Flight Safety Information June 3, 2019 - No. 111 In This Issue Boeing Faces Doubtful Airline Chiefs in Mission to Restore Faith Some Boeing Jet Parts Need Fixes: FAA Incident: Portugalia E190 at Porto on Jun 2nd 2019, electrical problems Incident: Ryanair B738 near Madrid on Jun 2nd 2019, cracked windshield Incident: GoAir A20N near Aurangabad on Jun 2nd 2019, problems with oxygen supply Incident: Vietnam B789 near Hanoi on May 31st 2019, generator failure Incident: American A332 at Philadelphia on May 31st 2019, rejected takeoff due to bird strike Incident: China Airlines A333 near Hong Kong on May 30th 2019, engine shut down in flight Incident: ANZ B789 near Auckland on May 31st 2019, lightning strike Accident: Avianca A332 near Tucuman on May 30th 2019, turbulence injures 9 people on board Antonov An-32 - Missing (India) Boeing 737 Max Certification Focus of Far-Reaching NTSB Probe FAA: Some Boeing 737NG and MAX aircraft may have improperly manufactured leading edge slat tracks String of Accidents Highlight Myanmar's Air Safety Record 10 years after the crash: How weather contributed to doomed Air France Flight 447's fate The world's largest airplane may be grounded after a single flight Improving safety must be top priority for African aviation - expert Russia's Aeroflot Scales Back Superjet Flights Following Fatal Crash KCC dual credit aviation courses prepare high school students for flight Bering Air donates airplane to UAF student mechanics program International Women Pilots meet in the Middle East Meet the first private companies that NASA has selected to deliver stuff and things to the Moon GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Beyond Risk Management, Ltd. Position Available: Investigator/Senior Investigator, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Position Available: Safety Specialist Senior Manager, Advanced Qualification Program ISASI - DFW Regional Chapter Meeting Boeing Faces Doubtful Airline Chiefs in Mission to Restore Faith • Airline bosses in Seoul given vivid reminder of Max tragedies • CEOs concerned divisions among regulators will prolong crisis Emirates President Clark says Boeing Co.'s 737 Max will likely not be back in the skies before the end of this year. After two fatal crashes in five months involving its best-selling 737 Max jet, Boeing Co. sent a team to reassure airline bosses of its focus on safety at their annual gathering in Seoul. They faced a tough crowd. The International Air Transport Association event began Sunday with an opening ceremony in which sobering news reports on the disasters were beamed onto super-sized screens as the industry group's head, Alexandre de Juniac, warned that the plane-approval process is damaged and the industry under scrutiny. Doubts about a speedy resolution to the Max crisis hang over the two-day meeting, aviation's biggest gathering since the second crash in Ethiopia in March and a key annual forum for top-level discussions. Airline chiefs said Boeing must convince regulators worldwide of the 737's safety, not just the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, if it's to restore faith in the model. "Unless they get all regulators on board, irrespective of how good or how well they think they've fixed the aircraft, it's not going to work," Emirates President Tim Clark said in an interview at the gathering. "It's done enormous damage to the industry, and they have a responsibility to make that good." The Max was grounded worldwide after the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia killed a total of 346 people. The FAA has said there's no time frame to sign off on Boeing's proposed software fix for the jet, leaving airlines struggling to plan for an end to the disruption. While India's SpiceJet Ltd. predicts the plane may fly again in July, Emirates reckons it could be December and Singapore Airlines Ltd. says it's impossible to know. Boeing Tells Key Max Buyer That Jet Will Be Back in Air by July "We're definitely looking to restore confidence," Christy Reese, Boeing's vice president of Asia-Pacific commercial sales and marketing, said in an interview in Seoul. A spokesman for the Chicago-based planemaker said the company is focused on supporting customers "in every way possible to ensure complete confidence in the 737 MAX and a safe return to commercial flight." To compound Boeing's challenges, another problem emerged late Sunday. U.S. aviation regulators said airlines worldwide must inspect 312 of the 737 family of aircraft, including some of the grounded 737 Max, because they have wing components that are prone to cracking and must be repaired within 10 days. SpiceJet Chairman Singh talks about the Boeing 737 Max, and the airline's strategy. Even if the FAA agrees to Boeing's safety upgrade, the Max's reach would be limited if other authorities, especially in Europe and China, fail to clear the jet to fly, and Ed Bastian, chief executive officer at giant U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines Inc., led calls for coordinated regulatory action. Combined approval from officials across the globe affirming that the jet is safe would help restore bruised consumer confidence, Bastian told reporters. Deutsche Lufthansa AG CEO Carsten Spohr echoed the Delta boss's view. Not everyone is losing patience in Boeing. Panama's Copa Airlines, which has ordered more than 60 Max jets, said it has no plans to change its purchase. 'Confidence' "I have confidence in what they are going to do," CEO Pedro Heilbron said in an interview. "We've been talking for months. How it's been fixed, what's been changed. It's going to be fine." While different regulators are likely to sign off on the Max at different times, the plane will be back in service in a few months, he said. Whatever the decision by regulators, Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air said shattered public trust in the Max will take longer to restore. "That will be Boeing's role," Seok Joo Lee, the airline's CEO, said in an interview. Thai Airways International Pcl, which is weighing the Max against Airbus SE's rival A320neo for a fleet deal, echoed those concerns, with Sumeth Damrongchaitham, its outgoing president, saying Boeing will need to convince passengers of the 737's safety before carriers consider new purchases. "You cannot buy the aircraft and nobody wants to fly it," he said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-02/boeing-faces-doubtful-airline-chiefs-in-mission-to-restore-faith Back to Top Some Boeing Jet Parts Need Fixes: FAA In the latest setback for Boeing, the aircraft-maker has revealed that some parts for the 737NG and 737 Max were possibly improperly manufactured. In the latest setback for Boeing (BA - Get Report) , the aircraft-maker has revealed that some parts for the 737NG and 737 MAX were possibly improperly manufactured. The potential flaws were reported to the Federal Aviation Administration, which put out a notice on Sunday about the parts known as leading edge slat tracks. "Following an investigation conducted by Boeing and the FAA Certificate Management Office (CMO), we have determined that up to 148 parts manufactured by a Boeing sub-tier supplier are affected," said the FAA. Some 32 NG jets and 33 MAX jets were identified to have the problem in the U.S. and 133 NG and 179 MAX aircraft worldwide were believed to be affected. "The affected parts may be susceptible to premature failure or cracks resulting from the improper manufacturing process. Although a complete failure of a leading edge slat track would not result in the loss of the aircraft, a risk remains that a failed part could lead to aircraft damage in fight," said the FAA. The FAA said it will put out an "Airworthiness Directive" to call for service by Boeing and to "identify and remove the discrepant parts" from service within 10 days. Boeing has been hit hard since two 737 MAX jets were involved in fatal crashes in October and March over Indonesia and Ethiopia. Hundreds of passengers and crew were killed in the accidents. https://www.thestreet.com/markets/some-boeing-jets-parts-recalled-faa-14978424 Back to Top Incident: Portugalia E190 at Porto on Jun 2nd 2019, electrical problems A Portugalia Embraer ERJ-190 on behalf of TAP Portugal, registration CS-TPV performing flight TP-922 from Porto (Portugal) to Zurich (Switzerland) with 106 people on board, was climbing out of Porto when the crew stopped the climb at FL100 due to electrical problems. The aircraft entered a hold for a return to Porto, but ultimately needed to divert to Lisbon (Portugal) due to fog in Porto. The aircraft landed safely in Lisbon about 1:45 hours after departure. The rotation TP-922/TP-923 was cancelled. The passengers were rebooked onto other flights. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8b7c67&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Ryanair B738 near Madrid on Jun 2nd 2019, cracked windshield A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-FID performing flight FR-5473 from Marrakesh (Morocco) to Stuttgart (Germany), was enroute at FL360 about 220nm south of Madrid,SP (Spain) when the crew decided to divert to Madrid, SP (Spain), descended the aircraft to FL290 and landed safely on Madrid's runway 32L about 50 minutes later. Passengers reported the crew reported a cracked windshield. The airline reported a technical problem. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration EI-GJS reached Stuttgart with a delay of 3:20 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Madrid 13 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8b76d9&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: GoAir A20N near Aurangabad on Jun 2nd 2019, problems with oxygen supply A GoAir Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-WGS performing flight G8-586 from Patna to Mumbai (India) with 158 people on board, was enroute at FL380 about 130nm north of Aurangabad when the crew decided to divert to Aurangabad. The aircraft landed safely in Aurangabad about 40 minutes later. A passenger reported the crew announced problems with the oxygen supply as reason for the diversion. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Aurangabad due to a technical glitch. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8b72af&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Vietnam B789 near Hanoi on May 31st 2019, generator failure A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9, registration VN-A863 performing flight VN-37 (sched. dep May 30th, act. dep May 31st) from Hanoi (Vietnam) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), was climbing through FL300 when the crew received indication of a fault with the APU generator and decided to return to Hanoi. The aircraft dumped fuel and landed safely about 1:50 hours after departure. A replacement B787-9 registration VN-A867 reached Frankfurt with a delay of 9 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8ac7cc&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American A332 at Philadelphia on May 31st 2019, rejected takeoff due to bird strike An American Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration N288AY performing flight AA-740 from Philadelphia,PA (USA) to Madrid,SP (Spain), was accelerating for takeoff from Philadelphia's runway 27L when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed (about 60 knots over ground) reporting a small bird in the nose gear. No assistance was needed, the crew taxied the aircraft back to the apron. Tower continued to use runway 27L, no observations of debris on the runway were reported. A passenger reported they were told a nose wheel tyre had blown. The aircraft departed Philadelphia about 4 hours later and reached Madrid with a delay of 4:15 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8ac5fc&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: China Airlines A333 near Hong Kong on May 30th 2019, engine shut down in flight A China Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration B-18352 performing flight CI-922 from Hong Kong (China) to Taipei (Taiwan) with 243 people on board, was climbing through FL270 when the crew needed to shut the right hand engine (CF6) down. The aircraft descended to 11,000 feet, burned off fuel and landed safely back on Hong Kong's runway 07L about 90 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled. Passengers reported a loud boom occurred when the engine failed. They were subsequently rebooked onto another flight. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Hong Kong about 69 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8ac453&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: ANZ B789 near Auckland on May 31st 2019, lightning strike An ANZ Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9, registration ZK-NZJ performing flight NZ-42 from Auckland (New Zealand) to Papeete (French Polynesia), was enroute at FL370 about 220nm northeast of Auckland when the crew decided to return to Auckland as result of a lightning strike the aircraft had received earlier into the flight. The aircraft landed safely back in Auckland about 90 minutes after departure. The airline confirmed a lightning strike as cause for the return, lightning strikes are not that uncommon though and aircraft are designed to withstand lightning strikes. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Auckland about 35 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8ac168&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Avianca A332 near Tucuman on May 30th 2019, turbulence injures 9 people on board An Avianca Airbus A330-200, registration N968AV performing flight AV-965 (dep May 29th) from Lima (Peru) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza,BA (Argentina), was enroute at FL350 about 10nm north of Tucuman,TU (Argentina) when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing altitude deviations of up to +100 feet. Nine passengers received injuries, a doctor travelling as passenger provided first aid treating mainly whiplash, cuts, blows, a number of passengers vomitted. The aircraft continued to Buenos Aires for a landing without further incident about 70 minutes later. Paramedics treated the injured at Buenos Aires. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 16 hours, then positioned to Lima and resumed service after landing. Argentina's JIAAC opened an investigation into the occurrence. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8a1d31&opt=0 Back to Top Antonov An-32 - Missing (India) Date: 03-JUN-2019 Time: Type: Antonov An-32 Owner/operator: Indian Air Force (IAF) Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: / Occupants: 13 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Aircraft missing Location: between Jorhat and Mechuka - India Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Jorhat airpor, Assam Destination airport: Mechuka Narrative: An Indian military Antonov An-32 is missing. Search operations are being conducted. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/225769 Back to Top Boeing 737 Max Certification Focus of Far-Reaching NTSB Probe By Alan Levin • NTSB's work on 737 Max crashes goes beyond typical assistance • Probe could result in safety recommendations on certification The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a far-reaching review of how Boeing Co. certified the 737 Max system that has been involved in two crashes, going beyond the typical low-profile assistance they provide in foreign accident probes. The investigation, which is more extensive than has previously been reported, could result in safety recommendations that would have significant implications in the way aircraft are certified in the wake of the grounding of Boeing's best-selling jetliner after the crashes in Ethiopia in March and in Indonesia last October. "We're going to follow the facts wherever they lead," said NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss. "We've traveled. We've collected data. We've conducted interviews." NTSB investigators held multiple interviews with Boeing and Federal Aviation Administration officials earlier this year to gather information on how a flight-control system that was automatically driving down the nose on both planes, according to a person familiar with the probe who wasn't authorized to talk about it. The safety board has no regulatory power, but it can make non-binding recommendations if it finds that there were lapses in the approval process or there were other safety issues. Those recommendations have in the past led to congressional action or regulatory changes, and can have greater effect in high-profile cases such as the one involving the 737 Max. The model was grounded by the FAA on March 13, three days after the second fatal crash in less than five months. In both accidents, which killed a total of 346 people, a software add-on to the flight controls was automatically and repeatedly commanding the planes to dive as a result of a malfunction. Pilots were eventually overwhelmed by the system and the planes dove at high speeds, killing all aboard. The NTSB works on dozens of international investigations each year and normally performs its work in the background. By treaty, nations in which a plane crashes are in charge of the investigations and the safety board's role is to assist. But the agency has occasionally used foreign cases as a platform for recommendation letters to manufacturers and regulators. "Because the United States is the state of design and certification of the aircraft involved in these accidents, we are examining relevant factors in the U.S. design certification process to ensure any deficiencies are captured and addressed, including by NTSB safety recommendations, if necessary," NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said in written testimony before the House aviation subcommittee on May 15. Long Before Crash, Ethiopian Pilot Warned Bosses of Dangers He said the agency may end up issuing recommendations, something it has done a handful of times in foreign accident investigations. In March 2009, for example, the NTSB issued an urgent safety recommendation to the FAA seeking a redesign of a Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC engine on Boeing's 777 following a crash- landing in England a year earlier. Ice had formed in the engine's fuel system on Jan. 17, 2008, causing both power plants to lose thrust and the jetliner to land in a field short of a runway at Heathrow Airport. In spite of such previous cases, the NTSB's power to conduct investigations in foreign accidents isn't as clear as in domestic crashes, in which the agency has broad legal authority. Indeed, there has at times been tension in recent months between FAA and NTSB as the safety board explores the 737 Max, according to the person familiar with the probe. Boeing is working with the FAA, which regulates aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing, to update the plane's software and training requirements. The FAA must approve those fixes before agreeing to allow the plane to resume operations. In the wake of the grounding, numerous investigations and review panels were initiated. The U.S. Justice Department's Criminal Division has begun an inquiry and subpoenaed records on the plane. The Transportation Department's Inspector General, which is assisting in the criminal investigation, has begun a separate review of how the plane was certified. In addition, the DOT has a blue-ribbon panel examining certification and the FAA's use of Boeing employees to conduct some safety assessments. A panel known as the Joint Authorities Technical Review, made up of experts from nine other countries, is reviewing the 737 Max's certification. A Technical Advisory Board will also review Boeing's proposed fix before FAA gives its approval. "We continue to fully support the investigating authorities," Boeing spokesman Charles Bickers said. The NTSB's work assisting the Indonesian and Ethiopian authorities has been under a treaty known as Annex 13. In that agreement, the country in which an aircraft is designed and built has the authority to participate in an investigation. "This is consistent with our Annex 13 responsibilities," Weiss said of the NTSB work on the 737 Max. "If we find areas of interest or concern that could lead to safety improvements and recommendations, we have pursued those areas in past investigations." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-03/boeing-737-max-certification-focus-of-far-reaching-ntsb-probe Back to Top FAA: Some Boeing 737NG and MAX aircraft may have improperly manufactured leading edge slat tracks 3 June 2019 Boeing has informed the FAA that certain 737NG and 737MAX leading edge slat tracks may have been improperly manufactured and may not meet all applicable regulatory requirements for strength and durability. Following an investigation conducted by Boeing and the FAA Certificate Management Office (CMO), the FAA determined that up to 148 parts manufactured by a Boeing sub-tier supplier are affected. Boeing has identified groups of both 737NG and 737MAX airplane serial numbers on which these suspect parts may have been installed. 32 NG and 33 MAX are affected in the U.S. Affected worldwide fleet are 133 NG and 179 MAX aircraft. The affected parts may be susceptible to premature failure or cracks resulting from the improper manufacturing process. Although a complete failure of a leading edge slat track would not result in the loss of the aircraft, a risk remains that a failed part could lead to aircraft damage in flight, the FAA stated. The FAA will issue an Airworthiness Directive to mandate Boeing's service actions to identify and remove the discrepant parts from service. Operators of affected aircraft are required to perform this action within 10 days. The FAA today also alerted international civil aviation authorities of this condition and required actions. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2019/06/03/faa-some-boeing-737ng-and-max-aircraft-may-have-improperly-manufactured-leading-edge-slat-tracks/ Back to Top String of Accidents Highlight Myanmar's Air Safety Record A passenger records the scene as firefighters work after Myanmar National Airlines flight UB103 landed without a front wheel at Mandalay International Airport in Tada-U, Myanmar, May 12, 2019 YANGON, MYANMAR - Soe Moe Kyaw tried to keep his anxiety at bay as his malfunctioning plane burned off fuel to reduce weight for an emergency landing earlier this month. "Don't worry, don't worry," he had told a travel companion as the plane circled above Mandalay airport in Myanmar. Then the pilot announced that his several attempts to lower the landing gear at the plane's nose had failed; he was going to have to touch down without the front wheels. As they descended towards the runway, the passengers adopted brace positions and waited for a rough landing. The plane's nose scraped along the tarmac at high speed, but when the aircraft finally stopped everyone onboard was unharmed. "It was an amazing landing, smoother than a normal landing," Soe Moe Kyaw told VOA. Myanmar's fledgling aviation industry has seen a number of close calls recently. Just days before the 12 May Myanmar National Airlines accident, a Biman Bangladesh Airways flight came off the runway in bad weather at Yangon International Airport, injuring 20. FILE - People gather at the wreckage of a Air Bagan Fokker-100 passenger jet that crashed in Heho, Myanmar, Dec. 25, 2012. And a string of other accidents in recent years, including an Air Bagan crash in 2012 that killed two and injured 10, have threatened to damage passengers' faith in the industry's safety standards. Myanmar's aviation industry expanded rapidly after the start of sweeping economic reforms in 2010, but experts say authorities must tackle a lack of adequate infrastructure and skilled staff to ensure growth doesn't come at the cost of safety. "There will have to be a commitment to finance the training of personnel such as pilots, air traffic controllers and aircraft engineers to meet the demands of a booming industry," said Professor Alan Khee-Jin Tan, an aviation law and policy expert at the National University of Singapore. Despite the recent accidents, and the challenges posed by an underdeveloped economy, officials say it is unfair to brand Myanmar as unsafe for flying. Ye Htut Aung, deputy director general at Myanmar's Department for Civil Aviation, notes that the country scores just above the global average in a key safety ranking by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). "And within the Asia Pacific region, our safety ranking is plotted right in the middle among 38 countries," he added. Myanmar has an effective implementation score of 65.92 percent, while the global average is 65.51. The ranking, though, is only part of the picture. It does not directly reflect data on accidents, for example, but instead measures how closely civil aviation authorities comply with more than 12,000 safety measures. While an influx of new visitors to Myanmar in recent years saw airlines scramble to expand, things have since cooled off drastically, with several domestic airlines folding amid intense competition, an oversupply of seats and high fuel prices. Financial difficulties like this, says Tan, could lead to "struggling airlines cutting corners on maintenance regimes in order to save on costs, thus leading to a race to the bottom in terms of safety standards." But Ye Htut Aung insists the industry's recent woes have not impacted safety standards. "Is business bad in the airline industry? Yes, no doubt for the time being, but safety standards are above average." Soe Moe Kyaw said he doesn't expect anything in the way of compensation from Myanmar National Airlines after the accident as he knows they're struggling. "For me, for most of us [on the flight], we don't care about that because we have our lives. And the airline is not a rich airline." Myanmar National Airlines did not respond to emailed requests for comment. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines spokesperson told VOA he could not comment on the accident while an investigation was underway. The string of recent accidents could, given the right conditions, serve as a wake up call for aviation authorities that helps improve standards in the long term, said Tan. "Often, in the aftermath of an accident, public pressure on airlines and regulators shine a spotlight on unsafe practices. This could have positive longer-term results, even though the remedial steps taken must not be short-term fixes," he said. "They need to make systemic improvements so that airlines can regain the trust of the flying public." https://www.voanews.com/a/string-of-accidents-highlight-myanmar-s-air-safety-record/4940412.html Back to Top 10 years after the crash: How weather contributed to doomed Air France Flight 447's fate Family member mourns lost son - Air France Flight 447 - AP Photo Nelson Marinho holds a photo of his son Nelson Marinho, seen with his family, a passenger on Air France flight 447 that was reported missing on its way from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, Wednesday, June 3, 2009. Brazil's military found a 3-mile (5-kilometer) path of wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean, confirming that the jet carrying 228 people crashed in the sea, according to Defense Minister Nelson Jobim. (AP Photo/Patricia Santos) On May 31, 2009, Air France Flight 447 took to the skies at 7:29 p.m., Brazilian Standard Time, from Rio de Janeiro Galeγo Airport with 216 passengers and 12 flight and cabin crew members on board. The scheduled flight was due to fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport after just over 11 hours in the air, crossing the equator, which separates southern and northern portions of the Atlantic Ocean. Three experienced pilots were on board: Captain Marc Dubois, a 58-year-old Air France veteran who had flown with the airline since 1988 and had more than 10,900 flying hours under his belt; 32-year-old first officer and co-pilot Pierre-Cθdric Bonin, approaching his sixth year with the airline; and 37-year-old first officer and co-pilot David Robert, who had flown over 4,400 hours on Airbus 330 aircraft. The flight started off as fairly routine, according to Captain Shem Malmquist, an accident investigator, visiting professor at the Florida Institute of Technology's College of Aeronautics and co-author of "Angle of Attack: Air France 447 and the Future of Aviation Safety." "Across the equator is a band called Intertropical Convergence Zone, where the air from the southern and northern hemispheres converge," Malmquist told AccuWeather. "Where that happens is essentially a continual band of low pressure, which makes it very easy for thunderstorms to grow, so there's always weather along that route in various areas." Severe thunderstorms were reported in the area where the aircraft flew; however, no crews flying a similar route in the same time period reported any unusually severe weather, according to AirSafe.com. The captain and one of the first officers were initially at the front of the plane at the aircraft's departure from Rio. Captain Dubois eventually took time to rest. "Departing in the fairly early evening, no one is really going to be tired enough to sleep right away. So, the captain did what is very typical and chose the middle rest period." The in-flight weather radar showed nothing out of the ordinary prior to his retreat. The two pilots in the cockpit eventually noticed a bit of weather occurring in the path ahead, Malmquist said. "They did turn the radar gain up, which allows them to pick up more of the frozen particulate, because aircraft in-flight weather radars usually are not very good at picking up anything other than wet water," Malmquist said. Air France A330 The pilots then took the plane on a slight turn when they began experiencing what sounded like hail falling. It turns out that they'd lost all three air speed indicators while flying in high, thin air at 35,000 feet. "Coupled with the loss of air speed indicators, it also led to altimeter errors and a few other things, like the loss of the autopilot," Malmquist said. Records showed no distress or emergency signals sent from the crew, though the plane itself sent several automatically generated maintenance messages back to Air France, according to AirSafe.com. At this point, the crew struggled to keep the wings level, according to Malmquist. During their attempts, the aircraft's nose slowly crept upward, entering the plane into an aerodynamic stall. "One of the problems is we really don't train pilots on how to recognize or what an aerodynamic stall looks like, especially in a big airplane at high altitude," Malmquist said, adding that pilots tend to equate what they've experienced in smaller airplanes or in simulators with what a stall should be. The pilots tried to call Captain Dubois back to the cockpit just after the stall occurred; he returned about 90 seconds into it. Unfortunately, said Malmquist, the three of them ran out of time to sort out the problem. "If [the captain had] been up front in the first place, it probably wouldn't have happened," he said. Debris recovered from Air France Flight 447 Members of the Brazil's Navy recover debris from Air France Flight 447 in the Atlantic Ocean. (Brazil Air Force) Weather's role Malmquist noted that something not commonly taught to pilots is that storms over the ocean in tropical regions, particularly those that happen at night, tend to "rain out" by about 20,000 feet, which means that liquid water lies below this point, while everything above it is frozen. "It slowly percolates up and re-energizes at about 30,000 feet. In that process, they create these high-altitude ice crystals," Malmquist said. The pilots on the doomed Flight 447 encountered an area of such crystals, and they weren't scanning low enough in the air to see that they were entering a convective area. "They were looking up too high and setting the radar tilt where you would if you were trying to avoid a storm over Kansas, and it just doesn't work over those oceanic areas," Malmquist told AccuWeather. Encountering these ice crystals overwhelmed and obstructed the pitot tubes, which are devices that measure air speed as well as the impact pressure of air. This led to the loss of the plane's air speed, disconnection of some of the plane's automatic systems and the pilots receiving incorrect speed indications. "In this case, the high-altitude ice crystal phenomena were really just not well-known," Malmquist said. The time between the aircraft stalling to the time that it violently crashed into the sea on June 1, 2009, was just three minutes. All 228 souls on board perished, forever altering the lives of the families they left behind. Along with some bodies of the passengers, several pieces of the wreckage and debris - but not all - were recovered in the days, weeks, months and years following the accident. An investigation from the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA), an agency of the French government, found that the plane was largely intact when it hit the water's surface, with no oxygen masks released or life jackets out of their containers. Air France Flight 447 wreckage found - AP Photo Workers unload debris belonging to crashed Air France Flight 447 from the Brazilian Navy's Constitution Frigate in the port of Recife, northeast of Brazil, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) In addition to the blocking of the pitot tubes by ice crystals, the BEA attributed the crash's cause to factors including the crew's failure to make the connection between the loss of indicated air speeds and the appropriate procedure necessary to save the plane; the crew not identifying the approach to stall; and the crew's failure to diagnose the stall situation, which led to a lack of actions that would have made the plane's recovery possible, according to the final crash investigation report. Changes since the crash "I don't think the aspect of understanding or interpreting the weather was really realized during the initial investigation. It was focused really on how the pilots responded to it," Malmquist said. "I'd say pretty much nothing has happened in terms of improving pilot training for weather avoidance, unfortunately." However, stall training has seen some changes and improvements since the deadly Air France Flight 447 crash a decade ago. "Just introduced [in 2019] was expanded envelope training, and simulators had to be reprogrammed to better replicate the effects of stalls at altitude," Malmquist said. It's not perfect, he added, because its limitations mean that due to the amount of force and the way a stall actually feels in a large airplane at altitude, if a pilot were to replicate the stall on a simulator, it could actually break the simulators." "They're just not made for that kind of force and vibration," he said. Adding to the issues with stalls is that pilots generally don't recognize them if they're not anticipating them. "This is an ongoing issue that when they're not anticipating them, they tend to discount it," Malmquist said. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/10-years-after-the-crash-how-weather-contributed-to-doomed-air-france-flight-447s-fate/70008418 Back to Top The world's largest airplane may be grounded after a single flight Company denies report, says Stratolaunch remains "operational." The aerospace company founded by Paul Allen, Stratolaunch, is closing operations according to a report by Reuters that cited anonymous sources. The company will cease its efforts to challenge traditional aerospace companies in a new "space race," four people familiar with the matter told the wire service. In response to a query from Ars about potentially ending operations, a spokeswoman for the Seattle-based company replied, "We don't have any news or announcements to share at this time. Stratolaunch remains operational." Questions about the future of Stratolaunch arose almost immediately after Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft, died in October, 2018, at the age of 65. According to Reuters, the decision to set an exit strategy was made late last year by Allen's sister, Jody Allen. In January, Stratolaunch abandoned efforts to build a series of rockets to be launched from its large carrier plane-an ominous sign. This cast a pall over the plane's first flight. With a 384-foot wingspan, this largest aircraft in the world took flight in April after eight years of development. "All of you have been very patient and very tolerant over the years waiting for us to get this big bird off the ground, and we finally did it," Stratolaunch CEO Jean Floyd told reporters at the time. The company reported the airplane reached speeds of 189mph and heights of 17,000 feet during its 150-minute test flight before landing safely at the Mojave Air and Space Port. But it has not flown since. Throughout the development of the large Stratolaunch airplane-Allen founded the company in 2011, spurred by childhood dreams of spaceflight and a desire to lower the cost of access to space-it has not been clear why such a large aircraft was needed to launch relatively small rockets. Stratolaunch had been contracted to launch the Pegasus rocket, developed by Northrop Grumman, which has a capacity of about 450kg to low-Earth orbit. A competitor, Virgin Orbit, is much closer to market with its air launch system. The company uses a modified 747 aircraft named Cosmic Girl, and it's expected to begin commercial service with its LauncherOne rocket later this year. This rocket has a capacity of about 500kg to low-Earth orbit. It now seems as though the Stratolaunch aircraft may really be the second coming of the Spruce Goose aircraft. This noted airplane, built in 1947 as a vanity project of the eccentric business magnate Howard Hughes, flew just a single one-mile flight at an altitude of less than 100 feet before going on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in Oregon. It had a wingspan of 320 feet. https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/the-worlds-largest-aircraft-may-never-launch-rockets-nor-even-fly-again/ Back to Top Improving safety must be top priority for African aviation - expert Improving safety should be the top priority for the aviation industry in Africa to address, according to Muhammad Ali Albakri, regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East of the International Air Transport Association (Iata). "Sadly, Africa suffered the loss of an Ethiopian Airlines plane earlier this year after having had zero jet hull losses and zero fatal accidents for a third consecutive year in 2018," he said on Saturday during a media briefing ahead of the start of the 75th annual general meeting of Iata taking place in Seoul, South Korea. He emphasised the need for more countries in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) to meet the global standards for aviation safety. Currently only 26 countries in SSA comply with this. That is why Iata continues to work with the aviation industry on the continent to enhance and complement the safety oversight role played by individual states. "Aviation creates about 6.2 million jobs in Africa and there are more opportunities in the industry going forward," said Albakri. "The demand for air travel by people in all the major hubs in Africa is expected to grow. If open skies and free movement over borders in Africa can be established, the current number of air travellers could even be tripled". That is why he sees the second biggest priority for SSA aviation as having to be that of building increased connectivity. "In Africa connectivity is a big problem. Distances that should take a few hours can take days simply because the connectivity does not exist," explained Albakri. "This inefficiency has an economic cost. The low density of the African intra-continental network makes it impossible to realise the potential benefits of a connected African economy". Despite 28 African states already having declared their support for the African Union Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) project, practical steps are needed to implement it properly. This has to be a bilateral process, according to Albakri. "We continue to work with our members to find practical ways to move forward. There is huge potential, but we cannot underestimate the difficulty this open skies project faces in Africa," he added. "All the studies that led to the introduction of SAATM shows the states believe it in the benefit open skies and connectivity would bring and they signed up in good faith. Hard work is now needed to implement those agreements". Iata will continue to work with regulators and governments to make sure they can address the prerequisites for the implementation of SAATM. https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Industrial/improving-safety-must-be-top-priority-for-african-aviation-expert-20190601 Back to Top Russia's Aeroflot Scales Back Superjet Flights Following Fatal Crash Russian airline Aeroflot has scaled back the number of Sukhoi Superjet 100 flights it operates after one of its planes made a crash-landing last month, killing 41 people, according to data provided by a flight tracking website. Flightradar24 data shows Aeroflot has also at times substituted Airbus or Boeing planes for the Superjet, the first new passenger jet developed in Russia since the Soviet Union collapsed. Fallout from the crash risks undermining the aircraft's reputation at a time when Russia is promoting another domestically made passenger plane, the M-21, as a rival to Boeing and Airbus. Aeroflot and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, the Superjet's maker, declined to comment on the data or on the use of other aircraft instead of the Russian plane. Both the airline, Russia's national flag carrier, and the manufacturer have said in the past that the aircraft meets all relevant international safety standards and will continue to be made and used. The cause of the May 5 crash, the second deadly accident involving the Superjet in nine years of service, has not yet been established. Russian authorities said afterward there was no reason to ground the Superjet. Yet Aeroflot flew 129 - or about 7 percent - fewer Superjet flights in the two weeks after the crash than in the previous fortnight, the Flightradar24 data showed. In one case, frightened passengers on a Sukhoi refused to continue their journey after an aborted take-off, forcing Aeroflot to lay on an Airbus instead, an airline industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said, a version of events corroborated separately by Russia's RIA news agency. Aeroflot after the crash began paying extra attention to safety checks and to scale back the Superjet's usage to try to reassure passengers, the same source said. More than 213,000 people have signed a petition demanding the plane be grounded since May 5. "Who needs it?" Some Russian and foreign operators have complained about the difficulty of servicing the Superjet due to delays in sourcing spare parts. Irish airline CityJet and Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines turned their back on the Superjet citing those reasons. State officials and airline executives say the airliner spends about half its time on the ground undergoing maintenance, and can fly only about a third as much as foreign-made rivals in a 24-hour period when in use. They blame a lack of readily available spare parts and the complexity of servicing its engines. Vitaly Savelyev, Aeroflot's CEO, told the state-run TASS news agency in 2017 that his company, which is majority-owned by the Russian state, might not have bought the Superjet at all if it was a private company. Aeroflot, which has promised to buy a further 100 Superjets on top of the 49 it has already, is in a difficult situation because of the project's political importance for Russia. There are signs however that even some allies of President Vladimir Putin are growing weary of the aircraft. Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the upper house of parliament, in November publicly rebuked the transport minister over the large sums she said had been pumped into the Superjet in vain. Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta estimated in 2012 that $7 billion had been spent on the project, while Sukhoi has put the figure at $2 billion. "Who needs it?... It's not good for anything," said Matviyenko. "Aeroflot says we bought them and they sit on the ground. Nobody abroad is buying them... What have we achieved?" Mexican low-cost carrier Interjet, citing maintenance and parts problems, told Mexican daily newspaper El Universal just over a week after the crash that it was trying to sell its 20 Superjets and favored Airbus 320s instead. Regional carrier Yamal Airlines, Russia's second-biggest Superjet operator after Aeroflot, said a day after the crash that it was canceling its planned purchase of 10 of the planes. It cited high servicing costs. And RusLine, another regional carrier, told Kommersant it was scrapping provisional plans to obtain 18 Superjets as part of a leasing deal. The paper cited RusLine's owner Nikolai Ulan as saying he thought the plane was safe but that passengers would be afraid to fly on it, making it harder for him to break even. RusLine did not respond to a request for comment. Passenger fears The Superjet, which entered service in 2011, is predominantly operated inside Russia by regional airlines, corporations and government entities. Sukhoi had hoped to sell hundreds, but slack demand means only 138 of the planes are in use. On the Moscow-Murmansk route, the one taken by the plane involved in the fatal crash, Aeroflot replaced the Superjet with either Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s in the five days after the accident, a practice it partially continued the week after. This was done in direct response to the crash in order to try to calm passenger fears, the same airline source said. There has been a spate of safety-related incidents and cancellations since May 5. In one case, a Superjet flight from Moscow to Riga was held up after passengers noticed a burning smell and demanded a new plane. Engineers found nothing wrong, one of the passengers told state TV. In another, on May 18, passengers on a Moscow-bound flight from the city of Ulyanovsk took fright after their Superjet aborted take-off because of a warning about the hydraulic system. "Passengers were told that the flight was being delayed for technical reasons. Of course, after the catastrophe, they started to panic and refused to fly on the same plane. The psychological factor came into play," the airline source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters. Aeroflot flew the passengers to Moscow the next day on an Airbus A320 and engineers found nothing wrong with the Superjet involved in that incident either, the transport prosecutor's office said. Yevgeny Dietrich, Russia's transport minister, said the situation was not "radically changed" from the pre-crash period. "In fact, delays and cancellations occurred previously. You simply wrote about them less," Dietrich told reporters. His statement and the crash have highlighted the fact that many Superjets do not fly very often. Flightradar24 data shows that 37 of 127 Superjets in commercial use globally did not make a single flight from April 22 until May 19, and that 45 did not make more than 10 flights during that period. That tallies with expert reports, which have said foreign-made planes in Russia average nine hours flying time in every 24-hour period compared to between just three and four hours for the Superjet. The same industry source said only about 50% of Aeroflot's Superjets flew regularly and that Superjet pilots, who are paid for completed flights, had their salaries topped up to compensate for time spent on the ground. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/06/03/russias-aeroflot-scales-back-superjet-flights-following-fatal-crash-a65850 Back to Top KCC dual credit aviation courses prepare high school students for flight Fifteen-year-old Ceasar Rodriguez said it wasn't until his family moved to Central Oregon that he contemplated whether flying could be in his future. Rodriguez moved with his family from San Jose, Calif., to Sisters about three years ago. "We didn't have [aviation] classes there," he said. "When I was setting up my classes for ninth grade, one of the things I saw was intro to aviation. I thought that could be fun so I took it. It was one of the most fun classes I've taken since I've been here." Rodriguez, now a sophomore at Sisters High School, is currently enrolled in private pilot preparation, a yearlong course taught by instructor Sheryl Yeager, who has more than 25 years of experience as a flight instructor. The aviation courses at Sisters High School are offered as dual credit college-level courses through Klamath Community College. According to Yeager, Sisters High School is the only high school in the U.S. that has all the components her aviation students have access to. She explained that in addition to in-class activities that teach students the nuts and bolts of navigating the skies, students can log flight hours using a Federal Aviation Administration-certified flight simulator, and thanks to a partnership with Outlaw Aviation, the students can log flight time in the pilot seat, as well. "We have kids that have moved here from Hawaii to be part of this program. We have one student who has driven from Bend to Sisters every day to take this course," Yeager said. "He'll have his private license before he graduates high school, as well." Yeager explained that earning a private pilot license does not mean license holders can go straight into the workforce, but it does prepare students to enroll in an advanced aviation program, such as the program at Klamath Community College. She said for students who pass private pilot preparation and earn a pilot's license, the sky's the limit. "If they go to any college that has a flight program, they are going in with a private license, which will cut back a lot of the cost and time to complete a degree," Yeager said. Preparing for flight Yeager said her aviation courses are open to high school students of all ages; the only requirement is that students who want to pursue a private pilot license must first pass intro to aviation, where they study a host of subjects ranging from basic aviation history to aerodynamics. "There's a lot to learn that you wouldn't even begin to imagine," Yeager said. "There are no road signs in the sky. You can't just pull over to the side of the road if you have a problem, but it's a heck of a lot more fun than driving." Earning a private pilot license takes three steps: passing a 60-question written test and logging at least 40 hours of flight time; completing an oral exam; then, passing a "check ride" while flying. To prepare for the flight portion of the certification, students enrolled in Yeager's private pilot course must practice cross-country flight planning. The exercise consists of completely planning a flight using old-school tools, such as a paper map and a paper flight computer. "There's a lot to it," Yeager explained, noting that students must account for everything - weather, wind, weight, balance of their airplane, and much more. "They get really frustrated with me because in today's world, a computer or phone will figure it all out in three seconds," Yeager said. "The exercise starts out with them 'in the pilot seat' and they have to figure out which way to go when they take off, what to do when the wind starts blowing them off course, and what landmarks they will use to stay on track. "We had someone flying a cross-country trip before she had her private license - she had two iPads to work with - and all of the sudden the GPS was gone. She called the Seattle center and was told all the GPS on the West Coast was out," Yeager said. "They need to know this stuff." Flying into the future Yeager said many of her students are already flying and have plans to become professional pilots. "One of my students loves fly fishing and wants to be a guide in Alaska with his own float plane, flying a commercial business guiding people," she said. Seventeen-year-old George Chladek said he fell in love with flying a few years ago when a neighbor took him flying in a Beechcraft Musketeer. Now, he has logged more than 35 flight hours, including 10 solo hours. "I really like flying, and it's a really good career," Chladek said, who plans to work as a flight instructor to earn hours to put toward a commercial pilot license. "I would definitely take the class if you're interested in aviation, even if you don't want to be a pilot. You learn a lot about it," he added. Rodriguez said he's thinking about a career in nursing, but values the challenges aviation presents in the classroom. To other students considering aviation courses, even if they don't yet know their final destination, Rodriquez advises: "I say take the class. It could help you in the long run, in any career you have to use complex ideas." https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/kcc-dual-credit-aviation-courses-prepare-high-school-students-for/article_1722edf5-e8da-5d89-832a-6618350b9723.html Back to Top Bering Air donates airplane to UAF student mechanics program FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) - An Alaska commuter airline has donated an aircraft for training student mechanics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Bering Air Inc. donated a 1978 King Air 200 to UAF's Community and Technical College. Associate professor Kevin Alexander says it's the first large commercial aircraft donation since the facility received a FedEx 727 jet in 2013. Alexander says it's much smaller than the jet but large for an aircraft serving rural Alaska. He says the King Air 200 will be a huge improvement over equipment the program now has. The airplane has logged 22,840 flight hours and more than 6 million miles (9.7 million kilometers) flown. Bering Air officials say the airplane completed thousands of medevac flights, charter flights and flights to Russia. https://www.ktva.com/story/40578554/bering-air-donates-airplane-to-uaf-student-mechanics-program Back to Top International Women Pilots meet in the Middle East The Ninety-Nines, Inc. Arabian Section meeting April 28 to May 2. Provided by Linda Mae Hivert The Ninety-Nines, Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots gathered in Jordan from April 28 to May 2 hosted by the Arabian Section. Women pilots representing 23 countries enjoyed the beauty and wonders of the country of Jordan and the Arabian Desert. On our pre-conference day, several of us were invited for lunch with Alia Twal, our local organizer, and her family. We were treated to a full table of fresh vegetables: peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and such. The main dish was a type of couscous and a lamb shank, which we ate with our bare hands by scooping up the grain with a piece of the meat inside. The first official day began with a short bus ride to the Dead Sea, which is 1,300 feet below sea level. We checked into a glamorous resort hotel and proceeded to the Dead Sea shore, where we swam, or tried to, because it was so saline and could only float. We smeared ourselves with the dark Dead Sea mud, which is so good for the skin. That night at the opening ceremonies, we opened the gift boxes of "complimentary treasures." An auction of local clothing, 99s jewelry, aerobatic rides and a couple of special cell phones completed the evening with all the proceeds going to a local charity. The morning drive to Petra gave us a great view of the relatively mountainous interior. We enjoyed a lovely lunch and continued on the hiking tour of Petra, which has been chosen as one of the seven wonders of the world. The fascinating three-hour hike along the Siq, or narrow gorge, lined with ancient carvings features the famous Treasury that was carved out of the face of the rose-red clay cliff and is more than three stories high. Fascinating carvings and tombs depict three types of architecture: Roman, Greek and Egyptian. The ancient city was lost for 300 years and discovered again in 1812. The evening drive ended at the "Wadi Rum" desert camp, where "Lawrence of Arabia" was filmed. We slept in clay huts and, in the morning, hiked to the top of the adjacent cliffs with a spectacular view of the camp and the Arabian desert. Later, the real treat for us pilots was a ride in a gyrocopter with a more extensive desert panorama. The abandoned Chinese Antonov aircraft in the camp was of special interest. On our way to the next site, we stopped for a "great Arab revolution train ride." With guards dressed in middle-1800s garb, the ancient train puffed along with a passenger clientele of 2019-era women pilots. All of a sudden out of the desert came a band of Arabs toward the train riding horses and camels with bombs, skyrockets and guns going off. Dressed in the traditional Arab robes, they boarded the train and took a couple of our members hostage in their ancient ground vehicle. Everyone was herded off the train and marched to the Arab castle where we were served tea and cookies and serenaded with bagpipes and drums. After such a day, we were glad to get to our hotel rooms in Aquaba on the Red Sea that evening. The next morning was off to the beach resort where some went diving, some snorkeling and some swimming in the Red Sea. That afternoon, a sailboat ride offered a great view of the other resorts in the area. After a quick cleanup and change into formal evening wear at our hotel, we were off to the closing ceremonies at the hangar of the Royal Jordanian Falcons, national aerobatic team. We entertained our sponsors, met the team, presented the awards and took lots of photos in our evening regalia. It was quite the evening for us 99s and we enjoyed little bites while viewing the Extra 300 aircraft that the team flies. The following day, it was another beautiful resort and boat ride around the bay of Aquaba, where we were treated to an exclusive Royal Jordanian Falcons aerobatic program just for us. As a life member of the 99s, this was one of the most memorable experiences ever. I don't come as much for the sights as for the experiences and the people, 99s. Although the events and venues were fabulous, the real enjoyment comes from the camaraderie and friendships that evolve from these types of gatherings. This helps to make the world smaller and easier to respect each other and understand that we all have basically the same wants and needs for a comfortable life. These women pilots from Jordan, Sudan, Spain, Germany, Tunisia, Canada, Belgium, to name only a few, are my friends. Many are captains, co-pilots, aeronautical engineers, mechanics, and some fly helicopters or general aviation aircraft. But we all have one thing in common: "the love of flight." https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/carson-city/international-women-pilots-meet-in-the-middle-east/ Back to Top Meet the first private companies that NASA has selected to deliver stuff and things to the Moon The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has selected Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Orbit Beyond as the first three private companies to deliver science and technology payloads under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) as part of its Artemis program. In an announcement yesterday, the administration said that each lander will carry NASA-provided payloads to conduct science investigations and demonstrate technologies on the lunar surface to pave the way for NASA astronauts lunar return in 2024. In all NASA will dole out up to $253 million in contracts to the three companies for their respective missions. "Our selection of these U.S. commercial landing service providers represents America's return to the Moon's surface for the first time in decades, and it's a huge step forward for our Artemis lunar exploration plans," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "Next year, our initial science and technology research will be on the lunar surface, which will help support sending the first woman and the next man to the Moon in five years. Investing in these commercial landing services also is another strong step to build a commercial space economy beyond low-Earth orbit." As part of the submissions, each company proposed flying specific instruments including gear to predict lander positions; measure lunar radiation; assess lander impact on the Moon; and assist with navigation. It's not only a win for NASA, and the companies, but another feather in the cap for XPRIZE - given that Astrobotic was initially spun out of Carnegie Mellon University to compete for the Google Lunar XPRIZE (GLXP) in 2007. The Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic, which is backed by the Space Angels Network, was awarded $79.5 million to fly up to 14 payloads to Lacus Mortis, a large crater on the near side of the moon by July 2021. Intuitive Machines, out of Houston, received $77 million to fly five payloads to Oceanus Procellarum, a dark spot on the moon in the same timeframe. While Edison, N.J.-based Orbit Beyond is flying four payloads to the lunar lavea plain of Mare Imbrium, in one of the Moon's many craters by September 2020. "These landers are just the beginning of exciting commercial partnerships that will bring us closer to solving the many scientific mysteries of our Moon, our solar system, and beyond," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in a statement. "What we learn will not only change our view of the universe, but also prepare our human missions to the Moon and eventually Mars." NASA's partners have agreed to provide end-to-end commercial payload delivery services including: payload integration and operations, and launch and landing. These first steps from NASA pave the way for not only the Administration's lunar efforts, but also its eventual intentions to spacecraft and astronauts on Mars. "This announcement starts a significant step in NASA's collaboration with our commercial partners," said Chris Culbert, CLPS program manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center, in a statement from Houston. "NASA is committed to working with industry to enable the next round of lunar exploration. The companies we have selected represent a diverse community of exciting small American companies, each with their own unique, innovative approach to getting to the Moon. We look forward to working with them to have our payloads delivered and opening the door for returning humans to the Moon." https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/01/meet-the-first-private-companies-that-nasa-has-selected-to-deliver-payloads-to-the-moon/ Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study to develop a trust in air traffic controllers scale. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be a resident of the United States, at least 18 years old, and a certified pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://forms.gle/DmMB9fXSupVa5oTGA For more information, please contact: Brad Baugh, Ph.D. in Aviation Student baughfd0@my.erau.edu Back to Top Back to Top Investigator/Senior Investigator, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Date: May 16, 2019 Location: Ft Worth, TX, US Req ID: 29714 Location: Flight Training Academy (DFW-FTRN) Additional Locations: None Requisition ID: 29714 Overview Join us for a career with endless possibilities. Looking for a job where a passion for innovation, a culture of teamwork, and opportunities for growth are valued and rewarded? You've come to the right place. You don't have to be an airline aficionado to join American Airlines. It takes more than cool planes to keep us ahead of the curve, and thanks to our team of behind the scenes professionals, we do just that. As the largest airline in the world, American Airlines is in the business of serving the global travel needs of our customers. At the core of the Company is our commitment to each customer and each employee. We are dedicated to developing and delivering what our customers value and are willing to pay for. Customer-centric planning, innovative marketing, and an exceptional customer experience are supported by a cadre of talented people. What does it take to join us? We're glad you asked! We expect exceptional skills in your discipline and a dedication to being the best as we relentlessly pursue our goal of being not just the largest airline in the world, but also the best airline in the world. Fortunately, we're building on almost a century of innovation and firsts in our industry - and we plan to continue that tradition of excellence. About this job This job is a member of the Investigating team within the Integrated Operations Division. This position will be responsible for providing analysis of operational flight data as well as producing reports and presentations for the Flight Operation Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program. Specifically, you'll do the following: • Conducts daily work flow processes for the FOQA program • Assesses events and trends, identifies operational hazards, and validates corrective actions • Develops new data analysis products and methodologies for data mining • Coordinates with the Flight Department for data analysis needs • Coordinates regularly with Allied Pilot Association (APA) FOQA gatekeepers • Coordinates with Tech Ops Department regarding support of the FOQA program About the Job (Continued) • Creates flight animations of actual events for use in operational departments • Assists with accident and incident investigations • Participates in FOQA Monitoring Team meetings • Participates and contributes to the American Airlines SMS process • Develops, prepares and presents analysis of flight data • Represents American Airlines at industry FOQA related meetings Qualifications Required Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience/training • 3 years related job experience • Experience working with data mining tools such as Tableau, Business Objects, Access, etc. • Experience performing data analysis and building various related reports in MS Office products • Knowledge of aeronautical theory and aviation operations as applied to commercial aircraft • Proficient using MS Office software • Must fulfill background checks to qualify for unescorted access privileges to airport security identification display areas (SIDA), if applicable • Must be able to secure appropriate airport authority and/or US Customs security badges, if applicable • Must be able to handle multiple projects with changing deadlines Qualifications (Continued) Preferred Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Mathematics, Engineering, or Statistics • Basic Programming knowledge/experience • Master's degree in related field • Previous experience within a FOQA program • Familiarity with GE Aviation flight data software (previously Austin Digital) • Experience using CEFA animation software • Private pilot license or higher • Experience at an air carrier APPLY NOW Back to Top JOB TITLE: SAFETY SPECIALIST REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR OF SAFETY Summary: The Safety Specialist will assist the Director of Safety in managing all aspects of occupational health and safety. This will require working with all levels of Field Crew personnel as well as Management and Customers. Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: • Plans, develops, implements, and monitors effectiveness of safety promotional and educational campaigns. • Conduct site audits, vehicle inspections, equipment inspections, and work with company leadership to help address any deficiencies. • Determines organizational safety problems through performance of incident/accident root cause analysis. • Design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous work conditions. • Investigate incident and accidents to identify root causes and assist with resolving action items. • Finds creative modification to cultures or mind sets to improve safety performance. • Foster discussion and feedback from site operational teams on possible new safety programs or initiatives. • Keep appraised of new rules, regulations, special bulleting and emergency orders that affect company operations. Assist in interpreting and applying the changes efficiently. • Assist in designing programs to control, eliminate and prevent accident/incidents. • Assist to facilitate the coordination and delivery of safety meetings, safety tours, and safety trainings. • Any other duties as assigned. Qualification Requirements • Safety degree, certification or related technical undergraduate degree preferred. • 5+ Years of experience in construction industry safety and occupational safety and health arena preferred. • Construction safety background within the bulk power/electric power transmission industry is required. • Prior exposure to rotary-wing aviation or aviation background is preferred. Skills: Employee should posses the following skills in order to perform the duties of this job efficiently. • Oral and Written Communication Skills • Reading Skills • Technical Communication • Customer Service • Diplomacy • Professionalism • Strong Organization • Time Management • Computer Proficiency • Math Aptitude • Ability to adapt to changing priorities • Team Player Apply to: jboog@haverfield.com Back to Top Senior Manager, Advanced Qualification Program Location:Ft Worth, TX, US Location: Flight Training Academy (DFW-FTRN) Additional Locations: None Requisition ID: 29419 Overview Join us for a career with endless possibilities. Looking for a job where a passion for innovation, a culture of teamwork, and opportunities for growth are valued and rewarded? You've come to the right place. You don't have to be an airline aficionado to join American Airlines. It takes more than cool planes to keep us ahead of the curve, and thanks to our team of behind the scenes professionals, we do just that. As the largest airline in the world, American Airlines is in the business of serving the global travel needs of our customers. At the core of the Company is our commitment to each customer and each employee. We are dedicated to developing and delivering what our customers value and are willing to pay for. Customer-centric planning, innovative marketing, and an exceptional customer experience are supported by a cadre of talented people. What does it take to join us? We're glad you asked! We expect exceptional skills in your discipline and a dedication to being the best as we relentlessly pursue our goal of being not just the largest airline in the world, but also the best airline in the world. Fortunately, we're building on almost a century of innovation and firsts in our industry - and we plan to continue that tradition of excellence. About The Job Responsible to the Director, Standards, to assist in achieving the objective of providing a corps of proficient pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers, instructors/evaluators, and assist with department support programs which ensure a safe and efficient flying operation. The Senior Manager, AQP will coordinate application, update and continual improvement of the Advanced Qualification Program, and ensure regular updates to all American Airlines pilot training curricula, as required. Specifically, you'll do the following: • Coordinate the development and standardization of all flight training curriculum including Distance Learning • Subject Matter Expert for all training curriculum • Oversee content, currency and standardization of training curriculum and documents • Coordinate revisions of training curriculum and documents • Oversee flight training data collection, analysis and reporting; monitor for trends and/or anomalies • Provide leadership for AQP development • Develop and manage the ISD process mechanisms • Communicate program objectives, goals, and accomplishments to management and check airmen • Supervise development of software requirements/specifications for database/program changes related to flight training • Primary contact with FAA for AQP document approval About The Job (Continued) • Primary contact with FAA and other external organizations for training development issues • Ensure compliance with FAA, Department of Defense, One World Alliance, and IATA Operational Safety Audits (IOSA) and other training requirements • Participate in safety risk management processes within Flight Operations and Flight Training and Standards that support the principles of Safety Management System (SMS) described in FAA Advisory Circular 120-92 (as amended) and the company Operations Policy Manual • Oversee Instructor/Evaluator Standards Program • Interface with Training Planning and Scheduling to coordinate and approve TMS master-plan changes • Verify policy and procedure compliance and communicate to Instructors/Evaluators • Co-chair Operations Data Analysis Working Group (ODAWG) Qualifications Required Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience/training • 5 years related job experience • Experience in data analysis & statistical methods such as regression modeling, forecasting, and process control • Experience with document publishing, including document creation, distribution, and management • Experience with Instructional System Design (ISD) processes • Experience with project management • Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize, organize, and multi-task in a dynamic work environment • Expert level expertise with Microsoft Office (emphasis on Word, Excel & PowerPoint) • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Access • Flexibility with work schedule and excellent attendance record • Ability to multi-task Qualifications (Continued) Preferred Qualifications • 5 years of aviation training or safety experience in FAR Part 121 or 135 operations, military operations, or equivalent experience • Development experience with software such as Cognos, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI • Demonstrated database management skills • Ability to demonstrate proficiency with Adobe Framemaker • Experience with document publishing, including document creation and distribution • Experience with regulatory compliance and audit processes APPLY NOW Curt Lewis