Flight Safety Information - May 1, 2024 No. 087 In This Issue : Incident: Atlanta Malta B744 at Riyadh on Apr 22nd 2024, rejected takeoff from taxiway : Incident: British Airways A320 at London on Apr 29th 2024, loss of nose wheel steering during turnoff : Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner - Smoke in the Cabin (Singapore) : MIT and Merlin To Integrate Collision Avoidance Technology : American Airlines says it's cutting three routes from DFW Airport over Boeing delivery delays : Federal Aviation Administration Receives $105B Boost from U.S. Congress, Spurring Progress Until 2028 : Vistara Flight, Hit By Hailstorm, Makes Emergency Landing In Bhubaneswar : Australia's Bonza goes bust as AIP Capital seizes aircraft : Dubai: Emirates announces new jobs, higher salaries for pilots : Brazil’s Embraer Plots a New 737-Sized Jet to Rival Boeing : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Atlanta Malta B744 at Riyadh on Apr 22nd 2024, rejected takeoff from taxiway An Air Atlanta Europe Malta Boeing 747-400 freighter on behalf of Saudi Arabian Airlines, registration 9H-AKF performing flight SV-953 from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) to Nairobi (Kenya), had taxied for departure from runway 33R via taxiway G and was cleared for takeoff from runway 33R, however, lined up the parallel taxiway K (length 1490 meters/4880 feet) and began the takeoff roll on the taxiway at about 00:37L (Apr 21st 21:37Z) reaching high speed (about 110 knots over ground). The aircraft rejected takeoff and came to a stop just before the end of the taxiway about 1450 meters/4780 feet down the taxiway. The aircraft subsequently returned to the apron. The aircraft remained on the ground in Riyadh for about 41 hours before returning to service. Saudi Arabia's AIB opened an investigation into the occurrence. https://avherald.com/h?article=5180d0e1&opt=0 Incident: British Airways A320 at London on Apr 29th 2024, loss of nose wheel steering during turnoff A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUUD performing flight BA-1455 from Edinburgh,SC to London Heathrow,EN (UK), landed on Heathrow's runway 27R and slowed to taxi speed. While attempting to turn off the runway via high speed turn off smoke could be seen from the left main tyres first, then from the right hand tyres, too, and the aircraft was brought to a stop within the runway edges, off the center line of the turn off. A number of subsequent approaches were instructed to go around. A passenger reported the captain announced the nose wheel steering had stopped working. Emergency services were responding. The aircraft remained on the ground in London for about 18 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=5180c7bf&opt=0 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner - Smoke in the Cabin (Singapore) Date: Tuesday 30 April 2024 Time: 08:00 Type: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Owner/operator: Scoot Registration: 9V-OJD MSN: 37115/308 Year of manufacture: 2015 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Aircraft damage: None Location: SE of Singapore - Singapore Phase: En route Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Singapore-Changi International Airport (SIN/WSSS) Destination airport: Denpasar-Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport (DPS/WADD) Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources Narrative: Scoot flight TR280, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, returned to land back at SIN shortly after takeoff. A passenger onboard the flight stated that there was smoke in the cabin with a smell of burning. The incident aircraft resumed service 16 hours later. https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/387104 MIT and Merlin To Integrate Collision Avoidance Technology The partners are pursuing new uncrewed aircraft applications for the FAA-funded system Merlin Pilot flight automation technology The Merlin Pilot flight automation system will use airborne collision avoidance technology being developed by MIT for uncrewed aircraft. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory is working with flight automation system developer Merlin on plans to implement new collision avoidance technology. In an agreement announced on April 23, the organizations will explore the commercialization of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xu on uncrewed aircraft. Initially, the collaboration will focus on implementing the ACAS Xu’s RTCA DO-368 software standard with the Merlin Pilot automation system Merlin is developing for use on existing aircraft. The Xu system being developed by MIT is an uncrewed air systems version of the ACAS X technology that MIT is developing for other aircraft with funding from the FAA. It is intended to meet the U.S. air safety agency’s requirements for new-generation airspace procedures. “Collision avoidance decision making systems are accepted by the FAA, and their outputs are critical to helping pilots and unmanned aircraft safely maneuver in the shared airspace,” said Merlin’s chief technology officer, Alexander Naiman. “Integrating a next-generation system like ACAS Xu with the Merlin Pilot enhances the safety of our system while supporting the development of advanced automation capabilities to spur an autonomous future.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-04-30/mit-and-merlin-integrate-collision-avoidance-technology American Airlines says it's cutting three routes from DFW Airport over Boeing delivery delays The Fort Worth-based carrier says a total of 12 routes are impacted across the country. FORT WORTH, Texas — Boeing 787 delivery delays are forcing Fort Worth-based American Airlines to cut three long-haul routes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport this year, the carrier confirmed. American Airlines says the delivery delays caused them to adjust service on certain routes in the second half of this year and first quarter of 2025. The three routes impacted from DFW Airport include American’s flights to Dublin, which will be suspended effective Oct. 26 and return in summer 2025, to Rome, which is also suspended effective Oct. 26 and returning in summer 2025, and flights to Kona International Airport, which won’t operate this winter. “We’re making these adjustments now to ensure we’re able to re-accommodate customers on affected flights. We’ll be proactively reaching out to impacted customers to offer alternate travel arrangements,” An American Airlines spokesperson said. “We remain committed to our customers and team members and mitigating the impact of these delays while continuing to offer a comprehensive global network.” The airline says it’s still planning to fly 55 long-haul international routes this summer, but they’re “still adjusting our schedule due to 787 delivery delays.” “We continue to expect to grow full-year capacity in line with our guidance of up to mid-single digits year over year. While Boeing delivery delays have impacted mainline capacity production, they have been largely offset by improvement in our regional aircraft utilization,” American Airlines CEO Devon May said in a statement. “Aircraft delivery delays are impacting the entire industry, but they are not having the same impact on American as other carriers since we are not as dependent on new aircraft deliveries as most of our peers.” Other American Airlines routes at other airports are also impacted, including four from John F. Kennedy International Airport, two from Miami International Airport, one from Philadelphia International Airport to Venice, one from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Paris, and one from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu/Kahului Airport on Maui, which just won’t operate on Boeing 787 this winter, except Nov. 16-Dec. 2. https://www.wfaa.com/article/travel/american-airlines-says-cutting-three-routes-from-dfw-airport-over-boeing-delivery-delays/287-8a3641e1-b58b-45cb-877f-709651cc97da Federal Aviation Administration Receives $105B Boost from U.S. Congress, Spurring Progress Until 2028 Congress has finalized a comprehensive FAA reauthorization package slated to allocate $105 billion through September 2028 after prolonged negotiations. This legislative accord paves the way for upcoming votes in both the House and Senate prior to the expiration of the current FAA funding extension on May 10. Included in the extensive legislation are initiatives aimed at bolstering aviation safety, mitigating air traffic controller shortages, instituting new consumer protections, enhancing air travel accessibility, and facilitating airport modernization. The legislation also responds to the American Society of Travel Advisors’ concerns regarding recent DOT rules that hold travel agencies liable for airline refunds, even when airlines hold the transaction funds, by providing a solution that lessens the burden on travel agencies. A key safety enhancement in the legislation is the extension of mandatory cockpit voice recording storage from two to 25 hours. Additionally, it mandates the FAA to augment its recruitment of aircraft manufacturing safety inspectors. For airline passengers, the legislation prohibits the imposition of fees for family members to sit together and ensures that vouchers and flight credits remain valid for a minimum of five years. The bill introduces a requirement for airline staff training on the proper handling of wheelchairs, improving accessibility for travelers with disabilities. Funding for the Airport Improvement Program is set to rise from $3.35 billion annually to $4 billion over the next five years. The legislation also focuses on technical improvements to the air traffic control system and enhancements in personnel hiring and retention. For travel advisors, it creates the Passenger Experience Advisory Committee within the DOT to represent travel agencies. Regarding airline refunds, the bill refines previous proposals by stipulating that travel agencies are only liable for refunds if they possess the funds. Additionally, the DOT is tasked with creating regulations within a year to ensure airlines promptly transfer funds to ticket agents. The unified bill also touches on pilot training, eliminating a previous proposal to increase the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67, while setting guidelines for the FAA to establish defined pilot training pathways to potentially expedite the training regimen. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/federal-aviation-administration-receives-105b-boost-from-u-s-congress-spurring-progress-until-2028/ Vistara Flight, Hit By Hailstorm, Makes Emergency Landing In Bhubaneswar The New Delhi-bound Vistara flight landed back at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here barely 10 minutes after taking off, the officials said. All 169 passengers and crew on board the Vistara flight that made an emergency landing are safe. Bhubaneswar: A flight from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi returned minutes after take-off and made an emergency landing after the aircraft was caught in a hailstorm and suffered damage today, an official said. The 169 passengers and crew on board are safe. The New Delhi-bound Vistara flight landed back at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here barely 10 minutes after taking off, the officials said. According to preliminary information, the aircraft's windshield developed a crack due to the hailstorm that lashed several parts of Odisha this afternoon. "A windshield has been damaged, while no harm was caused to the passengers," BPIA Director Prasanna Pradhan said. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vistara-flight-hit-by-hailstorm-makes-emergency-landing-in-bhubaneswar-5565256 Australia's Bonza goes bust as AIP Capital seizes aircraft Bonza (AB, Sunshine Coast) has suspended all flights after its aircraft were repossessed. Following weeks of speculation about the airline's future, Bonza pulled the plug early on April 30, axing that day's flights. CEO Tim Jordan said flights had been put on hold but did not reveal that aircraft asset manager AIP Capital had seized his fleet overnight. "Bonza has temporarily suspended services due to be operated today, as discussions are currently underway regarding the ongoing viability of the business," he said via a statement. Bonza's booking app and website have also blanked out all future flights, but neither platform currently mentions the service suspension. In recent weeks, Bonza has refuted reports it was in trouble, with a spokesperson telling ch-aviation the airline was "not showing signs of stress." This was despite confirmation that Bonza's financiers had retained KordaMentha to advise on whether they should keep supporting the carrier. Bonza launched into the Australian market in early 2023, backed by 777 Partners, and headed by Jordan, who had established his aviation reputation as the CEO of FlyArystan (KC, Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev) during its successful launch. However, his model of deploying 777 Partners-supplied B737-8s onto thin Australian secondary routes, often to airports with limited local population catchments, immediately raised eyebrows. It later emerged that many airports had offered Bonza a 12-month holiday from landing fees and charges. However, those holiday periods have started to expire, rendering already economically challenging routes unviable. Bonza was also constrained by a lack of aircraft. Jordan said he needed ten to break even, but he never got more than half that amount. 777 Partners diverted aircraft due to Bonza to its other airline, Flair Airlines (Edmonton), which was experiencing fleet problems of its own. A recent deal to convert two wet-leased Flair aircraft into longer-term dry leases fell apart in recent months, with one returning to Canada and the other parked at Sunshine Coast awaiting flight clearance by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and local registration. However, after conducting a test flight on April 29, its first flight in two months, C-FLHI (msn 61804) is believed to be returning to Canada imminently. Excluding the parked Flair B737-8, Bonza had four aircraft in its fleet when flights stopped, including VH-UIK (msn 43975), VH-UJK (msn 43974), VH-UJT (msn 62533), and VH-UKH (msn 61864). All are managed by AIP Capital, 777 Partner's asset manager, which until recently owned a 51% stake in the thirty B737-8s linked to the Miami-based alternative investment platform. AIP now retains management rights and ch-aviation understands the company made its move to seize the four aircraft after they returned to their bases at Sunshine Coast Airport, Gold Coast Coolangatta, and Melbourne Tullamarine late on April 29, informing air traffic control of the action and barring their departures. The snap action reportedly took Bonza's management by surprise. In early April, AIP transferred its stake in the 30 aircraft to a new investment vehicle called Phoenix Aviation Capital. Insurance company A-Cap owns 100% of Phoenix. After news of the groundings and seizures broke, Jordan said he remained in talks to resolve the problem as "quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market.” Qantas, Jetstar Airways, and Virgin Australia have stepped in to offer stranded passengers complimentary flights to the airport nearest to their final destination, subject to space availability. However, there is relatively little route overlap between Bonza's routes and those operated by its bigger competitors. Later on April 30, ch-aviation learned that Bonza will file for voluntary administration in the Australian courts and has appointed Hall Chadwick as administrator. The airline is also expected to announce an ongoing suspension of flights shortly. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/139721-australias-bonza-goes-bust-as-aip-capital-seizes-aircraft Dubai: Emirates announces new jobs, higher salaries for pilots The airline conducts regular recruitment drives in cities across the globe to foster opportunities for aspiring aviation professionals Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has announced "significant" changes to recruitment, including higher salaries and new roles, for its aviator roles. The Emirates Group has grown its workforce, which has now crossed 100,000 employees. This surge signifies the group's expanding operations but also its commitment to providing top-notch services across various sectors, including aviation, hospitality, and travel. The airline made the announcement as it marked World Pilots’ Day, which is celebrated on April 26. Emirates Airlines conducts regular recruitment drives in cities across the globe to foster opportunities for aspiring aviation professionals. These drives aim to attract talent from diverse backgrounds, ensuring accessibility to multiple individuals. In 2024, Emirates’ recruitment team will host roadshows in more than 26 cities in over 18 countries. Today, Emirates has over 4,400 pilots. In 2023, the airline recruited over 420 pilots with its recruitment programmes – Direct entry captains, accelerated command, and first officers. The airline is currently embarking on a hiring drive to fill numerous positions: First officers – non-type rated Emirates is welcoming First Officers who are non-type rated – which essentially means those who have experience only on turboprops or jets. These pilots will now have the opportunity to be fully trained to fly the airline’s all-wide-body fleet of 144 Boeing aircraft across its network that spans more than 140 destinations. First Officers will also be able to fly 205 of the new Boeing 777-Xs when these aircraft enter the fleet in 2025. The basic salary of the first officer- non-type rated is Dh31,341, according to the Emirates website. Accelerated Command Programme for Boeing 777s The airline has extended its Accelerated Command Programme (ACP) to its fleet of Boeing 777s – which so far was reserved for its ever-popular A380. The basic starting salary for an accelerated Command is Dh36,446 per month. Direct Entry Captain – A350 fleet The airline is now calling for Direct Entry Captains (DEC) to command its highly anticipated A350 fleet of 65 aircraft. As an added incentive, Emirates has also increased the base salary for the new recruits on both the A350s and A380s. According to the Emirates website, the basic salary for a direct entry captain is Dh46,670 including benefits. First Officers Emirates is offering enhanced salary packages for First Officers with experience of over 4,000 flying hours on modern Airbus fly-by-wire or Boeing aircraft. Based on the Emirates website, the basic salary first officer is Dh31,341 and the enhanced package mentioned is Dh33,781. Pilots at Emirates receive a competitive tax-free salary, are eligible for profit share, and are provided spacious villas in gated communities, education allowance, and excellent life, medical, and dental cover. They also have access to a world-class provident fund and receive regular and complimentary financial advice. https://www.khaleejtimes.com/jobs/emirates-announces-new-jobs-higher-salaries-for-pilots Brazil’s Embraer Plots a New 737-Sized Jet to Rival Boeing With Boeing in the throes of its latest crisis, one of its smaller rivals, Embraer, is exploring options for a new model to challenge the duopoly for large jets that has dominated the industry for almost three decades. Internal assessments conducted by Embraer have determined that the Brazilian company has the technological know-how and manufacturing might to develop a next-generation narrow-body aircraft, its first in that market segment, according to people familiar with the company’s strategy and planning. Embraer has a market value of around $5 billion and specializes in regional and business jets. The plane would compete head-on with the successors to Boeing’s 737 MAX and Airbus’s A320 in a category that is key for both manufacturers. Greenlighting the project would also represent a potentially make-or-break bet: New aircraft programs typically cost tens of billions