Flight Safety Information - September 04, 2025 No. 177 In This Issue : Incident: Republic E175 at New York on Sep 2nd 2025, engine failure : Incident: United B39M at San Francisco on Sep 2nd 2025, smoke in cabin : Incident: United B739 near Denver on Sep 1st 2025, generator problems : Incident: PAL A321 near Manila on Sep 3rd 2025, loss of cabin pressure : Incident: American B772 near New York on Sep 2nd 2025, tyre pressure things : Incident: American B772 near Nashville on Aug 31st 2025, fuel leak : FAA investigating plane that went off end of runway after landing at Chicago Executive Airport : 3 Japan Airlines flights from Hawaii were delayed up to 18 hours after a pilot for one of the flights was found drinking : US judge to hear objections to deal that allows Boeing to avoid prosecution over crashes : US judge questions DOJ decision to drop Boeing independent monitor : Timeline: Key events in the troubled history of the Boeing 737 Max jetliner : Singapore elevates turbulence to top aviation safety risk amid rising mid-air instability : Fewer meteorologists working with air traffic controllers, due to cuts, ‘burnout, fatigue and low morale,’ watchdog warns : Airline makes largest-yet Boeing purchase : First pilots receive their licenses from Tuskegee’s new aviation science program : Calendar of Events Incident: Republic E175 at New York on Sep 2nd 2025, engine failure A Republic Airways Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N409YX performing flight AA-4379 from New York La Guardia,NY to Nashville,TN (USA) with 68 people on board, was climbing out of La Guardia's runway 13 when the crew declared Mayday reporting the right hand engine (CF34) had failed, they needed to divert to New York JFK,NY (USA). The aircraft stopped the climb at 3000 feet and positioned for an approach to JFK's runway 22L about 25 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "Republic Airways Flight 4379 landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 1:30 p.m. local time Tuesday, Sept. 2, after the crew reported engine issues. The Embraer E175 departed from LaGuardia Airport and was travelling to Nashville International Airport in Tennessee. The FAA will investigate." A replacement Embraer ERJ-175 registration N115HQ reached Nashville with a delay of about 2:45 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in New York about 22 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c77e73&opt=0 Incident: United B39M at San Francisco on Sep 2nd 2025, smoke in cabin A United Boeing 737-9 MAX, registration N37527 performing flight UA-2664 from San Francisco,CA to Baltimore,MD (USA), was climbing out of San Francisco when the crew stopped the climb at FL290 reporting smoke in the cabin and decided to return to San Francisco. The aircraft landed safely on San Francisco's runway 28R about 55 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "United Airlines Flight 2664 safely returned to San Francisco International Airport around 10:40 a.m. local time Tuesday, Sept. 2, after the crew reported smoke in the cabin. The Boeing 737 MAX-9 was travelling to Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland. The FAA will investigate." A replacement Boeing 737-9 MAX registration N37528 reached Baltimore with a delay of about 3.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in San Francisco about 21 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c77b74&opt=0 Incident: United B739 near Denver on Sep 1st 2025, generator problems A United Boeing 737-900, registration N57439 performing flight UA-2255 from Denver,CO to Indianapolis,IN (USA), was enroute at FL350 about 250nm eastnortheast of Denver when the crew decided to return to Denver. On approach to Denver the crew advised they would be able to vacate the runway but requested emergency services to follow them to the gate. The aircraft landed safely on Denver's runway 35L about 80 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the aircraft had been lining up for departure from runway 25 then the aircraft taxied along the runway, vacated the runway and stopped while the crew was working checklists, the aircraft subsequently returned to the apron. The captain announced that maintenance had found both left and right generators overfilled with oil, maintenance would clear the right generator, so that the flight could go ahead with the APU as second generator. The aircraft departed, about 35 minutes into the flight the crew announced, that the APU had failed and they needed to return to Denver. The aircraft landed without further incident. A replacement aircraft took them to Indianapolis with a delay of nearly 7 hours. A replacement Boeing 737-9 MAX registration N17550 reached Indianapolis with a delay of 6.5 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c7747b&opt=0 Incident: PAL A321 near Manila on Sep 3rd 2025, loss of cabin pressure A PAL Philippine Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration RP-C9928 