Flight Safety Information - July 9, 2025 No. 136 In This Issue : Amendment would prioritize aviation safety, honor those who died in Jan. 29 DCA collision : Are India's skies safe? Air safety watchdog responds amid rising concerns : Loss of control during taxi and ground collision involving SAAB 340B: Final Report : EASA Tells Airlines To Stay Clear Of Iran As Security Concerns Continue : Individual killed after being sucked into the engine of a taxiing aircraft : FAA Urges Genav Operators To Complete Activity Survey : Helicopter was taking off from an indigenous village for a medical flight when it crashed . : An Eclipse 500 suffered a runway excursion after landing Nashville, TN (KJWN). : Aviation safety, cutting out financial opportunists embedded in proposal : Calendar of Events Amendment would prioritize aviation safety, honor those who died in Jan. 29 DCA collision Rebecca Barnabi Published date: July 7, 2025 | 5:54 pm Updated: July 7, 2025 | 8:16 pm An amendment was introduced last week to prioritize aviation safety in America and honor the victims of the January 29 DCA tragedy. U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia filed the amendment to the GOP tax and spending ‘reconciliation’ package to ensure that any increased lease payments from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) are reinvested directly into aviation safety and security at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and across the national aviation system. The amendment also protects the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) power to negotiate long-term lease terms with MWAA, and directs the establishment of a permanent memorial honoring the victims of the January 29, 2025, mid-air collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Aviation Brigade helicopter over DCA. Sixty-seven crew members and passengers died in the collision. “There is simply no justification for raising lease payments on our region’s airports without dedicating those funds to what should be our top priority: keeping the flying public safe. This amendment ensures that any additional resources from MWAA go exactly where they belong — into safety and security upgrades, nationwide aviation improvements, and a fitting memorial to those we tragically lost earlier this year,” Warner said. Under the current lease agreement, which was negotiated with USDOT and runs through the year 2100, MWAA is required to pay the federal government a baseline of $7.5 million per year, with annual adjustments for inflation, for the use of DCA and IAD. Without public justification or analysis, the GOP reconciliation bill proposes doubling the obligation starting in 2027 and requires MWAA’s lease to be renegotiated every 10 years, in spite of the enormous complexity and number of stakeholders who are party to the lease, including USDOT, MWAA and the governments of the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The amendment would allow the proposed lease increase to proceed but redirect the revenue to: • Implement preliminary and final safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) related to the January 29 crash; • Establish and maintain a permanent memorial for the victims of the mid-air collision; and • Undertake projects directly related to the safety and security of DCA and IAD. • The amendment also restores USDOT’s ability to negotiate long-term leases with MWAA, a tool that had previously allowed for smart, strategic partnerships to support airport operations and infrastructure over the long term. “This is a commonsense step to make sure that aviation policy reflects the lessons of tragedy and the needs of the traveling public. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment,” Warner said. The amendment is co-sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, both of Maryland. Are India's skies safe? Air safety watchdog responds amid rising concerns Soutik Biswas India correspondent•@soutikBBC India's passenger air traffic has more than doubled since 2014–15 Just how safe are India's skies? It's a question many are asking after June's devastating Air India crash, which killed at least 270 people. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western India on 12 June. "India's skies have always been safe - in the past and even today," said Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the chief of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) - India's aviation safety regulator - in an interview with the BBC. "If you look at global safety metrics, such as those published by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which track the number of accidents per million flights, India consistently performs better than the world average," he said. "There were only two years within the 2010–2024 period where we exceeded the global average - those were the years when major accidents occurred." In August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344 crashed after skidding off a rain-soaked tabletop runway in Kozhikode, killing 21 people. A decade earlier, in May 2010, Flight 812 from Dubai overshot the runway in Mangalore and plunged into a gorge, leaving 158 dead. June's Air India crash was the third such accident in the country in 15 years. While such major accidents remain rare, recent headlines have raised fresh concerns. From a Delhi-Srinagar flight that hit severe turbulence, to growing reports of maintenance oversights and training shortfalls, questions around aviation safety are once again in focus. The