Flight Safety Information April 20, 2020 - No. 079 In This Issue U.K. GA Pilots Told To Stay Home FAA Approves Seatless Airliners For Freight VFR CHARTS TO GO ON 56-DAY PUBLICATION CYCLE IN 2021 Emirates A380 dipped below 400ft as crew mistakenly chased glideslope America's 'Big Three' Airlines Prepare for a Very Painful Fall United Airlines Sells 22 Aircraft To BOC Aviation For Leaseback Aviation Safety Expert Baines Simmons Receives Highest Feefo Award: Platinum Trusted Service 2020 Dallas-based private jet business grounds planes, furloughs staff China Development Bank, General Electric Cancel Boeing 737 MAX Jet Order FAA commercial space office completes reorganization US to resume manned space launches next month after 9 years Aviation remote learning opportunities by Lufthansa Group specialist company Aircraft Accident Investigation Series in Slovenia AvMaSSI - HazCom & Infectious Disease Control Program USC Aviation Safety & Security Program...Has Moved Online Call for Nominations For 2020 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award U.K. GA Pilots Told To Stay Home While pilots in many places are taking advantage of the COVID-19 downtime and getting some flying done, the U.K. is strongly suggesting that recreational pilots hang up their headsets until physical distancing measures are relaxed. The government has not prohibited recreational flying but it has suggested that those who don't fly to provide essential services limit their activity to a few narrowly restricted types of flights and to only fly solo. Flight training, in particular, is frowned upon. The authorities say the rationale is that they don't want air traffic services to be burdened by handling non-essential flights and they don't want an accident to divert rescue and medical resources away from the COVID fight. Under the government guidelines, non-commercial GA flights in everything from balloons to helicopters should be limited to ferry flights for maintenance when the maintenance required can't be obtained at the aircraft's base airport, post-maintenance test flights and "engine health flights" that are specifically required by the engine manufacturer. In the absence of the manufacturer's requirement, operators are being urged to prevent internal corrosion by winterization or inhibition. So far, the government says it is satisfied with the response from private pilots and the guidelines will remain as guidelines. "The message we are receiving from the GA community is that they fully appreciate the need for these restrictions, and observing them is being widely encouraged throughout the community," the government guidance says. "Because the directive to stay at home is being well observed, we do not perceive a need to introduce a specific ban on flying by visual flight rules (VFR) as seen in some European countries." https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/u-k-ga-pilots-told-to-stay-home/ Back to Top FAA Approves Seatless Airliners For Freight The FAA has issued guidance to airlines who want to take the seats out of idle aircraft and fill them with cargo. The drastic drop in passenger traffic has had a parallel effect on available cargo space. Some airlines were flying cargo-only flights with empty seats upstairs but the safety alert for operators (SAFO) issued by the agency gives formal approval for temporary freight conversions. The SAFO says freight can be carried in the overhead bins, on the seats or on the floor, with the seats removed. The seat tracks can be used for tying down the cargo. The weight and balance has to be calculated and the floor strength considered in placing the freight. One or more airline employees have to ride with the cabin freight because there are no fire detection systems in the passenger cabin. The freight can't block access to the fire extinguishers. Transport Canada approved conversion of three Air Canada Boeing 777-300s for cabin freight earlier this month and the aircraft have been flying regularly to China to pick up needed medical supplies. The conversion added almost 80 tons to the freight capacity of the heavies and they've transported millions of masks and gowns and dozens of ventilators. The airline is also using unconverted 787s and smaller 777-200s in cargo-only service and is doing a total of about 20 freight flights a week to Europe and Asia. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-approves-seatless-airliners-for-freight/ Back to Top VFR CHARTS TO GO ON 56-DAY PUBLICATION CYCLE IN 2021 The FAA announced plans to put visual navigation and planning charts on a 56-day publication cycle early next year, streamlining the process of updating charted information and causing some charts now in use to become obsolete earlier than their published expiration dates. The new 56-day publication cycle will take effect on February 25, 2021, for all sectional aeronautical charts, VFR terminal area charts, VFR flyway planning charts, and Helicopter Route Charts and will coincide with publication of other en route, terminal, and supplemental chart products. The FAA expects the change to result in significant reductions of chart-related notams because new information will be added to charts more quickly than is the case on the current publication cycles of 168 days to two years. The change will also make the chart bulletins that are contained in chart supplement volumes unnecessary, the FAA said. "AOPA has been advocating for this change and working with the