Flight Safety Information - February 13, 2025 No. 032 In This Issue : Incident: Gojet CRJ7 at St. Louis on Feb 12th 2025, runway excursion after landing : Incident: American B773 at Charlotte on Feb 11th 2025, runway excursion after landing : Incident: KLM B789 enroute on Feb 9th 2025, cracked windshield : Incident: Lingus A333 at Dublin on Feb 11th 2025, engine stall on departure : Navy crew members eject from their jet before it crashes off the San Diego coast : For the F.A.A., Three Deadly Crashes and a Reckoning : TSA at Syracuse Hancock International Airport Intercepts Firearm at Airport Checkpoint : FAA team to assess Pakistan-US flights : State auditing board announces inspection of Korea's aviation safety management (S. Korea) : Did Trump's hiring freeze include air traffic controllers, as Rep. Jasmine Crockett said? : United Airlines Takes Delivery Of 43rd Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner : FlyBright Pilot Academy partners with Allegiant Air to address the pilot shortage : How The British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy Cadet Program Works : Air India rules out more Boeing jet orders for now, CEO says : Calendar of Events Incident: Gojet CRJ7 at St. Louis on Feb 12th 2025, runway excursion after landing A Gojet Canadair CRJ-550 on behalf of United, registration N549GJ performing flight UA-4427 from Washington Dulles,DC to St. Louis,MO (USA), had landed on St. Louis' runway 11 and slowed to taxi speed. When the aircraft was turning off the runway at the last exit, the aircraft skidded and came to a stop off the paved surface. The runway needed to be closed. The aircraft is still on the ground in St Louis about 19 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5240abca&opt=0 Incident: American B773 at Charlotte on Feb 11th 2025, runway excursion after landing An American Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration N717AN performing flight AA-735 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Charlotte,NC (USA), landed on Charlotte's runway 36R and slowed to taxi speed. The aircraft turned left off the runway onto taxiway A (acute angle) when the left main gear went over soft ground. The aircraft continued taxi to the apron. The aircraft was unable to continue service and is still on the ground in Charlotte about 22 hours after landing. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT LANDED AND WHILE TURNING ONTO TAXIWAY, LEFT WHEEL WENT INTO THE GRASS, CHARLOTTE, NC." https://avherald.com/h?article=52401f3c&opt=0 Incident: KLM B789 enroute on Feb 9th 2025, cracked windshield A KLM Boeing 787-9, registration PH-BHD performing flight KL-759 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to San Jose (Costa Rica), had been enroute at FL380 across the Atlantic and was descending towards San Jose when the crew reported their left hand windshield had cracked and requested priority. The aircraft landed safely on San Jose's runway 07. The return flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in San Jose about 64 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52401694&opt=0 Incident: Lingus A333 at Dublin on Feb 11th 2025, engine stall on departure An Aer Lingus Airbus A330-300, registration EI-FNH performing flight EI-121 from Dublin (Ireland) to Orlando,FL (USA), was climbing out of Dublin's runway 10R when the crew requested to level off at 4000 feet and enter a hold advising they have had a left engine (CF6) stall. The crew subsequently advised before entering the hold that they were ready for the approach and landed safely on runway 10L about 25 minutes after departure. A replacement A330-300 registration EI-EIN reached Orlando with a delay of about 3:15 hours. The airline reported the aircraft returned due to a technical issue. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Dublin about 22 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=524001d2&opt=0 Navy crew members eject from their jet before it crashes off the San Diego coast LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two crew members ejected from a Navy jet before it crashed Wednesday off the San Diego coast and were quickly rescued by a sportfishing boat, authorities said. The two occupants of the E/A-18G Growler were first picked up by the Premier Sportfishing vessel and then transferred to a nearby Customs and Border Protection craft, Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Christopher Sappey said. The crash occurred during what is known as a “go-around maneuver,” in which the aircraft landed and was taking off again, according to Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Beth Teach. The cause of the crash is under investigation. On a live webcam of San Diego harbor traffic, someone aboard the Premier can be heard telling the Coast Guard that the crew members ejected right after takeoff. “We’re on our way to help assist,” the man called in about 10:14 a.m. “They’re in the water.” Shortly afterward someone from the boat reported: “We have both pilots on board and safe." Brandon Viets, captain of the Premier, said he had taken a dozen passengers out by Point Loma on a fishing trip when he heard a jet taking off from the naval base that “seemed a little louder than normal.” He turned and saw two people falling with parachutes. Viets immediately headed toward them in his boat. The jet remained in the air for several minutes before diving into the water, he said. “All I could see was a plume of water and mud and muck, 70 to 80 feet tall," Viets said. “Captain Brandon Viets and the crew of the Premier acted swiftly, and thanks to their professionalism, were able to bring these pilots to safety,” Frank Ursitti, general manager of boat