Flight Safety Information - April 16, 2024 No. 077 In This Issue : Incident: Serbia A320 near Amsterdam on Apr 15th 2024, hydraulic failure : Incident: Thai Asia X A333 near Hong Kong on Apr 14th 2024, engine problem : American Airlines Extends Use of CEFA Aviation's EFB Flight Replay to More Than 15,000 Pilots : Incident: Thai Asia X A333 near Hong Kong on Apr 15th 2024, engine problem again : Incident: American B738 at Austin on Apr 10th 2024, flapless landing : The pilots union at American Airlines says it's seeing more safety and maintenance issues : FAA taps Austin airport for safety improvements following spate of near-misses last year : American Airlines Regional Jet Declares Emergency During Final Descent Into Washington : Pilots seriously affected by cabin air quality while preparing to land : Boeing Says Testing Of 787 Proves Aircraft Is Safe : With New FAA Category 1 Rating Lithuanian Operators Could Bridge Airline Capacity Gap : FAA Proposes Directive For Boeing 747-400F To Address Risks Of Fuel Tank Explosions : Argus: Business Aircraft Ops Continue Slide in March but April Improving : Air Force’s 1st female fighter pilot is a UT alum, and she’s this year’s commencement speaker : Newly Certified Gulfstream G700: A Guide To The Longest Range Private Jet : NTSB Urges Better Prop Inspections : PhD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEYS Survey # 1 Survey # 2 : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Serbia A320 near Amsterdam on Apr 15th 2024, hydraulic failure An Air Serbia Airbus A320-200, registration YU-APO performing flight JU-260 from Belgrade (Serbia) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was descending towards Amsterdam when the crew reported they had a minor technical problem, no hydraulics. The crew declined runway 22 stating it was too short and requested runway 27. The aircraft landed safely on runway 27, stopped on the runway and was subsequently towed to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 10 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51773c33&opt=0 Incident: Thai Asia X A333 near Hong Kong on Apr 14th 2024, engine problem A Thai AirAsia X Airbus A330-300, registration HS-XTG performing flight XJ-701 from Seoul (South Korea) to Bangkok (Thailand), was enroute at FL400 about 160nm southeast of Hong Kong (China) when the crew descended the aircraft to FL340 and subsequently decided to divert to Hong Kong reporting possible engine (Trent 772) problems, no assistance was needed. The aircraft landed safely on Hong Kong's runway 25R about 45 minutes after leaving FL400. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 12.5 hours then continued the flight and reached Bangkok with a delay of about 13 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=51773986&opt=0 Incident: Thai Asia X A333 near Hong Kong on Apr 15th 2024, engine problem again A Thai AirAsia X Airbus A330-300, registration HS-XTG performing flight XJ-611 from Osaka Kansai (Japan) to Bangkok (Thailand), was enroute at FL400 about 260nm eastsoutheast of Hong Kong (China) when the crew descended the aircraft to FL300 and subsequently decided to divert to Hong Kong reporting possible engine problems. The aircraft landed safely on Hong Kong's runway 07L about one hour after leaving FL400. The aircraft had diverted to Hong Kong the previous day due to a similiar problem, see Incident: Thai Asia X A333 near Hong Kong on Apr 14th 2024, engine problem. The aircraft is still on the ground in Hong Kong about 1.5 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=51773aa3&opt=0 Incident: American B738 at Austin on Apr 10th 2024, flapless landing An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N821NN performing flight AA-217 from Charlotte,NC to Austin,TX (USA) with 143 people on board, was on approach to Austin when the crew reported they had a flaps problems and needed an extended downwind. The aircraft subsequently entered a hold to work the checklists, the crew finally declared emergency reporting they had a flaps fail and needed to perform a 0-flap landing. The aircraft landed safely on runway 36L at a higher speed than normal about 30 minutes after reporting the flaps problems. The aircraft returned to service about 23 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=517542dd&opt=0 The pilots union at American Airlines says it's seeing more safety and maintenance issues DALLAS (AP) — The pilots union at American Airlines says there has been “a significant spike” in safety issues at the airline, including fewer routine aircraft inspections and shorter test flights on planes returning from major maintenance work. The union also says it has seen incidents in which tools were left in wheel wells and items were left in the sterile area around planes parked at airport gates. A spokesman said Monday that union officials have raised their concerns with senior managers at the airline and were encouraged by the company's response. American, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, said it has an industry-leading safety management system. An airline spokesperson said American is in regular contact with regulators and unions “to further bolster our strong safety record and enhance our ever-evolving safety culture." Dennis Tajer, a pilot and spokesman for the union, said the union spoke recently with senior management, “and management’s initial response to our request was encouraging. We fully intend to do everything we can to assure that American maintains strong margins of safety.” The Federal Aviation Administration declined to comment directly on the union's allegations or whether the agency