FAA to move toward a 56-day cycle for some time and appreciates the FAA's willingness to work collaboratively to bring about one of the biggest changes to visual charts in decades," said Rune Duke, AOPA senior director of airspace, air traffic, and aviation security. "We know from our surveys that close to 90 percent of pilots are primarily using electronic charts and no longer rely on paper charts. We believe this transition will improve safety and allow greater modernization of charting products to meet general aviation pilots' needs, but we also remain sensitive to paper chart availability and cost." Pilots should note that some VFR navigation charts currently in effect will become obsolete earlier than their published expiration dates. Affected charts will be listed in a charting notice expected to be released soon. In a related action to take effect February 25, 2021, the FAA will revise the wording of a note that appears on navigation charts that extend into foreign airspace to caution that limited chart information is provided outside of U.S. airspace for orientation and transition to foreign charts and flight information publications, and that pilots should refer to foreign publications outside of U.S. airspace. "We will continue to work with the FAA on numerous other chart changes that will further improve the utility of visual and IFR charting products," Duke said. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/april/16/vfr-charts-to-go-on-56-day-publication-cycle-in-2021 Back to Top Emirates A380 dipped below 400ft as crew mistakenly chased glideslope Investigators have determined that an Emirates Airbus A380 descended far below the glideslope at Moscow Domodedovo after its crew entered a rapid descent, erroneously believing the jet was too high for the correct approach path. It descended to 504ft above ground - with a rate of descent of 1,600ft/min - while still some 7.4nm from the threshold of runway 14R, in darkness, before the crew executed a go-around. The A380 lost a further 109ft, dipping to just 395ft, before climbing away, the aircraft's ground-proximity warning system having sounded 'terrain' and 'pull up' alerts. Analysis from the United Arab Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority found that the aircraft had effectively been descending in pursuit of an imaginary glideslope after the crew's instruments indicated the A380 was above the correct descent path. This instrument reading had been false, because the aircraft was still outside of the zone of reliability for ILS signals and, as a result, was receiving noisy and inaccurate ILS data. Despite the signal's unreliability the first officer, who was flying, referred only to this glideslope deviation indication. The inquiry says he became "cognitively fixated" on the belief the aircraft was high, and opted to conduct a procedure to intercept the glideslope from above. The first officer "did not confirm" the aircraft's actual vertical position using other available sources, including the navigation display, approach chart, or pressure altitude indicator, says the inquiry. Had he done so, it adds, he would "most likely" not have carried out this intercept procedure. While cockpit-voice recorder information was unavailable, having been overwritten during the return service to Dubai, investigators have reconstructed the sequence leading up to the incident. The aircraft had been north of Domodedovo, on a south-west heading and was due to join the AO14K arrival pattern which would have involved flying over the AMTAM waypoint on the base leg and turning left onto the approach to runway 14R. But it was instead vectored along a parallel base leg which was some 2.9nm closer to the runway threshold. At the time the aircraft was flying at 3,250ft and its crew was offered a descent to 2,230ft (500m QFE) to establish on the localiser. To reduce the A380's altitude the crew switched to 'open descent' mode, which maintains idle thrust while maintaining a target speed - in this case 170kt - by adjusting pitch. As the aircraft neared 2,300ft, the first officer commenced the procedure to intercept the glideslope from above - setting a 2000ft/min rate of descent - perceiving that the aircraft was high on the approach while just a few seconds from capturing the localiser. But analysis of the situation has determined that the aircraft would have established on the localiser about 63s from the time the first officer commenced the procedure, and only if the aircraft had maintained its assigned altitude. This meant the interception procedure, which requires the aircraft to be already established on the localiser, was premature. The aircraft was still on the base leg and 2.6nm from the extended runway centreline. "The [first officer's] action in attempting to join the glideslope from above was because of the false indication that the aircraft was high due to the invalid glideslope deviation, and his perception that the aircraft would be established on the localiser very soon," says the inquiry. "In fact, the actual aircraft position was already below the 3° glideslope, and the aircraft would have established on the localiser far beyond his expectation." After initiating the interception procedure, the first officer focused on the A380's heading to establish on the localiser course as well as its configuration for landing, without monitoring the correct glide capture. "The displayed glideslope deviation crossed almost the full scale, from above to below, without engagement of the expected glideslope capture mode," says the inquiry. It adds that the captain's role of monitoring pilot was not helped by the first officer's having "improvised" the interception, and states: "No action by either flightcrew member took place to stop the aircraft from descending." As the A380 passed through 2,044ft pressure altitude, at 170kt, the radar controller ordered the crew to halt further descent, repeating the instruction three times and informing the pilots that the aircraft's transponder was showing 290m when the runway elevation was 180m - a difference of 590ft. At about this time the crew commenced a go-around. Investigators state that the crew also subsequently aborted a second approach before the aircraft landed on its third attempt. None of the 448 occupants of the aircraft (A6-EEZ), which was operating flight EK131 from Dubai on 10 September 2017, was injured during the incident. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/emirates-a380-dipped-below-400ft-as-crew-mistakenly-chased-glideslope/137956.article Back to Top America's 'Big Three' Airlines Prepare for a Very Painful Fall The world's largest carriers are on a one-way trip from pandemic to contraction, and more than 100,000 employees could pay the fare. U.S. airlines face a bleak future of depressed traffic and volatile revenue well into 2021, as the global economy transitions from the acute damage of a public health catastrophe into a potentially long recession. Already a bumpy ride for the "Big Three" carriers, the journey promises to get worse this fall when billions of dollars in government assistance comes to an end. Several carriers, including Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc., have begun openly contemplating how they will shrink operations, while American Airlines Group Inc. is moving to shed more of its older planes. By one analyst's count, as many as 105,000 jobs could be lost industrywide. Airlines are barred from slashing jobs through Sept. 30 under the terms of a $50 billion government bailout, but they're already warning employees that cuts are almost inevitable. The planned contraction reflects a widespread belief that 2020 revenues could shrink to levels not seen in years. Recovery will probably be a long-term affair, said Cowen & Co., which predicted that ticket sales may not rebound to pre-pandemic levels until 2025. "The challenging economic outlook means we have some tough decisions ahead as we plan for our airline, and our overall workforce, to be smaller than it is today," United's chief executive and president, Oscar Munoz and Scott Kirby, wrote in an April 15 employee memo. Unable to cut jobs or salaries while receiving grants to cover payroll, airlines will staff their typical summer peak largely as usual, even with millions of fewer travelers. But come fall, it could get ugly for employees. "We're going to be smaller coming out of this," Delta Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told employees last month. "Certainly quite a bit smaller than when we went into it." The reversal of fortune comes as a shock for an industry that just last year was breaking passenger traffic records. Last week, the average number of U.S. daily passengers declined 96%, to 95,531, compared with 2.39 million last year, according to Transportation Security Administration data compiled by Bloomberg. Such anemic demand means that anything less than a robust rebound over the coming months will prompt airlines to cut more employees, jettison older aircraft and cut more salaries, which in turn could persuade more workers to depart. During the past two months, at least 87,000 employees-more than one quarter of the Big Three airlines' workforce-have taken voluntary leaves, early retirement or reduced work hours. Carriers face "the worst cash crisis in the history of flight," with booked revenues down 103% year over year, according to industry lobby Airlines for America. Domestic flights are averaging just 10 passengers while international flights average 24, the group said. "We could see the airlines look to shed 800 to 1,000 aircraft, which could result in a reduction of 95,000 to 105,000 airline jobs." Southwest Airlines Co. told union leaders it might slash some of its 60,000 workers this fall if a deal can't be reached to cut labor costs further and traffic doesn't return to more normal patterns. Any furloughs would be the first in Southwest's 49-year history. The government bailout bought employees and labor unions time to devise methods to lessen financial hardship, including bridges to early retirement and other separation programs, said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents almost 50,000 attendants at 19 airlines, including United and Alaska Air Group Inc. "This gives us time to plan for cutting down the ranks without just cutting people out of work," Nelson said. "We're going to be taking proactive steps to stave off as much hurt as possible in the fall." The union and its allies are also pushing Congress to amend the bailout legislation so that a dozen large airlines can keep about $6 billion the U.S. Treasury is currently expecting to be repaid. The pace of any recovery for ticket sales this summer will dictate how many airline jobs are at risk, but so will carrier liquidity when balanced against their debt loads, said William Swelbar, an aviation consultant and a director of Hawaiian Holdings Inc. "It's going to become a balance sheet story again," he said. Airlines like Delta and United are built atop global networks oiled by revenue-sharing alliances. Funneling corporate travelers through domestic feeder routes that can connect a New Hampshire hamlet with a Chinese manufacturing hub is where the money is. Removing those high-value passengers from the equation is akin to tossing sand in the gears-it forces carriers to quickly cut costs to make up the lost revenue. "If you're a network carrier, there's your yield, and if that doesn't come back fast, they're really not designed to fly to Orlando and Vegas," Swelbar said of the Big Three. The big question is "how fast does the business piece come back?" While airlines foresee an uptick in bargain-hunting leisure travelers this summer, big money road warriors will take longer to win back. Corporations will be reluctant to assume the liability of putting employees back in the sky with Covid-19 still in wide circulation. Plus, many companies have learned to function via video conference-which is a lot cheaper than a business class seat. "The longer we go, the more people Zoom, the slower business travel is going to come back," said Swelbar. Moreover, those who do choose to start flying again won't be taking long-haul international flights, said Ben Baldanza, a director at JetBlue Airways Corp. and the former chief executive of Spirit Airlines Inc. "It's going to be easier for people to think 'I'll take a quick flight from Dallas to Los Angeles, but I am not going to go to the Middle East, Asia or Europe,'" he said. SFO As Airlines Seen Burning $61 Billion In Roughest Stretch Of Crisis A traveler checks in at an otherwise empty American Airlines counter inside San Francisco International Airport on April 2.Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg The airline industry generally has taken three to four years to fully recover from major disruptions, said Samuel Engel, head of the aviation group at consultant ICF. Economic downturns often accelerate trends that were already underway, like pulling down marginal routes and, more recently, the decline in demand for large aircraft, he said. "The last couple of years, you have seen extensions of flights toward end of day and early morning, and growth of long, thin routes to secondary cities in Asia," he said. "Those types of things get pulled back, and some don't reappear until quite late in the economic cycle." The coming industry pullback will also encompass revamping fleets and retiring older aircraft that are more expensive to operate and maintain. American Airlines has accelerated retirement of its oldest planes-51 Boeing Co. 767s and 757s-and will do the same with its fleet of 20 Embraer SA E190s and some 50-seat regional jets. It's also weighing whether to retire its oldest Boeing 737s. Delta is evaluating whether to speed the retirement of its oldest Boeing MD80 and MD90 aircraft, while United has said its oldest Boeing 757s and some 767s could also be grounded permanently, ahead of schedule. "Without a quick improvement in demand, we could see the airlines look to shed 800 to 1,000 aircraft, which could result in a reduction of 95,000 to 105,000 airline jobs," Cowen analyst Helane Becker wrote in an April 13 client note. "The rightsizing of the fleet and work force is an unfortunate truth." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-20/big-three-u-s-airlines-may-cut-more-than-100-000-jobs-come-fall Back to Top United Airlines Sells 22 Aircraft To BOC Aviation For Leaseback United Airlines has entered into a sale and leaseback agreement with BOC Aviation for 22 of its aircraft. This means that BOC Aviation will purchase the planes from United and then lease those same planes back to the airline, as announced on April 19th. The agreement between BOC Aviation and United Reuters reports that BOC Aviation reported the sale of the 22 aircraft to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Sunday. The deal includes six Boeing 787-9 aircraft and 16 Boeing 737 MAX 9. Though the details are limited, the aircraft lessor indicated that the leases with United are long-term, meaning that the airline will continue to fly these aircraft. This sale is a way for United to conserve some cash. Despite an agreement with the United States Treasury for $5 billion, the carrier still needs ways to raise more capital. This sale and leaseback means that United can earn some much-needed cash while also retaining aircraft for when they are ready to return to the sky. Most likely, all of the 22 aircraft in this agreement are on the ground. The 16 MAX 9s, for sure, are grounded, while United's expansive international route network has been significantly cut back in recent days. Sale and leaseback agreements These agreements are nothing new in the aviation world. Etihad also did the same for 38 aircraft in early February with a different company. In essence, these agreements do not change much about the aircraft and operation itself. Sale and leaseback agreements are nothing new in the industry. Photo: Getty Images United can still customize the interior of these aircraft. This would be incredibly important for the 787-9s, which are set to undergo retrofits to include Premium Plus and Polaris. In terms of its impact, United will receive some much-needed cash in the short-term with leasing installments in the long-term. Aircraft leasing is a complex web of agreements. However, leasing provides a way for airlines to acquire and operate new aircraft without requiring airlines to pay the full cost of the aircraft upfront, which can be in the hundreds of millions. BOC Aviation This company is a Singapore-based lessor wholly owned by the Bank of China with agreements around the world. The lessor works with airlines, including American, Interjet, Qatar Airways, and others. United Airlines Fleet The move will raise short-term cash for the airline. Photo: Getty Images As airlines around the world are facing negative pressure on their finances, BOC Aviation has made agreements with some carriers. This includes Cathay Pacific from whom the lessor purchased six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. At the end of March, BOC Aviation owned and managed a total of 363 aircraft with another 204 aircraft on order. This includes aircraft from the A320ceo and A320neo family, the A330ceo and A330neo family, Airbus A350s, Boeing 777-300s, Boeing 737 Next Generations, and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Overall For passengers, this sale and leaseback agreement will not affect too much. The aircraft will continue to fly United's colors once the global MAX grounding is lifted and once international routes start to open up in full. In the meantime, this will provide much-needed cash for the airline. https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-sale-leaseback/ Back to Top Aviation Safety Expert Baines Simmons Receives Highest Feefo Award: Platinum Trusted Service 2020 The Feefo Gold Trusted Service award recognizes companies who have collected at least 50 Feefo reviews in a year and have achieved a service rating of at least 4.5. Baines Simmons has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service award, an independent seal of excellence that recognizes businesses who consistently deliver exceptional experiences, as rated by real customers. Feefo is a reviews and customer insights technology company that provides over 3,500 businesses with the tools to collect real, purchase-verified reviews and insights. The Platinum Trusted Service distinction is the highest level of recognition from Feefo, awarded only to businesses who have achieved Gold standard for three consecutive years. The Feefo Gold Trusted Service award recognizes companies who have collected at least 50 Feefo reviews in a year and have achieved a service rating of at least 4.5. A highly-valued badge of approval, this accreditation remains unique, as it is based purely on the interactions with real customers. As all reviews are verified as genuine, the accreditation is a true reflection of a business's performance in delivering outstanding service. Baines Simmons is a trusted advisor on a global level, serving more than 750 aviation organisations and more than 40 aviation authorities. Renowned for its professional expertise, practical skills and industry experience in aviation regulations, compliance and safety management, Baines Simmons offers Aviation Safety Management, Fatigue Risk Management, Wildlife Hazard Management and Aircraft Registry Services. Ian Holder, managing director of Baines Simmons commented: "We're very proud to win the Feefo Platinum award, because it's based on actual feedback from our valued customers, collected and scored over several years by an independent expert. It recognizes our consistent hard work and performance in ensuring the best possible experience for our customers." "Everyone at Baines Simmons is committed to customer service excellence, an ambition which continues undiminished in the current period, despite the current restrictions brought about Covid-19", adds Ian Holder. "In aviation, there are huge implications in terms of preventing loss of skill and rebuilding competence for staff around the world. Many industry professionals need to continue training to achieve compliance, maximize current downtime and ensure they are ready when the restrictions are lifted. Skill-fade and loss of currency are potentially the most significant risk as aviation companies will emerge from this crisis and return to operations." To provide continued access to training and prevent the erosion of safety standards in the aviation sector, Baines Simmons has launched virtual courses for Aviation Safety, running a schedule of key training courses. These can be accessed without the need to travel and have been optimized for effective online learning, interaction and participation. "In these exceptional times, we remain as committed as ever to providing exceptional customer service. We are finding innovative ways to meet our customers' needs and we continue to support the Aviation industry through this time, whilst keeping our staff, clients and the wider public as safe as possible", adds Ian Holder. "The Trusted Service award has always been about recognizing companies that truly excel," said Steph Heasman, director of customer success at Feefo. "Our new Platinum award is about consistent achievement, sustained over three years by a business of any size that uses Feefo to provide outstandingly high levels of customer experience. It's a tough challenge and very-well deserved by those that earn it." Baines Simmons, which was acquired by Air Partner in August 2015, is recognized as one of the world's most influential aviation consultancies in organisational safety performance. https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/maintenance-it/press-release/21134468/air-partner-aviation-safety-expert-baines-simmons-receives-highest-feefo-award-platinum-trusted-service-2020 Back to Top Dallas-based private jet business grounds planes, furloughs staff California transplant JetSuite saw its business evaporate in late March. JetSuite, a Dallas-based private aviation company, is shutting down operations "until further notice," according to a posting on the company's website. It catered to upscale travelers who wanted more flexible flight schedules than commercial airlines offer. "The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting state of emergency around the country has caused an unforeseeable, dramatic downturn in the entire aviation industry and our business in particular," the company's notice said. "As a result ..., we have grounded our fleet and furloughed most of our crew members." The shutdown was effective Wednesday. JetSuite's notice apologized to customers planning to travel for "this sudden, but unavoidable and necessary, cancellation of all flights until further notice." The private jet business saw a shortlived uptick in February and early March as major airlines began cutting routes to adjust to travel restrictions around the globe to control the virus spread. In a March 25 interview, air travel website Skift reported that JetSuite's business was quickly evaporating. "The thing that we are in business to do has disappeared. Or at least 90% of it has disappeared," CEO Alex Wilcox told Skift. "We've shrunk down to a minimum viable schedule, one flight per day in each market." The National Business Aviation Association, a trade group representing private jet companies, reported Friday that business aviation traffic took a precipitous drop from mid-March into April. It cited data compiled by Argus International. For the week ending March 17 - before social distancing and shelter-in-place orders went into effect in several U.S. states - Argus recorded 56,154 business aviation flights. That declined to 28,899 flights the following week. By the first week in April, charter flights were down 67% year-over-year. JetSuite arrived in North Texas in 2018 from California as one of the most high-profile additions to the region's aviation economy in years. It was described at the time as a well-capitalized veteran of the competitive and fractured private aviation landscape. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2020/04/17/dallas-based-private-jet-business-grounds-planes-furloughs-staff/ Back to Top China Development Bank, General Electric Cancel Boeing 737 MAX Jet Order China Development Bank (CDB) Financial Leasing Co announced on Monday it had agreed with Boeing Co (BA) to cancel the purchase of 29 undelivered 737 MAX jets in the latest blow to the aerospace company. The move comes after the grounding of 737 MAX aircraft by aviation authorities worldwide and the suspension of 737 MAX aircraft deliveries by Boeing. Following the cancellation CDB Financial Leasing still has a total order of 70 undelivered Boeing 737 MAX jets under various purchase agreements. In addition, the two parties agreed that all Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft will be converted to Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and that the delivery of another 20 undelivered jets will be deferred to dates in 2024, 2025 and 2026. "In light of evolving aviation market dynamics, we've been working together with Boeing over many months to re-calibrate our MAX orderbook to be in line with our long-term view of the market and related opportunities," Xuedong Wang, chairman of CDB Financial unit CDB Aviation, said in a statement. The cancellation comes after General Electric's (GE) aircraft leasing company GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) said on Friday it agreed with Boeing to scrap the order of 69 undelivered 737 MAX aircraft from GECAS' orderbook. Following the agreement, GECAS maintains 29 MAX aircraft in its fleet and 82 on order, making it among Boeing's largest lessor customers for this family of aircraft. "[The] agreement will help GECAS better align our available fleet with the needs of our global customer base," GECAS President and CEO Greg Conlon said in a statement. "We remain fully committed to the 737 MAX program and our valuable, long-term partnership with Boeing." https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-development-bank-general-electric-062832115.html Back to Top FAA commercial space office completes reorganization The FAA says a reorganization of its Office of Commercial Space Transportation is one of several steps needed to address growing commercial space activity. WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) office responsible for licensing commercial launches and reentries has completed a reorganization announced nearly a year ago intended to improve its efficiency. In an April 3 memo, Wayne Monteith, associate administrator for commercial space transportation at the FAA, said the reorganization of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation, or AST, had just been completed as it also works to finalize streamlined launch regulations intended to accommodate a growing number of commercial launches. "Our reorganization objectives are to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability," Monteith wrote in the three-page memo. "Most importantly, it will allow us to scale our processes to meet the increased licensing demand over the next several years." The new structure for AST creates two main offices, the Office of Operational Safety and the Office of Strategic Management. The safety office is further divided into three divisions, including one that serves as what Monteith described as a "one-stop shop" for license and experimental permit applications, as well as pre-application consultations and waiver requests. A second division is responsible for analyzing flight and system safety, while the third handles compliance oversight and inspections. The Office of Strategic Management includes one division handling business operations for AST, while another division is responsible for developing regulations and other guidance as well as managing research and outreach. The office will also host the Office of Spaceports, a position established by Congress in a 2018 FAA reauthorization bill to handle licensing and other issues for commercial launch sites. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced plans for an "extensive reorganization" of AST in an April 2018 speech in Florida. She said the reorganization would "maximize the efficiencies of the new streamlined rule" for commercial launch and reentry licensing, but provided few details then about what that reorganization would entail. Chao, speaking at the 23rd Annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference here Jan. 29, mentioned the reorganization again. "We have a competitive race going on, and we need to be able to have the right people doing the right things so that our country can benefit," she said. Monteith, speaking at the same conference, said the reorganization would be completed in the next two months. The memo didn't disclose additional details about the reorganization, such as staffing levels for the new offices. "The recent reorganization of the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation ensures the office operates more effectively to better serve the commercial space transportation industry," the FAA said in a statement responding to SpaceNews questions about the reorganization. That reorganization is just one of several measures Monteith described in his memo to address growing commercial spaceflight activity. "Since 2012, licensed activities increased 1,000% and AST's budget and staffing increased roughly 40 percent," he wrote. "Moreover, we are now looking at another potential increase of 100-500% in commercial launch activity by 2021 while our staff may only increase about 20 percent." That effort features continued work on the revised launch and reentry regulations, reviewing extensive public input to a draft rule published a year ago. "This extraordinary effort alone consumes, at any given time, about 20-40 percent of our workload capacity," he wrote, but said AST remained on schedule to publish a final rule in the fall. Monteith said AST was also examining ways to streamline its processes. One example he gave was changes to the application process, such as greater use of automation. He said the office has already shown it can be "on console" in its safety oversight role for launches from Cape Canaveral and elsewhere without physically being at the launch site. Even with the streamlined office, regulations and processes, Monteith said the office will still need to hire additional staff to keep up with the projected growth in commercial launches. The FAA, in its fiscal year budget proposal released in February, sought a 6% increase in AST's budget primarily to hire nine people. The office currently has 108 employees, the budget proposal stated. "We cannot accomplish any of the above without continuing to on-board the right people, with the right skills, in the right positions," Monteith said in the memo after discussing the other efforts to address growing launch activity. That hiring, he said, includes both entry-level and experienced personnel. https://spacenews.com/faa-commercial-space-office-completes-reorganization/ Back to Top US to resume manned space launches next month after 9 years SpaceX set to become first private company to launch people into orbit on May 27, when 2 NASA astronauts will head to International Space Station CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) - NASA and SpaceX have picked May 27 for resuming astronaut launches from the US after nine years of complete Russian dependence. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the launch date Friday. Astronauts haven't launched into orbit from the US since NASA's last space shuttle flight in 2011. SpaceX aims to end the drought by sending two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. "On May 27, @NASA will once again launch American astronauts on American rockets from American soil!" Bridenstine tweeted. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top storiesFREE SIGN UP Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will blast off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, departing from the same Kennedy Space Center launch pad used by shuttle Atlantis in July 2011, as well as the Apollo moonshots a half-century ago. Hurley served as pilot on that last shuttle mission and will be the spacecraft commander for SpaceX's Dragon crew capsule. Launch day will be a Wednesday, with a liftoff time of 4:32 p.m. EDT. It's too soon to know whether the coronavirus pandemic will prompt crowd restrictions. Only three countries have launched people into orbit since 1961: Russia, the US and China, in that order. SpaceX would be the first company. SpaceX successfully conducted its first test flight of a Dragon crew capsule a year ago, sending the capsule - minus a crew - to the space station. The returned capsule was accidentally destroyed during ground testing at Cape Canaveral, further delaying the astronaut launch. With the space station crew now down to three, Hurley and Behnken will spend weeks, perhaps months, helping to maintain the orbiting lab. The length of their mission is still under review, according to NASA. NASA, meanwhile, is in the process of buying another seat on a Russian rocket. Russian Soyuz capsules have been the sole means of crew transportation to and from the space station since 2011. SpaceX has been using Falcon 9 rockets to launch cargo to the space station in the company's original Dragon capsules since 2012. NASA turned to private companies for deliveries once the shuttle program ended. Boeing also is working to launch astronauts under NASA's commercial crew program, but the company's effort suffered a serious setback following last December's botched test flight. Launching without anyone on board, Boeing's Starliner capsule failed to reach the space station after ending up in the wrong orbit and came close to destruction twice because of software errors. Boeing plans to repeat the test flight, again without astronauts, this fall. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-to-resume-manned-space-launches-next-month-after-9-years/ The USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Has Moved Online! The following upcoming courses will take place in our virtual WebEx classrooms. Gas Turbine Accident Investigation Skills and knowledge to examine the involvement of turbine engines in fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft accidents. May 4-8, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Software Safety Philosophies and methods of developing software, analyzing software, and managing a software safety program. May 11-14, 2020 4 Days Tuition: $2125 SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems Managing and implementing aviation security measures at medium to small size aircraft operators, all airports, and Indirect Air Carriers, with emphasis on risk assessment and cyber security. May 11-15, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Safety Management Systems for Managers Providing Managers and Supervisors an understanding of the principles of an SMS and a clear vision of the role of the manager May 27-28, 2020 1.5 Days Tuition: $1025 More classes will move online soon. If you want to take a specific class online, or have any questions, please contact us. Earn Credit for FlightSafety Master Technician-Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn elective credits towards FlightSafety International's Master Technician-Management Program • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Gas Turbine Accident Investigation • Helicopter Accident Investigation • Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance • Safety Management for Ground Operations Safety • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness Earn Credit for FlightSafety Master Technician-Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn two points toward completing the application for the National Business Aviation Certified Aviation Manager Exam. • Aviation Safety Management Systems • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Aircraft Accident Investigation • SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems For further details, please visit our website or use the contact information below. Email: aviation@usc.edu Telephone: +1 (310) 342-1345 Photo Credit: PFC Brendan King, USMC Back to Top Call for Nominations For 2020 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. The Award is scheduled to be presented during the 73nd Annual International Air Safety Summit, taking place Oct. 19-21 in Paris, France. Presented since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners of the Award can be submitted one additional time for consideration. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back 75 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In the years following, her husband, Rev. Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. The Award Board, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient. Please help us honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/. Nominations will be accepted until May 10, 2020. For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see www.ltbaward.org. About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956, her husband, Rev. Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and their son, Cliff, established the Award in her honor. For nearly 65 years, this long distinguished award has recognized those responsible for crowning achievements in aviation safety worldwide. The Award was established through early association with the Flight Safety Foundation and from its founding has enjoyed a rich history of Award Board members, nominees and Award recipients. In 2013, the non-profit Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed from members of the Award Board, the aviation community and the Barbour family. As the foundation plans to broaden the scope of its intent, with great purpose, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to spotlight those champions who pioneer breakthroughs in flight safety. For more information on the foundation, the award, and past winners, visit http://LTBAward.org Curt Lewis