Flight Safety Information - October 19, 2023 No. 203 In This Issue : Incident: China Express CRJ9 at Ulanhot on Oct 18th 2023, oxygen mask deployed on takeoff : Incident: Ryanair UK B738 at Belfast on Oct 17th 2023, door indication : Beechcraft 300 Super King Air - Runway Overrun/Nose gear Collapse (Georgia) : NBAA-BACE Hosts Single-Pilot Safety Standdown : White House nominee to lead the FAA glides through a Senate committee vote : ACSF Launches Member Assistance Program : Israel's Civil Aviation Authority prohibits recreational use of drones : Pakistan International Airlines Unable To Pay Fuel Bills And Cancels Flights : Air India Group To Take Delivery Of 1 Aircraft Every 6 Days Till 2024: CEO : Embry-Riddle Collects Series of Endowments : Mexico Concludes Review of Alleged Cargo Pilot Violations : Honda’s Sleek New 11-Seat Business Jet Is Expected to Hit the Skies by 2026 : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: China Express CRJ9 at Ulanhot on Oct 18th 2023, oxygen mask deployed on takeoff A China Express Airlines Canadair CRJ-900, registration B-3231 performing flight G5-2810 from Ulanhot to Hohhot (China), was climbing out of Ulanhot when the crew stopped the climb at about 3200 meters, burned off fuel and returned to Ulanhot for a safe landing about 100 minutes after departure. The airline reported "the cabin oxygen mask fell off during takeoff. The crew handled it according to standard operating procedures, the cabin pressure was normal. To prevent an overweight landing the crew entered a hold to burn off fuel. https://avherald.com/h?article=50fe78eb&opt=0 Incident: Ryanair UK B738 at Belfast on Oct 17th 2023, door indication A Ryanair UK Boeing 737-800, registration G-RUKF performing flight RK-178 from Belfast International,NI to Edinburgh,SC (UK), was climbing out of Belfast's runway 07 when the crew stopped the climb at FL150 due to an open door indication. The aircraft returned to Belfast for a safe landing on runway 07 about 30 minutes after departure. Passengers reported the crew made an announcement during the flight which they couldn't understand. After landing back the crew checked one of the doors of the aircraft, subsequently they were told there had been an problem with one of the door sensors. https://avherald.com/h?article=50fe711c&opt=0 Beechcraft 300 Super King Air - Runway Overrun/Nose gear Collapse (Georgia) Date: Wednesday 18 October 2023 Time: c. 15:13 Type: Beechcraft 300 Super King Air Owner/operator: CSW Aviation LLC Registration: N93GA MSN: FA-93 Year of manufacture: 1986 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK/KPDK), Atlanta, GA - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Departure airport: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, GA (SAV/KSAV) Destination airport: Atlanta-DeKalb Peachtree Airport, GA (PDK/KPDK) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Beechcraft 300 Super King Air landing on runway 21 at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK/KPDK), Atlanta, Georgia, suffered a nose gear collapse after an overrun onto the Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS). The two occupants were uninjured and the aircraft received minor damage. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/346977 NBAA-BACE Hosts Single-Pilot Safety Standdown In the lead-in to this year’s NBAA-BACE (National Business Aviation Association – Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition), the trade group hosted the 2023 Single-Pilot Safety Standdown. NBAA has long advocated for advancing professional pilot standards and best practices for single pilots of small corporate flight departments, and even more importantly, for aircraft-owner pilots flying on business. Recent statistics on accidents in these sectors—ranging from single-engine pistons to light jets—were the focus of NBAA Safety Committee chair Paul Ransbury’s (of Aviation Performance Solutions) introductory presentation. NBAA Safety Committee Single-Pilot Working Group Lead Rosa Lee Argotsinger, of Textron Aviation, joined Piper Aircraft’s Jonathon Hirsch and Peter Basile from Textron Aviation in relating a selection of accident case studies that put a spotlight on some of the key red flags involved in this often-misunderstood segment of business aviation. Rather than acronym-rich strategies such as TEM (threat and error management) or FRAT (flight risk assessment tools), Rich Loudon, of Alaska Airlines, suggested that current behavioral science advocates for “pattern matching.” He said, “Our training programs should be focused instead on identifying pattern matches for our crews.” Loudon recommends that flight briefings should begin by “building a story, establishing goals, relevant cues and expectations.” He also advocated the practice of single-pilot operators speaking the briefing out loud, as science shows this engages the brain at a more effective level. Dr. Quay Snyder of Aviation Medicine Advisory Service advocated for single pilots to use particular techniques for ensuring their fitness to fly, such as the I’M SAFE (illness, medications, stress, alcohol, fatigue and emotion) checklist. Dr. Snyder also called out the importance of good sleep hygiene, diet and hydration, and managing alcohol use. Finally, the value of networking—in person or online—was presented as one of the most valuable assets for the single-pilot community. Sharing experiences within aircraft type clubs and other groups can go a long way toward bettering risk mitigation throughout the owner-pilot universe. https://www.avweb.com/air-shows-events/nbaa/nbaa-bace-hosts-single-pilot-safety-standdown/ White House nominee to lead the FAA glides through a Senate committee vote WASHINGTON — It's been more than 18 months since the Federal Aviation Administration has had a Senate-confirmed leader at the controls. Michael Whitaker, the White House's pick to head the agency, took a crucial step toward changing that on Wednesday. The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted unanimously to approve Whitaker's nomination to be the next FAA administrator. His nomination now heads to the full Senate for confirmation. The vote comes after a series of close calls on runways at major airports across the country. There have been no major U.S. plane crashes since 2009. But aviation experts say the U.S. air travel system is showing troubling signs of stress, as it strains to keep up with a post-pandemic rebound in air travel. "If confirmed, my priority will be the safety of the flying public," Whitaker said at a committee hearing earlier this month. "They have put their trust in the FAA to keep aviation the safest way to travel. And the world has looked to us for decades as the gold standard." The gold standard is looking a bit tarnished after a year of close calls. In January, Delta and American planes nearly collided on a runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. "Delta 1943 cancel takeoff clearance!," an unidentified air traffic controller shouted, according to audio from LiveATC.net. The next month, there was another close call on a foggy morning at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, when a FedEx plane came within 100 feet of landing on a Southwest jet that had been told to takeoff on the same runway. "I appreciate Mr. Whitaker's commitment to independent leadership, recruiting new talent and building a strong safety culture at the FAA," said Democrat Maria Cantwell, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, moments before Wednesday's vote. The FAA has more than 11,000 air traffic controllers working today. But that's roughly 3,000 fewer than it needs to meet its goals. Whitaker said he'd try to rebuild that workforce quickly. "I would view my role as administrator, as chief recruitment officer, certainly for FAA, but also for the industry," he said at the hearing earlier this month. Whitaker had a long career as an airline executive at TWA and United. He also served as deputy administrator at the FAA during the Obama administration. Whitaker is currently the chief operating officer of Supernal, a Hyundai Motor Group company that's designing an advanced air mobility vehicle, sometimes called an "air taxi." His nomination has gotten a warmer welcome on Capitol Hill than President Biden's previous nominee, Phillip Washington, the head of Denver International Airport. Washington withdrew from consideration after staunch opposition from Republicans, including Ted Cruz of Texas, the committee's ranking member. Cruz ultimately voted to advance Whitaker's nomination. "His extensive aviation experience makes him well-suited to lead our nation's largest transportation safety agency," Cruz said. "It is unfortunate that the president took so long to heed my advice and the advice of many on this committee to nominate someone with actual aviation experience and aviation safety experience." A damaged file may have caused the outage in an FAA system, leading to travel chaos Whitaker's nomination has gotten wide support from the airline industry and its biggest unions, as well as his former boss at the FAA. "Mike was completely unflappable, no matter what got thrown at us," said Michael Huerta, who served as FAA administrator during the Obama and Trump administrations. He says Whitaker is the right person to lead the FAA at a challenging moment. Though Huerta also warns that it will take time to rebuild the ranks of air traffic controllers. "You can't just hire people and expect them to be able to do the jobs. There's a very extended training program," Huerta said in an interview. "Meanwhile, air traffic has come back, I think, much more rapidly than anyone was expecting." The shortage of air traffic controllers is just one of the challenges facing the FAA. Whitaker spoke to NPR's Morning Edition in January after a problem with an FAA notification system grounded planes nationwide. In that interview, Whitaker said the FAA needs a more stable funding stream. "They definitely need new investment. They need new technology," Whitaker said in January, before he was nominated for the top job at the FAA. "Congress passes