastern United States today and it is impacting flight times. A jet stream of over 200 mph is impacting flights across the eastern United States. The impacts of this can be positive or negative depending on the direction you are flying. Those who are flying west to east are likely making it to their destinations early today due to strong upper-level winds. According to FlightAware, a flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reached a top-end speed of 749 mph — 475-575 mph is typical — and it will reach its destination 43 minutes early. The opposite is true for those flying west through the strong jet stream winds. A flight from New York City to St. Louis, Missouri was moving at less than 300 mph this afternoon due to the strong flight-level winds. While the winds are not usually this strong, they have happened before. They are associated with the jet stream which drives weather not only in the United States, but around the world. The jet stream is an area of strong winds that drives the track of storm systems. The United States is currently in a La Niña weather pattern which typically features the jet stream dropping into the eastern United States very similar to what is happening today. Typical winter La Niña pattern in the United States. The La Niña weather pattern usually brings stormy conditions to the eastern United States which is exactly what has occurred so far in 2025. Many locations east of the Mississippi have experienced below-normal temperatures and above-normal snowfall over the first two weeks of 2025 and more of this can be expected in the future. https://www.wkbn.com/weather/jet-stream-winds-over-200-mph-impact-u-s-flights/ TSA finds record number of guns at Idaho airports in 2024 TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The Transportation Security Administration delivered some advice last week to would-be air passengers : leave your guns at home. And your sledgehammer. And your knives. And your ammunition magazines. Those were just some of the items listed by the federal security agency Jan. 8 that Idahoans stashed in their carry-on luggage in the past year. During a news conference at the Boise Airport, the agency reported the top-10 restricted items discovered at five Idaho airports in the last year. Those items included AR-15 rifle magazines, a large hunting knife, a Bowie knife, live ammunition, a sledgehammer, a handsaw and numerous firearms of all types, including a nonoperational 3D -printed Glock. The agency said it found a record 64 firearms at Idaho’s six airports in 2024. The agency reported it discovered 49 firearms – up from 42 found in 2023 – at the Boise Airport in 2024. “These things happen. People are forgetful,” said Bill Carberry, manager of Joslyn Field, Magic Valley Regional Airport. “The TSA does a good job, and they are just trying to make people more aware.” According to a press release by the federal agency, “when a TSA officer discovers a prohibited item in carry-on luggage, they offer the traveler the opportunity to place that item in checked luggage, turn it over to a nontraveling family member or friend or return it to their vehicle if it’s parked nearby.” The restricted items were uncovered during routine X-ray screening at airport security checkpoints. When a Transportation Security Administration officer spots an image of a gun on an X-ray, airport security is called to the security checkpoint. According to the federal agency news release, “a law enforcement officer removes the firearm from the X-ray tunnel and contacts the traveler. What happens to the firearm and the traveler is up to the discretion of the airport law enforcement agency.” The discovery of restricted items at the Magic Valley Regional Airport is rare, Carberry said. The agency listed only one incident in July 2024 involving a double-edged knife at the local airport. “For the most part, folks are good about it,” Carberry said. “But across the system, they are finding some of these occasions with guns seem to be creeping up.” A firearm discovered in carry-on luggage can trigger criminal citations, and the federal security agency can levy a fine of up to $14,950. According to the TSA, “even if a traveler has a concealed weapons permit, firearms are not permitted in carry-on.” Lori Dankers, a TSA spokesperson, said her best tip for potential airline passengers is to “unpack your bag before you pack it for your airline trip.” “People bring things and don’t plan ahead,” she said. “They don’t check what might or might not be allowed.” The easiest way to check, said Dankers, is to go online to tsa.gov and click on the icon labeled “What can I bring” in the upper right corner of the website. Carberry said he’s pleased the federal agency highlighted the top-10 restricted items found at Idaho airports. “It is a message and a reminder and there is value to do that,” he said. Carberry said the Twin Falls airport schedules two flights a day, or about 100 people, who generally fly to a major airline hub such as Salt Lake City. People should be prepared as they pack for a flight, he said. “Be present, be mindful and remember you are entering into the national transportation system.” https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jan/13/tsa-finds-record-number-of-guns-at-idaho-airports-/ United Airlines Pilots Replace Their ALPA Chair Before Her Term Ends Pilots at United Airlines have recalled Anne Worster as chairman of the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, replacing her with Brian Noyes, the previous vice chairman. “In accordance with the succession policy outlined in the ALPA Constitution and Bylaws, MEC Vice Chair Captain Brian Noyes has assumed the role of Acting MEC Chair,” the United master executive council, composed of leaders from the United pilot domiciles, said Monday in an email. “As Acting Chair, Captain Noyes will call a special meeting within 60 days to elect a new MEC Chair,” the MEC said. “The United MEC remains focused on serving the interests of our pilots and maintaining continuity during this transition.” Worster was recalled at a special meeting Monday morning, said a source familiar with the chapter. The vote to recall her was 16-5 with two abstentions. She had been elected in January 