Flight Safety Information - June 6, 2023 No. 108 In This Issue : Incident: Jazz CRJ9 at Whitehorse on May 20th 2023, hydraulic failure affects flight controls : Incident: Sun Country B738 at Lakeland on Jun 3rd 2023, lightning strike : Incident: Gol B738 near Teresina on Jun 4th 2023, suspected fuel leak : The CEO of United Airlines just said that flying over Russian airspace is a ‘safety and security risk’ he won’t take—and it’s a big problem for Asia routes : Advanced Runway Safety Improvement Program for Skyguide : Texas-bound Southwest flight delayed to remove unruly passenger, to other flyers' delight : IATA takes issue with global standard of safety reporting : Safran In Talks To Buy Raytheon’s Flight Controls, Actuation Business : LATAM Selects Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines For Up To 146 Airbus Aircraft : Emirates To Place An Order For Up To 150 Aircraft : Board Of American Airlines' Pilot Union Rejects Merger With ALPA : Air Force to Its Experienced Pilots: Here's $50,000 to Extend Your Service : Germany Demands China Stop Using Ex-Luftwaffe Fighter Pilots For Training Incident: Jazz CRJ9 at Whitehorse on May 20th 2023, hydraulic failure affects flight controls A Jazz Canadair CRJ-705, registration C-FDJZ performing flight QK-8099 from Vancouver,BC to Whitehorse,YT (Canada), was descending through about 16000 feet MSL towards Whitehorse when the crew received indication HYD 1 LO PRESS. The crew carried out the related checklists and declared PAN PAN. The aircraft continued for a safe landing about 5 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported that some of the flight controls were affected, the aircraft however remained controllable. The #1 engine drive pump and a hydraulic suction line were replaced. https://avherald.com/h?article=50a16ff9&opt=0 Incident: Sun Country B738 at Lakeland on Jun 3rd 2023, lightning strike A Sun Country Boeing 737-800 freighter, registration N5693A performing flight SY-3008 from Lakeland,FL to Minneapolis,MN (USA), was climbing out of Lakeland when the crew declared emergency reporting a cracked windshield as result of a lightning strike. The aircraft stopped the climb at about FL350 and returned to Lakeland for a safe landing on runway 10 about 50 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY DUE TO CRACKED WINDSHIELD AFTER ENCOUNTERING A LIGHTNING STRIKE, LAKELAND, FL." The aircraft is still on the ground in Lakeland about 37 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=50a16386&opt=0 Incident: Gol B738 near Teresina on Jun 4th 2023, suspected fuel leak A Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-800, registration PR-GTM performing flight G3-1709 from Fortaleza,CE to Brasilia,DF (Brazil), was enroute at FL330 about 160nm south of Teresina,PI (Brazil) when the crew decided to divert to Teresina reporting a suspected fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely on Teresina's runway 20 about 25 minutes after leaving FL330. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration PR-GGN reached Brasilia with a delay of about 8.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Teresina about 18 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=50a159d3&opt=0 The CEO of United Airlines just said that flying over Russian airspace is a ‘safety and security risk’ he won’t take—and it’s a big problem for Asia routes United Airlines Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby said flying over Russia constitutes a risk that many carriers including his own won’t take, while airlines from China or India enjoy a competitive advantage as they continue to traverse the airspace. “I think it creates a safety and security risk,” Kirby said in Istanbul, highlighting concerns for the safety of US citizens on such flights, or the possibility of being forced to land in Russia for a variety of reasons. US airlines and their lobby group, Airlines for America, are pushing the Biden Administration to level the playing field against Chinese rivals who can overfly Russia. As a result, flight frequencies between the world’s two biggest economies — China and the US — are stalled at below 10% of pre-Covid level. Kirby said United has curtailed flights where Russian airspace is an obstacle that’s too big to divert around. The airline has resumed just a handful of Chinese services. It can’t fly many Asian routes given the distances needed to avoid Russian airspace, Kirby said. “It’s a big challenge for us,” said Kirby. “Today, we are flying one flight from Newark to Delhi. The other four routes we can’t make it. They simply can’t fly far enough.” IATA Director General Willie Walsh, speaking at the annual general meeting of the aviation lobby group, said closing an air space is a “political decision” and that he would like to see Russia open up again to everyone and for the Russia-Ukraine conflict to end. “We want to see the aviation system return to normal,” Walsh said. “We recognise that our industry often suffers at the hand of political decisions.” https://fortune.com/2023/06/05/ceo-united-airlines-russian-airspace-security-risk/ Advanced Runway Safety Improvement Program for Skyguide Seamless go-live of the new Advanced Runway Safety Improvement Iteration 2 Program (ARSI IT2) includes integration of Electronic Flight Strip System for massive safety improvements in runway operations. Geneva-based air navigation service provider, Skyguide, in partnership with ADB SAFEGATE, went live at Geneva Airport on March 21st with a series of safety upgrades as part of the Advanced Runway Safety Improvement Program. The implementation is a further step toward the European campaign to reduce runway incursions and create greater situational awareness for air traffic controllers. Switzerland’s second busiest airport just became even safer, thanks to runway software upgrades made in a smooth transition. Skyguide and ADB SAFEGATE continue a fruitful partnership by completing the ARSI IT2 development for Geneva Airport. ARSI IT2 is the next generation of safety improvement, building from the successful ARSI released by Skyguide and another supplier that won the 2019 Jane’s ATC Runway Award celebrating advancements in air traffic control and airspace management. The recent go-live of the ARSI IT2 offers an advanced feature set that enhances operational safety, efficiency and usability. “With the introduction of the expanded ARSI IT2, we can provide air traffic controllers at Geneva Airport with the advanced safety tools they need for success,” said Pascal Hochstasser, Chief Tower & Approach Geneva at Skyguide. The new safety improvements required upgrades to the airport’s Electronic Flight Strip System (EFSS), developed by ADB SAFEGATE as part of its Tower portfolio, as well as improvements to the Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS). This will improve the situational awareness of air traffic controllers by allowing them to immediately detect critical situations of clearance conflicts or non-compliance with given clearances using alerts and warnings. According to Hochstrasser, “Our engineering team benefited greatly by the expertise of ADB SAFEGATE to develop, test and deliver on-time a high-quality electronic flight strip solution that meets the needs of both operational and technical staff.” The success of the project was in great part due to the exemplary collaboration between the engineering teams at both organizations. Since 2017, ADB SAFEGATE and Skyguide have worked together to improve tools and infrastructure to achieve enhancements in terms of operational safety, efficiency, and usability. “ADB SAFEGATE is pleased to provide Skyguide with an advanced EFSS implementation in this high-demand integration environment,” said Gonzalo Moreno-Muñoz, VP Tower, ADB SAFEGATE. “We are committed to a long-lasting partnership with Skyguide and to supporting their strategic priorities of safety, automation and environmental demands.” https://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/article/advanced-runway-safety-improvement-program-skyguide Texas-bound Southwest flight delayed to remove unruly passenger, to other flyers' delight A Houston, Texas-bound Southwest airplane at a terminal in New Orleans was held on May 29 to allow authorities to remove a passenger who refused to disembark when asked. In a video posted to social media, the woman can be heard telling officials she paid for her flight at 7:30 p.m., when three bald deputies with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana pulled the woman out of her chair and into the main aisle. As the deputies pulled the woman down the aisle, she asked if she could have her phone and was seen resisting. A passenger told the woman she was making things worse, and she said, "No, I literally need my phone. I paid for that." The woman once again asked for her phone, and one of the deputies is seen holding it and telling her he has it. Southwest airplane A Southwest Airlines flight takes off at Long Island MacArthur Airport, Thursday, March 25, 2021. The camera view then shifted to another deputy who was seen handcuffing one of the woman’s hands before bringing it down to the other hand to cuff them together. As she was getting cuffed, the woman said she was confused and had no idea what was happening, asking a woman to explain it to her. Several passengers chimed in and told the woman she was getting arrested. According to the person who posted the video, the woman was asked nicely to get off the flight, but she refused numerous times. As a result, the airline called for assistance. Southwest Airlines and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital about the incident. https://news.yahoo.com/texas-bound-southwest-flight-delayed-010218844.html IATA takes issue with global standard of safety reporting IATA has stressed the importance of timely, detailed reports into aircraft safety incidents, noting that governments are not meeting their ICAO reporting obligations. It observes that from 2018-2022, just 96 of 214 accident investigations met the requirements laid out in the Convention of International Civil Aviation Annex 13 – or Chicago Convention. The wreckage of a China Eastern Boeing 737-800 that crashed on 21 March 2022, with 132 passengers and crew. One year after the crash, the Civil Aviation Authority of China only issued a brief statement to state the investigation was ongoing. During the four-year period, just 31 reports were filed within less than a year of the accident, while 58 took from 1-3 years. “Over the past five years, fewer than half of the required accident reports meet the standards for thoroughness and timeliness,” says IATA director general Willie Walsh. “This is an inexcusable violation of requirements stated clearly in the Chicago Convention. As an industry we must raise our voice to governments in defence of the accident investigation process enshrined in Annex 13. And we count on ICAO to remind states that the publication of a complete accident report is not optional, it is an obligation under Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention.” IATA stresses that a preliminary report is due within 30 days of the accident, while a final report is due within 12 months. Interim statements should be published annually should a final report not be possible within 12 months. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/iata-takes-issue-with-global-standard-of-safety-reporting/153577.article New US Rules Force Chinese Airlines to Avoid Russian Airspace The United States and the European Union closed their airspace to Russian aircraft in 2022 as part of sanctions imposed on Russia. On May 18, 2023, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) approved four new weekly Air China and China Eastern flights between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, bringing the total number of weekly US-China flights to twelve. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, unlike already established US-bound Chinese carriers’ flights, newly approved Air China and China Eastern flights are apparently avoiding Russian airspace altogether and are not overflying Russian Federation. Earlier this year, Biden administration was urged to ban US-bound Chinese airlines from passing over Russia, since it gave them unfair advantage against US carriers that are banned from overflying the country. The proposed ban was the result of lobbying by US air carriers, who are losing up to $2 billion annually in market share to US-bound foreign competitors, since Chinese and Indian airlines have enjoyed a boom in business, as they can fly the shortest route without the need to circumvent Russia’s vast territory. The United States and the European Union closed their airspace to Russian aircraft in 2022 as part of sanctions imposed on Russia after it’s brutal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine. In return, Russia retaliated by barring US and European airlines from flying over its territory. Chinese airlines were not affected by the restrictions and continued to use Russian airspace. US carriers are now forced to fly longer distances with dozens of empty seats, to make their planes light enough to avoid refueling. Over a dozen planned new air routes from the United States to Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul and other cities were reportedly put on hold and are being taken up by competitors. https://eturbonews.com/new-us-rules-force-chinese-airlines-to-avoid-russian-airspace/ Safran In Talks To Buy Raytheon’s Flight Controls, Actuation Business Safran is in talks to acquire parts of Raytheon Technologies’ flight controls and actuation business lines, the French supplier confirmed June 5. The talks, first reported by Bloomberg, focus on part of Raytheon’s Collins Aerospace business unit that supplies a variety of systems, including primary flight controls, high-lift systems, and nacelle and stabilizer actuators for commercial and business aviation aircraft, including several Airbus and Boeing programs. Collins also has an actuation overhaul business, but it was not immediately clear whether it would be part of a deal. Safran also has a sizable actuation business and makes some flight control systems. “Following information in the press, Safran confirms that it is in discussions with Raytheon Technologies for the potential acquisition of certain flight control and actuation activities ... within the scope of a competitive process,” Safran said in a statement. “At this stage, it is not possible to evaluate the chances of reaching any agreement, nor is it possible to be specific about terms and conditions.” Bloomberg reported in January that Raytheon was exploring the sale of its legacy Rockwell Collins and United Technologies flight control and actuation product lines. The deal could be worth $1 billion, Bloomberg said. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/safran-talks-buy-raytheons-flight-controls-actuation-business LATAM Selects Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines For Up To 146 Airbus Aircraft The engines offer aircraft with increased fuel efficiency, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. A LATAM Airbus A320neo flying. Photo: Airbus American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney will develop engines for LATAM Airlines’ remaining Airbus A320neo orders, the company announced on Sunday. The order comes after LATAM’s initial order in 2013, in which it chose Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines to power over 40 aircraft. The company announced that the fuel-efficient engines will power 146 LATAM A320neo family aircraft. Through a service agreement, Pratt & Whitney will also provide LATAM with long-term engine maintenance services. “Caring for the environment” Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, said the announcement enhances its partnership with the engine manufacturer. "At LATAM we are committed not only to connecting South America to the world, but doing so caring for the environment and reducing our carbon footprint. We are proud to enhance our partnership with Pratt & Whitney to power our A320neo family, which will allow us to do so, as we expect to grow this fleet over 100 strong in the coming years.” In 2013, LATAM selected Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G-JM engines, also known as GTF (geared turbo-fan), to power its order of 42 A320neos, along with a 12-year fleet management plan. With the most recent announcement, the company said LATAM would be provided with engine maintenance through a long-term EngineWise Comprehensive service agreement. The GTF Engine According to Pratt & Whitney, GTF engines offer the A320neo family of aircraft the greatest fuel efficiency and emit the lowest greenhouse gas levels, thanks to its complete nacelle system from Collins Aerospace. Aircraft powered by the engine reportedly have reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 16% to 20%, and 50% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are reduced. The engines are also quieter, with a noise footprint reduction of 75%, compared to prior-generation aircraft. GTF engines also support sustainable aviation practices. According to the company, the engines have been certified to operate with 50% of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), although the engine has been successfully tested using 100% SAF. With the industry’s goal to reach net zero emissions by the 2050 decade, the engines will positively contribute to the goal with further reductions in carbon footprint and lay the foundation for more efficient and sustainable technology in the future. A long-standing relationship Rick Deurloo, Commercial Engines President at Pratt & Whitney, said the engines already benefit LATAM. “Our relationship with LATAM, including their predecessor LAN Airlines, dates back more than seven decades with the Twin Wasp engine on Douglas DC-3 aircraft. GTF engines are already delivering exceptional economic and sustainability benefits to LATAM and we look forward to providing even greater value in the years to come.” LATAM is considered the largest airline in Latin America, with subsidiaries in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Paraguay. The carrier also serves international destinations within Latin America, the US, the Caribbean, Europe, and Oceania. Currently, LATAM operates more than 80 A320ceo aircraft powered by IAE V2500 engines. The airline became the first airline in the Americas to operate the A320neo, with 16 aircraft currently in its fleet equipped with GTF engines. LATAM’s A320neos are spread out among three of its six subsidiaries. According to data from ch-aviation, ten aircraft are operated by LATAM Brazil. The remaining six are operated by LATAM Perú, with two aircraft that reportedly support LATAM Chile’s operations. https://simpleflying.com/latam-selects-pratt-whitney-gtf-engines-146-airbus-aircraft/ Emirates To Place An Order For Up To 150 Aircraft Emirates today confirmed that it is closing on an order for between 100 and 150 aircraft. The Dubai-based carrier is thinking ahead as it mulls over its plan to eventually replace its Airbus A380 fleet. Fleet modernization The airline's leadership is determined to cater to demand as the industry swiftly recovers from the downturn of the pandemic. Subsequently, it is vying to stay ahead of the curve in this next chapter. Emirates has been undergoing an ambitious process to retrofit its superjumbos. Yet, the carrier is thinking about the future of the industry as requirements continue to change. In a meeting with journalists at the IATA AGM in Istanbul this morning, Emirates president Sir Tim Clark shared his airline is preparing to purchase additional aircraft, including potentially more Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X twinjets. 787 Dreamliners are also on the cards. However, Clark noted that he is a particular fan of the A350’s efficiency. “We are looking at buying a number of aircraft… there is a huge demand. We are looking at plans to take us through the 2030s. We’ve also got a lot of expansion plans driving the fleet on both sides of the Atlantic, in all parts of the world. The A350 gives us amazing capabilities to open a couple of routes that were perhaps too small for the 777ER.” Racking up the numbers Emirates already has a sizeable aircraft order portfolio with both Airbus and Boeing. It's awaiting deliveries on 50 A350-900s, five 777-200Fs, 16 777-8s, 99 777-9s, and 30 787-9s. In total, it was anticipating 200 planes before today's revelation. Market shifts Clark's comments follow Turkish Airlines' update regarding its fleet plans. The flag carrier of Turkey is looking to place an order for 600 planes to ramp up its fleet to 813 units by 2033. At the IATA AGM yesterday, the company's chairman of the board and the executive committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, shared that the final decision on the order will be made in two months. Like Emirates, Turkish is eyeing the 787 and A350s. It's also considering up to thirty 777Xs. Unlike Emirates, Turkish is also looking for numerous narrowbodies. Emirates, however, is happy to partner with compatriot flydubai on shorter routes. We won’t have to wait too long to hear an update from Emirates' management. Clark said the confirmation could be this month or at the Dubai Air Show. With the Paris Air Show happening in just a few weeks, it won’t be a surprise to hear the official announcement then. https://simpleflying.com/emirates-order-150-aircraft/ Board Of American Airlines' Pilot Union Rejects Merger With ALPA Allied Pilots Association declines the opportunity to join the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) family. American Airlines' pilot's union Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 15,000 pilots of American Airlines rejected a merger with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 74,000 pilots at 40 US and Canadian airlines, now including Air Canada. The decision was based on a perception that merging with ALPA would not provide sufficient benefit in return for trading in the collective, independent voice of APA members. APA Board of Directors concerned about benefits versus costs A grassroots group in “AA Pilots for ALPA” worked diligently for months to get APA to approve merging, including having APA commission a merger exploratory committee as reported last November. That committee did produce a voluminous report and participated in a two-day special APA Board of Directors meeting to discuss the possibility of bringing APA into the ALPA fold. The report found that there were strengths in APA joining ALPA but that more work had to be done. Nonetheless, the APA Board of Directors was clear that the decision to reject the merger was based on economics. Additionally, APA would be folded into a “Master Executive Council” or MEC under the ALPA banner with much less financial autonomy. As the Dallas-Fort Worth Representatives Captain Jon Sherrell and First Officer Jason Gustin wrote in their statement on AlliedPilots.org, "As the fiduciary of the Association, the Board is obligated to consider all the financial implications of a potential merger. A merger would necessitate the voluntary transfer of all membership assets to ALPA. More than $68M of unrestricted liquidity would be handed over, with a net return to our newly formed MEC of an estimated $16M. The Committee expects a merger would result in initial membership dues rising by 85%, while only 36% of our pilots’ dues would be allocated back to a new MEC from ALPA National." Several other letters with similar information were issued to other APA domiciles. The merger exploratory committee report included concerns that joining ALPA would make APA less “nimble” than remaining an independent union. For the APA, ensuring “Consistency and continuity in representation and services (including in long processes such as Section 6 bargaining)” was important. Those services during bargaining under the Railway Labor Act Section 6 include financial analysis, legal counsel, and multimedia communications. ALPA President Responds In a public memorandum on June 3, ALPA President Captain Jason Ambrosi said We’re stronger together; however we’re not in the business of a hard sell. The many benefits of ALPA representation speak for themselves. At ALPA – the democratic process is always respected – and it drives our agenda. Ambrosi also said the APA contract “Failed to raise the bar for our industry”. However, Forbes’ Ted Reed said that the APA-American negotiated pay rates were higher for American narrowbody (e.g. Airbus A320, Boeing 737) pilots than Delta Air Lines pilots. As APA spokesman Dennis Tajer said to Forbes, ALPA deserves credit for negotiating “industry-leading” contracts but APA members will make the final call on ratifying APA-negotiated contracts. https://simpleflying.com/american-pilot-union-apa-reject-alpa-merge/ Air Force to Its Experienced Pilots: Here's $50,000 to Extend Your Service The Air Force is offering a bigger bonus -- up to $50,000 per year -- as it hopes to keep some of its most experienced pilots and retain aviators amid a pilot shortage. Certain pilots -- including remote piloted aircraft pilots, air battle managers and combat systems officers -- can apply for the Legacy Aviation Bonus Program starting Tuesday and through Sept. 15. Major changes to the program include "an increase in the monetary cap from $35,000 per year up to $50,000 per year" for those who are eligible, the service said in a Monday press release. "Reliable personnel forecasts allow the Air Force to continue executing the warfighting mission," Maj. Gen. Albert Miller, the Air Force training and readiness director, said in the release. "Our experienced aviators are uniquely qualified to succeed in a combat environment, and these incentives are necessary to maintain that talent and competitiveness with our pacing challenge." In recent years, the Air Force has experienced a wide-ranging pilot shortage. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said during a budget briefing with reporters in March that the service has been working on that issue from several angles, including bonuses. "We do have a [pilot] shortage," Kendall said. "We're having to try to improve the efficiency of the pipeline to get more people in. The reserve and Guard equation is a little more complicated, but we do have some shortages there that we're trying to address as well." To be eligible under the new Legacy Aviation Bonus Program, pilots must have an Undergraduate Flying Training Active-Duty Service Commitment expiring in fiscal 2023 or earlier, according to the press release. Pilots who already have a contract under a previous aviation bonus program "will not be able to renegotiate for a higher amount in this year," according to the news release. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act also directed the Air Force to create another bonus initiative, called the Rated Officer Retention Demonstration Program. That program would allow active-duty manned pilots -- with no more than three years, but not less than one year, remaining -- to sign a contract for the maximum monetary amount one to two fiscal years prior to the fiscal year their Undergraduate Flying Training Active-Duty Service Commitment expires, according to the press release. The Legacy Aviation Bonus Program won't be offered next year, meaning "the maximum contract amount will only be offered under the demonstration program," the service said. The Air Force's issue with pilot recruitment, training and retention is not new. The service has struggled with a pilot shortage for nearly a decade, often landing anywhere between 1,500 to 2,000 aviators shy of requirements, Military.com has previously reported. The new bonus also comes as the Air Force, as a whole, struggles with its toughest recruiting environment in decades. This past March, Kendall announced at the Air and Space Force Association's conference in Colorado that the service is projecting about a 10% shortfall in active-duty numbers, and the hole will likely be even larger for the Guard and Reserve. Outgoing Air Force Recruiting Service Commander, Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, told Military.com in an interview last month that the shortfall will more likely be around 13% on the active-duty side and around 30% in the Guard and Reserve. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/06/05/air-force-pilots-now-offered-50000-bonus-stick-around.html Germany Demands China Stop Using Ex-Luftwaffe Fighter Pilots For Training Germany has become the latest country to crack down on former fighter pilots providing training to China. The German government has promised to “immediately” shut down the training of Chinese fighter pilots by former German Luftwaffe aircrew, in the latest development involving former personnel from a variety of NATO nations assisting Beijing’s expanding airpower ambitions. The move comes after an exposé in the German media that provided details of how one particular former Luftwaffe officer — an ex-Eurofighter EF2000 pilot — had been recruited by China to share his expertise. According to Der Spiegel, a German weekly news magazine, which originally reported the story, Germany’s Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, in a recent meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, called for the training of Chinese fighter pilots by former German personnel to end immediately. The meeting reportedly occurred on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a prominent Asian defense summit. Boris Pistorius, the German minister of defense, speaks on stage at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore, on June 4, 2023. Photo by Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images Boris Pistorius, the German minister of defense, speaks on stage at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore, on June 4, 2023. Photo by Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images Furthermore, Pistorius apparently told Li Shangfu “that he would certainly not be amused” if Germany were to attempt something similar to gain insight into Chinese military expertise. Pistorius described the meeting as a “very open” conversation that allowed differences of opinion between Berlin and Beijing to be voiced but noted that the Chinese defense minister had reacted “very cautiously” to his demand. Reportedly, Li Shangfu attempted to “relativize” the importance of the former German personnel who, as far as is known, were recruited via legal channels. According to the German press report, the former Luftwaffe pilots were recruited by companies in New Zealand and South Africa and then took up positions in China, where some of them reportedly earnt “six-figure annual salaries.” Not surprisingly, the revelations have led to harsh criticism from political opponents of Pistorius and his Social Democratic Party (SDP). “It’s about time that this naivety and German naivety came to an end,” Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the chairwoman of Germany’s defense committee, told Der Spiegel. “The fact that former Luftwaffe soldiers are training fighter jet pilots in China after their period of service is an outrage, we cannot accept that,” she added. Strack-Zimmermann called for a clampdown on the rules governing what kinds of jobs former soldiers can take, suggesting that they only be allowed to provide instruction to NATO allies and other “strategic partners.” A similar response followed the revelation last year that pilots from the U.K. Royal Air Force had also been training the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) under seemingly very similar arrangements. You can read more about that here. Meanwhile, Green Party politician Konstantin von Notz, chair of the German government’s Parliamentary Oversight Panel described the situation, if confirmed, as an “outrageous, scandalous and problematic situation” that presented “an enormous security risk.” The Parliamentary Oversight Panel has begun its own investigation into the training these former pilots provided. As to the details of German involvement in the training of PLA personnel, the number of pilots involved is apparently small, described as only “a handful.” However, extensive details have been published about one of those individuals, known as Alexander H. Under the callsign “Limey,” he had been a Eurofighter pilot with the Luftwaffe’s Tactical Air Force Wing 73 “Steinhoff,” based at Rostock-Laage in eastern Germany. Here, Alexander H. had served as an instructor pilot with the German Eurofighter training unit. In 2013, Alexander H. left Germany, presumably on completing his commission, and reportedly registered a move abroad. His destination was Qiqihar in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province. This base is currently home to the J-16 Flanker multirole fighter-bombers of the PLA Air Force’s 3rd Air Brigade, although when Alexander H. was first working there it seems that the unit was still equipped with the older J-8 Finback fighter jet. Transition to the J-16 at this base followed in 2018. As to what kinds of training and expertise Alexander H. passed onto the PLA, this remains unclear, although unnamed German security officials have confirmed that it is “very possible that the pilots have passed on military expertise and confidential operational tactics, and even practiced attack scenarios, such as an offensive against Taiwan.” The German Ministry of Defense has also not provided any specifics about what these ex-Luftwaffe personnel were doing in China, or whether they are still there. But the ministry did confirm that “China is attempting, via external agencies, to recruit former NATO pilots as instructors,” and that former German Luftwaffe pilots were targeted in these efforts. The ministry further warned that the situation risked the PLA gaining insight into “relevant tactics, techniques, and procedures.” It seems that, for former Luftwaffe pilots in particular, who normally retire at 41, the lucrative offer from China may have been especially attractive. Rather than a pension amounting to half of their final monthly salary, those taking on jobs in China could receive very lucrative offers. The U.K. pilots who took on similar employment, from the end of 2019 onward, reportedly received salaries of around $270,000 a year. According to Der Spiegel, former Luftwaffe pilots have been working on behalf of the PLA for more than 10 years, with the first such individual apparently having been recruited by the Test Flying Academy of South Africa, or TFASA — a company that has trained PLA pilots in South Africa. No laws seem to have been broken and, at the same time, the German government was also providing formal training to PLA officers. Another ex-Luftwaffe pilot, named Peter S., who also served at Laage, is also said to have provided training to the PLA, in China, under the auspices of the TFASA. A third former German military pilot alleged to have assisted the PLA has also been identified, Dirk J., having flown the Tornado strike aircraft with the German Navy before that service gave up its fast-jet fleet in 2005. In 2013, Dirk J. began work as a “senior aviation consultant” in China, according to reports. The issue of former NATO aircrew working on behalf of the PLA came to prominence very publicly last year, when Daniel Edmund Duggan, a previous U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II jump jet pilot was arrested in Australia. Allegedly, he’d been helping train Chinese naval aviators to operate from aircraft carriers. Duggan was also said to have trained Chinese aviators with the TFASA, as part of a program that allegedly involved the potentially illegal procurement of at least one T-2 Buckeye naval jet trainer capable of carrier deck takeoff and landings. Duggan denies breaking any laws and is still detained in Australia. He may yet face extradition to the United States. Also last year, the U.K. Ministry of Defense revealed that dozens of British former frontline military pilots had been involved in providing pilot training to the Chinese military, including via the TFASA, with others actually working within China. The pilots involved were said to be mainly former fast-jet aircrew but also included helicopter pilots. “We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former U.K. Armed Forces pilots to train People’s Liberation Army personnel in the People’s Republic of China,” a U.K. Ministry of Defense spokesman said at the time. “All serving and former personnel are already subject to the Official Secrets Act, and we are reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements across Defense, while the new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challenges — including this one.” Other countries, too, have made efforts to address the issue of former military personnel providing services to the PLA. There have been reports that Australia has investigated claims that some of its former fighter pilots have been approached to work in China. Canada, too, has been looking into similar allegations involving some of its former fighter pilots. While it seems likely that, in at least some of these instances, no rules were broken, it’s equally clear that there is a growing concern about the sharing of sensitive information with the PLA at a time when relations between Beijing and the West are particularly strained. In the foreground is China’s increasingly assertive stance over Taiwan and fears among U.S. and other officials that a Chinese invasion of the island could happen sooner rather than later. Reflecting the tensions surrounding Taiwan, only this weekend the U.S. military claimed a PLAN Navy warship made an “unsafe” maneuver in the Taiwan Strait when it cut sharply across the path of a U.S. Navy destroyer. Then there are the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, which, in recent weeks, have included a close encounter between a PLA J-16 fighter and a U.S. Air Force RC-135 surveillance plane. The Pentagon blamed the Chinese pilot for an “unnecessarily aggressive” maneuver. As China has increasingly been identified as the number one challenge to U.S. security, it is by no means surprising that the issue of former pilots from Western air arms assisting the PLA in any capacity, legal or otherwise, has become a significant concern. Once again, it’s hard to determine to what degree the PLA might have benefited from the expertise of these individuals, and whether they imparted tactically sensitive information as well as more routine assistance. Either way, however, Germany will likely not be the last country compelled to take action to crack down on what is a potentially alarming security loophole. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/germany-demands-china-stop-using-ex-luftwaffe-fighter-pilots-for-training Curt Lewis