Flight Safety Information - January 27, 2025 No. 019 In This Issue : Incident: Transavia B738 at Amsterdam on Jan 25th 2025, rejected takeoff due to flock of birds : Incident: Asiana A333 at Chiang Mai on Jan 24th 2025, rejected takeoff due to engine anomaly : Incident: United A319 near Memphis on Jan 24th 2025, hydraulic malfunction : Incident: American B738 at Miami on Jan 24th 2025, electrical smell in cabin : Incident: United B764 near Newark on Jan 25th 2025, fire alarm in cockpit : Accident: United B788 over Ivory Coast on Jan 24th 2025, sudden loss of altitude causes 38 injuries : Incident: Easyjet Switzerland A320 near Stockholm on Jan 24th 2025, smell of smoke in cabin : Duck DNA in both engines of Jeju Air plane that crashed, report says : British officials in Pakistan to audit CAA for flight restoration : Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record : Riyadh Air performs first B787-9 flight, gets new Dreamliner simulator : Trump's DEI order strips Air Force curriculum of 1st Black pilots, female WWII pilots : Mexico refuses US military flights deporting migrants, officials say : Arta Nasradini appointed Head of Aviation at SCOR P&C : Boeing Asks FAA For Stall-Management Exemption To Certify The 737 MAX 7 & 10 : Calendar of Events Incident: Transavia B738 at Amsterdam on Jan 25th 2025, rejected takeoff due to flock of birds A Transavia Boeing 737-800, registration PH-HXN performing flight HV-5133 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Barcelona,SP (Spain), was accelerating for takeoff from Amsterdam's runway 18L when the crew rejected takeoff reporting they had seen a flock of at least 100 birds ahead. The aircraft slowed and stopped on the runway, the crew advised they did a high speed reject and requested emergency services to check their brakes. The aircraft subsequently returned to the apron. The aircraft was able to depart again after about an hour at the stand and reached Barcelona with a delay of about 75 minutes. https://avherald.com/h?article=52350c8f&opt=0 Incident: Asiana A333 at Chiang Mai on Jan 24th 2025, rejected takeoff due to engine anomaly An Asiana Airbus A330-300, registration HL7747 performing flight OZ-766 from Chiang Mai (Thailand) to Seoul (South Korea), was accelerating engines for takeoff from Chiang Mai's runway 36 when the crew rejected takeoff at very low speed (about 12 knots over ground) due an engine problem. The aircraft returned to the apron. Passengers reported seeing sparks and flames from the engine. The airline reported the aircraft with about 270 passengers rejected takeoff due to an engine anomaly. The extent of the engine anomaly is currently being assessed. The aircraft is still on the ground in Chiang Mai about 26 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://avherald.com/h?article=5235073d&opt=0 Incident: United A319 near Memphis on Jan 24th 2025, hydraulic malfunction A United Airbus A319-100, registration N837UA performing flight UA-382 from Washington National,DC to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) with 88 people on board, was enroute at FL380 about 50nm southeast of Memphis,TN (USA) when the crew declared emergency reporting a hydraulic malfunction and decided to divert to Memphis, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 36C about 30 minutes after the decision to divert. The aircraft vacated the runway and stopped clear of the runway for an inspection by emergency services, the crew asked emergency services for any leaks concerning hydraulics. The remainder of the flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Memphis about 47 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52350586&opt=0 Incident: American B738 at Miami on Jan 24th 2025, electrical smell in cabin An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N907NN performing flight AA-1300 from Miami,FL (USA) to George Town (Cayman Islands), was climbing out of Miami when the crew stopped the climb at about FL240 and decided to return to Miami reported an electrical smell in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on Miami's runway 26L about 40 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "American Airlines Flight 1300 returned safely to Miami International Airport around 11:45 a.m. local time on Friday, Jan. 24, after the crew reported an electrical smell in the cabin. The Boeing 737-800 was headed to the Cayman Islands. The FAA will investigate." A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N943AN reached George Town with a delay of 3.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 21 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=523501b4&opt=0 Incident: United B764 near Newark on Jan 25th 2025, fire alarm in cockpit A United Boeing 767-400, registration N59053 performing flight UA-2143 from Newark,NJ (USA) to San Juan (Puerto Rico), was enroute at FL310 over the Atlantic Ocean about 200nm southeast of Newark when the crew reported a fire alarm on the flight deck, turned the aircraft around and returned to Newark. On approach the crew advised no assistance was needed, a fire bell could be heard in the background of the transmissions. The aircraft landed safely on Newark's runway 22R about 50 minutes later. The FAA reported: "United Airlines Flight 2143 returned safely to Newark Liberty International Airport around 10 a.