owner H&M Landing, said in a statement. The two men were taken to a hospital and were in stable condition, authorities said. The Coast Guard deployed two vessels to safeguard the Growler wreckage in the San Diego Harbor, Sappey said. The Growler is a two-seater jet that specializes in electronic warfare. A similar Navy aircraft crashed last October during a routine training flight in Washington state, killing its two crew members. The wreckage was found in remote mountainous terrain. https://www.yahoo.com/news/navy-jet-crashed-off-coast-194325396.html For the F.A.A., Three Deadly Crashes and a Reckoning The agency in charge of air travel safety is facing criticism and demands for change after a yearslong streak of no major commercial jet accidents ended in catastrophe. For the Federal Aviation Administration, Jan. 29 was the beginning of one of the most challenging stretches it has faced in decades. That night, in Washington, an American Airlines regional jet collided with an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport, resulting in 67 deaths. In a news conference the next day, President Trump pointed his finger at the F.A.A., even though the crash investigation was just beginning. On Jan. 31, a medical jet crashed in a Philadelphia neighborhood shortly after takeoff, killing all six on board and one person on the ground. While it remains unclear whether the F.A.A.’s lack of oversight contributed to the episode, the timing has raised concerns. Adding to the agency’s woes, on Feb. 1, an aviation alert system had an outage, its first in two years. The 10-day period of crises was capped by another deadly crash, on Feb. 6, involving Bering Air Flight 445 near Nome, Alaska, resulting in the deaths of 10 people. As the incidents unfolded, confusion in the F.A.A. grew regarding the future of its air traffic controllers, particularly about whether they were exempt from federal job cuts. Less than a month into Mr. Trump’s new administration, the convergence of crashes, equipment malfunctions and fatalities is raising profound concern about the safety of U.S. airspace. Though the crashes may ultimately be attributed at least in part to pilot error, treacherous conditions or both, their quick succession and the recent system outage nonetheless point to a troubling question: Is the F.A.A. still able to keep air travel safe? “It has been a tough stretch for the F.A.A.,” said Jeff Guzzetti, a former accident investigator for the agency and the National Transportation Safety Board. “Whether it’s fair or not, they are under the white-hot spotlight because of these events. There is no doubt about that.” Current and former F.A.A. and N.T.S.B. officials say the spate of aviation incidents highlight the agency’s slowness in addressing safety concerns and its complacency. Each of the recent episodes occurred despite demands from Congress to tackle a pattern of near-misses, modernize critical systems and improve safety in Alaska, where planes are the main mode of travel for many communities. Safety experts contend that despite a reputation as the premier global aviation regulator, the F.A.A. failed to act on known issues because it had an extended period without any crashes that led to many deaths. The midair collision over the Potomac River last month became the deadliest crash since a Colgan Air flight went down near Buffalo in 2009, killing 50 people. The F.A.A. has earned the nickname “the tombstone agency” among aviation safety advocates for not addressing potential problems until disaster struck. “I’ve been preaching for a while that complacency has been creeping into all areas of the F.A.A. because of how great our safety record has been,” said John Goglia, an independent safety consultant and former N.T.S.B. board member. Aviation episodes have increased in recent years, he said, citing the death of an airline worker who was struck by an aircraft tug on the tarmac at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Jan. 27. Mr. Goglia also pointed to recent instances involving aircraft clipping each other on runways. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not respond to an interview request from The New York Times. Appearing on Fox Business last week, Mr. Duffy said it had been a “hard week in aviation” given the three incidents and added that he was committed to updating the F.A.A.’s technology, some of which dates back to World War II. “We have to take another hard look at what does aviation safety look like, how do we use our airspace, and I think there were mistakes made in the past,” Mr. Duffy said on Fox Business. “We’re going to review that moving forward and make sure we have a system in place that keeps our travelers safe.” The most pointed discussions about needed change have concerned air traffic controller systems, which monitor and track flights to ensure their safe traverse from takeoff to landing. Mr. Trump said last week that he would speak with Congress about legislation aimed at overhauling the nation’s aging aviation safety infrastructure, which air traffic controllers rely on. He said the American Airlines crash could have been avoided with updated technology. Elon Musk’s cost-cutting initiative, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, will also take part in the effort to improve the F.A.A.’s technology, at Mr. Duffy’s request. It is possible that Mr. Musk’s involvement could lead to the modernization that the agency has needed for years, but neither he nor Mr. Trump has outlined a clear timeline or plan. Mr. Musk’s involvement prompted a letter to the F.A.A. from a group of Democratic lawmakers. In the letter, the members of Congress, from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, wrote