Flight Safety Information June 18, 2020 - No. 123 In This Issue Incident: American A321 at Las Vegas on Jun 16th 2020, could not retract gear Air Safety Regulator, Boeing Made Mistakes on 737 MAX, Says Federal Aviation Chief Conservative activist kicked off plane after refusing to wear mask FAA To Testify Regarding Jet Certification Following 737 MAX Crash Pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash may have become disoriented in fog, federal investigators say More Bad News for Boeing's Pegasus: USAF Finds Trash Inside Its New Refueling Tankers United Airlines begins facemask crackdown Thursday, may deny future travel U.S. fines Copa Airlines $450K for transporting passengers between U.S., Venezuela Supersonic AS2 Just a Starting Point for Aerion Developing the engine controls for electric aircraft SpaceX wants to build an offshore spaceport near Texas for Starship Mars rocket Position Available: Chief Investigator of Accidents Aviation Safety Survey GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: American A321 at Las Vegas on Jun 16th 2020, could not retract gear An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N996AN performing flight AA-777 from Las Vegas,NV to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was climbing out of Las Vegas' runway 25R when the crew advised they needed to return to Las Vegas, they could not retract the landing gear, it remained down and locked. As they were "underweight", they were able to return immediately. The crew stopped the climb at 7000 feet and returned to Las Vegas for a safe landing on runway 25L about 13 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200 registration N556UW reached Phoenix with a delay of 4.5 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL777/history/20200616/2052Z/KLAS/KPHX http://avherald.com/h?article=4d8cb2b1&opt=0 Back to Top Air Safety Regulator, Boeing Made Mistakes on 737 MAX, Says Federal Aviation Chief The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Steve Dickson, acknowledged on Wednesday that Boeing Co. and the U.S. air safety agency both made mistakes on the 737 MAX jet, but rejected senators' accusations the FAA was "stonewalling" probes after two fatal crashes. Boeing's 737 MAX has been grounded since March 2019 following crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people, triggering multiple investigations into how the plane was certified as safe. In a particularly tense exchange at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on aircraft certification, Senator Ted Cruz accused Dickson of speaking in the passive voice as a way of "avoiding responsibility" after Dickson told him, "Mistakes were made." "So unknown somebodies made unspecified mistakes for which there were no repercussions," Cruz said. "What mistakes were made and who made them?" After a pause, Dickson said, "The manufacturer made mistakes and the FAA made mistakes in its oversight." Dickson then referred to Boeing's development of a flight control system that repeatedly pushed down the jet's nose in both crashes as pilots battled to gain control. "The full implications of the flight control system were not understood as design changes were made," he said. One senator at the hearing said the agency was like "a dog watching TV" when it came to policing Boeing's work, and another said the agency was "stonewalling" the committee's investigation into the 737 MAX's development. "Your team at the FAA has attempted deliberately to keep us in the dark," Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican committee chairman, told Dickson. Dickson told Wicker he was "totally committed to the oversight process." "I believe it is inaccurate to portray the agency as unresponsive," Dickson said, pointing to its cooperation in multiple investigations. "There is still ongoing work." After the hearing, an FAA official said the agency has provided "more than 7,400 pages of responsive materials" to the committee and that some material was restricted by international rules on crash investigations. Boeing declined to comment. Strengthen Oversight The hearing came a day after Wicker and Senator Maria Cantwell, the ranking Democrat on the committee, introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen FAA oversight of Boeing's designs. The crashes and Boeing's long-delayed efforts to win regulatory approval to return the 737 MAX to commercial service plunged the Chicago-based company into its worst-ever crisis, since compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020, introduced on Tuesday, would give the FAA new authority to hire or remove Boeing employees conducting FAA certification tasks, and grant new whistleblower protections to employees. Dickson told Cantwell he did not think it would improve safety if the FAA appointed the certification employees, but agreed to look at the Senate proposal. He also told lawmakers there were many items in the legislation "that are exactly on point," including a provision that would authorize $150 million over 10 years for new FAA training and to hire specialized personnel. Michael Stumo, whose daughter died in the Ethiopia crash, which came five months after the crash in Indonesia, applauded such reforms but told lawmakers the bill did not go far enough. Stumo demanded that manufacturers be subjected to a tougher certification process when they introduce an aircraft derived from models certified years before. The 737 MAX, for example, was derived from a plane first developed in the 1960s. "The first crash should not have happened," Stumo said. "The second crash is inexcusable." https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2020/06/18/572653.htm