2024 to serve a term that would have ended in February 2026. “It wasn’t a surprise; there’s been a lot of issues,” the source said. “She’s not done a good job of working with the company or the MEC. Her communication with pilots was almost zero. “ The straw that broke the camel’s back was last week, when she named her husband to be her executive administrator,” the source said. The United ALPA chapter, with 17,000 members, is one of the two principal locals in ALPA: the other is the Delta Air Lines ALPA chapter. During the pandemic, United pilots worked closely with the airline to develop a Covid policy that kept pilots on the payroll, trained and ready to return nearly as quickly as travel did, while other airlines were slowed by having pilots unready to fly. In 2023, United ALPA signed a new four-year contract worth more than $10 billion. The contract was ratified with an 82% vote. Noyes, a Houston-based 787 captain, joined United in January 1995. He is a widely recognized expert on flight time and duty time. Worster is a 27-year United Airlines pilot, Gulf War veteran, and U.S. Air Force Academy graduate. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed/2025/01/13/united-airlines-pilots-replace-their-chairman-before-her-term-ends/ CEO of lessor SMBC Aviation says almost every aircraft being delayed DUBLIN (Reuters) - Almost every aircraft being delivered by Boeing and Airbus is delayed, the head of aircraft leasing giant SMBC Aviation Capital said on Monday, later adding that enginemakers had made slight improvements in addressing their issues. The aviation industry has been hampered by ongoing supply chain challenges slowing down deliveries from plane manufacturers and engine makers, many of which are set to last for the years to come. "Frankly, every airplane has been pretty much delayed, some by a little, and some by a lot, and we've got to the point, I think that we're adjusting," SMBC CEO Peter Barrett told the Airline Economics conference in Dublin. "Hopefully the manufacturers are being open and transparent," he said. Airline CEOs have also complained about the lack of engine deliveries and repairs, with AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss telling the Dublin conference the slow delivery of RTX-owned Pratt & Whitney engines was hampering the carrier's growth. "There have been improvements there, but there's a way to go on the engine manufacturers," Barrett told Reuters. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ceo-lessor-smbc-aviation-says-134216910.html ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025, DENVER, COLORADO CALL FOR PAPERS www.isasiannualseminar.com It is with great pleasure that the organizing committee invites expressions of interest to present a paper at the ISASI 2025 seminar which will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver, Colorado from September 29th through October 4th. Further information on the tutorials, main program, registration, and accommodation options will be provided in due course. The theme for ISASI 2025 is “Soaring to New Heights: A World of Innovation.” Denver is known for its picturesque and grand mountain ranges which soar high over the city. Additionally, we find ourselves in an ever rapidly evolving aviation ecosystem in which we now share portions of our airspace with the growing commercial space and UAS/UAV industries. Can we keep up with these advancements as investigators? What do we need to do in order to stay one step ahead of the next incident or accident? We invite abstract submissions which support this theme, including topics such as: • Commercial space development, technology, and mishap investigations • New, novel, and experimental investigative technologies in accident investigation • Research on notable technological safety improvements and their contribution to safety • Challenges in protecting the safety, security, and continuity of increasing amounts of flight data • Improvements and challenges in novel aircraft and engine designs • Uncrewed and autonomous vehicle investigations • Training of the next generation of aviation safety professionals with novel methodology • Accident or incident case studies involving technological advancements as contributing factors to the event, or their use during the investigation • Training of a new cadre of accident investigator in an increasingly safer operating environment as experienced investigators retire • The scope of the seminar is wide ranging. Papers are welcome from all aspects of safety investigation including operations, cabin safety, training, human factors, technology, family assistance, regulation and case studies. Papers should be supported by a 20-minute presentation with a further 10 minutes allotted for questions. Further details for the Call for Papers are available at www.isasiannualseminar.com. Please review the submission guidelines (available here and at www.isasiannualseminar.com). We look forward to seeing you at ISASI 2025! Abstract Submission Guidelines Please see the sidebar (for mobile phone viewing, bottom of this email) for the submission deadlines. • Submissions via www.isasiannualseminar.com • Use standard 1‐inch margins at the top, bottom, and sides • Please use a 12‐point font in Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial (in this order of preference) • Use single-spacing • The title should be boldface and centered at the top • Author name(s) should be boldface and set below the title. • Include your organization name and your title (if applicable) • Provide your abstract for your paper that adequately enables the Technical Program Committee to judge the merits of your paper based upon interest, contemporary or future thought, audience pertinence, wide application, technical merits of the paper, communication, and finally integration of the seminar theme to some level • New for 2025:To ensure the highest quality presentations, all interested presenters are strongly encouraged to submit a short video recording (less than 2 minutes) of themselves showcasing their abstract and the main themes of their presentation. General The term “paper” refers to the document that will be posted on the ISASI member website following the seminar and possibly reproduced