Bryan Air News

Hey pal

This week on the Bryan Air Podcast, we spoke about a subject that's been a hot topic in local aviation circles—the state of African aviation. There's so much to be proud of, but also plenty of room for growth, especially when it comes to working together.

Did you know that Africa has over 300 airlines spread across the continent? Thats a LOT of airlines with some of them having a maximum fleet size of 1 aircraft. This level of fragmentation is not sustainable. With all these airlines we are still only serving 20% of the African market, which means foreign carriers are stepping in to fill the gaps.

At the recent Aviation Africa Summit, Henok Teffera Shawl, the MD of Boeing Africa, shared some interesting insights. He pointed out that Europe, 20 years ago, had over 11 global airlines due to protectionist policies. Today, they've consolidated down to four major airlines, with the rest acting as feeders. His message was clear: if we don't start collaborating and finding a balance, we might see foreign airlines dominating our skies even more.

Our current load factor—the percentage of available seating capacity that is filled with passengers—is only around 60%. Here in South Africa, we're already seeing positive changes. South African aviation appears to be strong with a high level of competition amongst the top brands.

What’s Coming Up

I’m heading to Paris next week! I am looking forward to catching up with some old colleagues. And let’s be honest, I’m also looking forward to indulging in some good French vino.

Ryan is away in the Kruger with his family for a much deserved break. I am planning on releasing a short aviation news highlight video early in the week but it wont be the world famous Bryan and Ryan duo that you are used too.

This Weeks Pod

The podcast has grown incredibly this past month. We have increased our YouTube subscriber count to over 8000 subscribers. We have also increased our Patreon support which has become essential for the continued broadcasting of the show. Thanks to everyone who supports us even if its just a video like or comment. Every little bit helps. Please feel free to share this newsletter along to anyone that me interested.

Link to the Video

Have a great week ahead. Enjoy the rugby this afternoon. Let’s Go Bokke!!

Big Love

Bryan

Aviate Automate Motivate #203

Hey Pal

This past week, I had the opportunity to speak at Aviation Africa held at the Sandton Convention Centre, participating in a panel on training. It was a productive couple of days.

Aviation Africa 2024

There's a certain irony in an industry defined by movement often finding itself stationary when it comes to implementing change. One might say that discussions of collaboration frequently taxi to the runway but seldom take off.

Not to sound overly cynical, but I suspect many of you appreciate the sentiment. It's a familiar flight path: ambitious agendas set, only to be grounded by inertia once the conference concludes.

All that said, it was an honour to be invited, and I remain hopeful, perhaps, with a bit more thrust, some of these conversations will turn from words to actions.

PILOT PRODUCTIVITY:

To all the moms and dads navigating the busy intersections of professional life and parenthood, finding a moment for yourself can feel like searching for a quiet corner in a busy airport. Recently, I discovered a way to reclaim that personal time during my daily commute to Simaero: immersing myself in audiobooks through Audible. Instead of the usual children's tunes or animated stories, I started listening to "Dark Matter" .

It's incredibly refreshing to engage with content that stimulates the mind and offers a welcome escape from the routine. If you're looking to infuse a bit of personal enjoyment into your day, I highly recommend giving audiobooks a try. Trust me, it beats listening to Peppa Pig!

THIS WEEKS POD:

Staying connected is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. United Airlines recognises this by partnering with SpaceX's Starlink to offer free, high-speed internet access to passengers. Installations will begin on select aircraft by late 2024, with over 200 planes equipped by the end of 2026.

Who knows, maybe soon, travelling wont be all that bad. I hope our local airlines in South Africa adopt Starlink once Cyril approves the service.

Episode 2023

BAMBOOZLED BY BRYAN:

Did you check out my quiz? Just a little fun to test your aviation knowledge. I will announce next weeks winner on the pod. Here’s the quiz for you knowledgable ones - “Bamboozled By Bryan”

As always, thank you for supporting me. Enjoy the rugby tonight.

Big love

Bryan

Episode 200

Hey Pal,

This week marks a monumental milestone for the Bryan Air Podcast—our 200th episode! It's been an incredible journey, and I couldn't be more proud of what we've built together. Sticking with this project through the highs and lows, week in and week out, has been a labor of love. And none of it would have been possible without the unwavering dedication of my co-host, Ryan Parrock. Ryan, despite his packed schedule, makes time every week to sit down, share insights, and bring the best of aviation news to you. His commitment and passion for this show are unmatched, and I owe him a huge amount of gratitude.

My plan for EP 200 is to take it right back to episode 1 when I had my old man on the show. My dad has so much South African aviation history knowledge, I am keen to make this a tribute to SA aviation and share the 200th episode with my old man. We recorded episode 1 on the 6th of October 2019. It's been a minute hey Mav.

You may not have caught that first episode, its highly embarrassing for me looking back at that amateur production but hey, you have to start somewhere I guess.

As we approach this 200th episode, I'm reminded of why we started this podcast in the first place—to bring the latest trends, insights, and stories from the aviation world to professionals and enthusiasts like you. And the fact that we've hit another massive milestone this past week—surpassing 3,000 subscribers—just adds to the excitement. This isn't just a number; it's a testament to the trust and value you've placed in what we do. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hope you all have a wonderful week ahead. Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to my channel.

Big love

Bryan

YouTube Partner Status

Hey Pal

It’s been a journey, and I wanted to take a moment to share an exciting milestone with you. Over the past four years, we have been grinding away, creating content, and building the Bryan Air brand. Through every challenge and moment of doubt, your support and engagement have kept me pushing forward. Today, I’m thrilled to announce that the Bryan Roseveare YouTube channel has now become eligible for YouTube Memberships, allowing for new ways to engage with and support the channel.

The road to this achievement hasn't been easy. Since February, I’ve been waiting for a letter from YouTube containing a PIN number to confirm my residence here in South Africa. With no thanks to the South African Postal Service I have waited patiently for the past 5 months.

If you’d like to explore this new option, you can now find it on my YouTube page. This provides a simple and seamless way to contribute if you feel inclined.

Youtube Channel

Bryan Air Podcast

Our latest episode was all about Etihad.

Etihad Airways is embarking on an extensive global pilot recruitment drive, aiming to hire hundreds of pilots over the next 18 months to support its ambitious plans to expand its route network and double its fleet by 2030. Starting June 29 in Larnaca, Cyprus, the recruitment roadshow will cover eight European countries before expanding globally. Etihad is seeking pilots for its Airbus A320, A350, A380, and Boeing 777, 787, and 777 freighter.

The airline’s Chief Operations Officer highlighted the career progression opportunities and the appealing lifestyle in Abu Dhabi, while CEO Antonoaldo Neves plans to hire 1,500-2,000 staff this year to support the goal of tripling passenger numbers to 33 million and doubling the fleet to 150 planes by the end of the decade. Benefits for new hires include a tax-free salary, housing and schooling allowance, and discounted tickets.

What do you think? Is Etihad an option for you?

Your Weekly Automation Strategy

Have you tried Perplexity?

The incredible answer engine that transforms how you find information. Unlike traditional search engines aka Google, Perplexity uses advanced AI to provide precise, contextually relevant answers to your queries in real time. Whether you’re seeking detailed explanations, quick facts, or in-depth research, Perplexity delivers accurate and reliable information, saving you time and enhancing your knowledge. It’s like having a knowledgeable assistant at your fingertips, ready to help you navigate the complexities of the digital world with ease.

It is free and well worth a download, you can thank me later. Have a great weekend ahead. Thank you for supporting this self improvement project of mine.

Big Love

Bryan

AVIATE - AUTOMATE - MOTIVATE

Hey Pal,

This week, the aviation world watched as Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun faced tough questions from the Senate. It's a stark reminder that even giants can stumble, and when they do, the impact reverberates through the entire industry. But here's the thing: it's not about the fall; it's about how we rise.

It's easy to point fingers and assign blame. But that's not what moves us forward. Instead, we need to ask ourselves: What can we learn? How can we use this moment to build something better, stronger, and safer? This isn't just about Boeing or even aviation—it's about the mindset we bring to our own challenges in any field.

What's your Boeing moment? What challenge are you facing that seems insurmountable?

Bryan Air Podcast

The Bryan Air Podcast is in season 6 with over 200 000 downloads. Watch on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

Your Weekly Automation Strategy

Apple Shortcuts are like having your own personal assistant right in your pocket, ready to make life a whole lot more fun. One of my favourites is the URL Summary shortcut with chat GPT. Imagine this: you find a long article online, and instead of reading it all, you just tap the shortcut. It magically summarises the key points for you in seconds! It’s perfect for staying in the loop.

I use this shortcut for last minute podcast preparation: You are welcome to copy this link and use this shortcut as much as you want.

Bryan Air URL Summary

Have an awesome week ahead, thank you for supporting the newsletter, if you know anyone else that might find it valuable or entertaining please share it along.

Cheers

Bryan

Broken Finger Broken Ego

Hey Pal

Getting back into Jiu Jitsu after breaking my finger has been a journey filled with both triumphs and frustrations. As someone deeply passionate about tackling challenges head-on, this experience has been a humbling reminder of the importance of persistence and patience. While it’s been good to step back onto the mat, the reality of not being at my best is a tough pill to swallow. But here’s the thing: progress isn’t always about perfection. It’s about showing up, embracing the grind, and understanding that every setback is a setup for a comeback.

To all my listeners and subscribers, remember this: resilience is built in the moments when things aren’t perfect. It’s about finding strength in the struggle and staying committed to your journey. Keep pushing, keep grinding, and let every obstacle fuel your growth. We’re all in this together, and with the right mindset, we can conquer anything.

This Weeks Aviation News Highlights

Cathay Pacific flew its last stored Airbus A330-300 from Alice Springs to Hong Kong on June 6, 2024, ending a four-year storage period.

British Airways flight BA195 from London to Houston returned to Heathrow after nearly nine hours due to a minor technical fault on June 10, 2024.

Boeing will lease Embry-Riddle's new Cici and Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology, hiring 400 workers by 2026.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will launch on November 19, 2024, featuring new aircraft, career paths, dynamic weather, and a wear-and-tear system.

Europe's largest pilot union, ECA, raises safety concerns over Airbus's Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO) set for 2027, emphasizing automation risks.

NTSB urges Boeing and Airbus to develop a sophisticated cockpit safety system to prevent runway incursions after a near miss at JFK in January 2023.

Singapore Airlines offers $25,000 in advance compensation to the most seriously injured passengers from flight SQ321, which encountered severe turbulence on May 20, 2024.

Virgin Atlantic will launch a new non-stop flight between London Heathrow and Toronto on March 30, 2025, marking its return to Canada after a decade.

Elliott Investment Management takes a significant stake in Southwest Airlines, aiming for major changes to boost stock prices and a 77% return on investment.

easyJet announces its largest route expansion, adding 60 new routes for the winter season and beyond, including new flights to Tromso and Strasbourg.

Iberia and Volaris announce a new codeshare agreement, expanding travel options between Europe and Mexico, adding 25 new destinations within Mexico.

Torrential rain hit Palma de Mallorca Airport on June 11, 2024, causing severe flooding and damage, briefly halting flight operations and diverting or cancelling 100 flights.

Westchester County dismissed its lawsuit against BARK Air, allowing flights to continue under specific conditions after reaching an agreement on June 10, 2024.

Archer Aviation's eVTOL aircraft, Midnight, completed its first transition flight, switching from vertical takeoff to wing-borne flight on June 8, 2024.

The air transport industry has faced numerous crises, including SARS in 2003, the Gulf War, the Great Recession, 9/11, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you for supporting this newsletter.

Big love

Bryan

The Bryan Air Brieifing #185

Airline News

Southwest Airlines Emergency Landing
Southwest Airlines Flight WN5887 from Baltimore to Boston declared an emergency while descending into Boston. The aircraft, a 23-year-old Boeing 737-700 landed safely atfter squawking the emergency code 7700. The cause of the emergency is currently unknown. Southwest Airlines has 379 Boeing 737-700s, with an average fleet age of 18.7 years. More information is expected as the situation develops.
Source: Aviation Source News

Qatar Airways Starlink Inflight Wi-Fi
Qatar Airways plans to install Starlink inflight Wi-Fi on its entire fleet within two years, offering speeds up to 500 Megabit per second for free video streaming. The first aircraft to have Starlink will be three Boeing 777-300 planes by the end of 2024. Starlink, part of SpaceX, aims to provide high-speed internet via a network of satellites.
Source: Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Singapore Airlines Turbulence Incident
The pilots of Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 switched on seat belt signs seconds before severe turbulence caused injuries and one passenger's death. The turbulence led to a rapid altitude change, flinging passengers into the air and causing serious injuries. The airline is cooperating with investigations and providing support to those affected.
Source: Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Bomb Threat Evacuation at Delhi Airport
On May 28, 2024, IndiGo flight 6E2211 from Delhi to Varanasi was evacuated due to a bomb threat. A note found at 05:00 local time in the lavatory read, “bomb@5:30”. The A320, carrying 176 passengers, was evacuated using emergency slides. Video footage of the evacuation was shared on social media. All passengers were safely evacuated, and the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for investigation. The threat was a hoax, and the flight departed at 11:10 AM.
Source: AeroTime

Wingtip Devices: Sharklets vs. Winglets
Aircraft wingtip devices minimize vortex effects, lower drag, increase fuel efficiency, and reduce operating costs. Airbus uses Sharklets, while Boeing uses winglets, both achieving similar benefits. Winglets originated in the 1970s through collaboration between Boeing and NASA. Airbus began offering Sharklets in 2011. Wingtip devices are more prevalent on narrowbodies, while widebodies like the Boeing 787 use raked wingtips. Despite variations, all aim to improve fuel efficiency and reduce drag. There is no significant performance difference between Sharklets and winglets. Its a bit like Nike, Adidas
Source: Simple Flying

American Airlines Leadership Change and Profit Forecast
American Airlines' chief commercial officer, Vasu Raja, will leave the company in June. Last week, the airline denied rumors of his departure. The reason for Raja's exit remains unclear. American Airlines also lowered its Q2 financial outlook, projecting a revenue decline of up to 6%. CEO Robert Isom mentioned ongoing adjustments to their distribution strategy during the Q1 earnings call. Raja's departure may impact the airline's new policies aimed at boosting direct ticket sales.

Stole this from Linekdin this morning
While travel agents remain crucial, the surge of metasearch engines and online travel agencies (OTAs) is redefining the booking landscape. These platforms offer extensive inventories, competitive pricing, and user-friendly interfaces, empowering travelers to make informed decisions and find the best value for their bookings.

Personalization and innovation are driving this growth, with AI playing a pivotal role. Research by Skyscanner shows a 44% increase in global travelers using AI for trip planning. The industry's revenue influenced by AI is projected to triple by 2024, showcasing the significant impact of technology on the travel sector.

Source: The Points Guy

Turbulence Incidents: Safety Concerns
More Turbulence - ZΩA Turkish Airlines flight attendant suffered a broken back during severe turbulence. Other recent incidents involved injuries to cabin crew and passengers on Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines flights. Safety measures, like suspending meal services during turbulence, are being implemented in response.
Source: Paddle Your Own Kanoo

BARK Air: First Dog-Focused Airline
BARK Air, the first dog-focused airline, launched its inaugural flight on May 23, 2024, from Westchester County Airport (HPN) to Van Nuys (VNY) in Los Angeles. The Gulfstream G5 flight carried six dogs and 11 humans, costing $6,000 per ticket for one dog and one human companion. The airline, promoted by Josh Groban, prioritizes dogs' comfort, offering flights between New York, Los Angeles, and London without restrictions on size, weight, or breed. -
Source: AeroTime

Flight Training Concerns
Flight students often feel unprepared for solo cross-country flights due to rushed training and inadequate instruction. Instructors are concerned about a trend in Part 141 programs, where solo cross-country experience is being minimized. This leads to a lack of essential navigation skills like pilotage, dead reckoning, and using the E6-B flight computer. CFIs should emphasize these skills early, ensure proper ground instruction, and teach learners to manage flight plans and understand their limitations to build confidence and competence. Henrys Flats Story
Source: Flying Magazine

Spirit Airlines Emergency Landing
On May 26, 2024, Spirit Airlines flight NK270 from Montego Bay to Fort Lauderdale experienced a technical issue after takeoff. Passengers were told to prepare for a water landing. The Airbus A321neo, registered N718NK, returned safely to Montego Bay 19 minutes after departure. Spirit Airlines stated the mechanical issue did not affect flight safety, and a replacement aircraft transported passengers to Fort Lauderdale after a seven-hour delay. The incident is under investigation.
Source: AeroTime

American Airlines Incident at DFW Airport
On May 28, 2024, strong gusts over 70 mph at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW) caused an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 to move from its gate. Security footage shows the aircraft angling to a nearly 90-degree position. No injuries occurred, and inspections are underway. DFW Airport reported 77 mph gusts at 5:47 am, impacting operations. Passengers were advised to check flight statuses due to delays. The incident was covered by Airways Magazine and FL360aero on social media.
Source: AeroTime

KLM Engine Incident at Schiphol Airport
A fatal incident occurred at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport when a person fell into the running engine of a KLM Embraer E190 aircraft, operating flight KL 1341 to Billund. The incident happened around 15:00 local time, and the investigation by the Royal Military Police (Marechaussee) is ongoing. Emergency response teams acted promptly, and passengers and crew were safely disembarked. Schiphol Airport expressed condolences to the victim's family and is providing support to those affected.
Source: Simple Flying

Video


Audio

The Bryan Air Briefing - Leverage

Hey Pal

I had the privilege this past week of being a passenger on a flight where the captain is a well-known Spotify artist. I thought to myself, man, how cool is this? This guy is flying an aircraft and providing the in-flight entertainment. Leverage is a beast.

In this world that's hustling and bustling 24/7, where the grind never stops, and the game never waits for anyone. The secret weapon in this battle, the ace up your sleeve, is leverage.

Think about it. it's like that power multiplier. It's using everything at your disposal - tools, tech, talent - to jack up what you can do, like cranking your abilities to the max.

Take the internet; it’s a beast of leverage. You’ve got a newsletter? Boom! Hit send, and you’re in thousands of inboxes. No sweat. Podcasts? You could be in someone's ears on the other side of the planet, spreading ideas like wildfire. That's leverage. It’s about creating one time and distributing a million times.

It’s not just about casting a wide net. It’s about aligning your efforts like a laser to maximise what comes out the other end. Leverage plays no favourites. It doesn’t care if you're slinging paint on a canvas, coding up the next big app, standing in front of a classroom, or hustling your startup. There's a flavour of leverage for every endeavour.

Living a leveraged life that’s about squeezing every drop of juice out of the time we've got here. Make every tick of the clock count so that what you do, what you say, what you build - it echoes out, it lasts, it makes a mark. And sure, you can start small, but the key is starting with intent.

Elon Musk says that the input and the output must not be equal. If you create one Spotify playlist, but it gets listened to a thousand times, that’s leverage.

This Week On The Bryan Air Podcast 🆕

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION NEWS ✈️

**Technical Troubles for Turkish Airlines:**

🔗https://simpleflying.com/turkish-airlines-cancels-100-flights-it-issues

Turkish Airlines and its subsidiaries faced a significant setback this past week, cancelling over 100 flights globally due to unexpected technology malfunctions. Passengers experienced considerable disruption and chaos, particularly with departures from Istanbul, as the system issues rippled through the carrier’s worldwide operations.

**China's Aviation Rebound:**

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/chinas-big-three-to-see-record-profits-in-2024-hsbc/155632.article

A recent report highlighted a buoyant outlook for China's 'Big Three' airlines: Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. Favourable factors such as lower oil prices, a stable Chinese Yuan, and increased international flight capacity are set to return these airlines to profitability. A surge in flights between the USA and China is also accelerating this international market recovery, reinstating China's competitive stance in the global aviation arena.

**India's Unprecedented Fleet Expansion:**

🔗https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/business/india-aviation.html

India is currently leading the world in aeroplane acquisitions, with its top airlines placing orders for nearly 1,000 jets this year. This record-breaking procurement drive reflects tens of billions of dollars invested into expanding the country's aviation capabilities.

**Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 - Aviation Revolution:**

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/saudi-regulator-sets-out-framework-to-give-airlines-and-airports-economic-flexibility/155592.article

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority has implemented new economic regulations, focusing on competitiveness, transparency, and performance enhancement in its air transport sector. These regulations are a strategic part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to attract more visitors and transform the kingdom into an aviation hub. The initiatives pave the way for airport privatisation, new investor participation, and deregulated licensing for carriers, anticipating an increased flow of passengers, air cargo, and global events.

**Airbus Range and Efficiency Leap:**

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/airbus-details-range-expectations-from-latest-a350-1000-weight-increase/155580.article

Airbus announced an improvement in the range of its A350-1000 by approximately 180nm, following a max take-off weight increase to 322 tons. This enhancement will extend the aircraft's range to about 8,900nm with full passenger payload, a move that aligns with Qantas' 'Project Sunrise' for direct flights from London and New York to eastern Australia. Additionally, Airbus is in the process of developing a freighter variant based on the A350-1000 design.

**Elon Musk's Privacy Manoeuvres with Private Jets:**

🔗https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-appears-no-longer-masking-private-jet-tracking-pia-2023-10

Elon Musk has seemingly ceased using a federal program that allowed him to fly without revealing his jet's movements. The FAA's Privacy ICAO Address (PIA) program, which Musk had participated in since January 2022, hasn't been utilised by him since August 20, 2022. This follows his public discontent with the tracking of his private flights, which culminated in an interaction with a college student who tracked his jets on social media.

