Flight Safety Information - April 08, 2024 No. 071 In This Issue : Accident: Southwest B738 at Denver on Apr 7th 2024, dropped engine doors, flap damage : Accident: ABX B763 at Panama City on Mar 23rd 2024, tail strike on landing : Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference - 17 & 18 September - London : Incident: Edelweiss A343 at Zurich on Apr 6th 2024, lost height immediately after takeoff : Incident: British Airways A320 at Milan on Apr 4th 2024, engine shut down in flight : Incident: United B772 at Rome on Apr 5th 2024, engine compressor stall : United Airlines jet clips wing with parked plane at SFO : NTSB Report: Pilots Give Conflicting Accounts Of 737 MAX 8 Runway Incident : Two planes collide at Heathrow Airport while aircraft being towed : Is airport Wi-Fi safe to use? How to keep your information safe while traveling : Ouch: Austrian Airlines Airbus A320neo Stabilizer Breaks Off After Hitting Jet Bridge In Vienna : AviAssit and Landrover team up for West African aviation safety : U.S. Airline Pilot Hiring Stabilizing : UPS plans to hire 300 pilots to support Postal Service contract : Spirit Airlines Announces Deferral of Airbus Aircraft Deliveries : PhD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Accident: Southwest B738 at Denver on Apr 7th 2024, dropped engine doors, flap damage A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8668A performing flight WN-3695 from Denver,CO to Houston Hobby,TX (USA), was departing Denver's runway 25 when the access doors of the right hand engine (CFM56) were torn off the engine. On climb out the crew advised ATC that some engine panels had come off during departure and returned to Denver for a safe landing on runway 34L about 30 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "Southwest Airlines Flight 3695 returned safely to Denver International airport around 8:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 7, after the crew reported the engine cowling fell off during takeoff and struck the wing flap. The Boeing 737-800 was towed to the gate. The aircraft was headed to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. The FAA will investigate." A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N8523W reached Houston with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Denver about 5:15 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=51721379&opt=0 Accident: ABX B763 at Panama City on Mar 23rd 2024, tail strike on landing An ABX Air Boeing 767-300 freighter, registration N372CM performing flight GB-901 from Miami,FL (USA) to Panama City (Panama), landed on Panama City's runway 21R but struck its tail onto the runway surface. The aircraft rolled out without further incident and taxied to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Panama City two weeks later. https://avherald.com/h?article=51709ac1&opt=0 Incident: Edelweiss A343 at Zurich on Apr 6th 2024, lost height immediately after takeoff An Edelweiss Airbus A340-300, registration HB-JMF performing flight WK-24 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Cancun (Mexico), was departing Zurich's runway 16 at 13:04L (11:04Z) when the aircraft rotated for takeoff and became airborne, but sank back towards the runway nearly touching down again near the end of the runway before finally being able to climb out to safety. The aircraft is currently enroute to Cancun. After becoming airborne the crew reported they had a tailwind on rotation. According to preliminary information an investigation has been opened into the departure, a tailwind gust is being suspected. The airline reported they have seen the video of this "unschöner Start" (eyesore takeoff), they first need to talk to the crew and assess the flight data when the aircraft returns from Cancun. https://avherald.com/h?article=51717470&opt=0 Incident: British Airways A320 at Milan on Apr 4th 2024, engine shut down in flight A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUYD performing flight BA-568 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Milan Linate (Italy), was on approach to Linate when the crew reported engine (V2527) trouble and entered a hold. The crew subsequently shut the engine down and continued to Linate for a safe landing on runway 35. The aircraft stopped on the runway, was shut down and subsequently towed to the apron. The return flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Milan two days later. https://avherald.com/h?article=5171600f&opt=0 Incident: United B772 at Rome on Apr 5th 2024, engine compressor stall A United Boeing 777-200, registration N209UA performing flight UA-885 from Rome Fiumicino (Italy) to Washington Dulles,DC (USA), was climbing through about 2500 feet out of Fiumicino's runway 25 when the left hand engine (PW4090) emitted a bang and streak of flames due to a compressor stall. The crew levelled off at 4000 feet and returned to Rome for a safe landing on Fiumicino's runway 16R about 30 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 777-200 registration N791UA is estimated to reach Washington with a delay of about 6 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Rome about 10 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=5170c6c1&opt=0 United Airlines jet clips wing with parked plane at SFO A United Airlines plane recently clipped a wing of another aircraft as it tried to park at San Francisco International Airport. The incident happened Thursday evening. According to a United spokesperson, the winglet of the jet made contact with the wing of a parked United aircraft while parking at a gate. They added that no injuries occurred and passengers deplaned normally. The gate where the plane was trying to park isn't a usual gate as it has two parking spots. Retired airline pilot Doug Rice talked to NBC Bay Area about the latest incident on Friday and he pointed out that the geometry of the gate, trying to get two planes to fit in tight quarters poses a potential hazard. Rice also pointed out that United’s ground personnel may have either had a training or communication issue. All of which will be considered by the FAA during the investigation. “There's no question in my mind that a number of the incidents that have occurred have been what we would call 'SFO-centric,'” Rice said. “Whether it's maintenance-related, whether it’s from care from mechanics, procedures processes, what the causes are and it appears and has appeared for several weeks that San Francisco is the hub for several of these issues." For United, it's the latest in a series of issues over the past few weeks. This includes a flight that rolled off the runway in Texas. A SFO to Japan flight that lost a tire on takeoff and an SFO to Medford, Oregon flight that arrived missing an engine cover. In addition to the tire and panel incidents, multiple united flights from SFO last month reported hydraulic leaks, including one where hydraulic fluid could be seen spilling from the plane as it took off. The two aircrafts in the latest incident will be inspected and repaired before going back into service. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/united-airlines-jet-clips-wing-parked-plane-sfo/3502500/ NTSB Report: Pilots Give Conflicting Accounts Of 737 MAX 8 Runway Incident The pilots involved in a United Airlines 737 MAX 8 runway excursion on March 8 gave conflicting accounts of runway conditions, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The flight crew noted the captain was the pilot flying while the first officer was the pilot monitoring. The captain recalled the runway codes being 3/3/3 for Runway 26L and 26R, while Runway 27 had codes of 5/5/5. However, the NTSB noted that the surface conditions for Runway 27 were 3/3/3—indicating a slippery when wet runway and noticeably reduced braking deceleration. The captain asked the FO to request a runway change to Runway 27, which was subsequently approved by the controller. The captain then asked the FO to request approval to roll out to the end of Runway 27, which the tower approved, but told them to “keep your speed up.” The captain changed the autobrake setting from 2 to 1—reducing the deceleration rate. Both pilots said the aircraft broke out of the clouds at 800 to 1,000 feet MSL with good visibility. The captain perceived the runway to be dry, while the FO believed it to be wet. The crew recalled an uneventful touchdown at an appropriate speed within the touchdown zone. According to the NTSB report, the pilot did not deactivate the speed and auto brakes until five seconds after touchdown. The captain explained that he did not “slow too much initially” because he believed the runway was dry and wanted to minimize runway occupancy while ensuring passenger comfort. The NTSB report noted manual braking did not begin until 4,000 feet from the end of the runway. The captain became concerned when alerted of 1,000 feet remaining, prompting him to increase pressure on the brakes. Data also showed the captain decided to turn onto the taxiway while continuously pushing on the brakes. The aircraft then veered off the runway, with the left main landing gear tires and nosewheel tires making contact with the grass before the aircraft came to a halt. According to a report from Simple Flying, United Airlines requires pilots to adopt a conservative approach by selecting the MAX setting when uncertain about runway conditions or braking capabilities. The 1 setting is the lowest auto brake setting available to Boeing 737 pilots. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/ntsb-report-pilots-give-conflicting-accounts-of-737-max-8-runway-incident/ Two planes collide at Heathrow Airport while aircraft being towed Virgin says it has launched an investigation into the collision An investigation has been launched after two passenger planes collided while one of the aircraft was being towed at Heathrow Airport. Footage posted on social media shows a Virgin Atlantic plane’s wing touching a British Airways aircraft, surrounded by emergency services. The Virgin Boeing 787-9 plane had completed a flight and was being towed to a different part of the airfield with no passengers on board at the time of the incident, it is understood. Virgin said it has launched an investigation into the collision. The aircraft has been taken out of service and engineering teams are performing maintenance checks on it, the airline added. The British Airways (BA) aircraft was stationary at the time of the incident and is being assessed by engineering teams, the company said. BA said it has provided an alternative aircraft to “limit the impact on our customers”. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “We are aware that the wingtip of one of our empty aircraft came into contact with another aircraft whilst being towed from the stand at London Heathrow Terminal 3. “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. “We can confirm no customers were on board the Virgin Atlantic aircraft during this time. “We’ve commenced a full and thorough investigation and our engineering teams are performing maintenance checks on the aircraft, which for now has been taken out of service.” It is understood Virgin Atlantic’s flying programme has not been disrupted by the incident. The tow movement was provided by a ground handling company under contract by Virgin Atlantic. A spokesperson for British Airways said: “One of our aircraft, whilst stationary at Heathrow earlier today, was involved in a collision with another airline’s jet, which was being towed from a stand at the time. “Our aircraft is being assessed by our engineering teams and we have provided an alternative aircraft to limit the impact on our customers.” A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We are working alongside emergency services and our airline partners in response to an incident involving two aircraft on the ground earlier today. “At present, no passenger injuries have been reported and we do not anticipate there to be any ongoing impact to airport operations.” https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/london-heathrow-airport-plane-crash-b2524638.html Is airport Wi-Fi safe to use? How to keep your information safe while traveling. When traveling, it’s important to stay connected. Without Wi-Fi or cell service, you can’t utilize online maps to navigate a new place, keep in touch with loved ones or research restaurants to visit. Thankfully, it’s not too difficult to find free Wi-Fi, whether that’s at a hotel, cafe or airport. The real problem is ensuring your information is safe and secure on a public network. According to a 2023 survey by Forbes Advisor, 43% of Americans who regularly use public Wi-Fi said their online security has been compromised while using it. The survey identified cafes, restaurants, and hotels as the top spots where people usually access public Wi-Fi. “It can be a little dangerous using public Wi-Fi, but I would say it’s doable if you use the right best practices,” Eric Plam, CEO at SIMO, a mobile hotspot company, told USA TODAY. Here’s how to safely connect to public Wi-Fi. What are the risks of using public Wi-Fi? Two men looking at a laptop together in a cafe. There are a few, so make sure you’re being “really careful,” Plam said. If you connect to an insecure network or your information lacks proper security measures, you’re vulnerable to hackers. “There’s a very common threat on Wi-Fi called the man-in-the-middle Wi-Fi attack, and it’s actually a brilliant strategy,” said Plam. “Imagine you were at a cafe, for example, and you see a Wi-Fi hotspot you want to connect to, and maybe you see multiple ones. One of them might actually be a hacker who sets up an actual, real Wi-Fi hotspot and fakes the name of the cafe. You connect thinking it’s legitimate, and it is, so you get Wi-Fi access, but now the hacker can intercept all your information.” The first thing to do before connecting to any network is to make sure you’re connecting to the right one. “I would just ask for the network name and see if it’s posted,” said Plam. If there’s a password to connect, that’s even better. “You can feel a little more confident that it’s more secure and not a rogue access point.” How can you protect your information against hackers? Even if you’re using the hotel Wi-Fi, you still want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to protect your information, such as keeping your security systems and operations up to date. “Use a VPN when possible,” said Plam. “It’s not a very big investment…and adds an extra layer of security from your computer to whatever server you’re accessing.” A VPN, or virtual private network, acts like a “safe tunnel,” encrypting your browsing information. When connected, try your best to avoid accessing sensitive information like bank accounts or even logging into your email. “Anytime you’re exchanging some sort of password … you want to be cautious of the networks that you’re on,” Plam said. To do this, use a password manager tool that protects and encrypts your passwords. Long, complex passwords are also more secure – 85% of compromised passwords are less than 12 characters, according to data by Specops Password Policy. “If that all sounds too complicated, use your own mobile hotspots,” said Plam. Mobile hotspots cost between $30 and $200, depending on the features, such as speed or power source. What should you do if you connected to an unsafe network? “The minute you sense something wrong, definitely disconnect,” Plam said. Then immediately change your passwords, “especially when you sense there might be a hack.” You should also check for any unusual activity on your credit cards. Is airport Wi-Fi safe? Yes, as long as you’re positive you’re on the official network and following all the safety precautions Plam mentioned. You may also notice other networks like Boingo available at some airports, which Plam said typically have security methods built in, so you can feel comfortable using them. “Hackers are always trying to stay a step ahead of security measures, but security experts have done a pretty good job at remaining ahead of hackers,” Plam said. Can you get hacked charging your phone in a public place? When traveling, you’ll eventually have to charge your devices in a public space, like a charging station at your airport gate. There’s a concept called juice jacking, where a hacker corrupts a USB port with malware that exports your personal data when you plug your phone in. Although possible, there are no confirmed instances of juice jacking, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Still, it’s important to be aware of the risk, said Plam. Use your own power bank or the regular AC adapter instead of a USB port. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2024/04/08/airport-wifi-security-tips/73206948007/ Ouch: Austrian Airlines Airbus A320neo Stabilizer Breaks Off After Hitting Jet Bridge In Vienna Depending on the severity, ground damage incidents can cost airlines as much as $100,000. SUMMARY • An Austrian Airlines A320neo suffered severe damage after colliding with ground service equipment in Vienna. • The incident involved the plane's stabilizer being ripped off and its wing aileron crushed. • Ground damage from mistakes during towing and pushing back operations can be costly. An Austrian AirlinesAirbus A320neo sustained severe damage after coming in contact with a jet bridge at Vienna Airport on Saturday. The incident is the latest in a slew of airport ground collisions involving aircraft this year. During the ordeal, the plane’s right horizontal stabilizer tore off and was seen lying on the tarmac. The aircraft’s right wing was also damaged as it reportedly collided with a utility pole. What happened Details about the incident began to populate on social media overnight and early Sunday morning. Multiple reports suggest the aircraft was arriving at Vienna International Airport (VIE) after a flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) as OS456. According to Flightradar24.com, the A320neo is registered OE-LZQ and remains on the ground at VIE. Photos show the aircraft receiving significant damage, with its stabilizer completely ripped off and the jetbridge adjacent. Austrian Airlines A320-271N substantially damaged on the ground at Vienna Airport after reportedly colliding with a jet bridge. pic.twitter.com/dlYhhwDmj8 — Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) April 7, 2024 Other photos illustrating the damage show a crushed outboard aileron on the right wing near the sharklet after it collided with a large pole. The plane, which arrived on schedule, pulled into gate G11 at around 22:45, data from FlightAware indicates. Further information about the timing of the collision and whether there were any injuries is unknown. Simple Flying contacted Austrian for comment on Sunday, but a representative could not be immediately reached. According to ch-aviation, the aircraft is less than a year old. Its first flight was in May 2023 and was delivered to Austrian in June. With major damage to two critical parts on the jet, it will likely be out of service for months to receive repairs. The three incidents in the last week Aircraft incidents on the ground have been on the rise. Simple Flying covered just two incidents last week, happening just days apart. On Thursday, a United Airlines A319 clipped its wings with another United plane at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The extent of damage to both planes is unknown, but flight data indicates the A319 is expected to return to service this week after being grounded from the mishap. On April 1st, an American Airlines A320 came in contact with what was believed to be an A321, also operated by American at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Details about the damage to both aircraft is unclear. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline was involved in another incident last month when one of its Boeing 777-300ERs hit a Frontier Airlines A321neo at Miami International Airport (MIA). The triple-seven sustained minor damage to its left horizontal stabilizer as it punctured a hole into the vertical stabilizer on the A321neo – receiving the brunt of the damage. American has since returned the widebody to service, while the Frontier jet remains grounded at MIA. Expensive mistakes Ground damage is often avoidable and costly. From 2016-2022, more than 26% of aircraft damage resulted from contact with ground support equipment (GSE) and/or ground vehicles, according to Aviation Pros. Collisions from towing or pushing back accounted for 25%. According to Brandon Popovich, the Manager of Safety and Training at the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), some ground damage is “obvious,” whereas other damage may not be noticed initially and would “require an inspection.” Regardless, repair costs can often range from as little as $50,000 to as much as $100,000, according to Jason Mann, the former general manager at West Jet Aviation. “The wing tips, tails, as far as towing, and in general, wing trailing edges are really prone to seeing some ground damage because you're loading and unloading baggage behind the wing,” Mann explained. “You're doing maintenance on engines, so you have engine stands and things behind the wing. So those are the areas that tend to see dings more often than other areas.” https://simpleflying.com/austrian-airlines-airbus-a320neo-stabilizer-damage-jet-bridge-vienna-airport/ AviAssit and Landrover team up for West African aviation safety AviAssist has signed a partnership agreement with an approved training organisation in West Africa. The AviAssist Foundation and Landover Company have signed an agreement for the organisation and hosting of three aviation safety promotion courses at the Landover Aviation Business School (LABS), Lagos, Nigeria. “A better safety record in West and Central Africa is not only good for the safety of travellers in the region but it is also good to help lower the operational costs across Africa with opportunities for lower insurance premiums," said AviAssist director Tom Kok. “A safer West African sky is crucial if the continent wants to realise the objectives of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)". AviAssist will deliver 2 two-day human factors in aviation course and a Team leadership in aviation course at LABS. All three events will take place in the week of May 6, 2024. The courses will be accessible to professionals from Nigeria and the region. The support of sponsors including the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Boeing will assist in ensuring very affordable prices, granting more aviation professionals access to essential training. Landover Company managing director Capt. Edward Boyo: “We are very pleased to cooperate with AviAssist as leading reference organisation on African aviation safety promotion. It fits well with Landover’s commitment to boosting aviation safety in Nigeria and in the region.” https://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/training/aviassit-and-landrover-team-up-for-west-african-aviation-safety U.S. Airline Pilot Hiring Stabilizing Various factors are stabilizing as the hiring market cools down. After years of aggressive growth, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has corroborated messaging from multiple U.S. regional airlines that pilot hiring is stabilizing in the United States. Airlines are beginning to more easily manage their flow of pilots and plan ahead for future demand. CommuteAir and Mesa Airlines both said that the ready supply of new pilots roughly matches the overall demand. ALPA announced at the end of March that the U.S. is consistently certifying a greater number of airline pilots each month compared to pre-pandemic levels. To some, the writing has been on the wall for some time. Most notably, consumer courier companies like FedEx and UPS have significantly scaled back hiring over the past six months, and passenger airlines such as Southwest and United have done the same. Granted, the reasons for these changes vary – stabilizing demand for packages versus backups on airplane certification – but, in each case, it appears that the causes of the new hire slowdowns will not be short-lived. This data does not mean, however, that all airlines’ needs are met. Many carriers, especially regional airlines, are still struggling to retain captains effectively to fully operate their schedules. “We can hire first officers. I think almost every regional airline right now has a stack of first officers,” said CommuteAir CEO Rick Hoefling during an October 2023 interview with AirlineGeeks. “The problem is building their time at the same time you’re attriting out captains at a pretty high rate in the industry. We went from a pilot shortage to a captain shortage now in the industry. So the pendulum is starting to move,” Hoefling continued. And when there are enough pilots – captains and first officers together – to meet current demand, airlines may strive to start relaunching service to markets that were suffered before the pandemic. Regional carrier SkyWest Airlines announced late last year that it is planning to continue hiring enough pilots to cover not only the vacancies it has now but also to allow it to begin expanding services. Pilot hiring is never a static condition; the amount that pilots are getting hired depends on various conditions. Without ongoing 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification delays, for example, Southwest and United would not have reduced their hiring as significantly as they have in recent months, meaning hiring at regional airlines would still be higher to compensate for the crews lost to legacies. And as more senior pilots continue to retire, there will still be a certain amount of demand to maintain the current workforce. https://airlinegeeks.com/2024/04/07/u-s-airline-pilot-hiring-stabilizing/ UPS plans to hire 300 pilots to support Postal Service contract UPS is looking to hire more than 300 pilots to support an anticipated increase in air cargo demand driven by a new multi-year contract from the U.S. Postal Service, according to the union representing the company’s air crews. “The Independent Pilots Association Executive Board was informed that UPS HR is resuming their pilot hiring process to account for the additional volume surge that will occur as the year progresses,” the union said in a statement shared with FreightWaves. “The initial projected estimate for hiring is expected to be 300+ additional crew members, which is subject to adjustment once the network plan for the additional USPS volume is finalized.” The Independent Pilots Association is the bargaining representative for about 3,200 pilots at UPS (NYSE: UPS). UPS beat out FedEx Express on Monday for the five-and-a-half-year Postal Service contract, which FedEx (NYSE: FDX) had held for more than 20 years. The call for pilots runs counter to initial assessments from analysts that UPS would need to add few, if any, aircraft to support the Postal Service because of its ability to lean on its high-performing linehaul truck network to move a portion of the volume. FedEx has acknowledged recent difficulties turning a decent profit on its postal business and UPS was expected to address that by running a leaner air network. UPS also gave buyout packages last year to 193 of the most senior pilots to reduce costs amid a downturn in the parcel market. Spokeswoman Michelle Polk confirmed UPS is recruiting 170 pilots, as currently posted on its external job boards. The hiring number provided by the union covers the number of pilots UPS is likely to hire over the next year or so. A source familiar with pilot scheduling and staffing said UPS has to phase in new pilots because there isn’t enough capacity to train a full cohort at once. Postal flights are primarily operated during the daytime, opposite the express overnight network. The Postal Service has prioritized moving mail by ground as much as possible over the past three years, resulting in a $500 million reduction in revenues for FedEx during that time. FedEx realized $1.6 million in revenue during fiscal year 2023 from its air contract with the mail agency, according to research by David Hendel, a transportation attorney at Culhane Meadows. UPS has about 292 freighters in its mainline fleet, which is 43% smaller than FedEx’s. FedEx also has about 2,400 more pilots than UPS. There is no indication that UPS will slow the phase out of its aging MD-11 fleet. The company last year retired six of the aircraft and plans to remove more than that amount this year. The MD-11s are being replaced by 767 freighters. UPS has 21 more 767s on order from Boeing. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ups-plans-hire-300-pilots-210045870.html Spirit Airlines Announces Deferral of Airbus Aircraft Deliveries Spirit Airlines, Inc. ("Spirit" or the "Company") (NYSE: SAVE) today announced that it reached an agreement with Airbus to defer all aircraft on order that are scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2025 through the end of 2026 to 2030-2031. These deferrals do not include the direct-lease aircraft scheduled for delivery in that period, one each in the second and third quarter 2025, respectively. The agreement with Airbus will improve Spirit's liquidity position by approximately $340 million over the next two years. There are no changes to the aircraft on order with Airbus that are scheduled to be delivered in 2027-2029. As a result of grounded aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine availability issues, along with the 2025 and 2026 aircraft deferrals, Spirit announced it intends to furlough approximately 260 Pilots effective September 1, 2024. As recently announced, Spirit entered into a compensation agreement with Pratt & Whitney regarding its GTF engines, which is estimated to improve Spirit's liquidity between $150 million and $200 million over the term of that agreement. In addition, Spirit will continue to evaluate the use of its current financeable asset base to add additional liquidity over the coming months. "This amendment to our agreement with Airbus is an important part of Spirit's comprehensive plan to bolster profitability and strengthen our balance sheet," said Ted Christie, Spirit's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Deferring these aircraft gives us the opportunity to reset the business and focus on the core airline while we adjust to changes in the competitive environment. In addition, enhancing our liquidity provides us additional financial stability as we position the Company for a return to profitability. We would like to thank our partners at Airbus for their continued support and commitment to the long-term success of Spirit." Christie continued, "I am extremely proud of our dedicated Spirit team for their focus and resilience over the last few years. Unfortunately, we had to make the difficult decision to furlough Pilots given the grounded aircraft in our fleet and our deferral of future deliveries. We are doing everything we can to protect Team Members, while balancing our responsibility to return to positive cash-flow and thrive as a healthy company with long-term growth prospects. I thank the Spirit team for continuing to deliver affordable fares and great experiences to Guests." The Airbus amendment also defers by two years the exercise dates for optional aircraft included in Spirit's purchase agreement. There is no change to the total number of aircraft on order or Spirit options for additional aircraft. As previously announced, Spirit has retained Perella Weinberg & Partners L.P. and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as advisors. The Company has been taking, and will continue to take, prudent steps to ensure the strength of its balance sheet and ongoing operations, including assessing options to refinance upcoming debt maturities and bonds. https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Spirit+Airlines+%28SAVE%29+Announces+Deferral+of+Airbus+Aircraft+Deliveries/23037677.html PhD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY My name is Michail Karyotakis. I am a Research student at Cranfield University in the UK. Currently, I am working on my Research project, which is focused on Developing a Dynamic Safety Management Framework for Advanced Air Mobility Operations. The following Questionnaires serve the main purpose of data collection since data on the Research field is limited. The surveys are not affiliated with any airline, training organisation, or any other. Participation in the surveys is voluntary and anonymous (if desired by the participant). Each survey will take about 10 minutes to be completed. Thank you in advance for your time and patience. Your participation is highly appreciated. Please click the link below to enter the survey: https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M8LnQdhnjnu0Jg (1) https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmoQJRGyrp9PUEK (2) Student email: michail.k.karyotakis@cranfield.ac.uk 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