Flight Safety Information - December 23, 2020 No. 258 In This Issue : Incident: Rusline CRJ1 near Volgograd on Dec 17th 2020, cracked windshield : Incident: ANZ AT72 at Napier on Dec 22nd 2020, fumes on board : Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Dec 22nd 2020, could not retract the landing gear : DELTA ORDERED TO PAY “BIPOLAR” PILOT $500,000 IN RECORD SETTING WHISTLEBLOWER CASE : Delta Retaliated Against Pilot By Sending Her to Shrink – Judge Rules : Viagra-smuggling scandal hits federal air marshals : How we investigated toxic chemicals on airplanes : Taipei’s Airport Seeks To Join US Pre-Clearance Program : Aircraft repossessions could be on way as aviation crisis deepens : German airline Lufthansa reaches deal with pilots on cost savings : Airbus to be world's largest planemaker for second year : U.S. gives final OK for Aer Lingus to join transatlantic joint venture : Alaska Airlines is buying another 23 Boeing 737 Max jets for a total of 68 and adding new routes to its namesake state : Airlines Get $15 Billion in Aid — or $500,000 for Each Rehired Worker : Astroscale ships its space junk removal demonstration satellite for March 2021 mission : NTSB - Position Available - Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) Specialist : HUMAN FACTORS ANALYSIS AND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - Online Course : 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Incident: Rusline CRJ1 near Volgograd on Dec 17th 2020, cracked windshield A Rusline Canadair CRJ-100, registration VQ-BND performing flight 7R-425 from Saransk to Mineralnye Vody (Russia) with 43 passengers, was enroute at FL300 about 170nm north of Volgograd (Russia) when the crew observed one of the windshields cracking and established it was the inner pane cracking. The aircraft descended to FL210 maintaining FL210 for about 6 minutes, then declared emergency, continued the descent to 9000 feet MSL reporting cabin pressure problems and decided to divert to Volgograd. The aircraft landed safely in Volgograd about 50 minutes after leaving FL300. A replacement Canadair CRJ-200 registration VP-BMN reached Mineralnye Vody with a delay of about 6 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 46 hours, then positioned to St. Petersburg (Russia) as flight 4R-9505 maintaining a maximum cruise FL100 and returned to service about 17.5 hours after landing in St. Petersburg. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e0de4a7&opt=0 Incident: ANZ AT72 at Napier on Dec 22nd 2020, fumes on board An ANZ Air New Zealand Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration ZK-MVV performing flight NZ-5027 from Auckland to Napier (New Zealand), was descending towards Napier when the crew reported unknown fumes on board. Local emergency services were dispatched to the airport. The aircraft landed on runway 16, stopped and was evacuated. No injuries are being reported. Emergency services reported they responded to a report of unknown fumes on board. After the aircraft had been evacuated fire fighters performed gas measurements but could not find anything unusual. The emergency services were stood down about 40 minutes after landing. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Napier about 10 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e0d5ccf&opt=0 Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Dec 22nd 2020, could not retract the landing gear A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N812NW performing flight DL-73 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Atlanta,GA (USA), was climbing out of Amsterdam's runway 24 when the crew stopped the climb at FL060 reporting they had a minor issue with the landing gear and requested to enter a hold while trying to figure it out. The aircraft entered a hold over waypoint SUGOL. After about 25 minutes in the hold the crew advised the company wanted them to return to Amsterdam, the landing gear didn't want to come up, no assistance was needed though it would be an overweight landing. The aircraft landed safely on Amsterdam's runway 27 about 35 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2 hours, then departed again and is currently enroute to the USA over the Atlantic Ocean. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e0d5648&opt=0 DELTA ORDERED TO PAY “BIPOLAR” PILOT $500,000 IN RECORD SETTING WHISTLEBLOWER CASE By Roger Rapoport FSI Senior Editor She may have been stuck on the ground in Sydney, Australia, after her flight home was cancelled Monday, but Delta Airbus 350 international first officer Dr. Karlene Petitt wasn’t complaining. The veteran Seattle pilot, grounded for 21 months due to a disputed Delta hired psychiatrist’s “bipolar” diagnosis, won $500,000 in compensatory damages for the “severe emotional toll placed on” her “well being,” a pay raise, back vacation pay and reimbursement of her legal fees. These compensatory damages quintupled the previous record under the federal aviation whistleblower statue. The appellate tribunal’s decision concludes Dr. Pettit’s lengthy Department of Labor OSHA AIR 21 whistleblower case. It found that the airline retaliated after she questioned Delta’s compliance with FAA required safety procedures. The six-figure award was accompanied by sharp criticism of Delta and Steve Dickson, a former vice-president who became FAA Administrator in July 2019. Dickson is back in the news for green lighting the controversial ungrounding of the troubled Boeing 737 MAX which resumes flying in America next week. Speaking for the tribunal in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Administrative Law Judge Scott Morris wrote: “It is improper for [Delta] to weaponize this process for the purposes of obtaining blind compliance by its pilots due to fear that [Delta] can ruin their career by such cavalier use of this tool of last resort.” From Australia Dr. Pettit voiced her “excitement that justice is finally served. The timing could not have been more appropriate.” The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University PhD’s troubles began after she submitted a 43-page research report to Delta Vice President of Flight Steve Dickson in January 2016, She voiced concerns about the airline’s failure to abide by the FAA’s Safety Management Systems requirements in six areas. After reviewing her report Delta vice-president of Flying Operations Jim Graham consulted with legal counsel. He subsequently ordered Dr. Petitt to report to Illinois psychiatrist Dr. David Altman for a six-hour examination that cost the airline $73,000. In his deposition Dr. Altman testified that his “bipolar” diagnosis was influenced by Dr. Petitt’s remarkable multitasking thirty years earlier. He said her ability to work, attend night school, help her husband with his business and be an effective nursing mom with three children was “well beyond what any woman I’ve ever met could do.” “Altman’s diagnosis was subsequently rejected by both the Mayo Clinic and a third “tie-breaker” psychiatrist,” says attorney Seham. “However the process dragged out over 21 months during which her very career hung in balance.” In the tribunal ruling Judge Morris zeroed in on the second opinion of the Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Lawrence Steinkraus: “This has been a puzzle for our group – the evidence does not support presence of a psychiatric diagnosis but does support an organizational/corporate effort to remove this pilot from the rolls. ... years ago in the military, it was not unusual for female pilots and air crew to be the target for such an effort.’ The tribunal also concluded Captain Dickson’s deposition was “less than credible … as it found many of his responses evasive ... His testimony was of value in understanding the leadership culture at [Delta] and its understanding (or lack thereof) of [Delta’s] management’s role in its safety management program. His emails make it clear that” Delta’s “much touted ‘open door policy’ was not as opened as portrayed.” “What I find both stupefying and worrisome is that, in all this time,” said Seham, “is that Delta has never apologized to Dr. Petitt – even after Dr. Altman’s diagnosis was discredited. It’s worrisome because those responsible for this injustice remain in positions of authority. Safety reporting has to be cultivated, not suppressed.” The OSHA tribunal said it was “struck by the injury the Complainant suffered and will likely continue to suffer for the remainder of her career.” • “First there is the sheer length of time she was unable to fly” for Delta. • “There was the cruelty of receiving Dr. Altman’s (2016) findings on Christmas Eve wherein she was summarily notified that her flying career was potentially over.” • “There is permanent damage to her reputation within the aviation community regardless of this Tribunal’s ruling. This includes medical records that will forever be in her FAA medical file and can create special reporting requirements to the FAA.” • “And then there is the respondent’s actions of reporting complainant’s medical results to the FAA.” • “Complainant is correct to point out that she will be subject to flight line gossip and there will be a lingering question of her true flying abilities.” • “Then there is the Respondent’s actions of reporting Complainant’s medical results to the FAA, in direct violation of its contract …. after she had been cleared by the Mayo Clinic panel of psychologists and psychiatrists, but before conclusion of the Section 15 process ….” In addition to the $500,000 damage award, Delta was ordered to compensate Dr. Petitt at a wage “no lower than the highest salary provided for any other either” Delta “first officer,” reinstate her vacation days or pay her $52,522 for loss of her vacations and reimburse her for litigation costs and