Flight Safety Information - June 5, 2024 No. 112 In This Issue : Incident: Austrian E195 at Klagenfurt on Jun 3rd 2024, lightning strike : Incident: Lufthansa A321 near Rome on Jun 1st 2024, suspected bleed air leak : Hot air balloon strikes power lines, burning pilot and 2 passengers : NTSB: American Airlines & Delta Near-Miss At JFK Proves Need For Tech : Altius Aviation Successfully Achieves FAA SMS Part 5 Acceptance with Expert Guidance from Aviation Safety Solutions : Iran reverse-engineers JT8D engine blades : Airbus in discussions with Chinese airlines to sell over 100 A330neos: reports : American Airlines flights may soon be missing flight attendants : Spirit Airlines flyer tracks down her stolen luggage to airport employee’s Florida house with her pinging : United Airlines to hire fewer employees due to Boeing aircraft delivery delays : Europe’s largest aircraft graveyard is an airport that hosts no passengers : Shortage of pilots, crews far more serious than what's visible: CAPA India : Emirates, IATA and Airbus launch A350 type rating conversion course for pilots : CALENDAR OF EVENTS Incident: Austrian E195 at Klagenfurt on Jun 3rd 2024, lightning strike An Austrian Airlines Embraer ERJ-195, registration OE-LWD performing flight OS-939 from Vienna to Klagenfurt (Austria), was on approach to Klagenfurt when the aircraft received a lightning strike. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 28R. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 19 hours, then returned to service. A passenger reported on approach to Klagenfurt the aircraft received a lightning strike, some cabin lights as well as the Public Address System failed. The airline reported the aircraft sustained a lightning strike. The aircraft underwent a lightning strike inspection and returned to service the following morning. https://avherald.com/h?article=5197c040&opt=0 Incident: Lufthansa A321 near Rome on Jun 1st 2024, suspected bleed air leak A Lufthansa Airbus A321-200, registration D-AISD performing flight LH-1902 from Munich (Germany) to Lamezia-Terme (Italy), was enroute at FL350 about 100nm east of Rome (Italy) when the crew decided to divert to Rome Fiumicino due to a suspected bleed air leak on the right hand engine (V2533). The aircraft landed safely on Fiumicino's runway 16L about 25 minutes later. A passenger reported the captain announced they had a technical problem on engine #2, they suspected a leak in the duct taking hot air from the engine to the air conditioning system, the engine was working normally nonetheless. Due to lack of maintenance at Lamezia dispatch and maintenance had decided to divert the aircraft to Rome where such maintenance was readily available. After landing technicians checked the engine, the captain subsequently announced, that a sensor was defective and they could continue their flight. The aircraft departed Rome after about 2:20 hours and reached Lamezia with a delay of about 3:10 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=5197b87a&opt=0 Hot air balloon strikes power lines, burning pilot and 2 passengers • A hot air balloon struck power lines before crashing to the ground, injuring the pilot and the two passengers, officials said. LOWELL, Ind. (AP) - A hot air balloon struck power lines before crashing to the ground over the weekend in northwestern Indiana, injuring the pilot and the two passengers, officials said Tuesday. The balloon contacted the power lines Sunday evening in Hebron, Indiana, about 56 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of Chicago, the Federal Aviation Administration said in an email to The Associated Press. A flash of light can be seen as the balloon rises past power lines in a video recorded from a vehicle on an adjacent road. The balloon crashed about 7 p.m. in a field about 13 miles (21 kilometers) southeast of Hebron, according to the Lowell Fire Department. The injured passengers and pilot were inside the balloon’s basket when rescue personnel arrived. Evidence showed that an electrical current passed from the power lines to the basket, the fire department said in a social media post. All three people suffered burns. Medical helicopters transported the two passengers to hospitals in Chicago. The balloon’s pilot was taken to a hospital in nearby Crown Point, Indiana. Their names and conditions have not been released. The FAA described the information as preliminary and said the National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation. Due to how balloons operate and where they can take off and land, their pilots are well aware of the dangers posed by power lines, said Patrick Cannon, president of the Balloon Federation of America. They also are allowed to fly below 500 feet (152 meters) as long as they stay at least 500 feet from people, houses, animals and other obstacles, he added. “They deal with power lines all the time and go through a lot of training,” Cannon said. “Power lines can be very difficult to see from the air because they blend in with the terrain.” https://www.14news.com/2024/06/05/hot-air-balloon-strikes-power-lines-burning-pilot-2-passengers/ NTSB: American Airlines & Delta Near-Miss At JFK Proves Need For Tech The National Transportation Safety Board has published an abstract of its final report on a near-miss collision between an American Airlines Boeing 777 and a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737 on the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in January of last year. The NTSB finds that the American Airlines pilot’s multitasking in the cockpit and similar distraction at the air traffic control tower were the most likely contributors to the near-miss incident. What prevented tragedy on that day was the proper function of technology introduced at the airport to prevent runway incursions. In the evening of January 13, 2023, air traffic controllers cleared a Delta Air Lines B737 for take-off on Runway 4L. Twenty seconds after the Delta plane began its takeoff roll, the American Airlines plane crossed the runway without clearance. “As the Delta 737 accelerated down the runway, Airport Surface Detection Equipment – Model X, or ASDE-X, issued aural and visual alerts in the air traffic control tower, warning of a potential collision,” the NTSB reports. “Five seconds after the alerts, the controller cancelled the takeoff clearance of the Delta airplane, which quickly decelerated from its top speed of 121 mph as the American 777 was crossing in front of it.” Runway Incursion Technology Saved Lives Runway incursion technology saved lives, NTSB investigators determined, by alerting the air traffic controller of imminent danger. The Delta Air Lines 737 had 159 passengers and crew onboard. The American Airlines 777 had 149 passengers and crew onboard headed for London’s Heathrow Airport. A collision at speed between two aircraft fully fueled for flight would have likely led to intense fire. “The NTSB had recommended such technology in 1991, which led to the development of ASDE-X. The Federal Aviation Administration installed ASDE-X at JFK in 2009, one of just 35 major airports in the U.S. so equipped,” the NTSB states. It also recommends “additional risk mitigation strategies” to decrease the likelihood of similar occurrences. “The whole reason U.S. aviation has such an exemplary safety record is because we’ve built in extra layers of protection, which is why we need lifesaving technology at more of the nation’s airports,” said NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy. “Our investigation also makes clear why we’ve long supported systems that warn flight crews of risks directly: because every second matters. Thankfully, the controllers acted quickly in this case, but safety shouldn’t be all on their shoulders. Instead, we must back up every single component of the system; direct crew alerts do just that.” Pilot Multitasking And ATC Distraction Probable Cause Of Incident NTSB investigators found multiple factors led the American Airlines captain to continue a path along the wrong taxiway and cross the runway assigned to the Delta Air Lines plane without a clearance. Specifically, the NTSB reports, “interruptions and multitasking that were happening on the flight deck during critical moments of ground navigation. The other two flight crewmembers didn’t catch the captain’s error because they were both engaged in tasks that diverted their visual attention from outside the airplane.” At the same time, the ground controller giving taxi instructions to the crew of the American Airlines 777 failed to see the aircraft turn onto the wrong taxiway because “he was performing a lesser priority task that involved looking down.” Also, investigators found the ATC tower team was working on other operations tasks “related to switching runways,” and didn’t scan the airport for potential trouble. NTSB Recommendations To FAA The NTSB several safety recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration related to this incident including: Flight crew should verbally state the number of the runway they will cross in the absence of an automated system that alerts ATC. Airlines should take a closer look at surface mitigation errors by their crew and develop strategies to reduce the risks. The FAA should evaluate the effectiveness of the technology that manages runway status light systems activation and update as necessary. The FAA should work with aircraft and avionics manufacturers “to develop a system that would alert flight crews of traffic on a runway or taxiway and traffic on approach to land.” Furthermore, the FAA should require this cockpit alert system to be installed on new and existing aircraft. The NTSB also highlighted the need for 25-hours of Cockpit Voice Recorder records, which were unavailable for this incident and might have shed more light on crew distractions on the American Airlines plane. The FAA Reauthorization which passed last month required adoption of 25-hour CVR recordings. Recent Ground Collision Near Misses Emphasize Need For Systemic Improvements A number of recent similar near-miss incidents at U.S. airports have raised questions about air traffic controller overtasking and highlight a need to improve runway safety management. The FAA is investigating an incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on May 29 when American Airlines Flight 2134 avoided a collision with another aircraft which was cleared to land on an intersecting runway. In this case, the air traffic controller cancelled the takeoff clearance for the American Airlines Airbus A319 just in time to avoid a crash. In April of this year, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue aircraft also averted a collision at this airport after air traffic controllers noticed the JetBlue flight was cleared for takeoff on a runway the Southwest plane had been cleared to cross. Controllers quickly commanded the two planes to stop, but the near-miss highlights the challenges for air traffic controllers and pilots both overtasked on the nation’s busiest airports. Last February, a Fedex 747 and Southwest Airlines 737 came within a 100 feet of each other when ATC cleared the cargo plane to land on the same runway as the Southwest Airlines plane was cleared for take-off at Austin Airport. In this case, the FedEx pilot’s quick reaction averted disaster. While U.S. commercial aviation remains safe, there is growing concern that a shortage of trained ATC staff and significant traffic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, increases risks. Automation of the kind the NTSB recommends in this latest report, with systems looking out at the environment both on planes and at air traffic control towers, would lessen the burden on human eyes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2024/06/05/ntsb-american-airlines--delta-near-miss-at-jfk-proves-need-for-tech/?sh=76c38f870878 Altius Aviation Successfully Achieves FAA SMS Part 5 Acceptance with Expert Guidance from Aviation Safety Solutions SYRACUSE, N.Y., June 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation Safety Solutions is delighted to announce that Altius Aviation has successfully achieved FAA Safety Management System (SMS) Part 5 acceptance, guided by our comprehensive and expert-led Safety Assistance Program. This milestone underscores Altius Aviation's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational excellence. Altius Aviation Successfully Achieves FAA SMS Part 5 Acceptance Navigating the FAA SMS Part 5 acceptance process is a complex and demanding task that requires a deep understanding of regulatory requirements and best practices in safety management. Aviation Safety Solutions, with its extensive expertise and proven track record, provided Altius Aviation with the necessary support and strategic guidance to meet these rigorous standards. "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Altius Aviation for this significant achievement," said Amanda Ferraro, CEO at Aviation Safety Solutions. "Our team's expertise in FAA SMS Part 5 requirements played a pivotal role in helping Altius Aviation implement an effective Safety Management System. Their proactive approach and dedication to safety are truly commendable." The partnership between Altius Aviation and Aviation Safety Solutions highlights the effectiveness of the Safety Assistance Program. This program encompasses a comprehensive suite of services, including risk assessments, policy development, staff training, and continuous support, ensuring that aviation operators can confidently meet FAA standards and foster a strong safety culture. Ian Crawford, Chief Pilot at Altius Aviation, expressed profound appreciation for the outstanding guidance and support from Aviation Safety Solutions. He noted, "Their expertise was crucial in navigating the complexities of the FAA SMS Part 5 acceptance process. This accomplishment is a testament to our unwavering commitment to safety and operational excellence." Aviation Safety Solutions prides itself on being a leader in safety management services, with a specialized focus on FAA SMS Part 5 requirements. Our team of seasoned professionals is dedicated to helping aviation operators achieve and maintain compliance, enhancing their safety performance and operational integrity. For more information about our Safety Assistance Program and how Aviation Safety Solutions can support your organization in achieving FAA SMS Part 5 acceptance, please visit www.avsafetysolutions.com. About Aviation Safety Solutions: Aviation Safety Solutions is a premier provider of safety management services, specializing in helping aviation operators meet and exceed regulatory requirements. With a focus on FAA SMS Part 5 compliance, our expert team offers tailored programs that drive continuous improvement and operational excellence, promoting a robust culture of safety across the aviation industry. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/altius-aviation-successfully-achieves-faa-sms-part-5-acceptance-with-expert-guidance-from-aviation-safety-solutions-302164080.html Iran reverse-engineers JT8D engine blades Mechanics in Iran have managed to reverse-engineer Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine blades, vital components in McDonnell Douglas aircraft, the country's Tasnim News Agency reported. The development could help the sanctions-hit country revive its ageing fleet. With mounting challenges in sourcing essential engine parts, Iran's aviation industry has turned to domestic production, Mani Rezvani, chief executive of Karaj Payam-based MRO firm MAPNA Aero, confirmed to the news agency. “Domestically manufactured blades will substantially reduce dependence on costly imports, fostering resilience in Iran's aviation sector,” he said. According to his estimates, local blade production for the engines will cost USD8,000 whereas imported parts cost USD22,000. The parts are yet to receive approval from the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran, but MAPNA Aero expects this will arrive soon and that the first aircraft fitted with the new blades will start operating this month. Furthermore, Rezvani expects that mass production of the blades for other aircraft and exports to countries such as Russia and Venezuela will also be possible soon. At least 28 aircraft are grounded in Iran because of unaffordable spare parts. According to ch-aviation ch-aviation fleets, airlines operating McDonnell Douglas aircraft with JT8D engines include ATA Airlines (Iran), Caspian Airlines, Chabahar Airlines, Iran Airtour Airlines, Kish Air, Taban Air, and Zagros Airlines (Iran). There are a total of 42 aircraft in this group with an average age of 31.5 years. JT8D engines were first introduced on the B727-100. However, the engines have been out of use at major airlines since Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) took the step of retiring its McDonnell Douglas fleet in 2020. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/140950-iran-reverse-engineers-jt8d-engine-blades Airbus in discussions with Chinese airlines to sell over 100 A330neos: reports Airbus is holding discussions with assorted Chinese airlines regarding the potential sale of more than 100 A330neo widebody aircraft, according to Bloomberg. The publication claims that the possibility of a deal has been spurred on by President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to France and his conversations with the French President Emmanuel Macron. Those familiar with the development have said that the terms of a potential deal are still being discussed, and that as yet there is no sign of when an announcement could be made. The A330neo has been something of a disappointment to Airbus when compared to its predecessors, the A330-200 and A330-300. Together, they accumulated 1,445 orders before being replaced by the improved, New Engine Option series. With China once again halting imports from Boeing, Airbus may be seizing its opportunity to present more attractive terms to the Chinese airlines to purchase A330neos. Major Chinese airlines to have been approached by Bloomberg regarding the sale include Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. This week, China Eastern Airlines took delivery of the first aircraft from its additional order of 100 jets of the Comac C919 type, a plane designed to rival similar offerings from Airbus and Boeing. The Chinese plane-maker delivered the first C919 in December 2022 to China Eastern Airlines, before entering commercial service until May 2023. After a successful outing at the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, Comac was touted as an aircraft manufacturer that could genuinely rival the Airbus and Boeing duopoly. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airbus-neo-order-china-chinese-airlines American Airlines flights may soon be missing flight attendants The airline is facing a major headwind that can soon frustrate travel for billions of consumers. American Airlines (AAL) has a major problem looming on its hands. The airline is close to facing a strike from its unionized flight attendants after the company failed to negotiate a new contract that includes higher pay. The news comes after it was recently revealed that new flight attendants at the company make around $27,000 annually before taxes and incentives. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, a union that represents American Airlines flight attendants, claims that it failed to make an agreement with the airline after weeks of negotiations. “Two weeks of intensive mediation at the National Mediation Board (NMB) offices in Washington, D.C., failed to produce an agreement with American Airlines,” the union said in a May 31 statement. “These sessions followed three weeks of mediation in DFW. Per the request of the NMB, we cannot release particular details. We remain apart on the key economics of the deal plus the company’s completely unacceptable demand for scheduling concessions.” The union warned that American Airlines flight attendants should gear up to strike even though it is illegal for airline workers to do so unless they receive permission from the federal government. “All Flight Attendants need to prepare for a strike,” said the APFA in a statement. “Strike handbooks will be mailed to your address on file with APFA. Our right to strike under the Railway Labor Act has not changed. However, we cannot strike until released by the NMB and following a thirty-day cooling-off period.” The union has previously highlighted that the pay gap between American Airline employees and the company’s CEO is widening, calling it “corporate greed.” “Flight Attendants are the only employees at American Airlines who have not had a raise in the past five years,” according to a May 8 statement. “Meanwhile, in 2023, AA CEO Robert Isom received a staggering $31.4 million pay package. New hire Flight Attendants at American Airlines start at just $27,000/year. Robert Isom’s compensation package is now 1,162 times that of a new-hire Flight Attendant, corporate greed at its finest.” A starting salary for flight attendants at American Airlines is slightly higher than federal poverty levels which is $15,060 for an individual household and $20,440 for a family of two in 2024. A potential strike from American Airlines could come at a time of year when airline travel is expected to reach record levels. A report from the International Air Transport Association in December reveals that a record 4.7 billion people are expected to travel in this year, which the association claims is “an historic high that exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion recorded in 2019.” “Industry revenues are expected to reach an historic high of $964 billion in 2024,” reads the report. “An inventory of 40.1 million flights is expected to be available in 2024, exceeding the 2019 level of 38.9 million and up from the 36.8 million flights expected in 2023.” Despite the high demand, global airline capacity is also predicted to remain constrained due to supply chain issues, which have recently been exacerbated by Boeing’s quality and safety control mishaps. “Supply chain issues continue to impact global trade and business,” reads the report. “Airlines have been directly impacted by unforeseen maintenance issues on some aircraft/engine types as well as delays in the delivery of aircraft parts and of aircraft, limiting capacity expansion and fleet renewal.” https://www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/travel/american-airlines-flights-may-soon-be-missing-flight-attendants Spirit Airlines flyer tracks down her stolen luggage to airport employee’s Florida house with her pinging A Spirit Airlines passenger managed to track down her stolen luggage after it vanished when she arrived at a Florida airport — using one of the stolen items to aid in her desperate search. Paola Garcia had been waiting for her small pink hardshell luggage, containing several Apple products like her personal MacBook and two Apple Watches, at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s carousel after returning home to the Sunshine State, Local 10 reported. The exact timing of the incident remains unclear, but Garcia’s desperation to find her stolen property led her to the apparent culprit’s house even before local cops. Paola Garcia said her luggage she was forced to check by Spirit Airlines never appeared on the baggage carousel after arriving in Florida. Garcia told the outlet she always carried on her luggage without issue, but this time, Spirit Airlines employees made her check the bag before she departed from New York. She panicked as she watched others grab their bags from the carousel, and her luggage didn’t appear. “In my mind, I’m thinking I need my computer because I go to the university, I need my computer no matter what,” Garcia told the outlet. Garcia said she waited “at least two hours” before giving up hope that her luggage would arrive on the conveyor belt. Spirit Airlines employees told Garcia not to worry and that her luggage would be sent to her house, she told the outlet. Her watch was pinging at the home of Junior Bazile, an airport employee who had been working when Garcia arrived in Fort Lauderdale. Broward Sheriff's Office The next day, she began receiving a ping from one of her Apple Watches — except it wasn’t coming from the airport but 15 minutes away at a Fort Lauderdale home. It was the home of Junior Bazile, who worked in the retail store Paradies Shops at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Local 10. Determined to get her belongings back, she went to the home, found her suitcase and her things, and immediately called 911. When police arrived, Garcia said, the “first thing” they did was ask why she was at the home. Garcia then went to Bazile's home and found her luggage, but her valuables were gone. “The police told me was like, ‘What are you doing here? This is so dangerous for you to be here,’” Garcia explained. The Broward Sheriff’s Office found that Bazile, 29, was an airport employee and was working the day Garcia’s things went missing. Unfortunately, by the time police arrived, the alleged airport thief had already gotten rid of her belongings. An investigation was launched, and police found pictures of Bazile rummaging through Garcia’s suitcase in the back of the store where he worked at the airport. Law enforcement obtained pictures of Bazile rummaging through Garcia’s suitcase in the back of the store where he worked at the airport. If found guilty of grand theft, the accused could face five to 30 years in prison and fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the case. But Garcia worries Bazile may be part of a bigger operation of thieves, according to the outlet. “Personally, I don’t think it’s one person working in the airport, I think it’s a group,” she said. “One person can’t just do that, take bags.” Law enforcement did not reveal how Bazile was able to steal the luggage. After it was confirmed that Garcia’s luggage was stolen, Spirit Airlines released a statement saying it reimbursed her as a “courtesy.” “We issued a reimbursement check to the guest as a courtesy, even though we are not currently aware of any evidence that any Spirit employee was involved,” the airline told the outlet. “We take any allegation of this nature seriously, and we are investigating.” Bazile was then arrested and charged with grand theft -- a felony offense in Florida if the valuables taken are worth over $750. Broward County This is not the first time a Florida airport employee has been caught red-handed stealing from travelers. In June 2023, surveillance footage captured two TSA officers allegedly stealing at least $600 in cash and other items from unsuspecting passengers’ luggage at Miami International Airport. Video from the checkpoint shows the two accused thieves at the baggage dropoff section working together to take money from wallets and purses that passed them on their way to the X-ray machine. The thefts occurred while the passengers were distracted by the screening process and not paying attention to their items. https://nypost.com/2024/06/05/us-news/spirit-airlines-flyer-tracks-down-stolen-luggage-to-fort-lauderdale-airport-employee-using-apple-watch/ United Airlines to hire fewer employees due to Boeing aircraft delivery delays According to a company executive, United Airlines will hire fewer employees than projected in 2024. The decision comes as the airline deals with delays in Boeing aircraft delivery. Kate Gebo, United's president of human resources and labour relations, revealed that the airline expects to hire approximately 10,000 new employees next year, down from 13,000 to 15,000. A company executive stated that United Airlines will hire fewer staff than expected in 2024. The decision comes as the airline faces delays in Boeing aircraft supply. Kate Gebo, United's president of human resources and labour relations, stated that the airline intends to add roughly 10,000 new employees next year, down from 13,000 to 15,000. The reduced recruiting plans are directly related to Boeing's ongoing safety crisis, which has resulted in a major slowdown in aircraft deliveries. Boeing has reduced its delivery forecast for this year by 25 per cent, expecting to give out only 66 jets. This deficit has hampered United Airlines' operational expansion and aircraft utilisation, leaving the company with an oversupply of employees. Current hiring and staffing adjustments Despite the hurdles, United has made significant hiring gains this year, hiring 4,000 new team members since January. There are over 800 pilots and 600 flight attendants. "Our hiring efforts are directly tied to the orders and the growth of our operation," said Gebo. In 2023, the airline hired 16,000 new employees. To address the manpower surplus caused by delayed aircraft deliveries, United briefly halted pilot hiring and offered its pilots optional unpaid leave. However, the corporation has begun pilot hiring, signalling a cautious optimism regarding its future operations. United's strategic response to aircraft delivery issues United Airlines, a major Boeing customer, is keeping a close eye on developments. United has adjusted its staffing and operational tactics in response to aircraft delivery delays. The airline hopes to overcome present obstacles while planning for future expansion by matching its employment efforts with its revised operating capacity. United's proactive strategy demonstrates the considerable impact of Boeing's production challenges on the airline sector, emphasising the delicate relationship between aircraft availability and manpower requirements. https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/united-airlines-to-hire-fewer-employees-due-to-boeing-aircraft-delivery-delays-728857 Europe’s largest aircraft graveyard is an airport that hosts no passengers • Europe’s largest aircraft graveyard is in a Spanish airport • It has room for around 250 planes • Zero commercial passengers travel through the airport Europe’s largest aircraft ‘graveyard’ is in a Spanish airport that has absolutely zero passengers traveling through. Teruel Airport, which also goes under the commercial name Plataforma Aeroportuaria-Teruel or PLATA for short, was once a military base but has since been repurposed as an aircraft maintenance and aircraft storage facility. The airport hosts the facilities of the French aviation group Tarmac Aerosave, which specializes in storage, maintenance, and recycling services for the airline industry. You might be aware that airplane maintenance can be big business – for an idea of how big take a look at the estimated running costs of the now-defunct Concorde – so facilities such as Teruel Airport are not uncommon throughout the globe, where they can also act as a bit of a graveyard for ‘retired’ planes. However, spanning a whopping 550 hectares and with long-term storage space for 250 aircraft, PLATA is the biggest in Europe. It’s dry-climate makes it an ideal spot for long-term plane storage. A spokesperson for German airline Lufthansa told CNN in 2020: “The climate in Teruel is suitable for ‘deep storage’, a condition in which the aircraft can remain for a long period of time without major maintenance work and is preserved in the best possible way for a later resumption of operations.” Europe’s largest aircraft ‘graveyard’Wikimedia Commons It’s also in a relatively quiet part of Spain, with airport manager Alejandro Ibrahim telling Reuters: “Teruel’s climate is dry – semi-desert with more than 250 days of sun per year. “Also there is very little air traffic congestion which makes it the ideal place for plane preservation and maintenance.” PLATA is owned by a consortium formed by the Government of Aragon and Teruel City Council, and it does not belong to AENA Group – the Spanish airports’ management company. This, of course, makes sense as the airport is not equipped for passenger traffic. This means that when the rest of the world’s airports all but ground to a complete stop during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was quite the opposite for Teruel Airport. The number of planes arriving to be parked at the airport per week doubled during the first few months of the global pandemic. Pedro Sáez, Teruel plant director at Tarmac Aerosave, told CNN that prior to the pandemic the company had 66 planes in storage but by June 17 2020 that number rose to 109. https://supercarblondie.com/europes-largest-aircraft-graveyard-is-an-airport-that-hosts-no-passengers/ Shortage of pilots, crews far more serious than what's visible: CAPA India Indian carriers expected to add 82 planes in FY25 The shortage of pilots, cabin crew members, and other key aviation sector employees is far more serious than estimated or visible right now, aviation consultancy firm CAPA India stated on Wednesday. Moreover, the Indian carriers would be adding 82 planes to their fleet in 2024-25, taking the total number of commercial aircraft in the country to 812. Vistara had in the March-April period cancelled 10 per cent of its flights due to sick leave taken by a section of pilots, amidst alleged dissatisfaction with tight duty schedules and new salary packages offered to them as part of the airline's merger into Air India. In September last year, Akasa Air was forced to cancel about 24 daily flights as about 43 pilots abruptly resigned, without serving their mandatory notice periods, to join rival carriers. "The shortages of pilots, AMEs (aircraft maintenance engineers), cabin crew, flight dispatchers and others is far more serious than currently estimated or visible. Introduction of the new FDTL guidelines - likely this year - and poaching by Middle Eastern carriers is likely to accentuate the labour shortage issue," Kapil Kaul, CEO and Director, CAPA India, stated at the firm's annual summit. "Additionally, aligning employees to best practices and high productivity norms will result in variability in compensation which is linked to performance. Whilst this may lead to short-term pain, it will lead to long-term productivity benefits," he added. Vistara and Air India Express are expected to reduce losses significantly in 2024-25, he said. The industry's average fare in 2023-24 was almost the same as in 2022-23. "IndiGo's average airfare in 2023-24 was just 1.3 per cent higher than 2022-23 but 36 per cent higher compared to 2019-20," he mentioned. Airlines are pursuing a rational pricing regime for the first time, which has been maintained for the last 12-18 months, he noted. "The industry achieved record yields (revenue per seat per kilometre) in December 2023,” he noted. VAT (value added tax) on ATF (aviation turbine fuel) has been reduced to be in the range of 1-5 per cent in most states across the country. “Only five states continue to hold out with rates of 20-30 per cent, although they account for a significant proportion of national traffic. However, we expect that even they will rationalise taxation in 2024-25 or 2025-26,” he added. The country’s aircraft fleet is set to double by FY30. “It took the Indian industry about 90 years from the time of the first commercial flight to reach the fleet of 700 aircraft. But the rate of growth is so strong that carriers could add a further 600-700 planes in just the next 5-7 years,” he stated. Although terminal and runway infrastructure is being developed, greater attention needs to be given to ensuring that there are sufficient parking bays available to support fleet expansion, he mentioned. The productivity of single and dual runway airports needs to be increased to international benchmarks. He cited the higher productivity of various foreign airports such as Gatwick in London. “Corporatisation of ANS (air navigation services that are with the government-run Airports Authority of India) is necessary if airspace bottlenecks are to be addressed. But leaving corporatisation aside, restructuring and optimisation of ANS is essential if the projected growth is to be accommodated,” he mentioned. https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/shortage-of-pilots-crews-far-more-serious-than-what-s-visible-capa-india-124060500720_1.html Emirates, IATA and Airbus launch A350 type rating conversion course for pilots Emirates has announced that it has teamed up with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airbus to launch an enhanced Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) program for the A350 aircraft type rating, as the airline prepares for the delivery of 65 A350s from mid-2024. According to Emirates, the advanced pilot training programme uses CBTA training methodology that combines IATA’s principles and documentation, the carrier’s operational expertise and resources, and Airbus’ CBTA training experience on the A350 that spans over 10 years. The airline has said that an initial batch of 256 pilots will be trained as part of the new course at Emirates’ Training college in Dubai, starting from July 2024. The program will run in two phases, including 20 days of simulator training and evaluation over 15 separate sessions. The A350 CBTA program is driven by pilot competency and behavior, using the CBTA training philosophy to enable instructors to assess the pilots during training and seek immediate improvements in their performance. The program is one of the ways in which Emirates is gearing up for the entry of its new A350 into service. Other departments within the airline are also preparing for the debut of A350 operations, including their Service Delivery and Engineering teams. “The tailored CBTA programme for the A350 supports the integration of the new aircraft to be inducted into our fleet, with 1,000 pilots set to complete the A350 type rating course,” Capt. Bader Al Marzooqi, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Flight Training said in a statement. “This latest initiative is part of Emirates’ commitment to deliver the highest standards of service and comfort while supporting our operational growth and expansion,” Al Maqzooqi added. Capt. Stéphan Labrucherie, Airbus Head of Flight Training Worldwide said: “Our partnership with IATA and Emirates ensures that Emirates’ pilots receive the most comprehensive and effective training, supporting the smooth entry into service of the A350 worldwide.” https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/emirates-iata-and-airbus-launch-a350-type-rating-conversion-course-for-pilots CALENDAR OF EVENTS • (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 Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS 2024), Aug. 13-15, Beijing, China. • 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) • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore Curt Lewis