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US investigators have disclosed that an American Airlines Boeing 777-200ER crew had originally expected and briefed for a different runway departure, and was dealing with a belated load close-out, before a serious runway incursion incident at New York JFK last year. The crew of the 777 had briefed to taxi for runway 31L ahead of the flight to London Heathrow on 13 January 2023. But while parked at the gate the crew received instrument clearance – via the ACARS communication system – which indicated a take-off from runway 4L. The crew reprogrammed the flight-management system and revised the taxi briefing, which would take the aircraft along a path similar to the 31L taxi route. “All three pilots said [during interviews] they understood at that time that [the 777] would be departing runway 4L,” states the National Transportation Safety Board in newly-released human factors and operational documentation on the incident. After the 777 was pushed back, it was given taxi clearance to runway 4L via a left turn on taxiway B and told to hold short of taxiway K. The crew responded, acknowledging the hold-short instruction. The inquiry’s documentation reveals that the captain had still not received the load close-out – which contained final confirmation of passenger numbers, fuel and cargo weights – after the pushback, and he slowed the taxi. He testified to investigators that he would normally have stopped the taxi altogether, but he did not want to hold up traffic, and the presence of a relief first officer meant the close-out could be requested while taxiing.<br/>

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. is offering bonuses to pilots to fly during next month’s Lunar New Year period as the airline seeks to avoid canceling even more flights over the peak travel season. Hong Kong’s largest airline, which has already cut an average of 12 flights a day through the end of February in order to ensure enough pilots are available, will offer a special flying allowance between Feb. 7 and 18, according to people familiar with the matter. Aircrew will be eligible for bonuses of 30%, 25% or 15% of their usual hourly flying rates, they said, asking not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly. The offer is just the latest in a growing list of incentives Cathay has rolled out to tackle a chronic shortage of aircrew after Covid-related job losses gutted its ranks and pay cuts of more than 45% for some of those that remained sparked an exodus. The carrier is already facing intense criticism for canceling hundreds of flights over Christmas and New Year as a surge in illness and limits on annual flying hours compounded its pilot deficit. “We are confident in our ability to operate our flights as planned,” Cathay Pacific said in an emailed statement. Still, the short-term bonus will do little to address the longer-term issues Cathay faces in recruiting staff. The carrier’s flight volume is at around 70% of 2019 levels currently, and it aims to get back to normal by the end of this year.<br/>