authorizations. They pass budgets. Those are inconsistent. They're not predictable. They're short-term. And then you have things like government shutdowns that interfere with the process," he said. The FAA's current five-year authorization is set to expire in December. Huerta, the former FAA administrator, said it would be helpful to have a Senate-confirmed person in the job. "It is different in terms of how you're viewed by both inside the agency and within the industry," Huerta said. "Are you going to be there for the long haul?" https://www.npr.org/2023/10/18/1206607841/senate-committee-michael-whitaker-faa-administrator ACSF Launches Member Assistance Program • ACSF safety coaching program offered to members The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) is launching a Member Assistance Program (MAP), a new aviation safety, coaching, mentoring, and training offering. “An ACSF MAP coach will walk each member through key milestones and include the facilitation of a just culture,” said ACSF president Bryan Burns. ACSF will assist participating members in building an effective safety management system, reporting safety events via the Aviation Safety Action Program, participating in an aviation safety audit such as the ACSF’s Industry Audit Standard, and implementing a flight data management program. “We not only want everyone to achieve common safety standards—but also to push beyond minimums,” Burns said. Programs will be custom-tailored to each operator and ACSF MAP coaches will meet virtually with ACSF safety leaders to evaluate organizations being coached; customize a safety program with deadlines and deliverables; create a member’s plan in the ACSF’s MAP tool and train the team to use the tool effectively; train members in other ACSF tools they choose to use; prepare members for the upcoming FAA SMS regulation; hold the team accountable to achieve the plan; guide the team how best to implement the plan; answer safety-related questions as they arise; and monitor the team’s progress and ensure they stay on the correct path. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-10-18/acsf-launches-member-assistance-program Israel's Civil Aviation Authority prohibits recreational use of drones Israel's Civil Aviation Authority banned the usage and flight of drones on Wednesday for recreational purposes throughout the country. The ban is intended to reduce the danger of misidentification of the drone by security forces as a hostile drone in this tense period, as well as to reduce the risk to aircraft from the Air Force, Israel Police, and medical evacuation forces. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-768951 Pakistan International Airlines Unable To Pay Fuel Bills And Cancels Flights SUMMARY • PIA has canceled multiple flights due to unpaid fuel bills, causing disruption for passengers and highlighting their ongoing financial crisis. • Pakistani State Oil suspended fuel supply to PIA, only providing fuel for prioritized flights that had been paid for. • The prime minister suggests that privatizing PIA may improve its reliability and bring it up to the standards of international carriers. Pakistan International Airlines, commonly known as PIA, has hit the spotlight this week after canceling several domestic and international services due to the inability to cover its fuel bills. The state-owned carrier has long been accused of poor management and burdening the Pakistani Government with debt. A spokesperson for the carrier, Athar Awan, reported that between Tuesday, 16th, and Wednesday, 17th October, 48 international and domestic services were axed due to the unavailability of fuel, with many delayed, including 11 international services to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Sharjah, and Muscat. Decades upon decades of mismanagement by the carrier has crippled the Pakistani Government and, more recently, required a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avoid the country defaulting on its loans. Awan continued to elaborate on the issue directed to the carrier: "The reason for the disruption in fuel supply is non-payment of dues because PIA is facing a financial crisis and cannot pay the dues to Pakistan State Oil on time," Fuel for prioritized flights only According to Pakistani State Oil (PSO), the state-owned supplier suspended fuel for the carrier due to unpaid dues and provided fuel only for flights prioritized by PIA, which received payment for just 26 return flights refueled by Wednesday. Passengers affected were moved to alternative services in the corresponding days. However, the airline has continued encouraging passengers to check their flight status or contact the airline's customer care center or travel agent before traveling to the airport. Fuel suspensions at Karachi Jinnah International Airport (KHI) saw some flights delayed by up to three hours, and cancellations affected domestic passengers to Sukkur and Faisalabad. Islamabad also saw a range of disruptions, including domestic flights to Gilgit, Quetta, and Multan. Time to privatize the