Flight Safety Information June 2, 2020 - No. 110 In This Issue Incident: Western Global B744 at Amsterdam on May 31st 2020, rejected takeoff Incident: Azores A320 at Ponta Delgada on May 29th 2020, rejected takeoff due to bird strike Bird strike may have caused deadly Canadian Snowbirds jet crash, ministry says Our Magnetic Field Is Acting Sketchy Again Iran 'likely' to give Ukrainian airplane black box to France - report Frontier Airlines will conduct temperature checks for all passengers, crew members before boarding Urgent Implementation of ICAO COVID-19 Guidelines Needed FAA Provides More Time for Part 135 Training Requirements Vietnam Airlines resumes all domestic flight services Garuda Indonesia Lays Off Pilots to Survive Coronavirus Crisis Bombardier exits commercial jet sector with closure of $550-million CRJ deal Embraer says China, India are potential partners after failed Boeing deal Boeing takes Embraer to arbitration over failed aviation deal Lufthansa supervisory board rubber stamps $10 billion state bailout Book - BLIS For Insomniacs Aviation Safety Survey GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Western Global B744 at Amsterdam on May 31st 2020, rejected takeoff A Western Global Boeing 747-400 freighter, registration N344KD performing flight KD-3367 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from Amsterdam's runway 36L when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed (about 40 knots), slowed and vacated the runway to the right. Airport vehicles responded and reported Kerosene seen coming off the left wing tip of the aircraft. Emergency services responded but reporting seeing nothing out of the ordinary. The aircraft subsequently returned to the apron. The aircraft was able to depart for the flight about 4.5 hours after the rejected takeoff. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d81eefc&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Azores A320 at Ponta Delgada on May 29th 2020, rejected takeoff due to bird strike An Azores Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration CS-TKP performing flight S4-6128 from Ponta Delgada to Lisbon (Portugal), was accelerating for takeoff from Ponta Delgada's runway 30 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 116 knots over ground) after the left hand engine (CFM56) ingested a bird. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Ponta Delgada about 77 hours (3 days and 5 hours) later. The left hand engine received substantial damage. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d81e7a7&opt=0 Back to Top Bird strike may have caused deadly Canadian Snowbirds jet crash, ministry says OTTAWA (Reuters) - A preliminary investigation into the crash of a Canadian Snowbirds aerobatics team jet that killed one crew member and seriously injured another may have been caused by a bird strike, Canada's defense ministry said on Monday. In a joint statement, Canada's department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces said a detailed analysis of video footage recovered after the crash last month showed a single bird near the jet's right engine intake during takeoff. Investigators are also looking at the performance of the jet's escape system, which the ministry said is standard in all accidents involving ejections. Capt. Jennifer Casey, the public affairs officer for the Canadian airforce's Snowbirds, died when the plane she was in lost altitude and smashed into a residence shortly after takeoff. The Snowbirds had been on a cross-Canada tour in a bid to lift peoples' spirits during the coronavirus lockdown when the crash occurred in the Pacific-coast province of British Columbia. The Snowbirds have temporarily suspended their flying operations since the accident and the investigation is ongoing. https://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN2383DQ Back to Top Our Magnetic Field Is Acting Sketchy Again Earth's protective magnetic field is weakening in a region across the South Atlantic. Researchers have been using the European Space Agency's Swarm satellite constellation to monitor changes in Earth's magnetic field. Fortunately, there's no immediate cause for alarm, researchers say, though some satellites and spacecraft flying over the weakened region may malfunction. Earth's magnetic field is shaking things up once again. Sloshing liquid iron in Earth's outer core-which lies roughly 3,200 feet below us-generates our planet's protective magnetic field. It guards against solar winds that ferry damaging charged particles. It also guides the navigation systems that direct everything from smart phones to satellites. In recent decades, our magnetic field has been changing. We know, for instance, that the magnetic north pole has been shifting at record speed in recent years. Now, scientists using the European Space Agency's (ESA) Swarm satellites are monitoring a weakening in Earth's magnetic field in a region that stretches from Africa to South America. They've dubbed it the "South Atlantic Anomaly." Scientists measure the strength of Earth's magnetic field, or its magnetic intensity, using a unit called nanoteslas. Between 1970 and 2020, the minimum magnetic intensity in the anomalous region in the South Atlantic has plummeted from 24,000 nanoteslas to 22,000 nanoteslas, according to an ESA press statement. This weak patch in the magnetic field has also expanded, stretching west toward South America at a rate of about 12 miles per year. Recent measurements taken by the Swarm satellites in the past five years reveal it may actually be splitting in half. The ESA launched its Swarm satellite constellation in November 2013. Since then, it has revealed key secrets about Earth's mysterious magnetic field. The constellation is made up of three identical, trapezoid-shaped satellites. Each 29-foot satellite is packed with sensors that measure Earth's magnetism. There's an instrument that measures incident ions along the spacecraft's orbit, as well as a 13-foot-long boom, which has a vector field magnetometer and three startrackers attached at the halfway point. To ensure "magnetic cleanliness," there's a scalar magnetometer at the tip of the boom that captures data free of electrical interference from the main section of the satellite. "The new, eastern minimum of the South Atlantic Anomaly has appeared over the last decade and in recent years is developing vigorously," Jürgen Matzka, of the German Research Centre for Geosciences, said in a statement. "The challenge now is to understand the processes in Earth's core driving these changes." Earth's magnetic poles have shifted throughout Earth's history. We know they've even swapped places at a rate of about once every 250,000 years. The last switch occurred approximately 780,000 years ago. The development of the South Atlantic Anomaly doesn't mean we're headed for a pole reversal, experts say, so there's no need to panic. This could, however, pose a problem for satellites and spacecraft in the area. Because the magnetic field is weaker in this region, spacecraft are more susceptible to charged particles that could damage equipment and spur malfunctions. https://www.yahoo.com/news/magnetic-field-acting-sketchy-again-153000885.html Back to Top Iran 'likely' to give Ukrainian airplane black box to France - report Following the Ukrainian's side delay in responding to Iran's offer regarding the Ukrainian plane's black box, the Iranian authorities have decided to send the black box to another country. Iran will "likely" send the black box from the Ukrainian airplane shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to France, Al-Arabiya reported, citing Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency. The plane, designated Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, was shot down by the IRGC on January 8. All 176 passengers on board were killed in the crash. The Islamic Republic initially denied responsibility for shooting down the plane and had insisted the crash was due to a technical failure. However, it eventually admitted responsibility a few days later, claiming that the plane was mistaken for a missile as the country was in high alert, having fired retaliatory strikes at US targets in response to a US strike that killed an Iranian general. The incident provoked widespread backlash against the regime, both external and internal, with anti-regime protests flaring up in the country. However, despite admitting responsibility, Iran has yet to turn over the black boxes to Ukraine for analysis. According to ISNA, the decision to send the box to another country, such as France was the fault of the Ukrainians, as the Iranians claim to have made an offer to Ukraine regarding the box. "Following the Ukrainian's side delay in responding to Iran's offer regarding the Ukrainian plane's black box, the Iranian authorities have decided to send the black box to another country, probably France," the ISNA report claimed. The report did not elaborate on the Iranian offer, or when Iran plans on handing the black box over. However, Iran has a history of refusing to cooperate with Ukrainian investigators over the crash. In February, Ukraine obtained a leaked audio recording from Iran that showed Iran apparently was aware of the incident immediately, and tried to cover it up. This recording "proves that the Iranian side knew from the start that our plane had been hit by a missile," Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky said at the time. In response, Iran criticized Ukraine for publishing the leaked audio, and claimed that they would refuse to share evidence with them. "The technical investigation team of the Ukrainian airline crash, in a strange move, published the secret audio file of the communications of a pilot of a plane that was flying at the same time as the Ukrainian plane," said Hassan Rezaifar, the Iranian official in charge of accident investigations at Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. "This action by the Ukrainians led to us not sharing any more evidence with them." Even earlier, Ukranian investigators were reportedly refused to investigate. According to Al-Arabiya, a senior member of the Ukrainian investigation team recently said that Iran "repeatedly" blocked the team from investigating the crash at the time. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/iran-likely-to-give-ukrainian-airplane-black-box-to-france-report-629841 Back to Top Frontier Airlines will conduct temperature checks for all passengers, crew members before boarding DENVER (WJW) -Frontier Airlines will now conduct temperature screenings for all passengers and crew members before boarding flights. According to the airline, this decision was made in effort to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, which was declared a global pandemic in March. The virus, COVID-19, is known to cause mild to severe respiratory illness and spreads via person-to-person transmission, primarily from respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can be deposited in the mouth, nose, or eyes of nearby people or be inhaled into the lungs. Asymptomatic persons can transmit the virus. Frontier says anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will not be permitted to travel. The airline also requires face coverings for all passengers and crew, which must be worn throughout the entire flight. Preparing for your long-awaited trip home to visit family? Before you head to the airport, a friendly reminder that we will now be screening temperatures for ALL passengers & crew starting today, June 1st. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2Wc7xzY "Temperature screenings are the latest addition to our comprehensive, multi-layered approach to supporting the health and well-being of everyone onboard our aircraft," Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said in a press release. "Combined with face coverings, hospital-grade HEPA air filtration and enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures, we believe our aircraft are safer than any other mode of transportation." Customers will be screened via touchless thermometers prior to boarding. If a customer's temperature reading is 100.4 degrees or higher, and time allows, they will be given the opportunity to rest before receiving a second check. If the second temperature screening is 100.4 degrees or higher, a Frontier gate agent will explain to the customer that they will not be flying that day for the health and safety of others. The airline says they will work with that customer to rebook travel on a later date or otherwise accommodate the traveler's preferences with respect to their reservation. All crew members will undergo this process as well and be held to the same standards as customers. In April, Frontier also updated its boarding procedures to board most passengers from the rear of the aircraft to the front. Frontier also announced at that time that passengers will take a health acknowledgment prior to completing check-in via the company's website or mobile app. Passengers are required to confirm that: • They nor anyone in their household has exhibited COVID-19 related symptoms in the last 14 days • They will check their temperature before heading to the airport and not travel if they have a fever • They will wash their hands/sanitize before boarding the flight • They understand and acknowledge the airline's face covering and temperature screening policies The airline, like numerous other air carriers, is also increased its "already stringent" aircraft cleaning and sanitation protocols. https://cbs4indy.com/news/frontier-airlines-will-conduct-temperature-checks-for-all-passengers-crew-members-before-boarding/ Back to Top Urgent Implementation of ICAO COVID-19 Guidelines Needed IATA urged governments to quickly implement the International Civil Aviation Organization's global guidelines for restoring air connectivity. Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to quickly implement the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO's) global guidelines for restoring air connectivity. Today, the ICAO Council approved Takeoff: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis (Takeoff). This is an authoritative and comprehensive framework of risk-based temporary measures for air transport operations during the COVID-19 crisis. "The universal implementation of global standards has made aviation safe. A similar approach is critical in this crisis so that we can safely restore air connectivity as borders and economies re-open. The Takeoff guidance document was built with the best expertise of government and industry. Airlines strongly support it. Now we are counting on governments to implement the recommendations quickly, because the world wants to travel again and needs airlines to play a key role in the economic recovery. And we must do this with global harmonization and mutual recognition of efforts to earn the confidence of travelers and air transport workers," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO. Takeoff proposes a phased approach to restarting aviation and identifies a set of generally applicable risk-based measures. In line with recommendations and guidance from public health authorities, these will mitigate the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus during the travel process. These measures include: • Physical distancing to the extent feasible and implementation of "adequate risk-based measures where distancing is not feasible, for example in aircraft cabins"; • Wearing of face coverings and masks by passengers and aviation workers; • Routine sanitation and disinfection of all areas with potential for human contact and transmission; • Health screening, which could include pre- and post-flight self-declarations, as well as temperature screening and visual observation, "conducted by health professionals"; • Contact tracing for passengers and aviation employees: updated contact information should be requested as part of the health self-declaration, and interaction between passengers and governments should be made directly though government portals; • Passenger health declaration forms, including self-declarations in line with the recommendations of relevant health authorities. Electronic tools should be encouraged to avoid paper; • Testing: if and when real-time, rapid and reliable testing becomes available. • "This layering of measures should give travelers and crew the confidence they need to fly again. And we are committed to working with our partners to continuously improve these measures as medical science, technology and the pandemic evolve," said de Juniac. Takeoff was one element of work of the ICAO COVID-19 Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART). The CART report to the ICAO Council highlighted that it is of "paramount importance to avoid a global patchwork of incompatible [aviation] health safety measures." It urges ICAO Member States to "implement globally- and regionally-harmonized, mutually accepted measures that do not create undue economic burdens or compromise the safety and security of civil aviation." The Report also notes that COVID-19 risk mitigation measures, "should be flexible and targeted to ensure that a vibrant and competitive global aviation sector will drive the economic recovery." "The leadership of ICAO and the commitment of our fellow CART members have combined to quickly lay the foundation for a safe restoration of air transport amid the COVID-19 crisis. We salute the unity of purpose that guided aviation's stakeholders to a solid conclusion. Moreover, we fully support CART's findings and look forward to working with governments for a well-coordinated systematic implementation that will enable flights to resume, borders to open and quarantine measures to be lifted," said de Juniac. CART's work was developed through a broad-based consultation with countries and regional organizations, and with advice from the World Health Organization and key aviation industry groups including IATA, Airports Council International (ACI World), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), and the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA). IATA's Biosecurity for Air Transport: A Roadmap for Restarting Aviation was the basis for IATA's contribution to Takeoff. It is being re-named Biosafety for Air Transport: A Roadmap for Restarting Aviation to emphasize the safety focus of the challenge and will be continuously updated to align with the Takeoff recommendations. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/press-release/21140513/international-air-transport-association-iata-urgent-implementation-of-icao-covid19-guidelines-needed Back to Top FAA Provides More Time for Part 135 Training Requirements With the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to drag on, the FAA is beginning to extend certain exemptions and other leniencies designed to keep the air transportation system operating during the crisis, the first among them surrounding air carrier crew training and checking requirements. In March, the FAA initially granted petitions for exemptions to provide Part 135 flexibility in meeting protective breathing equipment requirements during training, as well as to provide more time to meet the crew recurrent training requirements. The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) subsequently asked for additional time, seeking a push in some deadlines until the end of the year and noting that operators still face many of the same issues that led to the initial grant of exemptions. The FAA agreed to extend the deadlines, but with a shorter timeframe. It provided two additional months of flexibility on the PBE requirements, extending that exemption until the end of July. Similarly, the FAA extended the grace period for recurrent training requirements coming due through the end of July. Operators typically have a one-month grace period, but under the exemption granted in March, that was extended to three months. Under the latest extension operators that have training due in July now have until the end of October. Those extensions come with a series of conditions that ensure the operator intends to meet the intent of the safety regulations. "NATA's continued engagement with the FAA is crucial as restrictions are lifted and the country begins a gradual return to operations," said NATA v-p of regulatory affairs John McGraw. "We are grateful the FAA understands the needs of the industry in ensuring access to air transportation remains available and the timeline required to address the currency matters of operators." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-06-01/faa-provides-more-time-part-135-training-requirements Back to Top Vietnam Airlines resumes all domestic flight services Vietnam Airlines is back to operating more than 350 daily domestic flights, which puts it near 2019 levels. HANOI -- Vietnam Airlines has resumed all domestic flights, according to local media reports. The airline says the number of domestic flights exceeded 300 per day as of Friday. The number of flights, including cargo service, now exceeds 350 a day, nearly the same as last year. Vietnam lifted a curfew on April 23, and since then the country's economy has been returning to normal. The government also intends to reopen the country to international flights. Since the number of Vietnamese travelers is steadily recovering, the airline in May established five new routes, and the carrier plans to launch another six routes this month. Meanwhile, the country's largest low-cost airline, VietJet Air, has resumed flying all 45 of its domestic routes. Bamboo Airways, which began flying last year, has also normalized its domestic schedule. While the curfew was in effect, the country's airlines cut back on the number of flights along major routes, such as Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City. No date has been set for the resumption of international flights, which were suspended in late March, but Vietnam could open its skies sooner than other Southeast Asian nations. The government is considering what countries and regions it should approve for flights. On Monday, Pham Binh Minh, deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi agreed to start discussing the possibility of resuming flights between their countries for business travelers. Korean airlines are also preparing to reopen their Vietnam routes. Vietnam, which has a population of 96 million, has had about 330 coronavirus patients and no deaths. With strict quarantine measures still in place, the country has gone approximately 50 days without recording a new case, except for foreign visitors. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Vietnam-Airlines-resumes-all-domestic-flight-services Back to Top Garuda Indonesia Lays Off Pilots to Survive Coronavirus Crisis Jakarta. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has been forced to lay off pilots as it continues to hemorrhage money from canceled flights, lost sales and service reductions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A senior official from the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry, Arya Sinulingga, said they support the decision taken by the Garuda management. "It was a difficult choice to make, but we believe Garuda has carefully thought the consequences for both the business and management," Arya said in a teleconference on Tuesday. He said the coronavirus pandemic has devastated airlines around the world, with entire fleets grounded and staff laid off en masse. Since the pandemic began, Garuda has been forced to cut costs and focus on improving its operational efficiency to survive. SOE Ministry data show that as of May 4, only 70 domestic flights were still operating - a massive drop from 79,000 flights pre-pandemic. In January-February, a total of 12,703 domestic and international flights were canceled. Around the world, the number of canceled flights in that period reached 240,000. Garuda Indonesia President Director Irfan Sebuahutra said the layoffs were necessary to balance the airline's finances. "Garuda Indonesia will not extend the contracts with some of our pilots. We will fulfill all our obligations before we terminate the contracts. This was a tough decision made after careful considerations," Irfan said in a statement. https://jakartaglobe.id/news/garuda-indonesia-lays-off-pilots-to-survive-coronavirus-crisis Back to Top Bombardier exits commercial jet sector with closure of $550-million CRJ deal Bombardier Inc. has completed the sale of its regional jet business to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. for US$550 million, cementing the plane maker's departure from commercial aviation following a three-decade run. The sale of its CRJ aircraft series paves the way for Bombardier to focus on its sole future income stream - private jets - as the company ramps production back up following factory closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, which cost the company up to US$800 million last quarter. The deal adds sorely needed capital to a firm whose debt tops US$9 billion and whose backlog of business jet orders is falling as clients and companies rethink the value of a private plane purchase in a recession. Once a cash cow for the Montreal-based company, the CRJ series now struggles to generate profits, 29 years after its maiden voyage. For the past five years, Embraer SA's E175 narrow-body aircraft has dominated the U.S. market, where the majority of regional jets are sold. "There's been limited orders for the aircraft and limited expectations that they would ever see a material number of orders in the future," AltaCorp Capital analyst Chris Murray said in a phone interview. "The market has been moving away from it." Under the agreement, Mitsubishi scoops up the CRJ's maintenance, marketing and sales activities along with 1,400 employees, but not its manufacturing operations. The deal includes the related services and support network located in Montreal and Toronto and service centres in Bridgeport, W.Va., and Tucson, Ariz. Bombardier will continue to assemble the current CRJ backlog - 15 planes as of March 31 - on behalf of Mitsubishi, with all deliveries expected to be made before 2021. The transaction is part of a string of sales aimed at reducing the company's overhead and injecting liquidity in the wake of debt racked up to fund its C Series commercial aircraft program. In February Bombardier announced the sale of its remaining stake in that business - rebranded as the Airbus A220 - to Airbus SE, marking the end of its failed bid to take on the commercial aircraft duopoly of Airbus and Boeing Co. Bombardier sold its Q400 turboprop business last year to an affiliate of Longview Aviation Capital Corp. for about US$250 million in net proceeds. The US$500-million sale of its aerostructures business in Belfast and Morocco to Spirit Aerosystems - initially anticipated in the first half of 2020 - should close "in the coming months," CEO Eric Martel said in May. He said he does not foresee any pandemic-related delays to the US$8.2-billion sale of its rail division to French train giant Alstom SA - now undergoing regulatory scrutiny in the European Union - expected to close in the first half of 2021. The 78-year-old firm continues to grapple with credit downgrades and a share price hovering near 25-year lows, leaving it a penny stock with junk-status credit ratings. Despite the challenge of vending private planes as the economy plunges into recession, Martel remains hopeful for the segment's prospects, calling the backlog for the Global 7500 - the largest Bombardier business jet on offer and listed at US$73 million each - "very, very solid." The market for the smaller Learjet and Challenger airplanes, however, looks "a little bit more volatile," he said on May 7. The exposure of a single revenue source in general is heightened by the particularly volatile nature of private plane sales, said Murray of Altacorp Capital. "With Bombardier moving to be primarily just a business jet manufacturer, it does expose the company to more volatile cycles. And they're cycles that have a tendency to be really, really good in some periods and can be very volatile to the downside as well," he said. On the other hand, wariness of commercial air travel could stoke demand for business aircraft, he added. For Mitsubishi, the appeal of the CRJ lies in aftermarket sales and maintenance as well as engineering know-how. The acquisition hands a ready-made service network for the Tokyo-based company's upcoming aircraft line. However, Mitsubishi said earlier this year that the first delivery date for its SpaceJet program - formerly dubbed the Mitsubishi Regional Jet - would be pushed back from mid-2020 to late 2021 or early 2022. The CRJ production facility in Mirabel, Que., will remain with Bombardier, which will also continue to supply components and spare parts as part of the deal. The union representing the 271 machinists who still work on the CRJ in the Montreal suburb will be relocated within the area to either Dorval or Ville Saint-Laurent, where Bombardier builds the fuselage, cockpit and other sections of its business jets. Bombardier says the transaction is still subject to post-closing adjustments and that the company retains liabilities that represent credit and residual value guarantees totalling US$288 million. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-bombardier-exits-commercial-jet-sector-with-closure-of-550-million/ Back to Top Embraer says China, India are potential partners after failed Boeing deal SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Embraer SA said on Monday that China and India could be potential new partners, following a Reuters report last week that said those two countries as well as Russia were interested in the planemaker's commercial jets division. Embraer is dealing with the abrupt collapse of a planned deal with Boeing Co in April that left the company scrambling for a plan B. Embraer Chief Executive Francisco Gomes Neto said in an earnings call that it was still early to discuss new opportunities in detail as the company is studying a new five-year plan. He added that partnerships could involve products, engineering and production. Gomes Neto named China and India as potential partners, as well as unnamed "other countries." Embraer said ahead of the earnings call, however, that it was not currently negotiating with China's state-owned COMAC, Russia's Irkut or India on any potential deal to replace the one with Boeing, adding that it regularly evaluates potential partnerships. The company reported a $292 million first-quarter loss on Monday due to weak demand amid the coronavirus pandemic and the impact of the failed deal with Boeing. Embraer also said it was seeking new liquidity. Reuters reported that Brazilian development bank BNDES is helping coordinate a $600 million loan for the planemaker, which burned through $677 million in cash in the quarter. The firm said its decision to put staff on paid leave in January in order to finalize details of the Boeing deal was largely responsible for a 23% drop in revenue. In March, Embraer again put workers on leave due to the coronavirus pandemic. Executives declined to comment on an arbitration process against Boeing due to its cancellation of the deal. But the company did say that it expects to recover from Boeing tax costs related to the deal that negatively affected Embraer's quarterly results. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/embraer-open-partnerships-boeing-deal-132737389.html Back to Top Boeing takes Embraer to arbitration over failed aviation deal SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) has taken former partner Embraer SA (EMBR3.SA) to arbitration over a failed $4.2 billion deal, the Brazilian planemaker said in a securities filing on Monday night. So far, it has only been publicly known that Embraer had taken Boeing to arbitration, angered by how the U.S. planemaker abruptly broke off that deal in April after years of working together. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-embraer-m-a-boeing/boeing-takes-embraer-to-arbitration-over-failed-aviation-deal-idUSKBN2383VF Back to Top Lufthansa supervisory board rubber stamps $10 billion state bailout FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Lufthansa's supervisory board has approved a 9 billion euro ($10 billion) government bailout that will force the German airline to give some of its prized landing slots to rivals. The approval marks the latest step in the complex state rescue of Lufthansa, which has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the travel sector. Under the plans, the German government will take a 20% stake in the airline, which could rise to 25% plus one share in the event of a takeover attempt, as well as two seats on its supervisory board. Lufthansa will also be obliged to transfer to rivals up to 24 take-off and landing slots at Frankfurt and Munich airports. "We recommend that our shareholders follow this path, even if it requires them to make substantial contributions to stabilising their company," supervisory board Chairman Karl-Ludwig Kley said in a statement. "It must be clearly stated, however, that Lufthansa is facing a very difficult road ahead." The bailout still needs to be approved by regulators and Lufthansa investors, who are due to meet virtually at an extraordinary general meeting on June 25, Lufthansa said, adding that the rescue funds would have to be repaid as soon as possible. Lufthansa, which said it would publish first-quarter results on June 3, said it is obvious that international air traffic will not bounce back to pre-crisis levels in the foreseeable future. "The expected slow market recovery in global air traffic makes an adjustment of our capacities unavoidable," said Chief Executive Carsten Spohr. "Among other things, we want to discuss with our collective bargaining and social partners how the impact of this development can be softened in the most socially acceptable way possible." Lufthansa's executive board will discuss the necessary measures with the Verdi, Vereinigung Cockpit and UFO unions, it said without elaborating. Spohr told employees in late April that the carrier expects to operate 100 fewer aircraft with 10,000 fewer staff after the coronavirus crisis ends. The group has roughly 140,000 employees and 760 planes. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/lufthansa-supervisory-board-rubber-stamps-134812909.html Back to Top SpaceX targets Wednesday night for next Starlink launch If you would like to see more articles like this please support our coverage of the space program by becoming a Spaceflight Now Member. If everyone who enjoys our website helps fund it, we can expand and improve our coverage further. Days after launching astronauts for the first time, SpaceX is set to resume a speedy cadence of satellite launches Wednesday night with liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's next batch of Starlink broadband relay stations. A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for takeoff Wednesday, likely around 9:25 p.m. EDT (0125 GMT Thursday), from Cape Canaveral's Complex 40 launch pad. A weather forecast issued by the U.S. Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron on Monday indicates there is a 70 percent probability of favorable conditions for launch Wednesday night. The weather forecast lists a 61-minute launch window for the Starlink mission opening at 8:55 p.m. EDT (0055 GMT), but SpaceX typically targets liftoff in the middle of the window for Starlink flights. SpaceX has launched 420 Starlink satellites on seven dedicated Falcon 9 launches since May 2019, with each rocket carrying 60 Starlink spacecraft. This week's launch is expected to loft around 60 additional Starlink satellites, which each weigh about a quarter-ton. This eighth launch devoted to the Starlink network was previously scheduled for mid-May. SpaceX delayed the launch after Tropical Storm Arthur brought high winds and rough seas to the downrange recovery area northeast of Cape Canaveral in the Atlantic Ocean, where SpaceX's drone ship needs to be positioned for landing of the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster. Once Tropical Storm Arthur forced the initial launch delay, SpaceX decided to keep the Starlink mission on the ground until after the company launched the Crew Dragon spacecraft from nearby pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The Crew Dragon launched Saturday with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, the first crewed mission to launch into orbit from U.S. soil since the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011. SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" was deployed in the Atlantic Ocean for the landing of the Falcon 9's first stage booster after the Starlink launch. The drone ship was later used for the landing of the Falcon 9 first stage after the Crew Dragon launch. Another drone ship in SpaceX's fleet - named "Just the Read Instructions" - has completed upgrades and departed Port Canaveral, Florida, to support the booster landing for the next Starlink launch. Meanwhile, SpaceX's "Of Course I Still Love You" recovery vessel is on the way back to Port Canaveral with the first stage recovered after the Crew Dragon launch. The primary weather concerns for Wednesday night's launch attempt are with potential violations of the thick cloud and cumulus cloud rules. "By late Wednesday, a mid-level disturbance from the Gulf of Mexico will begin to approach the area, steadily increasing moisture and cloud cover heading into the nighttime hours," the 45th Weather Squadron said. "Models have trended slightly faster with the returning moisture over the last several days, but some dry air is still expected to linger in the mid-levels. "The main concerns will be the thick cloud layer rule due to upper level clouds streaming in from the west, and the cumulus cloud rule due to the potential for isolated showers." The Falcon 9 rocket for the next Starlink mission completed a hold-down test-firing of its Merlin main engines May 13 on pad 40. The first stage assigned to this week's launch is a veteran of four previous flights, landing on a SpaceX drone ship after each mission. The booster first flew from Cape Canaveral in September 2018 with a Telesat communications satellite, then launched again from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in January 2019 with 10 Iridium voice and data relay payloads. Its third flight occurred last May on the first dedicated Falcon 9 launch for the Starlink program. Most recently, the booster launched Jan. 6 from Cape Canaveral and again landed on a SpaceX drone ship offshore. If the booster lands after Wednesday night's launch, it will mark the first time SpaceX has recovered a Falcon 9 first stage for a fifth time. SpaceX aims to launch around 1,000 more Starlink satellites later this year and next year to begin offering worldwide Internet service. Initial beta testing of the Starlink network could begin later this year, beginning in higher latitude regions like Canada and the northern United States, the company says. Thousands more Starlink spacecraft could launch in the coming years to meet global demand, according to SpaceX. A new sunshade to reduce the brightness of the Starlink satellites will debut on this week's launch. The umbrella-like visor will block sunlight from reaching the shiniest parts of the flat-panel spacecraft, making them less visible from the ground. Scientists have raised concerns that thousands of Starlink satellites - as envisioned by SpaceX - could impact astronomical observations through ground-based telescopes. So far, SpaceX has answered with an experimental darkening treatment that offered some reduction in visibility, and the company says it is changing the orientation of the Starlink satellites during the period shortly after launch to turn their solar panels away from the sun. The sunshade should provide a more significant dimming effect, SpaceX says. SpaceX plans two more Falcon 9 launches later this month after this week's flight to deliver more Starlink satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral. https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/06/01/spacex-targets-wednesday-night-for-next-starlink-launch/ Back to Top New Insomnia Treatment Developed for Pilots Set To Shake Up The Billion Dollar Sleep Industry Blenheim, New Zealand-May 25th, 2020 For Immediate Release Today, Allan Baker, well known aviation psychologist, has announced the release of his new book, "BLIS™ For Insomniacs", which provides details on the new treatment he has developed which helps insomniacs and others with sleep problems to actively bring on sleep when they need it, rather than waiting passively for sleep to 'happen to them'. This is a breakthrough How-To-Get-To-Sleep technique and guide for anyone who doesn't get enough sleep. Working with long haul airline pilots over the past 15 years, Allan has had to help them cope with the effects of too little sleep due to the nature of their work-changing time zones, flying at night, frequent layovers in new cities and hotels. Finding that existing insomnia treatments simply did not provide adequate results, and knowing that pilots could not resort to using sleeping pills and other medications which would impair their performance, he set about trying to find a better solution. "The problem is," he says, "most sleep therapies are simply rehashes of things that sleep professionals have been expounding for years, with limited success-until now there's been no significant breakthrough technique that addresses all the body's prerequisite conditions for sleep to occur, as a whole." Extensive research through the relevant scientific literature, particularly that around the effective treatment of PTSD, and an ability to think outside the box, has meant that Allan has been able to join-the-dots and make a discovery that appears to have eluded other sleep researchers. Simply put, the two main existing treatment paradigms, 'sleep hygiene' and cognitive behavioural treatment, as just two legs of the sleep stool, deal only with some of the conditions that must be met for sleep to occur. Allan's new technique, coined BLIS - for bilateral induced sleep - completes what he refers to as the third leg of the Sleep Stool, by providing an easy to learn and use method which helps the brain make the shift from emitting the high frequency Alpha waves of wakefulness, to the lower frequency Delta waves seen when we sleep. "I've discovered from knowledge of other areas of therapy, that it's possible to easily train your brain to shift from emitting alpha waves to delta waves, and when the brain emits delta waves, it basically brings on sleep." Allan notes that the sleep industry worldwide is worth tens of billions of dollars, primarily because so many people struggle to get the sleep they need. "The downstream effects of disturbed sleep on health are massive," he says. "If you're getting a couple of hours less sleep a night than you should, on average you're shortening your life by seven and a half years. Sleep is very important in keeping your immune system working well." "The breakthrough came from treating getting to sleep as a skill that can be trained. My new technique has been very effective with many of the pilots I've worked with, and I'm hoping that by releasing this book, I'll now be in a position to help many other sleep deprived people get the rest that they need and crave." BLIS™ For Insomniacs (ISBN: 978-0-473-52117-2) is available as a downloadable PDF eBook for US$14.99 from the mySleepSwitch website at: www.mysleepswitch.com. A sample chapter of the book is available for free download. About Allan Baker Trained as a military pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and is a registered psychologist. Allan has had a psychology career spanning over 45 years, and for the past fifteen years has worked exclusively in the field of Aviation Psychology. This has led to his deep understanding and interest in the area of sleep, which is so critical for commercial pilots and air crew. He is the current holder of the Jim Collins Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Aviation Safety. Allan was presented with this award in 2017 for his significant contribution to the development of the New Zealand Air Line Pilots Association (NZALPA) Peer Assistance Program, and in particular his furthering of a better industry understanding in the specialist area of pilots' mental health. Press Contact: Golden Micro Solutions Ltd, Box 590, Blenheim, New Zealand, publisher of the book. For more information: E: admin@mysleepswitch.com T: +64 21 900 461 Back to Top Back to Top TO ALL PROFESSIONAL PILOTS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, members of their Management, Regulators and related organizations (airplane, helicopter, civil or military) WE REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR A JOINT AVIATION SAFETY SURVEY (JASS) ON: "AERONAUTICAL DECISION-MAKING, INCL. MONITORING & INTERVENTION IN PRACTICE" Dear aviation colleague, you are invited to participate in a research project conducted by the department of Psychology at City, University of London, which aims to elicit your views and thoughts on Aeronautical Decision-Making, including Monitoring and Intervention in normal operation,by which we mean routine line flights without any incidents or technical malfunctions. The questions deal with teamwork and decision-making issues in various Pilot-roles, e.g. the role of the Pilot Monitoring (PM), Pilot Flying (PF), Pilot in Command (PIC) and Co-Pilot, and respectively in the Air Traffic Controller (ATCO)-roles of the coordinating and radioing/radar ATCO as well as pilot's and controller's training and occupational picture. This survey is completely anonymous - no identifying information will be requested or collected - and all responses will be treated as strictly confidential. The survey is approved by City's research and ethics committee (Approval Code: ETH 1920-1414). The introductory section of the survey will provide you with further information and the informed consent. Please click here to access the survey or copy the survey-link below into your browser. https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6n7cxeunMyfy0fz By completing the questionnaire, you can - in addition to supporting aviation safety research - even do more good as we will donate a minimum of €2 for the first 1000 fully completed responses to the UNICEF COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund which helps to care for vulnerable children and communities all over the world. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email: aviationsafety@city.ac.uk or tom.becker.1@city.ac.uk or via phone: +49 172 7178780. We thank you very much in advance. Your support is truly appreciated. Best regards, Capt. Tom Becker Prof. Peter Ayton Back to Top 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