of dollars to develop, can take more than a decade from inception to entering service and regularly don’t get to market. While the plans are still in their infancy and a final decision hasn’t been made, the company has been laying the groundwork, including assessing potential payload and range requirements. Embraer has also sounded out potential financial and industrial partners that the company would need, the people said, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and manufacturing firms in Turkey, India and South Korea. A spokesman for Embraer said that while the company “certainly has the capability to develop a new narrow-body aircraft,” it doesn’t have any plans for a sizable new project at this time and is focused on selling its existing models. Embraer’s ambitions have firmed in recent months with Boeing in turmoil after a 737 MAX jet operated by Alaska Airlines lost a fuselage panel midflight, the people said. The accident prompted U.S. air-safety agencies to put limits on Boeing’s manufacturing facilities and led to an executive shake-up, including the resignation of Chief Executive David Calhoun by the end of the year. Boeing’s troubles since the grounding of its 737 MAX in 2019 have already led it to bleed market share to rival Airbus at a time when airlines across the globe are on a postpandemic spending spree. Boeing executives had previously planned to try to claw back some of those losses by beating Airbus to the market with a next-generation aircraft, according to people familiar with Boeing’s planning. Boeing doesn’t have a firm plan for how it will replace its decades-old 737 line. The company has said it could launch a new aircraft in the middle of the next decade, similar to Airbus’s current timeline, but Calhoun has since said that a decision will fall to a future Boeing CEO. New aircraft programs require long lead times to develop, prepare supply chains and win regulatory signoff. Calhoun has said the company would need about $50 billion to develop a successor to the 737 MAX, cash that the debt-laden manufacturer currently doesn’t have. Boeing, which this past week said it had burned through nearly $4 billion in its most recent quarter, ended 2023 with a net debt of $52.3 billion. A new model would also mark a satisfying reprisal for Embraer after Boeing unilaterally withdrew from a $4 billion deal to acquire the Brazilian company’s commercial jet business four years ago. Embraer is still awaiting findings from an arbitration it filed at the International Chamber of Commerce after Boeing abandoned the deal. “I’ve talked to everyone at Boeing that I can possibly address, and the message is the same: Get your act together,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom—one of Embraer’s biggest customers—said on a call last week. He later said that Embraer comparatively has “delivered day in and day out throughout the pandemic no matter the concerns of their supply chain” and that other manufacturers “can learn a lot from them.” To be sure, many new aircraft programs don’t succeed. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, for example, in 2023 pulled the plug on a 16-year project to develop an all-new regional jet. In 2017, Bombardier was pushed into handing its loss-making C Series aircraft program to Airbus for $1 after Boeing petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to place heavy import duties on the new model. Embraer itself doesn’t currently manufacture an aircraft that matches the size and range of Boeing’s or Airbus’s popular narrow-bodies—jets that are defined by their single aisle and which form the backbone of the global aviation sector. Its largest model, the E2-195 regional jet which entered service in 2018, seats a maximum of 146 passengers compared with a maximum of 172 seats on Boeing’s smallest narrow-body, the 737 MAX 7. Still, the Brazilian company could use aspects of the design and technology from the E2 as the basis for the new aircraft, helping to subsidize some of the billions of costs if it went ahead with an all-new design. Embraer is still a relatively small player in the world of aircraft manufacturing compared with Boeing and Airbus. The company last year delivered 181 aircraft, with Boeing delivering 528 and Airbus delivering 735 jets to customers. Airbus has said it is progressing toward bringing its own new narrow-body to the market in the second half of the 2030s. The European plane maker, the world’s biggest, has been exploring multiple options for upgrades that could boost fuel efficiency by 20% to 25% compared with the current A320neo model, including new engine and wing designs. The company has also long touted the possibility of developing a stretched version of its A220—the renamed C Series aircraft it picked up from Bombardier in 2017. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/brazil-s-embraer-plots-a-new-737-sized-jet-to-rival-boeing/ar-AA1nYaQ7?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds 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