latest involved SpiceJet, India's fourth-largest and longest-running low-cost airline. June's devastating Air India crash killed at least 270 people in Ahmedabad The Economic Times newspaper found that the aviation regulator had recently summoned the airline's leadership after a series of alarming findings - not from routine audits, but triggered by a British aviation firm. The newspaper reported that it began earlier this year when two of SpiceJet's De Havilland Q400 turboprops showed premature propeller failures. The airline alerted Dowty Propellers, a GE Aerospace-led UK manufacturer, which found damage to the internal bearings of the propellers. Each propeller has bearings with two races, or rings or tracks. In this case, the inner race was damaged. Instead of addressing the root cause, SpiceJet "reportedly kept applying more grease to the [entire] unit instead of addressing the root cause". Frustrated by the lack of corrective action, Dowty escalated the issue directly to India's aviation regulator, the newspaper reported. The DGCA's own audit in April "revealed even more deficiencies, including snag occurrences", the report said. Mr Kidwai told the BBC that the "turboprop propeller issue came to our attention through one of SpiceJet's maintenance organisations". "We took it up with SpiceJet and we ensured they took corrective action. We also found out that the senior management was not fully aware of the situation. We took action against the various post holders who were supposed to ensure compliance with the original equipment manufacturer and other regulations. We directed SpiceJet to remove them and suspend a few of them which they did," he said. More recently, Reuters reported that the aviation watchdog reprimanded Air India's budget carrier in March for delaying mandatory engine part replacements on an Airbus A320 and falsifying records to show compliance. Air India Express told the news agency it acknowledged the error to DGCA and undertook "remedial action and preventive measures". Mr Kidwai told the BBC that the information in this case came through "self-reporting by the airline". "I would not condone it [the lapses]. But [at least] we have started getting these reports. This came from the airline. Action has been taken in this case. In our audits we have mandated our people to be more alert and see whether there is any lapse and bring it to our attention." Since 2020, Indian domestic carriers have reported nearly 2,500 technical faults In May, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar faced severe turbulence and hail about 45 minutes after takeoff. The Airbus A321, carrying 222 passengers, reportedly encountered extreme vertical air currents - updrafts followed by downdrafts - that dislodged overhead bins and caused nose damage. The crew declared an emergency and safely landed at Srinagar with no injuries. The regulator launched an investigation, during which two pilots were grounded. Mr Kidwai told the BBC that the regulator had now "refined" its guidelines for pilots flying in turbulent conditions. For instance, if there's significant cloud cover or any weather pattern that poses a risk - and "we've clearly defined what constitutes such a risk" - pilots are now required to take specific action a set number of nautical miles before reaching it, he said. "This could include diverting, going around, or taking other appropriate steps." Since 2020, Indian domestic carriers have reported 2,461 technical faults, according to the federal civil aviation ministry data. IndiGo accounted for over half (1,288), followed by SpiceJet with 633, and Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express with 389 cases, as of January 2025. "Reporting of snags by airlines has gone up. This is good," Mr Kidwai said. "I wouldn't say I'm pleased about it. But I do see value in the growing culture of reporting [snags]. It's far better for every snag to be brought to the attention of the authorities than keeping quiet and operating the aircraft." Mr Kidwai said with the number of flights increasing, it's important to "see whether the turnaround time for flights is adequate for [maintenance] checks or not". To be sure, demands on the regulator have grown: India has emerged as the third-largest passenger aviation market in the world. Yet, over the past two years, the ministry of civil aviation has faced budget cuts, reflecting a reduced financial priority for the sector. Today, the country's scheduled carriers operate nearly 850 aircraft - a significant increase from around 400 just a decade ago. The number of air passengers has more than doubled since 2014–15 - from 116 million to 239 million. The number of commercial aerodromes has also seen a substantial rise - from around 60-70 a decade ago to nearly 130-140 today. "In total, including both scheduled and non-scheduled operators, we now have 1,288 aircraft in operation. By the end of the decade, we are projected to operate over 2,000 aircraft," Mr Kidwai said. (Non-scheduled operators include charter airlines, private jet operators, air taxis and helicopter services.) So had the latest Air India crash dented the reputation of air travel in India? Mr Kidwai said the data didn't point to that. "We looked at the data to assess whether it had any impact on domestic or international operations. There was no significant drop in traffic. At most, we observed a very marginal dip for a short period, affecting both domestic and international flights, along with a few cancellations," he told the BBC. "It's natural for people to feel anxious after such incidents. But over time, as more clarity emerges and the situation is better understood, that anxiety tends to subside. Time is a great healer." Loss of control during taxi and ground collision involving SAAB 340B Investigation summary What happened On 8 December 2023, a Lulutai Airlines Limited SAAB 340B (SAAB), registered A3-PUA was conducting a scheduled regional passenger service from Fua’amotu International Airport, Tongatapu, to Lupepau’u Airport, Vava’u. On descent into Vava’u, the flight crew identified an issue with the aircraft’s main hydraulic system not indicating pressure to some systems, and no indication of hydraulic fluid in the tank. The crew elected to return to Fua’amotu and were able to lower the aircraft’s landing gear with the auxiliary hydraulic system. After a successful landing, the aircraft lost brake pressure during the taxi to the domestic terminal, exiting the taxiway and impacting a disused refuelling bund, collapsing the right landing gear leg. The 3 crew and 35 passengers were able to evacuate the aircraft without injury. EASA Tells Airlines To Stay Clear Of Iran As Security Concerns Continue By Rytis Beresnevičius Published 14 hours ago Note: See photos and graphics in the original article. Airlines Avoiding Iran: Where Are They Flying Now? The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has updated its recommendation against operating flights over the airspace of Iran, warning airlines that heightened tensions in the region could still pose a risk to commercial aviation. The latest warning bulletin is valid until July 31. Its previous recommendation, encompassing the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon, expired on July 7. It was issued after Israel conducted strikes against targets in Iran, which resulted in reciprocal missile attacks, as well as the United States joining the conflict on June 22. Unpredictable Situation Over Iran Photo: K I Photography | Shutterstock On July 7, EASA issued a new conflict zone information bulletin (CZIB) about the airspace of Iran, detailing that despite a ceasefire, which Iran and Israel finalized on June 24, the agreement’s fragile nature “and the overall volatile situation in the region” continue to pose high risks to commercial aviation in the affected airspace. According to the European regulator, it issued the bulletin, valid until July 31, based on information available to itself, members of the European Union (EU), and the European Commission (EC). Sharing information between the stakeholders is necessary to ensure the safety of commercial flights over conflict zones and to identify areas of high risk, EASA said. “In terms of airspace management during the conflict, Iranian authorities have taken measures to address airspace risks by implementing temporary airspace closures and restrictions. However, a sudden resumption of hostilities, due to their unpredictable nature, could pose challenges to the timely and effective implementation of such measures.” Affecting European Airlines And Flights Operating To/From The EU As a result, EASA recommended that airlines should not operate within the affected airspace at all flight levels and closely monitor the situation and follow all available aeronautical publications concerning the region, which could be issued by Iran, its neighboring states, or information shared via the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform on Conflict Zones, as well as guidance by their national authorities. The recommendation applies to operators overseen by EASA, which includes airlines based in the member states of the EU, non-EU countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, and third country operators (TCO) approved by EASA, which would be flying to, from, and within the EU. Currently, the airspace of Iran is fully open. The country partially reopened its airspace on June 25, yet on July 2, the United States Virtual Embassy of Iran warned that commercial air travel from Tehran, the capital of Iran, and other major hubs could still face disruption. Individual killed after being sucked into the engine of a taxiing aircraft Date:Tuesday 8 July 2025Time:10:20Type: Airbus A319-111 Owner/operator:Volotea Registration:EC-MTF MSN:2382 Year of manufacture:2005 Engine model:CFMI CFM56-5B5/P Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities:1 Aircraft damage:None Location:Bergamo-Orio Al Serio Airport (BGY/LIME) - Italy Phase:TaxiNature:Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport:Bergamo-Orio Al Serio Airport (BGY/LIME) Destination airport:Oviedo/Aviles-Asturias Airport (OVD/LEAS) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources FAA Urges Genav Operators To Complete Activity Survey Survey data underpins safety metrics and policy decisions By Amy Wilder • Writer July 7, 2025 Note: See graphics in the original article. The FAA is urging aircraft owners and operators selected for its 47th Annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey to complete the brief questionnaire, emphasizing the role of the data in shaping safety metrics, infrastructure planning, and regulatory decisions. Now underway, the 2025 survey, which reports on 2024 flight data, was sent to a statistically selected sample of U.S. aircraft owners, with turbine, rotorcraft, and Alaska-based aircraft surveyed at a 100% rate. Roughly 30% of the total general aviation (GA) fleet is sampled each year, with lighter aircraft such as piston singles surveyed at a lower rate. As the only official source of GA fleet and flight-hour data in the U.S., the survey provides the foundation for tracking activity trends, calculating accident rates, evaluating the impact of regulatory changes, and planning for National Airspace System needs. The NTSB’s GA accident rate, for example, uses this data as a denominator, since the GA sector is not subject to mandatory reporting like airline operations. Introduced in 1978, the survey replaced the voluntary second half of an older FAA form, the Aircraft Registration Eligibility, Identification, and Activity Report, and has undergone regular revisions to keep pace with changing technology, equipment, and operational patterns. In recent years, updates have included more detailed questions on avionics, aircraft use categories, and fuel consumption. “The GA survey provides a cornerstone to FAA, NTSB, and the aviation industry’s work to advance aviation safety,” said Jens Hennig, v-p of operations, safety, and security at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Hennig emphasized the balance the voluntary format strikes between data needs and owner burden. NBAA also chimed in on the survey in February this year, encouraging members to respond to survey requests. “The GA Survey is a key tool for understanding business aviation and the broader general aviation landscape,” said NBAA director of safety and flight operations Mark Larsen. “It offers insights into specific operational sectors and plays a vital role in assessing general aviation system safety performance.” FAA officials note that all survey responses are confidential and processed only by the agency’s contractor. The survey typically takes 15 minutes to complete, and officials say each response has an impact on national metrics and long-term planning. Aircraft owners who operate three or more aircraft are encouraged to request a short-form version. Helicopter was taking off from an indigenous village for a medical flight when it crashed . Date:Monday 7 July 2025Time:Type: Helibras AS350 Ésquilo B2 Owner/operator:Voare Táxi Aéreo Ltda Registration:PP-IVO MSN:4452 Fatalities:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 5 Other fatalities:0 Aircraft damage:Destroyed Location:Arathau, Roraima - Brazil Phase:Take off Nature:AmbulanceDeparture airport: Destination airport: Eclipse 500 suffered a runway excursion after landing on runway 20. Date:Tuesday 8 July 2025Time:c. 13:48 LTType: Eclipse 500 Owner/operator:SWU LLC Registration:N54KJ MSN:000091 Year of manufacture:2007 Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities:0 Aircraft damage:Unknown Location:John C Tune Airport (JWN/KJWN), Nashville, TN - United States of America Phase:Landing Nature:Unknown Departure airport:Thomasville Municipal Airport, GA (TVI/KTVI) Destination airport:Nashville-John C. Tune Airport, TN (KJWN) Confidence Rating: Little or no information is available Aviation safety, cutting out financial opportunists embedded in proposal Alan Wooten June 27, 2025 (The Center Square) – Maintaining aviation safety and cutting out financial opportunists in the form of airports is the driving factor of legislation pending in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Rep. Robert Onder, R-Mo., are shepherding bicameral efforts along with Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., to stop what they call abuse of a safety technology more accurate than radar. The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act, known also as Senate Bill 2175 and House Resolution 4146, would limit use of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast and require enhanced transparency in airport fees for general aviation aircraft. The congressmen say the technology is used in some airports “for the purposes of assessing landing fees and collecting revenue from pilots.” The technology identifies the aircraft, airspeed, heading and altitude and is used by air traffic controllers. They say it has helped avoid a number of collisions in the air. “Abusing this technology to levy unfair, sometimes duplicative fees and threatening pilots with legal action will keep some general aviation pilots grounded, which is a loss for America’s economy, emergency response, and the aviation community at large,” Budd said. Pilots sometimes do not use it for these reasons. “Unfortunately, some third parties have taken advantage of this data to impose and collect exorbitant third-party landing fees and frivolous lawsuits targeted at general aviation pilots and travelers,” Onder said. "These uses of data for purposes other than air traffic safety act as a deterrent for pilots to equip their aircraft with this potentially life-saving technology." The bill says fees or charges using the ADS-B data is prohibited by government agencies and private entities. It says the date can be used by air traffic controllers for safety, efficiency or other purposes as approved by the Transportation Department secretary. Investigations cannot be originated on the data. And financial information and impact are protected. CALENDAR OF EVENTS . Airborne Public Safety Association -APSCON / APSCON Unmanned 2025 in Phoenix, AZ | July 14-18, 2025 . 3rd annual Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS), July 15-17, 2025, Singapore, organized by Flight Safety Foundation and CAAS. . Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025; 10-11 September 2025; Manila, Philippines . 2025 PROS IOSA SUMMIT - SEPT 10-11 - Denver, CO · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis