Flight Safety Information May 22, 2020 - No. 103 In This Issue Crash: PIA A320 at Karachi on May 22nd 2020, impacted residential area during final approach Accident: iAero B738 enroute on May 19th 2020, dropped parts of vertical tail Incident: LATAM B763 at Recife on May 18th 2020, engine vibrations Incident: Spirit A321 near Nassau on Mar 1st 2020, cargo smoke indication EU air safety agency urges masks, social distancing for flights The Aviation Industry Can't Give In to the Temptation to Compete on Safety FAA Certifies Garmin Autoland for Piper M600/SLS Aircraft Two Japanese airlines requiring passengers to wear face masks against coronavirus FAA Reports Laser Strike Incidents Increased in 2019 UAE works with ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task for COVID-19 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to Resume Face-to-Face Instruction on June 30 Electric VTOL Aircraft Startup Archer Launches Air Force removes minimum height requirement for pilots GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Crash: PIA A320 at Karachi on May 22nd 2020, impacted residential area during final approach A PIA Pakistan International Airlines A320-200, registration AP-BLD performing flight PK-8303 from Lahore to Karachi (Pakistan) with 99 passengers and 8 crew, had aborted the approach to Karachi due to problems with extension of the landing gear and performed a go around. The aircraft lost height and impacted a residential area called Model Colony on second final approach east of the aerodrome (presumably while on final approach to runway 25L) and burst into flames. Rescue and recovery services are on their way to the crash site. https://avherald.com/h?article=4d7a6e9a&opt=0 ************** Status: Preliminary Date: Friday 22 May 2020 Time: ca 14;45 Type: Airbus A320-214 Operator: Pakistan International Airlines - PIA Registration: AP-BLD C/n / msn: 2274 First flight: 2004-08-17 (15 years 9 months) Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-5B4/P Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: 8 Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: 99 Total: Fatalities: / Occupants: 107 Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: E of Karachi-Jinnah International Airport (KHI) ( Pakistan) Phase: Approach (APR) Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Lahore-Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE/OPLA), Pakistan Destination airport: Karachi-Jinnah International Airport (KHI/OPKC), Pakistan Flightnumber: PK8303 Narrative: Pakistan International Airlines flight 8303, an Airbus A320, crashed on approach to Karachi-Jinnah International Airport (KHI), Pakistan. Local media report there were 99 passengers on board and 8 crew members. The aircraft came down near a residential area named Model Colony. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20200522-0 Back to Top Accident: iAero B738 enroute on May 19th 2020, dropped parts of vertical tail An iAero Boeing 737-800, registration N820TJ performing flight WQ-3518 from Victorville,CA to San Diego,CA (USA), departed Victorville's runway 17 and completed the seemingly uneventful flight with a safe landing on San Diego's runway 27 about 41 minutes after departure. Following landing it was discovered parts had come off the vertical tail's leading edge as well as left side in flight. The aircraft is still on the ground in San Diego about 45 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=4d79f888&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: LATAM B763 at Recife on May 18th 2020, engine vibrations A LATAM Brasil Boeing 767-300, registration PT-MSO performing flight JJ-4779 from Recife,PE to Sao Paulo,SP (Brazil) with 97 passengers and 7 crew, was in the initial climb out of Recife's runway 18 when the crew stopped the climb at 6000 feet due to excessive vibrations on the left hand engine (CF6). The aircraft returned to Recife for a safe landing about 25 minutes after departure. A bird strike is being suspected as cause of the engine vibrations. On May 21st 2020 CENIPA reported the left hand engine ingested a bird during the takeoff run, there was no need to reduce engine thrust or shut the engine down. The aircraft returned to Recife for a safe landing. Three fan blades received damage. https://avherald.com/h?article=4d77c052&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Spirit A321 near Nassau on Mar 1st 2020, cargo smoke indication A Spirit Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N682NK performing flight NK-632 from Santiago (Dominican Republic) to Fort Lauderdale,FL (USA) with 227 passengers and 5 crew, was enroute at FL340 about 80nm southsoutheast of Nassau (Bahamas) when the crew received an aft cargo smoke indication. The crew worked the related checklists and diverted to Nassau for a safe landing about 17 minutes later. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 6 hours, then continued the flight to Fort Lauderdale and reached the destination with a delay of 6 hours. The Bahama AAID reported: "The aircraft landed safely without incident, was deplaned and inspected by appropriate maintenance personnel. There were no injuries reported and the aircraft received no damages. A limited scope investigation was conducted and no safety recommendations issued." https://flightaware.com/live/flight/NKS632/history/20200301/0809Z/MDST/KFLL https://avherald.com/h?article=4d790a6a&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top EU air safety agency urges masks, social distancing for flights Brussels (AFP) - The EU's air safety agency EASA is recommending airlines and airports impose measures such as masks and social distancing to limit the risk of coronavirus for passengers. The guidelines, produced jointly with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and released late Wednesday, aim to be "pragmatic" while emphasising measures they want to see taken. As well as facemasks and physical distancing, frequent hand hygiene and reassuring the flying public that "filtered air on airplanes is safer and cleaner than (the air that) many of us breathe on the ground" are important, EASA said in a statement. Getting passengers back in the air -- safely -- is seen as crucial for Europe's airlines and tourism industry, both of which have been hard hit by the virus lockdowns and public fear of being in enclosed spaces with many strangers. "The assurance of health safety is a critical factor for the resumption of commercial air travel," EASA chief Patrick Ky said. The 28 pages of EASA-ECDC recommendations cover the end-to-end experience for passengers, from check-in at airports, to boarding planes and the journey itself, to arrival. They warn that, if situations were not properly managed, there would be an increased risk of conflict that "may be due to passengers not wishing to sit next to each other or accusing each other of not following the rules". The document said passengers with COVID-19 symptoms should not even go to the airport, and urged airlines to offer cost-free reticketing or refunds to encourage this. Healthy-seeming passengers who do fly should expect to enter the airport without being accompanied by non-flying family or friends, wear facemasks from that point on until they leave their destination airport -- except for brief instances such as security checks -- and try to avoid touching any surfaces unecessarily. Passengers who refuse to observe those or other recommendations, such as sneezing or coughing into an elbow or a tissue even when wearing a mask, should face being turfed out of terminals or being barred from boarding. Self check-in and limiting carry-on luggage were also recommended. - Physical distancing onboard - The guidelines urged physical distance of 1.5 metres (five feet) between people, and -- "to the extent possible" -- physical distancing on board planes, except for families in the same household travelling together. That feeds into a debate between airlines about whether to keep the middle seat free in economy to better space out passengers. Some are adopting that as a safety measure, but others say it would make their operation economically unviable. EASA said that "if physical distancing cannot be guaranteed because of the passenger load, seat configuration or other operational constraints, passengers and crew members on board an aircraft should adhere at all times to all the other preventive measures including strict hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette and should wear a face mask". Masks should be changed every four hours, they said -- meaning passengers or airlines doing long-haul flights might need to stock up on fresh ones. Also, there should be no more duty free sales on board, and reduced food and drink service, with items individually packaged. If a patient with suspected COVID-19 is identified during the flight, EASA recommended they be isolated at the back of the plane, with two rows around them cleared, and a toilet designated for them alone. Also, the air nozzle above them should be turned off to try to limit the spread of droplets. https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-air-safety-agency-urges-masks-social-distancing-154936613.html Back to Top The Aviation Industry Can't Give In to the Temptation to Compete on Safety A jet flying under dark skies and over a storm-tossed ocean was not the best idea for an aircraft advertisement, but in 1999, Airbus was desperate. Its four-engine, 300-seat jetliner, the A340, was losing sales to Boeing's 777 twin engine jet, so some of the European jet maker's less gifted communicators got the bright idea of producing an ad showing exactly this frightening scene, with the caption "If you're over the middle of the Pacific, you want to be in the middle of four engines." Some people might have been scared by this ill-advised ad campaign, but targeted customers-airlines in the market for aircraft-were deeply annoyed. Airbus had violated one of the sacrosanct (if unwritten) rules in aviation: Thou shalt not compete on safety. Airlines and other aviation companies were extremely critical. Gordon Bethune, the respected head of Continental Airlines at the time, told Airbus that the ad "makes it more unlikely we would put our confidence in you or your products." The ad was withdrawn. Bizarrely, Airbus tried a watered-down version of the ad ("A340-4 engines 4 long haul") three years later and was again roundly denounced. Since that ill-fated campaign to raise doubts about the wisdom of twin-engined wide-body planes, the industry has reverted to its previous reluctance to cast stones at each other on safety grounds. Regulators and watchdog groups occasionally call out airlines or manufacturers for transgressions, but their competitors don't try to capitalize on these to gain market share. The primary reason for this is simple: Nobody in the industry wants to scare the flying public. Instead, the consistent message from everyone has been that flying is safe, that regulators have the authority to keep it safe, that the system works. Through the recent 737 Max controversy, nobody in the industry-not Airbus, not airlines that opted not to buy the plane-has alluded to Boeing's problems as part of a sales pitch. Airbus and other manufacturers instead point to lessons learned from past disasters and how this body of knowledge created the safest form of travel yet devised. And I am guessing you have never heard an airline boast of how many millions of people it may have flown without a crash. But this injunction against competing on safety may be sorely tested in the post-COVID-19 era. Following past market shocks, such as 9/11 or the 2008 financial meltdown, global air travel demand fell but recovered quickly, and declined by only 2 to 3 percent on an annual basis, according to the Airline Monitor. COVID-19 has hurt the industry in a far worse way. If we make a miraculous (and not very likely) fourth-quarter recovery, the International Air Transport Association says demand this year will fall 48 percent worldwide from 2019. As of this writing, it's down about 95 percent, according to the Transportation Security Administration. As the pandemic eases (I hope) and with it travel restrictions, quarantines, and lockdowns, people will gradually resume flying. They might do so nervously, and tentatively. Most of them won't fear engine failures, pilot error, or suicidal terrorists. They will fear one another, eyeing every fellow passenger as a potential pathogen host. And they will fear their tray tables, their armrests, and all other surfaces that could harbor the virus over the course of a few flights. Hence the conundrum. Airlines are reflexively tribal when it comes to closing ranks around the safety of flying, at least what we traditionally think of as safety. Airlines are also accustomed to competing against one another on the basis of comfort and spacing between seating; business class offerings on long flights in recent years have boasted of separate compartments, and screens between seats. Now suddenly, competing on the basis of how isolated your business class pod is, or the width of your coach class seat, can easily seem like a safety and health claim-a knock on the competition as being not just less comfortable, but less safe. Or take competing technologies and techniques airlines are embracing to deep clean and disinfect their planes. Will it be fair game for one airline to champion its approach over another's? The temptation will arise not only because of the blurred line between safety and comfort, but also out of desperation. The entire airline industry system will likely suffer from serious overcapacity for years to come-too many carriers with too many jets chasing too few passengers. How far will airlines be willing to go to reassure these passengers? More worryingly, how far might they go to cast doubt on their competitors' safety standards? This could all start at the bottom end of the market. Because ultra-low-cost airlines-think Ryanair or Spirit, among many others-depend on passenger seating density to achieve low fares, they will be quick to advertise any remediation they take to accommodate concerns about spacing, such as filtration systems or higher jet cleaning frequencies. If they can't advertise these kinds of remedial pandemic safety methods, consumers may not trust them anytime soon. It's one thing to sign up for an armrest battle with a seatmate spilling over into your seat in the best of times to save a few bucks; it's an entirely different calculus in a pandemic-focused environment. At the other end of the aviation spectrum, we might see business jet charter providers, or other private aviation market players, break the code by suggesting this is no time to be boarding planes with hundreds of other passengers (and using large public terminals). The cost of private aviation means it only competes directly with scheduled air service for a very select clientele. But it would still be an unwelcome development if private services directly advertised their virtues with references to the pandemic. The reasons the aviation industry hasn't historically competed on safety are still valid: Implying that competitors are less safe undermines passenger confidence in the entire system and will be a lose-lose over time. Instead, the industry needs to work together to ensure safety around clear, shared standards. Whatever measures are adapted for passenger safety-minimum space requirements, air filtration and disinfectant techniques, new seating configurations, cabin cleaning intervals, boarding procedure, pre-flight passenger testing, etc.-need to apply to all airlines equally. If an airline wants to exceed these standards, that's fine. It can do so quietly without trying to upcharge for them or gain market share as a result, much like how airlines currently don't boast of how much training their pilots may get above what's legally required. https://slate.com/technology/2020/05/aviation-industry-coronavirus-competition-safety.html Back to Top FAA Certifies Garmin Autoland for Piper M600/SLS Aircraft Garmin said that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified the company's Autoland emergency system for the Piper M600/SLS aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified the Garmin Autoland system in the company's G3000 integrated flight deck for the Piper M600/SLS, Garmin said on May 18. Autoland is to permit general aviation aircraft to make autonomous touch downs in emergencies. In addition to the Piper M600/SLS, the system is soon to be available on Cirrus Vision Jet and Daher TBM 940 aircraft, and Garmin said that it expects certifications of Autoland for more aircraft. For its part, Piper Aircraft said on May 18 that the FAA has certified its HALO Safety System, which includes a number of safety technologies for the G3000 avionics suite, including Autoland, Autothrottle, Emergency Descent Mode (EDM), Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), surface watch, SafeTaxi, and Flight Stream connectivity. Piper pointed to Autoland as the most important of the safety technologies in the HALO Safety System. In an emergency, the pilot or passengers may activate Autoland by pressing a dedicated button, and the system is also able to activate automatically, if the system determines it's necessary, according to Garmin. A pilot can deactivate Autoland by pressing the "AP" autopilot key on the autopilot controller or the autopilot disconnect button on the controls, and, in the event of an accidental deactivation, the system shows passengers how to reactivate Autoland if needed. Phil Straub, Garmin executive vice president and managing director of aviation, called Autoland "one of the industry's most forward-thinking technologies that will forever enhance aviation safety and save lives." The Autoland system controls and lands the aircraft by determining the optimal airport and runway - one that has a Global Positioning System approach with lateral and vertical guidance - and taking into account factors such as weather, terrain, obstacles and aircraft performance statistics. The Garmin Autothrottle system is automatically used "to manage aircraft speed, engine performance and engine power so the aircraft can climb, descend or maintain altitude as needed during an Autoland activation," Garmin said. Autoland is able to analyze factors, such as weather, fuel, runway surface and length, the availability of a GPS approach with lateral and vertical guidance to the runway, terrain, and obstacles, when determining the best airport for landing, according to Garmin. The system is also able to communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and pilots operating near the aircraft about its location and intentions. "Throughout an Autoland activation, the G3000 integrated flight deck provides passenger-centric visual and verbal communications in plain-language so passengers in the aircraft know what to expect," Garmin said. "The flight displays show the aircraft's location on a map alongside information such as the destination airport, estimated time of arrival, distance to the destination airport and fuel remaining. Airspeed, altitude and aircraft heading are also labeled in an easy-to-understand format. Passengers also have the option to communicate with ATC by following simple instructions on the display using the touchscreen interface on the flight deck." Autoland is one of three technologies in Garmin's "Autonomí" family for integrated flight decks. The other two Autonomí technologies are EDM for automatically descending the aircraft to a preset altitude without pilot intervention and ESP, which is to aid pilots in avoiding unintentional flight attitudes or bank angles beyond those for normal flight. If a pilot inadvertently exceeds pre-determined pitch, roll or airspeed limitations for an aircraft, ESP activates, and the flight controls guide the aircraft back to a recommended flight limit. According to Piper, FAA officials completed the certification flight with their team at Garden City Airport in Garden City, Kansas on May 5. Piper is to begin deliveries of new production Piper M600/SLS aircraft featuring Autoland immediately. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/05/21/faa-certifies-garmin-autoland-for-piper-m600-sls-aircraft/ Back to Top Two Japanese airlines requiring passengers to wear face masks against coronavirus Two Japanese airlines will require passengers to wear masks in terminals and aboard their flights. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See other free reports here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. TOKYO - Some Japanese airlines are now requiring passengers to wear face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as Japan gradually lifts its nationwide state of emergency. All Nippon Airways announced Thursday that it requires all of its passengers to wear masks while in the airport and on board the aircraft starting June 1. "Passengers who do not wear a facial covering may be refused" boarding, the company stated on its website. It also stated that passengers who are feverish or not feeling well will also be denied boarding. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism with the airlines have already been taking passengers' temperatures at safety inspection areas at major airports in Japan. Both companies said children and passengers who have difficulties wearing masks are exempt from wearing them. Japan counted 16,424 infected cases and 777 deaths as of midnight Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency on April 7 in some areas, including Tokyo, and later extended it nationwide. In early May, the declaration was extended until end of the month but lifted by Thursday in many prefectures where the virus's spread has slowed down. The emergency is still in effect in five prefectures, including Tokyo. https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/two-japanese-airlines-requiring-passengers-to-wear-face-masks-against-coronavirus-1.630818 Back to Top FAA Reports Laser Strike Incidents Increased in 2019 An 8-percent increase from 2018 shows a substantial risk still exists. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently released an annual summary of reported laser strike incidents in 2019 showing there were 6,136 reports of people on the ground shining easily-obtained laser pointers at aircraft. According to the FAA, the availability of inexpensive laser devices for sale in stores and online is contributing to the problem, with lasers having stronger power levels giving lawbreakers the ability to hit aircraft at higher altitudes. Many of the reports were green-colored lasers, which are more visible to the human eye than red lasers. The 6,136 reported strikes in 2019 was about 8-percent higher than the 5,663 reported strikes in 2018, and less than the 7,398 reported strikes in 2016. Laser incidents took a significant jump in 2015 with 7,346 reported strikes, up from the 3,894 reported in 2014. All of these numbers are up from the 385 strikes reported in 2006. "The FAA is continuing its awareness campaign and working with law enforcement to reduce laser strikes throughout the country," the agency said. "The FAA wants to let people know that pointing lasers at aircraft can create a serious safety risk to pilots and damage their eyes. It is a federal offense to point a laser at an aircraft. The substantial number of reported incidents clearly show that laser strikes on aircraft remain a serious threat to aviation safety." FAA works closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against individuals who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft, and it takes enforcement action against those who violate Federal Aviation Regulations by shining lasers at aircraft, imposing civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. Civil penalties of up to $30,800 have been imposed by the FAA against individuals for multiple laser incidents. In one such case where enforcement action was taken, a 26-year-old man in Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court in 2017 for shining a laser pointer at a Kansas City Police Department helicopter. The man was sentenced to three years in federal prison without parole after hitting the helicopter three times with a green laser light. He twice hit the eye of one of the pilots, causing eye strain that lasted for hours after the incident. In sentencing, the federal court found that he "recklessly endangered the safety of an aircraft, which was flying over a residential neighborhood." FAA's guidance for agency investigators and attorneys is clear and stresses that laser violations should not be addressed through warning notices or counseling. "The agency seeks moderately high civil penalties for inadvertent violations, but maximum penalties for deliberate violations. Violators who are pilots or mechanics face revocation of their FAA certificate, as well as civil penalties," the administration said. FAA strongly encourages people to report laser incidents, whether they are pilots, air traffic controllers, or members of the public. To report an incident, complete the short version FAA Laser Beam Exposure Questionnaire on your mobile device. FAA will then email you the full questionnaire for you to complete and return with additional information. You can also download and complete the FAA Laser Beam Exposure Questionnaire (PDF) to your personal computer, with completed questionnaires saved and attached to an email to laserreports@faa.gov, or printed and faxed to the Washington Operations Control Center Complex (WOCC) - (202) 267-5289 Attn: Domestic Events Network (DEN). https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/laser-strike-incidents-increased-2019/ Back to Top UAE works with ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task for COVID-19 ABU DHABI, 21st May, 2020 (WAM) -- The UAE has been recently elected as a member of the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force, CART, established by members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19. The Task Force is a step to revive the aviation sector and help governments to overcome the burdens caused by the current pandemic, in order to resume economic prosperity and put a limit to unemployment rates in the aviation sector. The goal of CART is to propose policies and priorities for states on a strategic level to prepare the world for the post-crisis era. CART also aims to support states and industry to overcome the challenges associated with COVID-19 to bring back the aviation operations and movements around the world and reconnect airports once again keeping in mind health precautions and measures issued by international and local health authorities, to create more flexible aviation system for the future. The task group consist of the Council members, representatives and heads of the global aviation sector and United Nations organisations such as the World Health Organisation and the World Tourism Organisation. In this context, Saif Al Suwaidi- Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, said, "The UAE welcomes the initiative taken by the ICAO Council. The UAE Government attaches the highest importance to international cooperation, as we believe that the international community must stand together to overcome the challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak and to recover from its effects. "The air transport industry is one of the vital pillars of the global socio-economic growth and a vital one for economic development, creating job opportunities, supporting tourism and local businesses, and stimulating foreign investment and international trade and supporting it should priority of every government." He added, "Locally, the UAE has always sought to support the economic sector and ensure the continuity of those affected by the spread of the COVID-19 around the world. The GCAA held several coordination meetings with the national carriers and the concerned authorities to discuss the impact of the consequences of the COVID-19 virus on the civil aviation sector in the country and the proposed solutions to reduce these repercussions. The GCAA and its strategic partners are also working and coordinating with government entities under the umbrella of The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority to develop a comprehensive strategy that seeks to limit the damages of this global pandemic." In this regard, Captain Aysha Alhameli, UAE Permanent Representative on the ICAO Council, highlighted the importance of international collaboration. She said, "The nomination of the UAE reflects the importance of the leadership role that the UAE plays on the international level being an active member in the ICAO council since 2007. "The task force is mandated to work on developing strategic priorities and policies in collaboration with all our stakeholders to ensure a safe restart and recovery during and post-COVID19 outbreak. We are also looking into the long terms plans to build a resilient and responsive aviation industry." Ismael Mohammed Al Blooshi, Assistant Director-General of Aviation Safety Affairs in the GCAA, said, "The UAE foresees gradual recovery and global support measures for recommencement of aviation. Even before the total "halt" of passenger traffic, the UAE has been working on a concept for "resumption", so CART will be given full support from the UAE. We are maintaining very high expectations on the outcome to ensure harmonised, well-considered and ultimately successful global restart. It is imperative that all stakeholders in the Aviation Industry are provided relevant guidelines and protocols, covering several functions and sectors of the industry that shall be implemented to ensure an organized, safe, secure and efficient normalisation of the industry operations for the post COVID-19 lockdown. The guidelines will ensure all travelers coming into the UAE are adequately screened while causing minimum disruption to facilitation of travel" https://wam.ae/en/details/1395302844075 Back to Top Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to Resume Face-to-Face Instruction on June 30 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to reopen the institution's residential campuses in Florida and Arizona for face-to-face instruction on June 30. With health precautions in place, Embry-Riddle will resume face-to-face instruction, in keeping with its Path Forward strategy, President P. Barry Butler announced today. "We are excited about the return of students to Embry-Riddle's residential campuses," said Mori Hosseini, chairman of the university's Board of Trustees. "We continue to review all progress and monitor every phase of the strategy. We believe that a structured, cautious return to normal operations will provide a platform for our institution's long-term success and better prepare us for the fall semester. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is well positioned for this next step. Our safety focus is unparalleled and our board is unanimous in supporting this decision." Embry-Riddle, as the world's leading aviation and aerospace institution, is building on its rigorous safety culture to launch innovative learning solutions amid the global pandemic and fulfill its mission of education. "We have resumed flight and housing operations on our campuses," Dr. Butler said. "Beginning face-to-face classes on June 30 will mark the next critical milestone. Our plan focuses on statistical risk testing, risk mitigation, support for contact tracing - and most importantly, education. We are continuing to educate our community on the risks, create redundancy across all of our safety standards, and finalize our testing protocols." Key elements of Embry-Riddle's Summer B plan include these and other precautions: • The university will rigorously adhere to all federal, state and local guidance. • Classroom capacity will be limited to ensure physical distancing (six feet of separation). • Class schedules will be optimized to minimize contact. • Returning students will be pre-screened for risk factors. • Cloth face coverings are mandatory in all common areas on campus, indoors and outdoors. • Daily wellness checks and physical distancing are also mandatory. • Plexiglass barriers and "smart" pathways help reduce contact between individuals. • Residence hall occupancy and density are limited. • Sanitizers are readily available and everyone is urged to maintain a personal supply, too. • No one can return to campus if they have recently been sick, in contact with someone who is sick, on a cruise, or in any designated Covid-19 hotspot, without appropriate quarantine, screening and/or testing. • Visible ID badges must be worn at all times. All visitors as well as returning students must check in first at the Henderson Welcome Center on the Daytona Beach Campus, or the Visitors Center on the Prescott Campus. To view examples of how the university has structured low-density, safety-conscious learning environments and procedures, watch Embry-Riddle's videos on flight check-in and aircraft sanitation procedures. In addition, Dr. Butler's Path Forward presentation spells out Embry-Riddle's rationale and risk assessment as well as the solutions that were engineered to keep the university community healthy. A best practices guide is also available online. "Embry-Riddle is leveraging both its strong aviation safety culture and trademark can-do Eagle spirit to bring students back to our residential campuses in the safest possible way for the fall semester," Dr. Butler said. "We are also working hard to remain transparent in communicating all of our plans. Based on our aviation expertise, we know the importance of being able to quickly and openly speak up about any safety concerns - without fear of negative consequences. That principle, along with the critical need for personal responsibility, are at the heart of our return to face-to-face instruction." To ensure transparency, Dr. Butler added, Embry-Riddle will continue to convey what it knows, and what it does not yet know about the ever-evolving health crisis. "We cannot predict a spike in new cases of Covid-19, for example, and we don't know what new federal, state or local rules might affect us, going forward," he said. "We do know that consistently adhering to strict health precautions such as physical distancing, hand washing, and face coverings will reduce our risks. We have called on everyone in the Embry-Riddle community to do their part to ensure good health as we take our first, cautious steps toward more normal operations." Embry-Riddle has been posting frequent updates to its Covid-19 informational webpage since January. Dr. Butler emphasized that the university's Path Forward phased reopening plan is unique to Embry-Riddle, which "lives and breathes safety," and it might not be the right choice for all institutions. https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/schools-colleges/press-release/21139309/embryriddle-aeronautical-university-embryriddle-aeronautical-university-to-resume-facetoface-instruction-on-june-30 Back to Top Electric VTOL Aircraft Startup Archer Launches Serial Entrepreneur Marc Lore Backed Startup PALO ALTO, Calif., May 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archer, an aerospace company building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft focused on improving mobility in cities, today announced its official launch. Marc Lore, the CEO of Walmart eCommerce, is the largest investor in the company. Based in Palo Alto, Archer is dedicated to reshaping urban air mobility, focusing on saving time for users in urban areas. Archer is designing a fully electric aircraft that will take off and land vertically, and can carry four passengers for up to 60 miles at speeds of up to 150mph, all using today's battery technologies. The battery powered aircraft aims to provide a faster, sustainable, and affordable urban transportation option. Archer's unique design will also offer passengers increased safety while producing minimal noise compared to helicopters. The company is led by co-founders Brett Adcock and Adam Goldstein, who recently sold marketplace startup Vettery to The Adecco Group for over $100M. With Lore's backing, Archer has the capital needed to lead the urban air mobility market, while leveraging Lore's unparalleled entrepreneurial perspective. Lore has a track record of founding ventures to solve consumer pain points. Most recently, he sold challenger e-commerce brand Jet.com to Walmart for $3.3 billion. Before starting Jet.com, he sold Quidsi to Amazon for $550 million in 2010. "As we look towards the future of transportation, it's essential to invest in solutions that work to reduce traffic congestion and environmental impact while providing consumers with the swiftest, safest alternatives," said Lore. "I am a firm believer in Archer and the role it will play in ushering in the next age of urban travel." According to Morgan Stanley, the urban air mobility industry is projected to generate $1.5 trillion annually by 2040. Initially, Archer will focus on dense markets with heavy traffic congestion. In the long term, Archer will expand its reach, developing a unique air taxi transportation network. Archer has attracted top industry talent, with eVTOL visionaries Tom Muniz and Geoff Bower leading engineering. The team consists of over 40 engineers, including talent from competing eVTOL startups Joby, Airbus Vahana, and Wisk. Muniz, previously the VP of Engineering at Wisk, has been named Archer's VP of Engineering, while Bower will serve as Chief Engineer, a title he held at Airbus Vahana. "Archer aims to lead the new third dimension of sustainable travel in urban environments," said Archer co-founder Brett Adcock. "Our sights are set on the sky and to get there, we're focused on hiring the top engineering talent to design, manufacture, and operate a fully electric VTOL aircraft to bring in the new age of transportation." "By combining the brightest minds in eVTOL and a zest for solving the world's biggest problems, Archer is poised to accelerate urban air mobility," said Archer co-founder Adam Goldstein. "Focused on speed, safety, range, and payload, with the ability to be mass manufactured and properly certified, Archer's aircraft will be an industry change marker." About Archer Archer is an aerospace company building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft focused on improving mobility in cities. The company's mission is to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. Archer is designing, manufacturing, and operating a fully electric aircraft that can carry four passengers for 60 miles at speeds of up to 150mph while producing minimal noise. Founded in 2020, Archer's team is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. To learn more, visit www.flyarcher.com https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/05/21/2037066/0/en/Electric-VTOL-Aircraft-Startup-Archer-Launches.html Back to Top Air Force removes minimum height requirement for pilots May 21 (UPI) -- The Air Force announced Thursday that it has removed the minimum height requirement for officer applicants who wish to fly. According to the service, the change -- which took effect May 13 -- is part of an effort to encourage a more diverse pool of applicants to pursue careers in aviation. "We're really focused on identifying and eliminating barriers to serve in the Air Force," said Gwendolyn DeFilippi, assistant deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services. DeFilippi, who chairs the Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group, explained, "This is a huge win, especially for women and minorities of smaller stature who previously may have assumed they weren't qualified to join our team." Under the pervious Medical Standards Directory requirement, an individual who wanted to become a pilot had to have a standing height between 5'4" and 6'5" and have a sitting height between 34 and 40 inches. Under the new policy, initial applicants outside that height range no longer require an accession range. The previous height screening criteria eliminated about 44 percent of American women between the age of 20 and 29, the Air Force said. "Studies have shown that women's perceptions about being fully qualified for a job makes them less likely to apply, even though there is a waiver option." said Lt. Col. Jessica Ruttenber, Air Force mobility planner and programmer and team leader on the Women's Initiative Team, who led the height standards adjustment effort. "Modifying the height standard allows the Air Force to accommodate a larger and more diverse rated applicant pool within existing aircraft constraints." https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/05/21/Air-Force-removes-minimum-height-requirement-for-pilots/5451590105236/ GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your opinions and attitudes about stress and mental health. This research started almost two years ago. The purpose of this study is to examine mental health issues in aviation, specifically Part 121 airline pilots. During this study, you will be asked to complete a brief online survey about your opinions on various life circumstances, stress, and mental health topics. This study is expected to take approximately 15 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must possess an FAA issued Airline Transport Certificate (ATP) and you must also be currently working as a pilot for a Part 121 air carrier that is headquartered within the United States. Participation in this study is voluntary and data will be collected anonymously, stored confidentially, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. We sincerely appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study, as it is another small but important step towards increasing safety in aviation. Please click on the link below to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZG6M6L For more information, please contact: Tanya Gatlin - Student Researcher Gatlint1@my.erau.edu 281-924-1336 Dr. Scott Winter - Faculty Advisor winte25e@erau.edu 386-226-6491 Curt Lewis