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 25, after the crew reported a fire alarm in the flight deck. The Boeing 767-400 was headed to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The FAA will investigate." A replacement Boeing 767-400 registration N76062 reached San Juan with a delay of about 5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Newark about 27 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5234fc19&opt=0 Accident: United B788 over Ivory Coast on Jan 24th 2025, sudden loss of altitude causes 38 injuries A United Boeing 787-8, registration N27903 performing flight UA-613 from Lagos (Nigeria) to Washington Dulles,DC (USA) with 245 passengers and 11 crew, was enroute at FL360 over Ivory Coast about 170nm northwest of Abidjan (Ivory Coast) when the aircraft deviated from its assigned flight level twice by about -150/-175 feet. The aircraft subsequently turned around and returned to Lagos where the aircraft landed without further incident about 100 minutes later. Emergency services treated a total of 38 passengers and crew for injuries, 6 of the injured were taken to hospitals. Passengers reported while meal service was in progress the aircraft dropped sharply three times, one passenger knocked his head against the ceiling and became unconscious for some time. The airline reported the aircraft turned back to Lagos to address a technical issue. First responders met the passengers and crew to address reports of minor injuries of several passengers and crew. The airline later added, that 4 cabin crew and 2 passengers received serious injuries. Nigeria's Federal Airport Authority FAAN reported a total of 38 people were injured, 6 of them needed to be taken to hospitals. The aircraft is still on the ground in Lagos about 31 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=5233baba&opt=0 Incident: Easyjet Switzerland A320 near Stockholm on Jan 24th 2025, smell of smoke in cabin An Easyjet Switzerland Airbus A320-200, registration HB-JXF performing flight U2-1498 from Rovaniemi (Finland) to Geneva (Switzerland) with 115 people on board, was enroute at FL380 about 170nm north of Stockholm (Sweden) when the crew reported smell of smoke in the cabin and decided to divert to Stockholm where the aircraft landed safely on runway 19R about 30 minutes later. Swedish emergency services reported there was a faint smell of smoke on board, that did not require intervention by emergency services. https://avherald.com/h?article=52341693&opt=0 Duck DNA in both engines of Jeju Air plane that crashed, report says SEOUL (Reuters) -Both engines of the Jeju Air plane that crashed last month contained duck remains, according to a preliminary report on Monday, with authorities still trying to determine what caused the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil. Although it is rare for such preliminary reports to go beyond factual details, the report gave no indication about what might have led the aircraft to land far down the runway without its landing gear deployed, highlighting the lack of immediate clues after the plane's black boxes stopped recording four minutes before impact. The six-page report released by South Korean authorities a month after the crash said both engines of the Boeing 737-800 jet contained DNA from Baikal Teals, a type of migratory duck that flies to South Korea for winter in huge flocks. Experts say air accidents are nearly always caused by a cocktail of factors. The Jeju Air flight from Bangkok on Dec. 29 overshot Muan Airport's runway as it made an emergency belly landing and crashed into an embankment containing navigation equipment, called localisers, killing all but two of the 181 people and crew members on board. "After the crash into the embankment, fire and a partial explosion occurred. Both engines were buried in the embankment's soil mound, and the fore fuselage scattered up to 30-200 meters from the embankment," the report said, providing some new pictures of the accident site. The localiser aids navigation of an aircraft making an approach to the runway, and the structure built of reinforced concrete and earth at Muan airport supporting the system's antennae likely contributed to the high death toll, experts have said. The investigation will dismantle the engines, examine components in depth, analyse in-flight and air traffic control data, and investigate the embankment, localisers and evidence of bird strike, the report said about its next steps. "These all-out investigation activities aim to determine the accurate cause of the accident," it said. MAYDAY The report highlighted much of the initial findings by the South Korean investigators that were shared with victims' families on Saturday, including the pilots' awareness of a flock of birds on the plane's final approach. The exact time the bird strike was reported by the pilots remains unconfirmed, the accident report said, but the aircraft "made an emergency declaration (Mayday x 3) for a bird strike during a go-around." Bird strikes that cause damage to both engines are rare, though there have been successful cases of pilots landing without fatalities in such situations including the "Miracle on the Hudson" river landing in the U.S. in 2009 and a cornfield landing in Russia in 2019. Investigators usually piece together the final moments before a disaster by carefully synchronising voice and data recordings to understand how the crew and airplane interacted. But these vital clues are not available for the Jeju Air crash because the recorders stopped recording just before the pilots declared the emergency and about four minutes before impact. The aircraft was at an altitude of 498 feet (152 metres) flying at 161 knots (298 km/h or 185 mph) about 1.1 nautical miles (2 km or 1.3 miles) from the runway at the moment the flight recorders stopped recording, the report said. Since 2010 new U.S.-built planes have had to have enough backup power to provide 10 minutes of extra data recording should onboard electrical power fail, following a series of incidents where recorders stopped working. However, the change came eight months after the 737-800 involved in the Jeju crash appears to have left the Boeing factory, according to data from FlightRadar24. South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has shared its report with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Thailand, and the United States and France, which are the home states for the plane and engine manufacturers, an official said on Monday. Under global aviation guidelines, investigators issue preliminary reports after 30 days and a final report is expected within a year. https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-korea-reports-initial-findings-231741666.html British officials in Pakistan to audit CAA for flight restoration The PCAA’s Director-General, Nadir Shafi Dar, and his team of experts are hosting the delegation. A British delegation has arrived in Pakistan to assess the country's aviation safety standards, Express News reported on Monday. The delegation from the UK Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will review the safety standards of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). This assessment is a crucial step towards Pakistani carriers' resumption of flight operations between Pakistan and the UK. The PCAA’s Director-General, Nadir Shafi Dar, and his team of experts are hosting the delegation. During the visit, several high-level meetings will take place between both parties, focusing on aviation safety protocols, reviewing documentation, and operational procedures. The British delegation will also visit airlines to review their adherence to international standards. Over the past few months, CAA officials have been engaged in a series of technical discussions with the UK. CAA officials are optimistic about the positive outcomes of the British delegation's visit. Earlier, Nadir Shafi Dar, Director General of PCAA, who will lead the local team during the audit, said, “We are ready to brief the British officials.” The audit will run from January 27 to February 6, 2025. Previously, PIA began international flight operations from the New Gwadar International Airport, with the maiden flight taking off for the Omani capital of Muscat on Friday. A PIA spokesperson said the inaugural flight, PK-197, carried 39 passengers. Senior PIA officials saw them off at the airport. According to the spokesperson, the national flag carrier would operate a weekly flight on the Gwadar-Muscat route. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2524809/british-officials-in-pakistan-to-audit-caa-for-flight-restoration Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record Istanbul, Turkey--Turkish Airlines, part of the Star Alliance, operates a fleet of 474 total passenger and cargo aircraft and flies to 131 countries, setting the world record for the Most countries flown to by an airline, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY. Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record "With destinations in 120 countries, Turkish Airlines (TK) has been officially lauded by the Guinness World Records for being the airline with the biggest reach," the Business Traveler reports. The Turkish flag carrier has claimed to fly to more countries than any other since 2012, but this is the first time Guinness World Records have formally recognized the claim. "Turkish Airlines claims it flies to 131 countries, 11 more than counted by Guinness World Records. The airline’s tally includes routes that are temporarily suspended, such as a flight from Istanbul (IST) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV), canceled through February 2025, and its newly launched flight to Santiago, Chile (SLC)." Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record "The most countries flown by an airline is 120 countries and was achieved by Turkish Airlines (Türkiye) in Istanbul, Türkiye on 21 October 2024," the Guinness World Records says. "Turkish Airlines flies to 120 countries based on the past year from September 2023 to September 2024." Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record "The Istanbul-based carrier now officially holds the Guinness World Records title of “most countries flown to by an airline,” Turkish Airlines shared with Travel + Leisure. In the past 12 months, the carrier operated routes to 120 different countries," the Travel & Leisure reports. "But the airline’s reach doesn’t end there. Counting the carrier’s temporarily suspended routes, the airline said it flies to more than 130 countries around the globe. In the United States, Turkish Airlines flies to 10 different cities: Atlanta, Boston, Washington D.C., Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and Detroit. "Turkish Airlines is part of the Star Alliance along with carriers like United Airlines, Air Canada, and Lufthansa, and operates a fleet of 474 total passenger and cargo aircraft." Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record "Turkish Airlines, which has held the title of flying to the most countries in the world since 2012, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records™ as the record holder. Turkiye’s national flag carrier has successfully achieved the Guinness World Records™ title for the “Most Countries Flown to by an Airline”, the Aircargo Update reports. "The record certificate was presented at Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport following Turkish Airlines’ inaugural flight to Chile. The ceremony was attended by Turkish Airlines executives and Guinness World Records™ officials. "“As the airline flying to more countries than any other in the world, we continue to connect continents and cultures. The launch of our Santiago flights once again underscores our commitment to offering travellers unparalleled connectivity options. These flights will not only contribute to trade and tourism but also enhance cultural interaction between the two nations. We look forward to welcoming passengers onboard to experience our signature services and our world-renowned Turkish hospitality while discovering the captivating beauty of Chile, Türkiye and beyond,” said Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi." Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record "Turkish Airlines, or legally Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı, is the flag carrier of Turkey. As of June 2024, it operates scheduled services to 352 destinations (including cargo) in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas. "The airline serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline in the world[9] and flies to 131 countries, more than any other airline. With an operational fleet of 24 cargo aircraft, the airline's cargo division Turkish Cargo serves 82 destinations. "As of 2024, Turkish Airlines flies to 340 destinations (including cargo) in 129 countries, including 53 domestic points. In December 2024, the airline officially earned a Guinness World Record title for connecting the highest number of countries, 131." (Wikipedia) https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2025/1/most-countries-flown-to-by-an-airline-turkish-airlines-sets-world-record-425111 Riyadh Air performs first B787-9 flight, gets new Dreamliner simulator Riyadh Air’s first operational Boeing 787-9 performed its maiden flight in the Saudi carrier’s livery, between Riyadh-King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Saudi Arabia, and Istanbul (IST) Turkey. This aircraft (registration HZ-RXX) was previously operated by Oman Air. Its main purpose is to perform crew training and familiarization flights as well as to as to support the airline’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC), as the new Saudi carrier prepares for its commercial launch at some point in Q3 2025. It is not clear whether this was the actual purpose of the 4-hour flight between Riyadh and Istanbul or whether the aircraft is to undergo some sort of technical procedure in Turkey. Riyadh Air’s test aircraft arrived in Saudi Arabia on January 15, 2025, and it is not part of the carrier’s order for 72 factory-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. It is also widely anticipated that Riyadh Air will place an additional widebody order in Q1 2025. In addition to training with a real aircraft, Riyadh Air also announced on January 27, 2025, that it had secured an operational certificate from the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia (GACA) to use an advanced Boeing 787-9 RX7000 full flight simulator to train its pilots. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/riyadh-air-performs-first-b787-9-flight-gets-new-dreamliner-simulator Trump's DEI order strips Air Force curriculum of 1st Black pilots, female WWII pilots The U.S. Air Force will no longer teach its recruits about the Tuskegee Airmen, the more than 15,000 Black pilots, mechanics and cooks in the segregated Army of World War II, an official with the military branch confirmed to Reuters Saturday. Course instruction about the pilots, as well as video of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) − a paramilitary aviation organization of female pilots employed to fly during World War II − was also pulled from basic training curriculum, the outlet reported. The Tuskegee Airmen, an active fighter unit from 1940 to 1952, were the first soldiers who flew during World War II. The group flew more than 15,000 sorties and destroyed more than 100 German aircraft. The move came during President Donald Trump's first week and on the heels of him ordering the halt of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI) programs. Tuskegee Airmen pilots (from L) Lt. Colonel Washington Ross, Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, Lt. Col. Harry Stewart and Colonel Charles McGee stand next to a Tuskegee Army Airfield AY-6 Texan fighter plane during a ceremony to honor the airmen at Selfridge National Airbase in Harrison Township, Michigan June 19, 2012. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American pilots that flew combat in World War II. The Black aviators included 450 pilots who trained at Moton Field in Alabama and their success led President Harry Truman to sign an Executive Order to desegregate the nation's armed forces in July 1948. USA TODAY has reached out to the Air Force. The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. fire back over removal of story On Saturday, The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. released a statement to USA TODAY expressing disappointment and strong opposition to the removal of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen’s story from the Air Force’s training courses, calling the soldiers "an essential part of American history and carried significant weight" in the war. "We believe the content of these courses does not promote one category of service member orcitizen over another," the statement reads. "They are simply a part of American military history that all service members should be made aware of." "We call upon the President and the Secretary of Defense to immediately rescind this action and provide clearguidance to all government agencies to restore the courses to their former status," the statement continues. "As a nonprofit organization, we are required to remain apolitical. The opinions we express today reflect ourvalues as a military heritage organization, committed to telling a full and accurate history of all service members of World War II, regardless of race, gender or national origin." American aviator Jean Hixson (1922-1984), a Women Airforce Service Pilot, smiling as she wipes the canopy of an aircraft, the aircraft's propeller in the foreground, United States, circa 1960. Who were the Women Airforce Service Pilots? According to the Air Force Historical Support Division, WASPs flew at 126 bases across the nation, where they also towed targets for gunnery training and worked as instructors for the Eastern Flying Training Command. Among them, 38 died in the line of duty, 11 in training and 27 during missions, according to the division. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/25/air-force-removes-course-tuskegee-airmen-wasps/77950264007/ Mexico refuses US military flights deporting migrants, officials say Mexico refused a request from President Donald Trump’s administration to allow a U.S. military aircraft deporting migrants to land in the country, said U.S. and Mexican officials. :: Guatemala City, Guatemala On Friday, two U.S. military flights and a commercial chartered flight transported about 80 migrants each to Guatemala. But the plan to have a C-17 transport aircraft land in Mexico did not move ahead, after the country denied permission. The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a statement on Friday, Mexico’s foreign ministry said it had a (quote) “very great relationship” with the U.S. and cooperated on issues such as immigration. “When it comes to repatriations, we will always accept the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms,” it said. A Mexican official did not give a reason for the denial. Trump’s administration announced earlier this week it was re-launching the “Remain in Mexico” program. It forces non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their U.S. cases are resolved. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that such a move would require the country receiving the asylum seekers to agree, but that Mexico had not done so. Sheinbaum has expressed openness towards accommodating Mexican nationals who are returned. But the leftist leader also said she does not agree with mass deportations and that Mexican immigrants are vital to the U.S. economy. U.S.-Mexico relations have come into sharp focus since Trump started his second term with the declaration of a national emergency along the two nations' shared border. The Pentagon said the U.S. military would provide flights to deport more than 5,000 immigrants held by U.S. authorities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. https://www.yahoo.com/news/mexico-refuses-us-military-flights-233402416.html Arta Nasradini appointed Head of Aviation at SCOR P&C French reinsurer SCOR has announced the addition of Arta Nasradini to its Reinsurance Specialty Lines management team as Head of Aviation at SCOR P&C, with effect from February 1st, 2025. Nasradini brings a wealth of experience in underwriting aviation risks, having most recently led the DACH Aerospace portfolio team at global insurer AIG. Prior to that, she held various positions in aerospace underwriting with Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, including roles in underwriting, client management, product development, and portfolio steering across Munich, Paris, and London. Based in Zurich, Nasradini will be reporting to Head of Specialty Lines Eric Jenck, who commented: “With her extensive industry experience, Arta is well-positioned to maximize the value of SCOR’s Aviation reinsurance portfolio, leveraging our existing team and our Tier 1 global franchise. I look forward to working with Arta and wish her every success in her new role.” He added: “I would also like to thank Adrian Poxon, who led our Aviation, Engineering, and Marine Specialty Lines underwriting teams for the past few years before retiring at the end of 2024. Register for the Artemis ILS NYC 2025 conference “Adrian’s remarkable contributions to SCOR have had a significant impact on our portfolio, clients, and colleagues. I wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.” https://www.reinsurancene.ws/arta-nasradini-appointed-head-of-aviation-at-scor-pc/ Boeing Asks FAA For Stall-Management Exemption To Certify The 737 MAX 7 & 10 Boeing has requested an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding two Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provisions related to the Stall Management Yaw Damper (SMYD) system on the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10, neither of which have yet been certified by the regulator. Developed in post-certification projects On January 21, the FAA published Boeing’s exemption request related to the SMYD system on the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10. The plane maker argued that the SMYD on the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10, the enhanced angle of attack (EAOA) certification project on all 737 MAX aircraft, including 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9, and the 737 MAX family’s non-EAOA certification project is not compliant with two CFR sections. “Boeing is requesting a time-limited exemption that allows for certification and delivery of SMYD [for the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10] through October 31, 2028.” The time period would provide time to complete the certification activities necessary to show that the system is compliant