has increased its oversight of American as a result. In a statement, an FAA spokesperson said airlines required to have systems for identifying potential hazards before they become serious problems. The safety committee of the Allied Pilots Association said in an email to members Saturday that the union “has been tracking a significant spike in safety- and maintenance-related problems in our operation.” The union said American has increased the time between routine inspections on planes. It also said American has ended overnight maintenance checks unless a plane is written up for special attention or due for scheduled maintenance and now does “abbreviated” test flights on planes returning to service after major maintenance checks or long-term storage. The union asked its members to report any safety or maintenance problems. “We all understand that aviation accidents are the result of a chain of events — often a series of errors — and catching just one of those errors could prevent a tragedy,” the union said in the email. https://www.yahoo.com/news/pilots-union-american-airlines-says-192538629.html FAA taps Austin airport for safety improvements following spate of near-misses last year Federal aviation authorities on Monday announced four US airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, will be the first to receive new airfield surveillance systems this summer meant to reduce the risk of runway incursions. The system, called the "Surface Awareness Initiative," aims to improve air traffic controllers' situational awareness. The Federal Aviation Administration plans to complete the improvements at the four airports by July, while "scores" of other airports will receive them by the end of 2025, according to a news release. The announcement comes after a spate of near-misses at US airports last year spurred national discussions around airspace safety. One close call last winter at Austin's city-run airport, where a landing FedEx cargo plane and departing Southwest passenger plane came within 100 feet of each other, putting the lives of 128 people aboard the aircraft at risk, and was frequently cited by lawmakers as an example for the need of added safety. More on close calls at ABIA: Private jet took 'evasive action' to avoid a fighter plane at Austin airport, FAA says Once installed, the Surface Awareness Initiative works by using aircraft-broadcasted data to display surface traffic to controllers at airports without a surface surveillance tool — like Austin's airport, which lacks a ground radar system like those at the nation's busiest airfields. When in use, aircraft and specially equipped ground vehicles appear as icons on an airport map, depicting their locations on runways, taxiways, hold ramps and other areas. In the news release announcing the improvements, Mike Whitaker, FAA Administrator, said the regulatory agency was "committed to doing everything possible to make our runways even safer." Whitaker said the Surface Awareness Initiative provides air traffic controllers with "timely and accurate depictions" of aircraft and vehicles in "all weather conditions." The morning of the near-miss between the FedEx and Southwest planes last year was beset with heavy fog, according to investigative materials released by the National Transportation Safety Board, which has an open investigation of the incident. Three other US airports — Dallas Love Field, Indianapolis International Airport and Nashville International Airport — will receive the improvements by July, according to the news release. FAA officials selected Austin's airport to be one of the first to receive the improvements because of the post-pandemic surge of flights it has seen, said Chris Mullooly, an FAA spokesperson, in a statement. More than 22 million passengers flew in and out of the airport in 2023—more than 1 million more than the previous record of just over 21 million in 2022. The Surface Awareness Initiative is one of three initiatives the FAA "fast-tracked" after last year's string of close calls. Monday's announcement marks the second time Austin's airport was chosen as an early adopter for the safety improvements. In a statement, Austin's airport leadership praised the FAA announcement detailing the safety investment and thanked local and congressional elected officials for "their continued advocacy to ensure a safe AUS for all." "We strongly support the FAA’s investment in new technologies that will further enhance runway safety and are grateful for their selection of our airport as one of the first in the nation to receive the new Awareness Initiative system," said Sam Haynes, an airport spokesperson, in the statement. A safety tool called "Approach Runway Verification" was installed and began use at Austin's airport last month. The tool provides controllers with visual and audible alerts if an approaching aircraft is lined up to land on the wrong airport surface. The city has expedited its efforts to roll out a system that would direct aircraft as they’re pulling in and out of the Barbara Jordan Terminal. As a result of the near-misses last year, airport officials planned a temporary rollout of the system, which is scheduled for a full rollout in 2025. Haynes said the temporary system is nearing completion, pending the installation of new camera feeds and readying equipment. The airport has completed the hiring of staff to manage the operation. The airport will solicit bids from potential contractors with technical expertise to design, operate and maintain the permanent program. Once a contractor is selected and the Austin City Council approves, the system will take between 12 and 18 months to stand up, Haynes said. Airport officials are planning to bring a contract to the City Council this fall. https://www.yahoo.com/news/faa-taps-austin-airport-safety-203614205.html American Airlines Regional Jet Declares Emergency During Final Descent Into Washington SUMMARY • An American Airlines CRJ-700 recently declared an emergency as it approached Washington D.C. • After declaring the emergency, the plane entered a holding pattern at 5,000 feet. • The aircraft was bound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) but diverted to Dulles International Airport (IAD). Yesterday, an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ-700 declared an emergency approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Unknown emergency Incidents in the airline industry happen pretty often but are not always highlighted or covered by the media. Several aircraft squawk 7700 every week, meaning pilots put the 7700 code into aircraft transponders. The 7700 code signals to air traffic controllers (ATC) that there is an emergency onboard, whether mechanical, technical, or medical. Putting in the code allows ATC to prioritize the signaling aircraft and clear the way for landing. What Does It Mean When A Plane Squawks 7700? Yesterday, a Bombardier CRJ-700, operating flight 5044 for American Airlines, declared an emergency as it approached Washington D.C. The regional jet had departed Charleston International Airport and was bound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). According to AviationSourceNews, the aircraft declared an emergency after entering a holding pattern at 5,000 feet. The CRJ then diverted to Dulles International Airport (IAD) and was on the ground for several hours before flying to DCA. Simple Flying contacted American Airlines but did not receive a response at the time of publication. Recent American Airlines news Last week, American announced it was expanding to its 228th domestic destination, Provo, Utah. This fall, the Fort-Worth-based carrier will launch flights from its home at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and its Arizona hub at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. As Simple Flying reported last week, both routes, with two flights from DFW and one from PHX, will be operated with Bombardier CRJ 700 planes. American Airlines Adds To Domestic Network With New Service To Provo, Utah American will face competition on the route to DFW from Breeze Airways, the young airline that operates a base in Provo and is headquartered in Salt Lake City. To Phoenix, American will face competition from ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air. Brian Torgersen, Director of Provo Airport, said, “We have been telling our story to all who would listen, and American Airlines has stepped up to provide exceptional service to two exceptional major hub airports! We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome American Airlines and the entire world to Provo!” Late last month, American announced it would begin offering passengers ad-based WiFi on some domestic aircraft. Passengers will be required to watch ads before being allowed to access the network. The airline also announced it would roll out an option to purchase WiFi with AAdvantage points and that its inflight networks would soon be capable of handling video streaming. Earlier in the month, American made headlines by scheduling its first regular Boeing 787 operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) serving New York City. Though the Dreamliner has been a part of American's fleet for several years, never before has the airline had regular flights with the type from its New York base. That will change at the end of October when American swaps its flights to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi from the Boeing 777-300ER. https://simpleflying.com/american-airlines-regional-jet-declares-emergency-washington-dulles-international-airport/ Pilots seriously affected by cabin air quality while preparing to land Two pilots were dangerously affected by a cabin air quality incident on a QantasLink Boeing 717-200 flights as it prepare to land at Hobart airport in Australia last year. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau published their report into the incident yesterday and National Jet Systems – who own the QantasLink brand – have announced changes to their training procedures as a result of the incident. a large passenger jet sitting on top of an airport tarmac When the flight set of from Sydney on 6th June 2023, two members of the flight crew experienced a strong chlorine smell in the area of the front galley. They experience symptoms of dizziness, a feeling of pressure in the head and a metallic taste in the mouth. The odour quickly dissipated and no-one else among the crew or the passengers reported smelling it. The two crew members soon declared themselves fit to continue the flight, so the plane carried on to Hobart. The following is verbatim from the ATSB report: At about 2108, about 10 NM from Hobart Airport and at an altitude of about 4,000 ft, the captain noticed a chlorine odour, which they assessed as coming from the flight deck air conditioning gasper vents. The first officer noticed the odour shortly after the captain but neither the captain nor first officer experienced any effects at this time. The captain and first officer reported that the odour was transient and disappeared after about 10 seconds. About 30 seconds later, while the flight crew were configuring the aircraft for landing on runway 30, the captain noticed quickly developing adverse effects