Flight Safety Information - May 8, 2023 No. 088 In This Issue : Incident: Max B734 at Yola and Abuja on May 7th 2023, burst tyres on departure, small gear fire on landing : Incident: PIA B772 at Lahore on May 6th 2023, burst tyre on landing : Incident: Avion Malta A320 at Berlin on May 5th 2023, hydraulic leak : Incident: Fedex A306 near Indianapolis on May 7th 2023, hydraulic problems : Incident: France BCS3 at Prague on May 5th 2023, hard landing : Incident: Biman Bangladesh B738 at Kathmandu on May 5th 2023, flaps problems : US fighter jet crashes in South Korea : India Air Force Jet Crashes, 2 Killed : Biden plans to bolster U.S. airline consumer protections : Pakistani plane enters Indian airspace due to heavy rain, travels 120 km before reentering Pakistan : Not Again: Passenger Tampers With Emergency Exit On IndiGo Aircraft : Delta flight diverted to Boston due to 'unruly' passenger : Pilots at Cathay Pacific Will Have to Work at Boarding Gates and in the Arrivals Hall to Improve Their Customer Service Skills : Airbus A380 & The Jumbo Jet: Emirates Adds 2 Boeing 747-400 Freighters : House GOP Spending Cuts Would ‘Wreak Havoc’ on U.S. Air System, FAA Says : NASA Aims to End Ban on Supersonic Civilian Aircraft : NTSB To Host Runway Incursion Roundtable : AIRBUS - Position Available: Aviation Safety Officer : Graduate Research Survey Incident: Max B734 at Yola and Abuja on May 7th 2023, burst tyres on departure, small gear fire on landing A Max Air Boeing 737-400, registration 5N-MBD performing a flight from Yola to Abuja (Nigeria) with 144 passengers and 6 crew, burst at least one tyre on departure from Yola and performed an emergency landing into Abuja. The aircraft came to a stop with both left hand main gear tyres burst. The aircraft became disabled on the runway, a small gear fire ensued which was extinguished by airport fire services. https://avherald.com/h?article=508ca94b&opt=0 Incident: PIA B772 at Lahore on May 6th 2023, burst tyre on landing A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration AP-BGK performing flight PK-248 (sched. dep May 5th) from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lahore (Pakistan), landed on Lahore's runway 36R but burst a tyre on landing. The aircraft rolled out safely. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 13.5 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=508c0367&opt=0 Incident: Avion Malta A320 at Berlin on May 5th 2023, hydraulic leak An Avion Express Malta Airbus A320-200 on behalf of Eurowings, registration 9H-SWF performing flight EW-8592 from Berlin (Germany) to Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain), was climbing out of Berlin's runway 07R, when the crew stopped the climb at about FL210 due to the green hydraulic system indication zero quantity and low pressure and decided to return to Berlin. The aircraft entered a hold to burn off fuel, the crew lowered the gear via the alternate extension and landed safely back with open gear doors on Berlin's runway 07R about 55 minutes after departure. A replacement Eurowings Airbus A320-200 registration D-ABZE reached Palma Mallorca with a delay of about 6.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Berlin 68 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=508d0274&opt=0 Incident: Fedex A306 near Indianapolis on May 7th 2023, hydraulic problems A Fedex Federal Express Airbus A300-600, registration N743FD performing freight flight FX-739 from Memphis,TN (USA) to Columbus Rickenbacher,OH (USA) with 2 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 200nm west of Indianapolis,IN (USA) when the crew reported hydraulic problems and decided to divert to Indianapolis. The crew requested to be towed after landing. The aircraft landed safely on Indianapolis' runway 23R about 45 minutes later. A replacement A300-600 registration N684FE reached Columbus with a delay of about 3 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=508d0085&opt=0 Incident: France BCS3 at Prague on May 5th 2023, hard landing An Air France Bombardier C-Series CS-300, registration F-HZUA performing flight AF-1383 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Prague (Czech Republic), landed on Prague's runway 06 at 10:37L (08:37Z) but touched down hard. The aircraft rolled out without further incident and taxied to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Prague about 13 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=508b648f&opt=0 Incident: Biman Bangladesh B738 at Kathmandu on May 5th 2023, flaps problems A Biman Bangladesh Boeing 737-800, registration S2-AFL performing flight BG-371 from Dhaka (Bangladesh) to Kathmandu (Nepal) with 77 people on board, was descending towards Kathmandu when the crew stopped the descent at 12500 feet due to problems with the left hand flaps. The aircraft diverted to Patna (India) for a safe landing at a higher than normal speed. The aircraft remained on the ground in Patna for about 4 hours, then continued the flight to Kathmandu and arrived with a delay of 5.