in Forum magazine. The term “presentation” refers to the actual presentation made at the seminar which usually consists of PowerPoint slides. NOTE: All submissions (other than invited keynotes) require a paper and a presentation in accordance with the schedule. Consent for Email Use By submitting of an Expression of Interest and Abstract, you give the International Society of Air Safety Investigators permission to use your email address to communicate with you, and to provide access to the conference software where, if selected, you will upload your presentation materials. Contributor License Agreement Concurrent with the submission and acceptance of the technical presentation material, the contributor grants the International Society of Air Safety Investigators non‐exclusive, no‐ charge, royalty‐free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publish for consumption and distribute the contribution and such derivative works. This is a license agreement only; it does not transfer copyright ownership and does not change your rights to use your own Contribution for any other purpose. Permission to Publish in ISASI Forum Authors not wishing their papers to be considered for publication in the ISASI Forum should so indicate with the submission of their paper. The absence of such notification will be considered as permission to publish the paper as outlined above in the Contributor License Agreement statement. For ease of transfer, all papers should be submitted as attachments to an email or be placed on USB memory stick and mailed to the Technical Committee to be received 20‐days before the seminar (an upload option may be also be made available). PAPER DEADLINES www.isasiannualseminar.com Jan 31, 2025 Expression of interest (simply, "I am interested in presenting") Feb 28, 2025 Abstract, CV/resume/, professional biography Mar 31, 2025 Presenters notified Apr 30, 2025 Draft papers, including a refined abstract of three pages and outline are due Jun 30, 2025 Final papers and draft PowerPoint presentation due Jul 31, 2025 Final Powerpoint presentation due Aug 31, 2025 All presentation materials, bio, headshot photo uploaded to Speaker Resource Center Volunteers needed for Greenwich led aeroplane evacuation trials The University of Greenwich, with partners Cranfield University, will be running a series of evacuation trials in February 2025. These trials will investigate the decisions made by passengers when they’re evacuating a large Blended Wing Body aircraft BWB aeroplanes are cutting-edge concepts where there is no clear divide between the wings and the main body of the aeroplane, unlike current passenger aeroplanes which are essentially long tubes with two wings. Participants in these trials will be some of the first people to experience what the interiors of these ‘planes of the future’ will be like. This study will help to improve aeroplane evacuations and provide the aviation industry with valuable information about how people behave when evacuating these novel new concept aeroplanes. A series of trials are planned, requiring the participation of over 1500 volunteers between the ages of 18-65 years. Experts from the University of Greenwich will be designing the trials, as well as analysing the data. As part of the design process, the trials have been simulated using Greenwich’s own aircraft evacuation simulation software, airEXODUS, and so the in-person trials will also be used to further validate the predictions of that software. For the full-scale evacuation trials, a like-for-like mock-up of the BWB cabin interior is being constructed by Cranfield University at their Bedfordshire campus. Cranfield University is also managing the recruitment of the volunteers. During the trials, participants will board the BWB mock-up, receive a pre-flight safety briefing from cabin crew and then at an unspecified time there will be an instruction to evacuate due to an emergency. Everyone will be asked to quickly but safely make their way to an exit. Further details for volunteers to consider are: - The BWB cabin mock-up will be stationary at all times and is ground-based. There are no stairs to board or disembark. - Audio will be used in the cabin to simulate engines starting, taxiing and take-off. - Smoke will not be used in the cabin to simulate and emergency. - Emergency evacuation slides will not be used. - Each evacuation trial will involve a large number of people, so volunteers must be comfortable in crowded places. - Volunteers behaviour in the cabin will be recorded by overhead cameras. - Each participant will be involved in three evacuation trials during the day. After exiting the BWB mock-up, participants will complete a questionnaire about the choices they made during evacuation. Experts from the University of Greenwich will then analyse that information to help the aviation industry develop its aircraft designs and safety protocols. Professor Ed Galea, leading the University of Greenwich side of the project said, ‘BWB aircraft are an exciting concept for the future of passenger flight. There are several projects around the world pursuing this concept, driven by its potential to deliver significant aerodynamic efficiencies that will help in reducing fuel burn and the aviation industry’s contribution to global warming. However, a major challenge facing BWB concepts, given their cavernous interiors, is whether it is possible to safely evacuate everyone in less than 90 seconds, as required by international aviation safety regulations. Our advanced evacuation modelling using the air EXODUS software suggests that, with an appropriately designed cabin interior and evacuation procedures, it may be possible. This project will test the concept further with full-scale evacuation trials. It is an exciting opportunity for members of the public to contribute to the future of passenger aviation’ The trials are scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays between February 4-21, 2025. They will take place on Cranfield University campus in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. If you’d like to take part in the trials, or want more information, please visit the main evacuation trials web page. 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