with the two CFR provisions, also giving time to retrofit already delivered aircraft under this exemption in order to ensure their compliance. Stall identification and warning According to Boeing, the SMYD is an electronics unit that provides stall warning, stall identification, and yaw damper functions. The plane maker modified the SMYD system’s software on the 737 MAX 9 for the 737 MAX 7 and on the 737 MAX 7 for the 737 MAX 10 to compensate for the shorter and longer fuselage, respectively. Despite the fuselage size differences, this would ensure consistent performance of the stall warning, identification, and yaw damper functions. The software also adds changes to implement EAOA safety features, which enhance the system’s integrity and reduce the pilots’ workload in the event of air data and AOA failures. The latter failures contributed to both of the fatal 737 MAX 8 crashes in Indonesia in October 2018 and Ethiopia in March 2019, claiming the lives of 346 people in total and resulting in a fraud case settlement as well as systematic certification changes within the FAA. Boeing said that the improved EAOA system would be available on all 737 MAX aircraft once the 737 MAX 10’s SMYD system is certified. The system does not have any hardware changes compared to the system used on the 737 Next Generation (NG) and other 737 MAX aircraft, namely 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9. Changing requirements Boeing explained that historically, SMYD has been certified to ‘Level B’ per the Radio Technical Commission For Aeronautics (RTCA) guidance. However, during the certification of the 737 MAX 7 , an updated analysis led Boeing and the FAA to believe that the system should now be certified to ‘Level A’ (DAL A), which the system does not currently meet the requirements. “Additional certification activity will be needed to certify the SMYD to DAL A. It is proposed that the certification be completed as part of a post-ATC and post-EAOA certification project.” Boeing argued that the exemption was in the public interest, allowing EAOA and non-EAOA 737 MAX aircraft to be certified and enter service, resulting in additional time to certify the SMYD according to the DAL A standard. The exemption would not have an “adverse effect on safety.” “Without the time-limited exemption, the EAOA safety features cannot be enabled, delaying critical safety enhancements until the SMYD is demonstrated to be compliant to DAL A requirements. Additionally, these airplanes will provide environmental improvements, operating economic improvements, as well as greater operational capability.” The manufacturer reiterated that compared to the 737 NG’s SMYD system, the hardware remains identical on the 737 MAX aircraft. The two aircraft families have accumulated over 270 million flight hours in more than 25 years of service, and during that time, the SMYD showed a “performance and safety track record of high integrity and reliability.” Furthermore, Boeing checked the Continued Operational Safety Program (COSP) database, which did not have records of any yaw damper failures that the SMYD caused. “The yaw damper software changes between the [737 MAX 9 SMYD software] and [737 MAX 7 SMYD software] were small tuning updates (revising numerical constants used in unchanged control law calculations), with no changes to the yaw damper system architecture. Only 2.1% of code modules in the SMYD were updated. No new software code modules were added.” Similarly, the hardware between the SMYD for the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 remains unchanged, with software updates being minor tuning refinements with no architectural changes to the system. Less than 10% of the code modules in the SMYD were updated, with the most changes being the addition of the EAOA feature, Boeing added. “Change impact assessments and regression testing has confirmed there is no yaw damper control law functional impact due to the EAOA changes.” Boeing emphasized that it has tested both SMYD systems on the two uncertified 737 MAX models, including simulator tests, to ensure they met the intended function and that there were no adverse effects from the software changes. “Granting an exemption will enable earlier implementation of the EAOA capabilities to production airplanes and the 737 MAX fleet, providing industry-leading safety enhancements. An exemption will deliver the 737-7 and 737- 10 airplanes to customers sooner with enhanced safety.” FAA Says No Immediate Fix Needed For Boeing 737 MAX Engine Smoke In Cabin After Bird Strike Incidents The FAA was exploring whether to propose software changes that would change the way the LEAP-1B responded to a bird strike. Backfiring exemption requests In November 2023, Boeing requested the FAA to exempt the 737 MAX 7 from eight CFR provisions related to the aircraft’s engine nacelle inlet structure and engine anti-ice (EAI) system until May 31, 2026. However, before the FAA could process and, subsequently, make a decision on whether to grant the exemption, the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 door plug blowout threw a spanner in the works. Eventually, conceding to pressure from stakeholders, including US lawmakers, the manufacturer withdrew the exemption request in January 2024. Boeing has been developing the solution related to the EAI system since then, with the company hoping that it would be able to certify the 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 in 2025. https://simpleflying.com/boeing-faa-exemption-certify-737-max-7-10/ 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 • CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis