Flight Safety Information [November 2, 2020] [No. 221] In This Issue : Incident: Canada A319 at Los Angeles on Oct 30th 2020, cargo door indication : ProSafeT - SMS, Quality & Audit Management Software : Incident: Arabia A320 near Kozhikode on Oct 29th 2020, cabin did not pressurize : Accident: Avianca A320 at Pasto on Oct 28th 2020, runway strikes back : EMB-500 Phenom 100 - Accident (Brazil) : Ratheon 400A Beechjet - Runway Excursion (Florida) : Battery capacities in stored aircraft may become critical : British Airways highlights safety measures : Japan opens airport coronavirus test lab for departing travellers : Boeing 737 Max row: House Democrats report raises doubts on US FAA safety chief's decision making : SIU Aviation celebrates six decades while flying to new heights : Saudia Faces Court Dispute With Lessor Over 50 Airbus Aircraft : Vistara Set To Have 6 Boeing 787-9 Aircraft By 2021 : KLM pilots willing to discuss wage freeze for state aid: union : NASA, European Space Agency Formalize Artemis Gateway Partnership : Impact of COVID-19 on Aviation & Fatigue Survey (Round 1) : PIREP SURVEY Incident: Canada A319 at Los Angeles on Oct 30th 2020, cargo door indication An Air Canada Airbus A319-100, registration C-GBIP performing flight AC-551 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Vancouver,BC (Canada), was in the initial climb out of Los Angeles' runway 25R when the crew stopped the climb at about 6000 feet MSL and requested to return to Los Angales advising they had a cargo door indication that needed to be checked out. The aircraft returned to Los Angeles for a safe landing on runway 25L about 15 minutes after departure. The aircraft departed again after about one hour on the ground and reached Vancouver with a delay of 75 minutes. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA551/history/20201030/1400Z/KLAX/CYVR http://avherald.com/h?article=4de9079c&opt=0 Incident: Arabia A320 near Kozhikode on Oct 29th 2020, cabin did not pressurize An Air Arabia Airbus A320-200, registration A6-ANS performing flight G9-455 from Kozhikode (India) to Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) with 177 people on board, was climbing out of Kozhikode's runway 28 with a delay of more than 2:15 hours when the crew stopped the climb at 7000 feet reporting problems with the cabin pressure. The aircraft returned to Kozhikode for a safe landing on runway 28 about 40 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3.5 hours, then was able to depart again and reached Sharjah with a delay of 6 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4de893fe&opt=0 Accident: Avianca A320 at Pasto on Oct 28th 2020, runway strikes back An Avianca Airbus A320-200 in retro livery, registration N284AV performing flight AV-8598 from Pasto to Bogota (Colombia), was rotating for takeoff from Pasto when the aircraft received damage to its right hand horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The aircraft climbed to FL340 and landed in Bogota without further incident about one hour later. The aircraft was taken out of service and is still on the ground in Bogota about 40 hours after landing. According to NOTAMs the runway is closed daily between 19:00Z to 11:00Z starting Sep 9th 2020 and estimated until December 8th 2020, probably for runway repair works. At the time of the occurrence the runway was officially open according to the NOTAMs. Local sources report the asphalt surface of runway 02/20 at Pasto is crumbling and detaching, the horizontal stabilizer was hit by detaching asphalt just as the aircraft rotated for departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4de841df&opt=0 EMB-500 Phenom 100 - Accident (Brazil) Date: Friday 30 October 2020 Time: 18:15 Type: Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 Operator: TRACBEL Registration: PR-LMP C/n / msn: 50000094 First flight: 2009 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Igaratinga-São Pedro Airport, MG ( Brazil) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Belo Horizonte-Pampulha Airport, MG (PLU/SBBH), Brazil Destination airport: Igaratinga-São Pedro Airport, MG (SSDK), Brazil Narrative: An Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 crashed in a wooded area while attempting to land at Igaratinga-São Pedro Airport, Brazil. The aircraft burst into flames, but all four occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20201030-0 Ratheon 400A Beechjet - Runway Excursion (Florida) Date: 01-NOV-2020 Time: 14:04L Type: Raytheon 400A Beechjet Owner/operator: Flight Options LLC Registration: N456FL C/n / msn: RK-365 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Fernandina Beach Airport, FL (FHB) - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Executive Departure airport: Naples Airport, FL (APF/KAPF) Destination airport: KFHB Narrative: A Beechjet 400A registration N456FL slid off the runway at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport on sunday afternoon. Passengers and crew are okay minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/244584 Battery capacities in stored aircraft may become critical The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) released their Safety Information Bulletin SIB 2020-18 warning that Nickel-Cadmium batteries of aircraft in storage could lose capacity and no longer provide minimum runtime required for safe operation of the aircraft. EASA argues: The aviation world has been heavily hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and an unprecedented number of aircraft have been grounded. This situation has caused severe financial pressure on air operators, as well as on their service providers. Prior to the restart of operations it is vital that aircraft that were put into storage for weeks or months are restored to an airworthy condition. Aircraft Maintenance Manual Aircraft Parking Procedures usually require the physical disconnection of the aircraft batteries, and the periodic reconnection to carry out the parking or storage checks. A Type Certificate (TC) holder in conjunction with a battery manufacturer has identified that when a Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery is disconnected from the aircraft loads, it self-discharges due to an electrochemical phenomenon, thus inducing a reduction of battery capacity. When the battery is charged again from the aircraft, the battery does not recover 100% of its initial capacity. Therefore, after each cycle of battery self-discharge, the available battery capacity will decrease progressively. This reduction of capacity cannot be reversed by the normal aircraft charging system, and the reduction in total capacity cannot be detected without the battery being sent to an approved battery shop for a battery recharge check or overhaul. As aircraft batteries are the final power source available to aircraft, this reduction in capacity of the Ni-Cd batteries may not meet the minimum battery endurance certification requirements when the aircraft is operated again, which may lead to a premature total electrical power loss in the case the aircraft’s main electrical system fails. EASA recommends: It is recommended that aircraft Design Approval Holders (DAH) should, in conjunction with advice from the battery manufacturers, review their electrical system designs and their parking and storage instructions to determine, if the battery system can tolerate successive reconnection cycles without suffering from the same phenomenon as described in this SIB. If it is suspected that a reduction in battery capacity could lead to a non-compliance with the certification basis of the approved design, in particular with the requirements on operation without normal electrical power and battery endurance, the DAH shall report this to EASA. It is recommended that Continuing Airworthiness Management Organizations (CAMOs) consult with the aircraft DAH to determine, if additional maintenance instructions or recommendations need to be followed to ensure that aircraft returning to service after parking and storage have the required battery capacity. http://avherald.com/h?article=4de9ff5a&opt=0 British Airways highlights safety measures British Airways has released a video emphasizing the low risk of catching Covid-19 in flight. In the video, which can be viewed below, British Airways’ medical lead, Dr Mike Harrigan discusses the various measure put in place by the airline (and most other major airlines) to reduce the irsk of catching Covid-19 in flight. These include: • Asking customers to check-in online, download their boarding pass and where possible self-scan their boarding passes at the departure gate • Requiring customers to wear a facemask at all times and bringing enough to replace them every four hours for longer flights • Social distancing markers and hand sanitiser stations placed throughout airports • New ordering system in lounges to reduce contact • Cabin crew wearing PPE and a new food service, which reduces the number of interactions required with customers • Providing customers with a personal protection pack including a sealable disposal bag, hand sanitising gel and an antibacterial wipe. • Enhanced cleaning measures and HEPA filters In the video the two also discuss the latest research from IATA. This showed that since the start of 2020 there have been only 44 cases of Covid-19 reported in which transmission is thought to have been associated with a flight (including confirmed, probable and potential cases). Over the same period some 1.2 billion passengers have travelled, which is just one case for every 27 million travellers. Low risk of catching Covid-19 on flights according to latest research As with other airlines, British Airways is hoping to convince governments and travellers that air travel is safe and that testing should be introduced on travellers to shorten quarantine times. New British Airways CEO calls for “urgent introduction of pre-departure testing” The airline revealed this week that it has lost nearly six billion euros in the first nine months of this year, including extra costs associated with making 10,000 staff redundant and fuel hedging which has, so far, cost parent group IAG 1.9 billion euros. The financial statement also revealed that it will fly just 30 per cent of its normal flight schedule in the last three months of the year as lockdowns and continued travel restrictions hamper any attempt to return to profitability. https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/11/01/british-airways-highlights-safety-measures/ Japan opens airport coronavirus test lab for departing travellers TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s largest airport opened a novel coronavirus testing facility on Monday as it takes steps to reopen international travel that has been largely grounded for months by the pandemic. The Narita International Airport PCR Center is aimed at outbound travellers