on vision, mental capacity, and movement, and self-assessed as unable to safely fly the aircraft. The captain later described the symptoms as fogginess of thought, confusion, deteriorating situational awareness, weakness and tingling in the arms and legs, and narrowing of vision. The captain indicated their intention to transfer control of the aircraft to the first officer by stating ’your controls’. At that time the first officer noticed that the captain looked pale but did not appear incapacitated. When about 8.5 NM from the runway at an altitude of about 3,250 ft, the first officer took over the role of PF [Pilot Flying]. At the same time, the captain communicated that they were able to continue as PM [Pilot Monitoring] with the assistance of the first officer. The first officer noted that the captain correctly actioned the commands to lower the flaps and landing gear to configure the aircraft for landing. The first officer was not experiencing negative symptoms at that stage and, as the odour was not detectable, assessed that emergency oxygen was not required. Shortly after, the first officer noticed that the captain was struggling to read the checklist and was tripping over words, but managed to self-correct and read back air traffic control calls correctly. The first officer visually monitored the captain’s condition and ensured that no inadvertent contact was made with the flight controls. At about 3 NM from the runway and an altitude of 1,000 ft, the first officer noted that the captain, as PM, had not made the required ‘stable’ call to confirm the aircraft was stabilised on the approach. The first officer prompted the captain with a call of ‘1,000 feet’, and the captain responded with ‘stable’. The first officer confirmed that the aircraft was stable and continued the approach. The first officer considered making a PAN call [An internationally recognised radio call announcing an urgency condition which concerns the safety of an aircraft or its occupants but where the flight crew does not require immediate assistance], but assessed it was unnecessary due to the immediacy of landing. At about 100 ft above the runway elevation, the first officer experienced difficulties keeping the aircraft lined up with the runway centreline. The first officer reported that the aircraft was drifting to the right of the centreline, and that their reactions to correct the drift were slower than normal. The first officer also reported feeling ‘hazy’, however these difficulties were not communicated to the captain at that time. At about 21:13, the aircraft landed at Hobart Airport and was taxied to a parking bay. The flight crew was assessed by a company medical doctor via teleconference, during which the doctor observed that the captain’s speech was noticeably affected, consistent with impairment. This resulted in the captain attending hospital for further testing. The two forward cabin crew later reported the same smell on landing and again both felt similar mild symptoms. The first officer also reported a dull headache post flight, which lasted about two days. Subsequent tests showed that the pilot had slightly elevated levels of CO2 in his blood, although within an hour this had fallen to normal levels. A week earlier on 1st June, cabin crew had reported a rotten garbage smell after take-off, lasting five minutes. Maintenance was carried out in an attempt to remedy the issue. Three days later, on 4th June, a chlorine smell was reported at the forward and aft galleys as well as the flight deck during take-off for between three and five minutes. Cabin crew reported mild symptoms of dizziness and shaking and the flight was diverted to Sydney. Systems were subsequently inspected for signs of oil leaks and functional checks were carried out but no odours could be detected on the ground. The aircraft made four further flights without air quality issues before the day in question. The resultant, intensive checks once again failed to identify the source of the chlorine smell. In response to the incident, National Jet Systems issued a Safety Action Notice reminding their flight crews to consider using supplemental oxygen and the declaration of a PAN in response to a cabin air quality event. They also advised the ATSB they had taken the following safety actions: • The flight crew recurrent simulator training syllabus had been updated to include in seat instruction specific to pilot incapacitation, followed by a practical exercise donning oxygen masks and conducting an approach, landing, and taxiing to the gate while using oxygen. • A review of smoke/fumes checklist and simulator training was undertaken. • Learnings from this occurrence have been incorporated into the newly introduced company A220 aircraft smoke/fumes, hypoxia, and incapacitation procedures. • A review of hypoxia training material to include specific reference to histotoxic hypoxia was undertaken, with draft content awaiting input from the Qantas chief medical officer. • Aircrew emergency procedures documentation and training pertaining to the recognition and management of crew incapacitation have been updated to include subtle and cognitive incapacitation. https://airqualitynews.com/editors-pick/pilots-incapacitated-by-cabin-air-quality-while-coming-in-to-land/ Boeing Says Testing Of 787 Proves Aircraft Is Safe Boeing defended its safety practices Monday, touting aircraft testing protocols as it girds for a tough congressional hearing featuring critics of the embattled aviation giant. "Boeing is confident in the safety and durability of the 787 and 777," the company said in a powerpoint presentation released two