Flight Safety Information SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 - No. 194 In This Issue Boeing to bolster engineering oversight in response to 737 MAX crashes Boeing To Strengthen Engineers' Powers In Response To 737 MAX Crisis Incident: GetJet B733 over Latvia at Sep 25th 2019, loss of communication prompts intercept Incident: Level A320 at Vienna on Sep 25th 2019, unusual odour on board Incident: Azur B763 at Barnaul on Sep 25th 2019, gear fire on landing prompts evacuation Incident: Trans States E145 at Denver on Sep 23rd 2019, trim problem Incident: Cathay Dragon A333 enroute on Sep 21st 2019, cabin crew oxygen cylinder empty United Airlines flight diverted after woman gets stuck in bathroom Boeing settles first Lion Air lawsuits for at least $1.2 million apiece -sources Lawmaker urges FAA to consider pilots' skills globally Uganda wins international aviation award in air safety Boeing expected to testify at U.S. Senate hearing on aviation safety FAA leadership disputes watchdog's finding that 737 Max inspectors were underqualified Hong Kong Airlines opens HKA Training Academy Airline introduces baby seat map to allow passengers to avoid infants Delta Airlines Doubles Down on Ban of Pit Bulls as Service Animals Despite Pushback How Far Are We From Flying Zero-Emission Airplanes? Sen. Baldwin proposes plan to train veterans to be commercial pilots Hypersonic 'space plane' promises four-hour London to Sydney flights by 2030s Soyuz launches flight to space station featuring UAE guest cosmonaut GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) Manager, Internal Evaluation Program Maintenance Safety Specialist Technical and Training Manager Register for the 72nd International Air Safety Summit (IASS 2019) GET THE FACTS ABOUT IS-BAO Human Factors in Accident Investigation from SCSI Aircraft Accident Investigation from SCSI Boeing to bolster engineering oversight in response to 737 MAX crashes FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is displayed on a screen, at the NYSE in New York By Eric M. Johnson SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co's board of directors said on Wednesday it created a new permanent safety committee to oversee development, manufacturing and operation of its aircraft and services in the aftermath of two fatal 737 MAX crashes. It also said a five-month internal review by a special board panel set up to assess aircraft development recommended that the world's largest planemaker reorganize its engineering reporting lines company-wide to boost oversight by top company officials. The new safety committee and company recommendations were reported first by Reuters in August. They are the first structural shifts as part of Boeing's response to the ongoing crisis over the grounding of its 737 MAX after deadly crashes killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia. The board's review is just one of numerous probes into the development of the 737 MAX by global regulators and U.S. lawmakers and the Department of Justice. Boeing also faces more than 100 lawsuits by victims' families alleging it designed a flawed airplane. The changes will be rolled out over the next couple of months, pending further review, Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg told Reuters in August. They are intended to boost the transparency and oversight of engineering decisions and accelerate efforts to share safety information as widely and swiftly as possible across Boeing's global businesses and factories. The board of directors approved a new Aerospace Safety Committee at its August 2019 meeting, it said on Wednesday. The six recommendations following the special panel's review include the creation of a new Product and Services Safety organization that reviews all aspects of product safety and investigates cases of undue pressure and anonymous employee concerns. The board also recommended that all Boeing engineers, including the new Product and Services Safety organization, report directly to the chief engineer, who reports directly to Muilenburg. Boeing should also work with airlines to "re-examine assumptions around flight deck design and operation" and recommend pilot training criteria beyond traditional training programs "where warranted", it said. "Design assumptions have evolved over time, and the company should ensure flight deck designs continue to anticipate the needs of the changing demographics and future pilot populations," the board said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-bolster-engineering-oversight-response-130322933.html Back to Top Boeing To Strengthen Engineers' Powers In Response To 737 MAX Crisis Boeing's board has formed a new safety committee and drawn up a blueprint to strengthen the independence of its engineers and safety certification representatives from commercial pressures, in response to two deadly crashes of its flagship 737 MAX airplane. Boeing announced Wednesday that the board has proposed that all engineers report directly to the company's chief engineer, rather than to the managers of individual aircraft programs, which could insulate them from concerns over budgets and schedule. It also recommended establishing a new product and safety services unit reporting to the chief engineer that would oversee Boeing employees who are deputized to perform safety certification work for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration under the Organization Designation Authorization program, which critics say has given Boeing managers the ability to pressure the representatives to speed the certification process along and weakened FAA oversight. The board also recommended that the company re-examine how it designs airplane cockpits and flight controls to meet the "needs of the changing demographics and future pilot populations" - a reference to concerns that the two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia have raised about pilot training standards in developing countries, where airlines have expanded service dramatically over the past few decades amid rising levels of wealth. The recommendations resulted from a five-month review by a four-member board committee established in the wake of the March crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which led aviation authorities worldwide to ground the 737 MAX. Strengthening the role of engineers in the company would be a welcome corrective to a shift in emphasis at Boeing over the past two decades to boosting shareholder returns, says Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace consultant with the Teal Group. He points out that the 737 MAX, an updated version of Boeing's workhorse narrow-body plane with new engines, was designed at a time when the CEOs of Boeing and the commercial aircraft division were not engineers. "It's an engineering company - it should have more of an engineering culture." The board said that CEO and Chairman Dennis Muilenburg and his executive team were considering the recommendations and would soon announce specific actions. Boeing is under intense financial pressure, taking a record $2.94 billion loss in the second quarter as it booked a $5.6 billion pre-tax charge to account for the heavy toll it will pay to airlines to compensate them for the grounding of the 737 MAX and delays in deliveries of the plane, which is its bestselling model, with a backlog of 4,500 orders. It's also facing probes from federal prosecutors, congressional committees and regulators into the crashes and the design and certification of the plane. The board review was led by Edmund Giambastiani, a former vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and nuclear submarine officer. He has been appointed chairman of the new aerospace safety committee, which was approved at the board's August meeting. Strengthening the hand of Boeing's engineers could actually speed up aircraft development, says Aboulafia. The 777, which was overseen by Alan Mulally, "an engineer's engineer," and Phil Condit, was developed in just four years, he points out. "Every clean sheet [design] they've done with a strong engineering team has been faster," he says. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2019/09/25/boeing-to-strengthen-engineers-powers-in-response-to-737-max-crisis/#748f98b358c6 Back to Top Incident: GetJet B733 over Latvia at Sep 25th 2019, loss of communication prompts intercept A GetJet Boeing 737-300 on behalf of Norwegian Air International, registration LY-EWE performing flight DY-351 from Krakow (Poland) to Helsinki (Finland), was enroute at FL350 over Latvia when the aircraft was intercepted by two fighter aircraft due to prolonged loss of communication, last contact with ATC had been in Poland, the crew did not commuicate with ATC while crossing over Lithuania into Latvia. Following the intercept communications were restored and the aircraft continued to Helsinki, while the fighter aircraft returned to their base. The aircraft landed safely in Helsinki about 105 minutes after departure. Passenger photo: http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd42415&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Level A320 at Vienna on Sep 25th 2019, unusual odour on board A Level Austria Airbus A320-200, registration OE-LVR performing flight VK-6000 from Vienna (Austria) to Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain), was climbing out of Vienna when the crew stopped the climb at FL250 and decided to return to Vienna reporting an unusual odour on board. The aircraft landed safely on Vienna's runway 34 about 40 minutes after departure. The airline confirmed the aircraft returned due to an unusual odour. The flight was postponed to late night Sep 25th 2019, the return flight VK-6001 will depart on Sep 26th 2019 with a delay of estimated 15 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 7 hours, then returned to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd414e3&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Azur B763 at Barnaul on Sep 25th 2019, gear fire on landing prompts evacuation An Azur Air Boeing 767-300, registration VP-BUV performing flight ZF-2244 from Nha Trang (Vietnam) to Barnaul (Russia) with 331 passengers and 10 crew, had touched down on Barnaul's runway 24 and went around, positioned for another approach and again landed on Barnaul's runway 24, vacated the runway and stopped on the parallel taxiway immediately afterwards due to the right hand main gear being on fire. The aircraft was evacuated via left hand slides while emergency services responded and extinguished the fire. No injuries are being officially reported. Russia's Rosaviatsia reported the landing gear caught fire just after landing, the fire was quickly extinguished. The 331 passengers and 10 crew were evacuated via slides, so far no one required medical assistance. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations for Altai Territory reported the landing gear was ignited as result of a hard landing. 334 passengers and 10 crew were evacuated. The aircraft landed at 21:21L, the fire was extinguished at 21:40L. There were no serious injuries. Emergency psychological assistance is being provided to the occupants of the aircraft. The Ministry does not mention any (minor) injuries nor any number thereof. Russian Media are claiming citing the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations that there were at least 23 injuries. ? ???????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ??????? http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd3fdea&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Trans States E145 at Denver on Sep 23rd 2019, trim problem A Trans States Embraer ERJ-145 on behalf of United, registration N17138 performing flight UA-4631 from Denver,CO to Durango,CO (USA), was climbing out of Denver's runway 17L when the crew stopped the climb at FL240 reporting trim problems. The aircraft returned to Denver for a safe landing on runway 07 about 34 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft returned the service about 20 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL4631/history/20190923/2210Z/KDEN/KDRO http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd416d4&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Cathay Dragon A333 enroute on Sep 21st 2019, cabin crew oxygen cylinder empty A Cathay Dragon Airbus A330-300, registration B-LAB performing flight KA-730 from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Hong Kong (China), completed a seemingly uneventful flight with a safe landing in Hong Kong. On Sep 24th 2019 Cathay Pacific, parent company of Cathay Dragon, reported however, that a post flight routine inspection found one of the 16 cabin crew oxygen cylinders empty, that are being used to enable cabin crew to move freely around the cabin even in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. The entire cabin crew was immediately stood down, Hong Kong Police was involved and opened an investigation, Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department was also informed. Based on first police investigation results two cabin crew were dismissed. The oxygen cylinder was re-inflated before the next flight. Hong Kong Media report that 6 more such cases, 3 on Cathay Pacific and 3 on Cathay Dragon flights, had occurred between Aug 17th and Sep 16th 2019. All cabin crew of those flights were suspended pending investigation. It is being suspected that the oxygen cylinders had been tampered with. Cathay Pacific's Chief Executive had recently resigned and several flight and cabin crew had been dismissed on order by Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department to stop their staff from supporting anti-extradition protests. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd401f3&opt=0 Back to Top United Airlines flight diverted after woman gets stuck in bathroom A United Airlines flight was diverted Wednesday evening due to a passenger getting stuck in a bathroom, CBS San Francisco reports. United Airlines Flight 1554 was heading to San Francisco International Airport from Washington, D.C. but was diverted to Denver International Airport, according to CBS Denver. DIA officials said the Denver Fire Department was called around 7 p.m. to get her out. A passenger told CBS San Francisco five firefighters and a mechanic got onboard and freed the woman, who was embarrassed but otherwise unharmed. No one was injured. Passengers on the flight said the woman was stuck for about an hour. United Airlines released a statement Wednesday evening saying the door became inoperative while she was inside. "We are reaching out to all customers onboard and the customer in the lavatory to apologize," the carrier said. The flight took off for San Francisco about two-and-a-half hours after landing in Denver. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-airlines-flight-diverted-after-woman-gets-stuck-in-bathroom/ Back to Top Boeing settles first Lion Air lawsuits for at least $1.2 million apiece -sources CHICAGO/JAKARTA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Boeing Co has settled the first claims stemming from the crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia, a U.S. plaintiffs' lawyer said, and three other sources said that families of those killed will receive at least $1.2 million apiece. Floyd Wisner of Wisner Law Firm said he has settled 11 of his 17 claims against Boeing on behalf of families who lost their relatives when a brand-new MAX crashed into the Java Sea on Oct. 29 soon after take-off, killing all 189 aboard. Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe declined comment. Boeing did not admit liability in its 11 settlements, Wisner said. The claims, each representing one victim, are the first to be settled out of some 55 lawsuits against Boeing in U.S. federal court in Chicago and could set the bar for mediation talks by other Lion Air plaintiffs' lawyers that are scheduled through next month, three people familiar with the matter said. Wisner said he could not disclose the amount of the settlements because of a confidentiality agreement with Boeing. The three people familiar with the matter said families of Lion Air victims, who were nearly all from Indonesia, are set to receive at least $1.2 million each. That amount would be for a single victim without any dependents. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are confidential. Boeing's shares rose as much as 2 percent on Wednesday. Awards can vary according to victims' nationality, age, marital status, income, dependents and life expectancy. The Lion Air victims were mainly from Indonesia, where incomes and crash awards tend to be lower than in the United States. The manufacturer is also facing nearly 100 lawsuits over an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash on March 10 that killed 157 people on its way from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. Lawsuits over both crashes highlight the role of MCAS automated software that pushed the nose of the two planes lower. They claim that design flaws allowed erroneous sensor data to set off the automated system and overwhelm pilots. The Lion Air lawsuits are being mediated before Donald O'Connell, a retired judge of the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois, a jurisdiction often used for air accidents situated in Chicago, where Boeing is based. 'COMMON LINK' Lawyers for the Ethiopian Airlines crash are pushing for a jury trial in U.S. federal court in Chicago, demanding to know why Boeing allowed the 737 MAX to go on flying after the Lion Air incident. The planemaker has said it is sorry for the lives lost in both crashes but has stopped short of admitting any fault in how it developed the 737 MAX or the software. It has said the two crashes - like most air disasters - were caused by a chain of events, with a common link between the two MAX accidents being "erroneous activation" of MCAS. In the Lion Air case, families of victims who were married with one to three children could receive between $2 million and $3 million, the people said. Industry veteran Wisner said he had settled lawsuits for other plane crashes that took place in Indonesia in years prior to the Lion Air 737 MAX crash for around $500,000 or $600,000. He will receive one third of his Lion Air settlements in fees. The settlements come on top of $144,500 that Boeing is paying out of a $50 million financial assistance fund it set up in July for families of victims of the two crashes. Any settlement or jury award in the Ethiopian cases is likely to be larger than for Lion Air, the people said. Many of the Ethiopian crash victims, who came from 35 different countries, included United Nations employees and young working adults in their twenties or thirties. There were nine U.S. citizens among the victims. Boeing is also the target of a U.S. Department of Justice criminal investigation into the development of the 737 MAX. The 737 MAX has been grounded worldwide following the Ethiopian crash while Boeing develops software updates and new pilot training. It has already estimated a cost of more than $8 billion from the grounding, mainly due to production setbacks and compensation it will owe airlines that have canceled thousands of flights as they manage schedules without the fuel-efficient jetliner they had counted on. Boeing has said it hopes the 737 MAX jetliner will fly again in the United States early in the final quarter of this year. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-settles-first-lion-air-184158704.html Back to Top Lawmaker urges FAA to consider pilots' skills globally A key lawmaker is calling on U.S. regulators to take into consideration the skill level of pilots around the world and not just the United States when making improvements to Boeing's grounded airplane. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., also said Wednesday that he wants assurances that the Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing its practice of delegating some work to employees of aircraft manufacturers. Price chairs a House subcommittee that approves FAA funding. During a hearing before Price's panel, FAA deputy administrator Daniel Elwell agreed that the agency needs to consider that planes certified in the U.S. are flown worldwide, but said its obligation is to regulate U.S. airlines and manufacturers. "I'm sorry," Price cut him off, "but these are aircraft that are operating all over the world." Boeing is making changes to its 737 Max airliner after two deadly crashes, and Price said he wants the company and the FAA to consider "what is it going to take to operate that plane safely" beyond just the U.S. Pilot skills and training have emerged as key issues in the investigations of Max crashes that killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Some lawmakers have suggested that the accidents would not have happened in the U.S., where pilot training is often considered better. But even U.S. pilots have bristled at attempts to blame the crashes on pilots in developing countries and preliminary accident reports highlight the role of a Boeing flight-control system called MCAS that pushed the noses of the planes down. Passengers who died were of many nationalities, including Americans. Elwell, who was the FAA's acting administrator during the two accidents, defended the agency's review of the Boeing plane. Even though it delegated review of MCAS to Boeing, "we knew what the MCAS was for and why it was put in place," he said. Elwell, however, repeated his view that Boeing should have told pilots about MCAS. Most didn't know about the system until after the Indonesian crash in October. On other topics, Elwell also repeated the FAA's disagreement with conclusions of a whistleblower office that some safety inspectors who worked on pilot-training standards for the Max were unqualified. And he disputed numerous accounts of a rift between the FAA and other regulators. At one time, Europe's top aviation official Patrick Ky insisted on conducting a separate review and floated the possibility of imposing more conditions on Boeing to get the Max flying again. Recently, however, he has sounded more conciliatory, suggesting that Europe could recertify the Max within days of FAA doing the same. The FAA, Elwell said, has "probably never been closer with our colleagues internationally." https://www.kiro7.com/news/ Back to Top Uganda wins international aviation award in air safety Uganda scored 81.8% in the audit which was conducted in 2017. This was way above the global average of 73% and the African and Indian Ocean (APII) states average of 58% according to ICAO. KAMPALA - Staff at Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) are in a celebratory mood after the entity bagged a prestigious aviation award for Uganda. The accolade came after Uganda performed outstandingly in the Universal Security Audit Programme conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Uganda received the accolade at a special ceremony held in Montreal in Canada on September 24. "I am pleased to inform you that in recognition of your State's progress in resolving aviation security oversight deficiencies and improving the effective implementation of applicable ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPS), your State (Uganda) has been selected to receive an ICAO council president certificate in Aviation industry. The eligibility criteria used for this recognition are objective and transparent and are based on the results of the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme -Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP CMA) activities," said the ICAO council president Dr. Bernard Olumuyiwa. Uganda scored 81.8% in the audit which was conducted in 2017. This was way above the global average of 73% and the African and Indian Ocean (APII) states average of 58% according to ICAO. According to Vianney Luggya, the UCAA spokesperson, the Minister of State Transport Aggrey Bagiire, who was accompanied by UCAA staff, including Eng. Edward Ndawula (Board chairman) and Prof. David Kakuba (Director General) flew to Montreal to receive the award for Uganda. About ICAO The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations specialised agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). ICAO works with the Convention's 193 Member States (including Uganda) and industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector. SARPs and policies are used by ICAO member states to ensure that their local civil aviation operations and regulations conform to global norms. The norms permit more than 100,000 daily flights in aviation's global network to operate safely and reliably in every region of the world, according to the agency's website. ICAO also coordinates assistance and capacity building for States in support of numerous aviation development objectives; produces global plans to coordinate multilateral strategic progress for safety and air navigation; monitors and reports on numerous air transport sector performance metrics; and audits States' civil aviation oversight capabilities in the areas of safety and security. https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1507549/uganda-wins-international-aviation-award-air-safety Back to Top Boeing expected to testify at U.S. Senate hearing on aviation safety WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) is expected to testify at an upcoming U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing on aviation safety, a spokeswoman for the panel said Wednesday. FILE PHOTO: Boeing Co's logo is seen above the front doors of its largest jetliner factory in Everett, Washington, U.S. January 13, 2017. REUTERS/Alwyn Scott/File Photo The announcement came after the company's board said on Wednesday it had created a new permanent safety committee to oversee development, manufacturing and operation of its aircraft and services in the aftermath of two fatal 737 MAX crashes. It was not clear who from Boeing will testify. Separately, deputy Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Dan Elwell told a U.S. House committee hearing the agency currently was not seeking additional funding for safety efforts, but that could change depending on various reviews. Both the House and Senate have proposed boosting spending on aviation safety spending but have not reached agreement. Elwell said the FAA was considering creating an innovation office. Elwell also denied any rift between U.S. and foreign aviation regulators over the 737 MAX. "We have to get it right and we have to get it right globally," Elwell said. The committee's chairman, Senator Roger Wicker, said he was happy to see Boeing had released long-awaited recommendations and looks forward to learning more about the recommendations "and other conclusions Boeing has made at the aviation safety hearing I plan to call very soon." Boeing declined to comment Wednesday. Last week, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asked Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg to testify on Oct. 30 about the grounded 737 MAX involved in two deadly crashes since October 2018 that killed 346 people. The panel's chair, Representative Peter DeFazio, also asked John Hamilton, the chief engineer of Boeing's commercial airplanes division, to testify. Boeing said last week it was studying the invitation. A spokeswoman for the House panel said Wednesday no response had been received from Boeing. Earlier this month DeFazio asked Muilenburg to make several employees available for interviews as part of a congressional probe into the design, development and certification of 737 MAX aircraft. Boeing has said it hopes the plane can resume flights early in the fourth quarter but still has a series of steps to complete before the 737 MAX can return to service, including submitting a pre-production version of a software update, FAA chief Steve Dickson told Reuters last week. It remains uncertain when Boeing will conduct a certification test flight, a step needed before its best-selling plane can fly again. Dickson said once that flight occurs the FAA will need a month before it can allow flights to resume unless something unforeseen arises. Some government officials have said they do not believe Boeing will conduct the certification flight until at least mid-October. Asked if there are at least several weeks of work to be done before that flight can occur, Dickson said he thought that was a "fair statement" but did not want to set a specific date. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-congress/boeing-expected-to-testify-at-us-senate-hearing-on-aviation-safety-idUSKBN1WA29Z Back to Top FAA leadership disputes watchdog's finding that 737 Max inspectors were underqualified, denies misleading Congress Deputy FAA Administrator Daniel K. Elwell, right, and Earl Lawrence, executive director of the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service, appear before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Sept. 25. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Under questioning from lawmakers Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration's second-in-command strongly disputed the conclusions of an internal government watchdog that safety inspectors who worked on training requirements for Boeing's 737 Max were underqualified. Deputy FAA Administrator Daniel K. Elwell also rejected the watchdog's finding that his agency had misled Congress over the issue, saying that was "not what happened." Elwell acknowledged there was ambiguity in certain agency training rules that could have been a problem for a different aircraft. But he told members of a House Appropriations subcommittee that making any connection between that problem and the 737 Max was "simply not accurate." [FAA misled Congress on inspector training for Boeing 737 Max, investigators say] "Absolutely no pilots working on the 737 Max certification were unqualified," Elwell said. "They were all fully qualified for their activities." The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which investigates whistleblower complaints, shared its findings with Congress on Monday. In a letter to President Trump, Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner wrote that the "FAA's official responses to Congress appear to have been misleading in their portrayal of FAA employee training and competency." Information provided by the FAA "obfuscates" concerns about the preparation of safety inspectors and "diverts attention away from the likely truth of the matter: that they were neither qualified under agency policy to certify pilots flying the 737 Max nor to assess pilot training on procedures and maneuvers," the letter said. Elwell offered to meet with lawmakers after Wednesday's hearing to go over in greater detail why he rejected the special counsel's conclusions. Nonetheless, the findings have added to questions about the FAA's oversight of the 737 Max, which the agency had certified as safe before two of the planes crashed within five months of each other, first in Indonesia and then in Ethi¬o¬pia, killing 346 people. The 737 Max has been grounded since several days after the March 10 crash in Ethi¬o¬pia. The FAA and international aviation safety regulators are awaiting fixes by Boeing and will conduct additional tests and reviews before deciding when the planes should be allowed to fly again. Elwell acknowledged the family and friends of some of the crash victims who attended Wednesday's hearing. FAA officials face scrutiny over Boeing oversight "We at the FAA acknowledge your pain and your loss," Elwell said. He also reiterated that no timetable has been set for ungrounding the 737 Max. "At this time, we continue to evaluate Boeing's software modification, and we are still developing necessary training requirements," Elwell said in his opening remarks. "This work is not following any prescribed timeline. As we've said repeatedly, the 737 Max will not return to service for U.S. carriers and in U.S. airspace until the FAA's analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is safe to do so." The 737 Max crashes drew scrutiny to an FAA program that handed much of the responsibility for determining whether Boeing was complying with safety standards over to the company itself, and shook international confidence in the FAA. Agency leaders have defended the process and their approach to safety, but a number of internal and external reviews are underway and the FAA has sought to work with international regulators ahead of allowing the jets to fly again. The Justice Department's criminal division also is looking into the 737 Max, along with a congressional committee, and the Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General. Rep. David E. Price (D-N.C.), chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development, and related agencies, said the crashes had called into question a safety certification process once considered the global "gold standard." "There are also many legitimate questions surrounding the certification process and the extent to which the certification process has been delegated," Price said. [With its ties in Washington, Boeing has taken over more and more of the FAA's job] Elwell continued to defend the system, saying that the agency has been adequately funded and staffed and that its approach to certification had consistently produced safe airplanes. "Delegation is not self-certification," Elwell said. "The FAA retains strict oversight authority." Investigators say in both 737 Max crashes, bad information from an external sensor caused a malfunction in an automated feature on the planes designed to prevent stalls. The feature, called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), repeatedly forced the noses of the planes down before they crashed. Elwell said Wednesday that a redesigned version of the system would rely on two sensors and would turn on only once, rather than repeatedly. Elwell also emphasized the close collaboration between the FAA and international aviation regulators reviewing the 737 Max. He disputed claims of a rift between the agencies, saying the FAA had "never been closer with our colleagues internationally." "We have to get it right and we have to get it right globally," he said. On Monday, the FAA's leadership met with international aviation regulators and a senior Boeing executive in Montreal to provide an update on the agency's work to approve Boeing's fixes to the 737 Max. The meeting followed a similar one in Fort Worth in the spring. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/faa-leadership-disputes-watchdogs-finding-that-737-max-inspectors-were-underqualified-denies-misleading-congress/2019/09/25/7005e3ae-dfa5-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html Back to Top Hong Kong Airlines opens HKA Training Academy, offering advanced training services to aircrew and aviation elites HONG KONG, Sept. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hong Kong Airlines' HKA Training Academy (HKATA) was officially opened yesterday. The airline's first training facility in the airport island of Chek Lap Kok not only marks a significant milestone in the airline's history, it also reaffirms Hong Kong Airlines' investment and confidence in the city it has called home for 13 years. Hong Kong Airlines Chairman Mr Hou Wei was joined by his senior management team as well as hundreds of staff at the official opening ceremony at HKATA this afternoon. Speaking at the celebrations, he said that Hong Kong Airlines always puts safety first in its operations and training. "HKA Training Academy is not only a result of Hong Kong Airlines' ambitious effort to nurture future aviation talents but also a formal approach to aviation safety supporting Hong Kong's thriving aviation industry. We want to fulfil our vision to offer one of the most advanced aviation training programmes for aircrew and will do our part to help elevate Hong Kong aviation standards to world class levels," Mr Hou added. The 11-storey HKA Training Academy is equipped with advanced training facilities, including 24 training classrooms, 12 aircraft simulator bays, an 8-metre-high multi-function training hall and a 25-metre-long swimming pool, which are used for evacuation, safety and service trainings for various aircraft types. It is the third facility of its kind on the airport island which combines advanced technology with specially designed training programme to set new safety technology benchmarks for the industry. As one of the major players in the local aviation scene, Hong Kong Airlines took the lead to showcase the state-of-the-art training facilities that are currently in use: CAE 7000XR Series full-motion flight training simulators qualified by Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have been installed for A330 and A350 aircraft. These essential training devices are capable of reproducing an environment which replicates the aircraft itself and airports. The simulators host the latest technology in visual simulation and has a worldwide database of airports including Hong Kong, Narita, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Beijing to name a few. The Combined Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET) with smoke chamber function is equipped with different functions to prepare the crew for their readiness of handling normal and emergency situation. Hong Kong Airlines has been steadfastly investing in the building since the ground-breaking ceremony in 2016, followed by the topping-out ceremony in April 2018. Earlier this year, HKA Training Academy obtained the Occupation Permit from the Building Authority of Hong Kong, following a series of construction, furnishing, moving-in and safety inspection work. Hong Kong Airlines thanks the government as well as its staff, customers and business partners who have and continue to support the company. "HKA Training Academy - our newest asset - will define Hong Kong Airlines' successful transition into our next chapter of development. We believe that the combination of HKATA and the professionalism of our staff will provide resources and solutions to the local aviation community. Hong Kong Airlines remains committed to nurturing local talents who aspire to join the aviation industry and will continue with our efforts to promote Hong Kong as one of the world's greatest aviation hubs," said Mr Hou. SOURCE Hong Kong Airlines Limited https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hong-kong-airlines-opens-hka-training-academy-offering-advanced-training-services-to-aircrew-and-aviation-elites-300926024.html Back to Top Airline introduces baby seat map to allow passengers to avoid infants A small icon will be displayed when booking a seat showing where small children will be sitting. (CNN) - Every traveler has their pet peeves, but crying babies are almost guaranteed to grate. Now Japan Airlines has revealed a new tool that lets you dodge infants when you book your seat. "Passengers traveling with children between 8 days and 2 years old who select their seats on the JAL website will have a child icon displayed on their seats on the seat selection screen," reads the airline's website. The move will be a boon for travelers who like to avoid babies. Before babyphobes get too excited, Japan Airlines cautions that the baby map will not display child icons in certain situations. It only works for bookings made through the JAL website, for example, and icons will not display if there is a change in aircraft. If you are taking a small child on your trip, JAL offers a number of services to make your experience better. The airline provides a number of strollers for rent in the airport, and will accept baby strollers as checked baggage for free. Passengers traveling with infants also enjoy priority boarding, and offers hot water for bottles as well as diaper changing facilities on board. CNN has contacted JAL for comment. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/baby-seat-map-scli-intl/index.html Back to Top Delta Airlines Doubles Down on Ban of Pit Bulls as Service Animals Despite Pushback Last month, the Department of Transportation rejected Delta's ban of pit bulls and said the airline must allow any breed of service dog on board Delta Airlines is maintaining its stance on pit bulls as service animals. More than a year after Delta banned pit bull-type dogs from traveling as service or support animals on their flights and subsequently received pushback from the Department of Transportation (DOT), the airline is doubling down on the mandate. In a press release issued on Monday, Delta Airlines defended their decision to ban pit bulls and said it came after they noticed "a sharp increase in onboard animal incidents and attacks." In particular, the airline said data has shown the breed accounts "for less than 5 percent of the overall dog population but 37.5 percent of vicious dog attacks." There have also been more than 40 reported incidents in 2018 alone that involved aggressive animal behavior on a Delta flight, according to the airline. Given this information, Delta said they haven't figured out a solution that satisfies both pit bull owners and the airlines' safety requirements so they will uphold their mandate until they figure it out. "We will never compromise on safety, and we will do what is right for the health and safety of our customers and employees," Senior Vice President - Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance John Laughter said. "We continue to work with the DOT to find solutions that support the rights of customers who have legitimate needs to travel with trained animals." "The safety of our people is paramount," added Allison Ausband, Senior Vice President - In-Flight Service. "Our 25,000 flight attendants are my greatest responsibility, and I will do everything I can to keep them safe and send them home to their families in the same condition they came to work." Following the announcement, the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund spoke out about ban and supported the DOT's argument, who demanded in August that the airline must allow any breed of service dog on board because "dogs as a species are accepted for transport." Kitty Block, the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said Delta's ban would be harmful to many and sends the wrong message about pit bulls. "Delta's decision to maintain its discriminatory ban on pit bull-type dogs as service dogs is misguided and will hurt countless individuals. We continue to offer Delta and all airlines our support to implement alternatives that keep the skies friendly for people and animals alike." "Delta is flouting the Department of Transportation's guidance and setting a barrier for carrying pit bull-type dogs," Sara Amundson, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund, added. "We applaud DOT, which acted in accordance with its regulations by issuing this guidance and we urge all airlines to comply by not excluding pit bull-type dogs." In addition to banning pit bull-type dogs, Delta Airlines announced that it would be discontinuing its eight-hour flight limit for emotional support animals, which restricted those animals from riding on flights longer than eight hours. The rules on emotional support animals vary between airlines, though many airlines, including Delta, only accept cats, dogs, and miniature horses over the age of 4 months as ESAs. https://people.com/pets/delta-airlines-doubles-down-on-pit-bull-ban-service-animals/ Back to Top How Far Are We From Flying Zero-Emission Airplanes? Today human beings can feel they are in a difficult spot. The constant flow of bad news from the media about the impacts of global warming are taking their toll on consumers, particularly young people who feel powerless about it. To add insult to injury, it's simply not cool to talk about. A recent article on NBC details how it is socially unacceptable to talk about climate change publicly. A Yale survey found that 65 percent of those surveyed discuss global warming "never" or "rarely."At the same time making eco-conscious decisions come at a cost, and not every person can always make the green choice. For example, many of us have to travel for work, and flying is the only way to do so. Unfortunately today there is no solar powered airplane. Some airlines have offered a way to upgrade to a more sustainable flight option, but that can be more expensive and not an option for the average traveler. What are consumers to do? Consumers are concerned and would like options so they can continue to live their life in a normal manner as much as possible. But in some corners of the earth we have the hope of innovation, of start-ups that are focusing on creating solutions, not simply spreading bad news. In fact the future of zero-emission airplanes could be right around the corner. Aviation is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, and the issue will only continue to grow. Many travelers are ashamed of flying or are changing their travel plans to avoid airplanes. The future is electric planes, which produce zero emissions and use a rechargeable battery. Startups and large companies are developing electric planes, which are currently being tested. They could be in flight for commercial use in the next 20 years. Before electric planes can be commonplace, the batteries and regulations need to improve. Environmental Impact Of Flying While I don't want to be part of the media problem of simply depressing readers who largely have no power over these issues, we need regulators and airliners to know the facts. Aviation is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. Airplane emissions have increased by 4.3% each year since 1999 and are expected to make up 25% of the world's carbon emissions by 2050. As the environmental impact of planes takes center stage, many passengers are becoming reluctant to fly. In Sweden, it's known as flygskam, or flying shame. Frequent fliers are getting called out for their activities, and a record number of people are choosing to travel by train instead of by plane. The greenhouse gas emissions of one person flying round-trip from New York to London is the same as what it takes to heat a single-family home for a year. To save the same amount of pollution created from that single flight, a person would have to recycle every household item for eight years or not eat meat for two years. But there could be an end in sight. Zero-emission planes could soon replace traditional fuel-powered airplanes to drastically cut back on air pollution. The Future of Electric Planes The most realistic zero-emission planes will be electric. The concept is similar to electric cars, but in the air. Instead of using traditional fuel to power a plane, which releases large amount of pollution, electric planes use large batteries that are chargeable and provide a powerful and clean flight. Electric planes are ideal for trips less than 1,000 miles, which produce 40% of all aviation emissions but are still short enough to ideally travel on a single charge. Many people choose to drive on their sub-1,000-mile trips, but traveling by electric plane could cut emissions by an additional 4-8%. Zero-Emission Planes In Action Electric planes are already being tested around the world. Last summer, the two-seater plane e-Genius climbed to more than 20,000 feet in the French Alps and went faster than 140 miles per hour. The electric plane, which was designed by engineers at the University of Stuttgart, flew 300 miles on a single battery charge. Aside from releasing no emissions, it only cost $3 in energy to fly, and it released just a fifth of the energy that a traditional two-seater fuel-powered plane would use to fly the same distance. Zero-emission planes aren't limited to researchers and startups. Aviation giants like Boeing, Airbus and Raytheon are also experimenting with eco-friendly airplane designs. Boeing is working on the SUGAR Volt plane that uses both electricity and fuel, similar to a hybrid car. The idea was first created in 2006, and Boeing is working with NASA to deliver results by 2040. Airbus is building E-Fan X, a battery-powered plane that replaces one of its four traditional engines with an electric motor that has the equivalent power of 10 cars. The E-Fan X is expected to take its first flight in 2021, and Airbus hopes to use it as a commuter plane within 20 years. When Will We See Electric Planes? Many experts predict that electric planes could be relatively commonplace within 20 years. However, they will likely be small planes that can hold around 100 passengers and will fly mostly between regional airports. The potential in this arena is huge: the electric aircraft industry is projected to reach more than $22 billion by 2035. However, there are a number of roadblocks to conquer before we can hop on an electric plane. The most obvious is battery power. While today's batteries seem to be effective, they aren't powerful enough to be used in anything more than a small plane that only flies short distances. Batteries need to be smaller and lighter before they can be used on commercial planes. Fuel is very dense and includes a lot of energy in a relatively small space and weight, which batteries need to be able to match or improve. Regulation is also a huge issue. The Federal Aviation Administration has yet to approve electric planes for passenger travel. In order for zero-emission aircraft to be commonplace, the FAA needs to update its guidelines to include more than just traditional fuel-powered planes. Zero-emission airplanes are the future of flying. As carbon emissions continue to grow from air travel and more customers are concerned amount their impact on the environment, the need for electric planes will only intensify. The future could be in the sky before we know it. https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/09/25/how-far-are-we-from-flying-zero-emission-airplanes/#146f6ff443f6 Back to Top Sen. Baldwin proposes plan to train veterans to be commercial pilots OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) - A proposal by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) to help fund training for veterans to fulfill needs in the commercial airline industry moves forward. The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved funding to expand flight-training services for veterans to become commercial airline pilots. Pilot training simulator (WBAY photo) Fox Valley Technical College has a very successful aeronautics program and it's constantly growing, especially with recent local expansions at places like Gulfstream and Air Wisconsin. "Just two years ago we had 19 total. Last year we had 47 or 48, and this year