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=508bbb74&opt=0 US fighter jet crashes in South Korea A US F-16 fighter jet crashed during training on Saturday near a major US military base in South Korea, the US military has said. The jet, which was assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing, “crashed in an agricultural area near Osan Air Base at about 9:45 a.m.” local time, the US Air Force in South Korea said in a statement. The pilot safely ejected and was transported to the nearest medical facility, the military said. No civilians were hurt in the incident, according to the military. The local fire department was dispatched to extinguish fire, South Korea’s Governor of Gyeonggi Province Kim Dong-yeon wrote on Twitter. The pilot was participating in a routine training flight, the military said, adding that the investigation into the incident is under way. Osan Air Base is the US Air Force’s closest base to North Korea, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from its border. https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/asia/us-fighter-jet-crashes-in-south-korea-intl-hnk/index.html India Air Force Jet Crashes, 2 Killed An Indian military jet has crashed, killing at least two people on the ground and injuring several others. The Indian Air Force MiG-21 fighter jet crashed Monday in the Hunumangarh district of Rajasthan while on a routine training run. The plane had taken off from the Suratgarh Air Force Station. The air force tweeted that the pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. https://www.voanews.com/a/india-air-force-jet-crashes-2-killed/7083147.html Biden plans to bolster U.S. airline consumer protections President Joe Biden will announce on Monday that the U.S. Transportation Department aims to write new rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers for significant flight delays or cancellations when carriers are responsible. It is the latest in a series of moves by the Biden administration to crack down on airlines and bolster passenger consumer protections. “When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill,” U.S. Transportation Secretary (USDOT) Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. USDOT said it plans to write regulations that will require airlines to cover expenses such as meals and hotels if carriers are responsible for stranding passengers. Most carriers voluntarily committed in August 2022 to providing hotels or meals but resisted providing cash compensation for delays. The Biden administration has objected to family seating fees, investigated 10 carriers for failing to provide refunds, pressed Southwest Airlines to do more after a holiday meltdown led to more than 16,000 flight cancellations and proposed other new consumer protections. USDOT will make clear starting Monday on a government website that no U.S. carriers have agreed to provide cash compensation for delayed or canceled flights under carriers’ control. The Biden administration has sparred with U.S. airlines over who was to blame for hundreds of thousands of flight disruptions last year. Airlines for America, a trade association representing Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and others, said U.S. airlines “have no incentive to delay or cancel a flight and do everything in their control to ensure flights depart and arrive on time, but safety is always the top priority.” U.S. airlines note the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledges it does not have enough air traffic control staff and is operating 10% fewer flights than in 2019 to reduce pressure on the system. In October, Reuters first reported major U.S. airlines opposed USDOT plans to update its dashboard to show whether carriers would voluntarily compensate passengers for lengthy delays within airlines’ control. USDOT said Monday the updated dashboard will show that one airline guarantees frequent flyer miles and two airlines guarantee travel credits or vouchers when cancellations or delays result in passengers’ waiting three hours. No airline guarantees cash compensation. There is no legal requirement for airlines to compensate U.S. passengers for delayed or canceled flights, but the European Union and some other countries require compensation of up to 600 euros ($663) for most significant delays. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/08/biden-plans-to-bolster-us-airline-consumer-protections.html Pakistani plane enters Indian airspace due to heavy rain, travels 120 km before reentering Pakistan A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight entered Indian airspace last week after a failed attempt to land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore In a shocking incident that happened Thursday, May 4, a flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) entered Indian airspace and stayed there for nearly 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan. The flight, PK248, was returning from Muscat on May 4 and was attempting to land at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. However, heavy rainfall made it difficult for the pilot to land the Boeing 777 aircraft. According to a report by The News, the pilot attempted to land at the airport but the aircraft became unstable due to the heavy rain. On the instruction of the air traffic controller, the pilot initiated the go-around approach. However, during this approach, the aircraft lost its way due to the low altitude and heavy rain. The aircraft, which was flying at an altitude of 13,500 feet at a speed of 292 km/h, entered Indian airspace from the Badhana police station. The plane then turned back from Naushehra Pannuan after travelling 40 km through the city of Taran Sahib and Rasulpur in Indian Punjab. While flying in Indian airspace, the captain took the plane to a height of 20,000 feet, and the plane flew in Indian airspace for seven minutes. The flight then re-entered Pakistani airspace from near the village of Jhagian Noor Muhammad in the Indian Punjab. The flight then re-entered Indian airspace via the villages of Dona Mabboki, Chaant, Dhupsari Kasur and Ghati Kalanjar in the Kasur district of the Pakistani Punjab. Three minutes later, the plane re-entered Pakistani territory from the village of Lakha Singhwala Hithar in the Indian Punjab. At that time, the plane was at an altitude of 23,000 feet and flying at a speed of 320 km/h. The plane finally landed in Multan, having travelled a total of 120 km in Indian territory for almost ten minutes. https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistani-plane-enters-indian-airspace-due-to-heavy-rain-travels-120-km-before-reentering-pakistan-589993 Not Again: Passenger Tampers With Emergency Exit On IndiGo Aircraft The Airbus A320 was preparing for departure out of Goa. IndiGo seems to attract passengers that are quite curious about the emergency exit. The airline has had a few instances where a passenger has tried to tamper with the emergency exit door, causing inconvenience to the airline and other travelers. The latest incident took place in the popular destination Goa, with reports stating that the airline had to cancel the flight altogether. Again! IndiGo seems to have a run of bad luck with some of its passengers affecting flight operations with their attempts to open the emergency exit. Another similar incident has come to light, with a passenger becoming curious about the emergency exit at Goa’s Dabolim Airport. The flight in question is a daily service between Goa and Chandigarh with a scheduled departure at 17:45. According to reports, on May 4th, a 28-year-old passenger tampered with the cover flap and pulled the control handle of the door. The Indian Express quotes from a complaint filed with the police, which stated, “After occupying seat, (he) negligently pulled the over wing cover flap, tampered and also pulled down the control handle a little of the emergency door. Due to this negligent act, (he) endangered the life or personal safety of the passengers and crew members on board and also, the aircraft became unserviceable which led to offloading of 179 passengers.” The aircraft was reportedly at the bay area and was preparing for departure. Sources have revealed that IndiGo had to cancel the flight and offered passengers a full refund or the option to take an alternative flight. While there has been no official response from IndiGo regarding this, Flightradar24.com shows the status of the flight on May 4th as unknown. Not the first time The situation was all too familiar for IndiGo, which has now also started making pre-recorded announcement warning against tampering with emergency exits and safety equipment on the plane. Last month, a drunk passenger onboard an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru tried to open the flap of an emergency door. The flight crew defused the situation, and the plane landed safely at its final destination. The cabin crew altered the pilot to the situation, and security personnel was on hand to apprehend the offender upon landing. Thankfully, there was no significant delay caused by the incident. In January, the airline faced a similar situation on a Nagpur-Mumbai flight after a passenger tried to remove the emergency exit cover. The incident took place when the aircraft was on approach for landing. The airline said that upon noticing the passenger’s action, the cabin crew alerted the pilots immediately, and the passenger was “appropriately cautioned.” In December 2022, Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya inadvertently opened the emergency exit door of an IndiGo ATR airplane in Chennai. The plane was preparing for a flight to Tiruchirapalli but was delayed for about two hours as it had to be checked for pressurization and other things. https://simpleflying.com/passenger-tampers-emergency-exit-indigo/ Delta flight diverted to Boston due to 'unruly' passenger Delta Air Lines says a flight between Detroit and Amsterdam landed in Boston where an unruly passenger was removed from the airplane BOSTON -- A Delta Air Lines flight between Detroit and Amsterdam was diverted to Boston due to an unruly passenger on board, the airline says. Delta Flight 134 diverted to Boston Logan International Airport just before 9 p.m. Friday where the plane was met by law enforcement and the passenger taken off the flight. "We have zero tolerance for unruly behavior on our aircraft and express apologies to our valued customers and crew for experiencing this unfortunate delay in their travels,” the airline said in a statement. Delta did not describe the disruption caused by the passenger, but said such a diversion is standard procedure in similar circumstances. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates the airport, referred questions about the incident to the state police, which said Sunday they had no information about the case. The flight, an Airbus A330-300, with 282 passengers and crew, resumed its trip to Amsterdam, arriving more than three hours late. https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/delta-flight-diverted-boston-due-unruly-passenger-99150627 Pilots at Cathay Pacific Will Have to Work at Boarding Gates and in the Arrivals Hall to Improve Their Customer Service Skills Newly qualified cadet pilots at Cathay Pacific will soon have to spend a stint working at boarding gates and in the arrivals hall at Hong Kong International Airport as part of an induction programme that is meant to improve their customer service skills. In a leaked memo, the pilots (who are qualified as Second Officers) were told that they’ll have to work at “various customer-facing touchpoints” across the airport as part of their induction to the airline. Cathay Pacific reopened its cadet pilot training programme in March 2022 with plans to hire 400 new pilots by the end of 2023. Cadet pilots undertake a 60-week ground training course at Hong Kong Polytechnic University before being sent to Adelaide in Australia or Phoenix in the USA to start their flight training. Once they’ve learnt to fly, the cadets then return to Cathay’s Pacific’s Headquarters in Hong Kong, where they complete multi-crew simulator training and further ground-based training. That training will now include a two-month module at Hong Kong International Airport, where they’ll learn about airport infrastructure, back-of-house operations and workflow patterns. “This initiative will be an excellent addition to your broader professional development and prepare you well for your career at Cathay Pacific and is intended to help drive towards our vision of being one of the world’s greatest service brands,” the memo shared by Aaron Busch on Twitter read. “The primary goal of this initiative is to provide you with a greater understanding of our customer service ethos and our airport operations,” the memo continued. “The experience will help you develop strong customer service skills and provide you with knowledge of a range of airport functions”. Second officers assigned to the programme will do three shifts per week for two months before returning to their core training. Reluctant pilots have been told that they can’t book leave in order to avoid their stint working at the airport. This type of initiative is not common practice in the aviation industry, and many airlines only provide pilots with basic customer service and First Aid training. Cathay Pacific, however, says customer-facing training secondments are becoming more commonplace and are already routine for new managers at Cathay Pacific’s parent company, Swire. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2023/05/06/pilots-at-cathay-pacific-will-have-to-work-at-boarding-gates-and-in-the-arrivals-hall-to-improve-their-customer-service-skills/ Airbus A380 & The Jumbo Jet: Emirates Adds 2 Boeing 747-400 Freighters The carrier is deploying the 747s on Asian and North American routes. As part of wider plans to increase the capacity of its SkyCargo division, Emirates has announced the lease of two Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft. These will work alongside the carrier's existing Boeing 777F jets to offer greater flexibility, while also making Emirates a rare operator of both the 747 and the Airbus A380. The 747 is still going strong Emirates SkyCargo's longer-term goal, as publicized this morning, is for the next decade to see its capacity double. While new jets, conversions, and increased belly-hold capacity in passenger jets will play a key role in this, a more immediate part of this plan has seen Emirates begin flying a pair of leased Boeing 747-400F aircraft. Emirates SkyCargo's Divisional Senior Vice President, Nabil Sultan, stated: "The 2 new 747-Fs which we have leased will give us immediate capacity, while we wait for delivery of 5 new 777Fs in 2024 and 2025, and 10 777-300ERs to roll out of our conversion program over the next 5 years. We believe even these additional planes will not be sufficient. By then, we’ll have the MRO set up to quickly and efficiently scale up our freighter conversion program if we needed to." Emirates added that the 747s will be here to stay for the time being, with their leases being long-term in nature. For now, it is operating 12 rotations a week using these aircraft, with nine of these serving Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Meanwhile, the other three see the 747-400F sent to Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Emirates has flown the 747-400F before As it happens, this is not the first time that Emirates SkyCargo has called on the services of the Boeing 747-400F. Indeed, ATDB.aero lists 10 examples of this aircraft type as having previously served the Dubai-based UAE flag carrier's airfreight division. Some of these were even present in the last five years. Much like the Boeing 747-400 freighters that Emirates SkyCargo has recently begun flying, these previous examples also came to the airline on a leased basis. They were sourced from a variety of different carriers, including the likes of ASL Airlines Belgium, Atlas Air, Cargolux, Cargolux Italia, and World Airways. The various leases concerning these aircraft spanned a period of almost two decades, with the first example (N408MC) coming onboard in January 2001. 19 years later, in January 2020, Emirates SkyCargo's last Boeing 747-400F at the time (LX-GCL) departed for Cargolux Italia, after just over two years on lease in the UAE. Flying both double-decker quadjets Emirates' recent addition of the Boeing 747-400F to its SkyCargo fleet makes it a rare current operator of jets from both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 families. Indeed, while Lufthansa has both, its A380s aren't returning to service until next month. Airlines with active examples of both include Qatar Airways and Asiana Airlines, with 747 freighters, and Korean Air, whose 747s carry passengers and cargo. https://simpleflying.com/emirates-skycargo-adds-2-boeing-747-freighters/ House GOP Spending Cuts Would ‘Wreak Havoc’ on U.S. Air System, FAA Says Steep spending cuts contained in a House Republican budget bill would dramatically exacerbate a shortage of U.S. air-traffic controllers that has already led to a reduction in flights to New York this summer, officials said May 5. The Federal Aviation Administration would be forced to halt hiring and training of new controllers, furlough thousands of other employees and stop work on an air-traffic computer system, agency Acting Administrator Billy Nolen said in a letter to lawmakers. The situation “would wreak havoc on summer air travel,” he said. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the prospect of FAA budget cuts “perfectly backward” during a period in which the agency is ramping up hiring and attempting to upgrade critical infrastructure. “I cannot understand why house Republicans would want to vote for more cancellations and delays and that inevitably is what this would come to,” he said in an interview. Raising the issue of controller staffing is the latest salvo in the high-stakes debate over federal spending and increasing the U.S. debt limit, which must be lifted by June 1 to avoid a potential default. House Republicans passed legislation on April 26 that would cut domestic spending by 22%. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Republican leaders didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. The number of air-traffic controllers has dwindled over the past decade as a result of multiple setbacks to hiring and training, including the COVID-19 pandemic and various government shutdowns, according to the FAA. There were 10,578 fully certified controllers as of September 2022. Another 2,800 people were in various stages of being trained, but it can take years to become certified. A shortage of controllers has already had impacts on the U.S. aviation system. The FAA facility that guides aircraft to and from New York’s major airports has only 54% of the optimal number of fully trained controllers, which prompted the agency in March 2023 to urge airlines to cut flight schedules by as much as 10% during the busy summer season. In 2022, a shortage of controllers in a Florida facility was one reason for a surge in flight delays in the region. Overall, weather and issues with airline equipment and staffing cause the most delays and cancellations, according to government data. But even small additional disruptions in congested regions such as New York can have a significant impact. Potential budget cuts also come in the wake of a rare shutdown of all departures last January prompted by the failure of an FAA computer system that provides safety notices to pilots. The agency is attempting to modernize it. https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/37231-house-gop-spending-cuts-would-wreak-havoc-on-us-air-system-faa-says NASA Aims to End Ban on Supersonic Civilian Aircraft Traveling through the air faster than sound could come sooner than you think. NASA is aiming to end the 50-year ban on civilian supersonic aircraft over land in the United States. If the ban is lifted, new commercial cargo and passenger markets would open up, dramatically reducing travel time. NASA’s Quesst Mission Changing the supersonic speed ban is the ultimate goal of NASA’s Quesst mission. To do so, Quesst is designing and building NASA’s X-59 research aircraft with technology that reduces the loudness of a sonic boom. Instead of hearing a sonic boom, people would hear sonic “thumps”, if anything at all. The X-59 will be flown over communities in the United States so NASA can gather data on human responses to the supersonic flight sound. This data would be reported to regulators with the hope that new rules regarding supersonic flight over land would be written and adopted. The mission’s goal is for the updated standards to focus on the sound an aircraft creates, rather than a speed limit. As explained by Peter Coen, NASA’s Quesst mission integration manager, “…instead of a rule based solely on speed, we are proposing the rule be based on sound. If the sound of a supersonic flight isn’t loud enough to bother anyone below, there’s no reason why the airplane can’t be flying supersonic.” According to a blog post uploaded to NASA’s site on April 27, the Quesst mission is nearing its final developmental stages and is almost ready to conduct community overflights and public surveys. However, public approval and lifting the ban are just the first steps. Airport noise, emissions, and climate impact are all factors that the agency says they still need to address. The integration of the aircraft’s 13-foot-long engine with 22,000 pounds of thrust was finished in December. The supersonic aircraft is designed to fly Mach 1.4; the speed of sound is Mach 1, or about 761 mph at sea level. In comparison, a typical commercial jet flies around 460-575 mph. Why is Civilian Supersonic Flight Banned? The origins of the federal ban on supersonic flight can be traced back to 1947 when the rocket-powered XS-1 airplane broke the sound barrier for the first time. As the Air Force and Navy began to deploy large numbers of supersonic jets at bases around the country in the 1950s and 1960s, residents of many cities were exposed to many loud and disruptive sonic booms. Negative sentiment around supersonic flight spread as a result. To better understand and predict sonic boom formation, the U.S. government began to work with industry professionals in an effort to develop the Supersonic Transport, or SST. This project aimed to produce the prototype for a new commercial supersonic airliner that could carry as many as 300 passengers anywhere in the world at speeds as great as three times the speed of sound. However, while researchers were working on SST and reducing the sonic boom noise levels, environmental concerns and negative public opinions continued to arise. For example, on May 31, 1968, an F-105 Thunderchief fighter jet broke the sound barrier flying 50 feet over the school grounds, blowing out 200 windows on the side of a chapel, and injuring a dozen people. Within a few years, the FAA formally proposed a rule to restrict the operation of civil aircraft at speeds greater than Mach 1. In 1971, Congress officially canceled the SST program. The ban on civilian supersonic flights over land went into effect in 1973, and the ban remains in effect today. According to NASA, the speed limit created in 1973 didn’t consider the possibility that an airplane could fly supersonic without creating disruptive sonic booms. The assessment was fair at the time because the technology required to make that happen didn’t exist yet. During the past 50 years, NASA’s innovators have been working to quiet the boom. https://www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com/2023/05/08/nasa-aims-to-end-ban-on-supersonic-civilian-aircraft/ NTSB To Host Runway Incursion Roundtable A week after the FAA struck a committee to discuss the state of aviation safety, the NTSB has announced it will host a roundtable discussion on the spate of serious runway incursions that occurred in the first quarter of the year. The four-hour morning discussion will be hosted by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy on May 23 at NTSB headquarters in Washington. The board said in a news release the meeting will be open to the public and streamed online. It will feature “safety experts from the aviation industry, labor, and government to discuss the current state of the runway incursion problem and possible solutions and next steps.” The release doesn’t name the experts. “I look forward to hosting a candid assessment of what’s been done to prevent runway incursions in the years since our last event on the topic—and to spur meaningful, immediate action on the areas where we’re stalled,” said Homendy. “By proactively looking for ways to make our skies safer, this event reflects our agency’s commitment to meeting the same high standards we ask of others.” In the first three months of the year, at least six runway incursions involving airliners that resulted in some kind of diversion or go-around occurred at U.S. airports. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/ntsb-to-host-runway-incursion-roundtable/ Position Available: Aviation Safety Officer Airbus is an international pioneer in the aerospace industry. We are a leader in designing, manufacturing and delivering aerospace products, services and solutions to customers on a global scale. We aim for a better-connected, safer and more prosperous world. A commercial aircraft manufacturer, with Space and Defense as well as Helicopters Divisions, Airbus is the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe and a worldwide leader. Airbus has built on its strong European heritage to become truly international - with roughly 180 locations and 12,000 direct suppliers globally. The company has aircraft and helicopter final assembly lines across Asia, Europe and the Americas, and has achieved a more than six fold order book increase since 2000. Position Summary: The Aviation Safety Officer (ASO) is a full time position within the Airbus Helicopters North America (AHNA) Aviation Safety. The ASO shall assists in the management of all aspects of the aviation safety function for the Grand Prairie Facility. The ASO is primarily responsible for managing internal aviation safety and ensuring compliance with applicable aviation safety regulations and policies. The ASO shall coordinate closely with the Senior Director, Safety Programs, Flight Safety Officers (FSO's), and other Airbus departments to identify, investigate and manage aviation safety hazards; coordinate and carry out actions to manage or mitigate risk; and provide support of AHNA's Safety Management System (SMS). Primary Responsibilities: 1. Internal Flight Safety: 50% · Serve as the Grand Prairie facilities focal point for aviation safety matters and safety promotion activities · Monitor aviation production, maintenance, and flight operations to identify hazards. · Maintain an internal aviation safety incident reporting system, manage investigation of internal aviation incidents, and initiate corrective action(s) as necessary. · Engage in continuous feedback and communication for all safety report submitters · Monitor and evaluate the results of corrective actions; ensure that the feedback loop and control measures are in place and working efficiently. · Maintain the facilities flight line safety program to include providing training and administering access control of the flight line. · Participate in Flight Test development pre-Type Inspection Authorization meetings and Safety Review Boards to identify and mitigate flight risks. · Represent Aviation Safety at operational departmental meetings to raise awareness to safety hazards, initiatives, and other safety information. 2. Company SMS: 40% · Assist the Manager, Safety Management System with the development and implementation of AHNA's Safety Management System (SMS) for the Grand Prairie facility. · Organize and facilitate the Safety Action Group (SAG) for the Grand Prairie facility and where necessary escalate risk to the Safety Review Board (SRB) · Responsible for the development and management of facilities Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for aircraft accidents. · Facilitate Safety Risk Management activities with other stakeholder to identifying, assessing, analyzing, and mitigating aviation safety risks · Ensures accurate and timely delivery of required safety reports, including monthly and quarterly summary reports, as well as ad hoc queries. Provides weekly/monthly management reports on safety goals and objectives as required. · Oversee the development, delivery and maintenance of SMS training to ensure employees possess the competencies appropriate with their role in aviation safety. 3. Accident Investigation: 10% · Participate and provide technical expertise regarding accidents investigations as requested by AHNA's Senior Director, Safety Programs and/or Manager of Accident Investigation. Additional Responsibilities: · Other duties as assigned. Qualified Experience / Skills / Training: Education: Required: · Bachelor's Degree in aviation, safety or a related field; or equivalent experience Preferred: · Master's Degree preferred Experience: Required: · Minimum of seven (7) years' experience in flight operations and/or aviation safety. Preferred: · Experience as a fleet operator and/or certified instructor. · Accident investigation experience. Licensure/Certifications: Required: · Formally trained in SMS and accident investigation Preferred: · FAA commercial/instrument pilot or equivalent with rotorcraft-helicopter rating and/or A&P certificate strongly preferred. Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities: · Broad knowledge of aviation safety programs, technical publications, aircraft systems, helicopter aerodynamic principles, FAA operational and safety management regulations, and other fields relating to conduct of flight programs. Communication Skills (Spoken, Written, Influencing, Proficiency in Other Languages): · English proficiency required. · Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in written form required. · Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with governmental and civilian representatives and customers. Technical Systems Proficiency: · Proficiency in GSuite and Smartsheet · Technical working knowledge of Flight Data Monitoring systems with associated software. · Technical knowledge of Helicopter Usage and Monitoring Systems (HUMS). Travel Required: · 30% Domestic and International. Citizenship: · US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license) Clearance: · None Decision Making, Complexity: · Responsible for assisting to develop internal processes and protocols. · Responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable safety procedures, rules, and regulations. Organizational information: Direct Reports : · Exempt : 0 · Non-exempt : 0 Job Dimensions, Contributions to Success: · Integral in maintaining a safe aviation organization and compliance with applicable safety procedures, rules, and regulations. Nature of Contacts: · Involved Communication on a daily Basis with internal and external parties Physical Requirements: · Onsite: 70% · Vision: able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings on daily basis. · Hearing: able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on production floor including safety warnings or alarms on a daily basis. · Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications on a daily basis. · Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some basic tools. Daily · Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs several times a week. · Lifting: able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs several times a week. · Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture, aircraft systems and equipment several times a week. · Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer several times a week. · Squatting / Kneeling: able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. · Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on production floor several times a week. · Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice. · Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces several times a week. · Personal Protective Equipment required: Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site · Equal Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status As a leader in our field, Airbus Helicopters, Inc. provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. As a matter of policy, Airbus Helicopters, Inc. does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus Helicopters, Inc. does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. NOTE: Airbus Helicopters, Inc. reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Curt Lewis