performing flight PR-412 from Manila (Philippines) to Osaka Kanjai (Japan), was enroute at FL350 about 420nm northnortheast of Manila when the crew initiated an emergency descent to FL130 due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft returned to Manila for a safe landing on runway 24 about 70 minutes after leaving FL350. A replacement Airbus A321-200 registration RP-C9903 reached Osaka with a delay of about 4:40 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Manila about 9 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c76649&opt=0 Incident: American B772 near New York on Sep 2nd 2025, tyre pressure things An American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N757AN performing flight AA-48 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was enroute at FL370 about 210nm southsouthwest of New York JFK,NY (USA) when the crew decided to divert to JFK advising ATC, they were not declaring emergency, they just had "tyre pressure things going on" and needed runway 04L at JFK. The aircraft landed safely on JFK's runway 04L about 45 minutes later. The aircraft is still on the ground in New York about 7 hours after landing. A replacement aircraft, probably B772 registration N798AN, is estimated to reach Paris with a delay of about 18:15 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=52c76448&opt=0 Incident: American B772 near Nashville on Aug 31st 2025, fuel leak An American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N778AN performing flight AA-48 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was enroute at FL350 about 70nm southwest of Nashville,TN (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Nashville reporting a fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely on Nashville's runway 31 about 50 minutes later. Passengers reported the crew announced a fuel anomaly as reason for the diversion. The aircraft remained on the ground until Sep 2nd 2025, then positioned to Miami,FL (USA) but has not yet returned to service (standing Sep 3rd 2025). https://avherald.com/h?article=52c76075&opt=0 FAA investigating plane that went off end of runway after landing at Chicago Executive Airport The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a private jet that went off the end of the runway and through a fence after landing at Chicago Executive Airport on Wednesday. The Gulfstream G150 departed Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport with two people on board, according to a statement from the FAA. The aircraft was cleared to land about 12:30 p.m. on runway 34, which is about 5,000 feet long with a grooved asphalt surface. Light rain had been falling in the Chicago area and the runway was reported “100% wet,” according to air traffic control audio captured by website LiveATC.net. The controller later radioed emergency crews they saw the plane touch down near a taxiway roughly halfway down the runway. After the plane landed, it continued through a special surface designed to help planes slow in an emergency, past the end of the runway, and through the airport fence. Shortly after the crash, the air traffic controller can be heard asking the pilots, “Are you OK?” but he does not receive any response. The controller told other pilots the airport was closed and directed emergency responders to the plane. “I just had an aircraft go off of the end of the runway,” the controller said. “Proceed direct to the aircraft. They are non-responsive.” Video from CNN affiliate WLS showed the plane with its wings caught in the airport fence, its nose barely touching the side of a four-lane road, and a trail of debris behind it. No injuries were reported and the airport was closed while crews worked to remove the plane, the airport said in a statement to WLS. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/faa-investigating-plane-went-off-193348731.html *********************** Date: Wednesday 3 September 2025 Time: c. 12:12 LT Type: Gulfstream G150 Owner/operator: Priester Aviation Registration: N1927G MSN: 261 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Category: Accident Location: Chicago Executive Airport (PWK/KPWK), Wheeling, IL - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Private Departure airport: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, MD (BWI/KBWI) Destination airport: Chicago-Executive Airport, IL (PWK/KPWK) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: A Gulfstream G150, N1927G, sustained substantial damage when it overrun runway 34 (5001 x 150 ft) at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK/KPWK), Wheeling, Illinois. Runway 34 has an EMAS arrestor bed at the departure end of the runway. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/542495 3 Japan Airlines flights from Hawaii were delayed up to 18 hours after a pilot for one of the flights was found drinking Japan Airlines flights last week were delayed after a pilot was found drinking before his flight. Three flights from Hawaii to Japan were delayed by up to 18 hours because of the incident. This is at least the fourth case of a Japan Airlines pilot being caught drinking before a flight. Several Japan Airlines flights from Hawaii to Japan were delayed up to 18 hours after a pilot was found drinking the day before his flight. The airline said in a statement to BI on Thursday that the pilot was scheduled to fly JL793 from Honolulu to Chubu Centrair International Airport on August 28. Japan Airlines told BI that the pilot came clean about drinking three cans of beer before the flight took off. The airline said in the statement that the captain had consumed three cans of beer alone in the hotel room the day before departure, and was deemed unfit to fly. A replacement pilot was found for the flight. The flight and two subsequent flights, headed for Haneda Airport in Tokyo, were delayed by around 18 hours because of the incident, the airline said. "It was also found that the captain had consumed alcohol at stay locations multiple times in the past," the statement said. The airline added that the pilot had altered the date and time settings of the alcohol detector to conceal results in previous instances. Kyodo News reported that around 630 passengers were affected by the delays. The news outlet said that Japanese transport and aviation officials visited Japan Airlines' headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday and launched an investigation into the case. "We sincerely apologize to our customers and all parties involved for the inconvenience and trouble caused," the airlines said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. The statement added, "We are committed to working as a company to ensure the thorough implementation of measures to prevent recurrence." This is at least the fourth case of a Japan Airlines pilot being caught drinking before a flight, causing delays. In April last year, a flight from Dallas to Tokyo was canceled after the captain got drunk in a hotel bar and in his room. The Mainichi reported then that a hotel employee had called local police, reporting the pilot's disorderly conduct. In February, two Japan Airlines pilots were suspended from flying for drinking before their December flight from Melbourne to Tokyo, per an AFP report. It's not just pilots from Japan Airlines that have been found drinking before flights. In March 2024, a Delta Air Lines pilot was jailed after he was found to be over the legal alcohol limit on a flight from Edinburgh to New York in June 2023, per a report by The Guardian. The pilot was caught during a bag search at Edinburgh with two bottles of Jägermeister, one of which was half empty. In January, a Southwest Airlines pilot who was due to fly from Savannah, Georgia, to Chicago was charged with driving under the influence. The pilot was removed from the cockpit, and the flight landed at its destination five hours after its scheduled time. Representatives for Japan Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/3-japan-airlines-flights-hawaii-062501378.html US judge to hear objections to deal that allows Boeing to avoid prosecution over crashes FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Wednesday will hold a hearing on whether to approve a deal between the Justice Department and Boeing that allows the planemaker to avoid prosecution on a charge stemming from two fatal 737 MAX plane crashes that killed 346 people. Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas will consider objections from relatives of some of those killed in the crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 to the agreement that enables Boeing to escape oversight from an independent monitor for three years. Boeing last year agreed to plead guilty under a deal with prosecutors to a criminal fraud charge that it misled U.S. regulators about a crucial flight control system on the 737 MAX, its best-selling jet, but the company later reversed course. Boeing agreed to the initial plea deal during the final months of the Biden administration. O'Connor rejected the agreement in December, faulting a diversity and inclusion provision in the deal related to the selection of an independent monitor. That prolonged the case into the Trump administration, which took over on January 20 and overhauled the Justice Department, leading to a tentative non-prosecution agreement. Some family members argue dismissal of the charge is not in the public interest, citing O'Connor's statement in 2023 that "Boeing's crime may properly be considered the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history." Paul Cassell, a lawyer for some of the relatives, said the "misleading and unfair deal is clearly against the public interest. The families will be asking Judge O’Connor to use his recognized authority to reject this inappropriate deal." Boeing says the executive branch solely has the power to decide whether to bring or maintain a prosecution. The planemaker has asked O'Connor to reject objections filed by families and to grant the government's motion to dismiss the criminal charge. Under the non-prosecution agreement, Boeing agreed to pay an additional $444.5 million into a crash victims' fund to be divided evenly per victim of the two fatal 737 MAX crashes, on top of a new $243.6 million fine. Under the non-prosecution agreement, Boeing will pay $1.1 billion in total, including the fine, compensation to families and more than $455 million to strengthen the company’s compliance, safety and quality programs. The vast majority of the families have settled civil suits with Boeing and collectively have been "paid several billion dollars," the Justice Department said. Boeing has faced enhanced scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration since January 2024, when a new MAX 9 missing four key bolts suffered a mid-air emergency, losing a door plug. As a result, Justice Department officials decided to reopen the older fatal crashes case and to negotiate a plea agreement with Boeing. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/us-judge-hear-objections-deal-100615659.html US judge questions DOJ decision to drop Boeing independent monitor FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Wednesday held a three-hour hearing to consider objections to a deal between the Justice Department and Boeing that allows the planemaker to avoid prosecution on a charge stemming from two fatal 737 MAX plane crashes that killed 346 people. Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas questioned the government's decision to drop a requirement that Boeing face oversight from an independent monitor for three years and instead hire a compliance consultant, but did not immediately issue a decision. He heard anguished objections from relatives of some of those killed in the crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 to the non-prosecution agreement. About two dozen relatives -- some from as far as Indonesia, Africa, Europe and Canada -- traveled to the Texas courthouse to argue that Boeing should not be allowed to avoid pleading guilty after last year agreeing to do so. "It's been going almost seven years since these crashes and we still haven't gotten any justice," said Ike Riffel, a California father whose two sons were killed in the Ethiopia crash. Boeing will no longer face oversight by an independent monitor under the agreement but will hire a compliance consultant, and O'Connor asked why the government no longer thinks a monitor is needed. A government lawyer said Boeing has improved and the Federal Aviation Administration is providing enhanced oversight. Boeing and the government argue O'Connor has no choice but to dismiss the case and cannot appoint a special prosecutor as some relatives have sought. 'Connor said in 2023 that "Boeing's crime may properly be considered the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history." Boeing has now agreed to pay an additional $444.5 million into a crash victims' fund to be divided evenly per victim of the two fatal 737 MAX crashes, on top of a new $243.6 million fine and over $455 million to strengthen the company’s compliance, safety, and quality programs. "The eyes of the world are on American to see if it is going to hold Boeing accountable," said lawyer Paul Cassell, who represents some of the victims. "Essentially this is an effort by Boeing to bribe their way of out accountability." Boeing did not immediately comment. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-judge-questions-doj-decision-165219612.html Timeline: Key events in the troubled history of the Boeing 737 Max jetliner Airlines have flown Boeing's 737 Max jets for just eight years, but in that short time two of them crashed, killing 346 people. The Max was marketed as a more fuel-efficient version of the American aerospace company’s popular 737, the best-selling airliner ever, but it quickly become a symbol of safety concerns swirling around Boeing. Regulators around the world grounded all Max jets in March 2019 after the second crash, which led to the ousting of Boeing’s CEO. That was followed by his successor stepping down last summer after the Federal Aviation Administration grounded a particular model of the Max when a panel covering an unused emergency exit blew off an Alaska Airlines Max in flight. The blowout led to government investigations, including a criminal probe by the Justice Department. Here is a timeline of key events in the history of the Max: August 2011: Boeing announces the Max, a 737 with larger engines, instead of designing a new plane to compete with the A320neo from rival Airbus. August 2015: The first 737 Max plane rolls off the production line. January 2016: The 737 Max takes its first test flight. March 2017: Federal Aviation Administration certifies the 737 Max 8. It approves a larger version, the 737 Max 9, 11 months later. May 2017: Malindo Air, a Malaysian subsidiary of Indonesian budget airline Lion Air, is the first to receive a 737 Max. May 2017: The Max makes its first commercial flight on May 22 from Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. September 2018: By the end of the month, Boeing has received orders for nearly 5,000 Max jets. Oct. 29, 2018: Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, plunges into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. November 2018: Attention focuses on a new Boeing flight-control system called MCAS that Boeing did not disclose to pilots and airlines. Indonesian investigators say the Flight 610 pilots struggled for control as the automated system pushed the nose of the plane down more than two dozen times. March 10, 2019: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max 8, crashes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 157 passengers and crew members. March 2019: Within days of the second crash, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and regulators in nations around the world order the grounding of all 737 Max jets. April 2019: A preliminary report by Ethiopian officials shows similarities to the Indonesia crash. The report indicates Flight 302 pilots tried to follow Boeing instructions for an MCAS malfunction but couldn’t level the nose manually because of the plane’s high speed. May 2019: Boeing discloses a safety alert to warn pilots about bad readings from a key sensor on the Max did not work, but the company did not tell airlines or FAA about the problem until after the first Max crash. Dec. 23, 2019: Boeing ousts CEO Dennis Muilenburg, who was seen as pressuring the FAA to lift the Max grounding order. Jan. 13, 2020: David Calhoun, the chairman of Boeing’s board, takes over as CEO and says he sees “opportunities to be better, much better.” Nov. 18, 2020: FAA announces its approval of a flight-control software update and other changes by Boeing, clearing the way for airlines to resume flying 737 Max jets. Dec. 29, 2020: Commercial flights of the 737 Max resume in the U.S. Jan. 7, 2021: The Justice Department charges Boeing with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. but says it won’t prosecute the company for misleading regulators about the 737 Max if it pays a $2.5 billion settlement and tightens protections against violating fraud laws for three years. March 23, 2022: A jury in Texas finds Boeing’s chief technical pilot for the 737 Max not guilty on four counts of wire fraud for allegedly misleading regulators about MCAS. Sept. 22, 2022: Boeing agrees to pay $200 million and former CEO Muilenburg agrees to pay $1 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that they misled investors by saying one month after the Lion Air crash the 737 Max was “as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies,” even though the company had determined MCAS posed a safety risk in need of repair. Oct. 22, 2022: A federal judge in Texas rules the Justice Department violated the rights of relatives of the Indonesia and Ethiopia crash victims by not consulting them before approving the deal with Boeing. The families want the settlement nullified. Feb. 9, 2023: Judge Reed O’Connor rules that despite “Boeing’s egregious criminal conduct,” federal law doesn’t allow him to overturn the settlement. Dec. 28, 2023: FAA says it is monitoring inspections of 737 Max jets after Boeing asks airlines to look for a potential loose bolt in the rudder-control system. Jan. 5, 2024: A panel covering an unused emergency exit blows off a 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight. Pilots land the plane safely. Jan. 6, 2024: FAA grounds all 737 Max 9s in the U.S. Less than three weeks later, the agency clears airlines to resume flights once they have completed mandatory inspections of their fleets’ door plugs. Feb. 6, 2024: Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board say four bolts that help secure door plugs to Max 9s were missing from the Alaska jet after repair work at a Boeing factory. Feb. 26, 2024: A panel of outside experts, convened after the two deadly crashes, reports Boeing’s safety culture falls short despite the company’s efforts to fix it. Feb. 28, 2024: FAA gives Boeing 90 days to write a plan to improve manufacturing quality and safety. Boeing delivers the report in late May. March 4, 2024: FAA says an audit of 737 Max manufacturing at Boeing and key supplier Spirit AeroSystems turned up “multiple instances” of failing to make sure quality standards were met. March 19, 2024: FBI informs passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight they might be victims of a crime. March 25, 2024: Calhoun says he will step down as CEO by year-end. Two others officials leave in a management shakeup. May 14, 2024: Justice Department tells Judge O’Connor that Boeing violated terms of the 2021 settlement related to the 737 Max crashes. June 13, 2024: FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker says his agency’s oversight of Boeing was “too hands-off” before the door-plug blowout, adding that the FAA is now “more active.” June 18, 2024: Calhoun appears at a Senate hearing for questioning. Some senators tell him they think Boeing deserves to face prosecution. July 7, 2024: The Justice Department says Boeing agrees to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government for misleading regulators who approved pilot-training standards for the Max. July 31, 2024: Boeing's board of directors names company outsider Kelly Ortberg, an aerospace veteran, as the next CEO. Aug. 6, 2024: The National Transportation Safety Board releases interviews with Boeing factory workers who said they were pressured to work too fast and asked to perform jobs that they weren’t qualified for. Sept. 13, 2024: A strike by Boeing factory workers in Washington state stops production of the 737 Max, 777 jets and 767 cargo planes. The strike would not end for more than seven weeks. Oct. 11, 2024: Lawyers for families of some crash victims ask Judge O'Connor to throw out Boeing's plea deal and put the company on trial. They accuse Boeing and the Justice Department of airbrushing facts and ignoring that 346 people died in the crashes. Dec. 5, 2024: O'Connor rejects the plea agreement, citing concern that diversity policies of both the government and Boeing could influence the selection of an independent compliance monitor. The judge tells the two sides to report back on how they plan to proceed. March 25, 2025: After granting multiple extensions, O'Connor sets a June 23 trial date for the criminal case. May 23, 2025: The Justice Department says further negotiations resulted in an agreement under which Boeing would pay or invest more than $1.1 billion in exchange for prosecutors moving to dismiss the conspiracy charge. June 24, 2025: The NTSB finds that lapses in Boeing’s manufacturing and safety oversight, combined with ineffective inspections and audits by the FAA, led to a 737 Max leaving a factory without bolts in place for the panel that later flew off during an Alaska Airlines flight. The board's chairperson says the crew's heroic actions ensured everyone on board survived. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/timeline-key-events-troubled-history-181847850.html Singapore elevates turbulence to top aviation safety risk amid rising mid-air instability The city state’s Civil Aviation Authority has pledged to enhance turbulence forecasting and detection systems to prevent accidents Singapore has pledged to strengthen aviation safety practices around in-flight turbulence after two accidents last year that resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. Severe turbulence will now be classified as a state-level operational safety risk, alongside runway incursions, mid-air collisions and system failures, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in its Singapore National Aviation Safety Plan for 2025-2027, released on Wednesday. The report identified 45 actions to bolster safety around operational and emerging risk areas. Of the accidents logged by Singapore in 2024, turbulence ranked as the highest. In an earlier safety plan for 2022-2024, turbulence was mentioned mainly in the context of training and operational awareness, not classified as a priority risk area in its own right. In May last year, one person died and scores of passengers suffered serious injuries when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar. In September, one passenger and one cabin crew member were injured on a Guangzhou-bound flight that ran into turbulence over Hong Kong. Investors continue to probe the cause of the May accident. In the immediate aftermath of that first incident, airlines worked to implement a variety of measures, including drilling flight crews on turbulence-related scenarios and enhancing forecasting and detection systems. One dead and dozens injured after Singapore Airlines flight hit by severe turbulence Mid-air instability is becoming a more common hazard for carriers and passengers as rising global air traffic density means more planes flying in crowded skies, often through the same storm systems. Climate change is another factor: warming temperatures at cruising altitudes are strengthening jet streams and creating conditions linked to more frequent episodes of so-called clear-air turbulence. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3324257/singapore-elevates-turbulence-top-aviation-safety-risk-amid-rising-mid-air-instability Fewer meteorologists working with air traffic controllers, due to cuts, ‘burnout, fatigue and low morale,’ watchdog warns A federal government watchdog is sounding the alarm in a new report after cuts, “burnout, fatigue and low morale,” have caused the number of aviation meteorologists working with air traffic controllers to drop by 15%. As of June, the number of National Weather Service meteorologists assigned to FAA centers dropped to 69 active meteorologists, from a target of 81. The report points to the work environment, including an example of a meteorologist who had to reschedule medical procedures to cover for vacant positions. “Meteorologists in the (center weather service units) and at the command center are suffering from burnout, fatigue and low morale as they are working overtime to maintain operations and are avoiding taking leave,” the report said. The number has also fallen because of the federal government’s hiring freeze and by deferred resignation and voluntary early retirement or separation programs offered by the Trump administration. FAA layoffs spark air safety concerns The NWS meteorologists support the FAA at air traffic command centers and air route control centers for any weather event that could have an impact on operations and safety. The forecasters were first placed in each of the FAA’s 21 air route traffic control centers after a Southern Airways flight in 1977 flew into a thunderstorm and crashed. Only eight of the country’s 21 “weather service units” are staffed with a full complement of four meteorologists, including Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago. Regions with two or fewer meteorologists include Oakland, California; Boston; Washington, DC and Jacksonville, Florida. Five of these units, as of June, were also missing a local meteorologist-in-charge. Tom Fahy, legislative director for the federal union that represents aviation meteorologists, said the staffing shortage has been a problem for a long time. He calls the burnout meteorologists are facing, “real.” “When the FAA says, ‘If somebody goes, we’re not allowed to bring a replacement for somebody, that’s absurd because on the other side of the coin, if an air traffic controller goes down, there’s another guy that comes back and backs him up and takes over,” he said. A 2016 agreement with the FAA called for the weather service to staff 90 full-time government meteorologists to work with controllers. However, in February, according to the report, the agreement was amended to cap staffing to 81 full-time employees. The FAA had previously informed the weather service of its intention to reduce the number to 71, but changed its plan when the NWS warned it would put a strain on safety. However, the NWS also told the FAA it couldn’t maintain the original agreement of 90 workers. “The (national air space) is currently under tremendous strain as air traffic controller shortages and periodic equipment failures in aging air traffic control systems have been leading to delayed and canceled flights,” the report read. The report even notes the 2022 Southwest Airlines meltdown that saw 16,900 flights canceled and 2 million passengers stranded “began with weather problems,” and was later compounded by crew scheduling software that failed. The FAA referred CNN to a letter included in the report, in which the Department of Transportation said it is “committed to providing the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.” “Upon review of GAO’s draft report, FAA concurs with the recommendation to identify, in consultation with NWS, potential risks to the safety and efficiency of the NAS caused by current meteorologist staffing levels and take urgent action to address them,” the letter from Anne Byrd, DOT assistant secretary for administration read. “At the end of the day here, this is really about aviation safety … we have a lot of Americans (who) are getting on planes and going around the world the various destinations, but when they come home, they deserve to have the best qualified aviation meteorologists working to assist them, and those are the people who work at the National Weather Service,” Fahy said. As of July, the FAA said it is analyzing its current staffing model as well as working on a new agreement. NWS officials are hiring more meteorologists and have been “granted an exception” to the federal hiring freeze. The existing agreement ends September 30, and, according to the NWS, the FAA has initiated an internal approval process to extend the current agreement while the parties negotiate a new one. The DOT’s response to the report, however, notes that they could change how weather information is distributed with 64 meteorologists – five less than current conditions - in varying field support locations. “This is slowly trying to burn us out or squeeze us out,” Fahy said. The DOT will provide a detailed response to the report within 180 days of the final report issuance, the letter read. https://www.kcra.com/article/aviation-meteorologist-shortage-faa-nws-safety/65962741 Airline makes largest-yet Boeing purchase SEATTLE, Wash. (KSNW) — An airline has made its largest-yet purchase of Boeing aircraft. Canada’s WestJet has announced it will expand its domestic and international fleet with the purchase of 67 Boeing aircraft, expanding its total order with the company to 123. WestJet will take delivery of sixty 737-10 jets with options for 25 more, and seven 787-9 aircraft with options for four more. “With the addition of these aircraft, WestJet has the largest order book of any airline in Canada, and will double our fleet of Dreamliners, underpinning our growth plans and our commitment to affordable travel options for Canadians and exciting career paths for our people,” said WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech in a news release. “These highly efficient and comfortable aircraft are critical to the growth and renewal of our fleet and will also significantly improve our fuel consumption.” The 737 Max fuselage is manufactured in Wichita, and assembly is finished at Boeing’s Washington facilities. The 787 Dreamliner is manufactured at Boeing’s South Carolina facility. “We are honored that WestJet has once again placed its trust in Boeing with a major investment that builds on our three decades of partnership and solidifies their fleet for the decades ahead,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We look forward to supporting WestJet’s exciting growth as they leverage the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner to serve even more passengers with great efficiency and comfort.” Founded in 1996, with three Boeing 737s, WestJet currently flies nearly 150 Boeing aircraft, which include fifty-five 737-8 Max, fifty-five 737-800 New Generation, seven 787-9 Dreamliners, and 39 De Haviland Dash Turboprops to connect small airports across Canada. Boeing is still finalizing its acquisition of Spirit Aerosystems, which is expected to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airline-makes-largest-yet-boeing-161736642.html First pilots receive their licenses from Tuskegee’s new aviation science program It's been nearly 80 years since five cadets earned their silver wings. Now, the 21st-century pilots of Tuskegee University have earned their wings. TUSKEGEE, Ala. (WSFA) - It’s been nearly 80 years since pilots trained at Tuskegee University. Now, the historic institution is exploring new heights with the next generation of fliers. In 1942, five cadets completed the Tuskegee Army Air Corps pilot training program, earning their silver wings and becoming the nation’s first black military pilots. It’s been nearly eight decades since pilots trained at Tuskegee University, but now, the first 21st-century pilots of Tuskegee University have earned their wings. “It’s exciting; it’s an honor,” Titus Sanders, Aviation Science Director at Tuskegee University, said. “This institution, this university has a rich legacy in producing African American pilots, and they had the ability to continue that legacy and that history, and also, to also include women in the training population.” Kembriah Parker is the first Tuskegee Airwoman. She decided she wanted to become a pilot when she first visited Tuskegee in 2017. “I went over to the Tuskegee Airmen museum over there, and I was just interested in flying ever since then,” Parker said. A school day doesn’t feel like work for aviation science student Isaiah Hand. “With aviation science, it gives me pleasure from the start of the day to the end of the day, from the work to the flying, it doesn’t feel like work, it feels like I’m enjoying myself,” Hand said. “It feels like leisure, although I am putting in work and putting in a lot of extra time.” Sanders says it’s passion that drives these students. “They want to be here; they want to be at Tuskegee,” he said. “They want to fly, and they want to share their excitement and joy with others.” The sky isn’t the limit for these new pilots; it’s only the beginning. “It doesn’t get more significant than this,” Hand said. “This is where the Tuskegee Airmen trained, this is where their history is, this is where the legacy is.” Sanders says the program had about 19 students when it was launched just last year. Now, it has about 48. He hopes that in the next two years, that number will double. https://www.wsfa.com/2025/09/04/first-pilots-receive-their-licenses-tuskegees-new-aviation-science-program/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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 . 2025 NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown; Monday, Oct. 13 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Las Vegas, NV . 2025 NBAA National Safety Forum, Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Wednesday, Oct. 15; Las Vegas, NV . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 78TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT (IASS) - Lisbon, November 4–6 . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . BASS 2026 - 71st Business Aviation Safety Summit - May 5-6, 2026 | Provo, Utah . The African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit - May 19-20 | Johannesburg, South Africa . Safeskies Australia - Australia’s renowned Aviation Safety Conference - Canberra Australia 20 and 21 May 2026 . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis