Flight Safety Information March 23, 2020 - No. 059 In This Issue Incident: Summit L410 near Ramechhap on Mar 22nd 2020, engine shut down in flight Incident: TUI B738 near Faro on Mar 22nd 2020, engine shut down in flight Incident: Skywest CRJ7 at Hartford on Mar 22nd 2020, smoke indication Incident: Sunstate DH8D at Port Moresby on Mar 16th 2020, smoke in cockpit Smoke warning reported on aircraft inbound to Bradley Airport AOPA Urges Pilot Privilege Extensions For Virus Considerations KLM TO PICK UP TRAVELERS STRANDED IN HONG KONG; CABIN CREW WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY Air Canada lays off 5,000 THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN AVIATION INDUSTRY: A SPECIAL FSI REPORT Incident: Summit L410 near Ramechhap on Mar 22nd 2020, engine shut down in flight A Summit Air Let L-410, registration 9N-AMG performing flight SMA-301 from Lukla to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 18 passengers and 3 crew, was enroute near Ramechhap when the crew needed to shut the right hand engine down and diverted to Ramechhap for a safe landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d4d8fbb&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: TUI B738 near Faro on Mar 22nd 2020, engine shut down in flight A TUI Airways Boeing 737-800, registration G-FDZR performing positioning flight BY-928P from Birmingham,EN (UK) to Arrecife,CI (Spain), was enroute at FL410 about 110nm westsouthwest of Faro (Portugal) when the crew needed to shut the right hand engine (CFM-56) down due to its failure. The aircraft diverted to Faro for a safe landing on runway 10 about 40 minutes later. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Faro about 11 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d4d887a&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Skywest CRJ7 at Hartford on Mar 22nd 2020, smoke indication A Skywest Canadair CRJ-700, registration N713SK performing flight AA-3200 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Hartford,CT (USA) with 15 people on board, was on approach to Hartford descending towards 5000 feet and maneouvering for a visual approach to runway 06 when the crew reported they had received a smoke indication for the aft lavatory. When being cleared for the visual approach the crew advised there was no actual smoke. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 06 with emergency services on stand by. A replacement Canadair CRJ-700 registration N603SK positioned from Chicago to Hartford and performed the return flight (still AA-3200) with a delay of 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Hartford about 9.5 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d4d8579&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Sunstate DH8D at Port Moresby on Mar 16th 2020, smoke in cockpit A Sunstate Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Qantas, registration VH-QOE performing flight QF-192 from Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) to Cairns,QL (Australia) with 8 passengers and 4 crew, was climbing out of Port Moresby's runway 32 when the crew stopped the climb at about FL190 reporting smoke in the cockpit and returned the aircraft to Port Moresby for a safe landing on runway 32 about 24 minutes after departure. The passengers were rebooked onto later flights via Brisbane and departed Port Moresby with a delay of about 2 hours and reached Australia before a requirement for two weeks quarantaine as result of Corona Virus prevention came into effect. The aircraft is still on the ground about 22 hours later. On Mar 20th 2020 PNG's AIC reported the occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated by the AIC. The AIC reported about 20 minutes into the flight smoke was detected in the cabin. There were no injuries and no damage. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d49279f&opt=0 Back to Top Smoke warning reported on aircraft inbound to Bradley Airport An American Airlines flight reported a mechanical issue while en route from Chicago to Bradley International Airport, officials say. According to Alisa Sisic of the Connecticut Airport Authority, the issue occured on American Airlines Flight 3200. She said the flight landed safely at approximately 10 a.m. Sisic said there was no impact on airport operations. The aircraft declared an emergency for a smoke condition indicator light, according to a Facebook post by a state firefighters union. Firefighters from the Windsor Locks airport and the National Guard's 103rd Airlift Wing were standing by at runway 6, the post said. https://www.ctpost.com/policereports/article/Smoke-warning-reported-on-aircraft-inbound-to-15149160.php Back to Top Back to Top AOPA Urges Pilot Privilege Extensions For Virus Considerations Canada has extended medical privileges for as much as four months for pilots whose medicals expire before June 1 and AOPA is asking for similar consideration and more for U.S. pilots. AOPA says it is now working with the FAA to figure out what to do about pilots whose medicals expire at the end of March and can't get an appointment because of coronavirus measures. In Canada, as of March 17, anyone whose medical expires before June 1 can keep flying until Aug. 1 on the old medical. Transport Canada also told its Civil Aviation Medical Examiners to not book any appointments before May 1 to prevent unnecessary strain on the medical system. Meanwhile, medicals are just one of several time-related issues facing pilots that AOPA wants the FAA to address. In a letter to the FAA, AOPA President Mark Baker said that since renewals of so many privileges require personal contact much closer than the recommended six feet of social distancing, pilots need alternatives to keep flying. "For example, federal requirements require pilots to renew their medical certificate in person, to complete their pilot certification examinations within a certain amount of time, and to complete knowledge tests at off-site testing facilities," he wrote. "The current restrictions to the U.S. population create an impossible barrier for these individuals to meet the necessary airman and aircraft requirements." https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/aopa-urges-pilot-privilege-extensions-for-virus-considerations/ Back to Top KLM TO PICK UP TRAVELERS STRANDED IN HONG KONG; CABIN CREW WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY KLM will be flying from Hong Kong to Amsterdam at 1:35 p.m. on Tuesday, local time. The airline has been granted an exemption from the Dutch aviation authorities for the landing ban that applies to flights from the Chinese city, the Consulate General in Hong Kong announced. Dutch and residents of other EU or Schengen countries stuck in Hong Kong are advised to contact the Dutch airline, the Telegraaf reports. Cabin crew members of various airlines are deeply concerned about the risks of flying, especially on repatriating flights filled with passengers. "People are afraid," Chris van Elswijk of the Dutch Cabin Crew Association said to Hart van Nederland. "People are concerned about the distance and contact moments with passengers." According to Van Elswijk, who is a purser for KLM, cabin crew members are trying to stick to the government guidelines of staying 1.5 meters from others, but that is not always possible. "If you work in a full aircraft with 300 passengers, you cannot meet the guidelines that are set," he said. Airlines are working on measures to increase the safety of passengers and crew, he said. KLM, for example, adjusted the onboard service schedule so that there is less physical- or close range contact between passengers and crew. And if crew members do not want to fly on a certain flight, their employers are open to discuss their concerns and alternatives, he said. Because halting all air traffic is not yet an option, Van Elswijk said to Hart van Nederland. "There are still many Dutch people abroad. They still have to be picked up." https://nltimes.nl/2020/03/23/klm-pick-travelers-stranded-hong-kong-cabin-crew-worried-safety Back to Top Air Canada lays off 5,000, France tries to save food supply The rapid spread of the coronavirus since it was first reported in China has dealt an unparalleled shock to the world economy. Following are business developments Monday related to the outbreak as governments attempt to stabilize their economies, companies struggle to cope and millions of people face job losses and disruptions in supplies of goods and in services. ______ AIRLINE LAYOFFS: Air Canada is laying off more than 5,000 flight attendants, a union official says, as the country's largest airline cuts routes amid plunging demand due to the coronavirus. The Montreal-based carrier is laying off about 3,600 employees, plus 1,549 flight attendants at its low-cost subsidiary Rouge, according to Wesley Lesosky, head of the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The layoffs will take effect by April and affect roughly 60% of flight attendants, Lesosky said. Air Canada says it will suspend most of its international and U.S. flights by March 31. The carrier says employees will be returned to active duty status once flights resume. FRENCH SUPERMARKETS: President Emmanuel Macron urged employees to keep working in French supermarkets and some other businesses deemed essential amid a spreading shutdown imposed to fight the coronavirus. "We need to keep the country running," Macron said. Finance minister Bruno Le Maire said Friday the whole supply chain for the food industry must be guaranteed after France shut down this week all restaurants, cafes, cinemas and retail shops that are deemed nonessential. Many employees are working from home. Businesses that are allowed to remain open must enforce rules about social distancing, washing hands and disinfection. AIRLINE TRANSIT SUSPENSION: The United Arab Emirates is suspending passenger transits through Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, for two weeks to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Suspending transit through Dubai, which connects Europe with Asia and Australia, will affect travelers around the world. AIRLINE SHUTDOWN: Low-cost airline Eastar Jet has become the first South Korean carrier to shut down all flights as demand plunges due to the coronavirus. The company says it will temporarily suspend its domestic flights from Tuesday to April 25. Eastar halted international routes to Asian destinations this month after Japan began enforcing 14-day quarantines on passengers arriving from South Korea. Other budget South Korean carriers including Air Seoul, Air Busan and T'Way Air operate only domestic flights after suspending their international services. https://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/air-canada-lays-off-5000-france-tries-to-save-food-supply Back to Top THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN AVIATION INDUSTRY: A SPECIAL FSI REPORT By Roger Rapoport, FSI Senior Editor Like 9/11, the current Covid-19 crisis is a critical turning point in the history of aviation safety. While public health care is not the industry's primary responsibility safety is always a top priority. Airline sick leave policies protect their employees and passengers from communicable diseases. Carriers do their best to quickly transport the sick and injured, move medical supplies and organ donations. They also are working hard to provide repatriation for those running the risk of being stranded abroad as international borders close. At the same time, under a state of emergency, the independence granted to the aviation industry via decades of deregulation is slipping away. Government decrees are upending the previously unquestioned ability of a small number of companies to dominate a critical form of mass transportation. Loans from the government may have big strings attached. Protecting the industry's valuable workforce is also a critical concern. What happens when any common carrier, be it an airline, cruise line, railroad or bus is suddenly subject to unprecedented regulations designed to thwart a global pandemic? The answer to this question is more complicated than you'd expect, especially when customers all over the world assume flying anywhere on a moment's notice is their right. The idea of entire continents suddenly being off limits to global air traffic was unthinkable a few months ago. For many passengers there simply is no alternative to flying. Not everyone is able to move to a virtual world of Skype calls and Zoom conferences. Loving families want to see each other, students need to study abroad and not every business wants to risk large sums of money on people they've never met. With flights cut off to major destinations in Asia, Europe, Canada, Meixco, the Caribbean and other parts of the world our ability to travel internationally on demand has temporarily ended. No one knows when Draconian limits will be lifted. Even government agencies and research scientists are suddenly cut off. Medical conferences that might be central to finding an answer to the current pandemic are unthinkable. Drastic domestic flight cuts are currently in motion. Passengers are reluctant to board a flight to Hawaii when they know they will be required to self quarantine for up to two weeks after leaving baggage claim. No one wants to be stuck for hours at Chicago O'Hare with a sudden surge of passengers who must be tested for a virus prior to clearing customs. Common carriers are working hard to protect their crews and passengers against a threat that is not always easy to deter given the current lack of universal testing for the Covid-19 virus. In many cases, as the cruise lines have demonstrated worldwide, contagious passengers don't realize they are a threat until after they have exposed other people to a dangerous disease. Specific shelter in place warnings make it difficult to plan any kind of air trip, a big blow to airlines that typically collect the cost of a ticket when it's booked. Cancelled flights mean refund obligations and lack of cash flow to pay for airline salaries, fuel and other operational costs. Abroad some major budget carriers such as Britain's Flybe have shut down. Norwegian Air, the popular leader of the international budget airline pack, is now limiting flights to its home country. Fighting to survive with billions in debt is a worst case scenario for airlines forced to lay off workers, park planes, cut service and confront the possibility that their lines of credit could disappear in a New York minute. In a forthcoming book I am writing with 777 Captain Shem Malmquist, our focus is on how the aviation industry can rescue itself following the double jeopardy of the 737 MAX fleet grounding and the Covid-19 crisis. It doesn't matter whether you are a captain of industry or someone who needs to get home quickly to Chico on a discount airline, this industry sea change impacts all of us, even people who don't fly. Let's pause for a minute and turn back the clock a few months. Over the past decade the American airline industry, thanks in large part to billions realized from baggage and change fees, along with revenue from lucrative bank credit card partnerships, has never been more profitable. Net profits between 2010 and 2019 for America's airlines were over $113 billion, music to the ears of high flying manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. With a 4.5 percent jump in passenger traffic and a remarkable 83.7 percent load factor, the industry looked robust worldwide in 2019. In the United States 926 million passengers boarded flight segments, up 13 percent from 2017. Just a few months ago the industry was seriously worried about a pilot shortage that threatened cancelling unprofitable routes. A halt to deliveries of the 737 Max forced some major carriers like Southwest and American to cut back service. Now airlines, their pilots and flight attendants are demanding compensation from Boeing in the hundreds of millions because the carriers couldn't operate their full schedules. Today, with global flight cutbacks triggered by a pandemic, that capacity problem is over. A more than 47 percent year to year drop in the price of fuel has cut another major expense. The cost of layoffs could be offset by a proposed government bailout that might go as high as $50 billion, more than three and half times industry profits last year. All of this is complicated by the fact that 96 percent of the airlines' free cash in recent years has been spent on repurchases of stock that has tanked (Bloomberg). Critics argue that this money should have gone to a rainy day fund that would protect the vulnerable industry in the event of a sudden downturn. There is also a big challenge now on the manufacturing side. Boeing, which has already halted production of the new 737 Max designed to complete with the fuel efficient Airbus 320 Neo, is facing both order delays and cancellations. Boeing's stock continues to tumble despite the anticipated airline bailout. Even with a green light from the FAA this year for the 737 Max, it's likely that there will be further workforce cuts triggered by a lack of demand. Because of the current industry crisis Boeing is drawing down a $13.8 billion credit line originally aimed at covering unanticipated losses caused by the 737 Max fleet grounding. Even if Congress, at the behest of President Donald Trump, a former airline CEO, and his Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao (the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell), approves a $50 billion bailout/loan package, there is no guarantee the industry will survive in its present form. If the airlines can't rapidly rebuild their market, they may struggle to repay government loans. Without government support in terms of incentives, tax breaks and other subsidies (such as the Essential Air Services program that helps pay for flights to small airports) fares could jump to a point where air travel would be less competitive with cars on short and medium length domestic trips. Another problem is the public perception that international air travel could be the common carrier for rapid worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus. This may explain why the current pandemic has moved so much faster than the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu transmitted via ship and ground travel. At the heart of this challenge are two unexpected safety issues. Passengers must have confidence in the ability of the air transportation system to protect them from COVID-19. This is a tall order given uncertainty around the world on the extent and duration of this pandemic. In addition, fearful flyers, people who don't want to board in normal times, now have another reason to remain home or switch to ground transportation once the international emergency ends. Playing into these fears is widespread criticism of the regulatory process that led to licensing of the Boeing 737 Max. Crashes of that new aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019 have raised the possibility that Department of Transportation's controls used to license new planes via the FAA don't work the way they should in our current automation age. Together all of these factors add to uncertainty about a way out of this transportation crisis that could outlive the pandemic. A bailout is not necessarily the best way to restore faith in the industry in the midst of this pandemic. A future article will look at promising ideas that may help the industry recover. Roger Rapoport is the coauthor of Angle of Attack with Captain Shem Malmquist now available in its second edition at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SVNPJ5T Shem Malmquist's new book with Rapoport, The Future of the Aviation Industry: How 737 Max and Covid-19 Exposed the Underlying Structural Problems in Aviation will be out this spring from Lexographic Press. He can be reached at rogerdrapoport@me.com Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved. Curt Lewis