who need proof that they are virus-free when they arrive at their destinations. Japan on Friday eased travel curbs for nine Asian countries and regions. Narita is one of two international hubs serving the Greater Tokyo area. The testing lab, run by the Nippon Medical School Foundation, is the first at an airport in Japan and can deliver results in six hours, though it expects to get that down to two by the end of the month. The tests are not covered by insurance and can cost as much as 46,500 yen ($444). Japan’s travel curbs to battle the pandemic have been stringent, with an effective ban on entry by tourists and visa-holders from more than 150 countries before a phased relaxation of the rules began in September. Travellers arriving in Japan are required to undergo a coronavirus test, with three international airports having the capacity to carry out about 10,000 a day. With about 100,000 cases and 1,773 fatalities, Japan has weathered the pandemic better than many major economies. ($1 = 104.71 yen) https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-japan/japan-opens-airport-coronavirus-test-lab-for-departing-travellers-idUSL4N2HO0M7 Boeing 737 Max row: House Democrats report raises doubts on US FAA safety chief's decision making Committee report reveals FAA was reluctant in grounding Boeing's Max planes after first crash; Boeing's decision to use a single sensor instead of two also poses questions over FAA's approval of the plane design The 737 MAX planes were grounded worldwide following the Ethiopian Airlines disaster, which came five months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia A report by US House Democrats on the events that led to two Max plane crashes have questioned Ali Bahrami's role as the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) chief of safety. House Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which grilled Bahrami on December 5 last year about events that led to certifying of Max planes, has in its report said it is not happy with overall findings and decision making on part of the US FAA after Lion Air crash in Indonesia. The report reveals that Bahrami could not recall details regarding the assessment after the first Max plane crash in October 2018. Bahrami also reportedly could not recall details regarding retaining minimum pilot training for the Being's Max 787 planes and specifics on the approval of its design change. Meanwhile, the FAA later saw the grilling of Bahrami as sort of an "ambush", and later made him unavailable for further assistance related to probe around specifics on the Max planes. Boeing's decision, which was approved by FAA under Bahrami, to use a single sensor instead of two have also posed questions over the regulator's decision-making process. Notably, the redesigned Max 787 plane now have two sensors. The committee in its report has revealed that the FAA was reluctant in grounding Boeing's Max planes after the first crash. The investigators said one of Boeing's top safety officials informed Bahrami on March 13, 2019, that satellite data from Ethiopia crash had revealed similarities with Java Sea crash that happened months before. The final decision to ban the planes was made only after that. All these details have tarnished the image of the FAA and caused Boeing billions of dollars in revenue as airlines across the world began cancelling plane orders. Boeing is still working with US and foreign regulators to clear the Max for return to flying after two deadly crashes. Nearly 400 Max jets were in use when the fleet was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people. The Max was Boeing's best-selling plane. Now the airplane manufacturer, after making several changes in Max plane on FAA's mandate, is hopeful that 737 MAX could be granted regulatory approval to resume flying later this year. "For the first time in a year and a half I can say there's an end in sight to work on the MAX," said Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), reported Reuters. The 737 MAX planes were grounded worldwide following the Ethiopian Airlines disaster, which came five months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia that killed 189 people in October 2018. The Ethiopian plane crash, which killed 157 people, happened in March 2019. https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/aviation/boeing-737-max-row-house-democrats-report-raises-doubts-on-us-faa-safety-chief-decision-making/story/420540.html SIU Aviation celebrates six decades while flying to new heights As Southern Illinois University Carbondale nears the 60th anniversary for its nationally recognized aviation program, the horizon remains clear, unlimited and expansive. What started as a service unit of the university offering flight classes with four airplanes and spare parts has transformed into one of the nation’s leading comprehensive aviation programs with multiple degree programs, a state-of-the-industry facility and more than 600 students. The program’s reach now extends nationally with online and off-campus offerings and internationally with agreements to train aviation technology students in China and prepare pilots, mechanics and avionics technicians with Saudia Airlines. In addition, the aviation program is working toward a School of Aviation to encapsulate the aviation technologies, aviation management and aviation flight programs. Combined effort Michael Burgener, the program’s interim department chair in aviation management and flight and aviation technologies chair, notes the program’s growth, relevancy and reputation. He points to the strong foundation provided by the late Ron Kelly and Tony DaRosa, along with Dave NewMyer, who retired as aviation management and flight chair in 2014. Burgener also notes the faculty, students and strong alumni connections through six decades. “They are the ones who worked over the last 60 years to develop the reputation and develop SIU,” Burgener said. “They worked to develop a reputation of success that is paying dividends today. It’s rewarding and a privilege for me to be a part of that and to contribute and carry on the tradition of success that SIU aviation has had.” Faculty with industry experience Thomas Koebel, a senior aviation technology major from St. Charles, Illinois, said there were several factors in his decision to attend SIU – the varying types of aircraft within the program, the faculty and the airport’s location close to campus. He is president of Aviation Ambassadors, a registered student organization that represents the program at a variety of aviation events and gives tours to prospective students and their families. “I like telling people about SIU and showing everything the program has to offer,” Koebel said. “A tour can make or break a school,” he said. “I think that if you really show a passion for the program that it influences the students who come here.” He is also working toward an associate degree in aviation flight and will graduate in August. The hands-on component students receive in training from faculty who also had industry experience is vital, said Koebel, who is now working to reassemble the engine on a Piper Tri-Pacer airplane. “All of the instructors are super well versed in the areas they are teaching,” he said. “That is a really big factor on them being able to demonstrate and instruct the material because they have real-world experience and know what they are talking about.” Growing program NewMyer, who joined SIU Carbondale in 1977 as an off-campus coordinator at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, arrived on campus in 1979. He points to then-SIU President Delyte Morris’ affection for flying as one of the reasons SIU bought Midwestern Aero Services, the fixed base operator at Southern Illinois Airport, for $56,000 in December 1960. Renamed Air Institute and Service, it offered flight coursework, aircraft fueling services and aircraft charter services until it was eliminated and replaced by the Department of Aviation Management and Flight in the early 1990s. The university in 1965 began offering a two-year aviation maintenance technologies degree, the first formal SIU aviation degree program, and has since transformed into a four-year aviation technologies degree, with specializations in aircraft maintenance, helicopter maintenance and aviation electronics. The aviation management bachelor’s degree program began both on- and off-campus in the mid-1970s. In 1990, aviation, working with the master’s degree in public administration, began offering an MPA with a specialization in aviation administration. Aviation Technologies also offers an online bachelor’s degree in aviation maintenance management. Transportation Education Center The fall 2012 opening of the university’s Transportation Education Center at Southern Illinois Airport was critical for both the aviation and automotive programs – allowing both programs to move from aged facilities in several locations into one primary building, along with an adjacent aviation engine research test cell. Because construction was under budget, the remaining funds helped buy equipment, including state-of-the-industry flight simulators, aviation maintenance equipment and an air traffic control simulator. And the improvements continue. In November, the program is slated to pick up five new Cessna 172S planes, featuring Garmin G1000 avionics and the first planes within the program to feature auto pilot. Important and evolving connections One of the biggest connections has been the program’s link with United Airlines, which NewMyer notes started with a historic flight operations internship agreement in July 1986. The United Airlines-SIU Aviation Career Day brings high school students from the Chicago area to campus to learn about the program from students, faculty and alumni with United Airlines, celebrated 25 years last fall. “Because of that connection to United and many other aviation entities – from airports to aerospace manufacturers, alumni have been another key aspect of our program,” NewMyer said, noting the program maintains a connection with more than 7,000 aviation alumni. International presence The aviation technologies’ program link with Shenyang Aerospace University in China is also something Burgener is excited about. Finalized in September 2019, the program is designed to work as a “2+2” degree program where Chinese students attend classes in China for two years and then attend SIU Carbondale for their final two years. Burgener taught the first two classes to 75 Shenyang students online this summer. The challenges included the time difference, where he began at 8 p.m. to correspond to 9 a.m. the next day to students in China, along with navigating Chinese technology. Burgener was limited to software available in China and was aided by a teaching assistant there who helped with grading and communication with students. The courses were a math-based statistics course with an aviation focus and a propellers course. “If we can improve aviation safety anywhere in the world, then that is a benefit to aviation,” he said. The Flying Salukis An important component within the aviation program is the Flying Salukis, which helps attracts both students and their parents to the program. The flight team, comprising 15 to 18 members, has earned nine National Intercollegiate Flying Association titles dating back to 1977, including recent championships in 2011, 2014 and 2015. The team since 2011 has nine straight top 3 national finishes, though it was unable to compete in May due to the pandemic. More students, more demand for graduates The combined student enrollment from the three programs has increased from 441 in 2017 to 612 this fall, including nearly 100 students enrolled at six off-campus locations in California, Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Even with layoffs within the aviation industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook notes the industry’s resiliency when faced with periodic downturns and projects an increasing demand for pilots and technicians as the “long-term need remains robust.” Burgener predicts the same scenario, noting that before the pandemic there was a need for additional flight instructors. The availability of pilots to return as flight instructors aided the program particularly this year. The rise in students in all facets of the program projects “a confidence in the industry that it is going to snap back,” he said. “Before COVID, the industry was going gangbusters. You couldn’t find enough pilots; you couldn’t find enough mechanics,” he said. “We had companies coming in and wanting to do pipeline agreements and internships; they were eager to hire our graduates.” https://thesouthern.com/news/local/state-and-regional/siu-aviation-celebrates-six-decades-while-flying-to-new-heights/article_b97d47bb-2819-5946-b0b9-f0ce3d7db625.html Saudia Faces Court Dispute With Lessor Over 50 Airbus Aircraft A Dubai-based financial services firm is alleging a breach of lease agreements by Saudi Arabian Airlines concerning 50 of its Airbus aircraft. The lessor, Alif Segregated Portfolio Company, is seeking at least $460 million in unpaid rent and maintenance costs. Saudi Arabian Airlines, also known as Saudia, has 32 Airbus A330-300s in its fleet. Currently, 23 of those jets are active and in-service, while nine are listed as parked. Photo: Airbus Details of the claim The claim, filed in London’s High Court filed last month by Dubai-based financial services firm Alif Segregated Portfolio Company, is alleging that its lease agreement with Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) was breached. According to Reuters, the plaintiff is seeking at least $460 million in unpaid rent and maintenance costs. Reuters also reports that Alif is also demanding other damages and costs. Saudi Arabian Airlines has yet to begin operating the A320neo. It’s most recent order of the jets was in the summer of 2019. Photo: Airbus The claim centers around 50 Airbus aircraft, announced by Airbus at the 2015 Paris Airshow. The deal at the time was considered the largest aviation deal to be secured via Islamic financing. The deal, accounting for a third of Saudia’s fleet, was worth around $8.2 billion at list prices in 2015. More specifically, the 50-aircraft order consisted of 30 Airbus A320neos and 20 Airbus A330-300s. Under the agreement, Alif’s managing unit International Airfinance Corporation (IAFC) bought the planes. According to CH-Aviation, IAFC is incorporated as a Cayman Islands company but based in the United Arab Emirates. Saudia would lease the aircraft from this entity. However, documents show that Alif is claiming Saudia has failed to pay basic rent after seeking to reduce its payments. The plaintiff is also alleging that Saudia has engaged in “unauthorized and unnotified engine and part swaps.” Saudia is a full-service, state-owned airline and the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia. It is based in Jeddah but also has hubs in Riyadh, Medina, and Dammam Photo: BriYYZ via Wikimedia Commons “We are currently in discussions with the lessor to resolve contractual differences, and we believe that common sense will prevail in the end,” – Saudia spokesperson via Reuters In addition to the above statement, the airline also clarifies that active legal proceedings have not yet begun. How will this unfold? Without looking at the financial details, it isn’t easy to know how valid this claim is. Of course, considering at the situation and the amount of money at stake, the plaintiff would have to be quite certain of its allegations. The threat of a lawsuit and messy legal battle is certainly unwelcome – especially at a challenging time like this. By the sounds of Saudia’s statement to the media- “currently in discussions to resolve contractual differences” sounds like the airline will seek to resolve the dispute outside of court and come to a settlement agreement. https://simpleflying.com/saudia-lessor-aircraft-dispute/ Vistara Set To Have 6 Boeing 787-9 Aircraft By 2021 This year, Vistara flew its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The widebody is helping the Indian carrier expand on long-haul operations. However, the airline is not slowing down with its deliveries of the type as it is expecting to take on six more units by 2021. Showing commitment