Flight Safety Information - April 05, 2024 No. 070 In This Issue : Accident: Southwest B737 near Tampa on Apr 3rd 2024, turbulence causes two injuries : Incident: Jet2 B738 at Leeds on Apr 4th 2024, could not fully retract flaps : Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London : Boeing pays Alaska Air more than $160M after Jan. blowout : Pilot says brakes seemed less effective than usual before a United Airlines jet slid off a taxiway : A plane made an emergency landing in Newark after 'an unruly passenger' tried to get into the cockpit : FAA probes near miss between Southwest jet, LaGuardia’s air traffic control tower: ‘Go around!’ : NTSB Chair Nominated For Another Term : Now Trains Must Have Two-Person Crews. Will That Continue For Airplanes? : UK court to rule on aircraft lessors’ claims against reinsurers : ICON AIRCRAFT FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY, SEEKS BUYER : (APTSC) Asia and Pacific Turboprop Safety Conference - June 26 - 27, 2024 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : Call for Nominations For 2024 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Accident: Southwest B737 near Tampa on Apr 3rd 2024, turbulence causes two injuries A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N567WN performing flight WN-4273 from New Orleans,LA to Orlando,FL (USA) with 133 passengers and 7 crew, was in the initial descent towards Orlando when the crew declared emergency reporting a passenger and a flight attendant received serious injuries during a severe turbulence encounter, the passenger was reported with back problems and the flight attendant with a possible elbow and hip fracture. The crew decided to divert to Tampa,FL (USA) where the aircraft landed safely. The two injured were taken to a local hospital. The FAA reported: "Southwest Airlines Flight 4273 landed safely at Tampa International Airport around 9 a.m. local time Wednesday, April 3, after the crew reported severe turbulence. The flight departed from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and was headed to Orlando International Airport. The FAA will investigate." The FAA rated the occurrence an accident, the highest level of injury was serious. https://avherald.com/h?article=51700306&opt=0 Incident: Jet2 B738 at Leeds on Apr 4th 2024, could not fully retract flaps A Jet2.com Boeing 737-800, registration G-JZBX performing flight LS-249 from Leeds,EN (UK) to Fuerteventura,CI (Spain), was climbing out of Leeds' runway 32 when the crew stopped the climb at FL070 due to being unable to fully retract the flaps. The aircraft entered a hold at FL090 to work the related checklists, subsequently declared emergency and decided to divert to East Midlands,EN (UK) where the aircraft landed safely on runway 27 about one hour after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration G-DRTG continued the flight and reached Fuerteventura with a delay of about 2 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in East Midlands about 9 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=517013e4&opt=0 Boeing pays Alaska Air more than $160M after Jan. blowout Boeing paid Alaska Air $160 million to compensate for losses the airline suffered since Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced a door plug blowout in midflight. In an April 4 filing, the airline said it also expects further payouts in the months ahead. The move is the latest development following a series of recent problems with Boeing’s airplanes, including a plane that dropped midflight, injuring passengers, and a panel falling off a plane during a flight. As a result, the company has come under scrutiny from the Department of Justice and the Federal Aviation Administration . While Boeing has been making headlines recently, the company has a history of safety problems with its planes, causing multiple aircraft groundings and more than $31 billion in losses, not including the payout to Alaska Air. When Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced the door plug blowout, all Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft were grounded temporarily. Alaska Airlines estimated it would be a significant hit to profits as thousands of flights were subsequently canceled. The initial report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that four bolts meant to attach the door securely had not been properly fitted. Alaska Air also said that it expects Boeing to provide additional compensation as the $160 million was only the first quarter sum. April 2024 FAA announces investigation into near-miss incident at LaGuardia Airport involving Southwest Airlines 737 on March 23. Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 makes an emergency landing at Preston Smith International Airport after a small fire in the left engine. March 2024 The FBI is investigating the Alaska Airlines flight in January that saw a door plug blow off the plane midflight — and has told passengers they may be “a possible victim of a crime.” The FAA’s 737 Max production audit finds multiple instances in which Boeing allegedly did not comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. In two separate incidents, a Boeing 777-200 loses a wheel during takeoff from San Francisco and a Boeing 737 skids off the runway after landing in Houston. The next week, a prominent Boeing whistleblower — former employee John Barnett — dies by suicide while in Charleston, S.C., for a deposition for a lawsuit against Boeing. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner nose-dives during a flight from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand, injuring at least 50 people, on the same day a Boeing 777 flight from Sydney is forced to turn around due to a maintenance issue. Another Boeing 777 is forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after pilots report a flat tire. A Boeing 737 that took off from San Francisco later that week is found to be missing a panel during a postflight inspection. Boeing sues Virgin Galactic, accusing it of stealing trade secrets. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announces he will be stepping down by the end of the year. The CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stan Deal, is retiring and Boeing’s chairman, Larry Kellner, will not be seeking reelection as a board director. A United Airlines Boeing 777 flight from San Francisco to Paris was diverted to Denver due to an engine issue. A United Airlines Boeing 787 plane headed to Newark, N.J., from Tel Aviv, Israel, was forced to make an emergency landing at New York Stewart International Airport because of “extreme turbulence.” Seven passengers were taken to the hospital and 15 were treated on-site for injuries. An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet from Honolulu to Anchorage, Alaska, was forced to turn back after a malfunctioning bathroom sink flooded the cabin. Whistleblowers, nosedives and a DOJ investigation: Read more about Boeing’s March mishaps on Yahoo News February 2024 The NTSB publishes a preliminary report that found the Alaska Airlines flight was missing four key bolts, which is why the door plug blew out. January 2024 Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experiences a door plug blowout midflight. The FAA subsequently grounds all Max 9 aircraft to investigate. December 2023 Boeing urges airlines to inspect all 737 Max jets for potential loose hardware in the plane’s rudder control systems. August 2023 Boeing reports a supplier quality issue with 737 Max planes involving improperly drilled holes. October 2022 The FAA tells Boeing that some documents submitted for the certification review of the 737 Max 7 are incomplete. March 2021 China’s aviation regulator claims there are major safety concerns with the Boeing Max jets. November 2020 The FAA allows Boeing 737 Max planes to fly again. September 2020 An 18-month-long investigation by a House of Representatives panel concludes that Boeing failed in its design and development of the Max aircraft and was not fully transparent with the FAA. Read more from Reuters: U.S. lawmakers fault FAA, Boeing for deadly 737 Max crashes January 2020 Boeing suspends all 737 production. March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, utilizing a Boeing 737 Max 8, reports a “flight control” problem to the control tower one minute after taking off from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The plane crashes six minutes after takeoff, killing all 157 people on board. China decides to ground all Boeing 737 Max planes. The FAA follows. November 2018 The FAA and Boeing announce they are investigating software and design changes on all 737 Max planes following the Lion Air crash. October 2018 Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max aircraft, crashes 13 minutes after takeoff from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia. All 189 on board are killed. ⚖️ Boeing has had problems for years. Why is it being investigated now? “We’ve known [about Boeing] for five years,” Mark Pegram, father of one of the Ethiopian Airlines flight victims, told NPR in March. “I think the rest of the world is finally waking up to it, that these weren’t just isolated incidents.” Boeing has paid billions of dollars in settlements since 2018, and the company and its leaders entered into a deferred prosecution agreement in January 2021 with the Department of Justice that has so far helped them avoid criminal prosecution. Boeing paid $1.77 billion to compensate airline customers, $243.6 million as a criminal fine and $500 million for a compensation fund for family members of crash victims, CNN reported. A yearlong FAA-commissioned panel review was critical of the safety culture at Boeing, and found that executives and employees were not aligned with what the safety standards were, according to a report released in February. The investigation also found that many employees were afraid of retaliation for speaking up. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-pays-alaska-air-more-than-160m-after-jan-blowout-131616542.html Pilot says brakes seemed less effective than usual before a United Airlines jet slid off a taxiway • Federal officials are issuing a preliminary report about the United jet that slid off a taxiway at a Houston airport last month. According to a report, Thursday, April 4, 2024, by the National Transportation Safety Board, the United captain said the brakes seemed less effective than normal. He says the plane and brake pedals shook violently just before the plane slid off the taxiway into a grassy area. HOUSTON (AP) — The captain of a United Airlines jet said the brakes seemed less effective than normal and the plane and brake pedals shook violently just before the Boeing 737 Max slid off a taxiway in Houston last month. According to a preliminary report released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilots were uncertain about ground conditions as they broke through clouds and saw the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The captain said the runway looked dry, but the co-pilot thought it looked wet. Shortly after the plane touched the runway, the captain disabled the autobrakes, according to the report. “He did not ‘slow too much initially’ because the runway appeared dry, he wanted to expedite their time on the runway, and because he preferred decelerating gradually for passenger comfort,” the NTSB said. As the plane neared the end of the runway, the captain tried to steer on to a taxiway while pushing aggressively on the brake pedals, the NTSB said. That is when the plane went off the taxiway. The plane was heavily damaged — the left main landing gear broke off — when it rolled into a grassy area at 25 mph (40 kph) and hit a concrete structure. None of the passengers or crew members were hurt, the NTSB said. The preliminary report did not state a reason for the March 8 accident. The NTSB often takes a year or more to reach conclusions. The accident was among a string of incidents involving United planes that led the chief executive to reassure passengers about the safety of his airline. https://www.yahoo.com/news/pilot-says-brakes-seemed-less-201010171.html A plane made an emergency landing in Newark after 'an unruly passenger' tried to get into the cockpit A passenger on a flight from Newark to Zurich tried to enter the cockpit. One of the flight attendants was injured by the unruly passenger, Blick reported. The Airbus A330 pilot also requested fire engines at the airport because the brakes were hot. A Swiss International Air Lines plane had to turn back to Newark after a passenger reportedly injured a flight attendant while trying to enter the cockpit. Sunday's Flight LX19 to Zurich was only in the air for an hour before the emergency landing, data from Flightradar24 shows. An airline spokesperson told Business Insider the flight "had to turn back to Newark due to an unruly passenger" who "behaved abusively towards the crew." The Swiss newspaper Blick reported that the passenger injured one of the flight attendants. An airline representative told Blick that other cabin crew members went to the front galley to try to help the situation. The paper added that the flight attendant only suffered a "minor injury" and is "already back in Switzerland together with the rest of the crew." According to an audio recording published by aviation site LiveATC.net, the pilot declared Pan-pan, meaning an urgent situation on board, telling air traffic control that the passenger "tried to enter the cockpit." "We couldn't restrain the passenger. He is freely moving through the cabin," he added. The pilot also requested fire engines attend the scene because the brakes were hot: the Airbus A330 was overweight as it hadn't burned as much fuel as expected before landing. A Swiss International Airlines spokesperson said the flight, with 236 passengers on board, was canceled. "The passengers were rebooked on other flights as soon as possible," they added. In an email to BI, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesperson said the plane turned around due to an unruly passenger. They added that the individual was charged with interference with transportation and assault and was released with a court desk appearance. https://www.yahoo.com/news/plane-made-emergency-landing-newark-104156979.html FAA probes near miss between Southwest jet, LaGuardia’s air traffic control tower: ‘Go around!’ The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why a Southwest Airlines flight veered off course and had a frighteningly close call last month with LaGuardia Airport’s air traffic control tower. Southwest Flight 147 from Nashville to New York City flew off course because of bad weather as it approached for landing around 1 pm on March 23, the agency said. After circling the busy airport once, the plane flew as low as 300 feet, prompting an audibly alarmed air traffic controller to urge the pilots: “Go around! Go around,” according to audio captured by LiveATC.net. The crew was then instructed to abort the landing and climb to 2,000 feet – with the controller saying the plane was not lined up with the runway. “He was not going to land on the runway,” the controller said, after telling the pilot to “continue climbing.” The flight with 150 passengers and crew on board ended up being diverted to Baltimore and landing safely there, “after encountering turbulence and low visibility at New York LaGuardia Airport,” Southwest said. The plane flew as low as 300 feet, prompting an air traffic controller in the tower to tell the pilot to “go around.” “We are reviewing the event as part of our safety systems,” an airline spokesperson said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was also looking into the incident but did not plan to issue any immediate reports. https://nypost.com/2024/04/05/us-news/faa-probes-planes-close-call-at-laguardia-airport/ NTSB Chair Nominated For Another Term The Commerce Committee of the U.S. Senate will hold a hearing next Wednesday (April 10) on whether to nominate Jennifer Homendy for a new term as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). President Joe Biden renominated Homendy for the post last month. After working as a senior legislative staffer on transportation issues, Homendy has served on the NTSB since 2018 and began her term as chair in August 2021. She recently raised her profile by