Flight Safety Information October 2, 2020 - No. 200 In This Issue * Incident: Serene A332 near Karachi on Oct 1st 2020, engine shut down in flight * Beechcraft 95-C55 Baron - Takeoff Accident (Brazil) * US regulator fines Emirates $400,000 for flights over Iran * American Airlines captain explains why it may take 12 months to bring back furloughed pilots * Liability and Ownership Succession of Aircraft * Live smoke grenade found in passenger’s bag at Dulles airport * Malaysia Airlines group low on cash, steep discounts from lessors sought * Pentastar Aviation Receives IS-BAH Certification * 'I Like What I See': FAA Chief Flies 737 Max, But Not Ready To Recertify Plane * Air Force One Pilot Training Extended with Atlas Air, Inc. * China is building a new rocket to fly its astronauts to the moon Incident: Serene A332 near Karachi on Oct 1st 2020, engine shut down in flight A Serene Air Airbus A330-200, registration AP-BNE performing flight ER-504 from Karachi to Islamabad (Pakistan), had departed Karachi's runway 25L and was enroute at FL330 about 180nm northnortheast of Karachi when the crew needed to shut the left hand engine (CF6) down and returned to Karachi. The aircraft drifted down to FL160 and landed safely on runway 25L about 65 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration AP-BNA reached Islamabad with a delay of about 3:15 hours. Pakistan's CAA reported the crew needed to shut the left hand engine down to a technical malfunction and returned the aircraft to Karachi. http://avherald.com/h?article=4dd525ae&opt=0 Beechcraft 95-C55 Baron - Takeoff Accident (Brazil) Date: 01-OCT-2020 Time: Type: Silhouette image of generic BE55 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different Beechcraft 95-C55 Baron Owner/operator: Interjet Comercio de Aeronaves Registration: PS-RAD C/n / msn: TE-374 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Bragança Paulista Airport (SBBP), SP - Brazil Phase: Take off Nature: Private Departure airport: Bragança Paulista Airport (SBBP), SP Destination airport: Narrative: Two people were injured after the plane crashed into the fence at Bragança Paulista airport on Thursday afternoon. According to the Fire Department, the accident occurred while the aircraft was trying to take off. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/243505 US regulator fines Emirates $400,000 for flights over Iran WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Transportation Department fined Emirates airline $400,000 on Thursday for flights through Iranian airspace during a time of heightened political tension between the U.S. and Iran last year. Half of the fine will be waived if Emirates avoids similar violations for one year. The department said the flights carried the code of New York-based JetBlue Airways — a sign that JetBlue could sell seats as if it were a JetBlue plane. That arrangement made the flights subject to a U.S. ban on flying in Iranian airspace, including areas over the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed the ban after Iran shot down an American surveillance drone over the Gulf of Oman. The FAA cited political tension with Iran as raising the risk that American civilian planes in the area could be wrongly identified as military planes. The flights took place over 19 days in July 2019. In a consent order, Emirates said it doesn't believe the violation deserves enforcement action but agreed to the fine to settle the matter. Emirates said after the FAA order, it suspended all flights in Iranian airspace except two a day to Tehran. The airline said that when it resumed flying planes to and from the U.S. through Iranian airspace, it mistakenly kept JetBlue's code on the flights. The airline said it fixed the error and made changes to avoid the same mistake in the future. The Transportation Department said it viewed Emirates’ violations seriously, and that a fine “establishes a strong deterrent against future similar unlawful practices by Emirates and other carriers.” The risk to civilian planes flying over areas of conflict was highlighted in 2014, when a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over an area of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia rebels. All 298 passengers and crew members on the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur flight were killed. Emirates is owned by a state-controlled corporation in the United Arab Emirates and is based in Dubai. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/us-regulator-fines-emirates-400-204150578.html American Airlines captain explains why it may take 12 months to bring back furloughed pilots • The process of bringing back furloughed pilots can take 12 to 15 months due to industry training requirements, Allied Pilots Association’s Dennis Tajer told CNBC. • “It’s a very large ship and when you stop it, it takes a lot of energy to get it back up and running,” said Tajer, an American Airlines pilot. • The length of time to retrain pilots is why additional federal aid to preserve jobs is important, Tajer said. The process of bringing back furloughed pilots can take 15 months due to the industry’s extensive and intricate training system, according to an airline pilot who is also a labor union official. “It’s a very large ship and when you stop it, it takes a lot of energy to get it back up and running,” Dennis Tajer of the Allied Pilots Association told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Thursday. American Airlines, where Tajer is a pilot, and United are beginning to furlough more than 32,000 workers in the absence of additional coronavirus relief from Washington. Of the 19,000 employees American is set to furlough, around 1,600 will be pilots. “It takes months and months on the down cycle and back up to get these pilots back up and flying, and the public is ready to fly when it is safe to fly,” said Tajer, spokesman for APA, which represents American Airlines pilots. Carriers have been lobbying lawmakers and the White House for another $25 billion in support on top of the assistance that was granted as part of the $2.2 trillion package approved in March. There is bipartisan support to extend aid to airlines, which continue to face travel declines due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first batch of federal grants and loans prevented the airlines from cutting jobs through Sept. 30. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin pledged to continue discussions after failing to come to a stimulus consensus Wednesday. House Democrats initially aimed to pass their newly scaled down $2.2 trillion rescue legislation Wednesday night, but they called off their vote until at least Thursday to allow more time for bipartisan talks. Both American and United said they would reverse course on furloughs if lawmakers and the Trump administration reach a deal for a new relief package that includes more airline payroll support. Tajer said it may take about 12 to 15 months to “crew up” an airplane because of the way pilots need to be trained, as well as the typical structure of furloughs. He said the pilots with the least experience are likely to those to be furloughed first. “Pilots are assigned to an aircraft and a seat position. When we furlough, we furlough from the bottom, so all of our junior first officers — mostly on narrow [body aircraft] — are removed,” Tajer said. “That causes a trickle down of training that has to happen in order to maintain a system, even a greatly reduced system.” He said pilots who have to go into training to learn to fly different aircraft are then unavailable to complete scheduled routes. Additionally, there can be a backlog in the training system because “there are only so many simulators and so many instructors to do that,” he said. Then, when airlines begin to recall furloughed pilots, there is additional training that needs to happen as flight schedules are scaled up, Tajer said. The lag time is why financial assistance to help airlines keep pilots employed is important, he said. “When it moves along, we can go right in and carry on our business.” “We’re a vaccine industry. We’re a vaccine country right now,” Tajer added. “We’ve got to have this bridge extended across the turbulent river or we’re going to be walking right into the middle of the river, and the repercussions will be long term. It’ll affect a lot more than the airline industry.” https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/01/apa-dennis-tajer-on-long-process-to-bring-back-furloughed-pilots.html ATSB releases preliminary report into AW139 main rotor blade strike An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation into an accident where the main rotor blades of an AW139 emergency services helicopter struck trees while winching a rescue crew officer during a medical retrieval task on June 20, 2020, is continuing. Of the helicopter’s five main rotor blades, one blade sustained significant damage to its tip cap. The same blade also sustained a small skin puncture about one meter (three feet) from the blade tip, while two other blades showed evidence of damage to the abrasion strip on the outer most edge of the tip cap. The helicopter, operated by Queensland Government Air and using the callsign “Rescue 500,” was retrieving a horse rider who was injured in a fall at a property west of Caboolture. The flight was conducted at night with the aircrew using the helicopter’s night vision imaging system, including night vision goggles. The rotor strike occurred when the rescue crew officer (RCO) was being winched on board the helicopter from a confined area, after the patient, in a stretcher, and the flight paramedic had been winched back together into the helicopter. “An ATSB preliminary report from the ongoing investigation notes that after the rotor blades struck the trees, the pilot immediately applied collective input to climb and maneuvered the helicopter to the left away from the tree line,” said ATSB director of transport safety, Dr. Stuart Godley. As the helicopter moved away from the confined area the RCO was partially dragged through surrounding trees, before being recovered back into the helicopter, the report notes. “The pilot reported that feedback through the flight controls remained normal and the helicopter’s crew alerting system remained clear, with no abnormal vibrations felt by the pilot or detected by the helicopter systems,” Godley said. The pilot elected to return to the helicopter’s base at Archerfield, where a running landing was completed and the patient was transferred to a road ambulance. A subsequent engineering examination of the helicopter identified the damage to the three main rotor blades. After inspection by ATSB transport safety investigators, the damaged blades were then shipped to the helicopter’s manufacturer, Leonardo, in Italy for detailed inspection and repair. “ATSB preliminary reports detail factual information established in the investigation’s early evidence collection phase, and contain no analysis or findings, which will be detailed in the investigation’s final report,” Godley noted. As the investigation continues, the ATSB will conduct a detailed aerial survey of the incident site. “The ongoing investigation will also include detailed examination and analysis of the weather conditions and data from the helicopter’s multi-purpose flight recorder, a review of the operator’s procedures and risk controls and aircrew training records, and analysis of the AW139 helicopter’s autohover and anti-vibration systems.” The ATSB noted that Queensland Government Air has reported taking a number of proactive safety actions in response to the incident. These include issuing several standards directives to its aircrew including a requirement for the pilot-in-command to land as soon as possible when either “suspecting or observing” helicopter damage, and introducing terrain/obstacle clearance limits depending on the nature of the environment and task. The operator has also released aircrew memorandums providing additional guidance regarding the potential for the AW139 active vibration control system to mask significant damage to the main rotor blade system, clarification regarding the limitations when using the autohover system, and aircrew-related fatigue management requirements. Read the full preliminary report here: https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2020/aair/ao-2020-031/ https://verticalmag.com/press-releases/atsb-releases-preliminary-report-into-aw139-main-rotor-blade-strike/ Liability and Ownership Succession of Aircraft Aircraft ownership and travel can be an exciting hobby and business tool, but one that requires a substantial investment of time and resources. There are also risks involved, including legal responsibilities and liabilities. The protection of your investment and minimization of liability is something that you should discuss with your attorney. Liability The owners and operators of an aircraft are legally responsible for certain liabilities relating to the use of the aircraft. Ownership liabilities may be segregated into a limited liability entity such as a Corporation, Limited Partnership, or Limited Liability Company (LLC). If such an entity owns an aircraft, the owner of the entity is not generally personally liable for the entity's liabilities or obligations. However, the operator of an aircraft and pilot in command are primarily responsible for safely operating the aircraft. Therefore, even if an aircraft is owned by a limited liability entity, the operator and pilot in command are still liable for the safe operation of the aircraft. Individuals owning an aircraft, whether directly or through an entity, should be sure to have sufficient liability insurance. They should ensure that all appropriate owners and operators are properly designated as "additional named insureds" under the insurance policy. When ownership of an aircraft is shared, it is advisable to own the aircraft in a limited liability entity so that each owner may be insulated from liability arising from the operation of the aircraft by other owners. LLCs are often chosen for tax reasons and for flexibility. Here too, the LLC should be sure to have sufficient liability insurance. Transferring Ownership Clients often use a trust to transfer ownership to others as part of a comprehensive estate plan. The owner's interest in an LLC owning an aircraft can be transferred to the owner's trust. This ownership arrangement avoids probate court proceedings and can insulate the client from ownership-related liabilities (though as noted above, the operator/pilot is still typically liable for any damage caused by the improper operation of the aircraft). Transferring aircraft to LLCs or trusts requires specialized documents and compliance with certain specific FAA regulations. It's also important to complete a title search on an aircraft (and its engines) in connection with any purchase of an aircraft. Finally, a transfer of an aircraft may trigger state sales taxes, unless specific exemptions apply and are properly documented. Varnum has attorneys with unique experience in the aircraft industry, as well as an outstanding team of estate planning and corporate attorneys, some of whom are aircraft owners and pilots themselves. Whether you are looking to minimize your liability, plan the transfer of your aircraft, or minimize taxes, our team of experts is here to help. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/liability-and-ownership-succession-aircraft Live smoke grenade found in passenger’s bag at Dulles airport Security screeners at Dulles International Airport discovered a live military-style smoke grenade in a traveler’s checked luggage. The Transportation Security Administration said Thursday that a security alarm went off during a routine screening on Monday. Upon closer inspection, TSA agents found a munition inside with a trigger device attached, along with the words “Smoke Yellow” on the side. A TSA explosives expert was called in, along with a state bomb squad to remove the device, which was determined to be a live bomb. The TSA said the male passenger, whom they did not identify, told authorities that he bought the canister years ago at a military surplus store and thought it was inert. https://wtop.com/local/2020/10/live-smoke-grenade-found-in-passengers-bag-at-dulles-airport/ Malaysia Airlines group low on cash, steep discounts from lessors sought SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Malaysia Aviation Group, the holding company for Malaysia Airlines Bhd, said in a letter to lessors the group is unlikely to be able to make payments owed after November unless it receives more funding from state fund Khazanah. The letter, reviewed by Reuters, follows a request by the troubled carrier for steep discounts on aircraft rentals from its lessors as part of a broad restructuring plan, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. The letter added that in the absence of an implemented restructuring by the end of the year, Khazanah, its sole shareholder, “intends to divert all efforts and funds to an alternative company with an existing air operator’s permit to ensure connectivity for Malaysia (i.e. Plan B).” The alternative company was not named. Malaysia has two major airlines, the other being AirAsia Group Bhd AIRA.KL, as well as other smaller carriers. Malaysia Airlines later confirmed in a statement on Friday it had reached out to lessors, creditors and key suppliers recently as it embarks on an urgent restructuring. According to the letter seen by Reuters, the aviation group is experiencing “an average monthly operating cash burn of $84 million” but only had $88 million in liquidity as of Aug. 31 and an additional $139 million available from Khazanah. “Based on the current run-rate, absent further funding from shareholders, the group will likely be unable to meet its obligations, including payments to lessors, post November 2020,” it said. The letter was sent to lessors last month but the exact date was not immediately clear. Khazanah, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, said it was supportive of the airline’s restructuring efforts but if they prove unsuccessful, it will need to evaluate options on how to maintain connectivity for Malaysia. It did not provide clarity on whether it would provide additional funding beyond November. STEEP DISCOUNTS Malaysia’s national airline has struggled to recover from two tragedies in 2014 - the mysterious disappearance of flight MH370 and the shooting down of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine. Khazanah took it private that year as part of a $1.5 billion restructuring but efforts to turnaround its business have been further upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Malaysia Airlines, which has been beset by high costs, a bloated workforce and a messy strategy, said in its statement that its current plan was “highly dependent on the individual contributions of all relevant stakeholders in supporting the group.” “It is intended that this restructuring exercise be completed over the next few months. However, if such an outcome is not possible, the group will have no choice but to take more drastic measures,” it said. Sources said Malaysia Airlines plans to negotiate the steep discounts with its lessors via a restructuring plan it is seeking to implement through a UK court process. Lessors, who have been given an Oct.7 deadline to respond to the letter, and other stakeholders have been taken aback by the hardline stance shown by the airline, said the sources, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. “The lessors are already under pressure in this market and what Malaysia Airlines is asking is just not doable,” said a banking source, adding that the carrier was seeking discounts as deep as 75% or so. In addition to Malaysia Airlines, the holding company group includes other local carriers and entities involved in aircraft leasing and ground handling services. The letter also said the group was in the process of restructuring about $2 billion in “debt/similar liabilities” with the support of its shareholder. https://www.reuters.com/article/malaysia-airlines-restructuring-idUSKBN26N0UK Pentastar Aviation Receives IS-BAH Certification WATERFORD, MI. – Pentastar Aviation, a leader in the world of business aviation, is pleased to announce their Stage 1 registration under the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH). IS-BAH, developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), is a set of global industry best practices for business aviation ground handlers. IS-BAH Stage 1 certification is a voluntary program that provides requirements for the operation of a fixed based operation (FBO). It confirms the FBO’s safety management system (SMS) infrastructure is established and that safety management activities are appropriately targeted. Achieving certification also requires that organizations review their current systems, programs and procedures, and current strengths and weaknesses in order to set a higher standard. “Safety remains our top priority,” said Greg Schmidt, Pentastar president and CEO. “It is a continual investment we make and is an important part of our culture. It is ingrained in everything we do, from our processes to our people. We are very proud of achieving the IS-BAH certification as it further demonstrates our continued commitment to safety and setting the standard in the aviation industry.” Pentastar adheres to the highest standards of safety and service excellence. In addition to being an IS-BAH Stage 1 business aircraft handler, Pentastar Aviation, LLC., is a member of the National Safety Council, Air Charter Safety Foundation and is involved in their voluntary Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc., has an ARGUS Platinum Rating, is a registered Stage-2 IS-BAO operator, and is Wyvern Registered. Pentastar also has a robust SMS and a well-developed emergency response plan. https://www.aviationpros.com/ground-handling/ground-handlers-service-providers/ramp-operations-training/press-release/21156739/pentastar-aviation-llc-pentastar-aviation-receives-isbah-certification 'I Like What I See': FAA Chief Flies 737 Max, But Not Ready To Recertify Plane The head of the Federal Aviation Administration conducted his own test flight of a Boeing 737 Max Wednesday, and he's giving it a positive review, as the regulatory agency gets closer to allowing the troubled jet to return to commercial passenger service more than 18 months after it was grounded. The plane has been prohibited from flying since March of 2019, after a 737 Max operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport in Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board. That was the second 737 Max to crash in less than five months; the first crash happened in Indonesia on Oct. 27, 2018, killing 189 people. Both crashes were caused in part by a flawed automated flight control system, called MCAS, that was activated by faulty data from a single sensor, and repeatedly forced the planes into nose dives as the pilots struggled to regain control. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, a former Delta Air Lines pilot, sat at the controls of a 737 Max and flew it through a number of different scenarios to test how the plane handled in crisis situations and to evaluate Boeing's revisions to the flight control system. "I completed a number of test profiles today to examine the functionality of the aircraft and I liked what I saw, so it responded well," Dickson told reporters in a news conference after the flight. "I did two landings and also some air work maneuvers over about a two hour period... and I felt prepared. I think most importantly, I felt that the training prepared me to be very comfortable." In the days leading up to his test flight, Dickson says he completed new pilot training procedures and a trial run in a 737 Max simulator. The FAA administrator's test flight was a significant step in the agency's review of design and software changes made by Boeing to the flight control system after the crashes, as the regulatory agency works to re-certify the 737 Max and return the plane — long a mainstay of medium-haul routes — to passenger service. But Dickson says his agency's technical and test flight data reviews are still ongoing and the re-certification process cannot and will not be rushed. "We are not to the point yet where we have completed the process," Dickson said. "We're in the home stretch but that doesn't mean that we're going to take shortcuts to get it done by a certain date." "The FAA and I in particular will not approve the plane for a return to passenger service until I'm satisfied that we've adequately addressed all of the known safety issues that played a role in the tragic loss of 346 lives aboard Lion Air flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302." But some family members of those killed call the test flight "a PR stunt" and "a gimmick." They're calling on the FAA and Boeing to release the technical descriptions and test data they are using to re-certify the plane, so it can be analyzed by outside aviation experts. "Without that secret data, independent experts and the public cannot confirm whether the aircraft is safe," said Michael Stumo, whose 24-year old daughter Samya Rose Stumo, was among those who died in the Ethiopian 737 MAX crash. But Dickson on Wednesday insisted "This is not a publicity stunt." "This is simply the fulfillment of a commitment, a promise I made within my first few weeks at the FAA," he told reporters. In response to the call to share data from the FAA's analysis and review of the 737 Max, Dickson said: "I think we have been transparent to an unprecedented degree... we are providing everything we can within the law," but he added that "much of the data that I believe is being asked for is proprietary in nature." Since taking the helm of the FAA last fall, Dickson has said repeatedly that he was "not going to sign off" on the 737 Max "until I fly it myself and am satisfied I would put my own family on it without a second thought." There are indications the 737 Max could be re-certified by the FAA sometime in late October or November, putting it on track to return to service before the end of the year or in early 2021. Last week, Dickson's counterpart at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Patrick Ky, said his agency expects to approve the 737 MAX to return to service in November, not long after the FAA lifts its order grounding the plane. An investigative report from the House Transportation Committee harshly criticized both Boeing and the FAA for a flawed initial design of the 737 Max, and what it called "grossly insufficient oversight" by the agency. Congressional investigators found evidence of a relationship between the FAA and Boeing, a company that it is supposed to regulate, that some describe as "too cozy." Whistleblowers complained of "undue pressure" to rush the development and certification of the plane while keeping costs down on both Boeing safety engineers and FAA employees, amid allegations that Boeing misled regulators and withheld information detailing what the MCAS system did. The House Transportation Committee passed bipartisan legislation Wednesday that would make significant changes to the aircraft certification process and strengthen FAA oversight, while curtailing a program critics say allows manufacturers such as Boeing to do a certain degree of self-regulation. That legislation now moves to the full House for a vote, but before becoming law will have to be reconciled with similar legislation that has passed the Senate. https://www.npr.org/2020/09/30/918924566/i-like-what-i-see-faa-chief-flies-737-max-but-not-ready-to-recertify-plane Air Force One Pilot Training Extended with Atlas Air, Inc. PURCHASE, N.Y., Oct. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW), a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services, today announced that the United States Air Force has exercised its option to continue its pilot and flight engineer training contract for Air Force One with Atlas Air, Inc. Atlas Air has held the contract since October 2007. Under the extension, crews for the Air Force’s VC-25, a modified version of the Boeing 747-200, will receive ground and flight-simulator training at Atlas Air’s world-class training center in Miami, Florida. “Air Force One," the designated call sign of the aircraft when the President is on board, consists of two specially configured Boeing 747-200B aircraft. “We are honored to provide this vital training to the pilots and crews of Air Force One and the Presidential Airlift Group. Their exacting demands for safety, professionalism, efficiency and security make this contract extremely meaningful, and is a testament to the training provided by our highly experienced instructors,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide. “This contract extension is the result of our team’s unwavering commitment to safe and efficient operations.” Atlas Air operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 Freighters to 90 countries, allowing the Company to provide up-to-date training for highly experienced crews. Atlas Air also supports the Department of Defense’s Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) cargo and passenger requirements. About Atlas Air Worldwide: Atlas Air Worldwide is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. It is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc., Southern Air Holdings, Inc. and Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc., and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Our companies operate the world’s largest fleet of 747 freighter aircraft and provide customers the broadest array of Boeing 747, 777, 767 and 737 aircraft for domestic, regional and international cargo and passenger operations. Atlas Air Worldwide’s press releases, SEC filings and other information may be accessed through the company’s home page, www.atlasairworldwide.com. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/10/01/2102398/0/en/Air-Force-One-Pilot-Training-Extended-with-Atlas-Air-Inc.html Hydrogen-powered commercial plane completes first test flight The company ZeroAvia is creating hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft in the U.K. ZeroAvia boasts its newest product as the first practical, zero-emission airplane of its kind. Although the planes can only fly short distances with just a few passengers, its engineers believe they’ll be able to develop long-haul flights by 2030. Because the planes use hydrogen — rather than jet fuel like other commercial aircraft — its only emission is water vapor. That means it is much better for the environment. According to Biological Diversity, if left unregulated, global aviation will produce 43 metric gigatons of carbon dioxide by 2050. Meanwhile, in the U.S., aircraft are one of the fast-growing causes of emissions. “We also a fueling infrastructure set up that ensures zero-emission production of hydrogen itself. It’s clean, it’s less noisy and they will be able to fly without feeling guilty for flying,” CEO Val Miftakhov told the Associated Press. However, one of the hiccups the company has run into is that the current refueling infrastructure is made for jets. “We have to work out how to refuel these aeroplanes because the existing infrastructure won’t work,” aviation safety investigator David Gleave told the Associated Press. “We have to work out other things such as the fire and rescue requirements for the aeroplanes. So, there’s quite a lot of work to do, but certainly, it’s very exciting.” The U.K. seems to also be thrilled with the idea as it is partially funding the project in hopes of bringing jobs. “This is world-beating technology, which has an economic opportunity for Britain as well as answering the global climate change challenge,” said U.K. aviation minister Robert Courts. The hydrogen-powered plane has completed a 20-minute test flight and is set to complete a longer trip before the end of the year. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/hydrogen-powered-commercial-plane-completes-175009906.html China is building a new rocket to fly its astronauts to the moon China has revealed that it is working on a new rocket that could send astronauts to land on the moon. The new launch vehicle was unveiled at the 2020 China Space Conference in Fuzhou, east China on Sept. 18. The new launcher is designed to send a 27.6 ton spacecraft into trans-lunar injection. Mass at liftoff will be about 4.85 million pounds, nearly triple that of China's current largest rocket, the Long March 5. Notably, the new rocket will feature three, 16.4-foot-diameter cores, in a style similar to two American rockets: United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy. The as-yet-unnamed rocket will be 285 feet long, with a three-stage central core, and it is being designed at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) in Beijing. "The world is seeing a new wave of lunar exploration, crewed or uncrewed. International cooperation projects in crewed lunar exploration are intertwined and influencing each other," Zhou Yanfei, deputy general designer of China's human spaceflight program, told Chinese media. China has not yet announced a date for a test flight or a potential lunar landing with the vehicle. However, Zhou added that a number of challenges remain in terms of crewed lunar landings. "For example, we need our spacecraft to have the ability to reach the moon and return. But the transportation capacity of our Long March rockets cannot satisfy the demands. Currently our Shenzhou spaceships in low Earth orbit are unable to meet the needs of moon landing, either. Also, we need a lander for the mission," Zhou said. In May, China flew a next-generation crewed spacecraft with the test launch of the new Long March 5B rocket. The new capsule is designed for deep space and lunar missions. China has not officially approved a program to put astronauts on the moon, but has been talking openly about such missions. Previous mission profiles involved a Long March 9 rocket, expected to be similar in size to NASA's Saturn V or the agency's developing Space Launch System (SLS). The roughly 33-foot-diameter rocket would need new rocket body-technology and huge, high-thrust engines and it would make a test flight around 2030. Superseding the Long March 9 with the new launcher, which first appeared as a concept in 2018, as the preferred method of getting the moon means China may be able to get there quicker. The new launcher will use clusters of already-developed YF-100K engines and 16.4-foot-diameter rocket bodies similar to the Long March 5, meaning less development work and required breakthroughs. The vehicle hasn't formally been named but is nicknamed '921 rocket' in China, in reference to the codename for the country's human spaceflight program, which was founded on Sept. 21, 1992. Decades into its human spaceflight program, China still faces key challenges. China will begin launching modules for its space station next year, but looking further afield brings new barriers. Zhou notes that China lacks "survival ability under extraterrestrial circumstances. We do not have any experience in that yet. Neither do we have ground support capacity. So far our crewed space exploration missions have been focused on tasks in low Earth orbit." China is also working on a range of new rockets to update its older models that use toxic hypergolic propellant. In addition, the country is looking to implement new capabilities, including rockets that can launch and land again, like the SpaceX Falcon 9. An emerging commercial sector also includes companies such as iSpace and Landspace, which are developing their own vehicles to compete for launch contracts. https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-building-rocket-fly-astronauts-143140320.html Curt Lewis