Flight Safety Information - April 2, 2025 No. 066 In This Issue : Accident: Favori DH8D at Mogadishu on Apr 1st 2025, nose gear up landing : Incident: Spicejet DH8D at Jaipur and Chennai on Mar 30th 2025, tyre damage on departure : Incident: Olympic AT72 at Mytilene on Apr 1st 2025, engine fire indication after landing : Pilots Can Now File NTSB Reports Securely Online : AOPA Air Safety Foundation Head Promotes Safety Pause Initiative : Jin Air has introduced a new flight data analysis program to strengthen aviation safety and operational efficiency : FAA Allows Some Aircraft Owners To Hide Registration Details : American Airlines plane evacuated after ‘haze’ in cabin at Augusta Regional Airport : United Airlines San Francisco to Tokyo Flight Makes U-Turn : Senators outraged over US Army’s failure to provide ADS-B memo to crash probe : FAA Raises Concern Regarding Overheat Risk On Boeing 757s Powered By Rolls-Royce Engines : AF Secretary Nominee Talks Aircraft Recap, Pilot Shortage : US approves sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets worth $5.58bn to Philippines : Boeing chief to acknowledge 'serious missteps' at US Senate hearing : ISASI is accepting nominations for the Jerome F. Lederer Award. : Call for Nominations For 2025 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award : Calendar of Events Accident: Favori DH8D at Mogadishu on Apr 1st 2025, nose gear up landing A Favori de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of United Nations, registration 5Y-SMJ performing flight UN-648 from Mogadishu to Baidoa (Somalia) with 22 people on board, suffered a gear malfunction following departure from Mogadishu, the crew decided to return to Mogadishu. The crew was unable to lower the nose gear and needed to perform a nose gear up landing at Mogadishu shortly after departure. The UN Mission stated: "A United Nations aircraft in Somalia today executed a successful emergency landing in Mogadishu after detecting a landing gear malfunction. Operated by the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), the aircraft was en route from Mogadishu to Baidoa on its regular flight when the crew identified a fault that prevented the landing wheels from deploying correctly. The pilots promptly diverted the aircraft back to Aden Adde International Airport in the capital to address the issue safely. Aside from one passenger reported to be slightly injured during evacuation of the aircraft, all remaining passengers and crew were unharmed." Favori reported the aircraft was taking UN personel to Baidoa, but experienced landing gear issues prompting the crew to return to Mogadishu. Somalia Authorities reported there were no injuries, the aircraft had suffered technical issues causing the nose landing gear to fail. https://avherald.com/h?article=525f4567&opt=0 Incident: Spicejet DH8D at Jaipur and Chennai on Mar 30th 2025, tyre damage on departure A Spicejet de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration VT-SUO performing flight SG-9046 from Jaipur to Chennai (India), departed Jaipur's runway 26 and was enroute, when ATC advised the crew that tyre debris had been found on the departure runway. In the absence of any abnormal indications the crew continued the flight to Chennai where the aircraft landed on runway 25. An inspection revealed tyre #2 (left inboard main wheel) had received damage. The airline reported the aircraft landed normally, braked normally and taxied to the apron. A post flight inspection revealed that main wheel #2 had lost its tread with no further damage. https://avherald.com/h?article=525f31f9&opt=0 Incident: Olympic AT72 at Mytilene on Apr 1st 2025, engine fire indication after landing An Olympic Air Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration SX-OBT performing flight OA-250/A3-250 from Athens to Mytilene (Greece) with 59 passengers and 4 crew, had just touched down on Mytilene's runway 14 when the crew received an engine fire indication, brought the aircraft to a stop on the runway and initiated an emergency evacuation. There were no injuries. The airline reported moments after touchdown the crew received an engine fire indication, followed the procedures, stopped the aircraft and ordered an evacuation. All passengers disembarked safely, no fire was confirmed. Later the crew taxied the aircraft to the apron on own power. A replacement aircraft was dispatched to Mytilene to perform the return flight. Maintenance identified the fire indicator was faulty, there had been no fire. A replacement A320-200 registration SX-DVQ performed the return flight OA-251/A3-251 with a delay of about 2.5 hours delay. https://avherald.com/h?article=525f2f47&opt=0 Pilots Can Now File NTSB Reports Securely Online Online form replaces email-based PDF submission Pilots and operators now have a secure online portal to submit aviation accident and incident reports, introduced this week by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This new digital system replaces the previous method, which required users to download, complete, and email a fillable PDF form. The updated process allows pilots and operators to submit NTSB Form 6120.1 directly from a computer or mobile device, streamlining submission and eliminating manual data entry by investigators. Under federal regulations, pilots or operators must report accidents to the NTSB “immediately, and by the most expeditious means available.” After making an initial report by calling the NTSB’s 24-hour response operations center at 844-373-9922, an investigator determines whether a formal investigation is required. If so, the pilot or operator must complete Form 6120.1, which can now be submitted online. The new digital system enhances the reporting process by providing a “convenient and secure” submission method, according to the NTSB. The system allows users to save progress before submitting and check their report’s status online. Pilots and operators remain responsible for preserving aircraft wreckage and relevant documents following an accident until the NTSB or its representatives take custody, unless removal is necessary to protect individuals or prevent further damage. The NTSB advises contacting the assigned investigator or its Response Operations Center for guidance on handling wreckage. For witnesses of an aircraft accident, the NTSB accepts statements via email at witness@ntsb.gov, including a contact number for follow-up. Additional details on reporting requirements are available under 49 CFR 830. The NTSB receives approximately 1,000 accident reports annually. The transition to a digital submission process is expected to improve efficiency and accessibility for pilots and investigators alike. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-04-01/pilots-can-now-file-ntsb-reports-securely-online AOPA Air Safety Foundation Head Promotes Safety Pause Initiative Four other GA groups join forces in the effort Senior VP of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Institute, Mike Ginter, addressed a press conference this morning on the opening day of Sun ‘n Fun 2025 today to promote the multi-organization National Pause for General Aviation Safety initiative. The purpose of the cooperative effort is to encourage pilots to deliberate and be more conscientious in the name of general aviation safety. Ginter said, “At the AOPA Air Safety Institute, we believe every GA pilot has a responsibility to themselves, their loved ones, the industry, and the public to be as conscientious, disciplined, and deliberate about general aviation safety as possible. Taking this pause will make all of us safer pilots.” Other advocacy groups associated with the effort include the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), NATA (formerly known as the National Air Transportation Association), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the Vertical Aviation Association (VAA—formerly known as the Helicopter Association International). The groups direct their members to reach out to GAsafe.org where they will find content related to improving the safety of their operations. https://www.avweb.com/air-shows-events/safety-effort-gets-an-aopa-boost-at-sun-n-fun/ Jin Air has introduced a new flight data analysis program to strengthen aviation safety and operational efficiency Introduction of Event Measurement System (EMS) Introduction of a possible turbulence recognition platform (ITA) such as analysis and processing of flight data The newly introduced program is GE Aerospace's Event Measurement System (EMS). It effectively analyzes and processes data generated during the flight process and shares it with related departments. Jin Air said this introduction not only improved the data analysis process, which increased reliability and accuracy, but also strengthened the data transmission function, making it easier to collaborate between departments. As a result, it is expected to establish a safer and more efficient operating environment, such as early detection of anomalies that may occur during aircraft operation and reducing fuel. The reason behind the introduction of this analysis program is to establish a more efficient system operating environment ahead of the launch of the integrated LCC. This is because it is possible to flexibly handle tasks according to the size of the organization that will grow. In addition, Jin Air introduced the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) turbulence recognition platform (ITA) in June last year to increase its responsiveness to unexpected weather conditions. In accordance with the policy to strengthen safety management of auxiliary batteries and e-cigarettes, which was implemented as of March 1, counters and in-flights are continuously guided. Safety capabilities are also being actively strengthened in fields such as operation, maintenance, and room recruitment and education and training. Jin Air plans to hire about 60 maintenance workers this year, and new cabin crew and military experience crew are also currently being hired. https://www.mk.co.kr/en/culture/11280313 FAA Allows Some Aircraft Owners To Hide Registration Details Operators have to apply for the consideration and the FAA is taking comments on the move. As of Monday, private aircraft owners were able to apply to shield their names and addresses from public view on FAA databases. The agency enacted a new rule allowing the owners to electronically request withholding the information for security reasons. The creation of the rule was mandated by the latest FAA Reauthorization. The agency is also looking for comments on the impacts of the change. The FAA will publish a request for comment in the Federal Register to seek input on this measure, including whether removing the information would affect the ability of stakeholders to perform necessary functions, such as maintenance, safety checks and regulatory compliance. "The FAA is also evaluating whether to default to withholding the personally identifiable information of private aircraft owners and operators from the public aircraft registry and providing a means for owners and operators to download their data when needed," the agency said. Meanwhile, aviation groups are applauding the move. NBAA said the surge in "flight stalking" (primarily with the ADS-B mandate) has prompted serious security concerns by private aviation operators. “Security is a huge issue for companies large and small, all across the country, which is one of the reasons Congress passed bipartisan legislation requiring the FAA to strengthen the protections for aircraft ownership information and flight-data,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are pleased with the steps the FAA has taken to protect entrepreneurs and businesses.” AOPA President Darren Pleasance echoed those sentiments. “This program is long overdue and a significant win for pilot privacy,” he said. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-allows-some-aircraft-owners-to-hide-registration-details/ American Airlines plane evacuated after ‘haze’ in cabin at Augusta Regional Airport An American Airlines flight was evacuated at Augusta Regional Airport on Tuesday morning. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - An American Airlines flight was evacuated at Augusta Regional Airport on Tuesday morning. An airport official says it was an inbound flight from Charlotte. Upon landing, officials noticed a haze in the aircraft. The aircraft pulled over and passengers evacuated, according to airport officials. Airport officials say passengers were safely removed. “American Eagle flight 5406, operated by PSA Airlines, with service from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Augusta Regional Airport (AGS), experienced a maintenance issue after landing safely in Augusta. All passengers deplaned and were escorted to the airport terminal. The safety of our customers is our top priority, and we apologize for the inconvenience,” a spokesperson for American Airlines told News 12. Aiken businesses, residents get ready for golf week events Aiken officials says golf week is one of their busiest weeks of the year, and preparations start as early as December. Aiken County prepares for golf week Aircraft rescue and fire responded to the scene, but there was no fire reported. The aircraft was scheduled to leave Augusta Regional Airport at 11, but as since been canceled. Airport officials say it should be the only flight affected. Thankfully, Tuesday’s situation wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, but still a scary situation nonetheless. It’s an inconvenience for those who have to reschedule their flight, but the most important thing to keep in mind here is that all passengers are safe. “I won’t be able to make it to work tomorrow morning, whoever is watching,” said Carlene Shropshire, whose flight was impacted. Grounded by an unexpected delay. “I overheard somebody talking randomly that it was a problem about a fire,” said Shropshire. “The fire department was on the plane, but I didn’t actually see it, so I don’t know for sure. All I know is that they canceled the flight.” The evacuation left some passengers looking for plan B – passengers like Shropshire. Richmond County deputies complete K-9 handler course The office says deputies Marin-Pelaez and Wade Banks completed the narcotics handler course. Both are now qualified Richmond County K-9-unit handlers. deputies Marin-Pelaez and Wade Banks completed the narcotics handler course “Today I was supposed to be there at 3:00 p.m., and that was completely canceled,” said Shropshire. Her original plan to fly from Augusta to Charlotte to Jacksonville isn’t what she expected, but luckily, she found an early morning flight out of Augusta. “I’ll be leaving out here at 4:30, 5:00 a.m., I think, and I should be back in Jacksonville at 9:00 a.m.,” she said.. " I’d rather they have precautions to make sure everything’s all right, versus you get in the air and something terrible happens.” Again, all passengers were safely evacuated off the plane, which is a good thing to hear considering the thousands of visitors expected to fly into this airport in the days to come. This comes at a busy time for Augusta as thousands of patrons come into the city for the highly anticipated Masters Tournament. Airport officials say Delta Air Lines and American Airlines will offer additional direct flights to and from Augusta to accommodate increased travel demand. https://www.wrdw.com/2025/04/01/american-airlines-plane-evacuated-after-haze-cabin-augusta-regional-airport/ United Airlines San Francisco to Tokyo Flight Makes U-Turn After being airborne for around 20 minutes, the flight attendant reported a water leakage from the ceiling near the rear galley of the aircraft. SAN FRANCISCO- United Airlines (UA) flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) made a U-turn amid water leakage from the aircraft ceiling on March 31, 2025. Chicago-based carrier operates two daily flights between SFO and HND, NRT, and also codeshare with ANA on two flights to Tokyo. United Airlines U-turn According to FlightRadar24 data, a United Airlines flight UA875 took off from San Francisco at 18:31 UTC. After being airborne for around 20 minutes, the flight attendant reported a water leakage from the ceiling near the rear galley of the aircraft. Following this, the flight crew decided to make a U-turn back at SFO. The flight landed safely back at SFO at 19:55 UTC. A passenger onboard the aircraft reported that he had seen condensation where some droplets fell from the ceiling but this was something else and it looked like something burst underthe ceiling panel. The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 777-200ER, registered as N791UA. Further, it is a 27.6-year-old aircraft, yes quite old, and is powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engines. Similar Incident Passengers aboard British Airways (BA) flight BA293 experienced an unusual mid-air incident on June 10, 2022. The Airbus A380 aircraft, identified by registration G-XLEK, developed a significant water leak shortly after departing London Heathrow Airport (LHR) for Washington DC. The leak originated from the clean drinking water container and quickly spread throughout multiple cabin sections. Video documentation captured water flowing from the upper deck first class area down to the business class cabin on the lower level, visibly cascading down the aircraft’s staircase. Flight attendants responded by deploying blankets, towels, and pillowcases throughout affected areas in an attempt to contain the spreading water and minimize damage to the cabin interior. Despite the disruption, the flight proceeded to its destination without requiring a diversion or experiencing delays. The aircraft landed safely in Washington as scheduled. A British Airways spokesperson confirmed that safety was never compromised during the incident. The representative stated that the faulty valve responsible for the leak was identified and replaced after the aircraft landed in Washington. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/04/01/united-airlines-san-francisco-tokyo-flights-u-turn/#google_vignette Senators outraged over US Army’s failure to provide ADS-B memo to crash probe The US Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz has expressed outrage over the US Army’s failure to provide a memo relating to its use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) in the National Capital Region. On March 31, 2025, Senator Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell said the US Army’s refusal to hand over the memo was “completely unacceptable” as the committee investigates the January 29, 2025, midair crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). “During last week’s hearing on the tragic crash at DCA that killed 67 people, and in a subsequent joint letter, we requested that the Department of Defense provide the Commerce Committee with a memo from August 2024 outlining its policies and procedures regarding the use—or lack thereof—of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) in the airspace around our nation’s capital,” the Commerce Committee said in a statement. The committee added: “It is completely unacceptable that our request has been repeatedly ignored, and that the Army continues to obstruct the Committee’s investigation into this horrific accident. We will consider using every option at our disposal to produce compliance and to ensure our investigation yields the answers the victims’ families and the American people deserve.” The committee said that the US Army was asked in March 2025 to provide the memo and at a recent subcommittee hearing on March 27, 2025, Brigadier General Matthew Braman had refused to commit to providing the document, citing an ongoing investigation. However, at the same subcommittee the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy said that the agency’s investigation does not preclude the Department of Defense from sharing the memo. The US Army Black Hawk helicopter did not have ADS-B operating when it collided with an American Eagle Bombardier CRJ700 in Washington DC. The ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology that provides an aircraft’s location to air traffic control and other aircraft pilots. Since 2019 under specific circumstances the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has permitted military aircraft to turn off their ADS-B during flights. Senator Cruz believes that the missing memo outlines policies and procedures for the US Army’s use of ADS-B in the National Capital Region. Separately Homendy has said that no ADS-B data for the accident Black Hawk helicopter had been received from an FAA ground station for 730 days prior to the crash. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/us-army-washington-crash-ads-b-black-hawk-helicopter FAA Raises Concern Regarding Overheat Risk On Boeing 757s Powered By Rolls-Royce Engines United Airlines Boeing 757-224 Star Alliance livery.Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) for some Boeing 757 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines. The AD was proposed because of instances of precooler failures in some engines resulting in head damage to some components. Overheat risk The FAA has proposed adopting a new airworthiness directive for some Boeing 757 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG Model RB211-535-series engines. The AD requires an inspection for heat damage on the engine strut structure, repetitive tests of the thermal switch temperature and ground wires, replacement of the precooler on 757-300 airplanes, and applicable on-condition actions. According to the FAA, it received a report of a Boeing 757-300 aircraft that had to be grounded because of heat damage found on the engine number 1 thrust reverser access door panel. The AD points out that there have been seven instances of failure of precoolers installed on 757-300 airplanes with Rolls-Royce RB211-535-series engines. This resulted in the leakage of hot air to the strut due to a cracked or ruptured precooler core near the sideplates. The AD further states, “The overheat detection system within an RB211-535-series engine strut for Model 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300 airplanes contains thermal switches with a latent failure mode. The combination of a failed precooler and latently failed overheat detection thermal switches may result in prolonged high temperature heat exposure on the strut, which could lead to separation of the engine strut-to-wing box connection.” Boeing, too, highlighted this problem in January through a bulletin, which was reviewed by the FAA and referenced in the AD. The plane maker specified “procedures for a general visual inspection for heat damage on the left and right engine strut structure, repetitive thermal switch temperature tests and continuity tests of the ground wires, and, for Model 757-300 airplanes, replacement of the precooler at intervals not to exceed 45,000 total precooler flight hours.” Recent Boeing 757 airworthiness directives The FAA keeps a close watch on issues affecting various aircraft. The 757 has also had some ADs issued recently. In January, the FAA addressed a safety concern due to power transfer unit (PTU) control valve failures. It required airlines to install new relays and modify wire bundles connected to the PTU control valve on the 757s. It affected dozens of aircraft registered within the United States, and the agency warned that if the issue was not addressed, the PTU control valve failure, along with a loss of the left engine or engine-driven pump during takeoff, could affect the time it takes for the landing gear to retract. In June 2024, the FAA adopted a new airworthiness directive for 13 Boeing 757-200 airplanes registered in the US due to reports of cracks developing in the structure around the lavatory service panel. The FAA noted that the concentration of stress in the lavatory service panel access pan, the fuselage skin, and the stringer 22 attachment to the service panel was too great, resulting in cracking rooted in fatigue. Serving for decades The Boeing 757 has served as a trusted workhorse for many airlines over the years and continues to feature in the fleet of some airlines, primarily in the US and some around the world, for both passenger and freight operations. The 757’s production ended in 2005; Boeing delivered a little over 1,000 examples over the years. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are among the largest operators of the type, and over the years, have operated hundreds of examples and also retired some along the way. Many of the 757s flying today are more than 25 years old and airlines are increasingly looking for newer options to replace their older 757s. While these planes will continue to fly for a few more years, their retirement is also fast approaching. https://simpleflying.com/faa-concern-overheat-risk-boeing-757s-rolls-royce-engines/ AF Secretary Nominee Talks Aircraft Recap, Pilot Shortage Troy Meink, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Air Force secretary, addressed the service’s recapitalization efforts and its continuing pilot shortage during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week. Prior to being tapped by Trump in January to serve as the next head of the Department of the Air Force, Meink spent four years as principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, a Defense Department intelligence agency that works closely with the Space Force. Meink addressed the service's older aircraft, including the KC-135 Stratotanker, which has been in service since 1956 and may stay in the fleet past its planned retirement. Meink, who was a KC-135 Stratotanker navigator and instructor early in his five-year military career, said the focus needs to be on producing new tankers to replace the aging aircraft. “[The KC-135] is getting pretty old and we’re going to have to replace those, he said, “which means we have to get the new tanker into full-production.” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., asked how Meink will address the Air Force’s continuing pilot shortage, which stands at roughly 1,800 pilots. Meink asserted that the solution is more than just raising pilots’ pay but looking for ways to improve their quality of life and ensure they get adequate flying time. “We’ve got to make sure — not just with pilots, but across our highlight skilled areas within our workforce — that they have the opportunity to do what they’ve been trained, what they love to do,” he said. Meink also said the Air National Guard is “critically important” to the Air Force. “The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve provide strategic depth and operational capacity across all mission sets, domains, and capabilities of the Total Force,” Meink said in his written testimony. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., questioned how Meink will ensure the Air Guard gets its “fair share” of the new aircraft. “One of the things I plan to do is take a holistic look across all the modernization activities to understand what we need from a numbers perspective and how fast we need to build to support the active duty and reserve units,” Meink said. During his time in uniform, Meink completed 100 missions, including eight combat and 29 combat support missions in support of operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Provide Comfort. Meink holds master’s and doctoral degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering at Ohio State University. The SASC will next vote on whether to advance Meink’s nomination for consideration by the full Senate. https://www.ngaus.org/newsroom/af-secretary-nominee-talks-aircraft-recap-pilot-shortage US approves sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets worth $5.58bn to Philippines Potential sale of US fighter jets comes as tensions mount between the Philippines and China over maritime disputes in the South China Sea. The United States has approved the potential sale of $5.58bn in F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, describing the proposed deal as supporting the security and foreign policy concerns of the US by improving the capability of a “strategic partner”. Describing the Philippines as “an important force for political stability” in Southeast Asia, the US State Department announced on Tuesday that the sale had been approved and could see 20 F-16 warplanes and related equipment transferred to Manila. The acquisition of the F-16s would improve “the Philippine Air Force’s ability to conduct maritime domain awareness and close air support missions and enhance its suppression of enemy air defences,” the State Department said. “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” it added. Manila’s potential purchase of the F-16s comes amid months of mounting tension with Beijing and confrontations between the Philippine Navy and Chinese coastguard forces in the disputed South China Sea, where China has claimed almost complete ownership despite an international legal ruling that such an assertion has no merit. The Philippines has publicly expressed interest in acquiring F-16s from Washington since at least the administration of former Philippine President Benigno Aquino, which ended in 2016. Since then, Manila and Washington have significantly deepened their defence cooperation, particularly under the current President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, who took office in 2022 and began pushing back on Beijing’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a visit to the Philippines last week that Washington and Manila must stand “shoulder to shoulder” against “threats from the communist Chinese”. News of the potential sale of advanced fighter aircraft to the Philippines also comes as China on Monday and Tuesday conducted military drills around Taiwan to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island. Beijing has promised to take the island back under its control either by force or peaceful means. Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said his country would “inevitably” be involved should Taiwan be invaded by China. “Start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan,” General Brawner told troops in northern Luzon island, without naming the potential invader. “If something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved,” he said. Joint US-Philippine military exercises, scheduled for later this month, will be conducted in northern Luzon, the part of the Philippines nearest Taiwan, Brawner said. “These are the areas where we perceive the possibility of an attack. I do not want to sound alarmist, but we have to prepare,” he said. In December, the Philippines angered China further when it announced the planned acquisition of the US mid-range Typhoon missile system in a push to secure its maritime interests. Beijing warned such a purchase could lead to a regional “arms race”. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/2/us-approves-sale-of-20-f-16-fighter-jets-worth-5-58bn-to-philippines Boeing chief to acknowledge 'serious missteps' at US Senate hearing The head of US aerospace giant Boeing will on Wednesday tell senators that the company has made "serious missteps in recent years" and commit to restoring consumer and investor confidence, according to an advance copy of his remarks. On the eve of the hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Kelly Ortberg sent a message to the company's 160,000 employees saying his testimony would be key "to restore trust" in the crisis-plagued manufacturer. "Boeing has made serious missteps in recent years -- and it is unacceptable," Ortberg will say, according to the prepared remarks, which the company made public Tuesday. Boeing has suffered for several years from production quality problems, with the latest major incident in January last year involving an Alaska Airlines 737 seeing a door plug fly off mid-flight. In January, it reported a loss of $3.9 billion as the company continued to experience a hit from a more than seven-week labor strike that shuttered two major assembly plants. Ortberg took over in August, and will testify on Boeing's restructuring efforts. "We have made sweeping changes to the people, processes, and overall structure of our company," he will say. "While there is still work ahead of us, these profound changes are underpinned by the deep commitment from all of us to the safety of our products and services." In his message to employees, he said "we are starting to turn the corner in our recovery," although he added that turning the company around would take "time and action." Ortberg will acknowledge two 737 MAX 8 crashes in October 2018 and March 2019, which killed a total of 346 people -- some of whose relatives are expected at the committee hearing on Wednesday. He will offer a "pledge to make the necessary changes so this never happens again." Boeing has acknowledged that the design of its MCAS stall protection software contributed to the accidents, which occurred on new aircraft shortly after takeoff. Ortberg will testify that the aircraft manufacturer is implementing a new Safety Management System (SMS) that is "a framework built on proven aviation industry best practices, to proactively identify and manage safety risks that may impact our commercial and defense products." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-chief-acknowledge-serious-missteps-225157446.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 Call for Nominations For 2025 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. Presented annually since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study, or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers, and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners may be resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. The Award Committee, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient. Please help us identify and honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-to-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at https://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/. Nominations will be accepted through June 2nd, 2025. For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see https://ltbaward.org/home/ About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back almost 80 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956 her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., in close association with The Flight Safety Foundation, established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. For the past 68 years, this distinguished award recognizing outstanding achievements in aviation safety worldwide has been presented at Flight Safety Foundation’s International Aviation Safety Summit. In 2013, The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed as an independent non-profit charitable organization composed of members of the Award Board, the aviation community, and the Barbour family. In addition to the annual presentation of the award, in 2019 the Foundation initiated a scholarship program that supports worthy students pursuing professional aviation studies. As the Foundation broadens its scope, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to recognize those who significantly contributed to aviation safety. For more information on the Foundation, the award, and past winners, visit https://ltbaward.org/home/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS · 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