Altogether, the global health crisis is having an unprecedented impact on the aviation industry within India and around the world. Several carriers across the globe have been trying to cancel deliveries in the current climate. However, despite the harsh conditions, Vistara is committed to the orders that it has placed with Airbus and Boeing. A spokesperson for the airline told Simple Flying that it started the 2020-21 financial year with 42 aircraft in its fleet and will end the year with 47, which is a net addition of five aircraft. The arrivals include three new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and two Airbus A321neo aircraft. Additionally, in the current financial year, seven older Airbus A320ceo aircraft are being replaced with brand new A320neos that have more advanced features. Significant fleet growth Moreover, next year, there will be at least eight more planes joining. These aircraft are split between Boeing widebodies and Airbus narrowbodies. “We are on track to have all six Boeing 787-9 jets in our fleet by 2021 and are also expecting two more Airbus A321neo to join our fleet next year,” the spokesperson told Simple Flying. “While we had to make necessary adjustments to the delivery schedule due to the pandemic, we continue to remain committed to the overall orders placed with Boeing and Airbus in 2018.” Shaping up well The airline representative emphasizes that given the global pandemic, the company can expect a significant increase in demand for direct flights as passengers try to avoid connecting flights due to concerns of exposure to COVID-19 when transiting. The carrier feels it is very well positioned. Moreover, it is operationally ready to offer direct connectivity to long-haul destinations, especially with more Dreamliner aircraft in the mix. Notably, the addition of more 787-9s in Vistara’s fleet would help it to continue its recent expansions to the likes of Europe. The airline is already increasing flights to London this year following recent the launch of these services. Therefore, the carrier has the right tools at its disposal. Altogether, Vistara is setting itself up to have the perfect balance of narrowbody and widebody aircraft for short-haul and long-haul operations. The airline is undoubtedly determined to cover good ground as the new year approaches. https://simpleflying.com/vistara-set-to-have-6-boeing-787-9-aircraft-by-2021/ KLM pilots willing to discuss wage freeze for state aid: union AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Pilots at KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM AIRF.PA, on Monday said they were willing to discuss extending a wage freeze, a demand of the Dutch government in return for state aid. The pilots’ refusal to agree to the government’s terms this weekend jeopardised the planned 3.4 billion euro ($4 billion)bail out needed to help KLM cope with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. “We want to talk to KLM and the Finance ministry to find a solution as soon as possible”, pilot union VNV chairman Willem Schmid told Dutch radio station BNR on Monday. KLM did not comment on Schmid’s remarks, while the Finance ministry has said it will only talk to the airline’s board and not to individual unions. The pilot union had earlier agreed to wage cuts for the period until March 2022, but the government on Friday demanded an immediate guarantee that wages would be frozen for at least three years after this period. “This demand came out of nowhere”, Schmid said. “We want to know what we are asked to sign for.” KLM’s works council on Monday called on all parties to reach an agreement. “You simply cannot let this issue endanger the future of the company”, works council head Dario Fucci told Reuters. “That’s not an acceptable outcome, not for the trade unions, not for the company and not for the government.” Most unions representing ground and cabin crews have agreed to the extended wage freeze, which is set to last as long as the airline receives government support. The FNV union for ground and cabin crews however declined to agree to the stricter terms this weekend as it waited for the pilots to move. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-air-france-klm/klm-pilots-willing-to-discuss-wage-freeze-for-state-aid-union-idUSKBN27I13X NASA, European Space Agency Formalize Artemis Gateway Partnership NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) have finalized an agreement to collaborate on the Artemis Gateway. This agreement is an important element in a broad effort by the United States to engage international partners in sustainable lunar exploration and to demonstrate technologies necessary for a future human mission to Mars. The agreement, signed Tuesday, marks NASA’s first formal commitment to launch international crew members to the lunar vicinity as part of NASA’s Artemis missions. The agreement is a critical part of NASA’s efforts to lead an unprecedented global coalition to the Moon. Additional Gateway agreements with other international partners will be executed in the near future, further contributing to the creation of a dynamic and sustainable lunar exploration architecture. Under this agreement, ESA will contribute habitation and refueling modules, along with enhanced lunar communications, to the Gateway. The refueling module also will include crew observation windows. In addition to providing the hardware, ESA will be responsible for operations of the Gateway elements it provides. ESA also provides two additional European Service Modules (ESMs) for NASA’s Orion spacecraft. These ESMs will propel and power Orion in space on future Artemis missions and provide air and water for its crew. “This partnership leverages the outstanding cooperation established by the International Space Station as we push forward to the Moon,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “Gateway will continue to expand NASA’s cooperation with international partners like ESA, ensuring the Artemis program results in the safe and sustainable exploration of the Moon after the initial human lunar landing and beyond.” The International Habitation module (I-Hab) includes components Japan intends to contribute and two docking ports where human landing systems can aggregate. The habitation module also will house the outpost’s Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), contain accommodations for internal and external science experiments, and provide additional crew work and living space. I-Hab's ECLSS will augment Gateway's life support system capabilities provided by the docked Orion, enabling longer durations at the Gateway and support more robust Artemis missions to the lunar surface. “The Gateway is designed to be supplemented by additional capabilities provided by our international partners to support sustainable exploration,” said Kathy Lueders, NASA associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. “Gateway is going to give us access to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before and we’re pleased that partners like ESA will join us on these groundbreaking efforts.” The Gateway will be assembled in orbit around the Moon as a staging point and enabling platform for missions to the lunar surface, Mars, and other deep space destinations. Approximately one-sixth the size of the International Space Station, the Gateway will function as a way station located tens of thousands of miles from the lunar surface, in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit, from which NASA and its international and commercial partners will be able to springboard robotic and human expeditions to and around the Moon and on to Mars. It will serve as a rendezvous point for astronauts traveling to lunar orbit aboard NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion prior to transit to low-lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon. “Gateway is the physical manifestation of the international and commercial partnerships that will be the hallmark of the Artemis era of exploration,” said Mike Gold, NASA acting associate administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations at NASA Headquarters. “Artemis will harness the largest and most diverse human space exploration coalition in history, and the signing of this MOU is the first step in what will be a historic journey of discovery.” Along with procuring commercial services to deliver NASA astronauts to the final leg of the journey to the lunar surface, NASA has contracted with U.S. industry to develop the first two Gateway components, the integrated Power and Propulsion Element and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost, as well as the logistics resupply for Gateway. In March, the first two scientific investigations to fly aboard the Gateway were selected, one from NASA and the other from ESA. ESA developed the European Radiation Sensors Array, or ERSA, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is building the Heliophysics Environmental and Radiation Measurement Experiment Suite, or HERMES. The two mini weather stations will split up the work, with ERSA monitoring space radiation at higher energies with a focus on astronaut protection, while HERMES monitors lower energies critical to scientific investigations of the Sun. All of Gateway’s international partners will collaborate to share the scientific data that will be transmitted to Earth. Additional scientific cooperative payloads will be selected to fly aboard the Gateway in the future. “Science will play a critical role in the Artemis program", said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Between NASA’s HERMES and ESA’s ERSA, these and future payloads on the Gateway will help us learn more about space weather and protecting astronauts even as our work to land commercial payloads on the Moon helps advance lunar science and human exploration on the surface of the Moon.” In addition to supporting lunar surface missions, the Gateway will support activities that will test technologies needed for human missions to Mars. Using the Gateway, NASA will demonstrate remote management and long-term reliability of autonomous spacecraft systems and other technologies. “The Gateway will enable sustained Artemis operations while also serving as a catalyst for research and demonstrating new technologies, taking advantage of the unique environment in lunar orbit,” said Dan Hartman, Gateway program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “ESA’s impactful contribution will enable longer crew duration stays around the Moon and provide unique capabilities necessary to support its operations.” Learn more about NASA’s Gateway program at: https://nasa.gov/gateway Learn more about NASA’s Artemis program at: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-european-space-agency-formalize-artemis-gateway-partnership 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