Flight Safety Information April 27, 2020 - No. 084 In This Issue Incident: Canada B789 at Hong Kong on Apr 21st 2020, descended below safe altitude on ILS intercept Operators of 787s warned after latest ILS deviation incident at Hong Kong Venezuelan-registered private jet ends up in smoke during takeoff in Fort Lauderdale Thai carriers prepare to restart domestic flights A New Opportunity For Hydrogen is Aviation Potentially 1.2 billion fewer international air travellers by September: ICAO Japan Airlines Is Flying Empty Planes To Los Angeles Supersonic aircraft facility, 675 high-paying jobs coming to Space Coast Airbus warns staff on jobs with its 'survival at stake' After betting its future on Boeing, jetmaker Embraer scrambles for elusive...plan - B Russian cargo ship delivers 2.8 tons of supplies to space station Call for Nominations For 2020 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Online Fire & Explosion Investigation from SCSI Greetings from the ISASI 2020 Planning Committee Aviation remote learning opportunities by Lufthansa Group specialist company Incident: Canada B789 at Hong Kong on Apr 21st 2020, descended below safe altitude on ILS intercept An Air Canada Boeing 787-9, registration C-FNOH performing flight AC-2287 (dep Apr 20th) from Vancouver,BC (Canada) to Hong Kong (China) with 4 crew on board, was cleared to for the ILS approach to runway 25L. When the aircraft overflew waypoint LOTUS, the aircraft was handed to tower. Shortly after approach observed the aircraft overshooting the localizer and descending to 3900 feet, the minimum sector altitude being 4300 feet. Approach issued a terrain warning, the crew corrected their flight path to re-intercept the localizer and continued for a safe landing. On Apr 24th 2020 the Canadian TSB reported the flight crew reported a false capture of the ILS runway 25L. They were visual with the terrain and the airport. The operator is conducting an internal assessment. There had been other similiar occurrences to runway 25R, see Incident: Virgin Atlantic B789 at Hong Kong on Oct 18th 2019, deviated from localizer and descended below minimum safe altitude, Incident: Virgin Atlantic B789 at Hong Kong on Sep 29th 2019, deviated from localizer and descended below minimum safe altitude, Incident: Etihad B789 at Hong Kong on Sep 7th 2019, veered off localizer and descended below safe height on ILS approach and Incident: Ethiopian B788 at Hong Kong on Jul 18th 2019, loss of control on ILS approach. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA2287/history/20200420/1931Z/CYVR/VHHH http://avherald.com/h?article=4d65c6b7&opt=0 Back to Top Operators of 787s warned after latest ILS deviation incident at Hong Kong Hong Kong authorities have warned Boeing 787 operators of possible adverse autopilot behaviour during localiser capture at the city's international airport, after the latest in a string of incidents involving the type. A newly-issued NOTAM instructs carriers to check a Boeing flight crew operations bulletin referring to "anomalies" in localiser capture and possible misbehavior by the autopilot flight-director system, particularly during ILS approaches to runways 25R and 25L. It states that the issue can lead to "proximity to high grounds", adding that - if it doubt - crews should climb back to minimum sector altitude and conduct a missed approach. The NOTAM follows an incident on 21 April involving an Air Canada 787-9, arriving from Vancouver, which had been cleared for an ILS approach to 25L. Transportation Safety Board of Canada says the crew contacted air traffic control after reaching the waypoint LOTUS, located about 15nm from the threshold, and reported being established on the ILS. After controllers advised the crew to switch to the Hong Kong tower frequency, they observed the aircraft "overshooting the localiser" of 25L and descending to 3,900ft - below the minimum sector altitude of 4,300ft. Controllers contacted the crew to warn of terrain and the pilots corrected the flightpath to re-intercept the ILS. The crew reported receiving a "false capture" of the ILS, says the safety board, which adds that the pilots had visual contact with both the terrain and the airport at the time. The safety board indicates that only four occupants were on board the 787 (C-FNOH), suggesting it was operating a special freight supply service. Boeing has been working on a resolution to the issue, which has affected several 787 flights into Hong Kong including four between July and October last year involving aircraft operated by Virgin Atlantic, Ethiopian Airlines, and Etihad Airways. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/operators-of-787s-warned-after-latest-ils-deviation-incident-at-hong-kong/138074.article Back to Top Venezuelan-registered private jet ends up in smoke during takeoff in Fort Lauderdale FORT LAUDERDALE, - A Venezuelan-registered IAI 1125 Astra business jet ran off the end of the runway Friday afternoon at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport during a failed attempt to take off, according to The Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot of a private jet that is registered in Venezuela had difficulties during take off on Friday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale. According to Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the FAA, three people were aboard the private jet, which was headed to Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. The pilot of a private jet registered in Venezuela was unable to take off and ran off the runway Friday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale. Ft. Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said firefighters responded quickly because the plane was carrying 6,800 pounds of fuel. "There was smoke coming from the right side of the aircraft," Gollan said. "Our firefighters immediately put foam blankets down and extinguished any possibility for fire in the area." There were three people aboard a private jet that was unable to take off on Friday in Fort Lauderdale. Gollan said the two men and a woman inside were able to step off the plane safely and were not injured An FAA employee was there to begin the investigation, Bergen said, adding that The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the incident. https://www.local10.com/news/local/2020/04/24/venezuelan-registered-private-jet-turns-up-in-smoke-during-takeoff-in-fort-lauderdale/ *************** Date: 24-APR-2020 Time: Type: IAI 1125 Astra Owner/operator: Private Registration: YV3427 C/n / msn: 054 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE/KFXE), FL - United States of America Phase: Take off Nature: Executive Departure airport: Fort Lauderdale-Executive Airport, FL (FXE/KFXE) Destination airport: Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS/SVMI) Narrative: A Venezuelan registered IAI 1125 Astra sustained minor to moderate damage when suffered a runway excursion on takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE/KFXE), Florida. The three people onboard were not injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/235488 Back to Top Thai carriers prepare to restart domestic flights Some airlines in Thailand are preparing to restart domestic flights on 1 May with distancing and temperature screening measures in place. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand met with representatives from 20 airlines to discuss guidelines and rules for the resumption of flights, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said on 26 April. Of those, low-cost carriers Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air have said they will start flights. The measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 onboard include selling tickets for 70% of a plane's capacity and passengers wearing their own masks at all times, while crew will wear masks, gloves and face shields. In-flight meal services will be suspended and passengers may not bring their own food and beverages onboard. Thai AirAsia said on 24 April that passengers will have their temperature checked prior to boarding and will only be allowed to bring one small bag weighing under 5 kg on board. Cabin crew and other operational staff will also have their temperature checked before and after duty, while aircraft, shuttle buses, service counters and check-in kiosks will be disinfected on a daily basis, the airline said in a statement. International passenger flights have been barred from landing in the country since 4 April. https://www.flightglobal.com/networks/thai-carriers-prepare-to-restart-domestic-flights/138085.article Back to Top A New Opportunity For Hydrogen is Aviation Dr. Val Miftakhov is the CEO and founder at ZeroAvia; a company focused on hydrogen power for aviation. Despite all of the buzz around the long-distance zero-emission travel hydrogen could bring to our roads, Val argues the lack of adoption here has been because the focus of the hydrogen industry's efforts has focused on the wrong initial market. The coronavirus pandemic has revealed how dramatically global CO2 emissions can fall when world governments take collective and decisive action. According to the Australia Institute, airlines' carbon emissions could drop by more than one-third this year, given the lack of travel at airports around the world. Conversations are percolating on what steps both commercial and private airlines should take post-pandemic to ensure the industry becomes much more sustainable over time. A number of governments have already indicated that they will be looking into requiring robust sustainability plans from the airline industry that is now looking for government support. The crisis also makes a lot of people reflect in general on the impact of humans on the ecosystem and our interactions