that they were concerned about a makeshift team lacking aviation expertise making changes to the nation’s air traffic systems. “We want the safest skies in the world, and any efforts to weaken standards will not be tolerated,” the letter said. A report issued in September by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, an oversight agency, said 58 F.A.A. systems that are critical to the safety and efficiency of the nation’s airspace are in unsustainable or potentially unsustainable condition. Making matters worse for the beleaguered F.A.A., Mr. Trump appeared to place at least some blame on the agency just hours after the American Airlines crash, saying that standards for air traffic controllers had been too lax because of diversity efforts pushed by his Democratic predecessors. “Incompetence might have played a role,” Mr. Trump said on Jan. 30 to reporters. “We’ll let you know that, but we want the most competent people. We don’t care what race they are, we want the most competent people, especially in those positions.” The same day, all F.A.A. employees, including air traffic controllers, were sent an email from Mr. Trump’s Office of Personnel Management reiterating a message from earlier in the week. The message urged them to resign and said they were in “lower-productivity jobs.” A few days later, Mr. Duffy said controllers were exempt from the offer. The Times previously reported that more than 90 percent of the 313 air traffic control facilities in the United States operate below the F.A.A.’s recommended staffing levels. Current efforts to hire and train new controllers are expected to fall short of demand, according to the agency’s projections. The crashes, the whiplash about job status and Mr. Trump’s criticisms proved to be a huge blow to the agency, said Joe Jacobsen, an aerospace engineer and former F.A.A. employee. “When there’s a crash, that’s always tough on morale,” he said. “Any type of commentary about people at the F.A.A. and their qualifications is a huge blow to morale.” The N.T.S.B. and the F.A.A. are investigating the three recent crashes, and no official cause has been made public. The safety of air travel in Alaska, where 82 percent of communities are not accessible by road, has long been a concern, particularly because extreme weather is so common in the state. In February 2020, the N.T.S.B. issued a report calling for a more comprehensive approach to aviation safety in the state. A few months later, the F.A.A. hosted an Alaska Aviation Safety Summit. When Congress passed a bill last year to reauthorize the F.A.A., it included $25 million in annual funding through 2028 to continue the initiative and specified additional safety actions for the agency to enact in Alaska by 2030. Safety concerns extend beyond just those in the state. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/faa-plane-crashes-safety.html TSA at Syracuse Hancock International Airport Intercepts Firearm at Airport Checkpoint Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers intercepted a loaded firearm at Syracuse Hancock International Airport that was detected among a traveler’s carry-on items at the checkpoint on Friday, Feb. 7. The 9mm caliber handgun was loaded with 17 bullets, including one in the chamber. TSA officers notified the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Police who confiscated the firearm and detained the man, a resident of Syracuse, for questioning. He was later released to rebook his flight. He now faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty for carrying a firearm to a checkpoint that is likely to cost him thousands of dollars. “I would like to commend the actions of the officers in detecting a loaded firearm in carry-on luggage. They did a wonderful job,” said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Upstate New York. “I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Police who immediately confiscated the weapon for safe keeping. The actions of this passenger placed the safety and security of the entire checkpoint at risk through their own carelessness.” https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/transportation/tsa-at-syracuse-hancock-international-airport-intercepts-firearm-at-airport-checkpoint-2/ FAA team to assess Pakistan-US flights To pave the way for flight resumption, PIA and PCAA have taken various measures to address safety. A team from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is scheduled to visit Pakistan in March to assess the feasibility of resuming direct flights between Pakistan and the US. In preparation for the visit, Islamabad has already paid the required $75,000 fee, sources have revealed. Direct flights from Pakistan to the US were suspended in 2017 and efforts to restore them faced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 PIA aircraft crash in Karachi. Following the European Union's ban on the national carrier, the FAA downgraded Pakistan's aviation safety rating from category CA1 to category CA2, further delaying the resumption of flights. During the Covid-19 crisis, Pakistan was granted special permission to operate 12 flights on humanitarian grounds to the US, seven of which were successfully conducted. To pave the way for flight resumption, PIA and PCAA have taken various measures to address safety and regulatory concerns. The FAA's five-member team is expected to conduct a preliminary assessment in March, marking a crucial step toward restoring Pakistan's aviation rating. Additionally, clearance from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be required before flights can officially resume. If the restrictions are lifted, PIA is expected to reinstate direct flights to major US cities, including New York, Chicago, and Houston. In the past, PIA operated its US flights via Manchester but efforts are now focused on establishing non-stop connectivity. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2528193/faa-team-to-assess-pakistan-us-flights State auditing board announces inspection of Korea's aviation safety management (S. Korea) The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea (BAI) said Thursday that it would launch an audit into aviation safety management starting the second quarter of this year. The aviation audit appeared aimed at detecting and fixing safety loopholes in flight-related facility management after the crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla claimed 179 lives last December. The BAI announced its yearly audit plan, including inspections of 83 ministries and state agencies focused on 67 agenda items related to public safety, social infrastructure and government spending. The BAI is an independent government watchdog that inspects the performance of state-run institutions and the behavior of public officials. Korea to strengthen oversight of low-cost carriers following Jeju Air crash Along with 15 airports nationwide, the Korea Airports Corporation, the Incheon International Airport Corporation and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport would be subject to audits. Specifically, the audit will focus on the operation and installation of airport facilities, including runways and instrument landing systems such as localizers. Management of personnel and equipment for air traffic control and fire extinguishing systems are also included in the audit’s scope. The BAI will also review how probes into aviation accidents have been conducted. In addition, the BAI will audit the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee to inspect irregularities in support and protection for national athletes, seemingly addressing Olympic medalist An Se-young’s allegation that the Badminton Korea Association mistreated athletes. The BAI will also review the committee’s budget spending and assess whether the Culture Ministry’s oversight was proper. The BAI’s annual review will also include an inspection of the government’s monetary situation, agricultural subsidies, illegal labor practices at infrastructure construction sites, security protections for public network systems, rural population and demographic changes and damages incurred by climate change. In a press briefing, Hwang Hae-sik, the deputy secretary general in charge of the planning and coordination office, said his agency has “reinforced periodic audits on institutions since last year.” The number of agencies that are subject to period audit jumped by 22 this year, he said. “The agency reinforced the audit based on the idea that fulfilling individuals’ duties as public servants is important in such an uneasy time in public offices,” Hwang said. When asked whether the BAI would inspect impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law imposition and the city of Busan’s failed bid to host Expo 2030, Hwang said both subjects were “improper for audits.” Hwang said the martial law decree was being investigated and tried in court and that the BAI had not discussed auditing the matter. “When it comes to the failed expo bid, the agency concluded it would be unsuitable for a BAI audit after discussing it internally,” Hwang said, explaining that his agency would find auditing diplomatic activity challenging. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-02-13/national/socialAffairs/State-auditing-board-announces-inspection-of-Koreas-aviation-safety-management---/2241640 Did Trump's hiring freeze include air traffic controllers, as Rep. Jasmine Crockett said? Rep. Jasmine Crockett U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, said on X that although it’s too soon to say what caused the fatal Jan. 29 collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet, President Donald Trump had cut several aviation safety jobs and paused new hires as soon as he resumed the presidency. "On his first day in office, Donald Trump froze the hiring of federal employees — including air traffic controllers," Crockett wrote in a thread Jan. 30. On Jan. 20, Trump ordered a governmentwide hiring freeze, stopping any open positions from being filled and any new positions from being created. But it exempted several categories, including "public safety" jobs. Crockett’s office told PolitiFact that her claim was based on Trump’s hiring freeze directive, which did not explicitly say that air traffic controllers were exempt and cited a lack of clarity about exemptions in the days preceding the crash. Still, air traffic controller shortages at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and nationwide have been a long-standing problem, and aviation experts told PolitiFact that it's doubtful that a Jan. 20 hiring freeze would have made the crash more likely. PolitiFact cannot independently confirm whether the hiring of air traffic controllers was ever frozen or if such a freeze was lifted. We could not find any documentation detailing when the Federal Aviation Administration outlined its exemptions, when that was made clear to employees and whether jobs were ever removed from the federal jobs portal. Whether air traffic controllers were exempt from hiring freeze was unclear to them Statements from a union representing air traffic controllers — before the crash — show it was unclear to the union whether air traffic controllers were exempt from the hiring freeze. National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels said in a Jan. 27 statement: "At this time, we do not have