Back to Top Conservative activist kicked off plane after refusing to wear mask A passenger was kicked off an American Airlines flight after refusing to wear a face covering as airlines step up enforcement of their mandatory mask requirements. Conservative activist Brandon Straka "declined to wear a face covering" after boarding his flight from LaGuardia to Dallas-Fort Worth on Wednesday, the airline confirmed in a statement. "After he refused to comply with the instructions provided by the flight crew, our team members asked him to deplane," the statement continued. Straka recorded parts of the incident on board the aircraft. "You're asking me to do something that's not a law," Straka tells the flight attendant, who responds that it is the "procedure American Airlines follows." There is no federal mandate requiring passengers to wear masks onboard a plane, but by May 11 all major U.S. airlines put new policies in place, stating that passengers and crew have to wear face coverings in order to fly. Exceptions exist for kids, passengers eating and drinking and for those with certain medical conditions. American Airlines, along with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, announced this week that they may ban any passenger who refuses to wear a mask on board following complaints that their mask policies were not being enforced. The last thing Straka says before the flight attendant asks him to step off the aircraft is that he doesn't "like wearing masks," according to the video he filmed. Straka founded the '#WalkAway Campaign' which encourages people to leave the "Democratic Party of today," according to its site, which also sells face masks for $20. "This is insane. Absolutely insane," Straka said in a video he posted on Periscope. "We don't even have a choice anymore." Straka told ABC News that after being kicked off the first flight he disclosed to the airline that he couldn't wear a mask due to a medical condition. The airline is not allowed to legally ask Straka to reveal his medical condition. Straka said he was able to board a second flight to Seattle, connecting in Charlotte, without a mask. American says its team is "reviewing this incident." https://www.yahoo.com/gma/conservative-activist-kicked-off-plane-refusing-wear-mask-051316419--abc-news-topstories.html Back to Top FAA To Testify Regarding Jet Certification Following 737 MAX Crash Today Stephen Dickson, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will testify before the US Senate regarding the fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes. The hearing will focus on new legislation introduced yesterday to ensure future aircraft are held to a higher standard before receiving regulatory approval. Today's testimony Stephen Dickson will take questions today for the US Senate Commerce Committee. The FAA chief will testify regarding aircraft certification procedures. There has been criticism of Boeing's influences on the certification of its 737 MAX aircraft, which resulted in two fatal crashes in five months, killing 346 people. Dickson is giving evidence surrounding the design, development, testing, and certification of the MAX aircraft. He will also answer questions regarding the FAA's long-standing policy of delegating certification tasks to Boeing employees. As Dickson began to testify, Boeing stock fell. New legislation Mr Dickson will also speak about a new bipartisan bill that was introduced to reform aircraft certification procedures. The bill draws on crash reports, testimony from victim's families as well as recommendations from aviation experts. The legislation has been called the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020. The act would allow significant changes in terms of hiring and firing Boeing staff who conduct FAA tasks. It would also grant more protection to whistle-blowers, after a series of messages revealed that Boeing staff tried to raise concerns but were persuaded not to talk. Although the new legislation is seen as a step in the right direction, family members of crash victims have said it isn't enough. Currently, the MCAS system, which has been linked to both fatal crashes, doesn't have to be certified by the FAA as an individual system. It's up to Boeing to certify many of the critical systems. There have also been demands for future aircraft to be recertified individually. What's going on with the MAX now? The MAX aircraft has been grounded since March 2019 after the second fatal crash. Several airlines voluntarily took their MAX jets out of service before the FAA issued a global grounding order. The planes are still grounded and are not expected to receive approval for at least another a few months. It has been rumored that a test flight may take place later this month, but there has been no confirmation of this. Several new issues have arisen since the initial problems with the MCAS software. When one problem fixed, it seemed to throw up another issue somewhere else. Boeing worked with Collins Aerospace to completely redesign the software to tackle the issues. Minor changes resulted in tolerance sensors incorrectly activating cockpit warning signs, something which has been a problem since the start. Extra recertification Once Boeing does get all the problems ironed out, the recertification process may be longer than usual. Not only does the new bill require more thorough testing, but if each aircraft needs to be individually certified, it could take months. Additionally, several countries have raised the possibility of wanting to do their own testing. The 737 MAX has been in the news for over a year now, and it's unlikely to go away any time soon. Even once recertified, there will no doubt be more fallout from the Senate committee. Do you think the new legislation is enough to prevent this happening again? Have your thoughts on the 737 MAX changed over the last year? Let us know what you think in the comments. https://simpleflying.com/faa-jet-certification-hearing/ Back to Top Pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash may have become disoriented in fog, federal investigators say The pilot of a helicopter that crashed in the fog near Los Angeles in January, killing basketball legend Kobe Bryant, may have become disoriented and thought he was climbing instead of descending, according to documents released by federal investigators Wednesday. Seconds before the crash that killed nine people, pilot Ara Zobayan told air traffic controllers that he was climbing to 4,000 feet. But the helicopter was actually descending toward a hillside near Calabasas, Calif., according to the documents from the National Transportation Safety Board. The details contained in more than 1,700 pages of technical documents, text messages and interviews conducted by NTSB investigators are consistent with the general picture of what was known about the tragic final moments of a flight carrying Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others to the Mamba Sports Academy that Sunday morning, Jan. 26. Kobe Bryant helicopter crash underscores industry's long-running safety struggles The NTSB has not determined the cause of the crash, but the documents released Wednesday provide new details, many focusing on the role poor weather played in the tragedy. Months into its investigation, the NTSB has been unable to determine whether Zobayan, 50, received a proper weather briefing before he flew into thick clouds ahead of the crash. The investigators went to great lengths to establish how poor the visibility was and tried to determine what information Zobayan may have obtained about the weather before the flight. The NTSB said one weather provider for pilots said the aircraft had "no contact" with the firm or its vendors on the day of the crash, or on the day before. An executive from a second company that makes a weather app used by Zobayan said the data indicates the pilot "really did not use our app extensively." "There was no information available to address whether the accident pilot availed himself of weather information from other sources prior to the accident flight," according to the NTSB. Text messages between Zobayan and people coordinating the flight show the weather was a topic of discussion, but that the pilot did not have any concerns that would prevent the flight. Whitney Bagge, vice president of Island Express, the helicopter operator, told investigators that those involved in Bryant's trips, including his drivers, the pilot and representatives from the company that managed his flights, kept in regular contact via text messages. The Sunday flight was no different, Bagge said. Remembering the nine victims in the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash The weather was a topic of a text exchange the Saturday night before the flight, the documents show. "Copy. Will advise on weather early morning Sunday," Zobayan texted. The next morning, he texted: "Morning Weather looking ok." Using a company risk assessment form, Zobayan ranked the flight as low risk, meaning he didn't need extra approval from company managers, according to the NTSB files. Garret Dalton, director of operations at Island Express, wrote in an email to an NTSB investigator that the company had previously been willing to cancel flights involving celebrities when the weather was bad, listing eight flights for David Burd, a comedian and rapper who performs as Lil Dicky, NBA star Kawhi Leonard, and the socialite Kylie Jenner. "I believe that it is a clear indication of the safety culture within the company," Dalton wrote. Kobe Bryant's pilot received clearance to fly in poor weather before crash A previous employer said Zobayan "was very reliable, he had a lot of integrity, and his fellow workers respected for him as a mentor," according to the NTSB documents. An FAA safety inspector told investigators that he found Island Express met "FAA standards." The company also had a dedicated safety officer. "Not every operator does that," the inspector told the NTSB. The NTSB documents do not note any mechanical or maintenance problems that might have caused the crash. Island Express provided charter flights for celebrities and transportation for tourists heading to Catalina Island off the Los Angeles coast. Zobayan was Bryant's favorite pilot, according to the documents. To work for Bryant, pilots had to undergo special vetting and were closely scrutinized by their employer. One was removed from a special Bryant roster after needing to make an unscheduled stop for fuel; another was pulled "due to being disliked by the customer." Zobayan was requested "almost exclusively," the documents say. Lack of 'black box' could hinder Kobe Bryant crash investigation Unlike in plane crashes, there is no "black box" to aid investigators in the crash probe since most helicopters are not required to have them. But that could change. Earlier this month, a group of Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill that would require flight data and cockpit voice recorders as well as terrain awareness and warning systems on helicopters that carry six or more passengers. The helicopter on which Bryant was a passenger was not equipped with these systems. The NTSB cited seven helicopter investigations between 2011 and 2017 in which the lack of access to recorded data impeded its ability to identify and address potential safety issues. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/pilot-in-kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash-may-have-become-disoriented-in-fog-federal-investigators-say/2020/06/17/0c226af2-b0dc-11ea-856d-5054296735e5_story.html Back to Top More Bad News for Boeing's Pegasus: USAF Finds Trash Inside Its New Refueling Tankers The KC-46A Pegasus tanker has a history of unwanted junk in its trunk. • The U.S. Air Force refused to take delivery of a new KC-46A tanker after debris was found in the aircraft. • Boeing, the maker of the KC-46A, has struggled with workers leaving debris inside the aircraft. • The Air Force worries that debris could cause a serious problem for the aircraft in flight, and that unwanted parts could damage the airplane and its systems. The U.S. Air Force has again stopped deliveries of new KC-46A Pegasus tankers after finding trash in the new airplanes' fuel tanks. The discovery was made in tankers bound for Seymour Johnson Air Base. It's the latest in a series of incidents in which garbage has been found inside the new made tankers, potentially causing serious safety issues. According to Air Force Times, the debris was found in the fuel tanks of one of two KC-46A tankers being delivered to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The first of the brand new planes passed inspection but the second was discovered to have left behind after "non-standard factory rework" at Boeing. Previous incidents of debris took place on the KC-46A assembly line. A Troubled Pegasus Boeing's K-46 Tanker Aircraft Can't Catch a Break The issue first cropped up in 2019, when Air Force inspectors found numerous KC-46A tankers with trash inadvertently sealed into the airplanes. The Air Force stopped deliveries in March and then again in April of 2019. The head of the Air Force's acquisition program, Will Roper, described the situation as "severe." Air Force pilots refused to fly the airplanes, citing the potential dangers. The debris has included "aluminum shavings," hand tools, loose nuts, "rubbish," and other items that inspectors worried could damage electrical wiring, leading to system failures in flight. The problem is mirrored on Boeing's civilian aircraft assembly lines, where tools, rags, titanium shavings, metal nuts, tubes of sealant, a string of lights, and even a ladder were found left behind in 737 MAX aircraft. The KC-46A is the Air Force's first aerial refueling tanker in more than 30 years and is based on the Boeing 767 jetliner. The Pegasus can carry up to 212,299 pounds of fuel up to 65,000 pounds of cargo, or some mix of the two. The service plans to purchase at least 179 of the tankers. The KC-46A has suffered from other problems, including issues with its fuel probe and the remote vision system that allows the crew to refuel aircraft. The KC-46A has racked up $4.6 billion in cost overruns over the life of the program. Boeing will have to swallow those overruns per the terms of the contract. Source: Air Force Times https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a32885300/kc-46a-garbage/ Back to Top United Airlines begins facemask crackdown Thursday, may deny future travel It's just one of the U.S. airlines telling passengers they may be denied future flying privileges if they don't agree to wear a face covering on board. United Airlines will place any passenger who does not comply with its face mask requirement on an internal travel restriction list starting Thursday. It is one of the U.S. airlines making it clear: if you don't wear the mask, you don't get to fly. Airlines for America, a trade association that represents several U.S. airlines, said this week that passengers will be reminded, before boarding and while on board, about the policy requiring face masks and the consequences for violating it. It said Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United would be implementing similar policies. The group also said airlines will determine for themselves the appropriate consequences, including the suspension of flying privileges. American, Delta and United state on their websites that customers who don't comply may be suspended from future flights. United said that part of its policy goes into effect Thursday. "The more people in a given space wearing masks, the fewer viral particles are making it into the space around them, decreasing exposure and risk," Dr. James Merlino, Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement by United. Southwest says it will deny boarding to anyone not agreeing to wear a mask. U.S. airlines implemented the mask policies in early May with exemptions for small children and people with conditions that prohibit them from wearing a mask. In general, passengers are required to wear a face-covering at all times during the flight except when eating or drinking. "U.S. airlines are very serious about requiring face coverings on their flights. Carriers are stepping up enforcement of face coverings and implementing substantial consequences for those who do not comply with the rules," said Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio in a statement. "Face coverings are one of several public health measures recommended by the CDC as an important layer of protection for passengers and customer-facing employees." https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/airline-face-mask-flight-denial/513-6093ae06-6a4d-4e0c-a2bb-6879df8f712e Back to Top U.S. fines Copa Airlines $450K for transporting passengers between U.S., Venezuela (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department said on Wednesday it fined Panama's Copa Airlines $450,000 for unlawfully transporting passengers between the United States and Venezuela via a stopover point, and ordered the airline to avoid future similar violations. The department said Copa (CPA.N) violated a May 2019 order that barred U.S. and foreign air carriers from transporting passengers between the United States and Venezuela. It said Copa sold more than 5,000 tickets for air travel between the United States and Venezuela and transported more than 15,000 passengers after the order took effect. Copa told officials it understands the seriousness of the matter and took considerable steps to avoid future violations, the transportation department said. Copa later reiterated that in a statement. In it, the airline said its position was that any breach of restrictions "that may have occurred would not have been willful" and that it relied in part on contacts with Panamanian and other U.S. officials to understand those curbs. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-copa-holdings-venezuela/u-s-fines-copa-airlines-450k-for-transporting-passengers-between-u-s-venezuela-idUSKBN23O3FT Back to Top Supersonic AS2 Just a Starting Point for Aerion Aerion considers its Mach 1.4 supersonic AS2 business jet to be the first of a product line that will eventually foray into all-electric and hypersonic speeds. As Aerion Supersonic targets the middle of the decade for first flight of its AS2 supersonic business jet and service entry by 2027, the company is taking a multi-decade view of its business plan with aspirations to build an AS3 that would dwarf the size of the business jet, move into hybrid and all-electric power, and eventually offer hypersonic aircraft. All the while, its Aerion Connect initiative would enable an ecosystem approach for the customer to reach the destination from door-to-door, rather than airport-to-airport. Speaking during the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aviation Forum this morning, Aerion Supersonic chairman, president, and CEO Tom Vice outlined this vision, saying, "We believe that we are building a future where humanity can travel between any two major city pairs within three hours. We know this is going to take a multi-decade approach [involving] hard technical challenges...It's about building an entire ecosystem not just the airplane from point to point." Describing supersonic as Aerion's "starting point," Vice updated the efforts on the GE Affinity-powered Mach 1.4 AS2 business jet, saying it has "made significant progress" in the last two years. The schedule has slid on the $120 million, 12-place aircraft, with plans to fly it from the company's new complex that will be built in Melbourne, Florida, in 2025, with certification following within two years. "The pandemic has slowed us down a bit," he said. Vice said plans call for use of five flight-test aircraft for the program. While now shorter, the recent redesign of the AS2 preserved cabin space, which he said will equate to that of a Bombardier Global 6500 or a Gulfstream G600, have the "quietest cabin in the industry and lowest cabin altitude," and be equipped with amenities such as OLED surfaces, immersive high-fidelity sound with 4k/8k video, large dimmable windows, and "ultra-fast" connectivity. Aerion already sees a sizeable market for the airplane, particularly from large fractional and other business aviation services providers, including Flexjet, its largest and launch customer. He also sees a market from NetJets, VistaJet, and Wheels Up, along with high-net-worth individuals, heads of state, and corporations, although Vice said that he believes the latter is trending now more toward fractional and other models rather than whole ownership. Aerion, citing a potential $40 billion market for the AS2, now has a $3.18 billion order backlog and is in discussions for orders valued at another $6.2 billion, he said. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, the aircraft will be built to run 100 percent on synthetic fuels, as well as traditional fuels. On the synthetic side, Aerion is focused on the use of direct air capture technology that converts carbon dioxide from the air into usable fuels. "The technology really is huge," he said. This approach enables factories to have smaller footprints and to be built and accessible anywhere, Vice said, but conceded the cost of the final product is still an issue. Longer range, Aerion would like to push into full electric for its product lines, but Vice said a hybrid-electric approach would likely be the next logical step. While not detailing its next product, he did show an overlay of the AS3, likely a much larger commercial airplane. Aerion also is in discussions about military applications. Much further out, Aerion sees possibilities for hypersonics and said progress has been made on reaching near hypersonic in the range in the Mach 4 to 4.5 range. This speed is the ultimate vision of getting passengers anywhere around the world within three hours, Vice said. As far as the ecosystem, Aerion has established an Aerion Connect strategy that looks at transportation means such as the use of eVOLs to get customers to and from the airport to provide a smoother, faster experience from beginning to end. In all, Aerion sees a market value of nearly a half-trillion dollars for these types of vehicles, Vice said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-06-17/supersonic-as2-just-starting-point-aerion Back to Top Developing the engine controls for electric aircraft Engineers from BAE Systems developing energy management and engine controls technology for the next generation of hybrid-electric and electric propulsion systems will have prototypes operating later this year. The R&D work, which is being conducted at BAE Systems Electronics in Endicott, New York, is progressing rapidly, with an expansion planned that includes a new laboratory and manufacturing facilities to develop the latest engine energy management and controls systems. Engine control systems Mounted to the side of a jet engine is a set of electronics roughly the size of a personal computer. These smart, digital controls optimize engine performance in aircraft of all sizes, even in the harshest conditions. They monitor and manage engine performance - reducing cost, driving efficiency, and improving safety of flight by using sensors which keep an eye on the current flight conditions and how the engine is running. The control system uses that information to adjust fuel flow, air bypass, and other engine parameters to enhance the engine's performance. Such technology has served as the brains of aircraft engines for decades and improves with every new generation of engines. The rise in greenhouse gases has airlines considering how they can reduce aircraft emissions and save on fuel - with the eventual goal of going all-electric. While the first commercial electric-hybrid or all-electric flight may be years away, we are clearly trending in that direction. To prepare for this, BAE Systems has been investing in core technologies to reduce the size and weight of engine control systems. Most controls are now 40% smaller and lighter than their original size and weight, but with 10 times the processing power. In addition to size and power improvements, engineers are making the technology safer and more reliable. This includes protection against threats such as like cyber-attacks and the refining of prognostic systems to predict when a failure may occur to enable airlines to plan maintenance. Combining experience The first-generation of engine controls took flight in the early 1990s and have logged 1.5 billion flight hours. Today, BAE Systems has engine controls installed on more than 30,000 aircraft around the world. The company is also preparing for electric flight by combining its experience in engine controls with more its knowledge of energy management systems. BAE Systems' electric power and propulsion technology powers more than 12,000 buses, trucks and marine vessels around the world. Those systems not only save fuel but eliminate 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Yeshwanth Premkumar, BAE Systems' business development and strategy lead for aircraft electrification said, "We're combining our power management experience from ground-based hybrid buses with our flight and engine controls experience to enter the market for energy management for hybrid and all-electric aircraft. "Right now we're busy developing new energy management systems and combining them with controls for hybrid engines on regional jets and turboprops. We plan to have operational prototypes of these new systems later this year. "We're also expanding operations in Endicott, New York, with a new lab to support development, testing, and advanced manufacturing for these systems." "This new development enables us to advance our proven energy management and controls technology and work on hybrid electric demos in the future. We're still focused on the urban air mobility segment, but see great potential with business and regional jets. "It's a natural progression for our business, as our engine controls support an install base of more than 30,000 aircraft. We view the technology for both market segments to be agnostic. "We can apply engine controls and energy management systems individually or as a combined offering to any platform regardless of its size. Our focus remains on driving new innovation for the future of flight and that means maturing the technology and defining how it will be used to support our customers." https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/features/developing-the-engine-controls-for-electric-aircraft.html Back to Top SpaceX wants to build an offshore spaceport near Texas for Starship Mars rocket The company is hiring "offshore operations engineers" to develop the launch and landing platforms. SpaceX's Mars-colonizing missions may not launch from terra firma. Elon Musk's space company is hiring "offshore operations engineers" to help develop floating spaceports for Starship, its next-gen transportation system designed to take people to and from the moon, Mars and anywhere on Earth they want to go. "SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth," Musk said via Twitter Tuesday (June 16), in response to a tweet that drew attention to the SpaceX hiring notice. The sea-based spaceport plan by itself is not new; SpaceX has long talked about this possibility. For example, Starship animations Musk unveiled in 2017 depict the giant rocket-spaceship duo (then known as the BFR) launching from an offshore platform. And earlier this month, Musk tweeted that SpaceX is considering three launch sites for its first Starship missions: Florida's Space Coast; the South Texas facility, near the village of Boca Chica, where Starship prototypes are currently being built and tested; and offshore platforms. (South Texas appears to be in the lead as far as the offshore spaceports go; the SpaceX hiring notice specifies Brownsville as the job site.) But it is notable that the idea is now mature enough that SpaceX is hiring folks specifically to pull it off. Musk also revealed some new details about the plan Tuesday. For example, a Twitter user asked if the offshore spaceports will be refurbished oil rigs, and if Starship passengers will be ferried out to them via Hyperloop, the vacuum-pod transportation idea that Musk proposed in 2012. The billionaire entrepreneur responded, "Pretty much." Musk also said that the offshore spaceports won't exactly hug the coastline. "We need to be far enough away so as not to bother heavily populated areas. The launch & landing are not subtle. But you could get within a few miles of the spaceport in a boat," he said in another Tuesday tweet. The landing he referenced is that of Super Heavy, the 31-engine first stage required to get the 100-passenger Starship off Earth's surface. Super Heavy will come back down to Earth for a vertical touchdown shortly after liftoff, the way first-stage boosters of SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets do now. The Starship spacecraft will sport six engines of its own and be powerful enough to launch itself off the moon and Mars, both of which have much weaker gravitational pulls than Earth, Musk has said. (The engines for both Starship and Super Heavy will be Raptors, which are more powerful than the Merlins that propel the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.) Starship would not be the first rocket to launch from an ocean platform. The company Sea Launch conducted three dozen liftoffs of Zenit boosters from a specially built ship, the last occurring in 2014. "Directionally correct, but Zenit is an order of magnitude smaller than Starship system & doesn't come back & land," Musk tweeted Tuesday, responding to a Twitter user who cited the Sea Launch precedent. The offshore engineers will add to an already bustling atmosphere in South Texas, where Starship prototypes are rapidly being assembled and tested. On Monday (June 15), for example, SpaceX pressure-tested a Starship propellant tank to destruction, in a trial designed to inform future designs of the spacecraft. "Tank didn't burst, but leaked at 7.6 bar. This is a good result & supports idea of 304L stainless [steel] being better than 301. We're developing our own alloy to take this even further. Leak before burst is highly desirable," Musk tweeted on Monday. To date, just one Starship prototype has gotten off the ground: a stubby, single-engine craft called Starhopper, which made a few short test flights last year before being retired. But SpaceX is gearing up for an uncrewed test flight that will take the SN5 ("Serial No. 5") prototype about 500 feet (150 meters) into the South Texas skies, if all goes according to plan. The SN4 prototype had been in line to make this flight, but it exploded shortly after an engine test on May 29. If development goes well, we could see the first operational Starship missions - likely launches of commercial communications satellites - sometime next year, SpaceX representatives have said. https://www.space.com/spacex-mars-starship-offshore-launch-landing.html Back to Top Chief Investigator of Accidents • Executive team role with safety and investigation focus • Strategic and organisational leadership • Represent New Zealand in international forums The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigates significant, aviation, rail and marine accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future. The Commission has set a visionary goal of "No Repeat Accidents - Ever!" Thorough investigation skills are pivotal to the Commission's successful performance, and in this role you will provide strong organisational, strategic and technical leadership, as you lead the organisation's high quality and timely investigative function over the aviation, rail, and marine modes. This is a rare opportunity, due to a relocation based on family circumstances, to drive the capability and performance of highly skilled teams, and contribute at the sector's highest level. For this dual titled role - Chief Investigator of Accidents / General Manager Investigation Services, our ideal candidate will be professionally and technically qualified and have sector investigation experience, however distinct and proven safety management experience from this sector would also be highly desirable. Key competencies and experience you will bring to the role include: • Senior leadership and business skills and experience • Investigative, safety and QA experience and skills • An ability to work conceptually, anticipating and recognising risks/issues and identifying possible solutions • Outstanding all-round communication skills, including the ability to represent New Zealand at national and international level • An understanding of quasi-judicial processes, particularly the rules and requirements applicable to a Commission of Inquiry • Emotional and psychological maturity to handle stressful and emotionally difficult situations and to support your team in this area • Political nous and sound judgement • Medically and physically fit with the ability to travel at short notice. I look forward to hearing from those interested in progressing their career in this pivotal senior role, based in central Wellington, New Zealand. Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday, 24 June 2020. If you are interested in the position, please visit our website www.peopleandco.nz and search on the keyword 19442 under the Jobs tab. All applications will be acknowledged electronically. For further information contact Jacaleen Williams on 0064 4 931 9450 or Michele Walls on 0064 4 931 9448 quoting job number 19442. Only people with the right to work in New Zealand may apply for this position. For advice on obtaining a New Zealand work or residence visa visit www.immigration.govt.nz 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