Flight Safety Information - October 03, 2025 No. 198 In This Issue : Incident: ANZ AT72 at Invercargill on Oct 2nd 2025, bird strike : China Eastern Airlines Airbus A321-211 - bird strike : Japan Airlines removes 6 pilots with drinking risk from flight duties : FAA launches new NOTAM system after decades of pilot complaints : Thousands of Overworked Air Traffic Controllers Are Now Doing Their Job With No Paycheck in Sight : UAE, Brazil enhance civil aviation safety cooperation : Lufthansa to cut 4,000 jobs as airline doubles down on AI and digital transformation : KLM Introduces First A350 Simulator in the Netherlands : Airbus and Air India launch Gurugram training center to train 5,000 pilots : Bombardier Global 7500 sets 150th speed record : Airbus Study Reveals Rising Use of Corporate Jets in Asia : Planemaker Embraer delivers 62 jets in Q3, up 5% from a year earlier : Boeing 777X Said to Be Delayed to 2027, Costing Billions : Calendar of Event Incident: ANZ AT72 at Invercargill on Oct 2nd 2025, bird strike An ANZ Air New Zealand Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration ZK-MVE performing flight NZ-5704 from Invercargill to Christchurch (New Zealand), was climbing out of Invercargill's runway 04 when the crew stopped the climb at 7000 feet MSL following a bird strike and decided to return to Invercargill. The aircraft landed safely on Invercargill's runway 04 about 25 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Invercargill about 20 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=52ddf2f3&opt=0 China Eastern Airlines Airbus A321-211 - bird strike Date: Thursday 2 October 2025 Time: Type: Airbus A321-211 Owner/operator: China Eastern Airlines Registration: B-6368 MSN: 3639 Year of manufacture: 2008 Engine model: CFMI CFM56-5B3/P Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: near Wuxi Shuofang Airport (WUX/ZSWX) - China Phase: Initial climb Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Wuxi Airport (WUX/ZSWX) Destination airport: Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO/ZSQD) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: China Eastern Airlines flight 2701, an Airbus A321-211, returned to Wuxi Shuofang Airport (WUX/ZSWX) after suffering a bird strike. https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/548648 Japan Airlines removes 6 pilots with drinking risk from flight duties The company also said that over a dozen pilots are suspected of being high-risk and indicated it will provide guidance on reducing alcohol consumption. TOKYO – Japan Airlines submitted recurrence prevention measures to the transport ministry on Tuesday, including plans to remove all pilots with risk of excessive drinking from flight duties, following an incident where a male captain on JAL’s international flights violated company regulations by drinking alcohol during a stay in Honolulu. The captain was later dismissed for disciplinary reasons. Japan Airlines had already suspended four such pilots. After reassessing alcohol risk based on health check data and past drinking histories, it had identified two additional pilots. Six in total have now been suspended. The company said that over a dozen pilots are suspected of being high-risk and indicated it will provide guidance on reducing alcohol consumption. https://asianews.network/japan-airlines-removes-6-pilots-with-drinking-risk-from-flight-duties/ FAA launches new NOTAM system after decades of pilot complaints The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has rolled out the first phase of a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system, replacing infrastructure that dates back to the 1980s and has long been criticized by pilots for its complexity and frequent outages. The new platform, called the NOTAM Management Service (NMS), went live on September 29, 2025, and is now distributing alerts to early adopters. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the rollout was completed months ahead of schedule, calling it proof of the government’s commitment to modernizing the national airspace system. “This is the promises made, promises kept administration,” Duffy said in announcing the deployment. “We are bringing our aviation system into the 21st century at lightning speed to enhance safety in our skies. The new NOTAM system is an important proof point of how we can quickly and effectively modernize our skies under the leadership of President Trump.” Longstanding concerns NOTAMs provide critical safety information to pilots and dispatchers, such as temporary runway closures, airspace restrictions, or obstacles near airports. More than 4 million are issued each year. For decades, however, pilots have complained that NOTAMs are difficult to decipher and cumbersome to search. The system’s shortcomings came into sharp focus in 2010 when then-Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma landed his Cessna on a closed runway in Texas that was undergoing construction. Workers scrambled to get out of the way, and the FAA later cited Inhofe for disregarding safety information that had been published in a NOTAM. The incident underscored