Flight Safety Information - December 19, 2023 No. 242 In This Issue : Incident: Canada BCS3 near West Palm Beach on Dec 9th 2023, engine shut down in flight : Incident: American B738 near Philadelphia on Dec 17th 2023, hydraulic issue : Incident: Rwandair CRJ9 at Harare on Dec 18th 2023, rejected takeoff due to tyre damage : Twin-engine aircraft makes emergency landing on U.S. 80 : Passenger complaints against airlines set to double this year after catastrophic 2022 : America Doesn’t Have Enough Air-Traffic Controllers, and That’s a Problem : Game-On With China! US To Restore Tinian Airfield Once Home To Largest B-29 Bomber Fleet During WWII : Lufthansa Orders 80 Airbus, Boeing Aircraft : Global Aerospace Welcomes GE Digital and FlightSafety to the SM4 Community of Excellence : Forget Single Pilot Ops: This Company Just Flew A Cessna Caravan With No Pilots At All : American Airlines defers B787-9s, expects A321XLR in 4Q24 : FAA releases draft rule addressing P&W1100G inspections : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Canada BCS3 near West Palm Beach on Dec 9th 2023, engine shut down in flight An Air Canada Bombardier C-Series CS-300, registration C-GWUT performing flight AC-1204 from Toronto,ON (Canada) to Miami,FL (USA), was descending towards Miami through about FL250 when the crew received a low oil pressure warning for the right hand engine (PW1524G) and shut the engine down. The aircraft diverted to West Palm Beach,FL (USA) for a safe landing on runway 10L about 25 minutes later. A passenger reported the crew announced they had received a low oil pressure indication for the right hand engine and shut it down. The flight diverted to West Palm Beach for a safe single engine landing. The aircraft remained on the ground in West Palm Beach for about 39 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=51297741&opt=0 Incident: American B738 near Philadelphia on Dec 17th 2023, hydraulic issue An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N946AN performing flight AA-1609 from Miami,FL to Washington National,DC (USA), was enroute at FL370 about 200nm south of Washington when the crew decided to divert to Philadelphia,PA (USA), about 280nm northnortheast of their position, reporting a hydraulic issue. The aircraft landed safely on Philadelphia's runway 09R about 40 minutes later. The FAA opened an investigation into the occurrence. https://avherald.com/h?article=51290273&opt=0 Incident: Rwandair CRJ9 at Harare on Dec 18th 2023, rejected takeoff due to tyre damage A Rwandair Canadair CRJ-900, registration 9XR-WI performing flight WB-110 from Harare (Zimbabwe) to Cape Town (South Africa) with 65 passengers and 8 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Harare's runway 05 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed due to damage of one of the left main tyres. The aircraft slowed and stopped about 460 meters short of the runway end. Harare Airport reported there were no injuries amongst the 65 passengers and 8 crew. After the tyre was replaced the aircraft was moved off the runway about 2.5 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://avherald.com/h?article=51291415&opt=0 Twin-engine aircraft makes emergency landing on U.S. 80 A small twin-engine aircraft made an emergency landing in Forney on Monday afternoon. A small twin-engine aircraft made an emergency landing on U.S. Highway 80 in Kaufman County on Monday. The FAA said the pilot landed the 1980 Piper PA-23-250 on the highway at about 2:45 p.m. near Pinson Road in Forney, northeast of Mesquite Metro Airport. The plane came to rest in the grassy median. Though slow, traffic was still getting by on the highway. The pilot was the only person on board the aircraft and Forney Police said the pilot was not injured. There were no reported injuries to anyone on the ground. It's not yet clear what forced the pilot to make the emergency landing. The FAA is investigating and said they will post a preliminary report in the next day or so. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/twin-engine-aircraft-makes-emergency-landing-on-u-s-80/3414552/ Passenger complaints against airlines set to double this year after catastrophic 2022 The U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday announced a $140-million fine against Southwest Airlines following the company’s disastrous 2022 travel season that was highlighted by thousands of canceled flights and millions of frustrated fliers. The fine, assessed for “numerous violations of consumer protection laws,” was “30 times larger than any previous DOT penalty for consumer protection violations,” according to a DOT statement. Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights and stranded more than 2 million passengers during last year’s Christmas and New Year’s holidays, according to DOT. During the travel crisis, “Southwest confronted unprecedented operational, volume-related challenges yet acted with diligence and in good faith,” the airline said in a statement Monday. Southwest has put in place “significant investments and initiatives that accelerate operational resiliency, enhance cross-team collaboration and bolster overall preparedness for winter operations,” President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan said. Though it’s hard to imagine a worse outcome for air travelers than last year’s debacle, newly released data show that passenger complaints filed with the DOT across all airlines more than doubled in the first five months of 2023 from the same period in 2022. The data, analyzed by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, showed a 109% year-over-year increase in complaints against airlines from January through May. The number of air travelers increased 14% in the span. More than a third of the complaints addressed flight scheduling, including cancellations, delays and issues with connections, the data showed. About a fifth of the complaints related to problems with refunds. The third most common complaint was lost or damaged items. These were similar in proportion to complaints from 2022, PIRG noted, but the volume of complaints increased dramatically. A separate document, the DOT’s Air Travel Consumer Report, notes that the number of mishandled bags jumped in September 2023 to 198,256, with a rate of .53 bags mishandled for every 100 passengers flying. This is up from 177,304 bags and a rate of .48 bags for every 100 passengers in September 2022, according to the most recent DOT data. The agency will have to adjust, as “consumer complaints are not returning to pre-pandemic levels,” the report states. Together with families, schools and the community, LAEP facilitates access to and opportunities for quality educational and wellness practices. Complaints in 2020 reached the highest levels ever recorded, but 2023’s total will be significantly higher if the trend from January through May continues. With the Christmas travel season ramping up, fines like those imposed on Southwest Airlines could give travelers some comfort. “If airlines fail their passengers, we will use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-12-18/airline-complaints-doubled-this-year-after-catastrophic-2022 America Doesn’t Have Enough Air-Traffic Controllers, and That’s a Problem American air-traffic-control facilities are short on controllers, leading to delayed flights and adding potential safety risks. Nearly every U.S. air-traffic facility needs more fully trained controllers to help orchestrate thousands of takeoffs and landings of commercial and private aircraft each day, Federal Aviation Administration staffing data show. The agency has about 1,000 fewer fully certified controllers than it did a decade ago, according to an FAA-commissioned report issued in November. The report said the agency was on track to gain fewer than 200 more controllers over the next decade. Officials at the National Transportation Safety Board and controller union have expressed alarm that the struggle to staff critical roles is straining the nation’s air-traffic system as the number of passengers boarding U.S. flights has been hitting record highs. The FAA, which manages the nation’s air-traffic facilities, says it has been able to mitigate safety risks, while pushing to hire and train more controllers. With some facilities short-handed, the agency this year has at times halted departures or otherwise slowed down air traffic to guard against mishaps. Investigators with the NTSB remain concerned, and are examining staffing issues as they probe serious near-collisions on the tarmac over the past year. The safety board so far hasn’t determined that staffing issues played any role in the close calls, which might also involve pilot missteps. In February, a controller’s apparent error led to a FedEx cargo plane nearly landing on a Southwest Airlines jet at the Austin, Texas, airport. The FedEx jet pulled away just before it could have crashed into the Southwest jet. The controller’s supervisor wasn’t watching and was instead managing ground traffic, according to an internal FAA safety summary that flagged the lack of oversight among the significant factors. The supervisor told investigators that she could have used another set of eyes in the tower that morning. “I desperately wish I had had somebody up there,” she said, according to an interview transcript. There were other controllers on duty elsewhere at the facility when the incident occurred, according to records released by the NTSB. Government officials said the staffing level in the tower cab wasn’t unusual for such a slow time of day. Government and union officials have raised concerns about the lack of controllers, saying those who are working can face exhaustion and distractions. Union leaders representing controllers have warned of fatigue resulting from mandatory overtime, with some controllers frequently working 10-hour days over six-day weeks. “What happens with mandatory overtime?” Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, said during congressional testimony in November. “It ends up leading to fatigue and distraction, which is exactly what we’re seeing as part of these incident investigations, and it all just comes down to the shortage of staffing.” The FAA says it hasn’t found that staffing shortages have led to broader safety problems. The FAA said it slows down air traffic to maintain safety when there aren’t enough controllers, and that it is making progress in training new ones, who can take on some roles while still completing their training. “Efficiency never comes at the expense of safety,” said Frank McIntosh, the FAA’s deputy air-traffic chief. “I don’t think we have an erosion of safety based on our current levels of staffing, because we have ways of mitigating individual staffing issues.” Rich Santa, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the labor union’s members strive to mitigate the safety risks posed by staffing shortages. But, he said, controllers are under growing pressure, working required and increasingly unwelcome overtime needed to maintain the system’s capacity. “I’m very proud of our workforce, but the rubber band is stretched—it is so tight, and holding it together is our job,” Santa said. The aviation industry rebounded quickly from the Covid-19 pandemic, but the turnaround has been far from smooth. Major airlines struggled over the past couple of years to staff up, causing tensions with pilots, flight attendants and airport workers. FAA officials said they are closely monitoring stresses to the aviation system and encouraging more reporting from employees. Internal reports from the FAA’s air-traffic division showed the agency tracked 202 serious and potentially significant aviation-related issues during the government’s recent fiscal year, up from 133 the year prior. The reports involved a range of issues, including air-traffic control. The November report, written by a group of former U.S. air-safety and industry officials, said air-traffic-staffing shortfalls threaten to erode protections that have made U.S. air travel remarkably safe. Current and former air-traffic controllers said they are frustrated with what they see as the FAA’s failure to prepare for losing employees as they reach the mandatory retirement age of 56. The FAA has fallen behind its training and hiring goals, a situation exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, earlier government shutdowns and what former agency officials complain has been years of inadequate funding. As the coronavirus began spreading more than three years ago, the agency suspended training at its academy for new hires for four months and paused training elsewhere for stretches ranging from seven months to almost two years, according to a Transportation Department inspector general’s report. The FAA has struggled to find managers and supervisors at some busy facilities. About 40% of facilities meet the 85% controller staffing level the FAA strives for, according to FAA staffing data viewed by The Wall Street Journal. Nationally, the FAA has about 81% of the fully certified controllers it needs. McIntosh said the FAA has been working to ensure it has enough controllers in its training pipeline. In response to the November report, the agency said it was ramping up controller hiring, including increasing support for college training programs. In February 2022, a controller at a major air-traffic center near Jacksonville, Fla., which coordinates high-altitude flying across a swath of the Southeastern U.S., complained of overloaded colleagues, according to a complaint filed in an anonymous reporting system maintained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “Something needs to change soon because safety is compromised every single day,” the controller wrote. The FAA last year announced plans to hire 30 controllers at Jacksonville, part of an increase the controllers’ union said it negotiated. McIntosh said the facility is much healthier than it was a year ago: “We are fixing this, and we’re being very, very aggressive.” The FAA said it had launched a new panel to study controllers’ fatigue, including their work requirements and scheduling practices. The agency said it offers controllers leave if they are fatigued, and aims to reduce unnecessary overtime. As with pilots, regulations and labor agreements limit how much time they can work straight. Yahay Obeid, an air-traffic supervisor at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, said he has never seen staffing issues put safety at risk in his nearly two decades on the job. “It’s always efficiency that takes the hit,” he said. One of the toughest facilities to staff has been the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control site, or Tracon, where employees manage flights into and out of the major airports serving the New York City area. The facility had only 54% of the fully-trained controllers it needed, the FAA said earlier this year. Citing the facility’s staffing problems, the FAA last spring encouraged airlines to cull some New York flights to avoid snarls, and flight reductions are set to remain in place until next fall. At least one carrier has said the cuts haven’t been deep enough to prevent disruption. The FAA has privately warned lawmakers that the Newark Liberty International and JFK airports may face “airport closures” as soon as late 2024 and 2026 respectively if safety-critical staffing falls too short, according to an FAA presentation viewed by the Journal. An agency spokesman said the April presentation referred partly to potential ground stops to limit departures or arrivals. Santa, the union president, said that although “their staffing’s horrendous,” the New York Tracon is making progress certifying more controllers. The FAA has cited staffing and workload levels as a potential reason for an upsurge earlier this year in cases of pilots who tried to take off without clearance when they were told to line up and wait, according to a March agency presentation that the Journal obtained via a public-records request. Controllers stopped the aircraft in less than half the cases examined. McIntosh said the majority of such problems stemmed from pilots who took off without authorization. But the FAA requires certain staffing levels when it allows planes “to line up and wait” for departure, and agency officials said they examine whether towers were properly staffed when problems arise. Staffing issues are often hard to tie directly to chains of events that lead to incidents and accidents, veteran crash investigators say. After the Austin incident in February, an NTSB investigator asked a big-picture question: If the supervisor could have anything to better manage air traffic, what would it be? “Staffing,” she said. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/america-doesn-t-have-enough-air-traffic-controllers-and-that-s-a-problem/ar-AA1lJ3qX Game-On With China! US To Restore Tinian Airfield Once Home To Largest B-29 Bomber Fleet During WWII The US military is poised to achieve significant progress in restoring a World War II-era airfield on the Pacific island of Tinian in the coming months. US Air Force General Kenneth Wilsbach shared this development in a discussion with Asia Nikkei, revealing that the military branch is increasing construction efforts at Tinian North Airfield and Tinian International Airfield. This effort is a crucial component of a broader initiative to disperse aircraft strategically across the Indo-Pacific region, responding to the escalating missile threat posed by China. “If you pay attention in the next few months, you will see significant progress, especially at Tinian North,” Wilsbach said. During World War II, the Tinian North Airfield served as the operational base for the largest B-29 bomber fleet. Describing the airfield as having extensive pavement hidden beneath an overgrown jungle, he revealed plans to clear the jungle between now and summertime. The goal is to transform the site into a comprehensive facility upon completion. Tinian, positioned approximately 200 kilometers north of Guam within the Northern Mariana Islands, is undergoing a revitalization in line with the US Air Force’s operational strategy, Agile Combat Employment. This strategic approach, a departure from post-Cold War era tactics, involves deliberately relocating aircraft to various sites across the western Pacific. The primary goal is to mitigate vulnerability to potential enemy missile strikes during periods of crisis. As documents released in March revealed, as part of the Air Force’s 2024 budget request, several projects are outlined for Tinian, seeking a budget allocation of US$78 million for the fiscal year. Among these projects is an airfield development initiative encompassing the demolition of World War II-era airfield pavements, clearing and leveling surfaces, and installing drainage, utilities, and secure fencing. Another project focuses on establishing a fuel-pipeline system involving the installation of storage tanks, pipes, and safety equipment to facilitate fuel unloading from ships for transport to the airfield via pipeline and truck. Additionally, a parking-apron project is detailed, which aims to pave areas designated for aircraft parking and taxiways. The taxiways must adhere to the Pentagon’s standards for ground control operations for large-frame aircraft, as specified in the documents. The proposed apron size would accommodate up to 12 KC-135 and KC-46 tanker aircraft and the necessary fueling equipment. Importance Of Tinian Island Tinian currently houses one international airfield, while Tinian North Airfield, once the most extensive B-29 base during World War II, lies largely concealed by jungle growth. However, the runways and taxiways remain intact. Tinian was captured from Japanese control by US forces in the summer of 1944, toward the end of World War II. The northern expanse of the island hosted a substantial and historically momentous airfield, famously recognized as North Field. This airfield played a crucial role in Operation Silverplate, serving as the departure point for two specially modified B-29 bombers on separate sorties, marking the sole operational use of nuclear weapons to date. Beyond these historic missions, North Field was instrumental as the launch site for many bomber and reconnaissance flights conducted over Japan and across the Western Pacific during the latter phases of the war. In the aftermath of World War II, the airfield witnessed a substantial deterioration in maintenance, resulting in the decline of its expansive parallel runways, aprons, and supporting infrastructure. West Field has evolved into Tinian International Airport, boasting one operational runway, while North Field has fallen out of use and is no longer functional. However, it continued to function as an austere airfield, maintaining the capacity to host tactical transports such as C-130s for training purposes. The US Air Force is now intensifying its endeavors to enhance the airfield’s capabilities to accommodate fighter jets, bombers, and significant support aircraft. These expanded capabilities align with the standards commonly met by the nearby Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. However, the US believes that if Andersen Air Force Base faces disruption due to enemy actions, notably those from China, or natural disasters, this facility on Tinian would be crucial in ensuring continuity and resilience in US military operations in the Pacific region. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/game-on-with-china-us-to-restore-tinian-airfield-once-home/ Lufthansa Orders 80 Airbus, Boeing Aircraft Deutsche Lufthansa ordered 80 short- and medium-haul aircraft from Airbus and Boeing worth around $9 billion at list prices, marking what the group called the largest fleet modernization in its history as it scrambles for planes to meet surging demand for international air travel. The German carrier group on Tuesday said it ordered 40 Airbus A220-300s with the option to buy an additional 20 aircraft, and 40 Boeing 737-8 MAX with the option to add another 60. The company, whose airlines include Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings aside from the eponymous Lufthansa, said it could also purchase 40 aircraft from Airbus's A320 family. Deliveries should stretch from 2026 to 2032. While the firm orders are worth around $9 billion at list price, buyers typically receive steep discounts on large-scale orders from plane manufacturers. Lufthansa doesn't expect the orders to have a significant impact on the group's capital expenditure in 2023 and next year. "With today's aircraft order, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in our company's history," said Executive Board member Detlef Kayser. "This increases our order list of around 200 aircraft to 280--plus an additional 120 purchasing options for further state-of-the-art short- and medium-haul aircraft." Travel restrictions and border closures brought international traffic to a near standstill at the height of the pandemic. Now, airlines are scrambling for planes to expand capacity to meet surging demand for international air travel. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lufthansa-orders-80-airbus-boeing-aircraft-51aac480 Global Aerospace Welcomes GE Digital and FlightSafety to the SM4 Community of Excellence Utilizing the Power of Data to Support Aviation Safety Morris Plains, New Jersey – Global Aerospace, a leading provider of aerospace insurance, is pleased to announce that FlightSafety International (FSI) and GE Digital have joined its SM4 Aviation Safety Program as partners in The Community of Excellence. Global Aerospace recognizes the safety benefits of data-driven training through FlightSafety using GE Digital data and is honored to integrate these organizations into the SM4 program. FSI, a leading training provider for business aviation, and GE Digital, a leading software provider for the aviation industry, will help the company’s elite-level, general aviation policyholders capitalize on aggregated industry insights gained from data sharing, enabling them to develop valuable scenario-based training. GE Digital’s aviation software puts data to work to produce insights that enable customers to enhance operator safety and efficiency. “We’re proud to join Global Aerospace’s broader community of partners committed to flight safety excellence,” said Andrew Coleman, general manager of GE Digital’s Aviation Software business. “It’s through programs like SM4 that provide GE Digital’s Safety Insight data analytics with a broader platform to deliver key operational insights that further promote aviation safety.” Richard Meikle, executive vice president, operations and safety at FSI comments, “Global’s elite flight departments have made a substantial commitment and investment in safety, their focus on data-driven risk reduction enhances safety for the entire industry. The primary mission of FlightSafety is to reduce risk and our investment in a data-driven approach is demonstrated in partnerships with both GE Digital and Global Aerospace.” Dana DiPietro, vice president, underwriting manager for Global Aerospace who co-manages the SM4 program states, “This initiative aligns perfectly with a core principle of the SM4 program, loss prevention. We look forward to working together with FSI and GE Digital to enhance the industry’s utilization of data to avoid potential risks and tailor training programs to reduce safety events.” Since 2010, the company has committed over $6.5 million to support SM4 and help its clients pursue higher levels of safety. To learn more about this new SM4 Safety Program offering, visit sm4.global-aero.com or contact your local Global Aerospace underwriter. About Global Aerospace Global Aerospace has nearly a century of experience and powerful passion for providing aviation insurance solutions that protect industry stakeholders and empower the industry to thrive. With financial stability from a pool of the world’s foremost capital, we leverage innovative ideas, advanced technology and a powerful synergy among diverse team members to underwrite and process claims for the many risks our clients face. Headquartered in the UK, we have offices in Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland and throughout the United States. Learn more at www.global-aero.com. To learn more about the company’s SM4 safety program, visit sm4.global-aero.com. About GE Digital GE Digital Aviation Software puts data to work to produce insights that enable customers to enhance operator safety and efficiency, reduce operational disruptions, improve passenger experience, and make better decisions regarding real-time fleet health. About FlightSafety International FlightSafety International is the world’s premier professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems and displays to commercial, government and military organizations. The company provides training for pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals from 167 countries and independent territories. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full-flight simulators at Learning Centers and training locations in the United States, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. For more details, please visit www.flightsafety.com. https://www.global-aero.com/ Forget Single Pilot Ops: This Company Just Flew A Cessna Caravan With No Pilots At All The 12-minute test flight included taxi, takeoff, and landing without human intervention. SUMMARY • Reliable Robotics achieved the first fully autonomous flight of a Cessna Caravan, controlled remotely from a control center. • The company collaborated with Textron Aviation and ASL Aviation Holdings to ensure safe and reliable unmanned flights. • The United States Air Force is working with Reliable Robotics to explore autonomous aircraft for cargo operations and specialized missions. Last month, an aircraft automation systems company, Reliable Robotics, achieved an autonomous flight of a Cessna 208B Caravan. With no one onboard, the aircraft was controlled from the company’s control center, nearly 50 miles from the test site. It was aviation’s first uncrewed flight, automated through all phases of flight, including taxi, takeoff, cruise, and landing. First in aviation Reliable Robotics has achieved a significant milestone in what is sought to become the future of aviation - autonomous urban mobility flights. On November 21, the company conducted a 12-minute test flight onboard a modified Cessna 208B Caravan without human intervention. All phases of the flight were wholly autonomous and controlled by a remote pilot offsite. The company has researched extensively for many years to undertake safe and reliable unmanned flights. The manufacturer of Cessna Caravan, Textron Aviation, has been one of the collaborators on the project. Textron Aviation has sold over 3,000 Cessna Caravans, one of their leading product lines. With the manufacturer’s exceptional profile with Cessna aircraft, Reliable Robotics worked closely with Textron to provide multiple layers of redundancy in critical systems. The Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs at Textron Aviation, Chris Hearns, expressed his excitement about the milestone by saying, "Textron Aviation is committed to delivering continuous aviation improvements and our relationship with Reliable Robotics advances this work. Reliable’s successful flight of an uncrewed Cessna 208 Caravan represents a milestone for the industry in bringing new technology to aviation.” The Cessna Caravan is essential in connecting small airports across the United States, transporting passengers and cargo of over 3,000 lbs (1,360 kg). The ability to use the aircraft autonomously can open more doors in the future. A collaborative approach Reliable Robotics has also collaborated with ASL Aviation Holdings, a global aviation services company. With more than 150 aircraft operating under ASL’s brand, the company is exploring the potential for autonomous flights. These can be vital for transporting express and essential cargo within smaller urban communities. The Chief Executive of ASL Aviation Holdings, Dave Andrew, showed his commitment towards autonomous research by saying, “ASL is always innovating to better serve customers, and our partnership with Reliable Robotics is aimed at enabling us to provide reliable, flexible and cost-efficient time-sensitive cargo delivery to smaller unserved areas. This historic flight is a testament to Reliable’s focused leadership in advancing aviation innovation and capability for the industry.” The United States Air Force (USAF) is working closely with Reliable Robotics to leverage research and development in autonomous aircraft. The AFWERX innovation program within the USAF is particularly interested in bringing commercial aircraft into autonomously supporting small cargo operations, aerial refueling, and other specialized missions. The AFWERX Director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of Air Force, Colonel Elliott Leigh, commented, “This monumental aviation achievement is a great example of how AFWERX accelerates agile and affordable capability transitions for the world's greatest Air Force. This milestone accelerates dual-use uncrewed flight opportunities, increasing aviation safety and enabling us to bring a broad range of autonomous military capabilities into denied environments.” https://simpleflying.com/cessna-caravan-pilotless-flight/ American Airlines defers B787-9s, expects A321XLR in 4Q24 American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) has deferred the deliveries of ten of its 30 remaining firm-ordered B787-9s, originally due in 2024 and 2025, to 2028 or later, according to the carrier's quarterly report. The airline currently expects its first A321-200NY(XLR) in December 2024. American currently plans to add seven B787-9s instead of the previously planned 11 in 2024 and four instead of ten in 2025. "We continually evaluate delivery schedules with our manufacturing partners and make adjustments as necessary based on our aircraft needs. Deliveries of our new B787-9 aircraft are still scheduled to begin in 2024, but we have adjusted the delivery schedule to better align with anticipated demand and our growth plans," the airline told Cranky Flier. American currently operates thirty-seven B787-8s and twenty-two -9s from two orders: the first twenty -8s and all so far delivered -9s were contracted in 2013. In 2018, the carrier added a further seventeen -8s (which have all already been delivered) and the 30 yet-to-be-delivered -9s. Meanwhile, the View from the Wing blog reported that Senior Vice President (Network Planning) Brian Znotins told staff during an internal meeting that the first of fifty firm-ordered A321-200NY(XLR)s is currently scheduled for delivery in December 2024 with a further fifteen due in 2025. According to the current schedule, deliveries will conclude by the end of 2027, with the majority of aircraft due in 2026. American Airlines aims to use its A321neo(XLR)s on trans-national routes currently served by premium-configured A321-200s, secondary transatlantic services, to extend seasonal routes to year-round, and to increase frequencies on some services currently operated with widebodies. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that American's current A320neo Family fleet comprises seventy A321-200NX (with four more on order from Airbus) and five A321-200Ns acquired from Alaska Airlines (with five more due). https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/135247-american-airlines-defers-b787-9s-expects-a321xlr-in-4q24 FAA releases draft rule addressing P&W1100G inspections Four hundred and thirty US-registered A320neo powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines are likely to be impacted by new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance requirements, according to a December 11, 2023, draft rule issued by the agency. It follows the engine manufacturer issuing a recall of specific engines earlier this year. Once final, the FAA's rule will codify the inspection process and what it entails. The recall concerns PW1100G engines manufactured over a five-year time frame and used by A320neo operators. As a result, an estimated 1,200 engines will be removed from airframes for inspection and parts replacement. Pratt & Whitney has recently released two service bulletins on the matter, which the FAA has relied on to inform their draft rule. In a statement released by the engine manufacturer after the draft rule was made public, Pratt & Whitney said there was "no expansion in scope" of inspection requirements. The recall concerns engines manufactured between 2015 and 2020. Inspections found "a rare condition in powder metal used to manufacture certain engine parts," namely the high-pressure turbine discs. The inspections are looking for microcracks, which could indicate engine fatigue. The PW1100G engine is one of two engine types available to operators of A320neo family aircraft. The two service bulletins issued in November specify the next round of engines requiring inspection of high-pressure turbine stage one and two discs and shortens the service life of high-pressure compressor stage seven and eight integrated blade rotors. The FAA's draft rule also notes that the engine's front air seals, rear air seals, and blade retaining plates will face "accelerated replacement." Pratt & Whitney is managing the inspection process based on MRO availability and engine life. It has slotted 430 US-registered aircraft in for the next round of checks. Of those aircraft, 366 will need new high-pressure turbine stage one and two disc hubs, and 351 will need high-pressure turbine second stage hubs. However, the impact of the engine recall goes far beyond the US, with ch-aviation recently reporting on multiple airlines making contingency plans and securing compensation due to their aircraft needing to go out of service for engine inspections. Among the impacted carriers are Cebu Pacific Air, Air New Zealand, Volaris, and SKY Airline (Chile). Since August, some 140 engines have been inspected, with around 15% of those coming off US-registered airframes. The FAA is accepting submissions on the draft rule through January 11, 2024, which will go into effect 35 days after a final decision is made and publicised. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/135221-faa-releases-draft-rule-addressing-pw1100g-inspections GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY I am a professional pilot with 16 years of experience, flying the B777 for a major Middle Eastern airline. Concurrently, I'm pursuing an MSc in Air Transport Management at City University, London. My journey in aviation has been defined by a commitment to excellence and a passion for continually exploring new horizons within the industry. My research: I am conducting research for my MSc final project titled "Policy Drivers for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Adoption: Case Study India." The research aims to explore the policy mechanisms required for SAF adoption/deployment in the Indian aviation industry. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is an eco-friendly alternative aviation fuel derived from sustainable sources, proven to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 percent over its lifecycle. However, these fuels cost 2-4 times more than conventional jet fuels. This survey investigates the public perceptions and attitudes towards SAF and its potential implications for air travel. Valuable insights gained from this study will advance the understanding of public attitudes and perceptions of SAF adoption in the aviation industry. The perspectives shared will contribute to developing effective policy mechanisms for SAF deployment, assisting policymakers in aligning the aviation industry with sustainable practices. This is an anonymous survey targeted at air travelers and is designed to be completed in about 10 to 12 minutes. Link to the survey: https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5cGRH3H5CPfX1HM Kind regards, Deepak Nalla CALENDAR OF EVENTS • SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024 - February 20 - 25 • HAI Heli-Expo 2024 - February 26 - 29 - Anaheim, CA • 2024 Women in Aviation International Conference - March 21-23 (Orlando) • 2024 ACSF Safety Symposium – Air Charter Safety Foundation - April 1-3, 2024 • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) Curt Lewis