About this episode
Challenges faced by charter operators in deportation flights, the NTSB’s new online accident reporting portal, rising military aviation accident rates, the uncertain future of Air Wisconsin, and the merger of regional carriers Republic and Mesa. Also, findings from the NTSB regarding Boeing evacuation slides, the impact of Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) on businesses, innovations in helicopter technology, and the legacy of women in aviation, particularly the WASPs during World War II. Aviation News Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time” Miami-based Global Crossing Airlines (operating as GlobalX) is a Part 121 operator and the primary contractor for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights. (Known as “ICE Air”). Seven current and former GlobalX flight attendants spoke with ProPublica and expressed concerns about the safety of the deportation flights. Courtesy GlobalX. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Statistics In fiscal year 2024, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) reported conducting over 1,000 charter deportation flights. Avelo ripped for plan to fly ICE deportation charters as Tong suggests pulling state support: ‘Deeply disappointing’ Avelo Airlines plans to begin flying deportation flights for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security out of Arizona. Connecticut local and state officials are expressing displeasure with the airline. The mayor of New Haven suggested that the state consider pulling its “support” for Avelo. NTSB introduces new online portal for accident reports The new online Form 6120.1 supplements the paper version. The overall process for reporting an accident remains the same: Step 1: Preserve the scene. Step 2: Provide an Initial Report to the NTSB 24-hour Response Operations Center (ROC). Step 3: NTSB determines if they will investigate the accident. Step 4: Complete 6120.1 form after the NTSB Investigator contacts you. See: Report an Aircraft Accident to the NTSB You can complete the form by either downloading the PDF version or using the interactive digital form, which you can access through a unique link that the investigator will email to you. If you witnessed an aircraft accident and would like to provide the NTSB with a statement of your observations, prepare a statement and email it to witness@ntsb.gov. U.S. Military Records Highest Aviation Accidents In A Decade; What Is The Major Cause Of Rising Incidents? The EurAsian Times says, “FY2024 was one of the worst aviation safety years for the US Army in a decade.” They cite statistics from the Aviation Division of the Directorate of Analysis and Prevention at the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center showing a “steady decline in mishap rates per 100,000 hours beginning in 2006.” FY2022 saw a record low of 0.50 Class A mishaps per 100,000 hours, but that rate doubled in 2023 and the FY2024 Class A mishap rate (1.90) was almost four times greater than FY2022. Air Wisconsin Halts Scheduled Flights, Future Uncertain American Airlines’ 5-year contract with Air Wisconsin for regional capacity has ended. The April 3, 2025 breakup was announced last January, when Air Wisconsin President and CEO Robert Binns noted that the airline is making a “strategic shift” to focus on government-subsidized Essential Air Service flying and charter operations. To date, the airline has been unsuccessful in winning any EAS contracts. Republic Airways and Mesa Air Group to Combine, Creating America’s Regional Airline of Choice Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and Mesa Air Group, Inc. announced that they have a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction. If the merger succeeds, the combined company would be renamed Republic Airways Holdings Inc. Bryan Bedford, Republic’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said “We’re thrilled to combine the Republic and Mesa teams to create one of the world’s leading Embraer Jet operators. Republic and Mesa share a common mission to connect communities across America, and we believe that we can better achieve that mission together. With this combination, we are establishing a single, well-capitalized, public company that will benefit from the deep expertise of Republic and Mesa associates, creating value for all stakeholders well into the future.” See: Republic Acquiring Mesa, Forming Bigger Regional Airline NTSB Finds Issues with Boeing Evacuation Slides The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently made seven critical safety recommendations relating to evacuation slides — three to Boeing and four to the FAA. The safety recommendations address the failure of an evacuation slide to deploy normally during an emergency evacuation. NTSB identified the issue during an investigation of an emergency landing involving FedEx flight 1376, a Boeing 757-236, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. See: Address Noncompliant Evacuation Slide Components on Boeing Airplanes [PDF] On October 4, 2023, the flight crew of FedEx flight 1376, a Boeing 757-236, received an engine indication and crew alerting system message indicating a failure of the left hydraulic system shortly after takeoff from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport-Lovell Field (CHA), Chattanooga, Tennessee. The flight crew turned the airplane back to CHA but could not lower the landing gear. The crew declared an emergency and performed a gear-up landing. The flight crew could not open the left (L1) door, and the slide did not deploy. An attempt was made to open the right (R1) door, but it lodged on the slide pack. With force, the door was opened, the slide deployed, and the crew exited the airplane. Preliminary findings from the NTSB indicate different reasons for the difficulty in opening the L1 and R1 doors to deploy the evacuation slides. The R1 bannis latch (which releases the slide pack when an armed door is opened) did not conform to the then-current configuration of the release cable assembly. After the CHA accident, FedEx inspected the L1 and R1 doors on the 97 other airplanes in its Boeing 757 fleet and found no other instances of a misrouted deployment strap. However, the inspection found 46 doors (about 24%) that were not compliant with other ADs The NTSB’s review of the Boeing 757 and FedEx aircraft maintenance manuals found that they contain inconsistent depictions of the bannis latch configuration as required by ADs. Lawmakers Push For Airport TFR Relief New Jersey and Florida lawmakers say their airports suffered harm from the Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) that occur when President Trump visits. They want compensation and sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau asking for that from existing congressional funds. According to the Patch , Congress has allocated $3.5 million annually to compensate businesses that are regularly impacted by TFRs, but funding applications cannot proceed until the FAA opens a Notice of Funding Opportunity. See: Kean Advocates For Airports Impacted By Trump’s Visits To Bedminster Mentioned David Vanderhoof’s History Minute on Instagram from the American Helicopter Museum is about the Navy and Marine Corps celebrating their 250th Anniversary in 2025. Max Trescott’s We Fly: Skyryse One article in Flying magazine about the Skyryse One helicopter—a single control stick, IFR-certified version of the Robinson R66. Rob Mark’s Jetwhine post, ” When the WASPs Took Over Avenger Field ” by Pam LeBlanc. Video: Chinook CH-47 Helicopter Ground Resonance Test and Self Destructs with Rear Tandem Rotor Breaking https://youtu.be/oUuCfWxdz9o?si=En47Pqlvsp1nhhAX 00:00 Introduction to Aviation News and Updates 02:27 NTSB's New Online Accident Reporting Portal 09:17 Deportation Flights and Charter Operators' Challenges 16:40 Rising Military Aviation Accident Rates 26:52 Air Wisconsin's Uncertain Future 32:47 Merger of Regional Carriers Republic and Mesa 35:43 NTSB Findings on Boeing Evacuation Slides 46:11 Navigating Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) 49:40 Congressional Support for TFR-Affected Businesses 50:51 Innovations in Helicopter Technology 56:41 The Future of Helicopter Operations 01:01:43 Women in Aviation: The WASP Legacy 01:11:14 Closing Thoughts Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Max Trescott, and Rob Mark.