how critical alerts often went unnoticed in pages of dense text. In response, Congress directed the FAA to overhaul the system in a subsequent FAA reauthorization bill, setting the stage for today’s modernization. Failures add urgency The push to update the technology accelerated after a string of outages in recent years. The most serious failure came in January 2023, when the legacy US NOTAM System (USNS) crashed after contractors deleted key files, leading to a nationwide ground stop that delayed more than 11,000 flights. It was the first such stoppage since the terrorist attacks of September 2001 and highlighted the fragility of the aging infrastructure. The FAA says the new NMS is cloud-hosted, designed for resilience, and built with a modern architecture that supports near-real-time data sharing. The agency promises the system will make it easier for pilots, airlines, and air traffic controllers to share information, while also running more smoothly and reliably than the outdated systems it will replace. “We built a brand-new NOTAM service from the ground up in record time,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “It is resilient, user-friendly, and scalable, and will significantly improve airspace safety and efficiency.” The FAA said the NMS will run in parallel with the legacy system for several months while testing and validation continue. By February 2026, the agency plans to retire the outdated USNS, with the final migration of more than 12,000 global users scheduled for late spring 2026. At that point, the NMS will become the single authoritative source for all safety notices. In December 2021, the FAA officially changed the name from “Notices to Airmen” to “Notices to Air Missions” in a move by the administration of former President Joe Biden to use gender-neutral terminology. Under the Trump administration, the name has since been changed back to “Notices to Airmen.” For many in the cockpit, what matters most is not what the system is called, but whether it works. Pilots have long argued that the old notices were cluttered with indecipherable codes and buried key safety information in walls of text. The FAA says the NMS has been built with user input in mind and will present information in a clearer and more reliable way. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/faa-new-notam-system-rollout Thousands of Overworked Air Traffic Controllers Are Now Doing Their Job With No Paycheck in Sight Air traffic controller union warns of reduced safety in aviation under shutdown Air traffic controllers are overworked and traumatized. Now with a government shutdown, it’s about to get worse for the people who are in charge of making sure air travel is safe and efficient. The government shutdown started on Wednesday and is continuing into Thursday, with the Senate out of session for Yom Kippur. Thousands at the FAA are getting furloughed, but none will be air traffic controllers. Field training and hiring for more controllers won’t be interrupted as well, according to the latest Department of Transportation shutdown contingency plan. But air traffic controllers will still be facing difficulties. Personnel who are deemed essential are required to get back to work during a shutdown under the “protection of life and property” exception, even if it is without pay. More than 13,000 air traffic controllers employed by the DOT fall into that category. The controllers are currently already working mandatory overtime, clocking in for 10 hours a day, six days a week, according to the labor union National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). “The increased stress and fatigue that comes from working long hours without pay cannot be overstated,” NATCA President Nick Daniels said in a press statement on Wednesday. The air traffic controllers are also required to work without the help of support staff. More than 2,350 aviation safety professionals represented by NATCA have been furloughed due to the shutdown. “Government shutdowns reduce the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) and erode the layers of safety that allow the flying public to arrive safely and on time to their destinations,” NATCA shared in the press statement. “During a shutdown, critical safety support staff are furloughed, and support programs are suspended, making it difficult for air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals to perform at optimum levels.” An Aviation Funding Stability Act was introduced last month by Democratic representatives Steve Cohen of Tennessee and André Carson of Indiana that would keep essential FAA employees, including air traffic controllers, paid for 30 days in the event of a government shutdown. It’s not yet been voted on. Once the shutdown is eventually over, the workers will get paid for their time, and they have not missed a paycheck yet. The air traffic controllers get paid biweekly, ENO Center for Transportation senior fellow Jeff Davis told Gizmodo, and the next payday will be the following week on Friday, October 10. If the shutdown ends by then, the issue is resolved. But the problem is that there is currently no clear end in sight for the shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on Thursday that a weekend vote is “unlikely,” meaning that the shutdown could very well last into next week if there is no agreement tomorrow. Democrats are requesting that healthcare provisions, like the extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, be included in an appropriations bill. If Republicans stand firm against it, the shutdown will continue. The last government shutdown was during Trump’s first administration, and it lasted 35 days. What ended up forcing Trump to cave on his funding bill demands was when ten air traffic controllers called in sick in Virginia and Florida, which completely grounded all flights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and caused disruptions across other major airports around the country. Staffing shortages and work traumas The shutdown and its implications come as the U.S. is contending with a persistent air traffic controller shortage that has led to numerous flight delays. Daniels told CNBC earlier this year that air traffic controller staffing was at “an all-time low” and that “any hiccup, a government shutdown or anything that disrupts the pipeline of the air traffic controllers coming in, will absolutely hurt the capacity of the flying public, and how many planes we can put in the air at any given time safely.” A shortage has been the case for years, but it’s been brought further into the spotlight lately due to a string of terrifying accidents. An American Airlines flight collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, killing 67 people. A couple of months after that, Newark Airport experienced a terrifying outage that saw air traffic controllers lose all communications with planes flying in and out of the airport for about 90 seconds. The incidents did not stem from any air traffic controllers. But they did lead to increased scrutiny of the air travel industry, and have put both air traffic safety workers and travelers on edge. https://gizmodo.com/thousands-of-overworked-air-traffic-controllers-are-now-doing-their-job-with-no-paycheck-in-sight-2000666868 UAE, Brazil enhance civil aviation safety cooperation Montreal, Oct. 2 (BNA): The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Working Agreement with the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in civil aviation safety. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the 42nd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) General Assembly in Montreal. The MoU was signed by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, and Tiago Chagas Faierstein, President of ANAC. It focuses on enhancing cooperation through information exchange, technical visits, joint training programmes, and adopting international best practices in aviation safety. The Working Agreement, signed by Aqeel Ahmed Al Zarouni, Assistant Director General of Aviation Safety Affairs at the GCAA, and Roberto José Silveira Honorato, Head of Airworthiness at ANAC, serves as an executive mechanism to support mutual recognition of certificates and technical reports, and to improve coordination on safety approvals. The agreements reflect the two countries’ commitment to advancing joint efforts in civil aviation safety and strengthening their role in global aviation security and stability. https://www.bna.bh/en/UAEBrazilenhancecivilaviationsafetycooperation.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDsSz%2Fu%2FnldJu6VLBkmox%2FVU%3D Lufthansa to cut 4,000 jobs as airline doubles down on AI and digital transformation Lufthansa Group will axe 4,000 administrative roles by 2030 as Europe’s biggest airline doubles down on digitisation, artificial intelligence, and deeper integration across its carriers. The announcement came at Lufthansa’s Capital Markets Day in Munich, where executives set out a five-year plan to overhaul processes, streamline governance, and drive efficiencies through technology. The cuts will primarily affect non-operational staff in Germany. The group, which owns Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways, said it is “reviewing which activities will no longer be necessary in the future, for example due to duplication of work”. The restructuring is intended to unlock synergies across the portfolio and speed up decision-making. The job reductions come against a backdrop of difficult trading conditions. Lufthansa has struggled to restore its flagship airline to profitability following strikes, supply chain issues and regulatory delays. CEO Carsten Spohr said the group had “regained operational stability” but warned that external pressures remained. Despite the cuts, Lufthansa is pressing ahead with growth initiatives. The airline will add more than 230 new aircraft by 2030, including 100 long-haul planes, in what it describes as its most ambitious fleet renewal programme to date. The group also highlighted its revamped loyalty programme as a key driver of revenue growth and customer retention. Together with digitisation, these moves underpin Lufthansa’s upgraded mid-term profit forecast: an adjusted operating