we have 61 active at this time, and so we expect that for the foreseeable future we'll be graduating anywhere between 20 and 30 pilots per year," says Jared Huss, chief instructor and department chair of the Aeronautics program at FVTS. Graduates of the Fox Valley Tech program are finding 100% job placement. And, according to Boeing, over the next 20 years, in North America alone, there will be a need for 200,000 commercial airline pilots and another 200,000 aviation techs. To help meet the demand, Sen. Baldwin is reintroducing the American Aviator Act. Baldwin says, "We have a very significant shortage in terms of commercial pilots right now and the skills gained in the military and the discipline, etc., really lends itself to allow former servicemen and women to train as pilots." Baldwin secured a million dollars in funding through an appropriations committee, would help to fund aeronautics educations for some veterans. The proposal would not only help those who've sacrificed for our country, but it would fulfill a need in the airline industry. Fox Valley Tech officials worked with Sen. Baldwin on the bill and they're excited for what the future could hold. Huss adds, "We anticipate that it will be a competitive grant process, but we're optimistic and confident that our flight training program will be a great fit for those grant specifications." The funding bill still needs to pass the Senate, but Sen. Baldwin says it has strong bipartisan support. She's hopeful it will be approved and implemented within the next year. https://www.wbay.com/content/news/Sen-Baldwin-proposes-plan-to-train-veterans-to-be-commercial-pilots-561257761.html Back to Top Hypersonic 'space plane' promises four-hour London to Sydney flights by 2030s Sabre engine vehicle (CNN) - Flight times from London to Sydney could be 80% shorter by the 2030s, should a hypersonic rocket engine being developed in the UK get off the ground. The UK Space Agency announced Tuesday at the UK Space Conference 2019 that it would be working more closely with the Australian Space Agency in an agreement dubbed a "world-first Space Bridge." The Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) engine, from Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines, looks to be the jewel in the crown of this new enterprise. "When we have brought the SABRE rocket engine to fruition, that may enable us to get to Australia in perhaps as little as four hours," said Graham Turnock, head of the UK Space Agency. "This is technology that could definitely deliver that. We're talking the 2030s for operational service, and the work is already very advanced." The precooler passed its tests with flying colors Reaction Engines Fans of supersonic flight have been yearning for a new way to break the sound barrier ever since Concorde stopped flying in 2003. In April 2019, Reaction Engines announced successful tests of a precooler, simulating conditions at Mach 3.3, or more than three times the speed of sound. That's more than 50% faster than the cruising speed of Concorde -- which used to make the journey between New York and Paris in around 3.5 hours -- and matches the speed record of the fastest jet aircraft ever made, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. The precooler tests took place at a testing facility at the Colorado Air and Space Port in the United States. At such high speeds, air flowing through the engine can reach incredibly high temperatures, which can potentially cause damage. SABRE is unique in delivering the fuel efficiency of a jet engine with the power and high-speed ability of a rocket, enabling air-breathing flight from standstill to more than five times the speed of sound, before transitioning into rocket mode, allowing orbital access. SABRE engines would offer a leap forward in capability and will greatly reduce launch costs. Reaction Engines says SABRE combines the fuel efficiency of a jet engine with the power and high-speed ability of a rocket. Reaction Engines A precooler reduces the temperature of gases before they enter the core engine itself. Recent tests prove that the component can cool gases from over 1,000 C to ambient temperature in less than 1/20th of a second, according to a statement from Reaction Engines. "This is a hugely significant milestone which has seen Reaction Engines' proprietary precooler technology achieve unparalleled heat transfer performance," said Mark Thomas, Reaction Engines' CEO. "The HTX [precooler] test article met all test objectives and the successful initial tests highlight how our precooler delivers world-leading heat transfer capabilities at low weight and compact size." Thomas emphasized that the technology could also be used in hybrid electric aviation as well as very high-speed flight. The Sabre could dramatically reduce intercontinental flight times. Reaction Engines The SABRE engine is designed to reach speeds above Mach 5 in the Earth's atmosphere, and will then be able to turn into a rocket that can fly through space at up to Mach 25. It "breathes" air from the atmosphere, allowing greater fuel efficiency and lower weight than existing rocket engines that need to carry their own oxygen supply. "The main thing with Sabre is it's like a hybrid of a rocket engine and an aero engine, so it allows a rocket to breathe air," Shaun Driscoll, programmes director at Reaction Engines, told the UK Space Conference. "Rockets really haven't progressed in 70 years, whereas aero engines have become very efficient, so if you can combine an aero engine and a rocket you can have a very lightweight efficient propulsion system and basically create a space plane." Such is the interest in the technology that Reaction Engines has received more than £100 million ($130 million) in funding over the past four years, as well as securing investment from important industry players such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Boeing HorizonX. The company is finalizing the construction of a test facility in Buckinghamshire in the UK, which will be the location for the first ground-based demonstration of a SABRE engine air-breathing core. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/hypersonic-flight-air-breathing-rocket-scli-intl-gbr-scn/index.html Back to Top Soyuz launches flight to space station featuring UAE guest cosmonaut A Soyuz rocket carrying a Russian commander, a NASA co-pilot and a United Arab Emirates guest cosmonaut blasted off from Kazakhstan on Wednesday, chased down the International Space Station and glided in for a picture-perfect docking, kicking off an unprecedented end-of-year schedule that includes up to a dozen spacewalks. With Soyuz MS-15/61S commander Oleg Skripochka at the controls, flanked on the left by flight engineer Jessica Meir and on the right by Hazza Ali Almansoori, the Soyuz-FG rocket roared to life and climbed away at 9:57:43 a.m. ET (6:57 p.m. local time), the moment Earth's rotation carried the pad into the plane of the station's orbit. The launching came one day after the Japanese space agency launched an unpiloted HTV cargo ship toward the station carrying a set of replacement batteries for the lab's solar power system and equipment to help repair a $2 billion cosmic ray detector. Christina Koch aboard the International Space Station sent down this spectacular view of the Soyuz launch from her vantage point more than 250 miles up. Said Koch in a tweet: "What it looks like from @Space_Station when your best friend achieves her lifelong dream to go to space. Caught the second stage in progress! We can't wait to welcome you onboard, crew of Soyuz 61!" After a problem-free climb to space, Skripochka and Meir monitored a four-orbit rendezvous with the space station, moving in for docking at the aft port of the Russian Zvezda module at 3:42 p.m. Hatches were opened 2 ½ hours later, after extensive leak checks, and the Soyuz crew was welcomed aboard by Expedition 60 commander Alexey Ovchinin, fellow cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Christina Koch and Drew Morgan. "Coming in through the hatch and seeing all these familiar faces ... it feels like home already," Meir said in a traditional post-docking video chat with family and friends waiting at the Baikonur Cosmodrome where the flight began. "It's going to be an amazing six months." And a very busy few weeks right off the bat. The first major item on the expanded crew's agenda is arrival of the HTV cargo ship Saturday morning. Five spacewalks are planned in November to replace 12 aging batteries with six more powerful lithium-ion power packs carried up in the HTV's cargo bay. Another half dozen EVAs are planned over the next two months to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, an unprecedented sequence that will come amid ongoing cargo delivery missions, a full slate of on-board research, a Russian spacewalk and possible visits by commercial crew ships being built by Boeing and SpaceX. Meir, who holds a private pilot's license and a doctorate in marine biology, served as Skripochka's co-pilot in the Soyuz's cramped cockpit, trained to take over in an emergency and fly the spacecraft if needed. She's also received spacewalk training and hopes to venture outside the station at some point during her stay. The Soyuz MS-15/61S crew is welcomed aboard the space station. Front row, left to right: Hazza Ali Almansoori, Oleg Skripochka and Jessica Meir. Middle row, left to right: Drew Morgan, Alexander Skvortsov and Luca Parmitano. Back row, left to right: Christina Koch, Alexey Ovchinin and Nick Hague. Ovchinin, Hague and Almansoori will return to Earth on October 3. Skripochka is making his third trip to the station and is expected to participate in a Russian spacewalk in November. He is a veteran of three previous EVAs. "He's a great guy," Meir said. "He's an experienced cosmonaut, so he brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the table for us. It's my first spaceflight and Hazza Ali Almansoori - the very first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates - is also brand new, he's only been training as an astronaut for a year. So we often look to Oleg for advice." Almansoori is the 10th "Spaceflight Participant" to visit the lab complex and the first since Cirque du Soleil's Guy Laliberte in 2009. "This mission is a great milestone, for me personally and for my country, the United Arab Emirates, and for the whole Arab region in general," Almansoori said in a preflight briefing. "I'm looking forward to joining the crew on the station and to work with them on a daily basis and to conduct experiments. I'm looking forward to coming back with knowledge and experience to share with everyone." A jet fighter pilot, Almansoori is sponsored by the UAE government. But as with earlier "space tourists," he will enjoy a relatively short stay in orbit - eight days - before returning to Earth on October 3 with Ovchinin and Hague, who are wrapping up a 202-day mission. Ovchinin, Hague and Koch took off aboard the Soyuz MS-12/58S spacecraft on March 14. Koch's stay aboard the station has been extended to February and she will join Skvortsov and Parmitano for the ride home aboard their Soyuz MS-13/59S spacecraft after nearly a year - 328 days - in space. Koch will set a new record for longest single flight by a female astronaut December 28, moving past Peggy Whitson's mark of 289 days. Almansoori will take Koch's seat aboard the MS-12/58S ferry ship coming down Octotber 3. Morgan, who launched with Skvortsov and Parmitano on July 20, will join Skripochka and Meir when they return to Earth next April. His flight will span 255 days. The Soyuz launching Wednesday, along with Japan's launch of an HTV cargo ship Tuesday (U.S. time), kicks off one of the most challenging station schedules ever attempted with up to 11 U.S. spacewalks planned between now and the end of the year and a Russian EVA in November. Along with the HTV-8 arrival Saturday, the crew expects to welcome three more cargo ships and, possibly, Boeing's CST-100 Starliner crew ferry ship if NASA clears it for launch before the end of the year on a long-awaited unpiloted test flight. Boeing and SpaceX are both building commercial crew ferry ships to end NASA's sole reliance on the Soyuz. But the program has suffered a series of funding shortfalls and technical problems, and it's not yet clear when either company will be clear to launch astronaut crews on initial test flights. It's a critical issue for NASA because the Russians only plan to launch two Soyuz spacecraft next year, one in March and the other in October. In the absence of an American ferry ship, the station crew will drop from six to three next April when Skripochka, Meir and Morgan return to Earth. SpaceX's first piloted test flight, known as Demo-2, is on hold following an explosion during a ground test in April that destroyed an earlier vehicle. The Demo-2 mission, whenever it eventually flies, will carry two NASA astronauts to the station for an eight-day mission. Boeing's first piloted test flight, a mission known as CFT, will last a full six months, and that is the flight NASA is counting on to keep the station fully staffed until one or both companies begin operational crew rotation flights. Expedition 61 Launch The Soyuz MS-15/61S spacecraft thunders away from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the first step in a four-orbit rendezvous with the International Space Station. "A lot of the commercial crew dates have been a little bit in flux lately," Meir said. "But it does look like we should be seeing the (unpiloted) Boeing flight, I think that will happen during our mission, and I've been receiving training on the ground to help make sure that that mission is successful. "We do also, of course, hope we see some of the first commercial crew astronauts during our mission. That would be excellent. ... The key is being flexible and being able to adapt. That's something our training really allows us to do. We'll be ready for any scenario." The upcoming spacewalks pose the most significant near-term challenge with five needed to install the batteries brought up aboard the HTV-8 spacecraft and up to a half dozen needed to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a high-priority particle physics experiment mounted on the station's power truss. The AMS instrument was not designed to be repaired by spacewalking astronauts and NASA planners say the EVAs needed to fix a failing pump and carry out other upgrades represent the most complex spacewalks since repairs of the Hubble Space Telescope. The AMS EVAs will be carried out by Parmitano and Morgan. The battery installation work is not as technically complex, but it poses additional challenges, requiring spacewalkers to work near the limit of the robot arm's reach on the far left end of the station's solar power truss. NASA has not yet named the astronauts who will carry out the battery work, but Meir, Koch and Morgan have all been trained. "I'm really looking forward to the potential to do a spacewalk, since that's really what I've always envisioned myself doing, really, my whole life," Meir said. The station's power truss stretches the length of a football field and features eight huge solar wings, four on each end arranged in pairs. The arrays rotate like slow-motion paddle wheels as the station flies through its orbit to maximize the amount of sunlight reaching the solar cells. When the station is in sunlight, power is fed directly to the lab's myriad electrical systems. At the same time, they re-charge four sets of massive batteries housed at the base of each set of arrays. When the station moves into orbital darkness, the batteries seamlessly kick in to keep the station powered. The station's eight electrical power channels originally were supported by 48 nickel-hydrogen - NiH2 - batteries, six per channel. Twenty-four batteries, in two sets of 12, were mounted at the bases of the solar array wings on the starboard, or right, side of the station's main truss with two sets of 12 on the port, or left, side. But the original batteries have lost strength over the years and NASA is in the process of replacing all four sets with 24 smaller, more efficient lithium-ion - Li-Ion - batteries. The replacement units pack twice the punch, so only six are needed per set. The HTV-6 cargo ship delivered the first set of replacements in December 2016. They were installed on the starboard 4, or S4, solar array segment during two spacewalks in January 2017. NASA installed a second set, delivered by the HTV-7 cargo ship, last September on the port 4, or P4 arrays. The third set, launched Tuesday, will be installed on the far left end, or port 6, segment of the power truss. Assuming the work goes smoothly, NASA managers hope to begin the AMS repair work in early to mid November. Five to six spacewalks may be necessary. The $2 billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a project led by Nobel laureate Samuel Ting, was designed to detect high energy cosmic rays and measure any antimatter that might be present to learn more about dark matter, dark energy and by extension, the evolution of the cosmos. The instrument was carried up on the next-to-last shuttle mission and installed in May 2011 "It's a pretty incredible piece of machinery, it's actually measuring high energy radiation, cosmic rays coming from different stars, it is looking for evidence of antimatter and dark matter to begin to answer more questions about the origin of our universe," Meir said. "Unfortunately, one of the pumps that's vital to the thermal control system of that instrument is broken. Well, it's not broken yet, but it is degrading. And so we're going to do a series of spacewalks during the mission in order to fix that pump. ... It wasn't designed to be fixed (in space)." That makes the work "kind of like the Hubble Space Telescope scenario where you didn't actually design tools for it or interfaces for it," Meir said. "So it's a very complex and challenging spacewalk, and we're very excited to conduct that during our mission." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/soyuz-rocket-launch-today-watch-live-stream-soyuz-flight-international-space-station-uae-guest-cosmonaut-2019-09-25/ Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study to assess a pilot's trust in air traffic controllers. 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/JmvoYiUBb3BfJbgY9 For more information, please contact: Brad Baugh, Ph.D. in Aviation Candidate baughfd0@my.erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) Dear Fellow Aviators, I kindly invite you to take part in a short online survey concerning the Psychological Assessment of Pilots in Commercial Airline Operations. This is part of my dissertation towards the award of a master's degree in Air Safety Management from the City University of London, U.K. I am currently an Instructor and Training Captain for a leading international airline, flying the Boeing 777 and 787. The survey is specifically meant for Commercial Airline or Business/ Corporate pilots. The survey is an important element of the project as it ascertains Airline Pilot views and opinions about Mental Health. It has been four years since the Germanwings crash and there has been very little done in terms of testing and support of mental health issues of aviators. The survey is available at the following link and will take less than 20 minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous and no data including IP addresses are collected. https://forms.gle/jWBYaV5AGArhEVtC7 More information on the survey is included in the Introduction section. Thank you in advance for your invaluable time and insights. I can be contacted on sanjay.rao@city.ac.uk for any further clarifications. Blue skies and safe flights, Capt. Sanjay Sakaram Rao Back to Top Manager, Internal Evaluation Program Internal Evaluation is an essential component of Safety Management Systems (SMS). This role will partner with the SMS Director to help department heads implement best practices and measure their success against established metrics. Responsible for developing and executing the internal audit process to evaluate NetJets Aviation's operational policies and procedures. Design audit standards that will objectively examine internal processes for conformity to accepted best practices and compliance with regulatory standards. Report findings to the responsible department heads and assist in developing corrective action plans. The position will also coordinate third-party audits performed on NetJets Aviation and may serve as a Point of Contact for audit vendors. 30%: Develop and maintain internal audit processes, procedures, and documentation to analyze NetJets Aviation flight operations, training, and maintenance policies. 30%: Conduct internal audits on a schedule to be adjusted annually; report findings and observations to affected managers. 20%: Conduct all federal and other relevant regulatory compliance analysis related to flight and maintenance operations as assigned. 10%: Coordinate audits performed on NetJets by third-party vendors and prepare departments for external audits. 10%: Support SMS change-management initiatives as a subject matter expert or team leader as required. Education Level: Bachelor's Degree Course of Study/Major: Aviation / Business or related field, or equivalent combination of training and experience. Type of Credentials/Licenses: FAA Commercial Pilot, Aircraft Dispatcher, or Maintenance Technician Related Work Experience: 6-8 years • 2+ years in an aviation management position (dispatch, maintenance, scheduling, in-flight), or as a line pilot, with a certified air carrier (91K, 135, or 121). • In-depth knowledge of SMS concepts and the carrier's regulatory environment. • Working knowledge of auditing principles, standards, and practices. • Experience with root-cause analysis and process development. • Excellent written and oral communication skills. • Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to manage multiple projects and/or working groups. • Outstanding analytical and problem-solving abilities. To apply, please visit www.netjets.com/careers Back to Top Maintenance Safety Specialist The Maintenance Safety Specialist position assists the Director, Maintenance Safety in the execution of the comprehensive NetJets Safety Program. This includes reviewing, evaluating and processing safety reports, analyzing data, assessing risks and making recommendations on how to minimize the risks involved in NetJets flight and maintenance operations. Assist the Director, Maintenance Safety in development and execution of the NJA safety programs through: 50%: Evaluate, analyze and process safety reports submitted to any of the NJA administered Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) including but not limited to: • Investigating the issues raised in each safety report • Make recommendations to management regarding changes to policy, procedures and practices to enhance safety • Collection and analysis of policy, maintenance records, and fatigue assessments to determine if safety enhancements are available or warranted. • Provide opinion and interpretation of collected materials to the ASAP ERC. • Act and speak on behalf of NJA as the ASAP Event Review Committee (ERC) representative on a rotating basis. • Administer corrective actions in response to ASAP ERC findings. 20%: Participate in, or conduct research into irregular events occurring during NJA maintenance flight operations 10%: Research and analyze trend data in the NetJets Safety Program and other industry data. 10%: Track ASAP related safety recommendations and corrective actions to ensure that follow-up actions have been taken that are effective. Determine if the actions have been effective and if not, make recommendations for additional changes or corrective action. 5%: Contribute to the production of the NetJets Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) quarterly newsletters. 5%: Acts as an information conduit to bring safety of flight issues to the attention of management and to deliver safety information to NJA employees. Education Level: High School Graduate Type of Credentials/Licenses: Maintenance Technician Certificate, A&P License Related Work Experience: 2 years or equivalent experience Required: • Must be able to work independently and use independent discretion and judgment. • Exposure to responding to irregular events as well as identifying, evaluating and writing risk assessments for said events. • Familiarity with safety analysis, trending and risk assessment. • Ability to use sound judgment in analyzing reports, assessing risks and making recommendations. • Must possess a demonstrated high degree of personal and professional integrity with the ability to maintain confidentiality. • Detail oriented characteristics with an ability to prioritize multiple objectives in a dynamic environment with constantly shifting priorities. • Strong verbal and written communication with the ability to write effective reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. • Technical computer expertise and proficient knowledge in commercial off-the-shelf applications, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). • Must be effective working both individually as well as in a team environment with the ability to interact in a tactful manner. • Able to read and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations with a working knowledge of applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. • Demonstrated ability to interact with people at varying levels of authority. Desired: • Operational Experience within Aviation Safety, Flight Operations, Maintenance, or equivalent transportation industry. • Professional training and/or education in safety or investigation fundamentals. • Experience or training in Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). • Professional experience and/or education in aviation safety investigations with particular experience or training in Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). • Professional experience and/or education in aviation safety. • Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to effectively present on both the individual level and to large audiences, including NetJets employees, industry professionals and federal agencies. To apply, please visit www.netjets.com/careers Back to Top Technical and Training Manager Flight Safety Foundation l BARS Melbourne, Australia An exciting role for a high-performing aviation expert as Technical and Training Manager with Flight Safety Foundation. Flight Safety Foundation is a non-profit organization staffed and managed by a small group of specialists in aviation safety and aviation communications. Operations are overseen by a board of governors, with primary guidance by a foundation governance council. The board is composed of executives from all segments of the global aviation industry to provide as broad a view of issues as possible. In addition, several standing advisory committees and ad hoc study groups provide focused, detailed direction and assistance in identifying and addressing opportunities for the continual improvement of aviation safety worldwide. Founded in 1947, today, membership includes more than 1,000 organizations and individuals in 150 countries. The Foundation is based in Alexandria, Virginia, USA and has a regional office in Melbourne, Australia. The predominant purpose of the Melbourne office of FSF is to run the BARS Program. The BARS Program is made up of a suite of risk-based aviation industry Standards with supporting Implementation Guidelines. There are dedicated Standards for Contracted Aviation Operations, Offshore Helicopter Operations, Aerial Mustering and Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems. The role of Technical and Training Manager has been created to support the Managing Director in the delivery of the BARS Program objectives and support the Technical team in the function of the Audit Program delivery and quality control. We are seeking to appoint a candidate with the following credentials: - Relevant tertiary qualifications in Business and/or Engineering, • Extensive experience (10-15+ years) in either flight operations (pilot or flight engineer) roles or a maintenance & engineering role. • Aviation background and knowledge-based leadership (through aviation technical expertise) is critical to the success of the role • The ability to lead and coach the Technical team by developing and educating them in areas of aviation safety. • Deep understanding of Safety Management Systems (SMS) (ICAO Annex 19 and Doc 9859) and Quality principles (ISO 9001:2016 or ISO 9000). • Experience in delivering training in a classroom environment. • Excellent written skills to undertake data analysis and prepare reports. • Excellent communications skills and the ability to confidently present at Public Speaking events • Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data • Strong organisational and project management skills • Competent with Microsoft Office - Word, Excel PowerPoint and Outlook • Tableau or Power BI would be an advantage • Prepared to travel domestically and internationally regularly (unrestricted passport) • Pilots - Accident free record This role will be based in Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia For a confidential discussion about this role or to receive a copy of a detailed Position Description, please contact Jennifer Galvin-Rowley on +61 410 477 235 or email jen@galvinrowley.com.au Applications should be made online by visiting www.galvinrowley.com.au Back to Top Register for the 72nd International Air Safety Summit (IASS 2019) in Taipei and join over 400 people as we discuss top safety issues in aviation. Held Nov. 2 - 4, IASS 2019 brings together aerospace and aviation professionals from around the globe to exchange information and propose new directions for further risk reductions. This three-day event features 11 sessions with speakers from NASA, International Air Transport Association, Taiwan Transportation Safety Board, UK Flight Safety Committee and more. IASS 2019 will take place at the Mandarin Oriental, a five-star retreat in the heart of Taipei. The Foundation has secured a block of sleeping at a special group rate. Register and reserve your room by Tuesday, Oct. 8, to take advantage of the discount. Link: https://flightsafety.org/summit-seminar/72nd-iass/ Curt Lewis