Flight Safety Information - March 26, 2025 No. 061 In This Issue : Incident: France A321 near Venice on Mar 25th 2025, burning odour : Incident: Volaris A320 near Los Angeles on Mar 25th 2025, engine problems : Incident: United A319 near Boise on Mar 24th 2025, engine shut down in flight : Accident: Skywest CRJ2 at Johnstown on Mar 24th 2025, wing tip strike on landin : PIA to remain on UK's air safety list, confirms transport department : North Texas man arrested, accused of groping woman on American Airlines flight : Why are a growing number of airlines banning power banks on flights? : WestJet pilots ask judge to nix approval of temporary foreign workers in the cockpit : U.S. Air Force Overhauls Pilot Training Again To Increase Pace : Airline pilot demand back to pre-pandemic levels : Judge upends Boeing-DOJ legal saga and orders 737 Max trial for June : ISASI is accepting nominations for the Jerome F. Lederer Award. : Calendar of Events Incident: France A321 near Venice on Mar 25th 2025, burning odour An Air France Airbus A321-200, registration F-GTAZ performing flight AF-1532 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Athens (Greece) with 198 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 40nm southeast of Venice (Italy) when the crew decided to divert to Venice reporting a burning odour on board. The aircraft landed safely on Venice's runway 04R about 20 minutes later. The aircraft stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services and taxied to the apron about 5 minutes later. A replacement A321-200 registration F-GTAK positioned to Venice, continued the flight and reached Athens with a delay of about 6.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Venice about 10 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=525ac9c0&opt=0 Incident: Volaris A320 near Los Angeles on Mar 25th 2025, engine problems A Volaris Airbus A320-200 on behalf of Volaris El Salvador, registration N515VL performing flight N3-4309 (sched. Mar 24th, act. Mar 25th) from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to San Salvador (El Savador), had just levelled off at cruise FL350 about 160nm southeast of Los Angeles when the crew decided to return to Los Angeles due to engine (V2527) problems. The aircraft landed safely on runway 25L about 65 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "Volaris Flight 4309 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport around 1:20 a.m. local time on Tuesday, March 25, after the crew reported possible engine issues. The Airbus A320 was headed to San Salvador International Airport in El Salvador. The FAA will investigate." The aircraft is still on the ground in Los Angeles about 7 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=525aa539&opt=0 Incident: United A319 near Boise on Mar 24th 2025, engine shut down in flight A United Airbus A319-100, registration N837UA performing flight UA-2166 from San Francisco,CA to Bozeman,MT (USA), was step climbing from FL350 to FL370 when the crew stopped the climb, reported they needed to shut an engine (V2522) down and initiated a diversion to Boise,ID (USA). The aircraft landed safely on Boise's runway 28L about 30 minutes later. The aircraft stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services and about 5 minutes later taxied to the apron. The FAA reported: "United Airlines Flight 2166 landed safely at Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field in Idaho around 2:15 p.m. local time Monday, March 24, after the crew reported an engine issue. The Airbus A319 departed San Francisco International Airport and was traveling to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana. The FAA will investigate." https://avherald.com/h?article=525a9895&opt=0 Accident: Skywest CRJ2 at Johnstown on Mar 24th 2025, wing tip strike on landing A Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 on behalf of United, registration N961SW performing flight UA-5046 from Washington Dulles,DC to Johnstown,PA (USA), landed on Johnstown's runway 33 but struck its left wing onto the runway surface. The aircraft rolled out without further incident and taxied to the apron. The FAA reported: "SKY WEST 5046, CRJ2, IAD - JST, EXPERIENCED A LEFT WING STRIKE WHILE LANDING RUNWAY 33 JOHNSTOWN. ACFT TAXIED TO GATE. LEFT WING HAS SCRAPES AND A HOLE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DAMAGE: UNKN." The aircraft is still on the ground in Johnstown about 19 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=525a9528&opt=0 PIA to remain on UK's air safety list, confirms transport department Airlines must go through rigorous procedure to have restrictions lifted, says spokesperson LONDON: The UK Department for Transport confirmed on Tuesday that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would remain on the air safety list. A spokesperson for the department said that the UK Civil Aviation Authority was in contact with Pakistani authorities regarding the issue. The Department of Transport told Geo News: “All Pakistani air carriers remain on the UK Air Safety List. We are engaging with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, along with the UK Civil Aviation Authority, about their status on the list and there is a robust process to follow before airlines are delisted.” The UK Air Safety List is the published list of countries and airlines that are subject to an operating ban on safety grounds and so cannot fly planes to, from or within the UK. All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Pakistan are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the United Kingdom, stated an official UK government website. Meanwhile, Pakistan government sources told Geo News that the UK air safety authority has postponed its decision regarding the lifting of restrictions on Pakistan's national carrier. The authority was expected to announce its verdict on March 20 following an audit but later rescheduled it to March 25. However, the decision has now been further delayed. The government insiders added that the postponement was linked to an incident involving a PIA aircraft, where a tire detached mid-flight. The World Air Safety authorities and Airbus were investigating the matter. The decision would remain on hold until the probe is completed, they added. Separately, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Nadir Shafi Dar said that they had not received any written response on the PIA flight ban from the UK authorities. In a statement, Dar said that the CAA was still awaiting a response from the British authorities. A spokesperson for the national airline said that following the lifting of restrictions in Europe, Pakistan is now awaiting a "positive response" from the UK as well. Last week, it was reported that the ban on the national carrier on flying to Britain is likely to be lifted soon as the British Air Safety Committee concluded an important meeting on the matter. The ban was enforced in July 2020 by the UK and European aviation authorities following the fake pilot licence scandal. However, Pakistani authorities remained hopeful that the restrictions would be lifted following tomorrow’s review. In 2020, during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) government, then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan claimed that pilots were operating planes with fake licences. This was his response after PIA's Airbus A-320s plunged into a Karachi street, killing nearly 100 people. Following this, the debt-ridden PIA was banned from flying to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The ban cost the loss-making airline Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in revenue. In January 2025, after a years-long hiatus, the PIA operated its first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris, resuming its long-awaited flights to Europe. Eyeing UK operations, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said that once cleared by the DfT, London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be the most sought-after destinations. PIA has 23% of Pakistan's domestic aviation market, but its 34-plane fleet cannot compete with Middle Eastern carriers, which have 60%, due to a lack of direct flights, despite having agreements with 87 countries and key landing slots. https://www.geo.tv/latest/597084-pia-to-remain-on-uks-air-safety-list-confirms-transport-department North Texas man arrested, accused of groping woman on American Airlines flight Federal investigators found two prior incidents where the man is accused of inappropriate in-air touching. A North Texas man is accused of groping a 22-year-old woman on an American Airlines flight last week, his possible third in-air offense, according to court documents. Cherian Abraham, 55, was arrested Monday following a federal investigation into allegations that he touched a woman’s breast nonconsensually aboard American Airlines flight 2076 from Chicago to Seattle on March 18. American Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation complaint, Abraham put his finger on the victim’s breast, overtop of her clothing, and made a rubbing motion. The victim, whose name is known to investigators but was not made public, first thought the touching could be accidental until he touched her on her breast again a few minutes later. She looked at him and he stopped, the complaint says. Another few minutes later, he moved to touch her again, prompting her to ask, “Why the f--- are you touching me?” He didn’t respond, and instead placed a backpack from under the seat onto his lap. The victim left to find a flight attendant to report the incident and was seated elsewhere for the remainder of the flight. She reported feeling “feeling sad, hurt, and unsafe,” according to the complaint, and stated the incident was “traumatizing.” The complaint included testimony from the flight attendant and a witness in the aisle seat who was asleep for most of the flight. The witness recalled the victim asking to get up because the man next to her was “molesting” her, and noted Abraham’s backpack in his lap as “unusual.” Abraham first denied touching the victim to investigators, until he was advised of the possibility of a witness. He then stated he may have touched her accidentally and that he had never been previously accused of something similar. However, investigators found two prior incidents where Abraham was accused of touching women inappropriately on planes. On October 9, 2023, Minneapolis Airport Police spoke with a woman who accused Abraham of touching her seatbelt and leg but declined to press charges. On April 24, 2024, another woman filed an online complaint with American Airlines customer relations that accused him of several nonconsensual touches, including one between her legs. Charges have not been filed yet, but the FBI complaint found “probable cause” that Abraham committed the offense of Abusive Sexual Contact. In-air crimes fall under the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, and Abraham’s case is being pursued in the Western District of Washington, where Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located. Abraham has since been released on appearance bond subject to several conditions, including travel restrictions and the surrender of any current or expired passports. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2025/03/25/north-texas-man-arrested-accused-of-groping-woman-on-american-airlines-flight/ Why are a growing number of airlines banning power banks on flights? Several airlines in Asia are tightening rules on carrying lithium batteries on planes following a series of overheating and fire incidents on board. A portable power bank with a lithium battery has been found to be a possible source of a fire that engulfed an Air Busan plane in January while waiting for takeoff, South Korea’s transport ministry said in a press release, citing the investigation committee and forensic services. Investigators found “multiple electrical melting marks from the remains of a power bank,” the release said. Travelers often pack lithium-ion battery power banks to charge their phones, tablets, laptops and cameras on the go. The pocket-sized devices keep gadgets fueled to play games or watch downloaded movies to stay entertained on long-haul flights. But manufacturer issues, misuse and aging can heighten the risk from the batteries, which use flammable materials, potentially posing a fire danger on flights. More than 500 in-flight lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat have been recorded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the past two decades. Which airlines have changed their rules? South Korea implemented nationwide restrictions that took effect this month, banning passengers from storing power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead cabins on all of the country’s airlines. Passengers can store power banks either in the seat pocket or under the seat. Charging a power bank on the plane by plugging it into the seat’s USB outlet is also prohibited, according to the new regulations. “Sockets of a power bank should be covered with friction tape or put in a protective pouch or a plastic bag (eg. zipped bag) so they don’t touch other metals,” the country’s transport ministry said. Investigators found a power bank with a lithium battery could be a possible source of the Air Busan airplane fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on January 28, 2025. Investigators found a power bank with a lithium battery could be a possible source of the Air Busan airplane fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on January 28, 2025. Son Hyung-joo/Yonhap/AP Thai Airways announced passengers are no longer allowed to use or charge power banks on flights from March 15, following “incidents of in-flight fires on international airlines, suspected to be linked to power bank usage.” Starting in April, Singapore Airlines is banning passengers from using power banks to charge phones and personal devices in-flight. Power banks are also not allowed to be charged using aircraft USB ports. Low-cost carrier Air Asia said it will require passengers to store power banks under the seat or in the seat pocket, and prohibit charging portable electronic devices throughout the flight. Taiwan’s major carriers, EVA Air, China Airlines, and Uni Air, have also banned the use of portable chargers in-flight. Hong Kong’s aviation regulator said it will prohibit passengers from using power banks during flights and from storing lithium batteries in the overhead cabins from April 7. The change comes after a Hong Kong Airlines flight from the Chinese city of Hangzhou was forced to divert after a portable charging device reportedly triggered a fire in an overhead compartment. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in power banks due to their high energy density and relatively low cost, according to Chrystal Zhang, associate professor, STEM College at RMIT University. The batteries can store a large amount of power without being excessively bulky, making them a popular choice for high-capacity power banks. Power banks are essential on long-haul flights, for business travelers, and for anyone relying on mobile devices, since most airports lack sufficient charging stations, Zhang told CNN. Imposing a blanket ban on using them in-flight would inconvenience passengers, she added. Can I still bring a power bank on my trip? Lithium-ion batteries, such as power banks, should only be packed in carry-on baggage, according to US FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules. In general, most airlines allow each passenger to carry a maximum of two lithium-ion power banks of 100-160 Watt-hour (Wh) into the cabin. However, most power banks on the market use the unit milliamperes per hour (mAh) to measure the battery’s capacity. So, look for ones that are no more than about 43,000 mAh to comply with most airline rules. A single 100-Wh (27,000 mAh for a typical 3.7 volt battery) power bank is enough to charge an iPhone 13 Pro Max about three to four times. But whether you can use them in-flight depends on the airline (and there are also exceptions for portable medical devices). Here’s what you can bring on your carry-on: Korean Air: Each passenger is limited to a maximum of five 100 Wh battery packs in carry-on and checked baggage combined. Asiana Airlines: Spare lithium batteries and extra batteries that are 160 Wh or less must be packed in short-circuit proof packaging. Singapore Airlines: Customers may bring power banks with a capacity of up to 100Wh, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval. The same rules apply on Scoot, its subsidiary, low-cost carrier. Cathay Pacific: Power banks must be under 100 Wh. Hong Kong Express: Lithium-ion batteries must not exceed 100Wh and must be individually protected to prevent short circuits. Qantas: No more than two spare lithium batteries exceeding 100Wh and up to 160Wh are permitted. Virgin Australia: Spare/loose batteries (including power banks/packs) must be in carry-on baggage only. They must be protected against short circuiting by being placed in the original retail packaging, a separate plastic bag or a protective pouch, or by insulating terminals by taping over exposed terminals. Air Asia: Guests may only carry power banks that do not exceed 100 watt-hours (Wh) or 20,000 milliampere-hours (mAh). Power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval at the check-in counter. Separately, there are no limits on carrying dry cell alkaline batteries (think Energizer Bunny batteries), according to the FAA, as long as the voltage does not exceed 12 volts and are “protected from damage.” This can be done by leaving the batteries in their retail packaging, covering battery terminals with non-metallic tape or by keeping them in an enclosed plastic bag or protective pouch. The problem with lithium-ion batteries Mobile phones, laptops, drones, smart wearables, as well as electric bikes, electric scooters and EVs are all powered by lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can overheat as a result of a phenomenon known as “thermal runaway,” a chain reaction which can lead to a fire or catastrophic explosion. Lithium-ion batteries, which are used in power banks, are filled with materials which are highly reactive and highly flammable, according to Sonya Brown, senior lecturer in aerospace design at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia. “Lithium batteries could act as an ignition source themselves, or as a source of fuel for a fire initiated elsewhere. The potential risk as an ignition source is increased when lithium batteries are damaged, swollen, include manufacturing defects, are over-charged or over-heated,” she told CNN. Brown also said accidental contact with other battery terminals “can cause unintended discharge” and suggests power banks and spare batteries be taped with a non-conductive material or packed separately to avoid coming into contact with other metals. She also recommends passengers inspect their power banks before traveling for any signs of swelling or external damage and consider disposing of them according to local regulations if there is anything that appears unusual. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/26/travel/airline-power-bank-rules-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html WestJet pilots ask judge to nix approval of temporary foreign workers in the cockpit Court filing says airline requested about 60 permits for pilots from India and South Africa The Air Line Pilots Association petitioned wants a federal court to block a government decision green-lighting temporary work permits at WestJet. (Francois Biber/CBC) Amid a global flight crew shortage, the union representing WestJet pilots has asked a judge to quash federal approval of temporary foreign workers in the cockpit. In an application it said was filed Monday, the Air Line Pilots Association petitioned the Federal Court to declare invalid a government decision allowing temporary work permits at regional subsidiary WestJet Encore earlier this month. The airline requested about 60 permits for pilots from India and South Africa under the temporary foreign workers program, according to the filing. Tim Perry, who heads the union's Canadian wing, said it was not consulted and that the move could erode "safety margins" and undercut wage gains. "Airlines that do a good job with attraction and retention do not need to turn to temporary foreign workers," Perry said in a phone interview. WestJet considers hiring temporary foreign workers to solve pilot shortage "This application should never have been filed." He also argued the government drew "improper conclusions" about the need for flight crews from overseas, and said consideration of WestJet's request should have included discussion with the union. WestJet said it asked the government to assess whether temporary foreign workers are needed, a necessary step before hiring from abroad can take place. The request was made via a so-called labour market impact assessment (LMIA), which also determines if "no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job," according to the Immigration Department website. "WestJet Encore has not yet hired any pilots through the LMIA process," airline spokeswoman Julia Kaiser said in an email. The temporary foreign worker program, which allows non-permanent residents to work in Canada for limited periods, employs hundreds of thousands of people across a wide range of industries. The federal program saw worker volumes surge over the past decade and a half — particularly in low-wage sectors — though demand dropped in the second half of last year amid new restrictions and U.S. tariff concerns. In their lawsuit, the WestJet pilots said the federal jobs minister approved a WestJet application for 60 temporary work permits on March 10. Employment and Social Development Canada said in an email it does not disclose information on such cases to outside parties due to privacy concerns. "The TFW program is designed to help Canadian employers hire foreign workers to fill temporary labour and skill shortages when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not available," department spokeswoman Liana Brault said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-pilots-ask-judge-to-nix-approval-of-temporary-foreign-workers-in-the-cockpit-1.7492872 U.S. Air Force Overhauls Pilot Training Again To Increase Pace T-6A maintenance issues have contributed to slower pilot certification. Faced with a chronic pilot shortage and further affected by an inability to produce enough aviators to fill the gap, the U.S. Air Force has overhauled its initial pilot training program again by looking outside the service. Air Education and Training Command (AETC) last fall implemented a new model, sending student aviators to pilot training schools for fundamentals before they undergo undergraduate training. The change puts young flyers through intensive training on basic airmanship, instrument and multiengine flying competencies at FAA Part 141-certified schools before they go to Air Force bases to start training on the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. The service expects to meet its goal in 2027 Students become FAA-certified ahead of military training Under this new Initial Pilot Training (IPT) model, AETC expects to increase its training total from approximately 1,300 per year to the needed 1,500 by 2027 to help chip away at the pilot shortage that has long been at about 2,000 fewer than needed. The approach is not only for future U.S. Air Force aviators—international students assigned to the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program also will participate. “If we scale this, and the plan comes to fruition as we think it will, this will be the new way of doing undergraduate pilot training, and this approach will yield us the 1,500 pilots a year,” AETC Commander Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson says. Under the IPT program, students first headed to the Brunner Aerospace flight training program in Texas and the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation program, located in Arizona. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, also took an initial small group of tryouts. The Air Force paid tuition for the students, who underwent training first in aircraft such as Cessna 172s, Piper Archers and Diamond DA40s for single-engine operations and then on Piper PA-44 Seminoles and Diamond DA42s for multiengine training. The service’s main requirement, in addition to the Part 141 certification, is that the pilots fly aircraft with modern, glass avionics to prepare them to fly newer aircraft like Lockheed Martin F-35s and Boeing KC-46s. Students are assigned to the schools for 140 days and receive 110 hr. of training to build that “strong foundation” before being assigned to an AETC base for military-specific training on T-6s, says Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, AETC director of plans, programs and requirements. At an AETC base, pilots fly about 55 hr. in the T-6 before going through either fighter and bomber training in the Northrop T-38 or to mobility, special operations or rotary wing-specific instruction. The Air Force developed the IPT in part to lessen the stress on the T-6 fleet, which was challenged under the previous training model amid maintenance and reliability issues. This has contributed to a backlog of pilots and required the Air Force to send would-be pilots to other assignments, such as studying at the Air Force Institute of Technology, as they wait for training slots. While overall T-6 flying hours per student will be cut significantly, the students will accumulate more overall flying time with the initial phase. “This is where we’ve been challenged . . . [in] getting enough flying hours in the T-6 to actually get roughly 1,500 pilots a year through that,” Leard says. “So as we [approached] this we looked at . . . the things we really need those flying hours to focus on—military instructor pilots, military aircraft. Let’s have the flying hours and instructor pilots focus on that. And then what are the things we don’t need them to focus on? It’s basic airmanship, instrument procedures [and] navigation. And then, where are those really readily available [for] high-quality training?” Pilots training to fly mobility aircraft, such as airlifters and tankers, will receive multiengine training only with the PA-44s and DA42s before being assigned to a tanker, such as the KC-46, or airlifter like a Boeing C-17. The service is retiring the Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk, which had been used for multiengine training. Seven classes were in the pipeline under the new program as of March. The Air Force expects it to scale up all its training by 2027, and more schools will have the opportunity to bid on service contracts. Robinson says the IPT results have been positive, with the bulk of students performing at a quality higher than under the previous method. So far, one student pilot washed out, and another quit. The AETC has been able to reduce the number of student pilots awaiting training. “We’ve been able to move fast by using those [schools], and we’ve learned a lot about what we want the long-term contract to look like,” Leard says. “At the end of the day, this is an integral part of our future pilot training pipeline, and we’ve got to make sure that we get this right.” https://aviationweek.com/defense/light-attack-advanced-training/us-air-force-overhauls-pilot-training-again-increase-pace Airline pilot demand back to pre-pandemic levels Industry experts say opportunities still abound Airlines are hiring far fewer pilots than they did during the first few post-pandemic years, with some carriers taking on just a handful of pilots or none at all during 2024 and the beginning of 2025. Industry analysts say the decline represents more of a settling than a nosedive, though, as hiring levels now are similar to those during 2019 and earlier. Major airlines added 1,139 pilots to their rolls during January and February, marking a 34-percent drop compared with the same period in 2024, according to data from the Future and Active Pilots Alliance (FAPA). Full-year hiring also declined sharply to 4,834 in 2024 from 12,196 in 2023 and 13,128 at the recent peak in 2022. Tim Genc, executive editor at FAPA, said the aviation job fairs that his group organizes reflect the ever-changing needs of the air transport industry. During 2022 and 2023 the bulk of attendees at FAPA events were carriers that were “hiring like gangbusters,” he said. Pilots did not have to make the rounds at job fairs because finding work at that time did not require much legwork. “Now there are more individual pilots showing up because it is harder to get those jobs.” The recent decline in opportunities is part of the traditional cyclicality of the air transport business. “What we are seeing now is not abnormal. With the airlines, everything seems to ebb and flow,” said Abbey Hutter, executive director at JSfirm, an online resource for people seeking jobs in aviation. “They go too hard and too fast with hiring. It tends to be feast or famine.” Job hunters should not despair, though, because prospects are likely to improve as deliveries of new aircraft ramp up and allow airlines to expand their fleets, and pilot retirements continue to create demand for new candidates. Hutter said there are certain operators, including airlines and many FAR Part 135 and Part 91 companies, that are rapidly adding pilots to their rosters. “United Airlines is not going to slow down. NetJets and other charters are also hiring. Helicopter operators are not slowing at all,” she said. Because the retirement trend among older pilots is not expected to peak until 2026 or 2027, FAPA’s Genc said, opportunities should continue to surface. The employment picture is not experiencing a true downturn but is returning to its pre-pandemic level. “If we look at the numbers historically, 2024 was still a good year,” Genc said. “Use this downtime to dust off your résumé, practice interview skills, polish your craft, and talk to human beings.” Aviation is still a small community in which personal relationships are important. Pilots seeking jobs must actively make and maintain contacts who might let them know when openings and other opportunities arise. “In aviation the ‘who you know’ still matters,” Genc said. Commercial aviation is also a challenging industry that sometimes deals disappointment and frustration to pilots pursuing careers. Many people, especially those who like a steady, predictable employment experience, simply are not cut out for this type of work. “You have to love aviation,” Genc said. “If the smell of jet fuel does something for you, the industry will have a place for you.” https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2025/march/25/airline-pilot-demand-back-to-pre-pandemic-levels Judge upends Boeing-DOJ legal saga and orders 737 Max trial for June A federal judge overseeing plea deal negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing (BA) has scrapped an order giving the parties more time to reach an agreement and instead ordered the giant jet maker to face a jury trial. The surprise development upends a long-running legal saga that Boeing hoped to end as it tries to show progress on several fronts more than one year after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made Alaska Airlines (ALK) 737 Max 9 jet. The order from US District Judge Reed O'Connor came one day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing wanted President Trump's Justice Department officials to let it out of a guilty criminal plea agreement the jet maker reached with the Biden administration. In that 2024 agreement, Boeing admitted that its workers conspired to defraud aviation regulators before two fatal 737 Max 8 crashes killed 346 people in the past decade. O'Connor rejected the deal late last year in part because of its terms governing the selection and conditions for a corporate monitor tasked with protecting against future fraud. Boeing and the DOJ had been negotiating changes to that deal before an April 11 deadline set by the judge. But on Tuesday, O'Connor ripped up that deadline in favor of a trial later this year in Fort Worth, Texas. "The Court hereby VACATES its April 11, 2025, deadline in its previous order and instead sets this case for trial on Monday, June 23, 2025," he wrote. Boeing said, "[As] stated in the parties’ recent filings, Boeing and the Department of Justice continue to be engaged in good faith discussions regarding an appropriate resolution of this matter." Paul Cassell, an attorney for some of the plaintiffs’ families, said, “We are pleased with today’s order. The families have waited more than four years for justice in this case. In light of today’s order, the families won’t have to wait any longer than June 23." Admitting guilt was meant to insulate Boeing from facing a criminal trial on the government's allegation that the jet maker misled Federal Aviation Administration officials before the 737 Max 8 crashes at the end of the last decade. Those allegations initially produced a deferred prosecution agreement reached in 2021, but last year the DOJ notified Boeing that it had breached the agreement after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made 737 Max 9 flown by Alaska Airlines. Avoiding a criminal conviction would be a major victory for the company. Such convictions can foreclose or suspend a company's right to contract with the federal government and frustrate its ability to secure loans, according to Eddie Jauregui, a white-collar defense attorney with Holland & Knight and former federal prosecutor. Those consequences have particular meaning for Boeing, which counts the federal government as its largest customer and also happens to be the country's largest exporter. Just last week, Boeing won a major contract to build a new F-47 jet fighter for the Pentagon. O'Connor on Tuesday in his surprise order set strict courtroom rules and a quick pace for deadlines leading up to the trial date in June. "The parties are hereby put on notice that Judge O’Connor will take the bench promptly at the appointed time for each session without waiting until the clerk or courtroom security officer has called the roll or otherwise ascertained the presence of all necessary parties," a scheduling order filed Tuesday stated. "If tardiness becomes a problem, appropriate fines will be imposed." O'Connor went on to instruct that court conferences between the lawyers and the judge, known as bench conferences, must be kept to a minimum. "Counsel must state the legal bases for their objections without elaboration or argument, unless invited," the order said. The judge also put particular focus on the period for discovery during which the parties exchange information that can become evidence in the case. "Absent a compelling excuse," the judge wrote, any evidence requested on time and not disclosed within a reasonable time before the trial will not be admitted in the case. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/judge-upends-boeing-doj-legal-saga-and-orders-737-max-trial-for-june-222309396.html ISASI is accepting nominations for the Jerome F. Lederer Award. The award is presented annually by the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) for outstanding lifetime contributions to technical excellence in furthering aviation accident investigation and achieving ISASI objectives, including enhancing aviation safety through the continuing development of investigation techniques. Any member of ISASI may submit an award nomination to the selection committee, which considers such traits as persistence, standing among peers, manner and techniques of operating, and achievements. Nominees not receiving the award are reconsidered for three years and may be nominated again after an intervening year. Nomination statements should emphasis an original and remarkable contribution and personal effort beyond normal duty requirements. The award may be given to an individual, group or organization, and may recognize a single event, series of events, or lifetime achievement. The nominee does not have to be an ISASI member. The nomination letter for the Lederer Award should be limited to a single page and should be e-mailed to the ISASI office or directly to the Awards Committee chair and must be received by May 30th each year. ISASI Office email – ann.schull@isasi.org Awards Committee Chair – Dave King - kingdfk@aol.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS · 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 . 70th annual Business Aviation Safey Summit (BASS), May 6-7, 2025, Charlotte, N.C., organized by Flight Safety Foundation in partnership with NBAA and NATA. · Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore · Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Forum June 5-6, 2025 - Brussels . 2025 EASA-FAA International Aviation Safety Conference, 10 Jun 2025 to 12 Jun 2025, Cologne, Germany · The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 . 3rd annual Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS), July 15-17, 2025, Singapore, organized by Flight Safety Foundation and CAAS. . Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025; 10-11 September 2025; Manila, Philippines · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis