Flight Safety Information - March 27, 2025 No. 062 In This Issue : Incident: Delta A21N at Boston on Mar 21st 2025, smoke in cabin : Incident: Transat A333 at Montreal on Mar 16th 2025, first officer partially incapacitated on final approach : Incident: United B763 at London on Mar 26th 2025, engine shut down in flight : US FAA to hire 2,000 air traffic controllers this year, keep strict Boeing oversight : Indiana ranked 8th-highest for laser strikes on pilots : Pilot in Alaska plane crash horror 'DID NOT have a licence to fly with passengers' : Rep. Langworthy introduces aviation safety bill, launches Aviation Safety Caucus : UK CAA delays granting permission for PIA flights return over safety concerns : Economic turbulence shakes US airlines as travel demand falters : Japan to scrap height requisite for women who want to be pilots : Tokyo Narita Expansion Plan Aims To Increase Annual Slots To 500,000 : AEA Unveils Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician Credential Partnership with USI : ISASI is accepting nominations for the Jerome F. Lederer Award. : Calendar of Events Incident: Delta A21N at Boston on Mar 21st 2025, smoke in cabin A Delta Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration N535DN performing flight DL-1780 from Boston,MA (USA) to San Juan (Puerto Rico) with 197 people on board, was climbing out of Boston's runway 27 when the crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet, donned their oxygen masks and reported smoke in the cabin. The aircraft returned to Boston for a safe landing on runway 33L about 13 minutes after departure. The crew reported still residual smell while turning off the runway and taxied to the apron. A replacement A321-200N registration N517DN reached San Juan with a delay of about 3:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service after about 60 hours on the ground. https://avherald.com/h?article=525b67d7&opt=0 Incident: Transat A333 at Montreal on Mar 16th 2025, first officer partially incapacitated on final approach An Air Transat Airbus A330-300, registration C-GTSD performing flight TS-539 from Cancun (Mexico) to Montreal,QC (Canada) with 340 passengers and 11 crew, was on final approach to Montreal's runway 24R when the first officer suffered a partial physical incapacitation. The captain continued the approach for a safe landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=525b60d8&opt=0 Incident: United B763 at London on Mar 26th 2025, engine shut down in flight A United Boeing 767-300, registration N665UA performing flight UA-147 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Newark,NJ (USA) with 70 passengers and 11 crew, was climbing through FL180 out of Heathrow's runway 27R when the crew stopped the climb and descended to FL180 initially. The crew decided to return to Heathrow advising the left hand engine (PW4060) had failed and was shut down. The aircraft landed safely back on Heathrow's runway 27R about 55 minutes after departure. The airline reported a mechanical issue. https://avherald.com/h?article=525b5e25&opt=0 US FAA to hire 2,000 air traffic controllers this year, keep strict Boeing oversight WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration plans to hire 2,000 air traffic controller trainees this year and maintain strict oversight of Boeing , the agency's acting administrator said in written testimony to be given to a U.S. Senate panel on Thursday. The agency will also establish a panel to "identify additional hazard areas involving helicopter and fixed-wing interactions," acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said in written testimony obtained by Reuters. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and has about 10% fewer controllers than it did in 2012. Creation of the safety risk management panel follows a fatal January 29 collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional passenger jet killed 67 people near Reagan Washington National Airport. The FAA has imposed permanent restrictions on passenger flights when helicopters must transit near the airport. It is also reviewing traffic at other major airports after the National Transportation Safety Board made urgent recommendations this month. Rocheleau said he is focused on improving aviation safety. "We have to identify trends, we have to get smarter about how we use data, and when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them," his testimony says. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to ask Congress for tens of billions of dollars to boost aging FAA technology and facilities and increase air traffic controller hiring. A nagging shortage of controllers has delayed flights and, at many facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks. Rocheleau said the FAA maintains rigorous oversight of Boeing that "extends to ongoing monitoring of Boeing's manufacturing practices, maintenance procedures, and software updates." Duffy said this month that Boeing had lost the public's trust. In January 2024, former President Joe Biden's FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker imposed a 38-plane monthly production cap after a mid-air emergency on a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 that remains in place. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg will testify next week before the Senate Commerce Committee. Boeing did not immediately comment on the testimony. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-faa-hire-2-000-185530754.html Indiana ranked 8th-highest for laser strikes on pilots Laser strikes aimed at aircraft, including airline planes, surged 41% last year to a record high, according to federal officials. INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration in 2024, marking a slight 3% decrease from the previous year. Despite this drop, aviation safety officials emphasize that the numbers remain dangerously high. Shining a laser at an aircraft is not only a serious safety threat, but also a federal crime. The bright light emitted from a laser can temporarily blind or disorient pilots, jeopardizing their ability to control an aircraft — often one carrying hundreds of passengers. Since the FAA began tracking laser strike incidents in 2010, there have been 328 reported injuries caused by such attacks. According to the FAA, certain states saw the highest number of laser strikes last year. California led the nation with 1,489 incidents, followed by Texas with 1,463, and Florida with 810. Other states with notable numbers included Tennessee , Illinois, and Indiana. States with the highest laser strike reports in 2024 California: 1,489. Texas: 1,463. Florida: 810. Tennessee: 649. Illinois: 622. Arizona: 550. New York: 531. Indiana: 512. Georgia: 416. Virginia: 415. People convicted of engaging in the dangerous behavior can face severe penalties. The FAA imposes fines of up to $11,000 per laser strike violation. For multiple incidents, fines can reach as high as $30,800. Offenders could also face federal criminal charges, including up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, in addition to potential state and local penalties. The FAA has made laser strike data from 2010 to present publicly available through its visualization tool, which highlights trends by geographic area, time of day, and year. The tool is intended to draw attention to the high number of laser strikes and help identify patterns to improve prevention efforts. In its efforts to curb laser strikes, the FAA strongly encourages the public to report them to both the FAA and local law enforcement authorities. For more information or to report an incident, individuals are urged to visit the FAA’s official website. https://www.wishtv.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-ranked-8th-highest-state-for-laser-strikes-on-pilots-faa-urges-public-awareness/ Pilot in Alaska plane crash horror 'DID NOT have a licence to fly with passengers' National Transportation Safety Board said John Morris Jr was a student pilot, and so did not have the right licence - or authority - to be able to fly with passengers The pilot of a plane which crashed into an icy lake - putting childrens' lives in danger - did not have a licence to fly with passengers, according to federal aviation records. John Morris Jr was a student pilot who did not have the authority to transport passengers when he took two young family members for a journey in a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, it has emerged. It crashed into a frozen lake in Alaska, US, on Sunday, and the the two girls only survived the 12 hours throughout the night by clinging on the wing of the plane. The wing was submerged from the icy waters of Tustumena Lake. Investigators have started disciplinary action against Mr Morris, who officials told the media violated "the no passenger rule" to which he was subjected as he hadn't a full licence. Mark Ward, National Transportation Safety Board investigator, said: "The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) told me that he is a student pilot, he had no application in for a pilot’s licence, and it appears he has a history of violating [the no passenger rule]. At this point, we don’t know whether he landed purposely or for an emergency procedure, and he’s not talking to us." Reporters have attempted to talk to Mr Morris for comment. It is understood he obtained the student licence - significantly different to the full paperwork - in 2018. It has far more restrictions than a full licence. When his plane was reported missing on Sunday, around a dozen volunteer pilots led a search and spotted it with the three survivors on the wing on Monday morning. Temperatures had dipped below freezing overnight but, somehow, the three family members escaped without significant injury. The aircraft remains submerged in the icy water, which is hindering the investigation. Mr Morris, who is married and from Alaska, is likely to be responsible for damage and recovering the aircraft from the lake because any insurance claim will be denied due to the violation of the passenger rule. Mr Ward said it is unclear if Mr Morris landed on the lake intentionally, thinking the ice was more solid than it was, or whether a mechanical issue forced the plane down on Sunday. The investigator added: "If it’s mechanical, then I need to get that aircraft, find out why it happened." He also said the pilot’s mobile phone stopped working after it got wet. Terry Godes, one of the pilots who headed out to scour the rugged terrain for the Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, told reporters on Tuesday he was staggered to see the two children "responsive and moving around". He added: "It kind of broke my heart to see that, but as I got closer down and lower, I could see that there's three people on top of the wing... They were alive and responsive and moving around." https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/pilot-alaska-plane-crash-horror-34940205 Rep. Langworthy introduces aviation safety bill, launches Aviation Safety Caucus Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) introduced the bipartisan Safer Skies Act on Wednesday, aiming to close security loopholes in airport screening. The bill, co-led by Congressmen Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Marc Veasey (D-TX), would enforce stricter security measures on certain air operators that currently bypass commercial airline screening requirements. “As the chair of the Aviation Safety Caucus, I’ve worked closely with federal and industry experts to identify security gaps,” Langworthy said. “The Safer Skies Act will close a loophole that allows certain operators, like ticketed charter flights, to bypass the rigorous screening requirements that ensure passenger safety.” The legislation targets Part 135 and Part 380 operators that offer publicly available tickets and operate aircraft with more than nine seats. If passed, it would require these flights to meet the same TSA screening standards as commercial airlines. Bergman called the bill a necessary step in maintaining U.S. aviation security. “Worldwide, the United States sets the security standard,” he said. “The Safer Skies Act closes a glaring loophole in our screening process.” Veasey echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need for consistency in security measures. The bill has bipartisan backing, with cosponsors including Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Angie Craig (D-MN), among others. It has also received support from major aviation groups, including the Air Line Pilots Association, Association of Flight Attendants, and Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. “Aviation security is not optional—it’s essential,” said Captain Jody Reven, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. “The Safer Skies Act ensures that all flights operate under the same rigorous safety standards.” https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2025/03/26/rep-langworthy-introduces-aviation-safety-bill-launches-aviation-safety-caucus/#google_vignette UK CAA delays granting permission for PIA flights return over safety concerns The UK’s aviation safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is holding back on granting Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) the permission it needs to resume flights to UK airports. The delay in granting this permission is said to be due to ongoing safety concerns, despite PIA being given the green light to return to EU airports by European safety authorities back in November 2024. Having received that permission to return to EU airports, PIA wasted little time in doing so, operating its first flight to Europe in four years on January 10. 2025 when one of its Boeing 777s flew from Islamabad to Paris on a scheduled passenger flight. However, despite the resumption of services to Paris, the UK has continued to delay granting the permissions that PIA needs over ongoing safety concerns, particularly concerning two separate incidents involving PIA aircraft in early 2025 – one coming just days after the resumption of flights to Paris. On January 17, 2025, a PIA Airbus A320 operating a domestic flight in Pakistan landed on a closed runway at Lahore Airport whose lights were switched off at the time of the landing attempt. Although the aircraft landed without further incident, questions were immediately raised as to just how a severe breach of safety and operating protocols at the company could occur allowing such a significant mistake to be made. The flight involved was PIA flight PK150 operating from Dammam Airport (DMM) in Saudi Arabia to Multan Airport (MUX) in Pakistan on January 17, 2025. The flight, which operates weekly, had been forced to divert from its intended destination due to adverse weather conditions, which included thick fog, in Multan. Approaching Lahore Airport from the south, the flight was cleared to land on runway 36R at the airport. However, the aircraft landed on the airport’s parallel runway (36L) at 07:34 local time. While the active runway (36R) had its approach and edge lights fully illuminated at the time of the landing, it is understood that those for 36L were fully extinguished. Then, on March 12, 2025, a PIA flight from Karachi to Lahore operated by another of the carrier’s Airbus A320 fleet, was discovered to have lost a main gear tire upon landing in Lahore. The flight (PK306) landed safely with the missing tire being found close to the boundary of Karachi Airport some days later, it having detached upon take off. Ongoing safety concerns Both of these events are believed to have played a crucial role in the ongoing assessment of Pakistan’s aviation safety standards, according to Pakistan news outlet, Samaa.tv. The next opportunity for the CAA to review its decision to allow PIA back into UK airports is expected to be made sometime in either May or June 2025 when the CAA safety team is due to meet following further discussion with representatives from both PIA and the Pakistan aviation safety authorities. According to reports, the CAA revisited Pakistan in February 2025, where its team was tasked with compiling an assessment report on whether to allow PIA to restore flight operations to the UK. The airline has repeatedly made it clear that it wishes to resume flights to London, Manchester, and possibly even Birmingham airports in the UK as soon as it is able, to serve the large Pakistani diasporas in those regions with direct flights. However, sources told Samaa.tv that the CAA team has advised it needs more time to evaluate various factors, including safety protocols, procedural improvements, and data analysis of PIA’s recent operations. The team, from the CAA, has reportedly been granted 40 to 50 days to finalize its report, which will be submitted before the next British Air Safety Committee to be held in May or June 2025, with a decision expected shortly afterward. The UK suspended flights of all Pakistan-based airlines, including PIA, in 2020 following safety concerns raised after the revelation that PIA was employing pilots with falsified flying licenses. The ban imposed by the UK coincided with a wider ban being imposed by the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), which was eventually lifted at the end of 2024. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/uk-caa-delays-granting-permission-for-pia-flights-return-over-safety-concerns Economic turbulence shakes US airlines as travel demand falters U.S. airlines were flying high less than two months ago on talk of a new golden age, as strong travel demand and tight industry-wide capacity raised the prospect of a multi-year profit boom. But President Donald Trump's broad tariffs and a crackdown on government spending have upended that optimism. Tourists and companies have reduced spending amid rising economic uncertainty, forcing carriers to cut their first-quarter profit forecasts. With travel a discretionary item for many consumers and businesses, growing odds of weak economic growth and high inflation have clouded the outlook for the remainder of the year as well. The S&P 500 passenger airlines index is down about 15% this year and widely underperforming the broader S&P 500 index. Shares of Delta and United Airlines have fallen about 20% each this year. Discounter Frontier Airlines is down 2%. "Your first needs are food and shelter. And then, we're a little bit down the list of expenditures," said David Neeleman, CEO of low-cost carrier Breeze Airways, in an interview. "If you don't have a job, you're not going to go buy an airline ticket." With demand slowing, airlines have started culling flights to avoid lowering fares and to protect margins. Frontier , Delta, United, American Airlines, JetBlue and Allegiant all trimmed their April-June quarter capacity in the past two weeks. 'It's embarrassing': NSA Waltz takes 'full responsibility' for leaked Signal chat about Yemen strike 'It's embarrassing': NSA Waltz takes 'full responsibility' for leaked Signal chat about Yemen strike'It's embarrassing': NSA Waltz takes 'full responsibility' for leaked Signal chat about Yemen strike United CEO Scott Kirby has warned of a large drop in industry-wide capacity by the second half of August if demand does not rebound. To be sure, bookings for premium and long-haul travel are holding up. United reported an 8% year-on-year jump in spring international bookings. Some of the demand slowdown is also due to recent safety incidents. Amanda Demanda Law Group data shows airplane safety concerns reached an all-time high in February, with Google searches for "Are planes safe now?" up 900%. Airlines expect the hit from safety incidents to fade soon. But they are less sure about economic pressures. WARNING SIGNS U.S. consumer confidence plunged to the lowest level in more than four years in March, with future expectations for income, business, and labor market conditions hitting a 12-year low, a Conference Board survey showed on Tuesday. Air tickets sold through U.S. travel agencies fell 8% month-on-month in February after a 39% jump in January. Both corporate and leisure trips were down, Airlines Reporting Corp data showed last week. Annual growth in passenger traffic slowed to 0.7% in March from 5% in January, according to U.S. Transportation Security Administration data. Weakening demand is hurting the industry's pricing power. Fares posted their first year-on-year decline in six months in February, according to data from the U.S. Labor Department. "There's going to be some type of slowdown," Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said in an interview. Airlines are still backing their full-year earnings estimates. But that could change if demand remains weak during summer, usually the industry's most profitable season. Biffle said much depends on the labor market. "As long as the employment is good, the leisure customer will be fine," he said. Jobless claims have only inched up, thus far. But inflationary worries are making travelers more cautious. Jacob Brown, a 24-year-old Denver school teacher, is flying less, avoiding hotels and spending less during his trips due to inflation. Brown recently flew to Las Vegas but took the red-eye flight back to Denver to save on lodging. "I'm only traveling when it's at an absolute minimal cost," he said. Credit and debit card spending on airlines fell 7.2% in February from a month earlier and was the weakest in at least six months, according to Bank of America data. Businesses are also sitting tight. The January-March quarter tends to be the busiest period after the July-September quarter for business travel, but bookings have been underwhelming. Two weeks back, Delta said its corporate bookings growth had dropped into the low single digits after a 10% year-on-year increase in January. United said this month its government-related travel bookings had halved, adding reduced government spending was having a ripple effect on domestic tourism. Gabe Rizzi, president of corporate travel agency Altour, said bookings from government contractors and companies in financial services, renewable energy, technology and manufacturing have declined as much as 10% from a year ago. "A lot of government agencies and government subcontractors, which we service, are tightening up the bootstraps," Rizzi said. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/economic-turbulence-shakes-us-airlines-as-travel-demand-falters/articleshow/119591511.cms?from=mdr Japan to scrap height requisite for women who want to be pilots A transport ministry working group draws up plans to raise the number of female aircraft pilots and mechanics during a meeting Feb. 19 in Tokyo. (Yoko Masuda) Women who are under 158 centimeters tall will now get a fighting chance to train at the national pilot training institute under policy changes announced by the transport ministry. A special admission quota to the Civil Aviation College, primarily based on interview results, will also be implemented. The changes announced Feb. 21 were developed by a working group on the empowerment of female aircraft operators and mechanics. Comprised of experts and aviation industry insiders, the task force was formed last October. Of the 7,270 pilots at major airlines in Japan, only 142 are women, accounting for just 1.9 percent of the total. As this figure compares dismally with the 6.1 percent for the Asia-Oceania region and the global average of 4.7 percent, the ministry is looking to raise the female ratio to 10 percent within 10 years. “The modest percentage of female aviators across the industry can largely be attributed to the low rate of women at the Civil Aviation College,” the working group noted in reference to the fact that the school produces 40 percent of all pilots in Japan. Of the 108 students who joined the college last year, only six were women. The working group took special note of the school’s 158-cm height limit as a reason. Not only must applicants be at least 158 cm tall, they also have to pass tough tests in the advanced Mathematics III category, high-school-level physics and other science subjects. The committee concluded that the enrollment requirements discourage women from studying at the Civil Aviation College, as private universities with pilot educational courses and airlines do not impose such prerequisites. As a result, the ministry decided it will eliminate the height limit for applicants under 158 cm, provided they can reach aircraft control devices, starting with the admission process for fiscal 2026. Course study subjects also came up for review. Plans call for an interview-focused test alongside a quota system or a specialized allocation for women, much like some science and engineering colleges. Apart from this, extending the time limit for aspiring aviation mechanics to take the practical examination for national certification--from the current two years to five years--is on the agenda, too. The objective is to enable female mechanics to work unhindered, given there are times when some women fail to take the practical exam within the conventional deadline due to maternity or childcare leave. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15647176 Tokyo Narita Expansion Plan Aims To Increase Annual Slots To 500,000 Tokyo Narita's CEO says the runway work, plus a revamp of passenger and cargo facilities, will grow the airport's annual arrival and departure slot capacity from 300,000 to 500,000. Ambitious plans for growing passenger and cargo traffic to Japan depend on Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) adding a new runway and consolidating three terminals into one, according to NRT President and CEO Akihiko Tamura. Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) “faces capacity constraints” that make expanding beyond HND’s current 490,000 annual departure and arrival slots limit unrealistic, whereas NRT has the ability to grow capacity, Tamura told the Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute Civil Aviation Symposium in Washington on March 26. “Considering the expected increase in demand, it is essential to enhance the airport capacity in the Tokyo metropolitan area,” he explained, noting there is little room for expansion at HND. “For this reason, the Japanese government is advancing a project to construct a new runway at Narita Airport, where expansion is still feasible,” Tamura said. The new runway, to be 3,500-m (11,480-ft.) long, would be the airport’s third. NRT’s second runway would also be extended from 2,500 m to 3,500 m as part of the project. Tamura said the runway work, plus a revamp of passenger and cargo facilities, will grow NRT’s annual arrival and departure slot capacity from 300,000 currently to 500,000. “A new runway alone is not enough,” Tamura said. “The passenger and the cargo terminals must also be upgraded … The three [current passenger] terminals will be consolidated into one terminal, and a new cargo terminal will be constructed near the expressway.” Also planned are rail improvements to “ensure that travel from the airport to the center of Tokyo can be completed in approximately 30 min.,” he added. “An airport city will be developed in the surrounding areas to attract industries that are well suited to aviation.” Tamura said the new cargo terminal will be “very convenient for our shippers,” adding that the facility will feature “automation … to the maximum level that will make the terminal very efficient and productive.” The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has indicated the runway work could be completed by the end of this decade, but a specific timetable for all of the projects has not been firmed. Rieko Nakayama, MLIT’s assistant vice minister for international aviation, said an annual record of 36.9 international visitors came to Japan in 2024, up 47% from 25.1 million in 2023 and 16% over 2019. She added Japan aims to attract 60 million international visitors by 2030, more than doubling 2024’s figure. Growing cargo traffic is also a major goal for NRT, which is currently the largest air or sea port in Japan in terms of value of cargo handled. NRT handles 17% of the value of all cargo coming to Japan, with Tokyo’s sea port coming in second at 11%, according to Tamura. The Japan-U.S. air transport market is showing strength even as it has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, according to Cindy Baraban, the U.S. Transportation Department's deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs. She told the symposium that 9.2 million passengers traveled between the U.S. and Japan in 2024, up 25% year-over-year, but still down 13% from 2019. “Nevertheless, Japan maintains the top spot as the largest U.S. passenger gateway to Asia,” Baraban said. “Much of this traffic, of course, naturally flows to and from Tokyo, served by two airports, Haneda and Narita.” She praised “Japan's efforts to bolster Narita as a hub … to maintain critical connectivity between the U.S. and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly Southeast Asia, which is estimated to be one of the fastest-growing regions for air travel … Narita’s role in air connectivity cannot be overstated.” Yuji Koyama, Japan Airlines’ senior vice president of corporate strategy and planning, noted the number of foreign visitors to Japan has been growing, while “the Japanese population has been in a period of decline,” highlighting the importance of drawing inbound international passengers to Japan. “North America is the most important region for international routes,” he added. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/tokyo-narita-expansion-plan-aims-increase-annual-slots-500000 AEA Unveils Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician Credentials, Partnership with USI By USI | March 18, 2025 The Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET) program will be available to schools and colleges starting Fall 2025. This standards-based certification is designed to address the workforce shortage and ensure the continued safety and efficiency of business and aviation. Phoenix, AZ, March 18, 2025 — The Aircraft Electronics Association introduced its brand-new certification for the avionics industry, the Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET), during today’s opening session at the 68th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Phoenix. Developed and supported by the AEA, the CAET becomes the primary certification for technicians. The CAET is a knowledge-based certification for entry-level technicians and requires passing a written exam that must be taken online through the AEA’s new partner, the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI). The credential is the foundation for a series of stackable certifications that will eventually include the CAET-Advanced with more in-depth knowledge and skill requirements and a practical test, along with the CAET-Pro designed for experienced technicians and avionics managers, which assesses skills needed to successfully lead a team of professionals. “The AEA is committed to supporting the growth and development of the aircraft electronics industry by providing high-quality training and certification programs,” said Mike Adamson, AEA president and chief executive officer. “The launch of the CAET program is a significant step toward addressing the workforce shortage and ensuring the continued safety and efficiency of business and general aviation. We expect avionics professionals will be able to take the initial certification exam in the second quarter of this year, and in the fall, we will launch the training and certification program in high schools and colleges through our partnership with USI.” “Beginning this fall, CAET training and exams will be available to USI’s network of schools and colleges,” said Josh Olds, co-founder, president and CEO of USI. “We envision this certification both as a stand-alone career track as well as a maintenance skill enhancement for those in our UAS programs. We are excited to partner with the AEA and provide the avionics industry with a standards-based certification that is the ultimate resource for growing a skilled workforce.” With more than 300 instructors and over 20,000 USI certifications awarded around the world, USI works with large commercial enterprises and nearly 500 schools in all 50 states. It also is the global leader in commercial and academic UAS training and certification, delivering the most highly regarded training program of its kind. USI offers primary, advanced and complex training and certification programs that are applicable to VLOS, BVLOS and advanced air mobility operations. “USI has the scale to administer credential testing for the avionics industry and has already established important relationships with hundreds of schools through its work in the drone segment of the aviation industry,” Adamson noted. “Avionics professionals from a broad range of organizations came together to modernize the knowledge-based test, and it will be a must-have certification for technicians. Approved maintenance organizations will want to include CAET certifications as part of their hiring processes as well as their continuous training requirements for current employees.” For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the CAET, visit www.aea.net/caet. About Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including approved maintenance organizations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of aircraft electronics systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of aircraft electronics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions. About Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in workforce development programs for individuals, academia and organizations focused on UAS best practices for civil or commercial purposes. It provides UAS education, training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. Its training and certification programs are endorsed by major aviation insurance providers and utilized by numerous organizations seeking standardized UAS operations for their staff and vendors. The USI turn-key solution is implemented nationwide as a workforce pathway program from secondary or post-secondary to the career field to align skill sets to industry pay scales. Learn more at FlyUSI.org.   – ### – AEA media contact: Geoff Hill AEA Director of Communications Phone: 816-347-8400 Email: geoffh@aea.net USI media contact: Stephanie Holland Director of Marketing and Communications Phone: 407-499-2065 Email: Stephanie.Holland@FlyUSI.org 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