days before a congressional hearing scheduled to include a whistleblower who has alleged that some 1,400 Boeing planes suffer from significant safety issues. https://www.barrons.com/news/boeing-says-testing-of-787-proves-aircraft-is-safe-1004bfaa With New FAA Category 1 Rating Lithuanian Operators Could Bridge Airline Capacity Gap While Lithuania has no commercial airlines, the majority of operators based in the country wet lease their aircraft to other airlines globally. SUMMARY • Lithuania was upgraded to Category 1 status by the FAA. • One Lithuanian airline has already applied to operate flights to or within the United States. • While the country has no scheduled airlines, Lithuania-based carriers have a lot of experience in the ACMI business. While no Lithuanian airlines are actively flying commercially, only offering their services on the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) or charter markets, the country gaining Category 1 status could unlock some interesting possibilities for its ACMI services providers. Three years of intensive work According to a statement issued by the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport and Communications (Lietuvos Respublikos susisiekimo ministerija, SuMIn), Lithuania achieved Category 1 status from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), enabling the country’s airlines to conduct flights to/from and in the United States. The Ministry detailed that various procedures and regulations had to be harmonized to achieve the status, with amendments being made to the country’s Law on Aviation and aviation-related offense fines’ within the Code of Administrative Offenses. Marius Skuodis, the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, said that the country achieved Category 1 status after almost three years of intensive work by SuMin and relevant institutions. As such, the achievement, “[…] creates favourable conditions for airlines operating in our country to conduct transatlantic operations. This is an important impetus for the development of the country’s aviation business and increasing competitiveness in the global market.” Submitting applications for flights in the US Still, despite achieving Category 1 status, Lithuanian carriers will have to go through the regular procedures to operate itineraries in the US, which includes obtaining permission from the Department of Transportation (DOT). According to SuMin, one airline has already applied to operate within the country’s airspace, while two others should use the opportunity to submit their documents to operate flights to or within the US. Currently, Lithuania has ten active airlines, according to data by ch-aviation. Barring two private jet charter companies, the other eight are engaged in the ACMI business, also offering their aircraft to tour operators to charter flights to various destinations. This includes DAT LT, a subsidiary of Danish Air Transport (DAT), KlasJet, TransAviaBaltika, GetJet Airlines, Heston Airlines, and Avion Express. Both KlasJet and Avion Express belong to the Avia Solutions Group (ASG), while GetJet Airlines is part of the GetJet Holdings group, which also owns Malta-based Airhub Airlines and Latvia-based GetJet Latvia. Meanwhile, Heston Airlines is an independent ACMI operator. Spare capacity One of the pressing issues in the US, as well as elsewhere in the world, is the current capacity shortage from either delivery delays or inspections and replacements of parts of the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G, powering the Airbus A320neo family aircraft. As a result, airlines are struggling to grow their capacity in the upcoming year. Nevertheless, ch-aviation data showed that Lithuania-based airlines have 75 aircraft: 35 Airbus A320/A321ceo, 19 Boeing 737, including five 737 Classics, 16 ATR 42/72, and two BAe Jetstreams. Only Heston Airlines has three widebody aircraft, namely a trio of A330s, registered as LY-MAC, LY-PLW, and LY-TKL. Two of them, LY-MAC and LY-TKL, currently operate flights on behalf of Uzbekistan Airways. Currently, 18 out of the 75 aircraft do not have an ACMI customer assigned to them, meaning that there is some spare capacity available that Lithuania-based airlines could offer to other carriers, including those based in the US. However, some of the aircraft are currently in storage or maintenance. https://simpleflying.com/lithuania-faa-category-1-rating/ American Airlines Extends Use of CEFA Aviation's EFB Flight Replay to More Than 15,000 Pilots • American Airlines extends use of CEFA Aviation's EFB Flight Replay to its 15,000 pilots to further enhance pilot training and drive operational excellence We are confident this tool will contribute significantly to our collaborative safety initiatives in partnership with the Allied Pilots Association”— Capt. John DeLeeuw, Managing Director of Safety and Efficiency COLMAR, FRANCE, April 16, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- American Airlines, a leading worldwide airline, has announced the extension of CEFA Aviation's EFB Flight Replay (CEFA-AMS) to its 15,000 pilots following a successful program on its wide-body fleets. In 2022, American Airlines became the first U.S. airline to implement CEFA-AMS, an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) application designed to enable pilots to virtually replay and review flight performance on their EFB tablets post-landing for debriefing and training purposes. After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, the airline will expand the utilization of this innovative tool across its entire pilot workforce and fleets. CEFA