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Flight Safety Information  - March 28, 2025    No. 063

 

 

In This Issue

 

 

: Take your auditing expertise to the next level with our ICAT program



: Incident: AirAsia A320 at Kuala Lumpur on Mar 26th 2025, engine fire

 

: DEN Selects ProSafeT

 

: Boeing 767-322ER (WL) - Engine Failure (UK)

 

: FAA to require all DC aircraft to turn on tracking tech after plane crash with helicopter

 

: Signal Chat Leak Angers U.S. Military Pilots

 

: American Airlines Pilots Told To Delay Flights And Leave The Cockpit Over Missing Meals

 

: TSA intercepts two guns in five days at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport security checkpoint

 

: Asiana Airlines Pilot Loses His Passport, Flight Delayed by 15 Hours

 

: FAA confirms collision warnings at DCA were due to Secret Service, Navy drone testing 1 month after deadly mid-air collision

 

: US-Canada airline bookings plummet 70 percent: Report

 

: Eastern District Court authorizes seizure of U.S. Boeing jet illegally used by Russian oligarch

 

: Boeing on the Brink: Felony Trial Set After Shocking 737 MAX Revelations

 

: AEA Unveils Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician Credential Partnership with USI

 

: ISASI is accepting nominations for the Jerome F. Lederer Award.

 

: USAIG Promotions

 

: Call for Nominations For 2025 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award

 

: Calendar of Events

 

: TODAY'S PHOTO

 

 

 

 

 

Incident: AirAsia A320 at Kuala Lumpur on Mar 26th 2025, engine fire

 

An AirAsia Airbus A320-200, registration 9M-AQG performing flight AK-128 from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Shenzhen (China) with 171 people on board, was climbing out of Kuala Lumpur's runway 33 when the crew reported a left engine (CFM56) fire indication, stopped the climb at 4000 feet, worked the related checklist and discharged one of the fire bottles, entered a hold and returned to Kuala Lumpur for a safe landing on runway 33 about 2 hours after departure.

 

The airline reported all 171 passengers and crew disembarked safely, the fire was extinguished by the engine's Halon fire suppression system. The airline believes the fire was caused by a burst pneumatic duct.

 

A replacement A320-200 registration 9M-AJY reached Shenzhen with a delay of about 6 hours.

 

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Kuala Lumpur about 19 hours after landing back.

 

https://avherald.com/h?article=525bd86a&opt=0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boeing 767-322ER (WL) - Engine Failure ( UK)

 

Date: Wednesday 26 March 2025

Time: c. 16:00

Type: Boeing 767-322ER (WL)

Owner/operator: United Airlines

Registration: N665UA

MSN: 29237/711

Year of manufacture: 1998

Engine model: P&W PW4056

Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 81

Other fatalities: 0

Aircraft damage: Unknown

Location: near London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) -  United Kingdom

Phase: Initial climb

Nature: Passenger - Scheduled

Departure airport: London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL)

Destination airport: Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR/KEWR)

Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:

United Airlines flight UA147, a Boeing 767-300ER returned to the departure airport, London-Heathrow after a left engine failure during climb. The crew shut it down and landed safely on runway 27R about 55 minutes after departure.

 

https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/491269

 

 

FAA to require all DC aircraft to turn on tracking tech after plane crash with helicopter

 

The acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency will require most aircraft at Ronald Reagan National Airport to have surveillance technology turned on in the wake of a midair crash in the nation’s capital between a commercial jet from Wichita and a Black Hawk Army helicopter.

 

That technology — referred to as ADS-B Out, for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out — was not operating in the Black Hawk helicopter at the time it collided with an American Airlines flight in January, killing 67 people.

 

The new policy was unveiled during a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday as part of lawmakers’ probe into the cause of the first mass-casualty event involving a domestic commercial airliner in nearly 16 years. The collision occurred as the evening flight was a half- mile short of the runway and the Black Hawk was flying at an altitude of about 300 feet in a routine training exercise.

 

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash, told senators on a Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee the imperiled Black Hawk had not transmitted ADS-B Out tracking information for 730 days prior to its collision, indicating the possibility that the helicopter suffered from a longstanding technical problem.

 

“You can have ADS-B Out on, but you also have to make sure that it’s working,” said Jennifer Homendy, the NTSB chair.

 

The director of U.S. Army Aviation initially acknowledged that it conducts many flights with ADS-B Out turned off, but Brigadier General Matthew Braman later said the military would comply with the FAA’s order.

 

“The Army operates 100% under FAA authority,” Braman said.

 

But when pressed under questioning, acting FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau acknowledged the agency would allow some flights to be exempted from the new rule.

 

“You’re not building faith in this system of oversight,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington. “It is the day job of the FAA not to allow these exemptions to become prolific and everybody use them.”

 

The FAA’s new requirement only applies at the moment to Ronald Reagan National Airport — known by its Air Transportation Association code DCA — which operates one of the busiest runways in the nation.

 

ADS-B is the modern aircraft tracking technology used in aviation for surveillance and traffic management, enhancing situational awareness for air traffic controllers and pilots by broadcasting an aircraft’s latitude, longitude, altitude and velocity once per second.

 

The U.S. Army and other military branches do not always use ADS-B Out because of operational security concerns. Since the technology is unencrypted and publicly accessible, some military officials believe broadcasting such information could compromise sensitive missions.

 

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas told Braman it was “shocking and deeply unacceptable” that the Army had continued to conduct flights with tracking technology turned off.

 

“If today another accident occurs over DCA with another helicopter that had ADS-B Out turned off, the Army will have very direct responsibility for that. And I am at a loss to come up with any justification for risking the lives of the traveling public with that decision,” Cruz said.

 

Cruz also scolded the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Army for conducting anti-drone testing missions that triggered a rash of cockpit alerts at DCA over the last month.

 

“It is inappropriate for such testing to occur at DCA given the facts of what occurred,” Cruz told the witnesses.

 

While the committee gathered on Thursday to review the NTSB’s preliminary report, Homendy noted that it would take a year for the agency to complete its full investigation to identify a probable cause for the January crash.

 

What most senators agreed on is that the preliminary report included a flurry of warning signs that, if acted upon, could have prevented the Jan. 29 tragedy.

 

Daily Crafton, the brother of Casey Crafton, one of the victims on the flight, told reporters afterwards he just hoped officials could take action for “safer skies.”

 

“Specifically, even since the crash, certain safety measures that could have been simply implemented still have not been,” Crafton said. “Accountability is still not being taken by parties who should be held responsible.”

 

The NTSB chair noted that between October 2021 and December 2024 there were over 15,000 close proximity events between commercial aircraft and helicopters at Washington’s DCA, with several of them leaving just 75 feet of separation between them.

 

Since the crash, the FAA has moved to permanently ban non-essential helicopter operations in the airspace around DCA, particularly in the 4 mile stretch between Hains Point and the Wilson Bridge, to prevent conflicts with incoming and outbound aircraft.

 

Plans are also underway to install a runway incursion device, an advanced safety technology designed to detect potential runway movements, at 74 airports, including DCA, by the end of 2026.

 

Rocheleau, the acting FAA administrator, said progress was being made to hire more air traffic controllers since offering a 30% salary increase to qualified applicants. The FAA currently employs 10,750 air traffic controllers, has an additional 3,000 in training and plans to hire 2,000 more this year.

 

The preliminary report indicates that the helicopter crew may not have received some of the traffic tower’s communications due to technical issues.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/faa-require-dc-aircraft-turn-175458640.html

 

 

Signal Chat Leak Angers U.S. Military Pilots

 

Men and women who have taken to the air on behalf of the United States expressed bewilderment after the leak of attack plans. “You’re going to kill somebody,” one pilot said.

 

The intelligence breach was bad enough, current and former fighter pilots said. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s refusal to acknowledge that he should not have disclosed sensitive information about when American fighter pilots would attack sites in Yemen, they said, was even worse.

 

On air bases, in aircraft carrier “ready rooms” and in communities near military bases this week, there was consternation. The news that senior officials in the Trump administration discussed plans on Signal, a commercial messaging app, for an impending attack angered and bewildered men and women who have taken to the air on behalf of the United States.

 

The mistaken inclusion of the editor in chief of The Atlantic in the chat and Mr. Hegseth’s insistence that he did nothing wrong by disclosing the secret plans upend decades of military doctrine about operational security, a dozen Air Force and Navy fighter pilots said.

 

Worse, they said, is that going forward, they can no longer be certain that the Pentagon is focused on their safety when they strap into cockpits.

 

“The whole point about aviation safety is that you have to have the humility to understand that you are imperfect, because everybody screws up. Everybody makes mistakes,” said Lt. John Gadzinski, a retired Navy F-14 pilot who flew combat missions from aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf. “But ultimately, if you can’t admit when you’re wrong, you’re going to kill somebody because your ego is too big.”

 

He and other pilots said that each day since Monday, when The Atlantic published an article about the chat disclosures, had brought a stunning new revelation. First came the news that Mr. Hegseth had put the operational sequencing, or flight schedules, for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthi militia in Yemen on March 15 in the unclassified Signal group chat, which included several other senior officials.

 

“We intentionally don’t share plans with people who don’t need to know,” said one Navy F/A-18 pilot, who has flown frequently in missions in the Middle East. “You don’t share what time we’re supposed to show up over a target. You don’t want to telegraph that we’re about to show up on someone’s doorstep; that’s putting your crew at risk.” He and several other current and former pilots spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals from the Pentagon and from allies of President Trump.

 

But then came Mr. Hegseth’s initial response to the disclosures. He attacked Jeffrey Goldberg, the Atlantic editor, as a “so-called journalist,” and sought refuge in a semantic argument, saying that he had never disclosed “war plans.”

 

So on Wednesday, The Atlantic published the actual text of what he had written, at 11:44 a.m. the day of the attack, in the group chat: “1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package),” Mr. Hegseth texted, some 30 minutes before it happened. “1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike window Starts (Target Terrorist is @his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME).”

 

This text was two hours in advance of the strikes.

 

Mr. Hegseth added: “1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package).” And then, “1536: F-18 2nd Strike Starts — also first sea-based Tomahawks launched.”

 

That text gave almost three hours’ notice.

 

On Wednesday, Mr. Hegseth called his disclosure a “team update” to “provide updates in real time, general updates in real time” to keep Trump national security officials informed.

 

But details of military operations are usually kept so secret that even the service members taking part in them are “locked down.” That sometimes means they are not allowed to speak to others who do not have a need to know, let alone tell people about the plans, the fighter pilots interviewed said. In aircraft carrier “ready rooms,” where flight squadrons spend their time when they are not in the air, crews burn instructions to destroy them.

 

“It’s important to understand the degree that OPSEC is involved in every aspect of your life on an aircraft carrier,” said former Navy Capt. Joseph Capalbo, who commanded a carrier air wing and two F/A-18 squadrons, in a reference to operational security. “Red Sea ops are conducted in complete silence — no one is talking on the radio. Because everything can be heard by somebody.”

 

A former Air Force fighter pilot, Maj. Anthony Bourke, added: “When you disclose operational security, people can get killed.” He said that “these things are not taken lightly. I have never met anybody in the military who does not know this.”

 

Mr. Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend host, served as a National Guard infantryman.

 

Cmdr. Parker Kuldau, a former Navy F/A-18 pilot, called Mr. Hegseth’s disclosures, and subsequent response to them, “infuriating.”

 

“It’s so beyond what I would expect from anyone in the military,” said Commander Kuldau, who also flew combat missions in the Middle East. “The idea that the secretary of defense, who should know better, has done this, is just mind-boggling.”

 

Senior Defense Department officials and military analysts say that the Houthis possess air defenses, provided by Iran, that can target American warplanes.

 

“The Houthis have received several types of Iranian surface-to-air missiles designed to be capable of engaging fighter jets, including at high altitudes,” said Fabian Hinz, a military analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

 

Indeed, Houthi rebels for the first time fired surface-to-air missiles at an F-16 fighter jet on Feb. 19, a senior U.S. official said. The missiles missed the fighter. The Houthis have shot down several slower-flying U.S. Air Force drones.

 

The Trump administration has insisted that none of the information on the chat was classified, and Mr. Hegseth and other officials have said it was not a “war plan.”

 

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon spokesman, said in response to a New York Times inquiry that the Signal chat “referenced by The Atlantic was not a forum for the official planning and execution of military operations — which also involved Joint Staff and Joint Force leadership.”

 

The chat included Vice President JD Vance; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; the national security adviser, Michael Waltz; and others, but not the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Christopher Grady, the highest-ranking military official.

 

Mr. Parnell said that “military leadership are frequently not included in political meetings.”

 

Vice Adm. Kevin M. Donegan, a former F/A-18 pilot who served as commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, also pushed back on the idea that aviators’ safety had ever been at risk from the disclosure of information on the March 15 attacks.

 

“Assuming the timeline and information reported is true, the likelihood of anything getting to anyone who could have done anything in such a short time was very low,” Admiral Donegan said. “In the end our planes did not get shot down and no U.S. service personnel were injured or died.”

 

But one former senior Defense Department official with military experience said Mr. Hegseth’s text describing launch times and the type of strike aircraft was, indeed, classified information that could have jeopardized pilots’ lives if it had been released or obtained.

 

A former Navy F/A-18 squadron commander also said that pilots flying combat missions would have considered the contents of Mr. Hegseth’s text classified information. Revealing the details in text was “extremely cavalier,” the former pilot said.

 

Had the Houthis learned the precise time of strikes and that they would be conducted by carrier-based attack planes in the northern Red Sea, they could have repositioned and prepared air defenses that have already shot down several remotely piloted American drones, the former Navy pilot said.

 

Although Mr. Hegseth has dismissed the risks to the Navy pilots flying those attack missions, videos released by U.S. Central Command tell a different tale.

 

Some of the F/A-18 Hornets shown taking off from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea were armed with 500-pound and 1,000-pound bombs that could only be dropped well within range of the Houthis’ air defenses.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/us/politics/pilots-signal-leak.html

 

 

American Airlines Pilots Told To Delay Flights And Leave The Cockpit Over Missing Meals

 

The American Airlines pilot union is telling its members to delay flights if their crew meal isn’t properly loaded for them.

 

Without “adequate sustenance” the union reminds pilots that they might consider themselves “fit..for duty.”

And the airline has been saying that if their meal isn’t loaded and they want to be reimbursed, they should cap their purchase at $30 and make the purchase “within 90 minutes of the segment on which the crew meal was not boarded” even though this is not in their contract.

 

In other to smooth reimbursement, the union says “pilots will be forced to focus on securing a timely meal rather than preparing for the performance of their duties.” In other words, delay the flight and head into the terminal to pick up food – it “may also be advisable to secure a replacement meal before departure to avoid any issues with the Company-imposed time limit.”

 

American Airlines is positioning managers in airports to help address missing meals and dirty planes. This is framed as being part of the carrier’s premium pivot. However it’s just as likely so that pilots don’t mess with D0 exact on-time departures.

 

When the airline fails to board a meal for a pilot, the pilot is entitled not just to reimbursement but cash compensation in their paycheck.

 

Traditionally pilots have received the same meal as first class and in fact the contractual requirement for pilot meals helped speed their return for first class passengers as well during the pandemic.

 

Flights get delayed by weather and by mechanical issues all the time. But as Paddle Your Own Kanoo puts it, thanks to American’s frequent failures to properly cater their aircraft, “there’s another reason why your next flight on American Airlines could be delayed and it’s down to the fact that pilots might have to join the long lines at food concessions in the airport concourse if their contractually agreed crew meal hasn’t been loaded.”

 

https://viewfromthewing.com/american-airlines-pilots-told-to-delay-flights-and-leave-the-cockpit-over-missing-meals/

 

 

TSA intercepts two guns in five days at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport security checkpoint

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Transportation Security Administration officers intercepted two loaded guns in a five-day span at the security checkpoint at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF), the most recent one detected yesterday, March 26. 

 

A Grand Island, N.Y., man was stopped on Friday, March 21, with a 9mm handgun among his carry-on items. The gun was loaded with 13 bullets, including one in the chamber. A Williamsville, N.Y., man was stopped on Wednesday, March 26, with his 9mm firearm loaded with nine bullets, also including one in the chamber.

 

In both instances, TSA officials notified the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, who responded to the checkpoint and immediately took possession of the weapons. Due to the travelers possessing a valid New York State pistol permit, law enforcement cited them with a Notice of Violation on a weapons charge.

 

“In less than five days, our alert TSA officers prevented two guns from being carried onto airplanes, which would have introduced a threat to other travelers,” said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for airports in Upstate New York. “I would like to personally thank these dedicated TSA officers and the law enforcement officers from the NFTA Police who responded and took possession of the weapons and dealt with the travelers,” he added.

 

“It is difficult for me to understand how two individuals who hold New York State Pistol Permits did not know where their handguns were and as a result they brought them to a checkpoint, jeopardizing innocent people. The actions of these travelers were irresponsible and reckless, and they will be held accountable. Fortunately, the weapons were detected by our alert officers.”

 

Guns are not permitted to be carried into or through the security checkpoint and now in addition to the criminal citation, the men also face a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.

 

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

 

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

 

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

 

Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872). 

 

https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2025/03/27/tsa-intercepts-two-guns-five-days-buffalo-niagara-international

 

 

Asiana Airlines Pilot Loses His Passport, Flight Delayed by 15 Hours

 

Recognizing the substantial inconvenience caused, Asiana Airlines provided comprehensive support to affected passengers.

 

SEOUL- An Asiana Airlines (OZ) international flight experienced a significant operational disruption when the designated pilot lost his passport at Clark International Airport (CRK) in the Philippines, resulting in an extensive delay that impacted 135 passengers.

 

Flight OZ708, originally scheduled to depart at 1:35 a.m. local time, was immediately grounded after the pilot discovered his passport was missing. Immigration procedures could not commence without the critical travel document, triggering a comprehensive search of the aircraft and surrounding areas.

 

After exhaustive efforts failed to locate the passport, Asiana Airlines implemented an emergency response protocol.

 

The airline dispatched a replacement pilot from Korea, necessitating a 15-hour and 20-minute delay to the flight’s original departure schedule. This extensive delay required significant logistical management to ensure passenger comfort and operational continuity.

 

Recognizing the substantial inconvenience caused, Asiana Airlines provided comprehensive support to affected passengers.

 

The airline arranged hotel accommodations for all 135 travelers and organized transportation from the airport, demonstrating a commitment to passenger welfare during the unexpected operational challenge.

 

In an official statement, the airline acknowledged the disruption, offering a formal apology for the extensive delay.

 

The flight was operated by just 1.3-year-old Airbus A321neo aircraft, registered as HL8533.

 

Similar Incident

United Airlines (UA) Flight UA198, a Boeing 777-300ER scheduled from Los Angeles (LAX) to Shanghai (PVG), experienced a significant operational disruption on Saturday, March 22, 2025, when a pilot failed to bring a passport for the international journey.

 

The incident forced an unexpected diversion to San Francisco, causing substantial logistical challenges for passengers and crew.

 

After landing at Los Angeles International Airport, passengers received $15 meal vouchers while awaiting a replacement crew. United Airlines communicated directly with affected travelers, acknowledging the unexpected crew-related issue and promising to expedite the flight’s continuation to Shanghai.

 

The diversion represents the second passport-related incident on this route within a single week. The previous occurrence, reported by ViewfromtheWing, involved a pre-departure delay requiring a replacement pilot arrangement.

 

International aviation protocols mandate gate agents to verify passenger passports alongside boarding passes before aircraft entry. However, the incident reveals a critical inconsistency in passport verification procedures, particularly concerning flight crew members.

 

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/03/28/asiana-airlines-pilot-loses-his-passport/#google_vignette

 

 

FAA confirms collision warnings at DCA were due to Secret Service, Navy drone testing 1 month after deadly mid-air collision

 

Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau confirmed the drone testing near DCA during testimony before a Senate subcommittee investigating the crash of Flight 5342.

 

WASHINGTON — The flurry of false mid-air collision alerts that disrupted flights at DCA earlier this month were caused by drone testing being conducted by the Secret Service and U.S. Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration's acting administrator said Thursday.

 

Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau confirmed the drone testing during testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation about the latest findings in the fatal crash of American Airlines Flight 5342. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said he'd learned of the tests, which he found "deeply disturbing."

 

"It is inappropriate for such testing to occur at DCA," Cruz said.

 

On March 1, at least 12 flight crews reported receiving alerts about a nearby aircraft while approaching DCA. The alerts, designed to warn pilots of potential mid-air collisions, led some crews to abort their landings as a precaution. However, FAA officials confirmed that there were no other aircraft in the vicinity at the time of the warnings.

 

The FAA later released a statement saying it was investigating the false alerts and what caused them. 

 

"Several flight crews inbound to Reagan Washington National Airport received onboard alerts Saturday indicating another aircraft was nearby when no other aircraft was in the area. Some of the crews executed go-arounds as a result of the alerts. The FAA is investigating why the alerts occurred."

 

The false alerts came a litle moer than a month after 67 people were killed when an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 as it was descending into DCA. The heads of the FAA, National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) and Army Aviation were called to Capitol Hill on Thursday to testify about the ongoing investigation into that crash.

 

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/special-reports/dc-plane-crash/sen-ted-cruz-secret-service-navy-drone-testing-dca-deadly-crash-deeply-disturbing-ronald-reagan-airport-flight-5342/65-1784e311-f757-4675-ad9d-eeb7ae73a645

 

 

US-Canada airline bookings plummet 70 percent: Report

 

Airline bookings between the U.S. and Canada are down by 70 percent compared to the same time last year, according to the aviation analytics company OAG.

 

According to new data, airline capacity has been reduced between the two countries through October 2025, with the largest cuts occurring during peak travel season between July and August.

 

This drop is likely an indication of President Trump’s tariffs against the country paired with his calls for Canada to become the 51st state.

 

Airlines have begun to look elsewhere for their flights, including Europe, as future travel bookings between the U.S. and Canada has “collapsed,” OAG said.

 

Comparing bookings made this week for later in the summer to bookings made in 2024, there’s a more than 70 percent decrease in bookings for April through September.

 

While there’s a decreased number of flights, there might be an upside for travelers, OAG said.

 

“For those that are still planning to travel there may be some airlines offering particularly cheap airfares over the next few months as they seek to stimulate demand,” OAG said.

 

Airlines, however, may be nervous ahead of “snowbird” season, when Canadians usually flock to the U.S. for the summer months, if relations and tariffs are not ironed out by then, the group added.

 

https://thehill.com/business/5218113-us-canada-airline-bookings-drop-trump-tariffs/

 

 

Eastern District Court authorizes seizure of U.S. Boeing jet illegally used by Russian oligarch

 

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, headquartered in Brooklyn, has authorized the seizure of a Boeing 737-7JU aircraft owned by PJSC Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft), a Russian integrated energy company headquartered in Moscow and headed by Igor Ivanovich Sechin.  

 

The court found probable cause that the Boeing aircraft was subject to seizure based on violations of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) and the recent sanctions issued against Russia.

 

Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Task Force KleptoCapture Director Andrew C. Adams; Michael J. Driscoll, assistant director-in-charge, FBI, New York Field Office; and Jonathan Carson, special agent-in-charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, announced the seizure warrant.

 

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued sanctions against Russia. The Russia sanctions expanded prohibitions on the export, reexport or in-country transfer of, among other things, U.S.-manufactured aircraft to or within Russia without a valid license or license exception for aircraft owned or controlled, or under charter or lease, by Russia and/or Russian nationals. 

 

In this case, these sanctions bar a plane that was built or manufactured in the United States from entering Russia without a valid license.

 

Since February 2022, when the sanctions went into effect, the plane has left and reentered Russia at least seven times in violation of federal law. The Boeing jet, which was manufactured in the United States, was last in the United States in March 2014 and is currently believed to be in, or traveling to or from, Russia.  

 

Rosneft — which is headed by sanctioned oligarch Igor Ivanovich Sechin — owns the Boeing aircraft. The Boeing was flown from a foreign country to Russia in violation of regulations. The aircraft is believed to be valued at over $25 million.

 

“Today’s enforcement action demonstrates there is a price to pay for Russian companies and oligarchs that flagrantly evade sanctions that the United States has imposed in response to the unjustified war against the people of Ukraine,” said U.S. Attorney Peace. 

 

“By violating Commerce Department export controls, Rosneft has converted its jet into contraband. Today’s unsealing provides a roadmap to those in the private sector and to our foreign partners who are committed to upholding the rule of law — and to stifling the Russian state’s efforts to wage an illegal war — who will refuse to provide refuge and support to the operators of this aircraft as the United States pursues its seizure and forfeiture in aid of Ukraine,” said Task Force KleptoCapture Director Adams.  

 

The government’s case is being investigated by the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro, Tara B. McGrath and Madeline M. O’Connor are investigating the case in partnership with Trial Attorney Barbara Levy.

 

https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2025/03/27/eastern-district-court-seizes-jet/

 

 

Boeing on the Brink: Felony Trial Set After Shocking 737 MAX Revelations

 

Boeing (NYSE:BA) is heading to trial. A U.S. judge has set June 23 as the date Boeing will face criminal fraud charges tied to the 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. The Department of Justice claims Boeing misled regulators about a faulty flight control system. Earlier, Boeing agreed to plead guilty and pay up to $487.2 million in fines, but that deal fell apart after the judge rejected its terms. Now, with The Wall Street Journal reporting Boeing is trying to walk back the plea deal altogether, the stakes just got a whole lot higher.

 

Families of the victims and their attorneys aren't holding back. Many have called the original deal a sweetheart arrangement that let Boeing off too easy. And with the DOJ confirming in May 2024 that Boeing violated its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement, the pressure is mounting. This comes right after a high-profile safety scare in January, when a door panel flew off a 737 MAX mid-flight, reviving concerns about Boeing's quality controls. The judge had given both sides until April 11 to figure out next step sbut just skipped ahead and dropped the trial date. The message is clear: time's up.

 

For investors, this isn't just legal drama it's a potential turning point. A full trial could open Boeing up to deeper fines, stricter oversight, and long-term reputational damage. If the court brands Boeing a convicted felon, it could impact everything from government contracts to regulatory trust. Boeing says it's still negotiating with the DOJ, but the tone has shifted. With criminal charges looming, quality concerns in the spotlight, and trust on the line, Boeing stock may be flying into turbulence investors can't afford to ignore.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-brink-felony-trial-set-190514793.html

 

 

AEA Unveils Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician Credentials, Partnership with USI

By USI | March 18, 2025

 

The Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET) program will be available to schools and colleges starting Fall 2025. This standards-based certification is designed to address the workforce shortage and ensure the continued safety and efficiency of business and aviation.

 

Phoenix, AZ, March 18, 2025 — The Aircraft Electronics Association introduced its brand-new certification for the avionics industry, the Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET), during today’s opening session at the 68th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Phoenix. Developed and supported by the AEA, the CAET becomes the primary certification for technicians. 

 

The CAET is a knowledge-based certification for entry-level technicians and requires passing a written exam that must be taken online through the AEA’s new partner, the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI). The credential is the foundation for a series of stackable certifications that will eventually include the CAET-Advanced with more in-depth knowledge and skill requirements and a practical test, along with the CAET-Pro designed for experienced technicians and avionics managers, which assesses skills needed to successfully lead a team of professionals. 

 

“The AEA is committed to supporting the growth and development of the aircraft electronics industry by providing high-quality training and certification programs,” said Mike Adamson, AEA president and chief executive officer. “The launch of the CAET program is a significant step toward addressing the workforce shortage and ensuring the continued safety and efficiency of business and general aviation. We expect avionics professionals will be able to take the initial certification exam in the second quarter of this year, and in the fall, we will launch the training and certification program in high schools and colleges through our partnership with USI.” 

 

“Beginning this fall, CAET training and exams will be available to USI’s network of schools and colleges,” said Josh Olds, co-founder, president and CEO of USI. “We envision this certification both as a stand-alone career track as well as a maintenance skill enhancement for those in our UAS programs. We are excited to partner with the AEA and provide the avionics industry with a standards-based certification that is the ultimate resource for growing a skilled workforce.” 

 

With more than 300 instructors and over 20,000 USI certifications awarded around the world, USI works with large commercial enterprises and nearly 500 schools in all 50 states. It also is the global leader in commercial and academic UAS training and certification, delivering the most highly regarded training program of its kind. USI offers primary, advanced and complex training and certification programs that are applicable to VLOS, BVLOS and advanced air mobility operations.

 

“USI has the scale to administer credential testing for the avionics industry and has already established important relationships with hundreds of schools through its work in the drone segment of the aviation industry,” Adamson noted. “Avionics professionals from a broad range of organizations came together to modernize the knowledge-based test, and it will be a must-have certification for technicians. Approved maintenance organizations will want to include CAET certifications as part of their hiring processes as well as their continuous training requirements for current employees.”

 

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the CAET, visit www.aea.net/caet.

 

 

About Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA)

Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including approved maintenance organizations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of aircraft electronics systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of aircraft electronics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions. 

 

About Unmanned Safety Institute (USI)

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in workforce development programs for individuals, academia and organizations focused on UAS best practices for civil or commercial purposes. It provides UAS education, training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. Its training and certification programs are endorsed by major aviation insurance providers and utilized by numerous organizations seeking standardized UAS operations for their staff and vendors. The USI turn-key solution is implemented nationwide as a workforce pathway program from secondary or post-secondary to the career field to align skill sets to industry pay scales. Learn more at FlyUSI.org.

 

– ### –

 

 

AEA media contact:

Geoff Hill

AEA Director of Communications

Phone: 816-347-8400

Email: [email protected] 

 

USI media contact:

Stephanie Holland

Director of Marketing and Communications

Phone: 407-499-2065

Email: [email protected] 

 

 

 

ISASI is accepting nominations for the Jerome F. Lederer Award.

 

The award is presented annually by the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) for outstanding lifetime contributions to technical excellence in furthering aviation accident investigation and achieving ISASI objectives, including enhancing aviation safety through the continuing development of investigation techniques.

 

Any member of ISASI may submit an award nomination to the selection committee, which considers such traits as persistence, standing among peers, manner and techniques of operating, and achievements. Nominees not receiving the award are reconsidered for three years and may be nominated again after an intervening year.

 

Nomination statements should emphasis an original and remarkable contribution and personal effort beyond normal duty requirements. The award may be given to an individual, group or organization, and may recognize a single event, series of events, or lifetime achievement. The nominee does not have to be an ISASI member.

 

The nomination letter for the Lederer Award should be limited to a single page and should be e-mailed to the ISASI office or directly to the Awards Committee chair and must be received by May 30th each year.

 

ISASI Office email – [email protected]



Awards Committee Chair – Dave King - [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Aviation Insurance Specialists | US Aircraft Insurance Group

 

 

We are pleased to announce the following promotions which are effective April 1, 2025:

 

Promotions

 

Greg Carboy, Senior Vice President in our Dallas Branch Office, has been promoted to Claims Division Manager - General Aviation.

 

Brad Hernke, Seattle Branch Office Claims Manager, has been promoted to Vice President.

 

Rance Miller, Claims Manager in our Toledo Branch Office, has been promoted to Vice President.

 

Kari Hinkel, Senior Underwriter in our Wichita Branch Office, has been promoted to Assistant Vice President.

 

Trevor Boskey has been promoted to Senior Underwriter in our Chicago Branch Office.

Please note that effective July 1, 2024,

 

Mitzi Rasmussen was promoted to Midwest Regional Manager overseeing both the Chicago and Dallas Underwriting Branches.

 

Please join me in congratulating all on their well-deserved promotions!

 

John T. Brogan

President & CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call for Nominations For 2025 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award

 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting

nominations for the 2025 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety.

 

Presented annually since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study, or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers, and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners may be resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered.

 

The Award Committee, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient.

 

Please help us identify and honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-to-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at https://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/.

 

Nominations will be accepted through June 2nd, 2025.

 

For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see

https://ltbaward.org/home/

 

 

About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award

 

The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back almost 80 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956 her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., in close association with The Flight Safety Foundation, established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor.

 

For the past 68 years, this distinguished award recognizing outstanding achievements in aviation safety worldwide has been presented at Flight Safety Foundation’s International Aviation Safety Summit. In 2013, The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed as an independent non-profit charitable organization composed of members of the Award Board, the aviation community, and the Barbour family. In addition to the annual presentation of the award, in 2019 the Foundation initiated a scholarship program that supports worthy students pursuing professional aviation studies. As the Foundation broadens its scope, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to recognize those who significantly contributed to aviation safety. For more information on the Foundation, the award, and past winners, visit https://ltbaward.org/home/

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

·   Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center | Denver Colorado, March 27-29, 2025

 

·   59th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium is scheduled March 31 - April 2, 2025

 

·   Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Safety Symposium April 7-9, 2025

 

·  AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025

 

. 70th annual Business Aviation Safey Summit (BASS), May 6-7, 2025, Charlotte, N.C., organized by Flight Safety Foundation in partnership with NBAA and NATA.

 

·   Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore



·    Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Forum June 5-6, 2025 - Brussels

 

2025 EASA-FAA International Aviation Safety Conference, 10 Jun 2025 to 12 Jun 2025, Cologne, Germany

 

· The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 

 

. 3rd annual Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS), July 15-17, 2025, Singapore, organized by Flight Safety Foundation and CAAS.

 

. Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025; 10-11 September 2025; Manila, Philippines

 

·    ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO

 

29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas

 

·    CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada

 

 

TODAY'S PHOTO

 

 

A Borneo Airways Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

Public Domain