publicly criticizing Boeing for its lack of cooperation in the investigation into the door-plug separation on an Air Alaska 737 MAX that was less than a year old. After her angry critique, Boeing finally released the names of the 25 workers who were responsible for reinstalling the door plug. Homendy has also raised public awareness to a string of near-miss episodes related to lapses in air traffic control, including a near-collision between a Southwest 737 and a FedEx cargo plane in Austin, Texas. That incident was one of seven close calls last year that, Homendy commented, “must serve as a wake-up call for every single one of us, before something more catastrophic occurs.” https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/ntsb-chair-nominated-for-another-term/?MailingID=FLY240404025&utm_campaign=avwebflash&utm_medium=newsletter&oly_enc_id=1249F2849412G8V Now Trains Must Have Two-Person Crews. Will That Continue For Airplanes? • Once the Department of Transportation on Tuesday unveiled new rules requiring two-member crews on board most freight trains, three U.S. pilot unions raised the question: Can the same policy continue for aircraft? “The DOTDOT 0.0% has once again put safety first and re-enforced its core belief that two-person crews are critical for the safe operations of trains and planes,” said Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association “ Whether you’re on the rails or in the sky, safety should always be the top priority. “The fundamental belief that it takes at least two crew members to operate safely is as true in freight and passenger rail as it is in aviation,” Ambrosi said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday. “We will not allow special interests to gamble with safety by eliminating the most important safety features on trains and airplanes: the people at the controls.” Current U.S. regulations require two pilots on the flight deck in “any airplane that is type certified for more than one pilot,” as well as in “any large airplane” and “any commuter category airplane, according to the DOT. “DOT has made it crystal clear that they understand the critical importance of having two pilots on the flight deck to ensure safety,” Ambrosi said Thursday in an email. “That’s why U.S. air travel is the safest in the world. “However, European regulators are caving to pressure by Airbus and appear to be willing to allow reduced crew operations there, which would be a dangerous choice that we must aggressively fight back against,” Ambrosi said. ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union with 77,000 members at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. BoeingBA -0.9% so far has shown less interest in single pilot operation than Airbus, according to a presentation by a consortium of six global pilot unions that include ALPA and Allied Pilots Association. But Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has announced hopes to make flight controls on the next airplane “as close to autonomous as we can conceivably get at that stage,” the presentation said. Allied Pilots Association, which represents 16,000 American AirlinesAAL -2.3% pilots, also praised the new rules for railroads. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg “knows the importance of having two human beings in critical safety operations,” said APA spokesman Dennis Tajer. “Having two human operating trains clearly connects to having at least two pilots in aircraft.” Tajer said that both Airbus and Boeing “have financial managers who are trying to figure out how to squeeze money out of the aviation system by taking a pilot out of the cockpit. This is an effort to convince passengers that technology has you covered.” The Teamsters Rail Conference celebrated the unveiling of a new federal rule that requires a minimum of two crew members on board most freight trains. IBT has a diverse membership that includes both rail workers and pilots at Allegiant, AtlasATCO 0.0% Air, Horizon, Omni Air and Republic. “Requiring two crew members to operate a multi-ton freight train that is several miles long should be common sense, but now, there is thankfully a rule that mandates it,” said Mark Wallace, President of the Teamsters Rail Conference, in a prepared statement. Teamsters’ spokesman Matt McQuaid noted, "In addition to the new two-person crew requirement for railroads, the Teamsters also support the FAA's two-pilot minimum requirement in cockpits. In both cases, it is critical to the safety of workers and the public.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed/2024/04/04/now-trains-must-have-two-person-crews-but-what-about-airplanes/?sh=4e9a8177395d UK court to rule on aircraft lessors’ claims against reinsurers The dispute over aircraft grounded in Russia will be heard by the UK High Court The UK High Court has declared its jurisdiction to adjudicate claims amounting to US$10 billion, initiated by aircraft lessors against several reinsurers concerning planes that have been grounded in Russia since 2022. According to a report by Global Sanctions, the court’s decision hinged on concerns that the lessors might not receive a fair trial in Russia. The court found that Russian courts might not adhere to the governing laws of the leases, especially in light of Western sanctions. It also underscored doubts about the Russian judiciary’s capability to objectively assess whether the country’s countersanctions impeded the return of the leased aircraft. The initial claims were brought forward in the English court by lessors that had terminated their lease contracts with Russian airlines. These lessors have been struggling to reclaim their grounded aircraft and are now looking to recoup their losses from global reinsurers, including AIG and AXA. Russian airlines like Aeroflot had initially insured the leased aircraft with local insurers, who then transferred a portion of the risk to reinsurers. In response to the lessors’ claims, reinsurers contested the English court’s authority to oversee these cases, citing documents indicating that the policies are governed by Russian law. A trial date has been set for October 2024, according to Global Sanctions. One aircraft lessor has already received cash insurance settlement proceeds from Aeroflot’s insurer, NSK. Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) said in December that it received US$118 million from “claims under Aeroflot’s insurance and reinsurance policies relating to seven aircraft and associated engines.” DAE also agreed to release its claims against Aeroflot and its insurer and reinsurers but added that it will “continue to actively pursue its litigation in the English courts under its own insurance policies.” The company will also “continue its efforts to seek to mitigate its losses in respect of its aircraft that were previously leased to other Russian airlines,” the statement released in December said. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/reinsurance/uk-court-to-rule-on-aircraft-lessors-claims-against-reinsurers-483951.aspx ICON AIRCRAFT FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY, SEEKS BUYER AMPHIBIOUS LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT MAKER DEEP IN DEBT Icon Aircraft, which first delivered the amphibious light sport A5 in the summer of 2016, petitioned for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware, where the company with operations in California and Florida is incorporated, on April 4. The company issued a news release reporting the bankruptcy filing, and that it intends to continue operations while the process unfolds. The company said it seeks to sell the business to new owners using Section 363 of the bankruptcy code, which could enable the buyer to take ownership free and clear of any liens. “We plan to continue to produce and sell aircraft and provide first-rate service, training, and support to our customers,” CEO Jerry Meyer said in the news release. “We believe this process will enable the business to address its current challenges and emerge with new ownership— stronger than ever—and continue building amazing planes with a focus on innovation, safety, and incredible flying experiences.” According to the petition (among several documents filed on the first day of the proceeding included in an online docket maintained on Icon’s behalf), Icon owes $68 million to the company’s 30 largest creditors, 95 percent of that total—$65 million—owed to East West Bank of El Monte, California. According to data compiled by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Icon has delivered 209 aircraft since the first A5 was sold in 2016, through the end of 2023. While the company did not report billing revenue in the GAMA reports prior to 2022, total revenue for that year was $12.9 million, according to GAMA's year-end report, with 36 aircraft delivered, dropping to $12.6 million for 2023 with 33 aircraft delivered. “The purpose of the Chapter 11 filing is to resolve the Company’s financial challenges and position the A5 for success for years to come,” Meyer said in the release. “We understand that this situation creates a hardship for everyone involved. However, without taking these steps, there is not a viable path forward for the business to do what we do best—build incredible airplanes and support our aircraft owners.” The A5 is the only model Icon has produced. It earned a positive review from AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Dave Hirschman in 2015, among the first to fly the amphibious light sport aircraft. First announced in 2008, the company began collecting deposits years before the first airplane was delivered, and employed an unusual purchase agreement for the two-seat airplane, including contract provisions that gave the company the power to approve or disapprove any future sale. The price, first projected to land around $139,000, had climbed to a base of $207,000 by the time those purchase agreements were employed. It has climbed higher since: According to the GAMA data, the 2022 billing divided by the number of aircraft delivered comes to $359,000, which increased to $381,818 in 2023 with fewer aircraft delivered. A5 deliveries peaked in 2018, at 44 aircraft shipped for the year. While the company touted safety features including a “spin-resistant” design, standard angle of attack indicator, and ballistic airframe parachute, a series of incidents and accidents put a dent in the A5’s image, including the 2017 death of A5 designer Jon Karkow and his passenger when, according to the NTSB, the aircraft struck terrain while maneuvering at low altitude, likely after mistakenly entering a different canyon than intended. That was followed five months later, in November 2017, by the death of legendary MLB pitcher Roy Halladay, who had taken the first delivery outside of the company’s training fleet and hit the water while flying low in Florida. Other accidents followed, not always involving injuries, but each raising afresh questions about the safety of the A5 that Hirschman examined in a 2019 story. “The reasons for this litany of horrors are varied, and few threads seem to tie them together,” Hirschman wrote. “Having flown the A5 for about 40 flight hours—including a formal checkout and a transcontinental ferry flight—I suspect that pilot overconfidence is a factor. The airplane flies so obediently, and it has such benign handling characteristics, that it gives the false impression it can do anything. Its spin-resistant design, however, doesn’t mean it won’t stall. It will. The airplane is easy to overload, and with a gross weight of 1,510 pounds and a mere 100-horsepower engine, the A5 has a meager power-to-weight ratio.” Hirschman noted, however, that available data contradicted the notion that low-time sport pilots were flying themselves into trouble with the A5. “In fact, low-time sport pilots are yet to be involved in a single Icon accident,” Hirschman wrote. “Instead, it’s high-time, experienced pilots—many with advanced ratings—who are at fault. Not once has a mechanical problem contributed to an Icon crash. Every one of them has been pilot error, according to NTSB and FAA reports.” More recently, Icon announced in March that the FAA had approved a 60-pound increase in the A5’s useful load, to 490 pounds, along with FAA certification in the primary category, which makes the A5 subject to fewer restrictions in Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Icon noted in the press release that it has secured debtor in possession financing and will seek an expedited sale under the bankruptcy process. “To minimize the adverse effects on its business and the value of its estate, the company has filed customary motions with the Bankruptcy Court to get court approval to sustain its operations in the ordinary course, including honoring commitments to customers and vendors and fulfilling obligations to all employees,” the April 4 press release states. In contrast to the A5’s long-delayed arrival on the market, the bankruptcy filing suggests the company has prepared carefully and filed the petition with many key pieces in place. A first-day hearing was scheduled for April 5 at 10 a.m. in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, with judge Craig T. Goldblatt presiding. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2024/april/04/icon-aircraft-files-for-bankruptcy-seeking-buyer Call for Nominations For 2024 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. The Award will be presented during the 77th Annual International Air Safety Summit, taking place November 5 – 7 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Presented annually since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study, or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers, and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners may be resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. The Award Committee, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient. Please help us identify and honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-to-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/. Nominations will be accepted through June 2, 2024. For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see www.ltbaward.org. About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back almost 80 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956 her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., in close association with The Flight Safety Foundation, established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. For the past 68 years, this distinguished award recognizing outstanding achievements in aviation safety worldwide has been presented at Flight Safety Foundation’s International Aviation Safety Summit. In 2013, The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed as an independent non-profit charitable organization composed of members of the Award Board, the aviation community, and the Barbour family. In addition to the annual presentation of the award, in 2019 the Foundation initiated a scholarship program that supports worthy students pursuing professional aviation studies. As the Foundation broadens its scope, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to recognize those who significantly contributed to aviation safety. For more information on the Foundation, the award, and past winners, visit http://LTBAward.org CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Blazetech - Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation Course June 4 - 7, 2024 • (APTSC) Asia and Pacific Turboprop Safety Conference - June 26 - 27, 2024 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia • Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. (APSCON 2024) - July 29 - August 3; Houston TX • Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium - APATS 2024, 0-11 September, 2024, Singapore • Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London • 2024 Ground Handling Safety Symposium (GHSS) - September 17-18, 2024 - Fort Worth, TX • 2024 ISASI - Lisbon, Portugal - September 30 to October 4, 2024 • International Congress of Aerospace Medicine ICAM 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal, 3 - 5 October 2024 • Aviation Health Conference back on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th October 2024 • 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition - Oct. 22-24 (Vegas) Curt Lewis