Flight Safety Information August 18, 2020 - No. 167 In This Issue Crash: Doren Congo L410 at Bukavu on Aug 13th 2020, aircraft impacted forest on approach Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Accident (South Sudan) Aircraft hit by laser pointer, RCMP investigating (Canada) Kozhikode plane crash: AAIB forms five-member inquiry panel, report expected in five months Death toll from airplane accident at Kozhikode airport rises to 19 A380 Update: Which Airlines Will Fly It And Which Will Retire? Gulfstream Offers High-Speed, Dual Connectivity Option for G650 and G650er Aircraft Twin Commander Aircraft Expands Legacy Support India's Prime Minister Modi set to get 777-300 VIP jets from Boeing Air Transport Services Group Starts Business To Train Pilots NASA Is Tracking a Vast, Growing Anomaly in Earth's Magnetic Field SpaceX will attempt to break a rocket reusability record with a launch this week SCSI Online Investigation and Safety Courses The USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Will Offer Online and In-Person Classes This Fall Trinity College Dublin and EASA Air Ops Community Survey on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aviation workers Swinburne University Capstone Research Projects 2020 - Airline pax preferences Study SURVEY:...GA PILOTS AND PIREPs. Graduate Research Survey (1) Crash: Doren Congo L410 at Bukavu on Aug 13th 2020, aircraft impacted forest on approach A Doren Air Congo Let L-410 on behalf of Ste Agefreco, registration 9S-GEN performing a freight flight from Kalima to Bukavu (DR Congo) with 2 passengers and 2 crew, reported on approach to Bukavu about seven minutes prior to estimated landing and about 15nm from the airport around 15:30L of Thursday (Aug 13th 2020 13:30Z), however, did not arrive at the airport. An immediate search for the aircraft remained unsuccessful due to fog in the area. A MONUSCO flight arriving at about the same time reported they did not see anything of the missing aircraft. On Aug 14th 2020 the governor of South-Kivu (including Bukavu) reported the aircraft, according to the airport a Ste. Agefreco aircraft, crashed about 3nm west of Bukavu's Kavuma Airport in dense forest just about 495 meters outside the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. There are no survivors. A local reported the aircraft appears to be a Let L-410. There is no official word on the aircraft type involved. In the afternoon of Aug 14th The Aviation Herald received information the aircraft involved was a L410 tailnumber 9S-GEN, it had been chartered by Agefreco. The aircraft was carrying medical supplies for the Covid-19 pandemic and had not been permitted to carry passengers, but carried non-authorized passengers. On Aug 16th 2020 the chief pilot of Kin Avia reported (and provided evidence) that 9S-GEN had been operated by Kin Avia until October 2019 and was subsequently sold to Doren Air Congo. On Aug 16th 2020 The Aviation Herald received word that the aircraft came to rest about 8nm from the airport just south of Mount Kahuzi (extinct volcano 3,317 meters/10,883 feet high). There is no evidence of a currently active airline "Ste Agefreco" or "Agefreco Air". An airline "Agefreco Air" had existed between 1988 and 2007 but ceased operations following a number of accidents. Dr Congo's Ministry of Finances lists an individual in Bukavu under "managed tax payers" for a period ending Dec 2017 with the subtitle "Agefreco". An unverified additional information suggests Agefreco owns two cargo planes with a capacity of 2 tons each (no type or tail numbers listed). http://avherald.com/h?article=4db42eb9&opt=0 Back to Top Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Accident (South Sudan) Date: Sunday 16 August 2020 Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Operator: City Link Registration: 5Y-SAV C/n / msn: 208B0312 First flight: 1992 Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: New Fangak Airstrip ( South Sudan) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: New Fangak Airstrip, South Sudan Destination airport: ? Narrative: A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan suffered an accident on takeoff from New Fangak, South Sudan. The aircraft had been chartered by NGO Nile Hope to deliver humanitarian aid to New Fangak. It had become stuck in the mud and was pushed out before attempting to take off. The Grand Caravan reportedly went off the runway and hit a tree. The right-hand wing separated and the aircraft flipped over. Two of the five passengers suffered minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20200816-0 Back to Top Aircraft hit by laser pointer, RCMP investigating (Canada) Leduc, Alta. (CityNews) - Leduc RCMP are investigating a complaint of a laser being pointed at an aircraft. On Aug. 10, around 11:30 p.m., RCMP say an air traffic controller reported that a commercially operated aircraft was preparing to land when a laser was pointed at it. "Laser strikes on an aircraft are a serious concern as they can cause momentary blindness to the pilot. Especially at night, laser strikes can lead to a possible loss of control of aircraft, posing a danger to people on the aircraft and the general public," said Constable Cheri-Lee Smith in a statement. Leduc RCMP made patrols of the area, but were unable to locate the person involved. RCMP are asking if anyone has any information on this incident, to call the Leduc RCMP at 780-980-7267, or by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or by using the "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2020/08/17/aircraft-hit-by-laser-pointer-rcmp-investigating/ Back to Top Kozhikode plane crash: AAIB forms five-member inquiry panel, report expected in five months • Captain S S Chahar, a former DGCA-designated examiner for pilots of B737NG aircraft, will be the investigator-in-charge to inquire into the circumstances of the August 7 accident. NEW DELHI: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) on Thursday said it has formed a five-member panel to inquire into the circumstances of a plane crash in Kerala's Kozhikode airport last week in which 18 people were killed. In a statement, the board said, "The investigator-in-charge will complete its inquiry and submit the report to AAIB, India, preferably within five months from the date of the issue of this order." Captain S S Chahar, a former DGCA-designated examiner for pilots of B737NG aircraft, will be the investigator-in-charge to inquire into the circumstances of the August 7 accident. He will be assisted by four other investigators - operations expert Ved Prakash, senior aircraft maintenance engineer-B737 Mukul Bhardwaj, aviation medicine expert Y S Dahiya and AAIB deputy director Jasbir Singh Larhga, the board said. The investigator-in-charge may take the assistance of other experts or agencies whenever required, said the AAIB. An Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people, including a six-member crew, overshot the tabletop runway during landing at the Kozhikode airport in heavy rains on August 7 evening. The narrow-body B737 plane fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into pieces, killing 18 people, including both pilots. According to the AAIB statement, the headquarters of the investigation will be at New Delhi. "In exercise of the powers conferred by the Rule 11 (1) of the Aircraft (Accident and Incident Investigation) Rules 2017, the Director General - AAIB, India hereby orders an investigation into the said accident to find out the probable cause(s)," it stated. Air India Express on Thursday said it has retrieved 298 baggage pieces so far from the plane crash site in Kozhikode with the help of the US-based company Kenyon International. Moreover, it said a total of 92 passengers injured in the plane crash in Kozhikode have been discharged till date from hospitals after "obtaining complete fitness". The two leading pilot unions of Air India on Thursday sought a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to discuss matters related to working conditions and flight safety. "Our pilots are constantly facing the challenges of COVID-19, monsoon weather, ill-designed flight duty time limitations (FDTL), several extensions and dispensations given by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)," stated the letter written to Puri by the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG). The two unions said they are writing on behalf of pilots of Air India and its subsidiaries Air India Express and Alliance Air. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/aug/14/kozhikode-plane-crash-aaib-forms-five-member-inquiry-panel-report-expected-in-five-months-2183301.html Back to Top Death toll from airplane accident at Kozhikode airport rises to 19 • Officials with the private hospital which was treating him told TNIE that the person died due to cardiac arrest at 10.30 PM on Sunday. MALAPPURAM: One more person who had been under treatment with severe injuries from the airplane crash at Kozhikode airport died on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Aravindakshan, 68, a resident of Thiruvali. He sustained serious leg and rib injuries. Officials with the private hospital told TNIE that the person died due to cardiac arrest at 10.30 PM on Sunday. With the death, the toll from the accident has rised to 19. The hospital authorities said the person was actually recovering from the injuries."He suffered severe injuries in the accident, but he was on a recovery stage from those injuries. But the sudden cardiac arrest led to the death," said an official with the hospital. Aravindakshan's antigen test conducted after the death to find out Covid 19 infection came out negative on the same day. After post mortem, the body of the person will be handed over to the family members. After the accident, as many as 17 people were admitted to this private hospital alone. Among them, 9 people are still under treatment. While seven people were discharged from the hospital, one person died. According to the medical bulletin released on Sunday evening, as many as 61 people who were injured in the airplane crash at Kozhikode airport are still under treatment at various hospitals in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. The condition of 49 people is stable and 11 persons critical. One person is still on ventilator support. The airplane accident at Kozhikode aiport occured on August 7. An Air India Express plane, which was repatriating Indians stranded in Dubai, overshot the runway of the airport, injuring more than 150 out of the total 184 passengers onboard. It was India's worst passenger aircraft accident since 2010. Among the six crew members, Pilot (Deepak Sathe) and Co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar also died. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/aug/17/death-toll-from-airplane-accident-at-kozhikode-airport-rises-to-19-2184453.html Back to Top Back to Top A380 Update: Which Airlines Will Fly It And Which Will Retire? While we are by no means done with the pandemic, air travel and passenger traffic have been moving in a positive direction in the past few weeks. This has meant that some airlines are putting their Airbus A380s back in service - albeit slowly. Meanwhile, other airlines have decided to wait it out and abstain from making a clear decision for A380 service-resumption or full retirement. Let's see where airlines stand this week. The A380s that are currently flying At the exact time of writing this article, data from FlightAware indicates that only three Airbus A380s are physically in the air, flying. All three belong to Dubai-based carrier Emirates. The services these superjumbos are flying to and from Dubai (DXB) are: • London (LHR) • Toronto (YYZ) • Amsterdam (AMS) Emirates is also flying the A380 Paris, Cairo and Guangzhou. Its network will grow further on 16 August with scheduled A380 services to Toronto. Speaking of Guangzhou, while the only three A380s in the air are Emirates flights, China Southern is another carrier operating the quadjet. In fact, it is the only carrier to have operated the A380 consistently throughout this crisis. China Southern flies the jet from its main hub in Guangzhou (CAN) to the following cities: • Vancouver (YVR) • Sydney (SYD) • Los Angeles (LAX) Recent reporting indicates that the airline is flying a series of special flights to Paris as well. Airlines that are still storing their A380s This is the category with the most A380s and A380 operators. Many are waiting and watching the overall situation, reluctant to 'pull the plug' but still not ready to fly the aircraft either. Here's what we know about A380 carriers around the world: • Asiana: The South Korean airline is flying ghost flights with its fleet of A380s, keeping its pilots' certifications valid. • ANA: Its two A380s are still grounded, while the third remains undelivered and is with Airbus in Toulouse, France. • Etihad: An executive with the airline said it still has plans to re-introduce the jet, but only when the time is right, and demand rises. • Korean Air: Data from Airfleets.net suggests that the entire fleet has been parked since March. • Hi Fly: Last month, the wet lease operator's lone A380 was modified (seats removed) to accommodate cargo. The most recent data from FlightAware indicates that it flew a "ghost flight to nowhere" on August 5th to keep the aircraft active. The plane took off from its base in Beja, Portugal, and returned there an hour later. • Qatar Airways: The airline has committed to storing its A380s until next summer. • Lufthansa: Speaking to Bloomberg, Klaus Froese, in charge of Lufthansa's Frankfurt base, said that Lufthansa wouldn't fly the Airbus A380 for at least two years. It had already retired seven of its 14 A380s. • British Airways: The airline has yet to schedule the A380s for passenger service. However, we do know some of its A380s have flown out of storage in Chateauroux, France to London Heathrow. A recent move took place on August 15th. • Malaysia Airlines: The carrier had been using its A380s for cargo in recent months. However, news of the airline and its superjumbos has been quiet as of late. • Qantas: At the end of July, VH-OQC was the 10th Qantas A380 to arrive in Los Angeles ahead of its entrance into long-term storage. Another two A380s are in Dresden, Germany, where they are undergoing interior retrofits. • Thai Airways: Thai's A380s are sitting in storage. • Singapore Airlines: Some Singapore Airlines A380s are at the APAS facility in Alice Springs, Australia, while others remain at Singapore Changi Airport. • Apart from the above list, Air France made the tough decision last month to retire its entire A380 fleet. A game of 'wait and see' The situation will continue to evolve as airlines monitor demand from travelers and also keep a close eye on their financial circumstances. Analyzing the two factors and the costs versus benefits, carriers will decide what the 'right time' will be to bring the superjumbos out of storage, back in the air. https://simpleflying.com/a380-update-airlines/ Back to Top Gulfstream Offers High-Speed, Dual Connectivity Option for G650 and G650er Aircraft Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it has received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for installation of a high-speed, dual internet system on Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER aircraft. Provided by Viasat, the system gives customers access to internet speeds that are some of the fastest in the industry. A streaming video service is also available, so customers can stream their favorite high-definition content without compromising connectivity. "We are pleased to offer this as a retrofit to our current G650 and G650ER customers," said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Customer Support. "With the use of Viasat's Ku/Ka dual band terminal that seamlessly switches between satellites, we can provide customers with fast and consistent coverage across the world." To accommodate the option, Gulfstream aircraft are outfitted with a uniquely designed, space-saving radome. This service can be performed at company-owned service centers in Savannah; St. Louis; Appleton, Wisconsin; Dallas; Long Beach, California; Westfield, Massachusetts; and Farnborough, England, with additional facilities becoming available as needed. The dual-connection internet service was first available for retrofit on the Gulfstream G550 and the Gulfstream GV in 2019. https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-airframe-accessories/cabin-communications/press-release/21150592/gulfstream-aerospace-corp-gulfstream-offers-highspeed-dual-connectivity-option-for-g650-and-g650er-aircraft Back to Top Twin Commander Aircraft Expands Legacy Support August 13, 2020 - Creedmoor, North Carolina - Twin Commander Aircraft, providing factory support for the full line of piston and turbine-powered Twin Commander models, continues to improve on its record of outstanding support for owners and operators. With new availability of parts that previously were difficult to source or had become prohibitively expensive, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to the long history of the brand and the worldwide fleet. As a result of a recently expanded staff, including Technical Service Engineering Manager Andrew Wilson and Librarian Pam Moore, the company has been able to address some long-term items of interest to owners. Among the projects currently in the works is a replacement for the cabin pressure indicator. Unavailable from the original equipment provider for many years, the new indicator is manufactured to original specifications, and will install as a minor alteration. Parts that will form a Custom Kit should be in stock in the next few months. In addition, owners can soon expect to find the oxygen gauge in stock. Previously unavailable because the supplier no longer supported the system components, Twin Commander Aircraft was able to secure support for the manufacture of new parts at a reasonable cost. When supporting legacy products, cost is nearly as important as availability, and Twin Commander Aircraft works tirelessly to mitigate any cost increases being passed on to owners. An unexpected transition in the sourcing of the start switch and environmental cabin cooling switch would have resulted in a large cost increase to owners. But work behind the scenes at Twin Commander ensured significantly more favorable pricing, and more price stability in the future. Working on some of these challenging cases has been made possible by the longtime contributions of Pam Brown in purchasing and Alan Wright in engineering, as well as the addition of Wilson and Moore. It has been at the center of their early efforts with the company. "I love offering value to an owner or a Factory Authorized Service Center with these projects," Wilson said. Twin Commander Business Unit Director Brian Harbaugh said that Twin Commander Aircraft is completely dedicated to supporting the aircraft. "I'm proud of the work we're doing to help owners and operators, and to help our Factory Authorized Service Centers better support their customers," he said. "We are pushing forward to make sure the legacy fleet of Twin Commanders stays active and brings joy to their owners for many years to come. With the addition of new staff, we will have the resources necessary to work hard on legacy obsolesce far into the future." https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21150593/twin-commander-aircraft-twin-commander-aircraft-expands-legacy-support Back to Top India's Prime Minister Modi set to get 777-300 VIP jets from Boeing Boeing's commercial airplanes business will get a third quarter boost from the delivery of two new VVIP 777-300 jets to India's government, offering new long-distance rides to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials. Multiple media reports from India say the Chicago-based jet maker is handing off the jets in August to Indian government officials and military pilots who've traveled to the U.S. and will fly the aircraft back to India. The two jets will cost India's government a total of $1.1 billion after they have been outfitted with special military hardware and missile avoidance systems, and luxury interiors, GQ India reports. There were conflicting reports about the jets. One said the jets are lightly used aircraft operated for only two or three years, while another said they were new jets. Boeing spokesman Bernard Choi had no immediate comment on the reports. What is clear is that Boeing won a $190 million contract to refurbish them and install the special protective systems on the airplanes, including "self-protection suites." That deal was approved by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency in February 2019. The first aircraft delivery was originally slated to take place in July but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, IndiaTV reported. The first new "Air India One" will be operated by pilots and crews from the Indian Air Force at Palam Air Force Station, located in New Delhi, starting in late August. The second jet will potentially arrive in September. Pilots have already been getting training to operate the new jets, which were in Dallas to be specially outfitted, and an aviation enthusiast, Andy Egloff, recently snapped a rare photo of the jet in Dallas, which was shared on Twitter. The two new widebodies will replace the Indian government's aging 747s under a deal. Those were flown by pilots from Air India, the country's flagship airline. All 777 jets are made in Boeing's Everett factory complex. AirInsight analyst Addison Schonland said in an interview that India's move to the 777-300ER closes another chapter in the story of Boeing's iconic 747 jets. "What we see here is a generational shift, a movement away from the 747s to another set of the twin-engined 777-300 Extended Range jets. Japan has done it, now India. The United States is the only country still using the 747 as a presidential aircraft. Everybody else has moved on," Schonland said. The Hindustan Times reported that the jets will be exclusively used by Prime Minister Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/08/17/boeing-india-777-300er-order-two-aircraft.html Back to Top Air Transport Services Group Starts Business To Train Pilots Air Transport Services Group Inc (NASDAQ: ATSG) has added another business line to its portfolio of aircraft leasing and outsourced transport services: pilot training. Wilmington, Ohio-based ATSG said Monday it has formed a new venture, Airborne Training Services, to train commercial airline pilots on Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft through class and simulator-based instruction. The company is essentially consolidating in-house training for its own cargo and passenger airlines, and offering the service to other airlines too. ATSG said it has completed an agreement with Avenger Flight Group LLC to extend its training capacity. Under the seven-year contract, Avenger will provide additional 767 and 777 flight simulator resources for ATSG pilots and Airborne Training Services' customers. Subsidiary airline ABX Air previously handled pilot training and simulators for ATSG. The new venture allows ATSG to become more efficient in providing those services across its three airlines - ABX, Air Transport International and Omni Air International, spokeswoman Kym Parks said in an email. "To be able to provide the same level of training that has been developed over 40 years of operation to external customers, we needed to develop a relationship that would give customers access to a broader range of airframe types and additional access to support capacity," Parks said, explaining the Avenger engagement. ATSG is a diversified air services company. It offers a range of services, including aircraft leasing, crews and maintenance to fly aircraft for other airlines, bundled aircraft and operating service, maintenance and engineering services, freighter conversions and ground-handling services. It operates aircraft for a number of major customers, including Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). The company's second-quarter pretax earnings increased 20%, aided by an overall shortage of air cargo capacity that increased demand for its all-cargo aircraft. The new ATSG training center, certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, offers in-depth classroom instruction and flight training on full flight simulators. It is led by Alex Thurmond, who most recently managed the learning center at FlightSafety International, ATSG said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-transport-services-group-starts-212000607.html Back to Top NASA Is Tracking a Vast, Growing Anomaly in Earth's Magnetic Field NASA is actively monitoring a strange anomaly in Earth's magnetic field: a giant region of lower magnetic intensity in the skies above the planet, stretching out between South America and southwest Africa. This vast, developing phenomenon, called the South Atlantic Anomaly, has intrigued and concerned scientists for years, and perhaps none more so than NASA researchers. The space agency's satellites and spacecraft are particularly vulnerable to the weakened magnetic field strength within the anomaly, and the resulting exposure to charged particles from the Sun. The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) - likened by NASA to a 'dent' in Earth's magnetic field, or a kind of 'pothole in space' - generally doesn't affect life on Earth, but the same can't be said for orbital spacecraft (including the International Space Station), which pass directly through the anomaly as they loop around the planet at low-Earth orbit altitudes. During these encounters, the reduced magnetic field strength inside the anomaly means technological systems onboard satellites can short-circuit and malfunction if they become struck by high-energy protons emanating from the Sun. These random hits may usually only produce low-level glitches, but they do carry the risk of causing significant data loss, or even permanent damage to key components - threats obliging satellite operators to routinely shut down spacecraft systems before spacecraft enter the anomaly zone. Mitigating those hazards in space is one reason NASA is tracking the SAA; another is that the mystery of the anomaly represents a great opportunity to investigate a complex and difficult-to-understand phenomenon, and NASA's broad resources and research groups are uniquely well-appointed to study the occurrence. "The magnetic field is actually a superposition of fields from many current sources," explains geophysicist Terry Sabaka from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland. The primary source is considered to be a swirling ocean of molten iron inside Earth's outer core, thousands of kilometres below the ground. The movement of that mass generates electrical currents that create Earth's magnetic field, but not necessarily uniformly, it seems. A huge reservoir of dense rock called the African Large Low Shear Velocity Province, located about 2,900 kilometres (1,800 miles) below the African continent, disturbs the field's generation, resulting in the dramatic weakening effect - which is aided by the tilt of the planet's magnetic axis. "The observed SAA can be also interpreted as a consequence of weakening dominance of the dipole field in the region," says NASA Goddard geophysicist and mathematician Weijia Kuang. "More specifically, a localised field with reversed polarity grows strongly in the SAA region, thus making the field intensity very weak, weaker than that of the surrounding regions." While there's much scientists still don't fully understand about the anomaly and its implications, new insights are continually shedding light on this strange phenomenon. For example, one study led by NASA heliophysicist Ashley Greeley in 2016 revealed the SAA is drifting slowly in a north-westerly direction. It's not just moving, however. Even more remarkably, the phenomenon seems to be in the process of splitting in two, with researchers this year discovering that the SAA appears to be dividing into two distinct cells, each representing a separate centre of minimum magnetic intensity within the greater anomaly. Just what that means for the future of the SAA remains unknown, but in any case, there's evidence to suggest that the anomaly is not a new appearance. A study published last month suggested the phenomenon is not a freak event of recent times, but a recurrent magnetic event that may have affected Earth since as far back as 11 million years ago. If so, that could signal that the South Atlantic Anomaly is not a trigger or precursor to the entire planet's magnetic field flipping, which is something that actually happens, if not for hundreds of thousands of years at a time. Obviously, huge questions remain, but with so much going on with this vast magnetic oddity, it's good to know the world's most powerful space agency is watching it as closely as they are. "Even though the SAA is slow-moving, it is going through some change in morphology, so it's also important that we keep observing it by having continued missions," says Sabaka. "Because that's what helps us make models and predictions." https://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-is-tracking-the-mysterious-evolving-anomaly-in-earth-s-magnetic-field/amp Back to Top SpaceX will attempt to break a rocket reusability record with a launch this week SpaceX is preparing for yet another launch of Starlink satellites on Tuesday -- its tenth launch of production versions of the satellites to date. In addition to 58 Starlink satellites, the Falcon 9 flying the mission will also carry three Planet satellites -- and it'll be the sixth time this particular rocket booster has made the trip, marking a record-breaking achievement for SpaceX. The first-stage booster used on Tuesday's mission has flown on three previous SpaceX Starlink missions, as well as two other launches to carry satellites for SpaceX customers Telstar and Iridium . SpaceX will also be attempting to land the booster in order to recover it again, which would be another record-breaking achievement for the company. SpaceX's flurry of Starlink launches has provided it with a great opportunity to extend its work on reusable rocketry, which is likely helping drive down its launch costs as well. Starlink is the company's own project, which means it's particularly important that it be able to reduce operating costs on each launch to build the constellation -- the broadband internet service that Starlink will provide is only just approaching the beta stage, and won't be returning revenue to the company for quite a while yet. Another way SpaceX is pushing the envelope with its reusability on these launches is with its fairing recovery program. The company has been seeking to catch both halves of the fairing it uses to protect the rocket's cargo during launch, using ships with nets extending from their decks. It managed, for the first time, to catch both halves successfully during a Starlink launch in July. This has the potential to reduce launch costs by as much as $6 million per flight where a reused fairing is flown again. This mission also includes a payload rideshare arrangement with client Planet, which is another way that SpaceX can further defray the capital expenditure that goes into these launches of its own satellites. The companies haven't revealed the split in terms of how much Planet or any other clients are paying to host a few satellites on these Starlink launches, but it's likely enough to help take a decent chunk out of the overall cost of launching. Besides bringing SpaceX one step closer to its goal of beginning to offer Starlink internet service, and continuing to break new ground in its reusability program, it's also the 100th launch for the company (and 92nd Falcon 9 flight). That's a big milestone in itself, and one that continues a year of monumental firsts for SpaceX. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spacex-attempt-break-rocket-reusability-123252608.html Back to Top Back to Top The USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Will Offer Online Classes This Fall The following upcoming courses, including NEW Safety Performance Indicators course, will take place in our virtual Webex classrooms. Accident/Incident Response Preparedness This course is designed for individuals who are involved in either preparing emergency response plans or responding to incidents and accidents as a representative of their organization. This updated course has been extended to four full days to integrate communications in the digital age. Online Course August 24-27, 2020 4 Days Tuition: $2250 Human Factors in Aviation Safety This course presents human factors in a manner that can be readily understood and applied by aviation practitioners in all phases of aviation operations. Emphasis is placed on identifying the causes of human error, predicting how human error can affect performance, and applying countermeasures to reduce or eliminate its effects. Online Course August 24-28, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2650 Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance This course provides supervisors with aviation safety principles and practices needed to manage the problems associated with aircraft maintenance operations. In addition, it prepares attendees to assume safety responsibilities in their areas of operation. Online Course August 31-September 4, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2650 Threat and Error Managment This course provides students with sufficient knowledge to develop a TEM program and a LOSA program within their organizations. Online Course September 9-11, 2020 2.5 Days Tuition: $1375 Aviation Safety Management Systems Providing the skills and practical methods to plan, manage, and maintain an effective Aviation Safety Management System. Special emphasis for safety managers, training, flight department and maintenance managers and supervisors, pilots, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, and schedulers. Online Course September 14-25, 2020 9.5 Days Tuition: $3750 Hazard Effects and Control Strategies This course focuses on underlying physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and effects, and hazard control strategies. The following hazards are specifically addressed: electrical hazards, electrostatic discharge, toxicity, kinetic hazards, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, thermal hazards, noise, fire and explosion, high pressure, etc. Online Course September 14-15, 2020 2 Days Tuition: $1200 Damage Assessment for System Safety Sophisticated mathematical models and methods have been developed to estimate the level of impact of a hazardous condition. This course provides an overall understanding of these methods to help managers and system safety analysis reviewers understand the analysis conducted and results obtained by the experts in the field. Specifically, methods for modeling the impact of fire and explosion, debris distribution from an explosion, and toxic gas dispersion are discussed. Online Course September 16-18, 2020 3 Days Tuition: $1625 Safety Management Systems for Ground Operation Safety This course provides airport, air carrier and ground service company supervisors and managers with practices that will reduce ground operation mishaps to personnel and equipment. It provides an understanding of how ground operations safety management is an essential part or an airport's or air carrier's SMS. Online Course September 21-23, 2020 2.5 Days Tuition: $1375 Safety Performance Indicators This course teaches how SPI's are developed, monitored, analyzed and modified in order for an organization to correctly know its safety performance. The course utilizes guidance provided in ICAO Annex 19 and the ICAO Safety Management Manual Doc. 9859. Online Course September 24-25, 2020 2 Days Tuition: $1200 Earn Credit for FlightSafety International Master Technician-Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn elective credits towards FlightSafety International's Master Technician-Management Program • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Gas Turbine Accident Investigation • Helicopter Accident Investigation • Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance • Safety Management for Ground Operations Safety • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness Earn Credit for National Business Aviation Association Certified Aviation Manager Exam Students taking the following USC courses will earn two points toward completing the application for the National Business Aviation Association Certified Aviation Manager Exam. • Aviation Safety Management Systems • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Aircraft Accident Investigation • SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems For further details, please visit our website or use the contact information below. Email: aviation@usc.edu Telephone: +1 (310) 342-1345 Photo Credit: PFC Brendan King, USMC Back to Top Swinburne University Capstone Research Projects 2020 - Airline pax preferences Study Airline Passenger Carrier Preference Research Project 2020 The Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) business model has disrupted the aviation industry. It has generated new passenger demand, provided passengers with more choice and created many competitive challenges for the traditional Full-Service Carriers (FSC). As the global airline market continues to change and adapt to new challenges, airline passenger preferences and intent to travel may also change. As part of our undergraduate research project at Swinburne University of Technology we are conducting a survey on passenger preferences regarding the decision to fly between LCC and FSC airlines. This survey asks for your views on various issues associated with airline choice and seeks to better understand passenger risk perceptions and the perceived value offered by each airline model. You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire, which also includes an explanatory statement. The study takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. To access the survey, please go to the following link: https://swinuw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3wwfJDvc7chU3Cl Participants who complete the study will be eligible to enter a draw to win an iPad. This research project is being supervised by Peter Renshaw at the Department of Aviation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. If you have any questions, please contact Peter at prenshaw@swin.edu.au *** Image from: Uphues, J. (2019). Full service carrier vs. low cost carrier - What's future-proof? Retrieved from https://www.inform-software.com/blog/post/full-service-carrier-vs-low-cost-carrier-whats-future-proof Back to Top SURVEY: GA PILOTS AND PIREPs "Dear GA pilot, Researchers at Purdue University are seeking general aviation (GA) pilots to participate in an online study, partially funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NextGen Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) program. The goal of this study is to evaluate opportunities for speech-based or other "hands-free" technologies that GA pilots might use to submit PIREPs. If you are able and willing to participate, you will be asked to review a set of 6 weather-related flight scenarios and record PIREPs as if you are flying. The study will last approximately 20 minutes and can be completed using a laptop or desktop computer. Participation in this study is completely voluntary. You can withdraw your participation at any time during the study for any reason. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to acknowledge your voluntary participation. Then there are 4 questions about your flight history, 6 weather scenarios, and 4 questions about PIREPs. Responses to the survey will be completely anonymous. We ask that you complete the study in a quiet location free from background noise. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to participate. When you are ready to begin, please click here: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6lZhv409DcoV8KF and follow the instructions in Qualtrics. Please feel free to share this link with other pilots you know. Email any questions or concerns to Mayur Deo and Dr. Brandon Pitts at nhance@purdue.edu." Back to Top Graduate Research Survey (1) Stress and Wellbeing for Global Aviation Professionals Dear colleagues, I am inviting you to participate in a research project on wellbeing in the aviation industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation has affected aviation professionals around the world, and this research seeks to identify wellbeing strategies that work across professions, employers, families, and nations. All responses to this survey are anonymous. The findings of this research will inform future work by the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program and the Flight Safety Foundation to improve wellbeing for aviation professionals during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please click or copy the link below to access the survey, and please share it with any interested colleagues. https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cC2nlWEAazl22TX This research will support a treatise towards a Master of Science in Applied Psychology degree at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. The researcher is also on the staff of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program. Thank you, and please contact us with any questions, Daniel Scalese - Researcher scalese@usc.edu Michael Nguyen - Faculty Advisor nguyenmv@usc.edu Curt Lewis