**Survival Against the Odds:**

🔗https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/florida-pilot-survives-crash-landing-and-several-hours-in-the-everglades/

In a dramatic episode of survival, a pilot in Florida managed to endure approximately eight hours on the wing of his Cessna 172 after a nighttime crash landing in the perilous Everglades, surrounded by alligators.

BRYAN AIR ADVISORY 🤖

High Performance Podcast - Gordan Ramsay

https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/the-high-performance-podcast/id1500444735?i=1000632215983

I hope you all have a power weekend ahead, thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter.

Big Love

Bryan

The Bryan Air Briefing - Opportunities

Hey Pal

I always enjoy reporting on news that genuinely gets me upbeat about the future. Over the past few years on the pod, we have reported on thousands of aviation articles. The episode themes have ranged from recovery to growth, pilot shortages, aircraft tech and everything in between. Lately, however, there has been a shift toward opportunity. A word so often used in the tech industry and other “newer” segments of the economy.

Boeing’s 2023 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) serves as a testament to this exciting time in aviation, forecasting a need for over 42,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years, with Africa and the Middle East accounting for a significant portion of this demand.

The CMO anticipates that Africa and the Middle East will require 13% of the new aviation personnel, translating to over 296,000 new professionals in various fields of aviation. This includes pilots, crew members, manufacturing specialists, supply chain experts, maintenance technicians, and support personnel. It’s a clear call for aspiring aviators, engineers, and aviation enthusiasts to be a part of something groundbreaking.

In these times of growth and opportunities, Africa’s aviation market stands as a beacon of potential and promise. The continent is poised to play a pivotal role in the global aviation narrative.

Maybe, it’s the right place and right time for all of us. It doesn’t matter where we are on the globe. We can all be proud to be part of this aviation machine, that is now moving forward with significant momentum.

Jiu Jitsu Challenge 🥊

I had a great week at Jits. I won a few rounds during the evening roll sessions. I have learnt that winning a round is a bit like having a nice landing. When you have a good one, don’t get too chuffed with yourself, put it in your top pocket and move on to the next one. There is probably a real shitty one around the corner. Control the ego.

Ego is this crazy thing, It can drive you, push you to do better, but if you let it run wild, it'll mess everything up. You’ve got to keep it in check, stay humble, and always be ready to learn and accept defeat. It’s like mental jiu-jitsu; you’ve got to control it, not let it control you. Because the moment you think you’ve got everything figured out, that's when you're really in trouble. Keep that ego in check, and you'll be unstoppable."


This Week On The Bryan Air Podcast 🆕

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION NEWS ✈️

*  Alaska Airlines Pilot Charged With 83 Counts of Attempted Murder After He Tried to Shut Down Engines While Off-Duty in Cockpit

🔗https://themessenger.com/business/pilots-divert-regional-flight-after-authorized-person-in-cockpit-tries-to-shut-down-engines

*  Qatar News - Akbar Al Baker Steps Down As CEO

🔗akbar-al-baker-leaves-qatar-airways

* The 5 Regions Where Most Aviation Personnel Will Be Needed In The Next 20 Years

🔗https://simpleflying.com/5-regions-needing-most-aviation-personnel-next-20-years/

*  How United Airlines' Economy Class Boarding Change Will Impact Operations

🔗https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-changing-economy-class-boarding/

*  5 Things To Know About The 2023 Dubai Airshow

🔗https://simpleflying.com/5-things-to-know-2023-dubai-airshow/

*  End of an era: The last MD82 is retired

🔗last-european-md-82-retired

*  The World's Busiest Airports This Month

🔗https://simpleflying.com/the-worlds-busiest-airports-october-2023/

AVIATION SAFETY⛑️

* Titan Airways Airbus left Stansted and climbed to 10,000 ft with missing windows

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/titan-airways-airbus-missing-windows-stansted

AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS 🌍

*  Disney Livery & A Silent Disco: South Africa's LIFT Shows Its Fun Side

🔗https://simpleflying.com/south-africa-lift-airbus-a320-silent-disco-disney-livery/


Lets Go Bokke ✈️

It’s a massive weekend for South African sport. I have no doubt our boys will make us proud yet again.


Thanks for taking the time to check out the Bryan Air Briefing. Have a power weekend.

Big Love

Bryan

Genuine Connection

Hey Pal

This past weekend, amidst the grandeur of the Palace of the Lost City, I was blessed with a revelation. The irreplaceable, unmatched value of quality time spent with family.

We often get caught in the whirlwind of life, hustling through our days, chasing goals, and tackling to-do lists. But when was the last time we just... stopped? Took a breath, looked into the eyes of our loved ones, and truly listened? Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. And more often than not, those moments are shared with family.

I urge each of you, amidst the chaos of the everyday madness, to carve out moments of genuine connection. Dive into the richness of shared experiences. Because at the end of the day, it’s these shared moments, these heartbeats of pure connection, that truly define our journey.

Here’s to family, to love, and to cherishing the moments that truly matter.

As mentioned on this weeks pod, the Palace is simply beautiful, I was blown away with everything, the food, the service and facilities are world class. If you are in Gauteng and looking for a fun weekend away go check out Sun City.


My Jiu-Jitsu Journey

Last week marked a significant milestone in my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey as I received my first stripe on my white belt.

Earning this stripe is a testament to perseverance and consistency. This grading is a small yet significant landmark on what I know will be a long and rewarding journey. I was rather proud of myself after the event. The grading takes place once a year. I had to fight eight three-minute rounds against guys with more experience and a higher rank. I got smashed a few times, but I also survived a few rounds, which is what a white belt needs to do. Survive!

This is a picture of the guys that were graded. I am already looking forward to the next one.

This Week On The Bryan Air Podcast 🆕

You can click the picture to watch epiosde 149 on YouTube.

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION NEWS ✈️

  • P&W geared turbofan issue to ground hundreds of A320 Neo’s

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/engines/pandw-geared-turbofan-issue-will-ground-hundreds-of-a320neos-through-2026/154885.article

  • Air New Zealand sees 'significant' hit to flight schedule from RTX engine issue

🔗https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/air-new-zealand-sees-impact-its-schedule-jan-2024-amid-engine-issues-2023-09-11/

  • Design and inspection problems preceded 2021 PW4000 failure as nine more cracked blades found: NTSB

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/design-and-inspection-problems-preceded-2021-pw4000-failure-as-nine-more-cracked-blades-found-ntsb/154874.article

  • GE Develops Worm-Inspired Robot For On-Wing Engine Inspections

🔗https://aviationweek.com/mro/emerging-technologies/ge-develops-worm-inspired-robot-wing-engine-inspections

  • Clean grids and aviation

🔗https://theaircurrent.com/industry-strategy/magpie-clean-electricity-aviation-decarbonization/

  • Boeing will meet 737 delivery goal despite new production problem

🔗https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/boeing-will-meet-737-delivery-goal-despite-new-production-problem-cfo-2023-09-07/

  • China’s C919 passenger jet to come in different sizes, and AI will help optimise the design

🔗https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3234152/chinas-c919-passenger-jet-come-different-sizes-and-ai-will-help-optimise-design

  • Another article this week titled International aerospace in China, new era

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/international-aerospace-in-chinas-new-era/154877.article

  • Ryanair boss gets pied

🔗ryanair-boss-gets-pied-in-brussels


AVIATION SAFETY⛑️

  • Ural Airlines Airbus A320 Emergency Landing in Siberia

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/ural-airlines-field-landing

  • Two pilots killed and four injured after T-28 Trojan crashes at air show

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/two-pilots-killed-air-show-hungary

SOUTH AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS 🌍

  • Pravin Gordhan will not be bullied into sale of Mango

🔗https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2023-09-12-pravin-gordhan-says-he-will-not-be-bullied-into-sale-of-mango/

  • Expect direct flights from India soon

🔗https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/indian-tourists-to-s-africa-could-soar-with-direct-flights-11694632222320.html

==================

Next week, Ryan and I will celebrate our 150th episode. I am so proud of what we have achieved on the podcast. We are nowhere near where we want to be, but I believe the nose of the aircraft is pointing in the right direction. We are committed to the show and will continue to push out weekly episodes, but we are also determined to improve the overall product. We are very conscious of not standing still and being complacent.

Podcasting, like everything else, is changing, and we need to make sure we keep up with the times. We will be relocating to a new dedicated studio with a slightly new look. Our current studio has done us well, but now it’s time to take it to another level. We will start the studio relocation in the next two weeks.

Thanks to each of you who take the time to read my weekly newsletter and for tuning in to the podcast. It means the world to me, and it gives me the purpose to keep trying. I think that’s what it’s all about. Just keep trying.

Wishing you all a powerful week ahead.

Big Love

Bryan

That's Where The Magic Happens!

Hey Pal

It is game day today. I am writing this a few hours before my first Jiu Jitsu grading is about to kick off. It got me thinking. Why am I doing this? Other than the obvious benefit of doing difficult things, I believe there is also value in exploring your own personal limits as man.

The reality of life is that you've got this one shot, this one body and mind, to see what you can really do. Pushing yourself to the limits isn't just about lifting heavier weights or running faster; it's a bit of a philosophy. It's about knowing deep in your soul that you're not here to be average, that you're capable of so much more than you think. The moments you feel like giving up, the moments you feel like you're scraping the bottom of the barrel – that's where the magic happens.

I wander how many people give up on things just before there was about to be some real magic. I bet the likes of Michael Jordan, Max Verstappen and Novak Djokovic have had thoughts of giving up. I guess it is all about feeding that good wolf we have inside of us.

Here's the flip side: you've got to know where those limits are. You've got to be smart about it. Knowing your limits isn't about being unrealistic. Once you know those limits, you can train, plan, and execute. And little by little, those limits start to extend, and that's when you realise you're capable of some really incredible things.

This Week On The Bryan Air Podcast 🆕


It was a chance for our Shoot The Breeze segment, which is always fun.

DISCUSSION TOPICS🎙️

  • What is a Shoot the Breeze episode?

  • The growth of the Bryan Air podcast - thanks to our Patreon supporters (new pledge Jaco Bester) Become a Patreon supporter -  https://www.patreon.com/bryanair

  • The Cathay episode, number 1 aviation podcast in Hong Kong

  • Ryans Josh Cahill advisory, 1000 views in 24 hours.

  • Bryan, on the Omni Show Podcast

  • The weekly newsletter. What’s it for? Who’s it for? It is not all aviation.

  • Ryan’s guitar progress

  • Ryan’s Instructor rating

  • Bryan’s Jiu Jitsu Journey, getting ready for my first grading.

  • Bryan’s big family news.

  • Another Paris adventure, for work, not for rugby.

BRYAN AIR ADVISORY📲

Old School rugby jerseys - https://oldschool.co.za/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0bunBhD9ARIsAAZl0E1pQ0zsLYziCfeWhF-fbz3En1wROpc9fXr-cOAwJLQXo2sLW9ZGg1waAv3LEALw_wcB

UPCOMING EVENTS 📅

  • Rugby World Cup 8 September NZ - France

  • Italian Grand Prix Sunday 3rd September

  • Moto GP, Barcelona 3rd September - Lets go BB33

Simaero Simulator Training ✈️


Our EMB 145 simulator is having the Mylar replaced for the next week. The Mylar is a thin sheet of film, almost foil like which is used to reflect the projection and provide visuals to the pilots. Over time, the Mylar can gather fine dust particles, that once projected on can give the appearance of tiny star like images where there are none.

It is a costly exercise but a necessary upgrade. Nobody ever complained about better visuals.

Have a great weekend ahead. I will report back on my Jiu-Jitsu grading during next week’s pod.

Big Love

Bryan

Keep It Real!

Hey Pal

What a week! My loyal Fortuner was the recipient of a failed car theft attempt over the past weekend. I spent the beginning of the week getting it up and running again. They messed with the ignition system, so of course, I couldn’t even get it started. A few flatbed rides later, the guys at Edenvale Toyota had it up and running.

By the time Thursday rolled around, I was absolutely shattered. My Whoop recovery tracker is proof of my mental and physical state.

I was in two minds about whether or not to cancel the podcast, but as usual, Ryan and I managed to get it done with our usual wit and charm. It was Ryan’s turn for the now-famous advisory segment😉. Ryan’s choice was the Josh Cahill YouTube channel and a great choice it was. Josh shared our video which quickly became our most downloaded episode in the past 12 months. Having a YouTube channel that relies on views, likes, and subscriptions is a real headache sometimes, but when the production comes together and the views roll in, it becomes dopamine city in the life of Bryan.

I was also fortunate to be a guest on the Omni Show Podcast last week. Those of you who know me well know that the Omni Focus platform is my go-to project manager, that I cannot live without. I will post the link as soon as it is published.

Thought For The Week❤️

This week, we are all about being authentic and speaking the truth. In today's digital age, everyone's chasing the next big wave of likes, views, and shares. The most memorable voices aren't necessarily the loudest but the most genuine.

There's a misconception that truth will cost you – followers, friends, opportunities. But what you stand to gain is far richer: respect, integrity, and trust. These aren't commodities you can click into existence; they're earned through consistent authenticity. In a realm of deep fakes and filtered realities, genuine voices cut through the noise. I hope the Bryan Air Podcast will always be seen as a show by real men who speak the truth sometimes in the face of popular opinion.

Choosing the path of truth in a world swayed by fleeting metrics is daunting, but remember this: trends fade, but authenticity endures. You can smell fake from a mile away. Keep it real!

This Week On The Bryan Air Podcast🆕


INTERNATIONAL AVIATION NEWS ✈️

  • Jet Zero - The blended-wing airliner

🔗https://theaircurrent.com/industry-strategy/jetzero-blended-wing-demonstrator-usaf-northrop-scaled-boeing/

  • Civilian crew launched into space on Virgin Galactic flight

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/civilian-crew-launched-into-space-on-virgin-galactic

  • Meet Pibot, the humanoid robot that can safely pilot an airplane better than a human.

🔗https://www.news24.com/news24/tech-and-trends/watch-meet-pibot-the-humanoid-robot-that-can-safely-pilot-an-airplane-better-than-a-human-20230815

  • Emirates A380 hit by a drone in Nice

🔗https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/emirates-airline/airbus-a380-hit-by-drone-during-approach-nice-airport-france/

🔗https://tags.news.com.au/prod/newskey/generator.html?origin=https%3a%2f%2fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2fbusiness%2faviation%2fpilots-demand-more-pay-from-airlines-as-many-head-to-the-us-where-wages-are-higher%2fnews-story%2f2bdcb2658fd1d3bf2c3e90122d7e3049&1692786646492751429

  • Claims of global pilot shortage

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/claims-of-global-pilot-shortage-misleading-uk-pilot-union-warns-trainees/154652.article

  • 2$ to cut your sandwich in half

🔗https://www.cnn.com/travel/outrageous-charges-targeting-tourists-in-italy/index.html

AVIATION SAFETY⛑️

  • G150 overran after an unstable approach as the crew ‘raced’ to the destination

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/g150-overran-after-unstable-approach-as-crew-raced-to-destination/154627.article

  • Alaska Airlines suffers structural damage after rough landing

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/alaska-airlines-b737-suffers-structural-damage-after-rough-landing-at-john-wayne

  • Crossing The Line - runway excursions

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/guide-to-business-aviation-training-and-safety-2023/crossing-the-line/154231.article

AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS 🌍

  • Qantas A380 will operate from Sydney to Johannesburg

🔗https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-sydney-johannesburg-a380?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

  • SAA launches new codeshare flights with Lufthansa

🔗https://airspace-africa.com/2023/08/17/south-african-airways-launches-new-codeshare-flights-with-lufthansa-swiss-to-follow-soon/

  • Airlines scramble amid ground handling crisis in Windhoek

🔗https://www.tourismupdate.co.za/article/airlines-scramble-amid-ground-handling-crisis-windhoek

  • SANDF pilots grounded due to unairworthy aircraft

🔗https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/pilots-grounded-as-armscor-fails-to-maintain-aircraft-20230820

Thanks for supporting this newsletter. I hope it is adding a layer of value to your inbox. Please feel free to share it with anyone you think may enjoy it. Have a lovely weekend ahead.

Big Love

Bryan

One Day Or Day One

Hey Pal




I recently had the opportunity to join Andrew Mason on the Omni Show Podcast. I have been a big fan of Omni Focus for a long time, it was a real privilege to be on their pod. If you've ever been curious about the magic behind the "Getting Things Done" (GTD) method or how technology can make it even more powerful then check out the Omni Show. The episode will be released later in the week, I will share a link in next weeks newsletter.




As most of you know, I have a slightly weird passion for productivity. I always shake my head when I see my work colleagues trying to digest information in a meeting. Where are you storing this information? How will you remember to complete this tasks? Is it a one step task or a multiple step project? Oh boy, I see some crazy things.




Jiu Jitsu Challenge 🥊




I have my first belt grading next month. Jiu Jitsu belt grading isn't just about showcasing your techniques or proving you can roll. It's really a testament to your dedication. Each belt is a chapter in a story, a symbol of the journey. The road is hard, it's supposed to be.




The interesting thing about the Jiu Jitsu journey is not about the accumulation of stripes and belts it’s about you who become on the way to earning them. It is important to note, I am about as white as a white belt can be, I am still getting smashed every week but my improvement is crazy when I think back to lesson one in December last year. I am really proud of myself for taking on this challenge, it was so hard t get started and the cold Johannesburg winter evenings didnt make it any easier to don the Gi and head off to class to get strangled, squashed and humbled.



One day you'll look back and wonder what might have been, or you can make today day one and forge your own path. The universe rewards those who step into the arena.




This Weeks Bryan Air Podcast News Links🆕




With input from my avid newsletter readers I have decided to display the title and link to the main stories of the week only. Ryan and I took a deep dive on Cathay Pacific this week, a once dream job for expat pilots is no longer. The high paying contracts of the past have been replaced by second tier employment conditions. Cathay used to attract the highest skilled pilots, those highly skilled experienced pilots are applying their trade in other parts of the world. Cathay has taken it one step further, contracts for expat pilots do not even exist anymore.




  • Furious Pilots And Lack Of Trust: Why Aircrew At Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific are quitting what was once a dream job

🔗https://hongkongfp.com/2023/08/13/furious-pilots-and-a-lack-of-trust-why-aircrew-at-hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-are-quitting-what-was-once-a-dream-job/

  • Challenger fatally stalled as pilot tried to salvage an unstable circle-to-land approach

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/challenger-fatally-stalled-as-pilot-tried-to-salvage-unstable-circle-to-land-approach/154528.article

  • Easy Jet flight involved in serious incident after take-off error

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/easyjet-airbus-pilot-france-airport

  • Boeing reveals 737 Max order split

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/boeing-reveals-737-max-order-split/154474.article

  • Cemair launches in Zimbabwe

🔗https://worldairnews.co.za/cemair-launches-in-zimbabwe/

  • SAA Launched drive to lure back former pilots

🔗https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2023-08-13-saa-launches-drive-to-lure-back-former-pilots/?fbclid=IwAR3A75RN5CyJt2smxuGcig6kNJE6245AM8gky2hPr9fVryuxb0qyrbfcIIk_aem_AQhpoHLY76OpIvC2FgvAiA3GYniW7skYknkh3ln43qIDvSqvUQhrv4_pUohO6Ed868U

  • Extra capacity on the CPT-Zurich route welcomed

🔗https://www.tourismupdate.co.za/article/extra-capacity-cpt-zurich-route-welcomed




Listen to this week’s episode on Apple Podcast or watch the famous duo on YouTube.



Have a great week ahead, stay safe, stay hungry and get things done. Day One



Big Love

Bryan

An Internal Awareness Of The Two Wolves

Hey Pal

This week’s Bryan Air Advisory was the story of the battle of the two wolves. It’s an oldie but a goodie.

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

 

He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

 

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

 

The old Cherokee replied, “The one that you feed.”

**

Inside, each of us wages a ceaseless battle between two forces. The daily choices, from significant decisions to the minutiae of our routines, determine which wolf we feed. It's not about grand gestures but the consistent, seemingly insignificant decisions: the words we utter, the company we keep, the thoughts we entertain. Every moment offers an opportunity to nurture our better selves or succumb to our base instincts. The power to shape your destiny lies in your hands. By consciously choosing positivity, perseverance, and kindness, you set in motion a transformative journey, steering your life towards growth and fulfilment. So ask yourself, with each choice, which wolf will you feed?

Joe Rogan says, pretend there is a film crew following you around documenting your future success story. You would do all the right things you have to do! Think about that.

What I love about this is that it makes you more conscious about the negative “bad wolf” things you might be doing, but in turn, it makes you aware of the good things you could be doing that you may not be giving yourself credit for. Having a constant internal awareness of good vs evil, positive vs negative and power vs force is a superpower that can transform the way you live your life.

These Weeks Bryan Air Podcast 🆕

“#144 No Brakes On Pilot Fatigue”

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION NEWS ✈️

  • Embraer delivers 47 Jets during the second quarter

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/embraer-delivers-47-jets-during-the-second-quarter/154420.article

Article Highlights

1. In Q2 2023, Embraer delivered 47 jets, a 47% increase from the previous year. The firm order backlog stood at $17.3 billion by the end of the quarter.

2. American Airlines ordered seven E175s for its subsidiary, Envoy Air, SKS Airways, Scoot, and Royal Jordanian Airlines placed significant orders for various E2 series jets.

3. Embraer's firm order backlog for commercial jets is at 271, consisting of 82 E175s, 16 E190-E2s, and 173 E195-E2s.

4. NetJets secured a contract for up to 250 jet options with Embraer, valued at over $5 billion, with deliveries set to start in 2025.

  • Bombardier on track to hit 138 aircraft delivery target

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/bombardier-on-track-to-hit-138-aircraft-delivery-target/154416.article

Article Highlights

1. CEO Eric Martel expressed confidence in achieving Bombardier's 2023 delivery target of 138 aircraft.

2. The company reported aftermarket revenues at a new high of $428 million, up 19% YoY. This growth is attributed to the completion of their strategy to expand the in-house service network, which included opening hangars in London, Singapore, and Melbourne and a new build in Abu Dhabi.

  • End of the road for the Delta CRJ200s

🔗https://airlinegeeks.com/2023/08/02/the-end-of-delta-crj-200-service-in-sight/

Article Highlights

  1. Utah-based Sky-West will be switching to CRJ700 and CRJ900 as Delta implemented a new requirement that it does not want any single-class airline service under the Delta banner.

  2. This could be the end of the road for the Delta livery CRJ200s.

  • Airbus A350 orders keep coming in

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/airbus-reveals-more-a350-agreements-as-net-orders-top-1100/154426.article

Article Highlights

1. Airbus reported orders for 10 A350-900s in July from two undisclosed customers. In the same month, Airbus also booked orders for 36 aircraft from Turkish budget carrier Pegasus Airlines and included Icelandair's significant order of 13 A321neos, marking a shift for Icelandair from being an all-Boeing operator.

2. By July, Airbus's net orders for the year reached 1,101 aircraft, including over 950 A320neo-family airframes. The company delivered 65 jets in July, bringing the 2023 total to 381, with an expectation to deliver 720 aircraft by the end of the year.

  • Max certification drags on

🔗https://theaircurrent.com/aircraft-development/boeing-737-inlet-max-7-10-certification/

Article Highlights

1. The (FAA) issued a planned airworthiness directive for the 737 Max fleet, addressing a potential risk where the engine inlet could overheat. While no incidents have been reported on the 1,300 delivered 737 Max aircraft variants, this issue has further delayed the certification process for the 737 Max 7. Boeing was reportedly aware of this overheating issue during the development of the 737 Max 7 and Max 10.

2. The problem arises when the engine anti-ice system is operated in dry air, which may cause the engine inlet to detach from the nacelle and hit the airframe. To address this, Boeing conducted flight tests and determined an update was necessary for the Max 7’s FAA certification. The company recognised the overheating as a safety concern and is currently working on a long-term fix while providing airlines with updated operational guidance for the interim.

3. Boeing has adjusted its timeline for the 737 Max 7's service introduction with Southwest Airlines to 2024. The company has constructed several 737 Max 7s for Southwest but won't commence passenger flights until at least February 2024, given a projected September approval. Separately, Boeing's expected certification timeline for the 737 Max 10 has been extended by six months, now forecasted for no earlier than June 2024. As a result, Boeing will adjust its production plans for the Max 10 to prevent overstocking, even though it foresees the potential of producing more than 20 each month in response to demand.

  • Pilots Association blasts Cathay for gaslighting Hong Kong by causing its own shortages

🔗https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/206756/Pilots’-association-blasts-Cathay-for-‘gaslighting’-Hong-Kong-by-causing-own-shortages

Article Highlights

  1. “This is not a Hong Kong shortage of which Cathay is the victim. This is of Cathay Pacific’s making. Cathay management caused this shortage when it cut contracts permanently, driving staff away.

  2. In reply, Cathay said the entire aviation ecosystem, both in Hong Kong and globally, continues to face significant operational constraints caused by multiple factors, including aircraft and component production issues, supply chain challenges, and a shortage of various aviation-related skills.

  • Virgin Atlantic pilots strike over fatigue

🔗https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66421175

Article Highlights

  1. Pilots at Virgin Atlantic have indicated they would consider going on strike following "serious concerns" about fatigue and their well-being.

  2. Strike action supported by 96% of the pilots

  3. At issue are scheduling and rostering arrangements that were put in place during Covid, which will come to an end in December. Virgin said it was willing to enter into talks in the coming weeks.

  • NTSB blames pilot fatigue for FedEx Boeing 757 landing on the wrong runway

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/ntsb-final-757-tul-runway

Article Highlights

1. The NTSB released a report detailing an incident from June 2022 where a FedEx Boeing 757 mistakenly landed on the wrong runway at Tulsa International Airport. The pilots realised their error post-landing when the automated runway awareness and advisory system indicated only 3,000 feet of runway remained. The captain acted quickly, applying heavy brakes and directing the plane to the final taxiway without further incidents.

2. The NTSB emphasised that despite clear visibility, the pilots ignored multiple visual cues and instrument indications that could have alerted them to runway confusion. This behaviour aligns with the continuation bias—where individuals stick to an initial plan even when circumstances have changed. The bias in this incident was likely intensified by fatigue. The captain had been awake for over 15 hours and despite claiming not to be tired, likely faced fatigue from both short-term and chronic sleep deprivation.

3. FedEx's approach to fatigue management came under scrutiny. While the company uses the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and collaborates with the ALPA on fatigue risk management, there were concerns. The NTSB noted that pilots weren't informed about assumptions in the fatigue assessment scores, like expected napping. Even though the captain tried to nap during his break, he couldn't sleep, which increased his KSS score to a high-risk level. Additionally, an oversight from the lone Air Traffic Controller at the airport, who failed to monitor the landing after granting clearance, was also considered a contributing factor to the mishap.

AVIATION SAFETY⛑️

  • Uncleared Learjet departed in front of an aircraft flaring on an intersecting runway

🔗https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/uncleared-learjet-departed-in-front-of-e190-flaring-on-intersecting-runway/154425.article

Article Highlights

1. A serious runway incursion occurred at Boston's airport when a Learjet 60, operated by charter firm Hop-A-Jet, began its take-off roll without the required clearance and crossed in front of a JetBlue Embraer 190 (E190) that was preparing to land on an intersecting runway.

2. The E190 had received clearance for landing on runway 04R, while the Learjet had only been instructed to line up and wait on runway 09. However, the Learjet proceeded with its take-off, leading the airport's surface-detection radar to alert the control tower of the imminent incursion. The intersecting runways, 09 and 04R, have close proximity, with thresholds only 300m and 270m apart.

3. The E190 captain recounted that during the plane's descent, at around 30ft above the ground, he saw the Learjet cross runway 04R. In response to the incursion alarm, the control tower instructed the E190 to execute a go-around manoeuvre, which the E190 immediately commenced, passing over the intersection approximately 20ft behind the departing Learjet.

4. The entire incident was captured on video by a jumpseat occupant in the E190, an Airbus A320 first officer, who was recording the nighttime landing approach in accordance with JetBlue's policy. The video showed the Learjet entering and crossing the runway and highlighted the moments leading up to the E190 crew's decision to abort the landing.

5. In testimonies provided to the inquiry, the Learjet crew mistakenly believed they had received clearance for take-off. The captain recalled being given a "line up and wait" command and mistakenly took it as clearance to take off. Both pilots were convinced they were authorised for take-off, a misinterpretation which led to the near-collision.

  • FAA warns airlines about fake Russian TCAS parts

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/faa-tcas-fake-parts

Article Highlights

  1. (FAA) has warned airlines about counterfeit Rockwell Collins Traffic Collision Avoidance System or TCAS transmitters/receivers being sold on the market.

  2. The parts, sold throughout the US with counterfeit identification plates, are distributed by ‘Aviation Parts, LLC. of Moscow, Russia.

  • Aeroflot turns aircraft brakes off

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/aeroflot-instructs-pilots-to-turn-brakes-off-on-some-airbus-boeing-aircraft

Article Highlights

1. Due to difficulties in obtaining maintenance parts for foreign aircraft, Russia's national carrier, Aeroflot, is operating at least nine planes without functional brakes, instructing pilots to turn them off; this includes four Airbus aircraft and five Boeing 777s. The airline warned pilots of the risks associated with this, especially during landings on wet runways with crosswinds, and highlighted potential overruns.

2. The sanctions imposed by Western countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have restricted Russian aircraft from accessing airspace and prevented aviation companies from servicing Russia's aircraft or providing spare parts. Consequently, Aeroflot, with the majority of its fleet being Western-made Airbus and Boeing jets, is sending its aircraft to Iran for maintenance, leveraging Iran's expertise in aircraft repair under sanction conditions.

AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS 🌍

  • Airlink in the spotlight this week

🔗https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/airlink-in-the-spotlight-for-predatory-pricing-as-hearings-kick-off-20230803

Article Highlights

1. The Competition Tribunal has begun hearings against Airlink over allegations of excessive and predatory pricing on the Johannesburg-Mthatha-Johannesburg route, stemming from a 2018 Competition Commission investigation.

2. The investigation found that Airlink's pricing strategies led to the exit of its rival, Fly Blue Crane, on the same route. Between 2012 and 2016, Airlink was accused of overcharging customers. When Fly Blue Crane entered the market in 2016, Airlink allegedly reduced its prices to force its competitor out by January 2017 and then resumed excessive pricing.

3. The commission's 2018 report estimated that customers overpaid by more than R100 million over five years due to Airlink's excessive charges. The commission has charged Airlink and is seeking a penalty of 10% of its annual turnover. In response, Airlink denies the allegations and opposes the charges.

  • Safair goes regional

🔗https://www.tourismupdate.co.za/article/local-airline-soars-regional-routes

Article Highlights

1. FlySafair has announced the addition of four new regional routes: Harare, Livingstone, Victoria Falls, and Maputo. Operations for Johannesburg-Harare and Johannesburg-Livingstone will start on October 2, with daily flights to Harare and four flights a week to Livingstone. Johannesburg-Victoria Falls will begin on October 3 with thrice-weekly operations, and Johannesburg-Maputo will start on October 5 with four weekly flights.

2. Kirby Gordon, the Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair, highlighted the airline's commitment to aiding the recovery of tourism in Africa and its continued focus on customer service, despite its rapid growth. The airline has increased its flight operations by 47% between 2019 and 2022, with plans for further expansion in 2023.

**

To all of you that support us on the Bryan Air Podcast, I can’t thank you enough. We do have a Patreon account (https://www.patreon.com/bryanair)if you want to donate to the pod, but we will always keep it free to those that can’t.

Back next week.

Big Love

Bryan

Consistency - The Underrated Virtue

Hey Pal

I am back in Jozi after a very successful trip to Paris. I travelled to our HQ to demonstrate a new bookings and training process we have been working on for the past two years. Ryan and I have poured our hearts and souls into the program, totally worth it.

Jordan Peterson says that “Nothing done well is insignificant”. I delivered the presentation to our executive team, who were suitably impressed. The program will be rolled out amongst the group, including new facilities in India and China. Exciting times for Simaero. I will return to Paris in October for the next project phase.

I look forward to showing off our hard work in the coming months,

Jiu Jitsu Challenge 🥊
Key learnings from the week - Consistency Consistency Consistency!


Consistency, the underrated virtue, holds a critical position in our pursuit of meaning and success. It's a form of self-regulation, a testament to our ability to keep chaos in check and forge forward in spite of life's unpredictability. Much like the story of the tortoise and the hare, it is not necessarily the quick bursts of effort or genius that ultimately win the race, but rather the steady, diligent application of our abilities over time. And yet, we tend to dismiss consistency as unexciting or unremarkable. We crave novelty and yearn for explosive moments of revelation and achievement. However, the truth is that it's through the grit of consistency that the extraordinary is chiselled from the ordinary. Embrace the discipline of consistency, for it transforms our dreams into realities and our chaos into order.


Bryan Air 🆕

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION NEWS ✈️🎙

  • Airbus 321 XLR faces range limitations after a design change

🔗https://samchui.com/2023/07/22/airbus-a321xlr-faces-range-limitations-after-design-tweak/

Article Highlights

1. Airbus's A321XLR narrow-body jet is facing certification delays due to concerns about the risk of fire and evacuation times. (EASA) has required design changes, including adding a protective liner to the rear fuel tank and other structural reinforcements. These modifications have increased the aircraft’s weight by approximately 800 kilograms.

2. The increased weight is expected to reduce the A321XLR's maximum range by about 200 nautical miles, which could impact airlines such as JetBlue that planned to use the aircraft to expand routes. Airbus, however maintains that the range reduction is minimal and that the aircraft will remain very competitive in the single-aisle segment.

  • Aircraft lessors set for June 2024 trial over Russia insurance claims

🔗https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/aircraft-lessors-set-june-2024-trial-over-russia-insurance-claims-2023-07-31/

Article Highlights

1. Several of the world's largest aircraft lessors, including SMBC, Avolon, BOC Aviation, CDB Aviation, Nordic Aviation Capital, and Carlyle Aviation Partners, are preparing to go to trial in June 2024 over disputed insurance claims. The claims pertain to more than 400 aircraft that couldn't leave Russia due to Western sanctions, resulting in the termination of their leases.

2. The lawsuits against dozens of insurers worldwide are taking place in Ireland, where over 60% of the world's leased aircraft are owned or managed. However, finding a large enough venue for the anticipated 180 daily trial attendees has proven challenging.

3. In parallel, AerCap, the world's largest aircraft lessor, is pursuing its insurance claims through London's High Court. The company is reportedly discussing with Russian insurers a potential settlement regarding some of its aircraft stranded in Russia. However, due to the sensitive nature of these discussions, further details haven't been disclosed.

  • American Airlines pilot deal in jeopardy

🔗https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/american-airlines-pilot-deal-jeopardy-after-uniteds-contract-agreement-union-2023-07-18/

Article Highlights

1. American Airlines' pilot union has warned that the ratification of the company's new four-year contract is at risk. The union is concerned because United Airlines has set a new benchmark with its own deal, which offers better pay rates and quality-of-life provisions than American's proposed contract.

2. American's proposed contract offers a pay increase of about 42%. Still, United’s four-year pilot deal promises cumulative pay raises of 34.5% to 40%, along with increased sick time, more days off, and restrictions on involuntary and some standby assignments. This discrepancy has caused APA to call on American Airlines to improve its contract to meet these new industry standards.

  • Korean Air gets its own beer

🔗https://airwaysmag.com/korean-air-own-beer/

Article Highlights

  1. Korean Air has launched its branded beer, 'KAL’s Lager,' in partnership with Playground Brewery. The lager will be available at Korean Air’s lounges at Seoul Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP) starting July 27, and will be offered on flights beginning in September.

  • Zuckerberg obtains student pilot license

🔗https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/zuckerberg-obtains-student-pilot-certificate/

Article Highlight

  1. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is apparently on the long list of high achievers who’s decided the next challenge will be getting a pilot certificate. According to Insider, the social media magnate has successfully obtained his student pilot certificate. We couldn’t verify the Facebook founder is on the FAA registry because it’s closed for maintenance all weekend. It’s not clear if he’s actively training or what his goal is for the effort. There is plenty of speculation, however, that it might be playing catch up with his newly designated archrival Elon Musk.

AVIATION SAFETY⛑️

  • Indian regulator fines IndiGo $36000 for tail strike incidents

🔗https://simpleflying.com/indigo-fined-for-tail-strike-incidents/

Article Highlights

  1. India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, fined IndiGo for multiple tail strike incidents and directed the airline to make necessary procedural changes to avoid future incidents.

  2. Two IndiGo pilots were recently suspended for a tail strike incident in June, with the pilot in command suspended for 3 months and the co-pilot suspended for 1 month.

  3. Tail strikes occurred on IndiGo's longer A321 aircraft, which are longer than A320s and require more precise nose-up manoeuvres during landing.

  • Investigation launched after four fatalities in 2 air accidents in Oshkosh

🔗https://simpleflying.com/investigation-4-fatalities-2-air-accidents-in-oshkosh/

Article Highlights

  1. Two separate aircraft crashes near the EAA AirVenture event in Wisconsin have resulted in four deaths and two injuries.

  2. One accident involved a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a gyrocopter, while the other was a small plane crash into Lake Winnebago shortly after takeoff.

  3. Investigations conducted by the FAA and NTSB are underway.

AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS 🌍

  • Cathay returns to Johannesburg - it took them long enough.

🔗https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3229363/hong-kong-airport-cant-cope-manpower-crunch-means-delays-travellers-carriers-cant-add-flights

Article Highlights

  1. Passenger numbers at Hong Kong International Airport are projected to fully return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year.

  2. Cathay’s slow return to the international market is due primarily to a manpower crunch at the Hong Kong airport; carriers cant add their desired flights.

  • Airlink lose their 50M USD claim against SAA

🔗https://airinsight.com/airlink-shrugs-off-upset-in-50-million-claim-against-saa/

Article Highlights

  1. Airlink says it will focus its energies on growing the business, in the aftermath of a court decision this week, which further dimmed prospects for recovery of R890 million ($50.5 million) in ticket revenues, owed by former franchise partner South African Airways (SAA).

  • Kenya Airways to ditch its Embraer and Bombardier aircraft

🔗https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/shipping-logistics/kq-to-ditch-embraer-bombardier-jets--4290830

Article Highlights

  1. Kenya Airways (KQ) is set to do away with Embraer and Bombardier aircraft from its fleet as it opts for Boeing planes as the company adopts mono fleeting.

  • NCAA has suspended all 737 Aircraft in the Max Air fleet

🔗https://allafrica.com/stories/202307130351.html

Article Highlight

1. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended all Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Max Air with immediate effect. The suspension was triggered by several incidents involving the Boeing 737 aircraft in Max Air's fleet, including the loss of a main landing gear wheel during a severe incident.

2. Following the suspension, the NCAA has assembled a team of inspectors to audit all Boeing 737 aircraft in the airline's fleet.

Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter. Have a lovely weekend, Chat next week; bye for now.

Big Love

Bryan

You Won't Always Be Motivated But You Can Stay Disciplined!

Hey Pal

It was a difficult week in the life of Bryan. We had endless issues to deal with on podcast day, hence the late publishing of the show. On a positive note, Ryan and I maintained the discipline of publishing a show every week and as always were rewarded by a great sense of satisfaction and pride after we managed to get the show out to our listeners.

If I am being 100% honest, publishing a show every week is harder than it seems but it’s a non-negotiable for us.

Jiu Jitsu Challenge 🥊

My Jiu-Jitsu is coming along very nicely, I have got my fitness up to a decent level which is giving me the confidence to give my absolute everything during the rolling sessions.

I did not expect to enjoy the training so much. I am so lucky that I found the right club with the right group of guys. It is so important to associate with the right people.

There is a grading session later in the year, and I hope to get a stripe or two on my white belt.

Simaero Simulator Training ✈️

I spent a large part of last week developing a new exciting simulator session which focuses on MCC and CRM without the need for failed aircraft systems or horrendous weather. Instead, I used Innsbruck Airport in Austria for the exercise, which requires excellent situational awareness and modern crew coordination.

The exercise requires raw data navigation between the mountain ranges. Hopefully, we can try it out if I see you at the sim centre over the coming months.

Bryan Air 🆕

STORY OF THE WEEK 🎙

  • P&W geared engine chaos

🔗https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-says-engine-maker-pratt-facing-problems-with-jet-support-2023-05-03/

🔗https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/klm-becomes-first-e-jet-e2-operator-to-acknowledge-issues-with-pw-engines

Article Highlights

  1. Airbus CEO expressed concerns about Pratt & Whitney's ability to adequately support its fleet of passenger jets with spare parts and engines. This comes after India's third-largest airline, Go First, filed for bankruptcy, attributing the decision to issues with Pratt & Whitney's GTF engines on its Airbus 320neo jets.

  2. The CEO pointed out that the GTF engines' in-service support issues have led to airlines grounding planes temporarily.

  3. Despite these issues, Pratt & Whitney informed investors that the time between maintenance visits had improved but admitted it was still not meeting the expectations of the company or its customers. The company is working on developing upgrades to address this.

  4. KLM Cityhopper is also experiencing difficulties with the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engine family, specifically in fully deploying the Embraer E195-E2 aircraft

  5. To address these issues, which do not affect flight safety, KLM Cityhopper is collaborating with Embraer and Pratt & Whitney to find a solution. In the meantime, it has made minor adjustments to its summer flight schedule and deployed alternative capacity by retaining E190s meant to be returned to lease companies.

  6. Other airlines, such as airBaltic, have also faced problems with the supply of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, resulting in the need to wet lease aircraft from other operators for the summer season.

  7. Go First, which cited Pratt & Whitney's engine issues as a major contributor to its financial woes, has been granted bankruptcy protection by India’s National Company Law Tribunal. However, lessors have requested the deregistration of up to 42 of the airline's aircraft in recent weeks.


In a conventional high-bypass turbofan engine and a Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine like Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G, the fundamental operation of the engines is similar - both suck in air, compress it, mix it with fuel, ignite it, and expel the hot gases to produce thrust. However, there's a key difference in the way the fan (the large spinning blades at the front of the engine) is connected to the rest of the engine.


  1. Conventional High-Bypass Turbofan: In a conventional turbofan, the fan is directly connected to the low-pressure turbine at the back of the engine via a shaft. This means they continuously spin at the same speed. If the turbine needs to spin fast to be efficient, so does the fan. But spinning the fan faster can make the engine louder and less fuel-efficient. There's a compromise to be struck between the efficiency of the turbine and the fan's efficiency.

  2. Geared Turbofan (GTF): In a GTF engine, there's an additional component called a reduction gearbox between the fan and the low-pressure turbine. This gearbox allows the fan and the turbine to spin at different speeds. The turbine can spin very fast, which is good for its efficiency, while the fan can spin slower, which makes it quieter and more fuel-efficient. This uncoupling of the fan and turbine speeds allows each to operate at their optimal speeds, improving the overall performance of the engine.

So in simple terms, the main difference is the gearbox. This allows the GTF to be quieter, more fuel-efficient, and produce fewer emissions compared to a conventional high-bypass turbofan engine.


INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE NEWS ✈️

  • United pilots demand more pay

🔗 https://airlive.net/news/2023/05/14/united-airlines-pilots-picket-for-higher-pay/

Article Highlights

  1. Pilots from United Airlines, one of the largest U.S. airlines, held picket lines at major airports advocating for higher pay.

  2. These pilots have been in negotiation with airline management for a new contract, having worked without a pay raise for over four years.

  3. Despite the protests, striking is unlikely due to federal laws which make it difficult for unions to conduct strikes in the airline industry.

  4. The protests by United pilots follow strike-authorization votes from pilots at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, indicating United pilots could potentially be the next to vote.

  5. The goal for pilots at these three airlines (United, American, and Southwest) is to match or exceed the pay raise deal that Delta Air Lines reached with its pilots, which was a 34% increase over four years.

  6. The highest pay at United for a captain is $369 an hour on two-aisle planes (known as "widebodies") and $297 an hour on "narrowbodies" such as Boeing 737s. On average, pilots fly around 75 hours per month.


  • Southwest pilots strike

🔗 https://simpleflying.com/southwest-airlines-pilots-union-authorize-strike/

Article Highlights

  1. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) union has voted in favor of a strike authorization, with a 99% approval rate from nearly 10,000 members, due to slow negotiations with Southwest Airlines' management.

  2. SWAPA's President Casey Murray criticized the "operational disaster" of Southwest Airlines, referring to repeated shutdowns due to extreme weather events and IT issues.

  3. Southwest Airlines has responded to the vote by committing to improve its IT systems, with more than $1.3 billion allocated for investments, upgrades, and maintenance in 2023.

  4. However, SWAPA finds these investments insufficient and criticizes Southwest for not addressing crucial issues in contract negotiations, such as scheduling and compensation.

  5. SWAPA's strike authorization vote came after over three years of "direct negotiations", with little progress.


  • Spanish airline pilots propose summer strikes

🔗 https://simpleflying.com/spanish-airline-pilots-propose-summer-strikes/

Article Highlights

  1. The Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (SEPLA) is considering a summer strike as part of their ongoing protest against a "minimum services" law applied by the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agency.

  2. This law requires pilots to service at least 90% of scheduled flights even during labor action protests against pay rates.

  3. SEPLA will seek "precautionary measures" such as increasing strike days and extending strike activity to other labour groups, in an attempt to pressure airline management into negotiating a fair solution. This comes after the Spanish National Court found the Ministry 15 times in violation of the right to a full strike, particularly regarding pilots from Air Europa and Iberia Regional Air Nostrum who are seeking significant pay raises.

  4. Airlines that could be dragged into the industrial dispute include Jet2, Norwegian, easyJet, Ryanair, Iberia, Vueling, Eurowings, Plus Ultra and Swift Air. 


  • Cathay Pacific warns pilots about taxiing at slower speeds

🔗 https://simpleflying.com/cathay-pacific-warns-pilots-taxiing-slower-speeds/

Article Highlights

  1. Cathay Pacific has conducted an internal investigation which revealed that its pilots have been taxiing at slower speeds than other airlines, causing runway congestion. The Hong Kong-based airline has communicated to its staff that disciplinary action may be taken against pilots for continued slow taxiing.

  2. Taxiing at a slower speed than the average can have environmental implications, as it results in increased fuel burn, both for the taxiing aircraft and for approaching aircraft that may have to delay landing.

  3. Cathay Pacific pilots might be taxiing slowly as a tactic to increase their total flight time and, consequently, their pay per flight. This is due to the significant salary cuts that the airline's staff, including pilots, faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the airline's operations recovering to 50% of pre-pandemic levels, staff salaries remain 30% lower than their pre-pandemic wages.


  • Turkish teases huge 600 aircraft order

🔗 https://simpleflying.com/turkish-airlines-huge-600-airplane-order/

Article Highlights

  1. Turkish Airlines is planning a large 600 aircraft order, with the first part of the deal to be announced at the forthcoming IATA AGM in Istanbul. The airline's chairman, Professor Doctor Ahmed Bolat, revealed the plan at a recent event.

  2. Bolat stated that Turkish Airlines aims to grow its fleet to 813 aircraft by 2033, maintaining an average growth of 7.6% over the next decade. The proposed order includes 200 widebody and 400 narrowbody aircraft.

  3. The fleet expansion is part of Turkish Airlines' strategy to reach its target of carrying 170 million passengers within the next 10 years.

  4. Both Boeing and Airbus are expected to be involved in the deals. The airline currently operates a mixed fleet, including both Boeing and Airbus aircraft, suggesting it may continue with a mixed fleet approach.

  5. As part of its expansion, Turkish Airlines plans to launch flights to Melbourne or Sydney this year. However, the airline's current aircraft cannot make these flights nonstop. Bolat mentioned the possibility of using Airbus' A350-1000 for ultra-long-haul flights, like the Australia route, pending some range adjustments by Airbus.


  • A Cargolux Boeing 747F loses landing gear during an emergency landing

🔗 https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/cargolux-boeing-747-freighter-loses-landing-gear-during-emergency-landing

Article Highlights

  1. A Cargolux Boeing 747-400F experienced significant damage when its right landing gear bogie detached during an emergency landing at Luxembourg Airport (LUX).

  2. The issue arose when the aircraft, fully loaded with fuel for a long-haul flight to Chicago, was unable to retract its landing gear, necessitating a return to LUX and fuel dumping to reach a safe landing weight.

  3. The landing gear detached during the landing roll, but the aircraft was able to come to a controlled stop without any injuries to personnel on board or on the ground.

  4. The incident led to a temporary closure of the LUX runway, causing flight diversions until it reopened early on May 15, 2023.


  • YouTuber to plead guilty to a staged plane crash

🔗 https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/youtuber-influencer-pilot-admits-deliberate-plane-crash-to-get-more-views

Article Highlights

  1. YouTuber and licensed pilot Trevor Daniel Jacob, 29, from California, faces up to 20 years in prison for purposely staging a plane crash in order to generate views on his YouTube channel.

  2. In November 2021, Jacob flew his single-propeller plane with the intention of filming himself ejecting from the aircraft and parachuting to the ground. He had secured a sponsorship deal with a company and agreed to promote their wallet in the video.

  3. After ejecting from the plane and filming his descent, Jacob informed the National Transportation Safety Board about the crash. Initially, he agreed to help locate the wreckage but later claimed he did not know where it was.

  4. In December, Jacob and a friend used a helicopter to retrieve the wreckage, which Jacob later cut up and disposed of in an attempt to obstruct federal authorities from investigating the crash.

  5. Jacob admitted to lying to federal investigators and the FAA about the cause of the crash, claiming the airplane’s engine had failed. His pilot license was revoked by the FAA in April 2022. His video of the staged crash has garnered 2.9 million views as of the time of writing.


AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS 🌍

  • SAA merger set for competition green light after Takatso shareholders agree on divestment

🔗  https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/687651/competition-commission-approves-saa-deal/?fbclid=IwAR2IsQD9nHtPTHUGGeb62K_1w0EbsZiiMKISARqq2xcaZDwkd6hrQbt9L8A

Article Highlights

  1. The South African Competition Commission recommends that the Competition Tribunal approve the merger between Takatso Aviation and state-owned South African Airways (SAA), under which Takatso would acquire a 51% stake in SAA.

  2. This decision follows an investigation by the commission, which concluded that the merger would substantially lessen competition in the domestic airline space due to the potential for sensitive information to be exchanged between SAA and Lift, which has connections with minority shareholders in Takatso.

  3. To remedy this, Global Aviation and Syranix, which are involved in Lift and have a minority shareholding in Takatso, have agreed to divest from Takatso before the merger's implementation completely.

  4. Despite the initial rejection of divestiture and employment conditions by the merging parties, they later agreed to them, leading to the commission's recommendation for conditional approval of the merger.

  5. The merger, proposed in June 2021, would result in the South African government retaining a 49% shareholding in SAA through the Department of Public Enterprises.

  6. The final decision on the merger is still pending and will be taken by the Competition Tribunal.


Have a power week ahead; no excuses, and get the job done.

Big Love

Bryan




This Week In Aviation

Hey Pal

I have received a lot of requests to make our Bryan Air show notes accessible as a readable version. I started adding the links to all the news articles in the note section of the YouTube channel, and I have done the same for Apple and Spotify listeners.

The research notes and highlights from the week’s aviation stories can be found right here in my weekly newsletter. I realise you don’t always have time to search for the vast aviation news articles in circulation nor do you necessarily have time to read them.

I hope you find some value in the highlights section.

RECRUITMENT NEWS 💼


Article Highlights

  1. Ryanair has placed an order for 300 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, consisting of 150 firm orders and 150 additional options.

  2. The airline selected the 737-10 for its increased capacity, better fuel efficiency, and reduced noise compared to their current 737NG fleet.

  3. The order supports Boeing's recovery from the pandemic and adds to the backlog for the 737-10, which is awaiting certification for passenger flights.


CHINESE AVIATION NEWS 🎙


Article Highlights

  1. China's three largest carriers, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, have significantly reduced their losses in the first quarter of 2023 as the country eased its 'zero-Covid' curbs and travel restrictions.

  2. Air China Quarterly revenue jumped 94%.

  3. China Eastern Airlines Quarterly revenue increased by 78%.

  4. China Southern Airlines 59%

  5. These results come after record losses for the 2022 financial year due to China's strict 'zero-Covid' policy, which greatly affected travel demand. The easing of pandemic-related curbs has led to a rebound in domestic and international traffic.


  1. Hainan commits to 60 C919’s and 40 ARJ21s - https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/hainan-airlines-commits-to-60-c919s-40-arj21s/153056.article

    Article Highlights

  1. Hainan Airlines has disclosed commitments for 60 Comac C919 narrowbody aircraft and 40 ARJ21 regional jets, providing a significant boost to Comac's order book.

  2. Out of the 100 aircraft, 30 C919 narrowbodies are expected to go to Urumqi Air

  3. Urumqi Air will be the second disclosed airline customer for the C919 after launch operator China Eastern Airlines, which took delivery of its first C919 in December 2022.

  4. The C919 program has faced delays in recent years, partly due to geopolitical tensions between China and the USA, as the C919 relies heavily on Western technology for its engines, cockpit controls, and interior systems.


Article Highlights

  1. Non-stop flights between North America and Asia have seen a significant increase in capacity, with several carriers offering at least 90% more seats from June through August compared to the previous year.

  2. Despite the increase, seating capacities in the North America-Asia market are still 34% down compared to pre-pandemic levels due to the ongoing US-China flight dispute.

  3. The US-China flight conflict started when Western carriers were banned from flying through Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Moldovan airspace, while Asian and Middle Eastern carriers were still allowed to use Russia's airspace.

  4. The dispute affects four Chinese carriers operating routes between China and the US, leading to 90% fewer flights between the two countries this summer.




INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE NEWS ✈️

Article Highlights

  1. Qantas is taking its pilots to court over the recruitment of Airbus A380 relief pilots, as the airline wants to hire 20 second officers externally.

  2. The Australian International Pilots Association opposes this, arguing that second officers should be promoted from within the company based on seniority, as per the established system.

  3. Qantas claims promoting pilots internally would double training requirements, but the union believes the airline is breaking its contract with pilots by not adhering to the seniority and allocation system.


Article Highlights

  1. Emirates has opened a store in Dubai's financial district that allows passengers to check in and drop off their bags without going to the airport.

  2. The store aims to reduce overcrowding at the airport and increase customer satisfaction by minimizing queues and wait times.

  3. In addition to regular check-in desks and self-service kiosks, Emirates plans to introduce a robot check-in assistant called Sara to assist passengers.


Article Highlights

  1. Safrans du Monde's new Grand Classiques World Tour is a 22-day luxury private jet journey that begins and ends in Paris, visiting destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Cusco, Easter Island, Sydney, Hanoi, and Petra.

  2. Guests on the tour will be hosted in five-star hotels and enjoy fine dining, Champagne, and lie-flat seats on the private Airbus A340.

  3. The tour offers two classes of service, Club Safrans and Première Safrans, with the latter providing first-class seats, exclusive excursions, and ultra-luxurious hotel stays at a higher price. Club Safrans costs $75,000 per person, while Première Safrans costs $115,000 per person.


Article Highlights

  1. Emirates is wet-leasing two Boeing 747-400 freighters to increase capacity for its SkyCargo division, with plans to deploy them on routes to Chicago and Hong Kong.

  2. The airline plans to expand its SkyCargo fleet by acquiring five more Boeing 777Fs by 2024-25 and converting 10 777-300ERs to freighters over the next five years.


  • India’s Go Airlines gains bankruptcy protection

Article Highlights

  1. Go Airlines, India's fourth largest carrier, has been granted bankruptcy protection by the National Company Law Tribunal in New Delhi.

  2. The low-cost carrier faced a financial crisis due to issues with Pratt & Whitney engines, which grounded half of its 54 Airbus A320neos.

  3. The bankruptcy protection order puts a moratorium on Go  assets and leases, and appoints an interim resolution professional to take over management.

  4. Lessors face challenges in repossessing planes due to the bankruptcy protection, leading to potential legal battles and higher lease premiums for Indian airlines.


AFRICAN AVIATION NEWS 🌍

Article Highlights

  1. Proflight Zambia is launching the first direct flights between Lusaka and Cape Town starting July 1, making it the airline's fourth South African route.

  2. The new direct service eliminates the need for travelers to transit through Johannesburg.

  3. Initially operating twice weekly, the route will be serviced by a 50-seat CRJ jet, with connections available to partner airlines on other days.


  1. South African Airways has received government approval to expand its fleet with the lease of six additional Airbus aircraft.

  2. The expansion will enable the airline to relaunch international routes and provide extra regional and domestic capacity.

  3. The six aircraft include five A320-family airframes and a long-haul A330, with deliveries expected before the end of the year.


Article Highlights

  1. Over R100 million allocated for renovations to Dick Montshioa and Pilanesberg International airports in North West, South Africa, has reportedly "gone missing" with no work done and no accountability for the funds.

  2. The portfolio committee on community safety and transport management has opened a case of corruption and called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorize the Special Investigating Unit to investigate the department.


BRYAN AIR ADVISORY 🤖

  • The hard truth about the outcome or product you create. "Perfection is not achieved at first glance; embrace the journey of progress, and let your passion guide you towards the masterpiece you envision."


UPCOMING EVENTS 📅

  • Mother’s Day on Sunday


SUPPORT THE PODCAST ❤️

Support us on Patreon with a small monthly pledge, and help us continue to bring you quality content: https://www.patreon.com/bryanair

PATREON SUPPORTERS 🌟

Special thanks to our Patreon supporters: Fran Laidler, Jon Howell, Deano Jennings, Dale Williams, Duncan Gillespie, Imre Kurucz, and John Kearney.


The A320 Has Left The Building

Hey Pal

I know I have been banging on about Chat GPT for a long time.  I started diving into excel spreadsheets and complicated charts this past week. I am always amazed at the various use cases it offers the novice user.

I took the plunge this week and purchased Chat GPT Plus, the paid version costing 20 USD a month. I will report back in the coming weeks to determine whether it’s worth the extra expense.

Open AI has also just launched the latest version of the software, Chat GPT-4. So what is Chat GPT -4?

Chat GPT-4 is the latest advancement in OpenAI's GPT series. This model promises to redefine how we interact with AI and transform various industries, from customer support to content creation.

Features and Improvements:

  • Enhanced language understanding

With its remarkable ability to understand context and complex sentences, ChatGPT-4 is poised to revolutionise conversational AI. It can understand long-form text, maintain context over extended conversations, and adapt to different conversational styles.

  • Multilingual capabilities

ChatGPT-4 is designed to work seamlessly across multiple languages. This opens up a world of possibilities for businesses and users, allowing them to communicate effectively and access information in their preferred language.

  • Improved response generation

The improvements in response generation make ChatGPT-4 more human-like than ever before. It can generate responses that are coherent, contextually appropriate, and tailored to the specific user's needs.

  • Advanced domain adaptation

ChatGPT-4 boasts a refined domain adaptation feature that provides more accurate information across various subjects. It's now more versatile, with a broader knowledge base that can cater to a wide range of industries and applications.

I have been using this software for a while now; it has changed how I write emails, respond to “non-standard” requests and read contracts. If I don’t understand something fully, I copy the text, paste it into GPT and ask it to explain it to me in basic terms. It is a game changer.

If you haven’t tested out this new technology, I strongly suggest you try it. DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND.

Jiu Jitsu Challenge 🥊

Key learnings from the week: “You have to master the basics first.”

Bryan Air 🆕

I performed episode 129 without the support of my legendary co-host Ryan Parrock. FYI - Podcasting alone is shit.

We will keep a close eye on pilot salary shifts across the globe in the coming weeks. No longer than 72 hours after Delta airlines announced a landmark contract for pilot salary scales, American Airliners followed with their own adjusted pilot contracts.

It is inevitable that the airlines that treat, pay and respect their pilots the most will dominate the pilot market in the years to come. I can’t wait to see the movement amongst the global pilot pool.

Here are the links for this week’s show. Please make sure you are subscribed.

Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Simaero Simulator Training ✈️


The Museum piece AKA “The Simaero A320” is no longer in the building. We have been longing to have this simulator removed, and with plenty of blood, sweat and tears, we now have the space for a modern replacement.

I will keep you in the loop on its planned replacement in the coming weeks.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Big Love

Bryan

Life Is What Happens While You Are Making Other Plans

Hey Pal


It's hard to believe that it's been nine years since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished without a trace. The world was left in shock as the aircraft, carrying 239 people, disappeared from radar screens on March 8, 2014, during a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Despite extensive search efforts over the years, the whereabouts of MH370 and the passengers and crew onboard remain unknown. The mystery surrounding the accident has captured the attention of people worldwide and sparked numerous theories and speculation.

My thoughts about accidents like this changed a lot after the birth of my daughter. I can’t imagine the sense of loss that some people have to endure when an event like this happens.


Jiu Jitsu Challenge 🥊


I got caught in a body triangle during training this week.

Ah, the dreaded body triangle. It's one of the most frustrating positions to find yourself in when practising Jiu-Jitsu. For those unfamiliar, the body triangle is when your opponent wraps their legs around your midsection, squeezing you like an Anaconda.

As a current white belt, I have been caught in this position more than once. So, what can you do when you find yourself trapped in a body triangle? Well, the first thing is to stay calm. It's so easy to panic when you feel like you can't breathe, but that only worsens things. Next, try to create some space between you and your opponent. Use your arms and legs to push against their legs and try to make some room to manoeuvre. From there, you can start working out of the position.

The beauty of jiu-Jitsu, if all else fails, you can simply tap out. There is nothing like tapping out and the subsequent damage to the old ego. As the coach says, there is always next week to get your revenge.

Bryan Air 🆕


The story of the week is the utter arrogance of South African Airway’s internal roadshow, trying to lure seasoned aviators back to the embattled airline as First Officers and, no doubt, some hefty pay cuts.

  • It has been nine years since the disappearance of MH370.

  • Ex-SAA pilots called back to work for a roadshow.

  • South Africa has a new minister of transport.

  • Delta pilots secure huge pay raises.

  • Qantas to hire 8500 new workers.

  • Autonomous flight, Jiu Jitsu, Formula 1, and You’ll never walk alone.



Listen to the BAP on your app of choice or download the video on YouTube.


YouTube

Apple

Spotify

Simaero Simulator Training ✈️


Last week we completed our annual SACAA audit. It was a pleasant experience for my team. No matter how many audits you go through in your career, there is always a sense of panic as the big week approaches. For three consecutive years in a row, we have remained “findings-free”.

Have you seen our new ground school building? Join us for a cup of barista coffee.




Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.


Have a power week ahead everybody.

Big Love

Bryan

Do hard things!

Hey Pal

I started this week’s podcast by going deep into my favourite topic. “The benefits of doing things that are difficult”.

Doing difficult things regularly can profoundly impact your mindset and overall well-being. Here are a few reasons why:

  1. Builds Resilience - By tackling complex challenges, you develop the ability to bounce back from adversity and handle future challenges with greater ease. The issues that would ordinarily be regarded as difficult become easier to handle.

  2. Increases Confidence - When you complete a difficult task, it boosts your self-esteem and confidence.

  3. Promotes Growth - Doing difficult things stretches your limits and forces you to grow in new ways. It pushes you out of your comfort zone and helps you develop new skills, perspectives, and habits.

  4. Reduces Fear - Facing and overcoming complex challenges can help reduce fear and anxiety by showing you that you can handle difficult situations.

  5. Increases Satisfaction - Finally, completing a difficult task can bring great satisfaction and fulfilment. Your sense of accomplishment can improve your overall well-being and contribute to a positive outlook on life.

If you want to dive deep into discipline and doing hard things. The Jocko podcast is a great place to start.

"Challenge is essential for growth, and to be successful, you must be willing to embrace it and tackle difficult situations head-on." - Joe Rogan


Bryan Air 🆕

Episode 125 aired this past Thursday. Our story of the week was new technology in the aircraft manufacturing sector, everything from truss-braced wings and modified MD90’s to shark skin fuselages and fluid dynamics.

NEWS✈️

* Airbus and Qatar settle an ageing dispute.

* Close call between FedEx and Southwest at Austin.

* Another Lithium Ion battery pack fire onboard an aircraft.

* Emirates doubles Cape Town frequency but halves A380 schedule to Johannesburg.

* Russian airline Nordwind plans direct flights to South Africa.

* Lift is on track to increase seat capacity.

* Which is South Africa's most loved airline?

* Big UFC fight on the cards this weekend.

CHECK OUT THE PODCAST 🎤

You can watch the entire podcast on our YouTube channel or listen to the audio through the links below.


Apple:

Spotify:

Simaero Simulator Training ✈️

Simaero’s new website is live; look and see what you think.

Big Love

Bryan