Flight Safety Information - May 3, 2024 No. 089 In This Issue : Incident: LATAM A321 at Sao Paulo on Apr 26th 2024, tail scrape on takeoff : Accident: Atlas B772 at Hong Kong on Apr 28th 2024, hail strike : Accident: Satena AT42 at San Adres on May 1st 2024, nose gear collapsed while lining up for takeoff : China’s C919 passes ‘deep level’ post-flight safety tests, ramps up rivalry with embattled Boeing : Passenger caught with bag of snakes hidden down trousers at Miami airport : Southwest Airlines upgrades legal VP to GC as veteran legal chief steps down : Math Professor's Research Targets Ice Buildup on Aircraft : Times Up For Embattled Go First After Losing 54 Aircraft To Lessors : Embraer Delivers 1800th E-Jet : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: LATAM A321 at Sao Paulo on Apr 26th 2024, tail scrape on takeoff A LATAM Brasil Airbus A321-200, registration PT-MXO performing flight LA-4518 from Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP to Florianopolis,(Brazil), was departing Guarulhos' runway 09L when during takeoff rotation a noise was heard from the back of the aircraft. The crew stopped the climb at 9000 feet and returned to Guarulhos for a safe landing on runway 09R about 30 minutes after departure. Brazil's CENIPA reported the aircraft sustained minor damage when the tail contacted the runway surface during takeoff. The rotation was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Sao Paulo about 6 days after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=518237a0&opt=0 Accident: Atlas B772 at Hong Kong on Apr 28th 2024, hail strike An Atlas Air Boeing 777-200, registration N709GT performing flight 5Y-8341 from Hong Kong (China) to Liege (Belgium), was climbing out of the Hong Kong's runway 07R when the aircraft flew through hail. The aircraft continued to Liege for a landing without further incident. According to information The Aviation Herald received, the weather radar was inoperative following the hail strike, post flight inspection revealed a penetration of the vertical stabilizer and reshaped radome in addition to many hail stone impact marks around the entire aircraft. The crew consulted with operations in flight and was advised to continue to Liege. The aircraft is still on the ground in Liege 4 days later. https://avherald.com/h?article=51820344&opt=0 Accident: Satena AT42 at San Adres on May 1st 2024, nose gear collapsed while lining up for takeoff A Satena Avions de Transport Regional ATR-42-500, registration HK-5104 performing flight 9R-8806 from San Andres to Providencia (Colombia) with 45 passengers and 4 crew, was backtracking runway 06 for departure and was turning around at about 07:09L (12:09Z) almost having finished the line up when the nose gear collapsed. There were no injuries. Colombia's Aeronautica Civil reported the aircraft suffered a nose gear retraction just when the aircraft was about to begin its takeoff roll. All 45 passengers and 4 crew disembarked without injuries. Colombia's Technical Direction of Civil Aircraft Accident investigation have opened an investigation. https://avherald.com/h?article=51816daf&opt=0 China’s C919 passes ‘deep level’ post-flight safety tests, ramps up rivalry with embattled Boeing Home-grown narrowbody jet is only certified to fly in China, and China Southern Airlines said on Tuesday it would receive its first C919 in August China’s first home-grown narrowbody passenger jet has passed a battery of “deep level” safety tests as part of a step that is expected to help the C919 find overseas markets as its rival Boeing wrestles with a list of mechanical woes. China Eastern Airlines Technology, a subsidiary of the group that owns C919 operator China Eastern Airlines, concluded four days of “A-inspection” tests on Monday at a hangar in Shanghai, the Civil Aviation Administration said on Tuesday. The aircraft is required to undergo safety checks after either every four months, 700 flight hours or 500 flight cycles – meaning the operation of an engine from take-off to landing – depending on which threshold is reached first. A crew of more than 60 checked the aircraft – referred to as B-919A by China Eastern Airlines – and tested its engines, landing gear and all equipment in the cabin, according to the regulator. The Chinese will offer a better price, and of course they will advertise their aircraft of similar quality as Boeing “The Chinese aircraft builder has a chance to compete with Boeing,” said Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii. “The Chinese will offer a better price, and of course they will advertise their aircraft of similar quality as Boeing and capitalise on all the scandals that Boeing has run through in the last couple of years.” Chinese officials would also “be lobbying the powers that be” in developing countries to buy the aircraft, he added, with many governments in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia enjoying close commercial and economic ties with China. The inspection of the C919, dubbed “4A” by the regulator, followed worries from overseas about safety during its development. Your daily must-read of essential stories from China, including politics, economy and current affairs. By submitting, you consent to receiving marketing emails from SCMP. If you don't want these, tick here Boeing’s inspections of its aircraft have been criticised for a lack of staffing and government oversight. “If you rush through, as Boeing has, you sacrifice a lot of the quality and safety,” Ritchie said. The C919 was designed to compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families of aircraft. The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China developed the C919 over 15 years, with the jet making its first commercial flight in May last year. Last week, Beijing-based flagship carrier Air China confirmed it had signed a deal with Comac to buy 100 C919s from this year until 2031. And on Tuesday, China Southern Airlines said it would receive its first C919 in August as part of its own 100-plane order. Comac has said it has received over 1,000 orders for the C919, but as it lacks certification to fly outside China, they are all from domestic carriers. China’s C919: first home-grown airliner makes international debut The manufacturer, though, has been seeking clients in Southeast Asia, with the C919 making an appearance at the Singapore Airshow in February, before conducting demonstration flights in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam. Boeing, which makes up half of a US-European civilian aircraft duopoly with Airbus, is contending with a chain of safety scandals. The issues began with two deadly crashes of its popular 737 Max in 2018 and 2019 followed by a “door plug” failure on board an Alaska Airlines flight in January. The US aviation regulator has blocked Boeing from expanding production of the narrowbody 737 Max. European multinational aerospace firm Airbus is not beset with the same safety issues, but the airline has postponed some aircraft deliveries to as late as 2025 because of supply-chain problems. https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3261208/chinas-c919-passes-deep-level-post-flight-safety-tests-ramps-rivalry-embattled-boeing Passenger caught with bag of snakes hidden down trousers at Miami airport Man admitted carrying the concealed creatures, with the incident spawning jokes across social media A passenger travelling from Miami International Airport in Florida was stopped by security after he was found with a bag of snakes hidden down his trousers. Alarms alerted security guards to an “anomaly” on the man’s person and he was taken for a pat-down, where he admitted to concealing the reptiles, on Friday 26 April. Pictures posted online by the Transportation Security Administration showed the two small, pink snakes that had been removed from a camouflage-coloured bag. Police and Customs and Border Patrol were called and the animals were safely turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The post spawned several risque jokes from social media users, as well as a string of references to the 2006 film Snakes On A Plane, starring Samuel L Jackson. A TSA spokesman told The Independent that the passenger was attempting to take an international flight but had “basically admitted there were snakes in his pants” when the alarms had sounded. Two small, pink snakes were retrieved from a camouflage bag that was hidden down the passengers trousers at Miami International Airport, and turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Airport security uses Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) to detect irregularities. “It showed that there was an anomaly in the groin area and it marks it for a pat-down. When the passenger came through they said that they needed to do a pat-down and that’s when he admitted that there were snakes in his pants,” the spokesperson told The Independent. “At that point, they contacted law enforcement from there so I think that he knew that, you know, once the technology flagged him for a search that he was caught and he admitted to it.” The man was subsequently forbidden to board his flight, the spokesperson said, adding that such incidents were not “commonplace”. However, in January 2023, TSA agents in Tampa, Florida found a four-foot boa constrictor concealed in a passenger’s bag that they claimed was an “emotional support animal”. At the time the agency shared a pun-laden post on Instagram which showed the “danger noodle” going through the airport’s X-ray machine. “Our officers at Tampa International Airport didn’t find this hyssssssterical! Coiled up in a passenger’s carry-on was a 4’ boa constrictor! We really have no adder-ation for discovering any pet going through an x-ray machine,” TSA wrote. It is understood that the boa constrictor was also turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/snakes-trousers-passenger-miami-airport-florida-b2538969.html Southwest Airlines upgrades legal VP to GC as veteran legal chief steps down Jeff Novota will replace Mark Shaw, who is moving to an advisor role after almost 24 years as CLO US budget carrier Southwest Airlines has promoted Jeff Novota to general counsel after chief legal officer Mark Shaw said he plans to move to an executive advisor role. Novota is currently vice president for legal – corporate and transactions, and will take up his new role from the start of next month. As head of the legal function, he will oversee all legal matters including corporate governance, securities, compliance, commercial transactions, employment and litigation. Novota will also be expected to provide legal advice and strategic guidance to the company’s senior management committee and board of directors. Texas-based Southwest Airlines is one of the US’s largest low-cost airline carriers. It has a fleet of more than 800 aircraft and operates out of 121 airports. Shaw will also relinquish his chief regulatory officer role, which will be assumed by current chief corporate affairs officer Jason Van Eaton. Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines president and CEO, said: “As Jason and Jeff step into their new roles, the proven expertise and extensive experience they each possess, along with Mark’s continued guidance, will result in a seamless and successful transition.” Novota has been with Southwest Airlines for almost 13 years across a number of roles. He has held his current position for the past year and a half, having previously been associate GC for corporate and transactions. He originally joined as a corporate attorney from Vedder Price, where he spent three years in the firm’s Chicago office. Novota also holds a commercial multi-engine pilot certificate. Shaw, meantime, steps down from the CLO role after nearly 24 years with the company. He previously worked as an attorney at GE Capital Aviation Services after eight years at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. He started his legal career in-house at personal care and beauty company Mary Kay. Jordan added: “We appreciate Mark’s many years of dedicated service at Southwest, and we’re delighted he’ll continue to serve as an executive advisor. Mark’s trusted counsel and leadership helped us navigate many triumphs and challenges throughout his career.” In other airline-related in-house moves, American Airlines’ deputy GC Grant McGee left the company in February to rejoin tissue paper giant Kimberly-Clark as its GC. And in June last year, former Lucasfilm and SpaceX GC David Anderman joined US electric aviation startup Surf Air Mobility. https://www.globallegalpost.com/news/southwest-airlines-upgrades-legal-vp-to-gc-as-veteran-legal-chief-steps-down-976228168 Math Professor's Research Targets Ice Buildup on Aircraft Researchers are using math to build aircraft models that are safer, more aerodynamic, fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly. A mathematics professor is poised to illuminate the mysteries surrounding the physics of ice buildup on aircraft surfaces. With aviation safety at the forefront, this innovative exploration aims to uncover the intricate mechanisms behind ice formation and its impact on aircraft performance. Enhancing Aircraft Safety, Sustainability Researchers at the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) are harnessing mathematical principles to create aircraft models that prioritize safety, aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Tackling one of aviation's longstanding challenges, the team, led by David Del Rey Fernández from the University of Waterloo's Department of Applied Mathematics, is dedicated to developing cutting-edge simulation software algorithms to optimize aircraft design. Interesting Engineering reported that the research team is dedicated to tackling the issue of ice buildup on aircraft wings and fuselage, which arises when specific atmospheric conditions conducive to ice formation are encountered during flight. This aspect has become a pivotal focus of their endeavors. Ice accumulation during flight poses a substantial risk to aircraft performance, potentially leading to severe consequences. Fernández's laboratory is committed to developing sophisticated algorithms and software tools aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of these processes. Their goal is to utilize this knowledge to refine future aircraft designs, thus mitigating the potential negative outcomes of ice formation. He highlights the severity of the problem and the critical impact of ice buildup on aircraft performance. Fernández emphasizes that this interference can impede takeoff, heighten the risk of stalling, disrupt crucial sensors, and ultimately compromise aircraft safety. Advancing Ice Buildup Prediction in Aircraft Design The team is working hard to solve the ice buildup problem for Bombardier Inc., a major Canadian business jet maker. They aim to understand how ice forms on airplanes and find ways to reduce its impact. They're creating advanced computer programs that simulate ice buildup in three dimensions to do this. In the past, aviation engineers relied on simple math to create the first drafts of aircraft designs. These drafts were tested on small models in wind tunnels and then adjusted before being finalized. However, this old-fashioned method is slow, expensive, and requires a lot of effort. Nowadays, engineers use sophisticated computer programs to quickly and affordably create many different design options. These digital designs are then turned into physical models for testing, making the design process much faster and smoother. Del Rey Fernández provides further insight, emphasizing the need to expand beyond existing two-dimensional ice buildup prediction methods. They aim to develop software capable of accurately simulating ice formation in three dimensions, aligning with the complex nature of aircraft design and operation. Del Rey Fernández and Nataj have partnered with Ansys, a prominent firm renowned for its advanced simulation software in product design, testing, and operation. Their collaboration aims to augment the software's capacity to model complex interactions, including airflow dynamics and the interactions of aircraft wings during flight. https://www.techtimes.com/articles/304257/20240503/math-professors-research-targets-ice-buildup-aircraft.htm Times Up For Embattled Go First After Losing 54 Aircraft To Lessors With its Airbus aircraft now headed back to their rightful owners, the clock is ticking on bankrupt airline Go First. SUMMARY • Go First loses its fleet, with creditors' hopes dashed as liquidation discussions loom. Its aircraft can now be repossessed by lessors. • Two bids have been under review for the bankrupt airline - SpiceJet Group and Sky One. Extensive maintenance work is needed for aircraft. • The High Court ruling favors lessors, allowing the repossession of aircraft. After months of stalling, over-ambitious claims and broken promises, the end is near for bankrupt Indian low-cost carrier Go First. Last week, it formally lost its fleet when an Indian court ruled the aircraft should be returned to their owners, a decision that will do a lot to maintain lessors' faith in making aircraft available to carriers on the sub-continent. A bankrupt airline with no aircraft Losing the 54 Airbus A320s has virtually ended creditors' hopes of maintaining any value from saleable assets in the bankrupt airline and all but eliminated any prospects of a Go First revival. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that the Committee of Creditors (CoC) met on Monday, and with creditors owed around $780 million, the lenders are now considering liquidation. Under the bankruptcy process, two bids for Go First (formerly GoAir) are under consideration: one from a consortium including SpiceJet managing director Ajay Singh and Busy Bee Airways and the second from Sharjah-based Sky One, an aviation business with units involved in passenger and cargo charter, asset trading, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and consultancy. SpiceJet Reportedly Among Entities Interested In Acquiring Go First Could this turn things around for the troubled carrier? After sitting idle for more than a year, the aircraft and their Pratt & Whitney GTF engines will likely need extensive maintenance work. Sky One's Chairman Jaideep Mirchandani told Reuters that if its bid was successful, the company was prepared to use its own assets and resources to revive the airline despite the deregistration of leased planes. "Our extensive experience as lessors and our comprehensive portfolio of aviation services uniquely position us to address the challenges and opportunities presented by Go First's situation." It is now up to the committee of creditors to consider the offers. If they are rejected or the bidders retract their offers in light of the repossession, then a liquidation is the most likely outcome. That would leave the lessors to continue their fight for compensation from Go First and Pratt & Whitney over the grounding of aircraft due to engine durability defects, a claim started by Go First that seeks compensation of more than $1 billion. The A320s can leave the building Last Friday, the Delhi High Court ruled in favor of 14 leasing companies seeking to repossess 54 aircraft leased to Go First after a year of battling to have the aircraft deregistered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). According to Planespotters.net, the fleet includes five Airbus A320-200s and 49 A320neos currently parked at various airports around India now waiting for their owners to show up. A Lessor Wants Go First To Replace Parts Taken From Its Planes ACG Aircraft Leasing has requested to install 24-hour security after engine fan blades and an emergency slide disappeared from the grounded aircraft. Since Go First was granted bankruptcy protection in May 2023, the aircraft have been stranded in India after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) imposed a moratorium preventing repossession. In October, India amended its insolvency law to exclude leased aircraft from assets that can be frozen, aligning the world's third-largest aviation market with global standards and upholding the integrity of the Cape Town Convention. That ruling opened the way for repossession, with the court directing the DGCA to deregister the aircraft and ordering the resolution professional [administrator] to surrender all documentation while prohibiting Go First from removing any documents or spare parts from the aircraft. The High Court's decision is a critical win for all of India's airlines, who need access to competitive and reputable lessors as they place massive orders for new aircraft. If the protections under the Cape Town Convention were not enforced it's likely many aircraft lessors would withdraw from India, and those that stayed would add significant risk premiums to leasing contracts, placing Indian carriers at a financial disadvantage to their competitors. https://simpleflying.com/times-up-embattled-go-first-losing-54-aircraft/ Embraer Delivers 1800th E-Jet Embraer has reached a new delivery milestone on the world’s preferred small narrowbody aircraft program; the delivery of the 1800th E-Jet production aircraft. The new Azorra owned E190-E2 was handed over to Royal Jordanian Airlines today at Embraer’s facility in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Today’s delivery is the third E2 for the airline which currently also operates four first generation E-Jets. RJ will recieve a total of eight E2s under the existing deal. E-Jets have enjoyed global success in the fleets of 90 airlines and leasing companies from more than 60 countries since the first aircraft entered service in 2004. The E190-E2 is part of a family of advanced-generation E-Jets that offer the quietest, lowest polluting, and most fuel-efficient aircraft in the under 150 seat market. In 20 years of service, the E-Jets have carried two billion passengers on 26 million flights a distance of 140 million kilometres with 90 airlines from 60 countries. Samer Majali, Vice Chairman and CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, said, “We are delighted to participate in the milestone celebrations for Embraer and the E-jet program, recognizing the longstanding collaboration between Royal Jordanian and Embraer, supported by our valued partners at Azorra. The E2 family of aircraft supports our strategic aims and seamlessly integrates with our vision for regional connectivity and growth. This represents a pivotal role in our fleet modernization efforts, offering unmatched efficiency, flexibility, and passenger satisfaction. Together with Embraer and our esteemed partners at Azorra, we look forward to delivering exceptional passengers experience, while contributing to a more sustainable aviation industry.” John Evans, CEO and founder of Azorra, said, “For Azorra to be part of this milestone is a true honor and we thank Embraer and our friends at Royal Jordanian for their ongoing partnership.With our E2 orderbook and growing number of airline customers, we continue to see a bright future for these aircraft and the compelling efficiency, superior passenger experience and clear economic advantages they provide.” Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, attributed the longevity of the E-Jets program to Embraer’s focus on excellence and continuous improvement, saying, “it’s great to mark this milestone along with two key partners, RJ and Azorra.” Meijer continued, “we’re always looking for ways to make our aircraft better – reducing operating costs, extending maintenance intervals, and adding new technology. Later this year we will announce a number of performance improvements for the E2, which has also proven it is ready to fly on 100% SAF. The E2 continues to demonstrate its advantages in fuel burn, emissions, quietness, reliability, and passenger comfort, and airlines are taking notice.” https://www.embraercommercialaviation.com/news/embraer-delivers-1800th-e-jet/ 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