Flight Safety Information August 19, 2020 - No. 168 In This Issue Incident: S7 E170 at Moscow on Aug 18th 2020, flaps problem Incident: Airblue A321 at Islamabad on Aug 17th 2020, rejected takeoff due to airspeed disagree Incident: S7 A20N at Magadan on Aug 17th 2020, bearing go around US NTSB joins Air India Express accident investigation PlaneEnglish aviation communication simulator provides new way to help pilots FAA Continues Drone Integration Initiatives FAA selects UND for UAS Collegiate Training Initiative American Airlines flying more than 1,000 cargo-only flights in September LATAM Airlines has laid off 12,600 employees since March amid coronavirus crisis Start-up Breeze Airways drops bid for Compass Airlines' operating certificate Ouch: Qatar Airways Laying Off Senior Pilots Private Jet Operators Are Stealing Passengers from U.S. Airlines Rocket Lab aims to recover Electron booster on upcoming flight 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) Incident: S7 E170 at Moscow on Aug 18th 2020, flaps problem S7 Sibir Airlines Embraer ERJ-170, registration VQ-BYA performing flight S7-1247 from Moscow Domodedovo to Belgorod (Russia), was climbing out of Domodedovo's runway 32L when the crew stopped the climb at about FL180 due to problems retracting the flaps. The aircraft descended to FL150 and entered a hold for about 20 minutes, then returned to Domodedovo for a safe landing on runway 32L about 55 minutes after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4db721bc&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Airblue A321 at Islamabad on Aug 17th 2020, rejected takeoff due to airspeed disagree An Airblue Airbus A321-200, registration AP-BMM performing flight PA-205 from Islamabad to Karachi (Pakistan), was accelerating for takeoff from Islamabad's runway 10R when the crew rejected takeoff at about 80 knots due to disagreeing airspeeds. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. A replacement A321-200 registration AP-BMP reached Karachi with a delay of about 2 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 4 hours, then returned to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4db7201e&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: S7 A20N at Magadan on Aug 17th 2020, bearing go around S7 Sibir Airlines Airbus A320-200N, registration VQ-BRI performing flight S7-5219 from Novosibirsk to Magadan (Russia), was on final approach to Magadan's runway 10 when the crew initiated a go around from about 500 feet AGL after a bear was observed on the runway. The aircraft positioned for another approach to runway 10 and landed safely about 20 minutes after the go around. http://avherald.com/h?article=4db71eab&opt=0 Back to Top US NTSB joins Air India Express accident investigation A Boeing 737 aircraft broke into two pieces after overshooting the runway in Kozhikode airport on August 7 The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has joined the investigation of the Air India Express plane crash in Kerala on August 7, sharing its expertise with the probe team in India. NTSB is an independent US government agency investigating aviation accidents and will work with the Indian probe in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation norms. "The NTSB received a notification shortly after the accident and has appointed a US accredited representative to assist the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau," said a spokesperson of the US agency. "The Accredited Representative (Acc Rep) has designated Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration as technical advisors. The Acc Rep is providing assistance from the United States, as we have done in many investigations. Several investigators from Boeing and FAA have traveled to New Delhi to provide assistance locally," he added. A Boeing 737 aircraft of Air India Express broke into two pieces after overshooting the runway in Kozhikode airport on August 7. Eighteen people, including two pilots, were killed in the accident. The aircraft was returning from Dubai. While aviation safety experts have demanded a court of inquiry to investigate the accident, the government has entrusted the task to Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). A five member team headed by Captain S S Chahar has been appointed to probe the accident and submit report in five months. Other team members include operations expert Ved Prakash, senior aircraft maintenance engineer Mukul Bharadwaj, aviation medicine expert Group Captain ( Dr) Y S Dahiya and AAIB deputy director Jasbir Singh Largha. As per ICAO norms the 'state (country) of occurrence' shall institute an investigation into the circumstances of the accident. Other countries too can participate in an investigation including those where the aircraft was designed and manufactured by deputing a representative. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/us-ntsb-joins-air-india-express-accident-investigation-120081900955_1.html Back to Top PlaneEnglish aviation communication simulator provides new way to help pilots PlaneEnglish, an app-based aviation radio simulator that helps pilots become more proficient in communication, has a new companion manual that provides more in-depth content so pilots can master the mic even faster. (Image provided) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - PlaneEnglish, a popular app-based aviation radio simulator that helps pilots become more proficient in communication, now has a co-pilot: a new companion manual that provides even more in-depth content so pilots can master the mic even faster. PlaneEnglish, a simulator created by three Purdue University alumni, is an app-based aviation radio simulator to help new pilots acquire radio communication proficiency by developing advanced skills in more realistic environments. The new training manual provides a detailed breakdown of aviation radio communications for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and can be used as a guide so users can get the most out of the app. The manual offers greater detail, helpful illustrations, a glossary of phrases and aviation terms, standard radio procedures, and examples of common communication exchanges between pilots and air traffic control. "Aviation communication is one of the biggest sources of anxiety for pilots, especially those who train at smaller airports," said Muharrem Mane, one of the co-founders. "What our PlaneEnglish simulator has demonstrated is that learning effective radio communication is easy and actually fun if you break the process up into small steps and provide scenarios for practicing. Coupled with our new manual, PlaneEnglish not only builds up pilots' confidence in radio communication, it helps keep our aviation community safe." Mane, an alumnus of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Eren Hadimioglu, an alumnus of the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology; and Sam Dickson, an alumnus of the Department of Computer Science, created and developed PlaneEnglish. The technology's simulator is used in dozens of airports across the U.S., and the team developed a version of the technology for civilian pilots. PlaneEnglish lessons guide users through simple and complicated interactions with air traffic control on every phase of flight from taxi out, to takeoff, to airspace entrance, to approaches, to taxi in. The PlaneEnglish team works out of the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, and the creators work closely with the Purdue Research Foundation as they develop their technology. About Purdue Research Foundation The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park, Purdue Technology Centers and University Development Office. In 2020, the IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The foundation received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information about setting up a presence at Purdue, possibly in the Purdue Research Park or Discovery Park District, contact the PRF Economic Development Office at parksinfo@prf.org. Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org Source: Muharrem Mane, muharrem@planeenglish.net https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2020/Q3/planeenglish-aviation-communication-simulator-provides-new-way-to-help-pilots.html Back to Top FAA Continues Drone Integration Initiatives The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced 26 schools have been selected so far to participate in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI). The FAA's Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program allows educational institutions to collaborate with the FAA to help students pursue their aviation career goals. The UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in UAS, commonly referred to as drones. The following schools meet the eligibility guidelines and have been selected to participate in the program: • Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, Oregon • Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon • Dakota College, Bottineau, North Dakota • Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL and Prescott, AZ • Green River College, Auburn, Washington • Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City, Florida • Hazard Community and Technical College, Hazard, Kentucky • Hinds Community College, Bolton, Mississippi • Idaho State University, Poncatello, Idaho • Indiana State University, Terra Haute, Indiana • MiraCosta College, Carlsbad, California • Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, Virginia • Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, West Virginia • Niagara Community College, Sanborn, New York • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina • Northeastern Technical College, Cheraw, South Carolina • Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls, Minnesota • Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse, Michigan • Oklahoma City Community College, Stillwater, Oklahoma • Palomar College District, San Marcos, California • Santa Rosa Junior College, Windsor, California • Southwestern College, Chula Vista, California • Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, Florida • University of Maine at Augusta, August, Maine • University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota • WSU Tech, Wichita, Kansas The FAA launched the UAS-CTI program in April. Participating institutions will engage with the FAA, other participants, general industry, local governments, law enforcement, and regional economic development entities to address labor force needs. This collaboration will ensure that UAS-CTI school graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a successful career in a UAS-related field. Post-secondary institutions with UAS curriculums seeking recognition as UAS-CTI partners may still apply for this distinction. Program guidelines are posted on our website. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254) required the FAA to establish a collegiate training initiative program relating to unmanned aircraft and to establish a process to designate consortia of public, two-year institutions of higher education as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in Small Unmanned Aircraft System Technology Training. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/unmanned/press-release/21150788/federal-aviation-administration-faa-faa-continues-drone-integration-initiatives Back to Top FAA selects UND for UAS Collegiate Training Initiative Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selected the University of North Dakota (UND) to serve in its Unmanned Aerial Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) program. The UAS-CTI program was established by Congress under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which used the model of the agency's existing CTI program to help ensure the U.S. can meet demand for UAS operators and support the integration of this technology into the national airspace. More information can be found on UND's website, www.und.edu. "UND is a world-class aviation school and plays a significant role in the nation's UAS ecosystem," said Hoeven. "It makes sense for the FAA to rely further on UND to meet the workforce needs of this quickly growing industry. That's exactly why we authorized this program through the 2018 FAA reauthorization, and this selection builds on our state's role as a hub of UAS research, development, training and operations." Today's announcement follows Hoeven's Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Hiring Reform Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) that was passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The senator's bill enables FAA to prioritize the hiring of veterans and graduates of FAA CTI schools, including UND, to help address the shortage of qualified air traffic controllers. https://www.am1100theflag.com/news/21278-faa-selects-und-uas-collegiate-training-initiative Back to Top American Airlines flying more than 1,000 cargo-only flights in September When American Airlines relaunched cargo-only flights in March, its Cargo team started with 20 strategic flights to two key destinations. This September, its cargo-only schedule will total more than 1,000 flights serving 32 cities; a plan that began as an experiment has now grown exponentially over the last 6 months. By more than doubling its cargo-only flying compared to August, American Airlines Cargo is able to meet customer needs amidst a time of record demand. Since being reintroduced, American's cargo-only flights - which hadn't been operated in more than 35 years - have moved more than 45 million pounds of cargo around the world. But getting the first flight off the ground was nothing short of a symphony, played by team members from across the company. American has changed greatly since its last Boeing 747 freighter landed in 1984, so team members from the airline's Cargo, Network Planning and Operations teams joined forces to write a new strategy. The plan would allow American Airlines Cargo to better serve its shippers despite a decreased passenger flight schedule caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. "We didn't have a playbook. We'd never done this before," said Maulin Vakil, American's director of cargo revenue at the time. "We began to explore how much cargo we could take if we couldn't transport passengers." After walking through dozens of what-if scenarios, team members discovered it would be possible to successfully fly regularly-scheduled long haul service with nothing but cargo in the aircraft's belly. The first flight, however, would have to be planned with no stone unturned. The final push to plan American's resumption of cargo-only service came as the COVID-19 outbreak progressed and the vast majority of passenger air travel to Asia and Europe was suspended. On March 17, the team that had originally explored the possibility of cargo-only flying was called to put their plan in motion. After exploring their options, the group began planning a cargo-only flight from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Frankfurt (FRA) scheduled to take off on Friday, March 20. While figuring out the safety, logistics and economics of the flight was a challenge, team members were prepared for the test. Crews were briefed, safety procedures were established, and international rules were carefully followed. Four days after the team set their plan into motion, American operated a Boeing 777-300 from DFW to FRA as its first cargo-only flight of the 21st century. With the flight to FRA a success, American began operating cargo-only flights to Hong Kong (HKG) shortly after. A few weeks later, team members planned safe and efficient ways to serve Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK) and Seoul (ICN). Many of these flights deliver PPE and medical supplies from Asia to U.S. soil, as well as mail, clothing and hard goods. "We essentially started our own little airline," said Tom Howard, a manager at American's Integrated Operations Center, who led the development of the operation. "We had to build all of this out and coordinate how it flows with our scheduled passenger service because, well, we're a passenger airline." "It's satisfying to know that we are both keeping American in the air and keeping the world economy afloat," said Dennis Fiddler, a customer service manager at American's cargo facility in Miami. "We ensure countries are able to supply others with essential supplies. Although it feels like our borders are further apart because of COVID-19, our team is able to shorten that distance during this time of need." What initially started as a few test flights has since flourished, quickly becoming a dependable service for customers as demand around the world continues to grow. This September, more than 1,000 scheduled cargo-only flights will be accompanied by more than 1,200 passenger flights also offering cargo services - giving Cargo customers access to more than 2,200 flights throughout the month. https://theloadstar.com/american-airlines-flying-more-than-1000-cargo-only-flights-in-september/ Back to Top LATAM Airlines has laid off 12,600 employees since March amid coronavirus crisis SANTIAGO/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - LATAM Airlines, South America's largest carrier, on Tuesday said it had laid off 12,600 employees since March - or almost 30% of its pre-coronavirus workforce - due to the pandemic that has upended the global travel industry. The carrier went from employing almost 43,000 people across Latin America and the United States to 29,957 as of Tuesday, the company said. LATAM reported a net loss of $890 million for the second quarter, slammed by the pandemic that drove the company into a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in May. "COVID-19 has had a very significant impact, which is reflected in the company's numbers," LATAM CFO Ramiro Alfonsin told journalists. While employees already had their salaries cut by half in late March when the pandemic led to widespread travel restrictions in the region, it said its remaining employees are now facing cuts of 20% through September. LATAM and its rivals are struggling to preserve cash while operating just a small fraction of their usual flights. The airline has said it will need to be a smaller carrier for years to come, and it is unclear whether there will be more job cuts in the future. Cutting down its workforce has helped preserve some liquidity. The carrier posted a 75% drop in revenue between April and June due to widespread travel restrictions around Latin America. LATAM's Chapter 11 filing has allowed it to raise more than $1.3 billion in cash from investors, although it still needs the approval from a bankruptcy judge before it can access the money. Alfonsin said the airline had operated during the quarter at 6% of its normal capacity and that demand in Brazil, its largest market, was showing some signs of recovery. He added LATAM ended the quarter with a total cash position of $1.4 billion. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latam-airlines-results/latam-airlines-has-laid-off-12600-employees-since-march-amid-coronavirus-crisis-idUSKCN25F014 Back to Top Start-up Breeze Airways drops bid for Compass Airlines' operating certificate, still plans 2021 launch David Neeleman's latest venture Breeze Airways remains on track to launch commercial passenger flights in 2021 even after deciding to drop a plan to acquire defunct Compass Airlines operating certificate. Salt Lake City-based Breeze will launch in 2021 under its own operating certificate, spokesperson Gareth Edmondson-Jones told TPG. A certificate is a necessary prerequisite to flying scheduled passenger flights in the U.S. While he did not provide a specific timeline, the airline maintains its plan to initially lease 15 used Embraer E190s before it begins taking delivery of 60 new Airbus A220-300s in August 2021. The confirmation of that timeline follows the decision to drop plans to acquire the certificate of Compass, which Breeze notified the Department of Transportation of on Tuesday. The airline applied to transfer the certificate in July, three months after Compass ceased flying. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) labor union and Sun Country Airlines objected to Breeze's plan to acquire the certificate. ALPA argued that if the transfer was approved, its existing labor contract with Compass needed to be honored. Sun Country argued that Breeze did not meet the regulator's funding level requirements. Breeze did not respond to the separate objections before withdrawing its application for the certificate. Related: Neeleman's new airline Breeze targets May launch, with the JetBlue founder planning coast-to-coast flights Breeze is the latest airline founded by industry mogul Neeleman. His previous carriers include JetBlue Airways and Morris Air in the U.S., Azul in Brazil, and WestJet in Canada. The airline has outlined plans to initially offer point-to-point flights aimed at leisure travelers between 15 cities on the East Coast and in the Midwest, South and Texas. The model is similar to that of Allegiant Air, where Breeze commercial chief Lukas Johnson spent eight years before joining the start-up carrier. Later plans include flights across the U.S. between the East Coast and California on A220s. Breeze will release additional details of its launch in September, Edmondson-Jones said. https://thepointsguy.com/news/start-up-breeze-airways-drops-bid-for-compass-airlines-operating-certificate-still-plans-2021-launch/ Back to Top Ouch: Qatar Airways Laying Off Senior Pilots We've seen major layoffs at most Gulf carriers in recent months. Well, that trend is now continuing with more pilots at Qatar Airways... In this post: Qatar Airways laying off pilots Qatar Airways' approach to layoffs Bottom line Qatar Airways laying off pilots Qatar Airways is this week sending out its latest round of end of employment notices to pilots. As these notices begin: "This letter is to advise you of the outcome of a recent review of our workforce requirement. Due to redundancy we regret to inform you that your services with the company are no longer required." Pilots receiving these notices are being told that they'll receive 90 days worth of salary in lieu of the notice period, per contractual terms. Since these pilots are in Qatar on work visas, this also means that they'll have to pack up and leave the country within weeks, unless they can figure out some sort of other visa. Qatar Airways is laying off more pilots Qatar Airways' approach to layoffs While it's not unexpected to see pilots being laid off during this crisis, the unfortunate part is the way that Qatar Airways is going about it. While the exact criteria isn't known, Qatar Airways is at least in part: Laying off pilots who are 60+ years old Laying off captains who have been at the airline for 10+ years This is similar to the approach that Qatar Airways took with laying off cabin crew, where those with 15+ years at the airline were receiving layoff notices. At a unionized airline layoffs would typically happen based on seniority, which in many ways is fair, as it reflects loyalty to the airline. Qatar Airways is taking the approach that minimizes the cost to the airline, disregarding any loyalty to the company: Those who are 60+ years old are being laid off, since realistically they'll have to retire in a handful of years anyway, so there's no reason to keep them around during a period of reduced demand By laying off some senior captains rather than more junior pilots, the airline is saving money, since those senior captains are being paid more By laying off pilots from some specific fleets, the airline can minimize the amount of retraining needed, for those pilots who may be forced to move to different planes The Gulf carriers offer some incredible opportunities for pilots around the world to fly huge jets and get paid well. At least that's the case when times are good. When times are bad you can be laid off and forced to leave the country you may now call home within weeks. My thoughts are with all the Qatar Airways pilots being laid off this week. That can't be easy... Qatar Airways is laying off senior pilots Bottom line Qatar Airways is issuing another round of pilot layoff notices. There's not much transparency to the process, though it appears that these layoffs are largely targeted at older pilots, as well as those who have been at the airline for a long time. While working for a Gulf carrier as a pilot can be a great gig when times are good, during bad times it's a whole different story. Without a union, the airline is free to lay off pilots however it would like. That can include laying off the longest service (and therefore most "expensive") pilots. https://onemileatatime.com/qatar-airways-laying-off-senior-pilots/ Back to Top Private Jet Operators Are Stealing Passengers from U.S. Airlines Private jet operators did not do well in the Great Recession. When March hit, they figured they were stuck in another disaster. But things have turned out better than expected. When most air travel in the United States effectively stopped in March, some private jet operators feared the worst, expecting coronavirus, along with the recession to come, would decimate their businesses. Instead, for many, the summer of 2020 has held up surprisingly well. "Business is very good, better than expected," said Gregg Slow, president of FXAir, a charter company owned by Directional Aviation, one of the biggest brands in private aviation. "We had our best month in company history in June followed by second best in July, for revenue. What would normally be 8 to 10 percent new business is now 50 to 60 percent new business." The reasons are predictable. Many consumers don't feel comfortable flying on a commercial airplane, and while the vast majority of Americans cannot afford private jet flights, those who can increasingly are looking to them. They'd rather pay a fortune - travel by jet can cost 10 times or more the price of a domestic first class fare - than cancel their summer holiday. The big question is how long the (relatively) good times will last. Some private jet company executives say they expect demand will remain high beyond summer, in part because consumers who start flying on private jets rarely want to go back to commercial travel. The pro-jet crowd points to a McKinsey study showing only about 10 percent of people who can afford to fly private actually do. Jet company executives figure anyone with investable income of over $10 million - a considerable sum, to be sure - is ripe for companies like FxAir and a competitor, XOJet Aviation. "Once you start flying privately, it's hard to go back," said Doug Gollan, who runs a website called Private Jet Card Comparisons. "People go from, 'I would never spend that type of money,' to becoming regular users fairly quickly. Since the new customers aren't looking for nickels in the couch to fund their private flights, they can well afford it. They just had previously chosen not to spend the money, I think it's safe to assume that a decent amount will keep flying privately even post-Covid-19." Charter Business Strong The private jet business is surprisingly complicated, but it has roughly four entry points. Some of the wealthiest people buy and maintain their own airplanes, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Others buy a fractional piece of an airplane though companies like NetJets or Flexjets, usually taking shares of 1/8 to 1/2 of the plane's total cost. Another group buys card that allow use of an airplane for a certain number of hours. All those business segments are holding up fine. But the biggest growth, executives say, is coming in the charter business, as new customers rent a jet for a trip, or two. Unlike some other types of private aviation, chartering an airplane requires little commitment. Sometimes people do it as a one-off, while other times they commit to depositing a set sum, which they can use for multiple trips. FxAir, which until recently was called PrivateFly, is in the charter business, and after a strong summer the company has a bullish outlook. Given the nature of the business, it is possible some customers will use the service once or twice and never return, but Slow, who has worked in the industry for two decades, said the new group of customers is surprisingly sticky. "There are engaging with us very differently than in the past," he said. "They would book the trip, they would pay for it, and maybe you would hear from them, and maybe you wouldn't. Now, they want to put money down on accounts. Many of these clients are looking to do more longer-term deals with us as opposed to quick transactions. They are also doing their homework." Many prospective private flyers are coming through referrals, and a lot have flown private before, usually as a guest. Some are immunocompromised or living with someone who is, he said, and believe private jets are safer. "A number of folks are coming over from commercial," said Andrew Collins, FxAir's CEO. "They will pay the premium. They don't trust commercial at this point, given the context of their lives and their health." At XO, the situation is similar. After a slow March and April, business has picked up considereably, with a lot of first-time customers flying to places like Bozeman, Montana and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, said Todd Hattaway, a senior vice president. "We are putting up more aircraft and more flights than we were last year," he said. What comes next? FxAir CEO Collins admits he did not see this coming. "I would tell you, having gone through private aviation in financial crisis, we were preparing for for a precipitous drop," he said. "We weren't sure where it was headed. Watching it come back and being at levels you would see pre-pandemic has been a really interesting lesson learned. I think it was an unexpected." His business may have come back to pre-pandemic levels, but not all is perfect across the industry, according to Gollan's calculations. He estimates U.S. private jet travel is tracking at just over 80 percent of its pre-Covid levels, though he said there have been weeks it has been above previous years. During the July 4 holiday, he said, demand was up 5 percent, on a year-over-year basis. Leisure travelers have been fueling most of the growth. But for the most part, business travelers haven't returned. In the past XoJet's Hattaway said, business travelers would board jets on Sunday at airports in Southern California, the New York area and Texas to reach that week's meetings. "The private equity groups aren't going out and hitting multiple cities like they used to," he said. They could return. People long have extolled the luxury of private jets, and more recently many have spoken about jets as a safer alternative to airline travel. But there's another reason consumers like to fly private - they can access more airports, reducing travel time. For busy business travelers, that's key. The time issue soon may become more of a factor. U.S. airlines already have cut service to some smaller markets, and they could slash further once they're no longer covered by CARES Act rules that require them to serve most markets they flew to before the pandemic. If it becomes impossible for people to go from New York or L.A. to some U.S. cities, efficiently, more travelers could turn to private jets. "I think there has been a new wave," Hattaway said. "Is that long term or not? I don't know. It's vague. But the commercial market is getting rid of secondary markets, and you may not have the frequency you used to have. I think that is going to drive some behavior for quite a while." To some extent, the jet operators only have so much control. If financial markets drop precipitously, some flyers may decide they would rather stay home than pay $31,900 (FXAir's fixed one-way price) for a cross-country flight. Or the pandemic could end sooner than expected, and people again could decide they're willing to fly commercial at a fraction of the cost. Or, consumers could start a backlash against private aviation because it is not environmentally friendly. Among the risks, a big market drop, or massive sustained recession could have the biggest effect. Even then, though, Gollan said he suspects many ultra-wealthy people will stick with private flights. "There are a lot of people who are doing well," he said. "As long as there are people who are doing well or haven't been affected or their net worth is so big it doesn't matter, I think private aviation will continue to see an influx of new folks." https://skift.com/2020/08/19/private-jet-operators-are-stealing-passengers-from-u-s-airlines/ Back to Top Rocket Lab aims to recover Electron booster on upcoming flight But the upcoming milestone will feature an ocean splashdown, not a midair catch by a helicopter. Rocket Lab is gearing up to take a big step toward rocket reusability. The California-based company plans to recover and inspect the first stage of its two-stage Electron booster during a mission later this year, Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said earlier this month. Rocket Lab has earmarked Electron's 17th launch for this milestone, which isn't too far off. The most recent Electron launch, dubbed "Pics Or It Didn't Happen," was the booster's 13th mission. "Pics Or It Didn't Happen," which lifted off on July 4, failed after the Electron suffered an electrical-connection anomaly in its second stage. Rocket Lab finished its investigation into the failure and is on target to resume Electron launches later this month, company representatives said on July 31. Rocket Lab aims to greatly increase small satellites' access to space with the 57-foot-tall (17 meters) Electron, which had notched 11 straight successful flights before "Pics Or It Didn't Happen." Making the Electron's first stage reusable would aid that vision significantly, allowing the company to launch more frequently, Beck has said. The Electron is too small for engine-aided powered landings, such as those routinely made by returning SpaceX Falcon 9 first stages, to be a feasible option, Beck has said; the booster cannot carry enough fuel to have the requisite amount left over for the touchdown process. So, Rocket Lab will guide Electron first stages back to Earth under parachutes, then pluck the falling hardware out of the sky with a helicopter. Guided re-entry still requires some leftover fuel, which in turn demands extra engine power. But Rocket Lab just gave the Electron the required boost, via advances in the batteries that power electric pumps in the rocket's Rutherford engines. This improvement increases Electron's payload capacity to low-Earth orbit from 500 lbs. (225 kilograms) to 660 lbs. (300 kg), making possible not only rocket recovery but also Electron missions to Venus and other distant destinations, Beck said on Aug. 5 during a company update and Q&A session that was livestreamed on YouTube. The company has made considerable progress on its overall recovery plan. For example, Rocket Lab successfully guided Electron first stages back toward Earth on missions 10 and 11, in December 2019 and January of this year. The company also demonstrated the helicopter-snagging strategy during a drop test this past March. Flight 17 won't involve any plucking; the booster will come down for a guided re-entry through Earth's atmosphere and deploy its parachutes, but it will be allowed to splash down, Beck said during the Aug. 5 event. "We'll fish it out of the ocean, bring it back, put it in the factory and then we'll really see what we've got. That will determine how much work we've got ahead of us," Beck said, referring to the refurbishment and reflight process. "To date, the telemetry would say that we've got a pretty healthy stage, but that's where the rubber meets the road." https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-electron-recovery-mission.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