Aviation, renowned for its expertise in flight visualization using real-world flight recorder data, developed CEFA-AMS to allow pilots and flight operating crews to replay virtual recreations of their flights within minutes after landing. Regarding this significant milestone, CEFA Aviation CEO and Founder Dominique Mineo expressed enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted by American’s decision to extend the use of CEFA-AMS to its entire pilot cadre. This extension is an additional layer to bolster flight safety and is a testament to the airline’s commitment to its pilots." Capt. John DeLeeuw, Managing Director of Safety and Efficiency at American Airlines, remarked, "Driving aviation safety forward is in our airline’s and each and every American Airlines pilot’s DNA. The extension of CEFA-AMS builds on our strong foundation, leveraging cutting-edge technology to further enhance pilot training and drive operational excellence. We are confident this tool will contribute significantly to our collaborative safety initiatives in partnership with the Allied Pilots Association." Capt. Paul Fitzgerald, Allied Pilots Association Deputy Safety Chair (FOQA) and lead Gatekeeper added, "Implementation of this new capability is the result of a collaboration between the Allied Pilots Association, American Airlines and CEFA Aviation. The utilization of CEFA-AMS vastly increases the impact of our FOQA data and represents a pivotal step forward in our safety enhancement efforts. It provides our pilots with valuable insights and timely post- flight analysis capabilities, further bolstering our commitment to safety." About CEFA AMS CEFA Aviation has provided animation services for recorded flight data for over 23 years. The industry recognizes its animation tool as an exceptional solution for airlines and accident investigation agencies. CEFA-AMS is an EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) application that leverages CEFA Aviation's expertise and the latest technical solutions in the aviation industry. The application provides pilots with access to accurate and detailed flight animations. This data helps them analyze individual and crew performance, especially during dynamic situations or critical moments that require review. The tool is invaluable for crews because it produces factual evidence for debriefings. The animation also provides a fully immersive experience featuring a realistic cockpit interface. As an alternate option to the animation, pilots can access performance data via performance graphs for an in-depth analysis of sequences of actions and metrics. About CEFA Aviation CEFA Aviation, a privately owned French company, offers cutting-edge flight data animation solutions for enhancing commercial airline flight safety and pilot training. Backed by 23 years of experience, the company's engineering and aviation experts have designed innovative solutions that simulate intricate and precise flights using data from aircraft flight recorders. Over 100 major and regional airlines, cargo operators, and investigative authorities on five continents use the company's core application, CEFA Flight Animation Software (FAS), for pilot training and safety analysis. Translating flight data into precise visualization requires an in-depth understanding of aircraft systems and software engineering complexity. CEFA Aviation has pioneered easy-to-use flight data animation since Dominique Mineo founded the company in 2000. Its long-lasting success results from a passion for aviation and innovation, listening to clients, and delivering gold-standard support. CEFA Aviation is headquartered in Colmar, France. At the Dubai Airshow 2017, CEFA Aviation unveiled a breakthrough visualization tool to enhance further and personalize pilot training: CEFA Aviation Mobile Services (AMS). For additional information, visit www.cefa-aviation.com About American Airlines Group To Care for People on Life's Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company's stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what's happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American on Tweeter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. Paulina Calderon CEFA Aviation communication@cefa-aviation.com https://www.abnnewswire.net/press/en/124828/American-Airlines-Extends-Use-of-CEFA-Aviations-EFB-Flight-Replay-to-More-Than-15000-Pilots.html Argus: Business Aircraft Ops Continue Slide in March but April Improving Globally, worldwide business aircraft operations were off YOY by 3.7 percent in March Midsize cabins and fractional operations were the only categories to inch up YoY in March. © Flexjet Continuing declines in North America and Europe drove down global business aviation flight activity year-over-year (YOY) in March by 3.7 percent, according to the latest TraqPak report from Argus International. Operations in the North American market dropped 4.2 percent from March 2023 and were off by 11.3 in Europe. This tamped down the global results despite the 10.2 percent gain in the other parts of the world. Argus anticipates the YOY activity to still be down in April, but not as precipitously as in March. The data and safety analyst forecast business aviation activity in North America to be off by 1.4 percent in April and only by 0.3 percent in Europe. "March wrapped up Q1 remaining status quo; however, the early data in April has shown an uptick in activity,” said Travis Kuhn, senior v-p of software for Argus. “If that change holds, then we would be looking at improving activity across the North American market. The key market to watch remains the Part 135 market as it continues its recent run of declines." In North America, fractional activity logged the only YOY growth area, up by 12.6 percent. Part 135 operations slid by 6.2 percent and Part 91 by 8.4 percent. Operations involving midsize aircraft edged into the positive side, by 0.1 percent, the only cabin class to do so. Turboprop operations were down by 8.5 percent, large cabins by 6.7 percent, and small cabins by 3.2 percent. Turboprop activity was much quieter in March in Europe as well, when compared with a year earlier. Business aircraft turboprop operations dropped by 23.2 percent YOY in March, large cabins by 11.2 percent, and small cabins by 7.4 percent. Similar to North America, the midsize cabin held its own, matching operations from a year ago. Conversely, in the rest of the world, turboprops led the improvements, up 18.7 percent year-over-year. This was followed by small cabin operations increasing by 10.1 percent from March 2023 and midsize cabins by 9.9 percent. Large-cabin operations, however, dipped by 1.9 percent in the month. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2024-04-15/argus-business-aircraft-ops-continue-slide-march-april Air Force’s 1st female fighter pilot is a UT alum, and she’s this year’s commencement speaker AUSTIN (KXAN) — The United States Air Force’s first female fighter pilot went to the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated in 1990. Now, 34 years later, she’s been selected as the university’s keynote speaker for its 141st Spring Commencement. Retired Maj. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt, an aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics alumna, grew up in St. Louis and came to UT because she wanted to study aerospace engineering, UT said in a release. Leavitt dedicated 31 years of service to the Air Force, logging more than 3,000 hours of flight time, including 300 hours of combat flying in Iraq and Afghanistan. She went to pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio and was the top graduate of her class. In 1998, Leavitt became the first female pilot to graduate from Weapons School, the Air Force equivalent of the Navy’s Top Gun, according to a release from UT. UT’s release added Leavitt said that her own experience with loneliness in efforts to become a fighter pilot gives her empathy with this year’s graduates, who persisted through the loneliness of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am honored to join the class of 2024 for their commencement ceremony,” Leavitt said in the release. “These graduates showed incredible grit as they persevered through the pandemic. Rather than focus on how their lives were impacted by COVID, they focused on actions they could control and excelled in their endeavors at UT. With courage, compassion and commitment, the Longhorn class of 2024 will change the world.” Leavitt also consulted with Marvel Studios during the filming of the 2019 movie “Captain Marvel,” working closely with actor Brie Larson so that it would give an authentic representation of a female fighter pilot, UT’s release noted. Leavitt also received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2023 from the Texas Exes. “Maj. Gen. Leavitt broke much more than the sound barrier when she first took to the skies as a fighter pilot. She set an example of great persistence in pursuing her dreams, resilience in the face of disappointment, and being prepared for unforeseen opportunities,” UT President Jay Hartzell said in the release. “In many ways she represents this year’s graduates, who entered UT physically detached from our campus at the start of the pandemic and adapted so they could succeed. I am incredibly proud that Maj. Gen. Leavitt blazed her remarkable trail as a Longhorn.” The commencement ceremony will be held May 11 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and is expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees. https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/air-forces-1st-female-fighter-pilot-is-a-ut-alum-and-shes-this-years-commencement-speaker/ Newly Certified Gulfstream G700: A Guide To The Longest Range Private Jet The Gulfstream G700 has the longest range of any business jet currently offered. Gulfstream's G700has been among the most anticipated business jets over the past several years. This jet was set to become one of the largest purpose-builtbusiness jetsand one of the fastest. However, what is most impressive about this aircraft is its incredible range. The G700, an ultra-long-range aircraft, shattered its initial range projections during flight testing to become the business jet with the longest range. Initially, the aircraft was introduced in 2019. However, after several years of testing,Gulfstreamrealized it had achieved higher performance specifications than initially intended. The aircraft recently acquired its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification on Friday, March 29th. This allowed Gulfstream to begin deliveries of the nearly fifty aircraft it had produced while it was awaiting its final certification. Let's take a closer look at the history of the Gulfstream G700 and its certification path. Let's also take a closer look at some of the design features that have allowed this aircraft to become the business jet with the longest range. As previously mentioned, the Gulfstream G700 was initially introduced in 2019 at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada. The announcement came with a video of the prototype aircraft taxiing on its own at the Gulfstream headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. The aircraft was a stretched version of the successful Gulfstream G50 and had a projected maximum range of 7,500 nautical miles (8,603 miles). The cockpit was shared with the previous Gulfstream models, the G500 and the G600. Since its initial introduction to the business jet industry, the G700 has gone through significant flight testing during the certification process. During flight testing in 2021, the G700 set a speed record while flying from Savannah to Doha and again from Doha to Paris. The aircraft completed these flights in 13 hours and six minutes and six hours and 15 minutes, respectively. These were both records for the fastest flight between the two given cities. As flight testing continued, Gulfstream noticed other significant improvements. After 4,100 total hours of flight testing, in late 2023, Gulfstream announced that the maximum range of the aircraft had increased by 250 nautical miles (288 miles). This brought the aircraft's maximum overall range to 7,750 nautical miles (8,919 miles). Gulfstream's G700 had been in the late stages of the certification process until its type certification was finally awarded on Friday, March 29th. Almost fifty aircraft were already in production or completed at the time of the certification, meaning the Savannah-based aircraft manufacturer could begin delivering the type immediately. PerAerotime, Gulfstream is expecting to deliver approximately 50 total G700s in 2024, which is a significant number of the 160 total aircraft it expects to deliver. Notable design features As mentioned earlier, the Gulfstream G700 is a stretched version of the G650. It shares a wing with the G650 but adds wider winglets. This brings the total measurements of the aircraft to: Length: 109 feet ten inches Wingspan: 103 feet Height: 25 feet five inches The G700 is fitted with active control sidesticks and utilizes the Honeywell Primus Epic flight deck. This system includes synthetic and enhanced vision systems. It also utilizes two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, which provide over 18,250 pounds of force each. This helped the aircraft reach higher cruise and maximum speeds than initially intended. The aircraft has the following specifications: Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 56,365 pounds Maximum payload 6,385 pounds Fuel capacity 49,400 pounds Fuel consumption (per hour) 509 gallons Cruise speed Mach 0.88 (675 miles per hour) Maximum speed Mach 0.935 (717.4 miles per hour) Ceiling 51,000 feet The aircraft has a much longer cabin than the G650, although it is about one foot shorter than its main competitor, the Bombardier Global 7500. Baggage volume is the same as the G650, at 195 cubic feet. However, the cabin has the same cross-section, which is as follows: Cabin length: 56 feet eleven inches Cabin height: six feet three inches Cabin width: eight feet two inches This interior cabin can fit up to five areas and has ten windows on each side, whereas the G650 only has eight each. It can fit a maximum of 19 passengers or ten in a sleeping arrangement. The cabin includes the standard filtered air system in most Gulfstream jets. This system replenishes cabin air every two to three minutes. The cabin also offers Jet ConneX Ka-band WiFi for all passengers in the cabin. Achieving the longest range of any business jet As previously mentioned, during the certification process, Gulfstream announced that the G700 had surpassed its initial range projections. Initially, the aircraft was expected to match the Bombardier Global 7500's range of 7,500 nautical miles (8,630 miles). However, during the flight testing process, the G700 was upgraded to reach a maximum range of 7,750 nautical miles (8,919 miles). This will be the furthest range of any purpose-built business jet, which excludes commercial airlines converted to private jets, such as Boeing Business Jets. Other performance upgrades include new takeoff and landing distances. These new specifications are confirmed to be 5,995 feet and 3,150 feet, respectively. Both of these were improvements on initial projections. https://simpleflying.com/longest-range-private-jet-gulfstream-g700/ NTSB Urges Better Prop Inspections After investigating a few aluminum propeller failures, the NTSB has issued a Safety Alert and it’s particularly addressing backcountry pilots. “Aluminum propeller blades can be susceptible to fatigue cracking and fracture if a small nick, pit, or corrosion on the surface or edge is not found and repaired during preflight inspection or maintenance,” the NTSB said in the alert. “Such damage can concentrate stress from normal airplane operation loads, resulting in fatigue crack initiation and growth followed by propeller blade fracture.” The board wants to remind pilots to carefully inspect the prop during each walkaround and get the prop fixed if nicks or cracks are found. It’s also trying to prompt mechanics to make thorough prop inspections part of every annual. Backcountry and aerial spray aircraft are more susceptible because of the increased risk of damage on unimproved runways. But not all blade failures are on Cubs and Cessna taildraggers. The board recently dealt with a Beech 58 Baron that shed a blade on a recent flight. It had last been overhauled eight years previously when it should have been serviced after five years. “If the recommended overhaul had been performed, the corrosion pits that led to fatigue crack initiation would likely have been detected and removed, preventing the blade separation,” the alert said. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/ntsb-urges-better-prop-inspections/ 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