with it. We are feeling optimistic that this more thoughtful attitude towards our planet's ecosystem will prevail after the storm passes and we will see an increased push for transformational changes in aviation. As we shared in one of our recent publications, hydrogen power has the unique capability to drive such a transformation to decarbonize aviation. Hydrogen-based aircraft propulsion satisfies the requirements for extreme energy density and high cycle frequency, while avoiding the scalability problems of biofuels, making this a virtual necessity in our carbon-neutral future. Conceivably even more interesting, we believe that the reverse is also going to be true - that aviation will become the main driving force that finally propels hydrogen into the mainstream as the zero-emission solution of choice for a variety of transportation needs. While we've seen consistent buzz over the years surrounding the potential of hydrogen fuel, mass adoption still lags. From the very first fuel cell vehicle introduced in 1959 to the work of major Asian automakers bringing production fuel cell cars to the market, we've seen billions of dollars spent on fuel cells. Yet, today's modern battery electric vehicles have outsold hydrogen cars 307 to 1 in the last ten years. Many economists and experts interpret these results as the death spell for hydrogen mobility. With the rise of more disruptive EV vehicle models, we've seen millions of EV advocates encourage the automakers and the governments to stop wasting billions on 'fool cells.' To no surprise, these advocates have a point given the market outcomes of the launch of electric vehicles and the success of EV adoption globally. From the high cost of the fuel cell cars themselves to the mind-boggling expense of the fueling infrastructure to replace all the gas stations, the barriers seem insurmountable. Are hydrogen discussions dead given the success of electric vehicles? Not so fast. At ZeroAvia, we think that fuel cells have a great future in transportation. It's just that previous efforts have focused on a completely wrong side of the market - light duty road transport. In actuality, it's aviation that will drive the adoption of hydrogen across sectors. Let's look at it in more detail. Aviation is best matched to hydrogen's superior energy density and low cycling costs As a foundational principle, one should consider the various transportation modes in terms of energy intensity and utilization. The energy intensity can be approximated by what fraction of vehicle weight is allocated to fuel, and utilization - by the percent of the time the vehicle is in motion. These dimensions map well to the critical differences between battery and fuel cell vehicles: energy density, recharge time, and cycle costs - allowing us to have a clear, logical discussion of the applicability of various propulsion approaches to various transport types. Today, the best production battery packs have 200 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) energy density, 1,000-2,000 cycle life, and recharge time of 45+ minutes. In contrast, a liquid hydrogen fuel cell system can get to 3,000+ Wh/kg, 15,000+ cycle life, and refuel in 20 minutes. Therefore, the higher the energy intensity and utilization, the more the balance tips towards hydrogen. When you examine the various transport types in terms of its energy density and utilization, the differences are staggering. Personal cars go into the bottom left corner - low two percent energy intensity, and low level of five percent utilization. Light duty commercial vehicles are slightly better - three percent energy intensity and much higher 30 percent utilization. Next, we have medium-duty delivery trucks that possess 3.5 percent energy intensity and even higher utilization of 40 percent. Heavy-duty trucks are even higher, at roughly 11 percent energy intensity and 50 percent utilization. And then we come to the pinnacle of the chart: commercial aircraft. Boeing 737-400 has an energy intensity of almost 40 percent, staying in the air on average approximately 10 hours/day and for 40 percent utilization. This analysis makes it clear why hydrogen fuel cell transport to date has mostly failed. Light duty personal vehicles are the worst possible segment, where even the current batteries are good enough. A typical electric vehicle with 200-mile range and 1,000 battery cycles has an excellent 200,000-mile lifetime - more than it needs. In contrast, a Boeing 737 on a San Francisco - Los Angeles service will run eight trips (cycles) / day. Of course, a battery would not work here at all due to weight, but even if it somehow magically did, it would last just four to eight months, requiring an astonishing 30 battery replacements over the aircraft's lifetime. Hydrogen fuel cell systems could last ten times longer, potentially beating even the current turbine technology. The best case for hydrogen is pretty clear once you look at the fundamentals. Aviation supports most concentrated and efficient fueling infrastructure Aviation's advantages get even more apparent when you consider fueling infrastructure. In the US, there are 110,000 car gas stations and 6,000 truck stations. In contrast, 85 percent of all commercial air traffic in the US concentrate in just 50 airports, where all these aircraft refuel, as well (the remaining 15 percent are across only 450 more). Quite obviously, the more extensive the fueling network, the harder and more expensive it is to replace it. Individual stations get smaller, requiring more complex fuel logistics, and resulting in higher amortization costs per kilogram of fuel dispensed. Once again, commercial air transport shines. Aviation powertrains are much less price sensitive than automotive Finally, the powertrain costs point in the same direction. When a typical car engine contributes only eight to ten percent to the vehicle cost or approximately $3,000 per driver, any competing technology has to compete with that number. A useful metric here is the cost per kilowatt (kW) or propulsion, which is about $30/kW for a personal car. With the current values of fuel cell systems at $200-$300/kW, this is a robust number to beat. Refreshingly, even a small 800 kW aviation turbine costs $1 million, or over $1,000/kW. Again, it is blindingly apparent where the sweet spot is for fuel cells. Therefore, we believe it is aviation, not cars - and especially not personal cars - that will finally drive hydrogen to become a mass transportation fuel. The sooner the industry and the governments realize that, and align their investments accordingly, the sooner we will have hydrogen fuel scale-up. With the initial high-volume infrastructure built out at the airports, ground transport will get 100+ large-scale, low-cost production and fueling points. Airports, as natural transportation hubs, are among the best places for refueling, where over a billion people show up every year, and millions of vehicles pick up and deliver. From these apparent locations, we will have a further expansion of the fueling infrastructure to cover lighter and lighter duty transport, and possibly, one day in the future, making even personal hydrogen cars viable. In short, nowhere else is hydrogen more relevant than in aviation. We at ZeroAvia are excited to be a part of this mutually reinforcing transformation, pioneering the first practical aviation powertrain based on the most apparent zero-emission technology for this market - hydrogen fuel cells. We believe as we pursue this endeavor, the lessons learned by a variety of industry players, advancements in cleaner hydrogen sources, and the technology improvements that follow these innovations will trickle down to other uses for hydrogen power to reinvigorate the entire sector. https://aeronauticsonline.com/a-new-opportunity-for-hydrogen-is-aviation/ Back to Top Potentially 1.2 billion fewer international air travellers by September: ICAO A specialised agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection among other priorities. Montreal [Canada]: Compared to business-as-usual, international air passenger totals could drop by as many as 1.2 billion travellers by September 2020, according to the latest projections from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Its estimates also show that international capacity could drop by as much as two-thirds from what had been forecast for the first three quarters this year, leading airline revenues to drop by as much 160 to 253 billion dollars for the January to September period. Europe and the Asia Pacific will be hardest hit by the capacity and revenue impacts followed by North America, said the United Nations agency for civil aviation Similarly, the most substantial reduction in passenger numbers is expected to be in Europe, especially during its peak summer travel season, followed by the Asia Pacific. Because air connectivity is so critical to economic and sustainable development in every world region, ICAO said this information is of critical importance to the many national governments and regional organisations now planning for their COVID-19 economic recoveries. "As overall severity and duration of the pandemic are still uncertain, ICAO has developed six different recovery paths under two indicative scenarios to explore the potential short-term economic implication of COVID-19 pandemic," said ICAO Secretary General Fang Liu in a message to representatives of ICAO's member states. Under a V-shaped path (a first sign of recovery in late May), there could be an overall reduction ranging from 41 to 56 per cent of seats offered by airlines and overall reduction of 705 to 963 million passengers, leading to 160 to 218 billion dollars potential loss of gross operating revenues of airlines. Under a U-shaped path (restart in third quarter or later), there could be overall reduction ranging from 57 to 67 per cent of seats offered by airlines and overall reduction of 961 to 1.11 billion passengers, leading to 218 to 253 billion dollars potential loss of gross operating revenues of airlines. A specialised agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection among other priorities. The organisation serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 193 member states. India is among the member states.(ANI) https://newsroompost.com/business/potentially-1-2-billion-fewer-international-air-travellers-by-september-icao/516481.html Back to Top Japan Airlines Is Flying Empty Planes To Los Angeles A very telling image has been published by the Daily Mail that shows a solo passenger on an empty flight on April 15th from Japan to Los Angeles. The passenger wore a full hazmat suit in fear of the virus despite being the only passenger on board the aircraft. With fewer passengers flying across the pacific between the two countries, just how empty are these flights? What are the details? You would have thought that Japanese Airlines flight JL 62 from Tokyo to Los Angeles (NRT-LAX) was a cargo flight or perhaps a very odd aircraft repositioning flight. The only telling sight that the flight was indeed carrying 'passengers' was a single patron in the economy cabin dressed in a full hazmat suit. A lone traveler dressed in a hazmat suit was photographed on a practically empty Japan Airlines flight, illustrating how the airline industry is suffering amid the pandemic. Simple Flying doesn't know who the passenger was, nor why they were traveling, but that their purpose must have been important to brave the trans-pacific journey from one coronavirus hotspot to another. Images like these have become increasingly common since the aviation crisis began, with airlines reporting a fall of over 98% of all traffic. "Travel demand is essentially zero and shows no sign of improving in the near-term,' executives wrote in a memo on April 15". Spoke a United Airlines spokesperson to the Daily Mail, outlining just how far air travel was from recovery in April. "Less than 200,000 people flew with us during the first two weeks of April this year, compared to more than 6 million during the same time in 2019, a 97 percent drop. And we expect to fly fewer people during the entire month of May than we did on a single day in May 2019." But this doesn't compare to how empty the flights are on the Japanese flag carrier. Just how empty are these Japan Airlines flights? You only need to log on to JAL.com and look at an upcoming flight to Los Angeles from Toyko to see how empty the seats are. According to the carrier's website, so far they only have 27 out of 244 passengers booked for JL16 on the 29th of April. Counting the seats, that leaves us with: • Two passengers in First • Four passengers in Business • Zero passengers in Premium Economy • 21 passengers in Economy If anything, these numbers show that upgrading to premium economy is the first thing to go when it comes to seat selection. There are so many seats in the economy cabin that passengers are more than likely to have liedown room and don't see any point to upgrade. Japan Airlines has been hard hit with the current aviation crisis, not only losing out on what was to be a big Olympic summer but also delaying the entry of its low-cost-carrier Zipair that was due to fly to Hawaii (originally due to fly in May). Until this crisis comes to an end, it looks like low numbers are the near future for the flag carrier. https://simpleflying.com/japan-airlines-los-angeles-empty/ Back to Top Supersonic aircraft facility, 675 high-paying jobs coming to Space Coast Facility set to open in 2026 at Melbourne Airport MELBOURNE, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that a supersonic aircraft facility would be coming to Brevard County. In a news conference, DeSantis said Aerion Supersonic, an aerospace company focused on high-speed flight, will construct a new, state-of-the-art campus, called Aerion Park, in Melbourne that should be up and running in 2026. The campus would be used to construct the company's new AS2 Supersonic Business Jet that could fly at speeds up to 1,000 miles per hour, DeSantis said. "Aeron has made an excellent decision, we couldn't be happier, and we want to welcome them to Florida," DeSantis said. Aerion Park would serve as a new global headquarters and integrated campus for research, design, build and maintenance of the company's supersonic aircraft, according to a news release. The new project represents a multi-year, $300-million investment that is expected to generate at least 675 jobs in Florida by the time of its open in the next five years. "We are building the next generation of high-speed transportation networks that will revolutionize global mobility without leaving a carbon footprint on our world," Aerion Chairman President & CEO Tom Vice said in a news release. "Our AS2 business jet - the world's first privately built supersonic aircraft - is the first stage in that exciting endeavor. Having evaluated a number of potential locations for our new home, we are excited to partner with Florida and the Melbourne community to create a sustainable supersonic future." Vice said during the announcement one of the reason's Aerion choose Brevard County is because of the ties to the aerospace industry and Florida's workforce. Florida's spaceport authority Space Florida provided the financing and developed the project, according to a news release. "The decision to locate manufacturing of this technologically advanced supersonic flight vehicle here in Florida is a testament to the growing strength and global recognition of the importance of Florida as a world-leading aerospace state," Space Florida CEO Frank DiBello said. DeSantis said many of those new jobs could pay upwards of $105,000 a year. "I know the people in Brevard County are going to be very excited with this. The state of Florida is very excited with this," DeSantis said. Company officials said Aerion is set to break ground on the new campus in the later part of 2020, a year ahead of the manufacturing of the AS2 business jet, which is set to commence in 2023. Aerion Park is expected to attract key aerospace suppliers within the supersonic technology ecosystem to bring business to Florida, creating additional roles for scientists, designers, engineers and aircraft builders, Aerion leaders said. https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/04/24/supersonic-aircraft-facility-675-high-paying-jobs-coming-to-melbourne-airport/ Back to Top Airbus warns staff on jobs with its 'survival at stake' PARIS (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus issued a bleak assessment of the impact of the coronavirus crisis, telling the company's 135,000 employees to brace for potentially deeper job cuts and warning its survival is at stake without immediate action. In a letter to staff, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said Airbus was "bleeding cash at an unprecedented speed" and that a recent drop of a third or more in production rates did not reflect the worst-case scenario and would be kept under review. Airbus said it did not comment on internal communications. The letter was sent to employees late on Friday, days before the company is due to give first-quarter results overshadowed by a pandemic that has left airlines struggling to survive and virtually halted jet deliveries since mid-March. Airbus has begun implementing government-assisted furlough schemes starting with 3,000 workers in France, "but we may now need to plan for more far-reaching measures," Faury said. "The survival of Airbus is in question if we don't act now," he added. Industry sources have said a new restructuring plan similar to its 2007 Power8 which saw 10,000 job cuts could be launched in the summer, but Faury indicated the company was already exploring "all options" while waiting for clarity on demand. People familiar with the matter say Airbus is also in active discussions with European governments about tapping schemes to assist struggling industries, including state-guaranteed loans. It has already expanded commercial credit lines with banks, buying what Faury described as "time to adapt and resize". PRODUCTION CUTS To stem the outflow of cash, Airbus this month said it would slash benchmark narrow-body jet production by a third to 40 jets a month. It also issued targets for wide-body jets implying cuts up to 42% compared with previously published rates. "In other words, in just a couple of weeks we have lost roughly one-third of our business," Faury wrote in the letter, which was earlier reported by Bloomberg News. "And, frankly, that's not even the worst-case scenario we could face". Reuters reported on April 3 that Airbus was looking at scenarios involving output cuts of up to a half, and analysts say Boeing is expected to unveil comparable cuts along with lay-offs this week, lowering monthly 787 output to as low as 6 jets. Faury said Airbus's new production plan would remain for as long as it took to make a more thorough assessment of demand, adding this would probably be between two and three months. He said it was too early to judge the shape and pace of a recovery, but mentioned scenarios including a short and deep crisis with a fast rebound or a longer and more painful downturn with previous demand levels only returning after 5 or 10 years. Analysts and airlines have so far mostly spoken of a downturn lasting no more than 3-4 years. Rival Boeing , with even weaker finances due to the year-old grounding of its 737 MAX, scrapped a $4.2 billion tie-up with Brazil's Embraer on Saturday in a move widely seen as triggered by the crisis, though it cited contractual reasons. "Unfortunately, the aviation industry will emerge into this new world very much weaker and more vulnerable than we went into it," Faury wrote. https://www.yahoo.com/news/airbus-survival-stake-without-immediate-212140527.html Back to Top After betting its future on Boeing, jetmaker Embraer scrambles for elusive plan - B SAO PAULO/PARIS (Reuters) - Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA has been thrust into an uncertain future with no immediate plan B, while not ruling out seeking a bailout after Boeing Co jettisoned a $4.2 billion commercial aerospace tie-up amid the coronavirus crisis. The company's shell-shocked chief executive, in the job for a year with little aerospace experience, sought to rally staff after the board held late-night talks to review the collapse of plans for surviving mounting aerospace competition. "Our history is full of difficult moments, and we have overcome all of them," Francisco Gomes Neto told Embraer's 20,000 staff before giving them a thumbs up. But Embraer now faces a historic crisis with its isolation reinforced by the breakup - two years after Europe's Airbus absorbed Embraer's main competitor, the Canadian-designed A220. "For Embraer, it could be very damaging," said Teal Group consultant Richard Aboulafia, noting it was the only significant independent jetmaker. "It's hard to pressure your suppliers when the volume you're offering is a fraction of your competition's". Embraer's immediate aim is to reassure investors. It pledged cost savings and said it had solid liquidity. It also tore up arguments previously used to persuade unions and regulators to back the deal, saying it could survive without Boeing rather than stating the deal would be its "salvation". The former state-owned company has not asked for a bailout but says it is open to "complementary" sources of financing. Brazilian companies, including airlines and automakers, are in bailout discussions. Embraer "will need strong government support to recover the (separation) expenses and recover from the economic crisis caused by coronavirus," said Aurelio Valporto, who heads minority shareholder group Abradin and opposed the deal. Embraer had two main pitches for investors that have now vanished. First, it would pay $1.6 billion in dividends from the sale. Second, it would receive enough cash to wipe debts clean and rejuvenate defense and executive-jet units. As a revamped company, Embraer would get a fresh start. Executives also hoped Boeing's marketing would be a silver bullet for the commercial arm, to be 80%-owned by Boeing. Instead, Embraer now has a crisis committee that meets daily and no end in sight for its troubles. That, analysts say, could not come at a worse time. Sales of its E2 have lagged. Overall jet demand has vanished due to coronavirus. Now, crashing oil prices have further weakened the case for new jets, sold mainly on fuel efficiency. CHINA WILD CARD Questions have also been raised over how long high-profile Embraer jetliner CEO John Slattery, who aggressively marketed the E2 jet while lobbying for regulatory approval, will stay without the deal. He did not respond to a request to comment. In a Twitter post, he said, "Despite this uncertain period in our industry, I'm confident Embraer will emerge stronger." On the positive side, analysts expect demand for small jets like the A220 or Embraer's E2 to lead any future rebound. The breakup may also spark a distracting legal battle. In Brazil, alarm bells rang when Boeing lawyers began quizzing Brazilian counterparts on paperwork in recent weeks. Industry sources said Boeing needed room to maneuver as it seeks U.S. government support for the U.S. aerospace industry. With the crisis expected to resurrect economic barriers, it was seen in a corner over moves to acquire thousands of Brazilian engineers while drawing up plans to lay off its own staff. "You can't easily go to Congress and ask for support and spend the money on an acquisition," a senior source said. Embraer says Boeing scuppered the deal on technicalities because of its own financial problems. Boeing says it pulled out only because Embraer failed to meet conditions. But the row itself could be damaging. "Since it came apart in such vitriolic fashion, it's hard to believe they can pick up the pieces and try again," Jerrold Lundquist, managing director of The Lundquist Group, said. That leaves limited options for Embraer though none has been discussed as a serious plan B. One potential wild card is China, which almost beat Airbus to the A220 program and which remains on the hunt for ways of accelerating its own aerospace ambitions. "From a strategic point of view, it is an option but it could be politically problematic," Lundquist said. Members of the inner circle of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have repeatedly attacked China over coronavirus. The breakup also leaves uncertainty for Embraer employees, many of whom were expected to work on future Boeing programs. Embraer had already furloughed more than 90% of its main Brazil plant due to the crisis. It had also spent $30 million on a new headquarters as it prepared to carve out the commercial unit. "Our teams were working together, deciding things together. There were thousands of people working on joint decisions, all for it to end this way," a person close to the discussions said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/betting-future-boeing-jetmaker-embraer-191918833.html Back to Top Russian cargo ship delivers 2.8 tons of supplies to space station A Russian Progress cargo ship, carrying 2.8 tons of supplies and equipment, blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan late Friday. It executed a flawless two-orbit rendezvous and docked with the International Space Station just three hours and 21 minutes after launch. The unpiloted supply ship's Soyuz 2.1a booster roared to life on time at 9:51 p.m. ET (6:51 a.m. Saturday local time), propelling the rocket skyward directly into the plane of the space station's orbit. A Soyuz 2.1a rocket carrying a Progress cargo ship bound for the International Space Station blasts off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After a problem-free two-orbit rendezvous, the Progress caught up with its quarry and docked at the lab's aft port. Roscosmos After a series of carefully choreographed rendezvous rocket firings, the Progress caught up with the station, lined up on the aft port of the Russian Zvezda module and moved in for a problem-free docking at 1:12 a.m. as the two spacecraft were sailing 260 miles above central Asia. The Progress delivered 1,543 pounds of propellant to the station, as well as 110 pounds of oxygen, 926 pounds of water and 2,994 pounds of dry cargo, including crew supplies, food and equipment. Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy and cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner will begin unloading the ship over the next several days. Next up for the station program are two high-profile launches. The Japanese space agency plans to launch an HTV cargo ship on May 20 carrying a final set of replacement solar array batteries. Then, one week later, NASA and SpaceX plan to launch a Crew Dragon capsule carrying astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on a piloted test flight to the station. The Russian Progress cargo ship closes in on the International Space Station early Saturday, bringing 5,570 pounds of crew supplies, food and equipment to the lab complex. NASA That flight, known as Demo 2, is a critical milestone for NASA, the first orbital launch of astronauts aboard an American rocket from U.S. soil since the last space shuttle flight in July 2011. A successful test flight will clear the way for NASA to certify the Crew Dragon for operational missions, helping end the agency's sole reliance on Russian Soyuz spacecraft for transportation to and from the station. https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-cargo-ship-delivers-2-140556466.html 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 Greetings from the ISASI 2020 Planning Committee. We hope this message finds you, your family, friends and associates doing as well as possible in these difficult times. For those who planned to attend the ISASI 2020 conference in Canada, we have been working extensively with all involved for some time. The annual symposium is a critical event in our International community and decisions to change it are not made lightly. In conjunction with the ISASI International Executive, we have concluded that the ISASI 2020 in Montreal will not go forward as per the original dates. At this point we have several options that are dependent upon the hotels in both Montreal and Brisbane and their willingness to be flexible and work with us. It is our hope that we can push our plans forward by one year, with 2021 being in Montreal and 2022 being in Brisbane. We will be posting the new information as soon as it is available. For those of you who submitted abstracts, the papers selection process is proceeding as planned. Once the Selection Committee has finished their work, we will be advising everyone of the successful candidates. It is our hope that those who were chosen will be able to participate next year regardless of location. For those of you who have already registered and paid for the seminar, we will be in touch with each of you soon regarding refunds. Please know that this decision was not taken lightly. The health and safety of our delegates was first and foremost on our minds and could not be put in jeopardy. On behalf of the ISASI 2020 Planning Committee, I would like to thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these difficult times. Best regards Barbara Dunn President CSASI Curt Lewis