Flight Safety Information [October 29, 2020] [No. 219] In This Issue : Incident: Skywest CRJ2 at Salt Lake City on Oct 26th 2020, bird strike : ProSafeT - SMS, Quality & Audit Management Software : F-5E - Fatal Accident (Taiwan) : Report: Pilot in Hawaii plane crash had risk-taking history : AVIONICS SOLUTIONS ENHANCE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR HELICOPTER PILOTS : KLM Cityhopper introduces Virtual Reality training for pilots : United pilots free COVID testing for select London-bound passengers : Aegean Airlines introduces ‘Hygiene Attendant’ : Man detained after trying to open emergency exits on Hawaiian Airlines flight : Workhorse Group submits formal application to FAA for type certification of HorseFly delivery drone : FTFR Rule and FAR 25.981 Expert, Jetaire Group, Grows Globally with New Aircraft Fuel Tank Safety Certifications for Boeing and Airbus Models : GECAS Cargo, Kalitta Air sign agreement for three 777-300ERSF aircraft : Delta Pilots Vote on Measure to Cut Furloughs, Further Talks Possible : Most Cathay Pacific pilots and cabin crew accept permanent pay cuts : Boeing to Cut 7,000 More Jobs as Hopes for Cash Comeback Fade : SpaceX is replacing 2 rocket engines for its next astronaut launch for NASA : ERAU-RSI: Advanced Aircraft Accident Investigation Course : Fireside Partners Inc. Announce - New Emergency Response Program : Impact of COVID-19 on Aviation & Fatigue Survey (Round 1) : PIREP SURVEY Incident: Skywest CRJ2 at Salt Lake City on Oct 26th 2020, bird strike A Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N930EV performing flight DL-4233 from Great Falls,MT to Salt Lake City,UT (USA), was on final approach to Salt Lake City's runway 34L about 2nm before touchdown when a bird impacted the nose cone. The aircraft continued for a safe landing about a minute later. The FAA reported the aircraft received unknown damage to the nose cone. The aircraft is still on the ground in Salt Lake City about 38 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4de70a1b&opt=0 F-5E - Fatal Accident (Taiwan) Date: 29-OCT-2020 Time: 09:00 Type: Silhouette image of generic F5 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different Northrop F-5E Owner/operator: Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: sea off Taiwan’s southeast coast - Taiwan Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Chihhang Air Force Base Destination airport: Narrative: The Taiwanese F-5 fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff under unknown circumstances into the sea. The pilot died in the crash. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/244472 Report: Pilot in Hawaii plane crash had risk-taking history HONOLULU (AP) — The pilot of a plane (Beechcraft 65-A90 King Air) that crashed and killed all 11 on board had a history of taking unnecessary risks and pushing the limits of his skills to give passengers an exciting ride, witnesses told federal officials. The docket released Wednesday contains reports from a National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the 2019 plane crash (June 23, 2019) that became one of the deadliest civil aviation accidents in the United States over the past decade. The NTSB reports did not provide a specific cause for the crash. They did note that two skydivers boarded the flight at the last minute. There were also reports that outlined repairs made to the plane after a previous accident in 2016. Witnesses and other pilots, including Anthony “Tony” Skinner, a former pilot at the same parachute company, who said the accident pilot, Jerome Renck, sometimes flew aggressively and took risks that he wasn’t trained for. Skinner said “Renck would bank hard and pitch up aggressively on departures, and he had seen him do that as a ‘thrill ride’ for the passengers,” the report said. ”The pilot would also do negative-G dives for the ‘weightless’ effect for fun, but he heard some jumpers would complain. Skinner said Renck, a French national who was the company's only pilot at the time of the crash, “told him he had done barrel rolls in the accident airplane, but not with passengers,” according to the report. A tandem skydiving instructor for the skydiving operation, Brian Wagner, said he liked Renck's piloting. “He said he liked flying with Jerome since he seemed to fly consistent and predictable each flight, which he liked in a pilot,” the report said. “He always expected a ‘pretty hard pull out,’ and all the flights were the same predictable flight path.” Accounts from skydivers on the day's previous flights were also included in the report. “Takeoff was a little spicy for my liking but for the most part in control,” said skydiver Stephen Hatzistefanidis. “He definitely banked it a little hard on a high rate turn at a seemingly low altitude.” A witness, Sayar Kuchenski, had been skydiving on the plane and flew on it the day before the crash. In an email to the NTSB, Kuchenski said on previous flights “the pilot would sometimes take off at an extremely steep angle and aggressive climb right after leaving the runway. This was presumably done for fun to intentionally create a high-gravity environment.” Kuchenski asked the pilot not to fly that way because the engines could stall, ”which would be unrecoverable that close to the ground." She said Renck respected her opinion and no longer flew that way while she was on board. A maintenance report said Robert Seladis, a mechanic who worked on the aircraft, was interviewed a few days after the crash but then stopped communicating with investigators. Federal Aviation Administration records showed that his certificates were revoked in 2005 due to falsification of records on two aircraft, the report said. He was later allowed to be reexamined and a new certificate was issued in 2015. Seladis, a contractor, was in possession of the plane's logbooks, and attempts to retrieve those were also unsuccessful, the report said. Seladis couldn't immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. The plane, which crashed on Oahu’s north shore on June 21, 2019, was the fourth of five scheduled skydiving trips that day for the plane and pilot. The plane banked and then inverted shortly after departing the small coastal