a definitive answer if the hiring freeze (presidential memo) affects air traffic control hiring." A Jan. 29 statement reiterated that uncertainty. On Jan. 22, two ranking members of transportation and aviation related committees, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., issued a joint statement claiming that the hiring freeze affected air traffic controllers. Politico reported Jan. 22 that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the Senate Commerce Committee chair, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth D-Ill., the ranking member on the aviation subcommittee, had no information on how the freeze affected air traffic controller staffing. The White House told PolitiFact that Trump’s exemption covered air traffic controllers and that their hiring was never suspended or frozen. Based on Trump’s hiring freeze order, the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget said in a memo that "positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety" are exempt. It directed agency heads to consult the Office of Personnel Management about the exemptions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a Feb. 2 CNN interview that the freeze didn’t affect air traffic controllers. He said that almost 1,200 critical safety positions, including air traffic controllers, were exempted. Duffy also said the FAA had hired new controllers that week. USAjobs.gov, a portal listing federal government job openings, had air traffic control jobs posted online as of Feb. 3. The FAA also told PolitiFact that it continues hiring new controllers, but it did not address questions about whether hiring was ever paused. Daniels also said in a Feb. 1 CNN interview, "We do thank Secretary Duffy, he did lift the hiring freeze on air traffic controllers now." Daniels did not specify when Duffy lifted the freeze. PolitiFact emailed Daniels’ organization, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, but got no response. Trump’s actions unlikely to have affected the crash, aviation expert said The New York Times has reported that staffing at the Reagan Washington National Airport air traffic control tower was "not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic" when a passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter, based on an internal preliminary FAA safety report. On his second presidential term’s second day, Trump fired the Transportation Safety Administration administrator, the Coast Guard commandant and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee members, a group that includes private-sector aviation groups, The Associated Press reported.Although these officials are involved in aviation safety, the firings "would not have led to such an immediate impact," said Jim Cardoso, a former U.S. Air Force colonel and pilot who is now senior director of the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute. "All the processes to control and deconflict air traffic in the D.C. area have been well established for a long time," Cardoso said. "The personnel involved in the accident — air crew from the two aircraft and the (air traffic controllers) in place at the time of the accident — would similarly not have been affected by" the recent policy changes in Trump’s executive orders, he said. The New York Times reported Jan. 30 that staffing at the air traffic control tower was "not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic," based on an internal preliminary FAA safety report. The Reagan airport tower has been understaffed for years, partly because of employee turnover and tight budgets, the Times reported. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2025/02/12/did-president-trumps-hiring-freeze-include-air-traffic-controllers/78412544007/ United Airlines Takes Delivery Of 43rd Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner With a fleet of just over 1,000 aircraft spread between 19 types, the arrival of one more probably does not provoke much excitement at the Chicago-based airline. While that may or may not be the case, the reality is that on Wednesday, United Airlines (United) received its forty-third Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which joins the twelve 787-8s and twenty-one 787-10s already in operation. Simple Flying often reports on ferry flights of ATR turboprops to Asia-Pacific, which follow a similar route to the original Qantas service and are usually quite interesting to write about. Unfortunately, the delivery of United Airlines' 43rd 787-9 carried none of that romance or mystique; it was just a straightforward one-hour US domestic flight from Charleston, South Carolina, to Washington Dulles Airport, Virginia. On February 12, 2025, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registration N22992 and MSN 63634, departed Charleston International Airport (CHS) at 11:53 and landed one hour later at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 12:53. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft had operated test/evaluation flights to and from Charleston International on January 29, February 2 and February 9, before its delivery. Of those three flights, the first on January 29 looks most interesting. Flight BOE367 was also the longest of the three, departing Charleston at 14:42 and returning to the airport at 17:49. On the following map, the yellow airplane is positioned above Blackshear, Georgia, where the aircraft was flying at 337 knots at an altitude of 16,400 feet and a vertical speed of -1,728 feet per minute. United configures its 787-9s in a comfortable four-class layout of 257 seats, making it ideal for longer sectors where passenger comfort and premium seating are in high demand. The aircraft has 48 seats in Polaris business class, 21 in Premium Plus, 39 in Economy Plus and 149 in the economy cabin. United is going for a large Polaris cabin on the 787-9 while a smaller cabin will be on the 787-8. Australia-United-States-Airlines-Struggle United's seat map shows that all passengers can enjoy seatback entertainment, personal device entertainment, WiFi, power outlets and USB ports. Business class passengers enjoy a full-flat 20.5" wide seat; in premium, the seat is 19" wide with a 38" pitch; economy plus has a 17.3" width at a 34" pitch, and economy seats are also 17.3" wide, although the pitch is set at 31". Based on fleet data from ch-aviation, United now has 76 787 Dreamliners, with the 787-9 being the most popular variant. United has close to 150 additional Boeing 787-9s on order, and in a stroke of good decision, it has chosen the GE GEnx engines for its aircraft, thereby avoiding all of the dramas afflicting one of its main Transpacific competitors, Air New Zealand. Simple Flying has contacted United Airlines to ask when and where the new 787-9 Dreamliner will enter commercial service. We will update this article as soon as we have that information. A look into the United Airlines fleet The same fleet data shows that United Airlines has a total fleet of 1,005 aircraft, although 69 are listed as inactive. The listing also shows United has unfilled orders for 673 aircraft, including 214 from Airbus and 459 from Boeing. The listing shows the fleet includes: 81 Airbus A319-100s 78 Airbus A320-200s 31 Airbus A321neos 529 Boeing 737s, including 40 -700s, 112 MAX 8s, 141 -800s, 88 MAX 9s, 12 -900s and 136 -900ERs United Airlines old livery Boeing 737-700 landing shutterstock_1614583135 Photo: Thiago B Trevisan | Shutterstock 40 Boeing 757-200s and 21 757-300s 37 Boeing 767-300ERs and 16 767-400ERs 19 Boeing 777-200s, 55 777-200ERs and 22 777-300ERs 12 Boeing 787-8s, 43 787-9s and 21 787-10s Get all the latest aviation news for North America here The aircraft on order from Airbus are 119 A321neos, 50 A321XLRs and 45 A350-900s, while the Boeing orders include 14 737 MAX 8s, 132 737 MAX 9s, 167 737 MAX 10s and 146 787-9 Dreamliners. https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-delivery-43rd-boeing-787-9-dreamliner/ FlyBright Pilot Academy partners with Allegiant Air to address the pilot shortage FlyBright Pilot Academy has unveiled the “Accelerate Pilot Pathway,” a dynamic partnership with Allegiant airlines. This program paves the way for aspiring pilots, guiding them from their very first flight all the way to the captain’s seat with unmatched support and opportunity. Through this partnership, FlyBright Pilot Academy students can enter a structured career pipeline with Allegiant, one of the nation’s leading carriers. Key points of this unique partnership: A conditional letter of employment from Allegiant while building their experience as flight instructors. Up to $50,000 tuition reimbursement for loans associated with flight training. The Allegiant hiring team will dedicate time and resources to FlyBright students, providing invaluable preparation for a successful career. Students are not required to make a commitment to Allegiant to participate in the Accelerate Pilot Pathway program, differentiating it from other flow-through programs. FlyBright’s partnership with Purdue University Global provides an optional bachelor’s degree pathway which reduces the required airline pilot age from 23 to 21 years old. This degree program is also accelerated; it takes around two-to-three years to complete, all online and in conjunction with flight training and flight instructor employment. John Mauch, CEO of FlyBright Pilot Academy said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Allegiant to give our students access to an incredible opportunity. “This partnership exemplifies our mission to not only train exceptional pilots but also help them launch rewarding, lifelong careers in aviation.” Upon entering their senior year, students may be hired on as a cadet and provided a conditional job offer as an Allegiant first officer. Cadets enjoy Allegiant employee benefits such as pass travel on Allegiant flights, participation in visits to Allegiant’s headquarters in Las Vegas, and access to Allegiant’s training centres. Once a cadet reaches their required hours of flight training, Allegiant sponsors their attendance in an Airline Transport Pilot Certification course, and upon completion, the cadet joins Allegiant as a first officer. https://airlinergs.com/flybright-pilot-academy-partners-with-allegiant-air-to-address-the-pilot-shortage/ How The British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy Cadet Program Works For many aviation enthusiasts, becoming a pilot is the dream job. British Airways , the United Kingdom's flag carrier, is calling on those with aspirations to become pilots to apply for the British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy, where successful applicants can obtain their pilot's license through a fully funded program. Calling on 200 aspiring pilots The program received plenty of interest and profound success in 2024, so the airline is opening its doors for another round, welcoming up to 200 soon-to-be pilots. The Speedbird Pilot Academy cadet program opened for applications this week, with the airline investing £21 million ($26.2 million) to cement the next generation of pilots for the carrier. British Airways is the only UK airline to offer a fully funded cadet program, and due to the private costs of becoming a pilot (up to £100,000 ($124,000)), it can be out of reach for many to do it alone. Fellow UK carrier TUI offers a similar scheme which is mostly funded, although