airline Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has expressed his concerns with the current state of the airline's books and encouraged 'fast-tracking' to privatize the carrier. Kakar hoped that should the airline be sold; it would improve its reliability and bring it up to the standards of neighboring international carriers. Despite rumors surfacing in September that the airline would be shut down or grounded, the carrier has stated that those claims had no merit and plans to continue operations. PIA management has been making 'ends meet,' with revenue from its current operations to cover staff salaries and operating costs. Earlier this year, the Finance Ministry of Pakistan denied the airline’s appeal for a PKR 23 billion ($78 million) bailout. Instead, the airline was directed to secure commercial loans and develop a privatization plan. https://simpleflying.com/pakistan-international-airlines-cancels-flights-unable-pay-fuel-bills/ Air India Group To Take Delivery Of 1 Aircraft Every 6 Days Till 2024: CEO • The group, comprising Air India, Air India Express, AIX Connect and Vistara, is owned by the Tatas, which is also in the process of consolidating its airline business Mumbai: Air India Group, which has embarked on ambitious expansion plans, is expected to take delivery of a new aircraft every six days on average till the end of 2024, according to a top official. The group, comprising Air India, Air India Express, AIX Connect and Vistara, is owned by the Tatas, which is also in the process of consolidating its airline business. "Air India Group to take delivery of one new aircraft every six days on an average till the end of 2024," Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said on Wednesday. Speaking at a function here for the unveiling of Air India Express' new brand identity, Wilson also said that it is an exciting day for the group. Tata Group took control of loss-making Air India in January 2022. Earlier this year, Air India placed orders for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing at USD 70 billion (based on published list prices). The deliveries of the new planes will start from November this year. Air India Express is in the process of merging AirAsia India with itself while Vistara will be getting merged with Air India. Vistara is 51 per cent owned by Tatas, and the remaining 49 per cent is with Singapore Airlines. According to Wilson, the merger of Air India Express and AIX Connect is close to completion. "The difficult part of the merger has already been done...legal processes normally take 6-9 months. We are hoping it (merger) to be complete by March next year," Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh said. He said Air India Express will operate pan India, the Asia region, Southeast Asia, Gulf, and the Middle East. "And the big benefit that we have is that being a part of the Air India Group, we are able to integrate our network and provide cross feeds and gain from feeds... our network will feed for the Air India," he noted. "The five-year plan that we have...the five-year target that we have...We are looking at doubling our market share on domestic India, and also doubling it in the short haul international," Singh said. "If you look at it as a combined entity, it is 7-8 per cent domestic market share. It is about 11-12 per cent on international short haul. Once we scale up, and once we get our new feed into commercial operation, we are really looking at growing big time and...it is not about growth just for a couple of years. It is about growth long term," Singh said. Air India Express on Wednesday unveiled its new brand identity and aircraft livery that mainly features the colours of orange and turquoise. Meanwhile, Wilson said that market share is the consequence of capacity, and capacity is a consequence of factors like aircraft orders and deliveries. Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com "As we increase the fleet of Air India Express, the market share should go up but of course, that takes time and it will take time as deliveries come up," he added. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-india-group-to-take-delivery-of-1-aircraft-every-6-days-till-2024-ceo-4494260 Embry-Riddle Collects Series of Endowments • Grants to aeronautical university total $250,000 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has kept busy this week at NBAA-BACE 2023 with a series of announcements of philanthropic support from a range of donors. The university kicked off its activities on Tuesday with news that aircraft management firm Solairus has granted Embry-Riddle’s Runway to Business Aviation Scholarship a $100,000 gift to help meet the anticipated growth in demand for civil aviation pilots. This scholarship fund supports flight training costs for students interested in pursuing careers in business aviation. Solairus created the endowment to recruit high-performing students from underrepresented backgrounds and contribute to their success through a scholarship that pays for flight training costs. Students who receive the scholarship get the opportunity to engage with peer and industry mentors and receive professional academic career advice. Next, business aviation financial technology firm Tuvoli issued a $50,000 endowment to support students pursuing business degrees. Greg Johnson, president and CEO of Tuvoli and an Embry-Riddle alumnus, signed the agreement for the endowment to support students pursuing business degrees in the David B. O’Maley College of Business. Along with providing financial support, the new internship program will engage business students with hands-on experience in the financial technology sector. Finally, on the convention’s second day, the National Aircraft Finance Association Foundation (NAFA) gifted $100,000 to support faculty in ensuring the growth of general and business aviation programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s David B. O’Maley College of Business. Along with the gift, the foundation has agreed to involve its members in panel discussions for faculty and students, sharing expertise, and serving as class speakers. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-10-18/embry-riddle-collects-series-endowments Mexico Concludes Review of Alleged Cargo Pilot Violations MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's government said on Wednesday it concluded a review of alleged labor rights violations of pilots at Mexico City-based cargo airline Mas Air, following a request by the United States under a North American trade accord. Mexican authorities uncovered actions that may go against local labor law and constitute a denial of the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, though actions to remedy the situation have already been implemented, Mexico's government said in a statement. In August, the U.S. asked Mexico to review whether rights of pilots at the small cargo airline were being infringed upon. Among the actions taken by Mexican authorities to remedy the irregularities found in the review are informing pilots of their rights and reinstating one pilot previously fired, the statement added. U.S. trade officials have launched more than 10 labor rights complaints against facilities in Mexico since the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact took effect in 2020. https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2023-10-18/mexico-concludes-review-of-alleged-cargo-pilot-violations Honda’s Sleek New 11-Seat Business Jet Is Expected to Hit the Skies by 2026 The Echelon will be capable of covering 2,625 nautical miles and soaring to 47,000 feet. Christened the HondaJet Echelon, the aircraft is the production version of the groundbreaking 2600 Concept that was unveiled in 2021. Designed for the upper echelons of aviation, the newcomer promises high levels of comfort, performance, and efficiency. It is set to hit heights never before reached by a light jet, too. The Echelon will have a range of 2,625 nautical miles (3,020 miles), making it capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the U.S. It will also reach a maximum cruising speed of 450 knots and an industry-leading flight ceiling of 47,000 feet, according to Honda. On top of that, the Echelon will be 20 percent more efficient and release fewer carbon emissions than the average light jet. The cabin will be available in three different modular layouts: Executive, Dual Club, and Divan. Each setup offers ergonomic seating for up to 11 fliers, with generous legroom, headroom, and baggage space. (Limiting the load to five people will keep the plane at its most efficient.) The aircraft also has a full-height galley in front and a massive cargo hold. The cockpit will be equipped with advanced flight tech and automation features. Systems such as auto throttle and auto brake make the plane easier to fly and control. The Echelon can be operated by a single pilot, in fact. “The HondaJet Echelon was born to create a new category that transcends the travel experience on conventional light jets,” Honda Aircraft Company president and CEO Hideto Yamasaki said in a statement. “Expanding mobility skyward has been Honda’s long-lasting dream, and the HondaJet Echelon marks the exciting next chapter while showcasing a classic Honda story of a product that creates new value for people.” Production of the Echelon will take place within Honda Aircraft Company’s global headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina. Early build processes are scheduled to begin in 2024. The first flight is planned for 2026, followed by type certification in 2028. Aviation buffs can see the jet in person before that, though. A mockup of the Echelon will stand alongside the HondaJet Elite II at this year’s National Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition from Oct 17 to 19. https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/hondajet-echelon-business-jet-launch-1235366811/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS • NATA Aviation Business Conference - November 1-2, 2023 • CHC Safety & Quality Summit 2023: November 14 – 16, 2023 Curt Lewis