airport and crashed nose down next to a road. No one survived. It was the deadliest civil aviation accident in the U.S. since a 2011 crash at an air show in Nevada killed 10 people. In 2016, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to its tail section while carrying skydivers over Northern California. The plane went into a diving spin and the skydivers struggled to get out of the plane. No one died. Repairs were made to get the plane back into service before it was sent to Hawaii. The plane was being run by Oahu Parachute Center. The company did not have the proper permits to take people skydiving at the time of the crash, according to documents released by the state. The state reports said Oahu Parachute Center was “not in good standing” with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as of April 2019. It was also not a registered tenant for the state land it occupied at the airport. The company's owner, George Rivera, was granted a permit in 2010 for a company under a different name — Hawaii Parachute Center — that allowed parachute repairs and rigging, but not skydiving operations. An attempt to reach Rivera was unsuccessful Wednesday. Rivera left the airport about 90 minutes before the fatal accident. He told investigators it was possible the pilot may have performed aggressive takeoff maneuvers to show off when he was not there. In the aftermath of the crash, the NTSB called on the FAA to tighten its regulations governing parachute operations. https://www.yahoo.com/news/feds-release-details-deadly-skydiving-004026273.html AVIONICS SOLUTIONS ENHANCE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR HELICOPTER PILOTS Turbine helicopter manufacturers and pilots around the world are paring up the L3Harris ESI-500 Electronic Standby Instrument System, regarded for its synthetic vision display, with the Lynx NGT-9000 multimode transponder for ADS-B In/Out and L3Harris’ Lightweight Data Recorder to extract flight data for maintenance and quality assurance. “Having the Lynx solution offers pilots dual ADS-B In capabilities for both 1090 MHz and 978 MHz for in-air operations, and having a flight data recorder gives them the ability to analyze every flight to enhance training and flight operations,” said Alan Crawford, president of L3Harris Commercial Aviation Solutions. “This mix of products provides enhanced safety for helicopter pilots.” Recent events and incidents have resulted in additional attention to helicopter safety including the NTSB asking manufacturers to require flight data recorders for their turbine helicopters this past June. L3Harris has provided a variety of avionics solutions for commercial and military helicopters for more than 60 years, including flight data recorders, as well as standby displays, ADS-B and TCAS. “As the helicopter market grows and airspace becomes more congested, it is vital we continue to develop products and services that create safer skies for the future,” Crawford commented. Several helicopter manufacturers have selected the EFD-750 and ESI-500 standby displays because they are reliable, and offer a variety of pilot-configurable options. Both provide high-resolution active matrix liquid crystal displays with standard solid-state sensors for attitude, airspeed and altitude that will give the operator the necessary information to maintain their course and safely arrive at their destination in the event the integrated cockpit fails. The ESI-500 also provides operators an optional 3D synthetic vision display that highlights topography and hazards. The Lynx multimode transponder is becoming popular with manufacturers who want to offer the optional TCAS I configuration in addition to ADS-B for helicopter operators. Global producers using Lynx are including TCAS I standard on their helicopter platforms. Additionally, Lynx has always been popular with pilots and frequently praised about the rich feature and ease of use. “[It’s an] amazing unit,” Steve Gustafson of the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team said at EAA AirVenture last year. “You can’t put a price on great equipment, and the Lynx is affordable.” One of the key features Gustafson liked was the ADS-B In feature, which helped him feel safe and comfortable with all the planes flying in and out of the show. Besides ADS-B Out compliance, the Lynx also offers optional and standard features including ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Advisory System), Active Traffic, and free weather and traffic from the FAA. The full-color split touchscreen allows pilots to see ADS-B traffic on the left and then weather, terrain, and active traffic on the right side. With a simple swipe of the finger, pilots can easily scroll through a variety of displays, including FIS-B weather and TIS-B traffic in real time. A distinguishing feature helicopter pilots like is the Lynx TerrainVision application, which displays and color-codes surrounding topography and land-based obstacles to provide enhanced situational awareness. Additionally, the Lynx offers an optional ATAS add-on, which provides aural alerting and announces the range, bearing, and relative altitude of nearby traffic through the cockpit audio system—including airport pattern traffic below 500 feet agl. L3Harris also offers a variety of flight data recorders that meet the NTSB and EASA recommendations for helicopters. The Lightweight Data Recorder (LDR) provides operators with optional video capture and a built-in web service to retrieve the data. Operators can subscribe to the Flight Data Connect program, which provides versatile flight data analysis for FDM/FOQA. Users can upload the flight data to their secure program and within minutes the flight information, details of maintenance exceedances, graphs, and visualizations all are available. L3Harris has partnered with Truth Data Insights, a leading HFDM/FOQA analytics provider. Truth Data deploys a scalable flight data analysis platform and benchmarking capabilities specifically for helicopter operators to better identify safety issues and to reduce operator risks. Together, these products provide increased safety and efficiency for helicopter operators. More information is available online. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/october/30/avionics-solutions-enhance-situational-awareness-for-helicopter-pilots KLM Cityhopper introduces Virtual Reality training for pilots October 29, 2020 – KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced that starting November 5, the company’s regional airline subsidiary KLM Cityhopper will be introducing virtual reality VR training for pilots flying Embraer 175 and 190 aircraft. Developed in-house, the VR training courses will allow pilots to make more effective use of their training time and will also yield cost savings, according to the company, which added that KLM Cityhopper is also the first airline to integrate VR into its pilot training for Embraer aircraft. KLM Cityhopper has a fleet of Embraers serving European destinations. The company decided to investigate the capabilities of VR in an effort to respond more flexibly to pilots’ differing training needs. “Virtual Reality makes training more accessible. It is on-demand and site-independent – pilots don’t have to be in a classroom or a simulator at a certain time. What’s more, it invites them to explore, something they can do safely in a virtual environment,” said Sebastian Gerkens, Senior Instructor Embraer at KLM Cityhopper. “VR allows pilots to familiarise themselves with the cockpit in advance, so that they make more effective use of their simulator time.” KLM stated that the new training approach will help to generate cost savings since it cuts down on the number of external suppliers and makes pilot scheduling more flexible. The VR training courses for the Embraer 175 and 190 were developed by KLM’s own VR experts in cooperation with KLM Cityhopper. Training consists of three applications, all part of the Type Rating Course in which pilots learn the specific characteristics of the aircraft type they are going to fly. These applications include: • Virtual cockpit – pilots can sit inside a virtual cockpit, offering them an interactive, computer-generated image of the control panels; • Instructional video – pilots can watch a 360-degree POV video of a flight from the cockpit jump seat; • Virtual walkaround – allows pilots to walk through and around the aircraft, composed of 360-degree static photographs. “These are also the three different ways to capture content used to create VR applications,” explained Werner Soeteman, Manager of the VR Centre Of Excellence at KLM IT. “The interactive virtual cockpit was created on computers entirely by our team of VR developers and 3D designers. To produce the 360-degree video and photographs, one of our VR engineers sat in the cockpit operating an advanced 360-degree camera during a flight, in close cooperation with the KLM Cityhopper pilots. Our developers haven’t the faintest idea how an Embraer works, although they’ve certainly learned a lot.” KLM noted that it has long been interested in using VR for the training of its staff. The company already has VR training courses for maintenance engineers and KLM Cityhopper cabin crew, and now the Embraer 175 and 190 pilots will be joining. The VR courses complement KLM’s existing training programme, however KLM Cityhopper is also exploring whether it can obtain EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) certification for the courses, which would then eventually replace some of the standard training components, such as classroom instruction, cockpit training posters and textbooks. The company closed by stating that the safety and quality of its training is and always will be its top priority. https://www.auganix.org/klm-cityhopper-introduces-virtual-reality-training-for-pilots/ United pilots free COVID testing for select London-bound passengers Until there’s a readily available vaccine, testing remains one of the most effective ways to track — and prevent — the spread of the coronavirus. Preflight testing is also one of the best ways for airlines to stimulate demand during the pandemic. After all, if flyers know they’re sharing an enclosed metal tube with fellow negative passengers, perhaps they’ll be more inclined to take to the skies. Better yet, if governments can be reassured that arriving passengers are free of the coronavirus, then quarantine requirements aren’t necessary. That’s exactly what United is hoping to accomplish with its newest COVID-19 testing pilot. From Nov. 16 through Dec. 11, the Chicago-based carrier will offer free rapid testing to all passengers and crew onboard select flights from Newark (EWR) to London Heathrow (LHR). Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter for more airline-specific news! Specifically, the carrier will launch the free testing pilot on Monday, Wednesday and Friday departures of United Flight 14, with the following schedule: All customers booked on this flight, with the exception of infants two and under, will be required to undergo a free rapid test before departure at the Newark United Club near Gate C93. This includes connecting passengers. Anyone who chooses not to get tested will be accommodated on another flight — guaranteeing that everyone traveling to London on the 318-seater Boeing 787-10 will have tested negative for the virus. The test, administered by Premise Health, will use Abbott’s ID Now rapid molecular test system, which gives results in 15 to 20 minutes. For now, United is planning for about 50 to 100 tests per departure, in line with the average loads on recent flights to London. Appointments will be required, and United recommends a three-hour buffer between the test and departure time — something to consider if you’re booking a connecting itinerary. You’ll need to wait in the lounge until you receive a negative result before being allowed to freely roam around the airport. Just because customers are flying on a COVID-free flight doesn’t mean you can remove your mask. Everyone will still need to abide by the mask requirement or risk getting booted from the airline. United’s other CleanPlus safety initiatives, like enhanced cleaning and sanitization, will still apply to its London flights. In a briefing call, Josh Earnest, United’s chief communication officer, explained that “we are bullish on the prospect that customer testing will reopen long-haul