cadets are responsible for paying for personal travel and living expenses. This is the third year British Airways has offered the Speedbird Pilot Academy. The program aims to attract a wide range of applicants and allows the carrier to select from the best from all walks of life. A present cadet from York, Jasmine Campbell, shared her experience: "Becoming a professional pilot was a childhood dream that has only been made possible by the Speedbird Pilot Academy and the continued support I've received. Recently completing my cross-country (light aircraft) training flight in Vero Beach, Florida, reminded me how close I am to realising my dream of flying for British Airways and how grateful I am to them for the life changing opportunity." British Airways currently employs around 4,000 pilots to sustain its global network, and those interested in the Speedbird Pilot Academy can apply this week on the airline's careers page. British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy Opens For Applications Another 100 full scholarships for new pilots will open next week. According to the carrier, a British Airways aircraft takes off from one of its many international airports around the globe every 90 seconds. The pilots and cabin crew are all part of the airline's success, and one of the world's largest carriers continues to transport millions of passengers yearly. British Airways operates a modern and fuel-efficient fleet, and its future pilots are integral to ensuring the airline's successful operations can continue. The Speedbird Academy will remain open for aviation enthusiasts from February 11 to February 21, 2025. More details about the Speedbird Pilot Academy British Airways has been taking to the skies for over 100 years and has come a long way since first launching international services between London and Paris. The UK-based airline is looking to open new opportunities for those who may have never thought becoming a pilot was possible. BA looks to allow individuals to experience a life-changing opportunity where financial barriers no longer limit their future. This revolutionizing experience will look to offer successful candidates placement at an approved flight training school. Once flight training is completed, the cadets are guaranteed a position with British Airways at either London Gatwick or London Heathrow Airport , helping cement future talent for the British carrier. History: The Merger That Formed Today's British Airways A look at the carriers that came together to form British Airways and the historic 1974 merger process itself. Understanding the Speedbird Pilot Academy selection process For those interested in a future with British Airways, the Speedbird Pilot Academy selection process will be completed in three stages: Stage 1: Online Testing Applications open from February 11 to February 21, 2025 Online screening will continue until mid-March Stage 2: Flight School Online Testing In-person assessment Online Interview Testing will take place between mid-March and June Stage 3: In-Person Final Assessment with British Airways Meeting with British Airways In-personal final assessment Scheduled to take place from mid-June to the end of July Learning what it takes to become a pilot with British Airways To ensure applicants are well prepared for a potential future with the oneworld carrier, British Airways has outlined several key attributes that potential cadets should bring to the airline. These include: Be unique While technical expertise can help, your individuality is what could get you in the skies. British Airways looks to attract passionate and enthusiastic applicants. Be motivated Passion and motivation are key to success. The ability to remain calm and be a natural problem solver should match your desire to be a team player. Be timely Making important decisions under pressure and promptly is paramount. Further conditions are also listed below: Between 17 and 55 years of age (you would need to be 18 by the time you start training (on or before January 1, 2026). 6 GCSEs grade A-C or 5-9 (including Maths, English Language and Science), or equivalent. Fluent English speaker. Non-native English speakers should have achieved an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level of 5.5 Have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom. Valid passport. Unrestricted, worldwide travel. Height between 1.57m (5'2") and 1.91m (6'3"). Tattoos are not permitted if visible on the head, face, or hands. Can swim unaided at least 50 meters (164 feet). Ability to tread water (for at least 3 minutes). Obtain and hold a UK CAA Class 1 medical. Pass pre-employment, UK & international criminal record checks. During the application process, you can request future positions with BA Cityflyer. Otherwise, cadets will be selected for a career across all of the airline's operations. For cadets who are selected, they will undertake Commercial License Training at a partner flight school, where training will take up to 18 months, with Type rating and Line Training taking an additional three months to complete. How Long Does It Take To Become An Airline Pilot? An approximation of the time needed to get to the flight deck of an airliner. For those coming to British Airways from another airline, specific in-house training could take between four and six weeks before starting Line Training, which can take an additional two months. The benefits of working for British Airways Once cadets have completed their training, joining one of the world's largest airlines comes with plenty of benefits. While it starts with a competitive salary, additional staff benefits include unlimited basic and premium standby tickets with the carrier. If you'd prefer to travel with a firm, there are also 30 discounted airfares available per year that can be shared with friends and family. Other perks include: Well-designed dynamic career path. Company pension scheme. Life insurance. Family leave benefits. Varied rosters. Unlimited discounted airfares for friends and family. Car hire, hotel, and retail store discounts. Voluntary benefits for family and friends. Private medical cover, including dental and critical illness. Gymflex annual membership. Electric car scheme. 75% discount on Heathrow Express (Express Saver) tickets. The airline acknowledges that many trainee pilots may have completed or are completing their qualifications and invites applicants for the 'Speedbird Self-Sponsored Pathway: Post Instrument Rating.' This route allows applicants to have the potential for an assessment with BA, where, if successful, they could be placed into the airline's hold pool. Successful candidates of this pathway could be placed onboard the airline's short-haul Airbus A320 fleet, either at London Gatwick Airport or Heathrow. British Airways operates around the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so applicants are expected to be able to work with varied rosters. At the same time, the airline respects pilots from a wide range of faiths and backgrounds. Due to the nature of the job, the airline cannot guarantee specific times or dates when the applicant may be able to undertake particular rituals. However, the airline's roster system does allow pilots to swap duties and request leave or specific days off when required. For those coming to British Airways from a military background, the airline offers a transition program for military pilots. You can register on the airline's careers page to learn when the next scheme will start. Working for British Airways British Airways operates a robust network of domestic, short-, medium-, and long-haul operations from its hubs at London Gatwick and London Heathrow. Depending on the exact route being flown by a given flight, the airline's callsign is either Speedbird or Shuttle. The airline's two subsidiaries, BA CityFlyer and BA EuroFlyer, complement its fleet of over 244 aircraft. The airline's parent company, the International Airlines Group (IAG), also controls Aer Lingus , Aer Lingus Regional, Aer Lingus UK, IAG Cargo, Iberia, Iberia Express, LEVEL , Vueling, and the Avios Group. https://simpleflying.com/british-airways-speedbird-pilot-academy-cadet-program/ Air India rules out more Boeing jet orders for now, CEO says LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Air India [RIC:RIC:AIRID.UL] is holding off on exercising its outstanding options to buy additional Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab jets until the planemaker has cleared its backlog, CEO Campbell Wilson told Reuters on Wednesday. "We don't want to commit to anything until we have confidence of when it's going to come. And likewise, they (Boeing) don't want to offer something until they have confidence of when it's going to come," Wilson said in an interview in London. The former state carrier is in the midst of a multi-billion-dollar revamp in the face of established competition, after Tata Group took it over more than two years ago. In 2023, Air India ordered 250 new jets from Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab and 220 from Boeing to revive its appeal with an all-new fleet. The airline also signed options to buy an additional 70 planes from Boeing, including 50 737 MAXs and 20 787 Dreamliners. Advertisement · Scroll to continue It topped that up with an order for an additional 85 Airbus jets in October. Air India previously struggled with years of limited investment under state ownership, prompting a dramatic restructuring plan. Boeing has a production cap of 38 jets a month, imposed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration last year after a door blew out on an Alaska Airlines plane and scrutiny of Boeing's safety and manufacturing procedures increased. Wilson said Air India was in "constant contact" with the manufacturer, with its most recent check-in taking place last week. Wilson said he expects Air India's plane order book to be filled more slowly than initially set out, but is hopeful its turnaround plan will bear fruit in the coming years. "We expect to get them, but do we expect to get them according to timeline? No, we don't. And I think that every airline would tell you the same thing," he said. Delays are also expected when it comes to parts and supplies needed to refit existing planes by upgrading to more premium seats and in-flight options. "We've had delays from pretty much every supplier for every one of our seat (upgrade) programs, some as short as six to nine months, others as long as 18 months," Wilson said. "That just pushes out the whole product transformation longer than we had hoped." The delivery delays do not have Air India looking to order China's COMAC planes yet. But that does not rule it out from considering the planemaker in the future, Wilson said. "If people can produce a good, safe, reliable product, and they can commit to being able to service it for the life of its operation, I think we would never be closed to alternatives," he added. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/air-india-rules-out-more-boeing-jet-orders-now-ceo-says-2025-02-12/ 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 • . Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Forum June 5-6, 2025 - Brussels • · The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 • . ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO • . CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis