Flight Safety Information September 18, 2020 - No. 190 In This Issue Incident: American A321 at Los Angeles on Sep 17th 2020, cargo door open indication Incident: Jazz CRJ9 at Toronto on Sep 15th 2020, flaps failure Incident: Meraj A320 near Tehran on Sep 16th 2020, two air returns due to hydraulic leaks A passenger tries to sneak three knives onto a Gainesville flight (FL) Mil Mi-8T - Landing Accident (Russia) AAIB Report: ERJ 190-200 LR, emergency evacuation (U.K.) Safety board backs FAA on Max fixes Southwest says half of grounded Boeing 737-800 planes back in service How Fuel Contamination Threatens Grounded Aircraft NBAA's Free Virtual Safety Week Focuses on Single-Pilot Topics IATA satisfied with PIA's performance after audit: report Airline workers have lower rates of COVID-19 than the general population Solar-powered unmanned airplane with lithium-sulfur battery Assent Aeronautics to auction $20M worth of aircraft out of Love Field The US Navy is short almost 100 fighter pilots 'More than just a job': As layoffs loom, pilots face a tricky future Delta Air to Borrow $9 Billion to Get Through Pandemic United Airlines moves closer to saving pilot jobs, American pleads for more gov't aid Contestants will compete for a SpaceX trip to the International Space Station in new reality TV show Graduate Research Survey (1) Incident: American A321 at Los Angeles on Sep 17th 2020, cargo door open indication An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N122NN performing flight AA-2431 from Los Angeles,CA to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was climbing out of Los Angeles' runway 25R when the crew declared emergency reporting they had an aft cargo door open. The aircraft stopped the climb at about 10,000 feet and returned to Los Angeles for a safe landing on runway 25L about 25 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200 registration N131NN reached Chicago with a delay of about 3 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2431/history/20200917/1525Z/KLAX/KORD http://avherald.com/h?article=4dcbfb92&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jazz CRJ9 at Toronto on Sep 15th 2020, flaps failure A Jazz Canadair CRJ-705, registration C-FCJZ performing flight QK-7925 from Thunder Bay,ON to Toronto,ON (Canada) with 47 people on board, was on final approach to Toronto's runway 05 when the crew selected the flaps from 30 to 45 degrees and received a "FLAPS FAIL" caution, the flaps remained at 30 degrees. The crew initiated a go around, retracted the flaps without problems, the caution message disappeared. The crew decided to prepare for a landing in line with the abnormal checklists at flaps 1 (slats at 20 degrees). Due to shifting winds the runway was changed to 23. The aircraft landed on runway 23 without incident, emergency services followed the aircraft to the apron. The Canadian TSB reported an inspection of flaps and slats found no fault. The Maintenance Diagnostics Computer (MDC) had also not logged any faults. The slat/flap lever was replaced and the system tested serviceable. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JZA7925/history/20200915/1310Z/CYQT/CYYZ http://avherald.com/h?article=4dcbecd0&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Meraj A320 near Tehran on Sep 16th 2020, two air returns due to hydraulic leaks A Meraj Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration EP-AJI performing flight JI-2829 from Tehran Mehrabad to Kermanshah (Iran), was climbing out of Tehran when the crew received indication of a hydraulic leak and decided to return to Tehran Mehrabad for a safe landing on runway 29L about 30 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about two hours for repairs, then departed again but needed to return to Tehran a second time due to the same recurring defect. The aircraft again landed safely about 30 minutes after departure. Iran's AIB reported a hydraulic pipe was replaced following the first return and the aircraft released to service again, however, had to return a second time due to the same defect. The aircraft was removed from service to have the airline investigate the defect more deeply. The airline reported the aircraft returned the first time due to a hydraulic defect, which was repaired after landing. Upon second departure an electronic system failed prompting the crew to return a second time as a precaution. http://avherald.com/h?article=4dcbea97&opt=0 Back to Top A passenger tries to sneak three knives onto a Gainesville flight (FL) GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - A passenger is facing a $4,000 fine after trying to sneak knives on a flight from Gainesville, Fla. to Charlotte, N.C.. According to the Transportation Security Administration's tweet, the three knives were hidden in a hollowed-out book, however, the TSA agents at the Gainesville Regional Airport were able to detect the knives when the passenger's items went through the x-ray. The passenger's name was not released. https://www.wcjb.com/2020/09/17/a-passenger-tries-to-sneak-three-knives-onto-a-gainesville-flight/ Back to Top Mil Mi-8T - Landing Accident (Russia) Date: 17-SEP-2020 Time: Type: Mil Mi-8T Owner/operator: Dalnerechensk Avia Registration: RA-24532 C/n / msn: 98522422 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Category: Accident Location: Ochaginskoe, Magadan Oblast - Russia Phase: Landing Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Destination airport: Investigating agency: MAK Narrative: The helicopter rolled over on landing while carrying cargo. The three crew were uninjured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/242536 Back to Top AAIB Report: ERJ 190-200 LR, emergency evacuation (U.K.) The flight crew of an ERJ 190-200 LR (G-FBEJ) detected an unusual odour and observed smoke entering the cockpit and cabin. An emergency evacuation was initiated during which passengers evacuating via the overwing exits reported being unsure of how to get down to the ground. Several re-entered the cabin and left via alternative exits, 28 February 2019. On 28 February 2019, as the thrust levers of an ERJ 190-200 LR (G-FBEJ) were advanced for takeoff from Exeter Airport, the flight crew detected an unusual odour and observed smoke entering the cockpit. The thrust levers were moved to the idle position and parking brake applied. The cabin crew subsequently reported that there were smoke and fumes in the cabin and the commander initiated an emergency evacuation. During the evacuation, passengers evacuating via the overwing exits reported being unsure of how to get down from the wing to the ground and several re-entered the cabin and exited via one of the escape slides. The smoke and fumes were attributed to an incorrectly performed engine compressor wash procedure. As a result of the findings of this investigation, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has undertaken two safety actions relating to the certification requirements for overwing emergency exits. The operator has also undertaken several safety actions relating to passenger safety briefings, processes for maintenance planning, engineer training, competency and welfare and monitoring of ground equipment. Four Safety Recommendations are made relating to the certification requirements for overwing exit markings and the height requirement for overwing exits to be equipped with an assisted means of escape. Read the report. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/aaib-report-erj-190-200-lr-emergency-evacuation Back to Top Back to Top Safety board backs FAA on Max fixes • Letter says pilot-procedure changes sufficient; crash victims' families' disagree by ALAN LEVIN U.S. accident investigators who last year urged a broad overhaul of aircraft certification after two crashes of Boeing Co.'s 737 Max have endorsed fixes for the jet proposed last month by the Federal Aviation Administration. A letter this week from Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said safety reviews by the regulators and proposed changes to pilot procedures had followed the board's recommendations. The letter said that proposed pilot-procedure changes "are generally consistent with the intent" of the board's recommendation. Expanded FAA safety assessments in the process were also "positive progress" on meeting a separate recommendation issued by the safety board. The letter is significant because the safety board is an independent agency and has been critical of the FAA's oversight of the Max. Investigators from the board participated in investigations of both crashes that led to the grounding of Boeing's bestselling plane in March 2019. The FAA will review the comments filed in the case before deciding on whether to formally approve a set of fixes to the plane so that the grounding order can be lifted. Comments are due by Monday. Boeing hopes to return the plane to service this fall. A total of 346 people died in the crashes off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia that were linked to a malfunctioning safety system that was repeatedly driving down the two jets' noses. The safety board's comments stand in contrast to those from family members of victims in the March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines crash, who are calling for a lot of additional work on the plane before it returns to carrying passengers. "The airplane is aerodynamically unstable and does not comply with modern aircraft certification standards," they said. The letter, dated Thursday, was signed by more than 2,000 family members, friends and supporters.They essentially call for the FAA and Boeing to reevaluate the entire aircraft from scratch before approving its return. They want an added sensor for redundancy, an aerodynamic evaluation of the plane and extensive changes to the plane's pilot-alerting system. While the Max, a redesigned 737 model, has a tendency to nose up in rare conditions as a result of its larger engines and a change in their positioning, there has been no finding in any of the investigations of the plane and the crashes that it is "unstable." The safety system implicated in the crashes was designed to address that problem and it's being redesigned to prevent such crashes in the future. European regulators have said they want at least one of the family groups' suggestions, the equivalent of an additional sensor to improve reliability. The sensor measures whether the jet's nose is pointed above or below the oncoming air and it failed in both crashes. However, the European Aviation Safety Agency has concluded that the issue is not a critical safety matter and can be addressed in fixes adopted later. While there has been no formal announcement of the plans, it appears Boeing may opt to create a computer-generated replica of the sensor instead of having to add new devices to thousands of planes. The safety board, which has no regulatory power and only can urge government agencies and industry to adopt safety improvements, issued seven recommendations on the Max on Sept. 26, 2019. It sought more scientific ways of testing pilots' reactions to emergencies, particularly ones that involved complex, multiple cockpit warnings such as those in the accident. Boeing had assumed pilots would respond within seconds to a malfunction of the flight-control feature involved in the crashes, but crews in both accidents were confused and lost control. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/sep/18/safety-board-backs-faa-on-max-fixes/ Back to Top Southwest says half of grounded Boeing 737-800 planes back in service WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co said on Thursday it has now returned to service about half the 115 Boeing 737-800 aircraft it temporarily grounded after it discovered discrepancies in aircraft weight data. The Dallas-based airline said in a statement late Wednesday that "out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily ceased flying the respective aircraft to enter the correct weights of the aircraft in question into the system and reset the program." Southwest said the discrepancy in weight data is 75 pounds (34 kg). Southwest initially said the issue applied to 130 airplanes, but said Thursday the actual number was 115. The airline said the temporary halt to flights would "cause some delays and/or cancellations; however, we anticipate the impact to our operation to be minimal." Boeing declined to comment. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also declined to comment. In January, the FAA said it was seeking to fine Southwest $3.92 million for alleged weight infractions on 21,505 flights on 44 aircraft between May 1, 2018 and Aug. 9, 2018. The FAA alleged that Southwest operated the flights with incorrect operational empty weights, and center of gravity or moment data, which is used to determine how many passengers and how much fuel can be safely carried and where cargo should be located. A February report by the Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General said the FAA violated its own guidance in addressing non-compliance by Southwest. The report said from early 2018 until August 2019, FAA allowed Southwest Airlines "to continue reporting inaccurate and non-compliant weight and balance data based on the carrier's risk determination." The FAA told the inspector general's office in January it had been monitoring Southwest's performance weight and balance program and "continues to monitor (Southwest's) implementation of corrective measures." https://www.yahoo.com/news/southwest-temporarily-grounds-130-boeing-044907051.html Back to Top How Fuel Contamination Threatens Grounded Aircraft • Because fuel is static and may be warm for extended periods without being in flight, difficult to detect "hotspots" of microbial contamination can occur. COVID-19 continues to decimate the global aviation sector. At its peak, more than 16,000 passenger jets were grounded worldwide, according to industry researcher Cirium. Many of these aircraft have been in "active storage" with some fuel remaining in the tanks. Although that fuel is often treated with biocide, the threat of microbial contamination still exists. This is because fuel is warm for extended periods without being in flight and fuel is also static, so "hotspots" of contamination may occur that are very difficult to detect. But how can the operators ensure that the planes and fuel are safe when operations begin? And how can they manage contamination testing regimes with aircraft scattered over airfields away from usual lab testing facilities? Microbial contamination is not a new problem for aircraft and the vast majority of airlines test for this phenomenon in line with International Air Transport Association (IATA) and manufacturer guidelines. Now the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic has left their assets out of service and strewn across airfields around the world. Microbial contamination covers multiple types of organisms, including bacteria, mold and yeast - the presence of which will vary according to individual site conditions based on factors including temperature and humidity. The lead organism is most often Hormoconis resinae (H.res), which has a filamentous (long stranded) fungi structure. This acts as a binding material for other micro-organisms to cling to, which results in the formation of layers of biomass in the fuel. This can block filters and fuel lines, adding to maintenance activities, costs and risks to safety. Furthermore, and particularly important with grounded aircraft, these biomass layers generate organic acids that pit corrode the metal surfaces they touch, causing damage to fuel tanks and other ancillary equipment. If left untreated, this can lead to costly damage to structures, potentially cost millions of dollars or a complete write-off in extreme cases. In normal operation, unscheduled aircraft downtime equates to loss of precious revenue, but also the possible additional pay-out for passenger compensation if flights are significantly delayed or canceled. Frequency of Testing for Microbial Contamination Accurate testing at the correct intervals can help engineers determine the correct testing frequencies - the objective being to intervene at the earliest and cheapest opportunity, well before the contamination is classified as "heavy" and requires intensive remedial actions. If heavy contamination levels are reached, a full clean of a three-tank aircraft can cost in excess of $100,000 plus three or four days of lost revenue while the aircraft is on the ground. In total this could be anywhere up to around $2 million. Airlines manage the risk of contamination through periodic testing of fuel. The interval between tests will depend on the aircraft manufacturer's guidelines and a risk assessment carried out by the airline. The risk is higher for aircraft located in hot, humid regions where the micro-organisms can really thrive. In the Asia-Pacific region, for example, the time from cleaning a fuel tank to heavy contamination can be as little as three months. Therefore, testing every month is not uncommon. In colder regions, such as Scandinavia, the risk assessment may mean testing once every 12 to 18 months may be sufficient. In normal operation, aircraft may fly up to eight times per day. At altitude, temperatures way below 20 degrees C stop microbiological growth. However, the frequency of flights during the COVID-19 outbreak has dropped significantly and, subsequently, the risk of microbial contamination has greatly increased for assets in active storage with some fuel still in their tanks. This has meant the interval for fuel testing has dropped as low as once every 14 days: 24 times greater than standard recommended testing intervals. What is more, these aircraft are not necessarily at their usual base location for maintenance, making it difficult and costly to collect and send fuel samples to laboratories for testing. This is further compounded by travel restrictions in various countries due to the pandemic. The practicalities of third-party laboratory testing during unprecedented periods of inactivity and lockdown has created a new challenge for airlines. The transport of fuel samples not only adds costs and logistical problems to operations, these samples also need to be transported in a controlled environment so that micro-organisms present in the sample are not compromised, leading to a false test result. Quite simply, many airlines are finding that the increased frequency of testing for aircraft across multiple airfields is not physically or financially possible, or just very difficult. Even if fuel has been treated with biocide, the biocide is only effective on the amount of fuel actually in the tank, which may be only 15 percent of full payload, contamination levels still need to be monitored to ensure it is still working. Immunoassay test kits, such as Fuelstat from Conidia Bioscience, offer an onsite alternative to laboratory testing. Now listed as an appropriate test method for all aircraft types, immunoassays have long been used in the medical industry to provide quick and accurate testing to detect specific molecules. Fuelstat uses antibodies that bind to a specific antigen to detect its presence and produce a measurable signal in response to this binding that can be used to assess fuel contamination levels. Microbial contamination correlates to the activity of microbial growth in the sample. The amount of antigen produced when micro-organisms grow in the fuel is measured for a known sample size. This shows the presence of micro-organisms actively growing in the fuel and gives indication of contamination levels. Immunoassay testing provides accurate levels of contamination for all major aerobic contaminants that are known to be fuel degrading and cause issues to fuel systems. Immunoassay test kits are a low-cost, accurate testing option, providing results in line with industry guidelines on acceptable levels of microbial contamination, with a clear "yes" or "no" as to whether the fuel is contaminated. The kits indicate the level of contamination using a "traffic light" system, giving the engineer the necessary data to decide whether biocide dosing or a complete fuel drain and tank clean is needed. No special training, handling, storage or disposal (beyond the usual procedures for disposal of fuel) of the test kits is required. The very nature of how the test works means that there is minimal risk of cross-contamination. An added benefit during the current global situation is that testing can be carried out by a single person and without the creation of a paperwork trail, reducing the risk of infection due to the coronavirus. These test kits have the unique added benefit of a free result app, available for a wide range of mobile devices on iOS and Android. Users scan the test kit and get instant digital verification of the test results which they can store and share. Managers have access to the report portal to track test results across all of their assets in real time, from anywhere around the globe. The process comprises taking a sample of fuel from the aircraft drain point, placing into the testing kit sample bottle and shaking. Four drops of the fuel are then put into six wells and, after 10 minutes, a clear result is given. The kits come with training videos to help interpret results, but the free app is provided to read test results from a mobile device. The whole process can be completed within 15 minutes. For the equivalent laboratory test, this could take anywhere between four and 10 days, or even longer during times of social distancing and at a time when many laboratories are experiencing high workloads due to the pandemic. The reduction in movement of aircraft during the COVID-19 outbreak has re-opened concerns over microbial contamination and the damage this can do to aircraft systems, especially when they are in hot, humid regions that facilitate the rapid growth of micro-organisms. Increased testing frequency of out of place aircraft presents a real challenge for the traditional laboratory testing associated with this phenomenon. Immunoassay test kits offer a practical, accurate, low cost solution that can be easily used onsite by a solo worker. Results are relatively instantaneous and the payback in preventing unnecessary biocide treatment or avoiding costly contamination is almost immediate. Even as events unfold and we move towards a "new normal" as social distancing and the effects of the pandemic diminish, many airlines are realizing that these kits offer a practical long-term solution to meet their testing requirements - with a process that is resilient to any future disruption to normal operations. https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/fueling-equipment-accessories/quality-control/article/21149610/how-fuel-contamination-threatens-grounded-aircraft Back to Top NBAA's Free Virtual Safety Week Focuses on Single-Pilot Topics • NBAA's annual safety standdown and forum go virtual for 2020. NBAA's Virtual Safety Week As the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on and more pilots are flying fewer hours, it is more important than ever to stay focused on safety. When the workload of flying single-pilot crashes head-on into the stresses of our personal lives, it is sometimes easy to push aviation safety away from top-of-the-mind. However, it is then that National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) says all pilots should stay focused on maximizing safety even when we are not flying. To help pilots think more about safety right now, NBAA has created the NBAA GO Virtual Safety Week October 5 to 9, 2020, featuring its annual Single-Pilot Safety Standdown and National Safety Forum events where a wide range of safety topics will be discussed by top safety experts, all in a free virtual (digital) environment. All information about individual sessions and registration can be found here. "It is imperative to bring the industry together to engage in mutual learning for increasing safety performance and also fitness for duty," said Dan Hubbard, NBAA's senior vice president of communications. "NBAA and its Safety Committee are pleased to once again host the annual Single-Pilot Safety Standdown and National Safety Forum, now in a free, all-digital experience." Registration to the Virtual Safety Week is gratis and includes live online access to all sessions. The sessions will be recorded and posted online so NBAA members can replay sessions for free until October 18. Thereafter, the entire Virtual Safety Week package will be available to view for $99. The live Single-Pilot Safety Standdown sessions will be Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6. "Join our virtual Safety Standdown to learn from common accident and incident scenarios that could similarly negatively affect your flying, and understand options for success in your flying by timely addressing critical decision-making away from high workload conditions, and thus increasing the margins of safety in your single-pilot business flying," NBAA said. The standdown is a version of the in-person standdown that was co-hosted by Bombardier and NBAA at last year's convention. On Wednesday, October 7 at 11 am EDT, NBAA will present the annual Safety Week Awards as it recognizes excellence in the areas of safe flight and professionalism. NBAA member companies achieving 50 or 60 years of accident-free flying and individuals who are the pillars of professionalism in the business aviation community will be recognized with NBAA Dr. Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Awards. Additionally, one business aviation flight crew will be recognized with a new Above and Beyond Airmanship Award for their actions and airmanship while responding to a significant in-flight emergency that resulted in a safe outcome for all on board. The National Safety Forum live sessions will be Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9. Several sessions of this year's Forum will focus on how individual aviation professionals can optimize their performance through effective sleep management, as well as maintaining a healthy mind and healthy body. Fatigue Risk Management Systems and new operational considerations and technologies to help with predictive and proactive approaches to managing fatigue will also be presented. There are a number of opportunities for companies to get brand visibility throughout NBAA's Virtual Safety Week, including pre-event promotional materials, promotional videos, recognition during live sessions, and post-event follow-up materials. Learn more about sponsorships here. https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/nbaa-virtual-safety-week-single-pilot-topics/ Back to Top IATA satisfied with PIA's performance after audit: report LAHORE: A team of international aviation body has completed a major part of its audit of national flag carrier and expressed satisfaction after a debriefing session of the management was conducted, The News reported Friday. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit Team, which arrived earlier this month on September 07 to review the performance of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has shown satisfaction with the audit process, company's transparency and collaboration throughout, according to the publication. An interim debriefing of the management was also conducted at the PIA head office, it said and added that the IATA experts will share the related findings and observations soon. The four-member team of IATA experts carried out an operational safety audit of different departments of the airline, including its flight operation, ground handling, flight safety and security and engineering. The safety audit is conducted every two years with the last one done in 2018. PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik thanked the team and praised them for their professionalism. PIA not to challenge EU ban Earlier, a PIA official had confirmed that the airline will not appeal against a six-month ban imposed on its lucrative flights to European locations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had banned PIA from flying to the bloc in June over safety concerns, days after the country grounded dozens of its pilots over allegedly dubious qualifications. "We've decided that filing an appeal at this stage will be counter-productive," PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan told Reuters. The deadline to appeal expired on Aug 31. Two civil aviation officials told Reuters that all the stakeholders agreed that an appeal would be a futile exercise until reforms in the regulatory framework and a full probe into the pilots' scandal were completed. Opting not to appeal means the ban will remain in force until the end of 2020 - a year in which PIA was to implement a new business plan aimed at making the company profitable by 2023 - via a route rationalization, increasing flights and adding new sectors like Amsterdam. With more than $4 billion in accumulated losses, PIA was already struggling financially when flights were grounded in March because of the pandemic. Just as it resumed operations in May, a domestic PIA flight crash in Karachi killed 97 of 99 people on board. An initial inquiry pointed to a number of safety failures, and sparked a disclosure from authorities that nearly a third of PIA's pilots may have falsified their qualifications, prompting EASA, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regulators to ban PIA flights. https://www.geo.tv/latest/308536-iata-satisfied-with-pias-performance-after-audit-report Back to Top Airline workers have lower rates of COVID-19 than the general population - and airline CEOs say it's proof that flying is safe • Flight attendants and other airline workers have lower rates of COVID-19 than the general population, despite spending time in transit and in small, enclosed spaces. • The data suggest that the various safety protocols airlines have adopted during the coronavirus pandemic are effective, according to airline executives and labor groups. However, that alone likely won't be enough to convince people to start traveling again. The novel coronavirus spreads when people are in close quarters for extended periods of time, breathing the same air, with little space between them. So you might expect airplanes to be the perfect environment for the transmission. But some surprising data from airline workers show that is not the case. In fact, flight attendants and other airline workers have had a lower incidence of COVID-19 been lower than among the general population. According to airline executives and union leaders, that's a sign that safety measures airlines are taking on airplanes are having an impact. "At United, but also at our large competitors, our flight attendants have lower COVID infection rates than the general population," Scott Kirby, CEO of United, said on Wednesday at a forum hosted by Politico. "Which is one of multiple data points that speaks to the safety on board airplanes." "If the experience of flying was not safe, you'd expect our people to get sick," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on Thursday, speaking at the SAP Concur forum. "We track the health of our people. Our people are meaningfully less infected than the general population." American Airlines president Robert Isom made the same claim at a conference a week ago, noting that customer-facing employees had the lowest rates. "The actions we have taken to ensure the safety and well-being of our team and customers are working," Isom said. The data backs that conclusion. A little over 1,000 flight attendants nationwide have tested positive for COVID-19, according to data provided by the Association of Flight Attendants (the number includes their members, as well as members of other unions and non-unionized workers). That's out of about 122,000 people who were employed as flight attendants in the US as of the end of 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or a 0.8% incidence. There have been a total of 6.6 million confirmed cases in the US, according to data compiled by the New York Times. Out of a population of about 330 million, that's a 2% incidence. "I really want to applaud our airlines and our airports who have really stepped up," Sara Nelson, president of the AFA, said at the Politico forum. "I think all of that is evidence that the policies that have been put in place and the practices that have been put in place have helped to really decrease the risk of spreading coronavirus and in a lot of ways really control it in air travel better than on almost any other place in our communities." Why do airline workers seem to be safer? As travel demand has plummeted during the pandemic, airlines have worked to implement new cleaning and safety procedures - and to loudly publicize them - to convince the public that flying is safe. Every major commercial airline in the US requires passengers and crew to wear masks on board and in the airport, and airlines have rolled out new intense sanitization and cleaning procedures. United, for instance, has crews clean every plane after each flight with a disinfectant from an electrostatic sprayer. Airlines have also been quick to discuss the airflow pattern on aircraft. Rather than blowing front-to-back or side-to-side, cabin air comes from ducts in the ceiling and flows down to vents in the floor, a pattern that makes it difficult for airborne germs to spread between people. While some cabin air is recirculated and mixed with outside air, it passes through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which capture 99.9% of particles between 0.1 and 0.3 microns in diameter, according to the CDC - including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Additionally, some airlines, including Southwest and Delta, have chosen to limit capacity and block the middle seat on their flights. Research has suggested that blocking middles seats halves the risk of transmission on flights, but also suggests that the overall risk is low either way. All in all, the low rates among flight attendants and airline workers suggest that the combination of safety measures on board airplanes works. But that might not be enough to jumpstart travel. The larger problem for the airlines is that people don't have anywhere to go. They don't necessarily want to go to a place with a higher rate of the virus than home, and they're hesitant to go somewhere if activities are limited. "The one thing about travel is people travel for some purpose. They don't travel just to travel," Bastian, the Delta CEO, said. "They need to understand are the hotels in a position to be able to keep them safe? Are the restaurants open? Are the casinos, are the theme parks, are the businesses open?" "The question is broader than just our sector in air travel," he added. "It's the travel ecosystem." Travel remains down roughly 70% compared to 2019 levels, US airlines have said, and some carriers are preparing to furlough workers on October 1 if federal assistance is not extended. Still, the data is encouraging for the airline industry overall - and for anyone nervous about necessary travel. https://www.businessinsider.com/airline-workers-covid-rates-is-flying-safe-2020-9 Back to Top Solar-powered unmanned airplane with lithium-sulfur battery • The Korea Aerospace Research Institute has conducted a battery-powered test flight of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle EAV-3. The aircraft is powered by solar cells on its wings and body and an LG Chem lithium-sulfur battery. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute has conducted a high-altitude test flight of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle EAV-3, which features a lithium-sulfur battery from Korean manufacturer LG Chem. The battery company said, in a press release, the small aircraft was conceived for long flights at a stratospheric altitude of 12km or more. The airplane engine is powered by solar cells on the 20m-long wings and 9m body. "During the daytime, it flies utilizing a solar cell and battery power as a source of energy and, during the night time, it utilizes battery power charged during the day time," said LG Chem. The flight test was conducted in Korean airspace from 08:36 a.m. to 09:47 p.m. at an altitude of around 22km. "It flew for seven hours, out of a total of 13 flight hours, with a stable output in the stratospheric altitude of 12-22km, where a general aircraft cannot fly," said LG Chem. The company said EAV-3's energy storage system had to endure difficult atmospheric conditions including temperatures of near -70 degrees Celsius and low pressure of a 25th of one atmosphere, for an environment the company described as almost a vacuum. "LG Chem plans to demonstrate a long-endurance flight that lasts more than a number of days by producing additional trial products of lithium-sulfur batteries in the future," said the battery supplier. "Moreover, it plans to mass produce a lithium-sulfur battery that has an energy density more than twice that of the present lithium-ion battery, after 2025." British battery manufacturer Oxis Energy is also planning a lithium-sulfur battery powered two-seater plane. The all-electric aircraft is intended to have a flight time of more than two hours and a range of around 200 nautical miles. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/09/18/solar-powered-unmanned-airplane-with-lithium-sulfur-battery/ Back to Top Assent Aeronautics to auction $20M worth of aircraft out of Love Field Assent Aeronautics will host another virtual aircraft auction at 1 p.m. on Sept. 24. A dozen aircraft, with a total value of around $20 million, will go across the block. The auction will be live streamed from Dallas Love Field on the company's website, as well as Facebook Live and YouTube Live. To see the aircraft that will be put up for auction, click through the gallery above. Fort Worth-based Assent Aeronautics has hosted other aircraft auctions in the last year, and said it achieved a selling rate of more than 50 percent for aircraft valued at $1 million or greater. The company traditionally operates in different sectors of private aviation such as aircraft brokerage, aircraft transaction advisory consulting, aircraft management and aircraft maintenance. In December, the company hosted its first aircraft auction to start up a new revenue stream. Aircraft auctions are rare because buying a plane or helicopter is usually a months-long process. However, Assent Aeronautics has garnered interest from across the world, as 20 percent of sales are to international buyers, and sees the alternate revenue stream continuing to succeed. "The model is working," said Jake Banglesdorf, vice president at Assent Aeronautics. "We're hiring, and we're growing. It's very exciting. As long as we can continue to sell birds on the block, or attract the buyers to get them off the block, then we'll keep this train going." At the Sept. 24 auction, 10 helicopters are among the aircraft up for bid. Excluding a Bell 430 designed for VIP travel, most of the helicopters are targeted toward operators such as log transporters, search and rescue and firefighters. "These are workhorses," Banglesdorf said of the helicopters. "The people getting in the hangars aren't wearing suits; they're wearing safety vests and helmets." Banglesdorf added that people are still interested in flying private and purchasing their own aircraft, but prices have remained stagnant throughout the pandemic. https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2020/09/17/assent-aeronautics-aircraft-auction.html Back to Top The US Navy is short almost 100 fighter pilots WASHINGTON - A rash of technical and safety problems has left the U.S. Navy's fleet short by about 90 fighter pilots. Fixing the issue is an uphill battle, a top aviator said last week. The Navy has seen a slew of issues, including problems with the oxygen flow to the pilots causing negative and unsafe physiological responses in pilots and trainees, as well as readiness and engine trouble with aircraft. All of this has extended the time it takes to create a fighter pilot from three to four years, and the issues have created a gap in the number of pilots in the fleet, naval air training chief Rear Adm. Robert Westendorff said at a virtual Tailhook symposium on Saturday. "We can't just snap our fingers and produce those immediately. The time to train of a strike fighter pilot is about three years; due to the bottlenecks we've had, its getting closer to four years," Westendorff said. "We're doing everything we can to get that back down to the three-year mark. But the recovery plan is a three-year plan. And if we stay on track, it should take us about three years." An issue with the T-45s engines dramatically reduced the availability of the aircraft this year, but the program is getting back on track, Westendorff said. Additionally, the general shortfall of F/A-18 Super Hornets throughout the fleet has impacted training, but Naval Aviation has been focused on bringing those numbers back up in recent years by fixing jets unable to fly for mechanical reasons. Naval air training has been beset in recent years with controversy over the so-called physiological episodes, the cause of which has been very hard to pin down. The Navy now believes it's a complex issue involving air flow and air pressure related to the breathing apparatus, and measures have been put in place to mitigate it, USNI News reported in June. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/09/17/the-us-navy-is-short-almost-100-fighter-pilots/ Back to Top 'More than just a job': As layoffs loom, pilots face a tricky future • "Pilots will do what they need to do to support their families. They'll be Uber drivers if they have to," said one aviation career consultant. Thousands of pilots across the country are facing pink slips in a matter of weeks unless the airline industry receives more financial aid from the federal government. For many of them, flying has been their dream since they were kids, and the crisis in the industry has left pilots young and old stuck in a holding pattern - either hoping for a miracle or eyeing the exit. On Thursday, executives from the major U.S. airlines met with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in an attempt to secure more emergency funding. The meeting included CEOs Doug Parker of American Airlines, Scott Kirby of United and Southwest's Gary Kelly. TSA passenger checkpoint numbers fell from nearly 2.3 million on March 1 to just 90,000 by mid-April, amid pandemic lockdowns and public health concerns. Passenger travel has since recovered somewhat, but at its best has been no more than half of pre-pandemic levels. Much of the airlines' labor costs during the pandemic has been funded by the $25 billion Payroll Support Program passed as part of the government's coronavirus relief package in March. As a condition of that funding, airlines agreed not to institute any involuntary layoffs or furloughs until Oct. 1. Baked into the agreement were expectations that the virus would be under control by the fall. Now, the deadline is looming, but there is no clear breakthrough on the medical or legislative front. Even some industry veterans admit they won't fly until there is a safe and effective vaccine. "We need the flying public," said Marc Himelhoch, an active pilot for a major American airline. "The course we're on is unsustainable." For many pilots, their calling has been public service: ferrying passengers safely to new jobs, birthdays, reunions and vacations. They have made sacrifices, logged thousands of hours of flying time, and paid out of pocket for instruction. Now, that same public is afraid to fly - and lawmakers and aviation experts can't come to an agreement on how to protect the nation's airlines, nor the hundreds of thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on the industry. Air travel won't fully recover until 2024, the International Air Transport Association estimates. "Being an airline pilot is more than just a job. I met my husband while working, and I had my first baby while we were pilots. What I do for a living makes up so much of who I am," wrote Karen Lacy, a first officer at an airline, in a post on the pilot's union website. "And today I know that on Oct. 1, I will be out of a job." Over 38,000 furloughs have been announced for pilots, flight attendants and airline employees, according to the latest figures tracked by Aero Crew News, an airline employment site. Some pilots, especially more junior ones who are at greater risk of furlough in the seniority-based system, are now considering applying for other kinds of transport work. "A lot of us are interested in going to work in nonflying positions for companies that we would like to fly for when the industry recovers - such as driving trucks for FedEx, UPS or Amazon," said a pilot for a regional carrier who asked that his name be withheld, since he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. That's a significant comedown for the prestigious and profitable world of commercial air travel. The potential drop in pay is appreciable, about $1,500 a month - the cost of an average monthly mortgage payment, according to the Census Bureau. In 2019, the median wage for airline pilots, co-pilots and engineers was $174,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the meantime, pilots are focusing on cutting expenses to the bone and delaying or deferring moving or buying a new home. In a statement to NBC News, the Air Line Pilots Association, the world's largest pilot union, warned of the cost to families and communities from lost wages for furloughed pilots if the Payroll Support Program is not extended. The union also highlighted how the costs to recall and retrain furloughed pilots could slow the recovery of aviation and travel sectors. "There is no way to avoid it," the pilot for the regional carrier said. "The company is going to decide how many people they are going to cut, and if your number is on the list, that's kind of it." There are a few standard go-to options for a commercial pilot, especially in the corporate sector. Pilots are needed for air transport of goods, which has seen some demand increase from a surge in e-commerce during the pandemic. There's work to be had in the air, from remote pipeline inspection to banner towing, the difficult-to-break-into world of private jets, or flight instruction. "It depends on how much you're willing to suck up your pride and take a job beneath your qualifications," Himelhoch said. With tens of thousands of pilots all facing the same deadline for furloughs and layoffs, competition for any related job will be fierce. "It is not uncommon to see 500-plus people applying for a job," wrote Anthony Lorenti, a former pilot for a regional carrier, in an online comment. "Ground-based jobs are swarming with applicants." Lorenti could not be reached for further comment. Some pilots facing layoffs are reaching back into their past, renewing their real estate or insurance license. Other pilots are reaching back into their past, renewing their real estate or insurance license, or starting small businesses such as a coffee shop or landscaping, said Cheryl Cage, an aviation career consultant. Many pilots develop side businesses during their down time, and developing those businesses may be the first thing they do if they can't fly for a living. A career pivot represents a special challenge for people in their 40s or 50s who have spent years in the air doing a specialized task that doesn't easily transfer, especially during a time of historic unemployment. But an experienced pilot has a lot of things to offer if they're presented the right way, Cage said. "Pilots have a lot of innate talent. They're good in an emergency, work well in a team, communicate well with others. They have a lot to offer," Cage said. "If you understand the process, how people make hiring decisions, what tools you need to get your name in front of decision makers ... your chances go up dramatically. There are jobs out there." "Pilots will do what they need to do to support their families," Cage said. "They'll be Uber drivers if they have to until they find something more permanent." https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/more-just-job-layoffs-loom-pilots-face-tricky-future-n1240237 Back to Top Delta Air to Borrow $9 Billion to Get Through Pandemic • To endure through the pandemic, Delta Air is reportedly raising funds in what's called the largest debt deal in the aviation industry. Delta Air Lines (DAL) - seeking to endure through the pandemic, is reportedly raising $9 billion in what has been described as the largest debt deal ever in the aviation industry. Shares of the Atlanta company at last check were up 3.5% to $34.69. Delta is looking to borrow five-year bonds that may yield around 4.75%, and another portion due in eight years that is being marketed near 5%, Bloomberg reported, citing a person with knowledge of the matter. They carry investment-grade ratings and are expected to price Wednesday. The $9 billion figure is up from an original $6.5 billion of financing, made up of $4 billion of bonds and $2.5 billion of loans, Bloomberg reported. Coronavirus Market Update: Sign up for TheStreet's Coronavirus Market Update newsletter and get the latest market headlines delivered to your inbox daily. On Monday, Delta said it was looking to raise $6.5 billion through new bonds and loans backed by its SkyMiles loyalty program. Both would be backed by Delta's frequent-flier program, a popular collateral pledge by United Airlines Holdings (UAL) - Get Report. Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in a memo Tuesday that the airline was burning through about $750 million in cash a month, and passenger volumes are only 30% of what they were this time last year. Bastian said the SkyMiles transaction "is critical to our ability to protect Delta jobs and survive a long recovery period." With the new financing, Delta doesn't intend to take an additional loan backed by the U.S. government under the Cares Act. Air travel has plummeted since the coronavirus pandemic broke out, as governments imposed lockdowns and social-distancing requirements and people stopped traveling. Delta Air has said it won't have to implement involuntary furloughs for its ground and flight attendant groups in the U.S. The carrier declined to comment. https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/delta-air-lines-to-borrow-9-billion-to-get-through-pandemic?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO Back to Top United Airlines moves closer to saving pilot jobs, American pleads for more gov't aid CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - United Airlines said on Wednesday it was "one step closer" to saving thousands of jobs after pilot union leaders voted to approve a tentative deal with the company, while American Airlines launched a fresh plea to Washington for more industry aid. U.S. airlines, battling a severe crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are in a final sprint before $25 billion in federal assistance for airlines' payroll expires this month. They have asked for a six-month extension to protect jobs through March, even as they try to strike deals with employees to minimize thousands of job cuts on Oct. 1 without fresh aid. The leaders of the Air Line Pilots Association that represents United's 13,000 pilots voted in favor of a deal that would protect some 2,850 jobs until June 2021, paving the path for a full vote by union members that will begin on Sept. 21. United has warned that some 16,000 jobs total are at risk without more aid. The chief executive of American Airlines, which has said nearly 20,000 of its jobs are in jeopardy, and leaders of seven employee unions implored congressional leaders in a letter on Wednesday "to find a way to work together to reach agreement on a COVID-19 relief bill that includes a clean extension" of payroll support. [L1N2GD1DA] Airlines have also been trying to minimize the number of jobs cuts through voluntary packages like early retirement or temporary leaves. United's proposed agreement with its pilots offers a second round of early separation options for all pilots age 50 and over with 10 years of experience. It also adds restrictions on the amount of flying by regional carriers and would provide certain triggers for a pay raise and other contract modifications that would improve pilots' work conditions, the union leaders said in a statement. https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-pilot-union-council-173156469.html Back to Top Contestants will compete for a SpaceX trip to the International Space Station in new reality TV show There's a reality TV competition show in the works that will feature a 2023 trip to the International Space Station as the grand prize, Deadline reports. The production company behind the show, which will be called "Space Hero," has booked a seat on a SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft set to make the trip to the ISS in 2023, and will make it the reward for whoever comes out the winner in a competition among "everyday people from any background who share a deep love for space exploration," according to the report. The competition will be an ersatz astronaut training program of sorts, including physical challenges, as well as puzzles and problem-solving tasks, as well as emotionally challenging scenarios, according to Deadline. That will lead up to what producers are currently planning will be a live episode featuring a global viewer vote about who ultimately will win. The show will also include documenting the winner's ISS trip, including their launch and 10-day space station stay, as well as their return journey and landing. To bring all these pieces together, the production team is working with Axiom Space, a private space travel services provider and mission operator, as well as NASA, with which it's discussing what might be done in terms of STEM education add-ons for this planned programming. Axiom Space pitches its first 10-day, all-inclusive trip to the ISS for just $55 million Deadline says that "Survivor" creator and reality industry giant Mark Burnett has previously tried multiple times to create a reality show with a trip to space as the main component. One such effort, an NBC-based program called "Space Race," was created in partnership with Richard Branson and focused on Virgin Galactic, but it was ended after that company's fatal testing accident in 2015. There's also a movie production in the works that's bound for the space station as a filming location, and those efforts are being spearheaded by Tom Cruise, who will star in the yet untitled project. NASA has repeatedly said it welcomes increased commercialization of low-Earth orbit and the ISS, and it also intentionally sought out private partners like SpaceX for its U.S.-based astronaut launch vehicles, in the hopes that they would be able to book other, private clients for flights to help defray mission costs. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/contestants-compete-spacex-trip-international-163351085.html Back to Top Graduate Research Survey 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