travel.” He continued, saying the London testing pilot is exactly that — a proof of concept that the carrier is trialing. United hopes that this trial is as successful as its recent launch of pre-travel testing in San Francisco for Hawaii-bound passengers. On Oct. 15, Hawaii began welcoming visitors and returning residents to the islands without a 14-day quarantine, if the traveler packed a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure. In partnership with GoHealth Urgent Care, United set up an optional testing facility in San Francisco’s international terminal. In the first 10 days since Hawaii’s reopening, the carrier’s San Francisco to Hawaii flights have seen a nearly 95% increase in passengers compared to the prior two-week period. Aaron McMillan, managing director of operations policy and support, cautioned that “testing does not currently exempt travelers from quarantine by the Brits [like it does in Hawaii].” He continued, “we’re hopeful that we can prove this testing pilot is safe. Then, the [British] government can take a look at the data and make a decision [about the quarantine] rooted in safety.” In recent weeks, there have been talks about an air corridor starting between New York and London. The concept is that passengers would submit a negative test result before departure to avoid the mandatory quarantine on either side of the pond. Though Thursday’s announcement doesn’t formally establish a corridor, it seems to lay the groundwork for it down the line. Asked what it would take to consider this pilot a success, especially if the quarantine requirements aren’t lifted, Earnest responded, “if we are able to stimulate additional demand to fly on a COVID-free flight or win customers from our competitors or if the publicity around this initiative convinces others countries to work with us on similar programs, then the London pilot would be considered a success.” Henry Harteveldt, president at Atmosphere Research Group, thinks that pretravel testing is key to getting passengers back in the sky. Asked earlier this month about the recent proliferation of airline testing programs, Harteveldt said “it all boils down to one word: confidence.” “If people are confident they can get tested, then they will be more confident to travel,” he concluded. https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-free-covid-test-london/ Aegean Airlines introduces ‘Hygiene Attendant’ Focusing on passengers’ safety and aiming for air travel to remain amongst the safest travel means, Aegean Airlines recently introduced ‘Hygiene Attendants’. The Hygiene Attendants will assist passengers to follow all safety measures while boarding, in flight, and during disembarkation and thus assuring that air travel remains the safest way to travel not only for themselves but also for their fellow passengers and the cabin crew. “As safety measures against the pandemic have affected our lives, and respectively the way we travel, we at Aegean, are working towards continuing to provide the same high level of service, care and warmth that our passengers have been accustomed to throughout the years. Hygiene Attendants will be by your side and help you travel more confidently and with peace of mind, whilst making sure that all necessary safety and prevention measures are implemented. After all, according to recent studies, air travel remains the safest way to travel, as the risk of passengers being infected by the COVID-19 virus in an aircraft has been proven to be extremely low,” Giannis Tzovanis, Aegean’s Cabin Crew Manager said. Since the start of the pandemic, Aegean has increased the regular cleaning of the aircraft between all flights, and intensified disinfection procedures. Furthermore, and as air travel resumed, Aegean quickly adjusted to the new circumstances and followed throughout all its flights and at each level of the passenger’s trip, new processes and enhanced health and safety measures, while always remaining in close cooperation with the authorities. At the same time, Aegean implements a regular fortnightly preventive COVID-19 molecular testing program to its cabin crew and selected non-flight staff, further ensuring the safety of passengers and cabin crew, and has so far conducted more than 13,000 COVID-19 molecular tests on its workforce. All passengers arriving in Greece must fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) at least a day before arrival, providing information that will include their departure airport, the address where they will be staying and the expected duration of their stay in Greece, among others. The information on the form is a key element of the country’s planning for protection against the pandemic and preventing the spread of the virus. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority stressed that before accepting passengers for boarding, airlines must check: the PLF submission confirmation at least the day before the flight, which is a mandatory travel document the correspondence with the QR code and the PLF Airlines that do not comply with this control obligation will be responsible for the repatriation of passengers at the expense of the company. https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/10/29/aegean-airlines-hygiene-attendant/ Man detained after trying to open emergency exits on Hawaiian Airlines flight HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - A man who disrupted a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu was taken into federal custody Wednesday. The airline says the “unruly passenger” tried to open the plane’s exit doors during the flight. The added that crew members were aided by an off-duty law enforcement officer on the flight in restraining the man. It happened on flight 3, which took off from LAX with 194 passengers and 11 crew members. The Airbus A330 landed without incident at Honolulu’s airport shortly before 1 p.m. Former Hawaii resident Keenan Kurihara was on the flight, and among those who jumped into action to stop the man. “I wrapped my arms around him and I tried to separate him from the door and the flight attendant, and in the process, the flight attendant was hurt because he was so determined to get out, or stay attached to the door handle," Kurihara said. Hawaiian says the cabin doors are designed so they cannot be opened during the flight. The investigation is ongoing. No word on if any charges will be filed against the man. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/10/28/man-detained-after-trying-open-emergency-exits-hawaiian-airlines-flight/ Workhorse Group submits formal application to FAA for type certification of HorseFly delivery drone Workhorse Group Inc., a company focused on providing drone-integrated electric vehicles to the last mile delivery sector, has submitted its formal Type Certification application to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the HorseFly Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft according to its manufacturing design. From application to approval, the certification process takes approximately 12 to 24 months. The HorseFly UAS has been designed to meet the FAA’s stringent standards for commercial drone operations and includes a safe, reliable, multi-use aircraft that can deliver parcels, carry sensors and cameras and operate autonomously with a high degree of precision. The system’s success has been validated through real-world commercial deliveries, including approximately 80% of most commercial package sizes, shapes, and weights, having demonstrated the ability to carry a ten-pound payload up to 10 miles. The aircraft’s flexible design allows users to operate select, patent-pending delivery methods, including air drops, winch deliveries from various altitudes and ground deliveries. Its quick-change battery system also effectively reduces ground time between missions. The aircraft’s durable structure supports superior levels of reliability in the high-utilization, demanding markets of commercial and industrial users. HorseFly-Winch2 FAA Type Certification is the only path to scaling meaningful, long-term commercial revenue operations in the US, and we believe our Aerospace division is firmly on that path. We first started developing our unmanned aerial system over four years ago and have come a very long way in that time. Workhorse Aerospace has flown hundreds of live package deliveries in multiple states. With direct operating costs of the aircraft coming in at less than three cents per mile, package delivery integrated via drone represents a true step function improvement in terms of cost and efficiency. While there is much work ahead, this formal application is a milestone achievement for our team. We will continue to work diligently over the coming months as we progress through the various stages of the approval process. —Workhorse CEO Duane Hughes https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/10/20201029-workhorse.html FTFR Rule and FAR 25.981 Expert, Jetaire Group, Grows Globally with New Aircraft Fuel Tank Safety Certifications for Boeing and Airbus Models As the aviation industry scrambles to boost internal efficiencies to offset the economic impact of COVID-19, Jetaire Group's team of aircraft fuel tank compliance experts and aerospace engineers have stepped up to respond to the needs of aircraft owners all over the world. Jetaire Group, known globally for their patented aircraft fuel tank ignition mitigation system called INVICTA, has been providing their unique, lightweight, and zero failure reticulated foam technology to global aviation companies seeking new safety solutions. Superior to failure-prone Nitrogen Inerting System, Jetaire Group holds the FAA Supplement Type Certificates for the installation of INVICTA technology for the Boeing family of 737, 757, and 767 aircraft and the Airbus A320 series. As part of their ongoing expansion, they recently gained their European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC) certification for their INVICTA system for the B737 from the Mexican Aviation Airworthiness Authority, and also received certification from the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) for the B737 (300-800) series aircraft. This set of certifications expand Jetaire Group's footprint into some of the most active aerospace markets in the world. Furthermore, to help the airline industry stay competitive, Jetaire Group's experienced aerospace engineers are lending their technical expertise to expand the company's aerospace project management services. This new service provides critical aviation and avionics expertise for companies looking to streamline aerospace engineering processes and drive industry modernization. "Our team is committed to the industry and we are focused on doing whatever it takes to help aviation companies around the world thrive," said Michael Williams, president of Jetaire Group. "After 35 years, our global team's technical and industry experience helps us effectively accelerate efficiencies, drive innovations, and improve aviation safety," he added. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/commercial-airline/press-release/21160353/jetaire-ftfr-rule-and-far-25981-expert-jetaire-group-grows-globally-with-new-aircraft-fuel-tank-safety-certifications-for-boeing-and-airbus-models GECAS Cargo, Kalitta Air sign agreement for three 777-300ERSF aircraft GECAS Cargo has announced an agreement with Kalitta Air for three 777-300ERSF aircraft. With this agreement, Kalitta will be the first operator of the new passenger-to-freighter type, adding to their already sizable all-cargo fleet when these aircraft deliver in 2023. Dubbed 'The Big Twin,' the 777-300ERSF will be the largest ever twin-engine freighter. As announced a year ago, the conversion program is jointly funded by GECAS and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), with GECAS delivering the prototype aircraft to undergo conversion in June of this year. Setting a new benchmark for cargo operators, The Big Twin will be powered by GE90 engines, the world’s most powerful in-service engine. With twenty years of providing scheduled and on-demand charter service in the United States and around the world, Kalitta Air currently operates a fleet of more than three dozen cargo planes, including 747-400F, 767-300SF and 777F. “Providing air express delivery all around the world for virtually any type of freight, the addition of these three 777-300ERSF freighters will help us meet the needs of our customers,” shared Conrad Kalitta, owner of Kalitta Air. “We are delighted to continue our 15-year relationship with Kalitta Air and proud they’ve become the launch customer with the 777-300ERSF freighter for its future air cargo operations,” said Rich Greener, SVP and manager, cargo of GECAS, adding “The 777-300ERSF shares extensive commonality with the production 777-200LRF. That’s a benefit to any operator looking to bring a new type into their fleet.” The Big Twin will also offer 25 per cent more capacity and it is anticipated that The Big Twin will achieve up to 21 per cent lower fuel-burn per tonne than the current 4-engine freighters with the GE90. This was designed specifically for the longer-range Boeing 777 series, providing up to 115,000 lbs. of thrust. In addition to producing the sole-source engine for the 777 variants, GE Aviation will support MRO engine and power-by-the-hour services to ensure continued performance throughout the lifecycle of the converted freighters. “GECAS Cargo has developed a new standard for aviation lessors, leveraging our fleet of passenger aircraft to provide freighter conversion feedstock — for this 777-300ERSF program as well as converting 737-800NGs,” Greener added. He concluded, “This approach extends the useful life of our aircraft and GE/CFM engines while meeting the need for replacements of retiring freighters and increased demand for dedicated cargo capacity.” https://www.stattimes.com/news/gecas-cargo-kalitta-air-sign-agreement-for-three-777300ersf-aircraft-aviation/ Delta Pilots Vote on Measure to Cut Furloughs, Further Talks Possible While pilots at Delta are unionized, Delta's flight attendants, baggage handlers, airport customer service agents, reservations agents, mechanics and administrative employees at its headquarters are not. Delta Air Lines pilots are voting on a measure that could reduce furloughs that management has said are imminent unless the two sides can agree on other cost cuts. The agreement the Air Line Pilots Association at Delta has put up for a vote by its members would allow pilots to volunteer to fly reduced hours, mitigating about 200 of 1,941 furloughs Delta has planned for Nov. 1. The furloughs that have been planned to take effect Sunday include 493 Delta pilots based in Atlanta. Airlines have been looking for ways to slash costs amid a more than 60% reduction in passenger traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilots will be voting on the furlough reduction measure through Oct. 31. Delta said there is no further extension to the deadline for pilot furloughs. However, the pilots union leadership is also meeting this week and expects an update on additional talks with Delta management. The union said any agreement to prevent all furloughs would be separate from the voluntary hours reduction up for a vote now, and it's too soon to tell if such a broader agreement would also be put up for a vote by members. Delta pilots union chairman Ryan Schnitzler wrote in a memo to pilots Monday that "what transpires in the next seven days will impact not just the new generation of Delta pilots but also Delta itself for many years to come." Delta management has cut pay for tens of thousands of non-union employees and proposed measures for pilots that would also result in broad pay cuts. The pilots union has countered by offering voluntary measures to cut costs. While pilots at Delta are unionized, Delta's flight attendants, baggage handlers, airport customer service agents, reservations agents, mechanics and administrative employees at its headquarters are not. Last month, Atlanta-based Delta said it would be able to avoid furloughs for flight attendants and ground workers in the U.S. because of buyouts, early retirements and other cost cuts. While pay cuts would affect pilots across the spectrum, including the most senior pilots, furloughs would affect the most junior pilots at the bottom of the seniority list. The pilots union has also contended that the airline's contract regional operation, Delta Connection, is flying more 76-seat regional jets than permitted under the Delta pilots' labor contract, and issued a "cease and desist" demand earlier this month. It said the limit is "intended to safeguard Delta pilots" in the face of looming furloughs. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/news/21160321/delta-pilots-vote-on-measure-to-cut-furloughs-further-talks-possible Most Cathay Pacific pilots and cabin crew accept permanent pay cuts SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd 0293.HK said on Thursday that a majority of pilots and flight attendants had signed new contracts that will result in permanent pay cuts. Cathay last week announced plans to cut 5,900 jobs to help it weather the pandemic, including nearly all of the positions at its regional airline Cathay Dragon, which it has shut down. It is also seeking changes to contracts with pilots and cabin crew as part of a restructuring that would cost HK$2.2 billion ($284 million). “We are very grateful that a majority of our pilots and cabin crew have already signed up to the new conditions of service,” the airline said in a statement. “We would like each and every one of our pilots and cabin crew to join us and be part of Cathay Pacific’s future.” The employees have until Nov. 4 to sign new contracts but they will receive one year of transitional benefits like housing allowances for pilots rather than the two years offered for those that signed up by Wednesday evening. The airline has told them if they do not agree to the new contracts by next week, they face termination, according to unions representing pilots and flight attendants. The pilot contracts, which are broadly in line with those given to new hires since 2018, will result in permanent salary reductions of up to 58%, the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) said on Tuesday. HKAOA General Secretary Chris Beebe last week told Reuters the decision to force pilots on to lower-paid contracts was “draconian” and “short-sighted”. Staff at many airlines around the world including rival Singapore Airlines Ltd SIAL.SI have agreed to temporary pay cuts to help their companies get through the COVID-19 crisis, but the Cathay reduction is permanent. Cathay Chairman Patrick Healy told reporters last week that the terms of the new contracts were “highly competitive” with those of global peers. ($1 = 7.7500 Hong Kong dollars) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cathay-pacific-layoffs/most-cathay-pacific-pilots-and-cabin-crew-accept-permanent-pay-cuts-idUSKBN27E1O7 Boeing to Cut 7,000 More Jobs as Hopes for Cash Comeback Fade • Positions are scheduled to be eliminated through end of 2021 • Loss is smaller than expected; shares fall amid broad slump • Boeing delivered just 28 jetliners in the third quarter. Boeing Co. is almost doubling its planned job cuts as the coronavirus pandemic and prolonged grounding of the 737 Max jet dim prospects for a financial recovery next year. With the outlook for aircraft sales still uncertain, executives abandoned a forecast that Boeing would stop burning cash next year and said they would eliminate an additional 7,000 jobs. That will bring the expected loss from layoffs, retirements and attrition to 30,000 people by the end of 2021 -- or 19% of the pre-pandemic workforce. Boeing announced a 10% cut earlier this year. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-28/boeing-deepens-job-cuts-as-ceo-sees-new-reality-for-jet-sales SpaceX is replacing 2 rocket engines for its next astronaut launch for NASA The Crew-1 mission is on track for a Nov. 14 liftoff. SpaceX is replacing two engines on the rocket that will launch the company's next crewed mission, which is scheduled to lift off on Nov. 14. The measure follows an investigation into the aberrant behavior of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that was supposed to launch a GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force on Oct. 2. That liftoff was aborted automatically with just two seconds left on the countdown clock when sensors picked up off-nominal readings. The upcoming astronaut launch, which will kick off SpaceX's Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station for NASA, also will employ a Falcon 9. So NASA and SpaceX pushed back Crew-1's target liftoff date, which had been Oct. 31, to allow time for an investigation and make sure the same problem won't affect the astronaut launch. The investigation of the Oct. 2 abort traced the issue to two of the nine Merlin engines on the Falcon 9's first stage. Those two Merlins retained residue of a "masking lacquer" designed to protect sensitive parts during anti-corrosion anodizing treatment, Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX's vice president of build and flight reliability, said during a news conference on Wednesday (Oct. 28). The vendor performing the treatment didn't manage to remove all of the lacquer afterward, and some of it ended up blocking 0.06-inch-wide (1.6 millimeters) vent holes for valves in two of the Merlins that were supposed to power the two-stage Falcon 9 skyward on Oct. 2, Koenigsmann said. After analyzing a wide range of Merlin data, SpaceX found signs of a similar issue with two of the engines in the Crew-1 Falcon 9's first stage, as well as one Merlin in the first stage of the booster scheduled to loft the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Earth-observing satellite for NASA and several of its partners on Nov. 10. So SpaceX is now swapping out all of those affected Merlins for ones known to be free of masking-lacquer residue, Koenigsmann said. The investigation and troubleshooting process, which SpaceX conducted with the help of NASA and the Space Force, "led to a really good review and a really good anomaly resolution that, in my opinion, makes a better vehicle and a better engine going forward," Koenigsmann said. SpaceX's safety systems worked properly on Oct. 2, noticing the anomaly in time and aborting the launch, he said. And a liftoff that day may not have been disastrous, Koenigsmann added; the Falcon 9 might have experienced a "hard start" caused by introducing various fluids — igniter fluid, liquid oxygen and kerosene — in the wrong order in the affected engines. "It's not necessarily bad," he said of a hard start. "In most cases, it rattles the engine, and it may cause a little bit of damage to the engine. In extreme cases, it may cause more damage to the engine." The Falcon 9 should be ready in time for the planned Nov. 14 launch of Crew-1, NASA officials said during Wednesday's news conference, though they stressed that the mission will launch when it's ready and not be constrained by an arbitrary timeline. And NASA wants to see another Falcon 9 fly before the astronaut launch — specifically, the one that will loft the GPS satellite that was supposed to go up on Oct. 2 (and which also got a two-Merlin swap), said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The GPS launch, which will take place from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, is currently targeted for no earlier than Nov. 4, according to Spaceflight Now. Processing of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that will carry the four Crew-1 astronauts — NASA's Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Michael Hopkins and Japan's Soichi Noguchi — to the space station for a 6-month stay is coming along nicely, Stich said. If all goes according to plan, NASA and SpaceX will conduct a flight readiness review for Crew-1 on Friday (Oct. 30) and start loading propellant this weekend into the Crew Dragon, which its riders have named "Resilience," Stich said. The four astronauts are currently in "soft quarantine" at their homes and will enter a more stringent quarantine on Halloween, Stich added. The quartet will travel to the Crew-1 launch site, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Nov. 6, if all goes according to plan. Crew-1 will be SpaceX's second astronaut mission to the International Space Station for NASA. On May 30, Elon Musk's company launched Demo-2, a test flight that carried NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the space station for a two-month stay. A review of the Demo-2 data has been completed, clearing the path for Crew-1, Stich said. SpaceX holds a $2.6 billion contract with NASA to fly at least six operational missions, the first of which will be Crew-1, to and from the station. Boeing signed a similar deal, worth $4.2 billion, which it will fulfill using a capsule called CST-100 Starliner. Starliner isn't ready to carry astronauts yet, however; the capsule still must refly an uncrewed test flight to the station, after failing to meet up with the orbiting lab as planned during its first attempt in December 2019. https://www.space.com/spacex-replacing-rocket-engines-crew-1-dragon-launch Fireside Partners Inc. Announces New Emergency Response Program Providing an All-Inclusive System for Company Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Dover, Delaware – Fireside Partners Inc., an industry-leading, fully integrated emergency services provider, announces the launch of a new Emergency Response Program. The four-stage Program brings a holistic and unified approach to emergency response. Fireside Partners’ customers will have the resources, training, and tools to respond successfully, compassionately, and professionally. Going beyond a traditional Emergency Response Plan (ERP), Fireside’s Program provides a roadmap of progression to enhance crisis decision-making skills and advance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The Program transforms the emergency response plan into a tactical roadmap to recovery. Comprised of four synchronous developmental stages, the transformation from a written plan to a fully capable Program is simple: • Stage 1 - Development: Build the foundation of your capability to respond to an emergency • Stage 2 - Alignment: Integration with your enterprise-level emergency and business continuity plans (BCP) • Stage 3 - Execution: Train your team with the interactive curriculum and experiential scenarios • Stage 4 - Readiness: Continual improvements and after-action evaluations Training and equipping employees, and testing an ERP is vital to emergency preparedness. Fireside Partners operates a robust Training Center that provides multiple training options including in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments. The state-of-the-art live studio and eLearning online courses ensure you are mission ready when it’s time to respond. Don Chupp, president and chief executive officer adds, “From our customer’s perspective, whatever they thought it meant to be prepared prior to the year 2020 certainly changed as the year evolved. A global pandemic, civil unrest, massive wildfires, hurricanes, and other emergencies present a need to respond to multiple, cascading events simultaneously. The most effective organizations, businesses, and niche operations take their responsibility to be prepared and effective very seriously. We rise to meet that responsibility with a single, yet powerful option; the Emergency Response Program.” To learn more about how the Program can benefit your organization, please visit www.firesideteam.com or contact Fireside Partners directly at 302.613.0012 or info@firesideteam.com. ### About Fireside Partners Inc. Fireside Partners Inc. is dedicated to building world-class Emergency Response Programs to instill confidence, resiliency, and readiness for high net worth/high visibility individuals and business concerns. Fireside delivers a broad array of services focused on prevention, preparedness, on-site support, and recovery. We help our customers protect their most important assets - their people and their good name. Learn more at www.firesideteam.com. Contact: Kevin Lucas Executive Support & Finance Administrator kevin.lucas@firesideteam.com (302) 613 0027 Impact of COVID-19 on Aviation & Fatigue Survey (Round 1) As a longitudinal survey, we will send you links to shorter follow-up surveys each month as the industry adapts to changes in regulations and public demand. For more information about the survey, please contact Dr. Cassie Hilditch at cassie.j.hilditch@nasa.gov or see below for FAQs. We thank you for your time and support of this survey addressing the effects of this unprecedented time in aviation history. All the best, Cassie Hilditch FAQs Overall purpose of the survey To assess the impact of operational changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic on fatigue in US commercial pilots. Any additional background on the study Discussions with airline representatives and pilots have highlighted several unique changes to operations as the industry attempts to adapt to reduced demand and travel restrictions. Many of these changes are unprecedented, therefore, understanding how they impact crew fatigue is important in order to manage the impact of such changes and potentially recommend safeguards to their implementation. Who will have access to the raw data? Only staff from NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Research Laboratory approved by the Institutional Research Board will have access to the raw data. All data will be stored anonymously, with a unique ID code assigned to each participant to track responses over time. Who will make the final conclusions? NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Research Laboratory staff will summarize and analyze the survey responses. Where will the information be published? We hope to publish the results as a NASA Technical Memorandum, and also in safety-focused peer-reviewed journals and industry newsletters to reach a wide range of audiences to maximize the learning opportunities from this survey. We also aim to present the results at relevant scientific and industry conferences where possible. Cassie J. Hilditch, PhD Senior Research Associate Fatigue Countermeasures Lab SJSU Research Foundation NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA 94035 PIREP SURVEY Greetings, Please consider participating in our online survey on PIREPs available at this link, https://fit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6y8tcXQXgr1Q6lT. The survey will take approximately 10-minutes. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Florida Institute of Technology & Purdue University Dr. Debbie S. Carstens, PMP Graduate Program Chair & Professor, Aviation Human Factors College of Aeronautics|321.674.8820 Faculty Profile: https://www.fit.edu/faculty-profiles/2/debbie-carstens/ Curt Lewis