margin of 8–10% from 2028, compared with a previous 8% target. Lufthansa executives said artificial intelligence will play a central role in its restructuring, from automating back-office functions to improving customer service and operational efficiency. The group is investing heavily in digital platforms to integrate booking, loyalty and ancillary revenue streams across its airline portfolio. While the measures are designed to boost competitiveness and profitability, the job losses are likely to attract political and union scrutiny in Germany, where aviation remains a strategically important industry. https://travellingforbusiness.co.uk/news/lufthansa-job-cuts-ai-digital-transformation/ KLM Introduces First A350 Simulator in the Netherlands KLM officially commissioned the first Airbus A350 simulator in the Netherlands, marking a significant step in preparing for the arrival of the A350 aircraft, which will join the fleet at the end of 2026. This advanced simulator provides KLM pilots with training on the latest technologies and procedures in a realistic and safe environment. The simulator was built by CAE in Montreal, where the acceptance process also took place—similar to how it’s done with an actual aircraft. In Canada, the cockpit and systems underwent extensive testing before the simulator was shipped to Europe in parts. Installation at Schiphol-East presented a logistical challenge: due to its size, the simulator couldn’t pass through the main gate and had to be hoisted over the fence. It is now fully installed and ready for use. The first group of A350 pilots will begin training shortly. With the introduction of the A350, KLM continues to modernize its fleet. The aircraft generates up to 40% less noise and consumes 25% less fuel compared to older-generation aircraft. Thanks to the use of strong, lightweight materials such as composites and titanium, the A350 can cover longer distances with lower emissions. https://news.klm.com/klm-introduces-first-a350-simulator-in-the-netherlands/ Airbus and Air India launch Gurugram training center to train 5,000 pilots Airbus and Air India have opened a new pilot training center in Gurugram, Haryana, India. This facility aims to train more than 5,000 new pilots over the next decade to meet the rapid growth of commercial aviation in India. The joint venture was inaugurated by India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and Airbus CEO of Commercial Aircraft Christian Scherer, Airbus announced in a statement on September 30, 2025. “Air India is in an expansion mode with 570 new aircraft on order and the new pilot training center at our Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, a part of which is being executed with Airbus, will help train and upskill pilots who will fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a world-class airline,” said Campbell Wilson, MD & CEO of Air India. The new center spans 12,000 square meters and will feature 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), as well as classrooms and briefing rooms. It is designed to train pilots for the Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families. The planemaker said the new facility will complement the four A320 family FFSs at the current Airbus India Training Center in New Delhi. Together, these two locations will have a total of 14 FFSs. In addition, Airbus said it is collaborating with local partners to provide maintenance training to support the future fleet. “This is more than a joint venture; it is a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry itself. India is a critical base for Airbus, and this facility is a testament to our belief in its potential,” said Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia. The manufacturer concluded, alongside other collaborations, the initiative is “designed to equip India’s young workforce with the competencies needed to power aerospace growth for decades to come”. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airbus-air-india-new-pilot-training-center-gurugram Bombardier Global 7500 sets 150th speed record Bombardier’s Global 7500 jet has set its 150th speed record, the most ever set by a single business aircraft type, says the Canadian manufacturer. The latest achievements include city pair speed records, such as Tokyo to Los Angeles, Toronto to Paris, New York to London and Hong Kong to Montreal. Ranking highest amongst its earlier achievements are the longest flight ever recorded in business aviation – 8,225nm (15,233km) from Sydney to Detroit – and business aviation’s longest range non-stop mission from London City Airport to Los Angeles. “The Global 7500 continues to redefine what is possible in business aviation,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, executive vice president, Aircraft Sales and Bombardier Defense. “Many of these records have been set with passengers on board in varying conditions and airports, making these achievements even more meaningful and reaching this pinnacle more remarkable.” Boasting a top speed of Mach 0.925 and a baseline range of 7,700nm (14,260km), the Global 7500 features Bombardier’s Smooth Flĕx Wing which reduces fuel burn, lowers emissions and benefits short-field and high-speed performance. Bombardier delivered its 200th Global 7500 in December 2024. The Canadian OEM will soon introduce its new flagship the Global 8000. The aircraft is expected to have a range of 8,000nm (14,816km) and a top speed of Mach 0.94, as well an ultra-low cabin altitude. https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/bombardier-global-7500-sets-150th-speed-record/ Airbus Study Reveals Rising Use of Corporate Jets in Asia Nearly all respondents reported saving 2 to 3 hours per trip compared with commercial flights Business aircraft travel is increasingly becoming more of a staple for large-company executives in Asia, according to a just-released study by Airbus Corporate Jets. Conducted by Australian firm Pureprofile, it surveyed 67 senior professionals in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, including 34 executives from large corporations in Asia and 33 from Asian-based family offices, hedge funds, and private equity firms managing $141 billion in assets. The study found that business aviation is now central to operations, with respondents saying that 63% to 69% of their business travel is now conducted via corporate jets. Nearly all reported saving two to three hours per trip compared with commercial flights, and 72% said at least a quarter of their business routes are not served by airlines. Productivity gains were also significant, with 87% of executives estimating a 25% to 50% improvement while traveling, and 8% reporting gains of 50% to 75%. Top benefits cited were greater flexibility to handle confidential matters and more control over schedules. Operational flexibility aligns with broader expansion, as private equity and hedge funds plan to grow their global offices, and family offices anticipate relatives relocating abroad. Beyond business and operational benefits, corporate aircraft are also widely used for humanitarian and charitable missions, with nearly all respondents citing emergency medical transport and crisis relief. Meanwhile, more than half of Asian organizations expect business jet usage to increase by 50% to 75% over the next two years. Pureprofile previously conducted a similar 2024 survey for Airbus Corporate Jets of U.S. family offices with an average $3.35 billion in assets. That study found the sector is increasingly using business aviation to support family and staff well-being, as well as philanthropic initiatives. Adoption is being encouraged by new aircraft models, improved onboard technology, and sustainable aviation fuel, with many offices considering aircraft upgrades. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-10-02/acj-study-reveals-rising-use-corporate-jets-asia Planemaker Embraer delivers 62 jets in Q3, up 5% from a year earlier SAO PAULO, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Brazilian planemaker Embraer (EMBR3.SA), opens new tab said on Thursday it delivered 62 aircraft in the third quarter of 2025, about 5% higher than the 59 deliveries in the same period last year. The world's third-largest planemaker delivered 20 commercial aircraft in the quarter, a 25% increase year-on-year, and 41 executive jets, in line with a year earlier, Embraer said in a securities filing. The Phenom 300 represented nearly half of all the executive jets delivered by Embraer in the quarter through the end of September, according to the company. Embraer also delivered one defense aircraft in the period, a KC-390 Millennium, compared with two deliveries in the defense segment a year ago. "Deliveries are on track to reach bottom end of guidance," Citi analysts including Andre Mazini wrote in a note to clients, adding the figures are "likely to be taken as lukewarm by the market." Embraer forecasts deliveries in 2025 of between 77 and 85 commercial, and 145 to 155 executive jets. In the year through the third quarter, Embraer delivered 46 commercial jets and 102 executive jets. Sao Paulo-traded shares of Embraer declined 5.8% on Thursday ahead of the data, one of the largest losers in the Brazilian equities benchmark index Bovespa (.BVSP), opens new tab, which fell 1.1%. The company is set to release its third-quarter financial results on November 4, according to its website. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/planemaker-embraer-delivers-62-jets-q3-up-5-year-earlier-2025-10-02/ Boeing 777X Said to Be Delayed to 2027, Costing Billions Boeing's 777X is slated to fly commercially for the first time in early 2027 instead of next year, people familiar with the matter said. Analysts estimate the non-cash accounting charge could run from $2.5 billion to as much as $4 billion, though Boeing has not detailed the extent of the cost. The jet is already six years late and it is of major strategic and financial importance to Boeing for the long-haul market. Bloomberg's Danny Lee reports. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/video/boeing-777x-said-delayed-2027-054053977.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS . 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