CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

easyJet
Check Flight Management

9 February 2011
 Check Flight Management
CONFIDENTIAL

easyJet overview

Check Flight requirement

easyJet Events

Internal issues

Changes made

Summary
 easyJet Overview
CONFIDENTIAL

Low Cost Operator

Bases
11 UK
6 Rest of Europe (CDG, ORY, MAD, SXF, MXP, LYS)
Crew numbers
2000 Flight Deck
5500 Cabin Crew
Types
A319 159
A320 37
B737-700 8>2
Network
109 Destinations
500 routes
27 Countries
 Check Flight Management
CONFIDENTIAL
 Check Flight requirement
CONFIDENTIAL

Boeing Fleet
Started as B737-300 operator
Merged with Go BA-funded low cost B733 operator
Converted to all B737-700 operator
Now being phased out, last 8 reducing to 2 until 2012

Airbus Fleet
195 deliveries with more orders & options announced
Plans for 220+ aircraft fleet
Bought GB Airways BA Franchise - A320/321 Operator (16)
Lease & ex-GB aircraft being disposed/EOL
14 EZS aircraft
Original aircraft now reaching EOL
 EZY Boeing Event
CONFIDENTIAL

POSITIONING FLIGHT:

B737-700
End-of-lease
Shakedown performed on positioning flight
Manual Reversion needed 11.5 turns UP
Noted in Check Flight documentation
Not recorded in Tech Log as within limits
Engineering used data provided to correct StabTrim
 EZY Boeing Event
CONFIDENTIAL

ACTUAL FLIGHT:

EZY Customer Demonstration schedule flown

Flight combined AMM tasks with Demo
Including Manual Reversion
Customer Airline reps on flight
Limited training for F/O

Previous event:
CAA recognition
Subsequent event:
AMM vs. CDFS
 EZY Boeing Event
CONFIDENTIAL

Manual Reversion check:

With STAB TRIM, AP TRIM & FLT CONTROL switches
OFF:
Dramatic nose-down pitch
Full back stick gave -3100fpm
Aircraft rolled to 60 degs AOB & control column
released (CAA Check Flight Handbook)
FLT CONTROL switches reinstated
Still pitching down: 30 deg ND, 447kts, -20000fpm
PAN declared
Now IMC at 5600ft AMSL
FLT CONTROL found OFF and now selected ON
CONFIDENTIAL
EZY Event
 EZY Event
CONFIDENTIAL

UK Air Accidents Investigation Board report:

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/sites/aaib/publications/bulletin
s/september_2010/boeing_737_73v__g_ezjk.cfm
 What went wrong?
CONFIDENTIAL

Internally:
Lack of supervision or oversight
Single Capt running Boeing Check Flights
CAA procedures followed rather than AMM
Combined AMM & Customer flight
Externally:
No regulatory requirements
No guidance on Demo flights
E&M handling of reports
No formal debrief with Maintenance
 What was changed:
CONFIDENTIAL

Internal Safety Investigation

AAIB investigation
Check Flight Cell created
Oversight & supervision process developed
Check Flight Manual created
Training & Currency requirements specified
Crew requirements specified
CDFS schedules redefined & derisked
All Airbus Crew attended Airbus Course
All flights authorised through ENG & Flt Ops
 CAA FODCOM:
CONFIDENTIAL

CAA Check Flight Definitions:

a) Check Flight. A post-certification flight carried out as one of the

processes to ensure that the aircraft continues to comply with the
applicable airworthiness requirements.

b) Elective Check Flight. A Check Flight required by the operator, e.g. to

fulfil part of the end of lease conditions.

c) Maintenance Check Flight. A Check Flight carried out after

maintenance on an aircraft to provide reassurance of performance or
establish the correct functioning of a system that cannot be fully
established during ground checks.

d) Mandated Check Flight. A Check Flight mandated by the CAA mainly

associated with the issue of a Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) for
used aircraft imported from outside the European Union.
 Check Flight Supplement:
CONFIDENTIAL

1. Definitions

2. Organisation & Responsibilities

3. Check Flight Schedules

4. Check Flight Crew Requirements

5. Preparation for, and conduct of, the Check Flight

 Check Flight Supplement:
CONFIDENTIAL

Appendix A Authorised Crews

Appendix B CAA Check Flight Handbook
Appendix C Airbus Check Flight Schedules
C.1 CAA CFS 246 (A319/320/321 CFM)
C.2 CAA CFS 275 (A319/320/321 IAE)
C.3 Airbus SA-ISATM
C.4 Airbus New Aircraft Acceptance
Appendix D Boeing Check Flight Schedules
D.1 CAA CFS 314 (Boeing 737-700)
D.2 easyJet B737 Demo Schedule
Appendix E Check Flight Authorisation Checklist EZF-001
Appendix F Check Flight Technical Request and Authorisation Form
Appendix G Airbus Simulator profile
Appendix H Boeing Simulator profile
Appendix I Crew Selection
 Airline issues:
CONFIDENTIAL

Issues exist now

Commercial pressures (not core business)
Availability of Crews
Location of Check Flight
Positioning of Crews
Airspace
Engineering delays
 Airline issues:
CONFIDENTIAL

TFE = ideal scenario

External observer (3rd seat):

Type of Check Flight Crew

Maintenance 3

Elective CDFS 2 + Approved Observer

Elective other 3 (2 with HOAO approval)

CAA mandated 3

NEVER ideal conditions!

 EZY Airbus Event
CONFIDENTIAL

Event occurred after new processes:

New Capt in Check Flight Cell

A320 IS-ATM
Low speed check
Conf Clean all satisfactory
Conf Full...
 EZY Airbus Event
CONFIDENTIAL

CONF FULL

Table VMIN 106kts

PFD VMIN 98kts

Buffet felt at 101kts

Full back stick not reached

Table Actual
 EZY Airbus Event
CONFIDENTIAL

Check Flight abandoned

Airbus consulted
FDM data downloaded & analysed
AoA values frozen
3 x AoA gauges changed
Successful refly

Crew had completed Airbus Course

Capt very capable
Correct procedures followed
 Further changes:
CONFIDENTIAL

Guidance from Regulator:

Regulation not appropriate

Guidance on Demo flight schedules
General oversight of process
Recognise Operators current processes
Recognise Course
 Further changes:
CONFIDENTIAL

Support from Manufacturers

Demo flight schedule updates

Manufacturers Courses
Continuous dialogue
Best practice from experts

Support Airbus actions:

IS-ATM to Airlines
Technical Flight course
Continual support & dialogue
 Summary
CONFIDENTIAL

High exposure due to Fleet changes

Lack of internal & external regulation
Internal changes implemented
Right Crews & training are key to
success
Demonstrated value of correct
processes
But learnt the hard way!
CONFIDENTIAL
Summary