attorney fees. The airline was also ordered to deliver an electronic copy of the decision directly to all of its pilots and managers in its flight operations department. Delta is required to “prominently post copies of the decision at every location where it posts other notices to employees related to employment law for a period of 60 days.” Judge Morris wrote “that publication of this decision would serve as a deterrent to not only those involved in the retaliatory acts concerning this case, but would also serve to deter others that might consider contemplating similar actions in the future. Deterrence of the wrongdoer and those that know of the conduct committed by the wrongdoer has long been deemed a proper factor when imposing a remedy for misconduct.” This is not the first time Dickson’s role in the Dr. Petitt case has come under fire at the federal level. Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) alleged a key conflict of interest ignored in the 2019 FAA administrator vetting process at the White House and the Department of Transportation. During the July 2019 hearing she said: “Mr. Dickson described the decision to refer First Officer Petitt for a compulsory mental health examination as ‘sound.’ In the course of following up on First Officer Petitt’s allegations, Mr. Dickson has... repeatedly sought to minimize his role in this extremely troubling episode. However, the written record... contradicts the picture Mr. Dickson has sought to paint of minimal involvement. “Given the urgent need for stronger safety culture and transparency throughout the FAA, these incidents do not paint the picture of the type of leadership that we need. Mr. Dickson’s oversight of these matters raises serious questions about his leadership, and therefore I will not support his nomination. It’s very clear that Mr. Dickson … was involved with this pilot, did know what was happening and failed to disclose it to this committee. We certainly can’t have organizations threaten pilots with this kind of retaliation.” Voting against Dickson, she added, “will help us create an environment where whistleblowers will be listened to.” Her view was seconded by “Miracle on The Hudson” Captain Chesley Sullenberger: “This nominee while a senior executive at Delta Air Lines either caused or allowed a whistleblower with validated safety concerns to be retaliated against. Especially now with the safety of the 737 MAX under review, it is critically important that we have an FAA Administrator who will act with integrity and independence to protect everyone who flies. I strongly oppose his nomination.” The Republican dominated committee advanced Dickson’s nomination to the Senate July 10, 2019, on a straight 14-12 party line vote. He was spared a contentious floor debate later that month thanks to cloture invoked by a Delta Political Action Committee favorite Senator Mitch McConnell. Dickson was confirmed by a party line full Senate vote of 52-40. Seven Democrats campaigning for the Presidency were absent from the roll call. Editor’s Note: Here is a link to the complete OSHA decision. The conclusion begins on page 101. https://www.ssmplaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/PETITT_v_DELTA_DECISION.pdf Senior Editor Roger Rapoport is the coauthor of the new book GROUNDED: HOW TO SOLVE THE AVIATION CRISIS with Captain Shem Malmquist (Lexographic Press) and the producer of the award winning feature film Pilot Error. (Photo courtesy: Christine Negroni) (Karleen Petitt is a pilot at Delta Air Lines) Delta Retaliated Against Pilot By Sending Her to Shrink – Judge Rules By: Christine Negroni Delta Air Lines and its top executives, including the present FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, retaliated against a pilot when it sent her for psychiatric evaluation after she complained of safety issues at the airline, a judge has ruled. Judge Scott Morris ruled that Delta “engaged in an adverse employment action with discriminatory intent,” when it sent Karlene Petitt to Dr. David Altman, a company-appointed doctor who determined she was bipolar. Had that been true, it would have been a career-ending diagnosis. But Petitt, 58, was not bipolar, as two other doctors later determined. Nevertheless, the ordeal kept her out of the cockpit for nearly two years and delivered a non-stop emotional battering. Many female pilots were horrified that Dr. Altman described Petitt’s ability to attend school, help with her husband’s business and care for her three young children, as signs of mania. • (Earlier this year Dr. Altman surrendered to Illinois authorities, his license to practice medicine, due in part to his handling of Petitt’s case. Read more here.) Petitt’s whistleblower suit was an attempt to restore what had been for 40 years a sterling reputation as an aviatrix and get some acknowledgment from Delta that she had been misused. She may be successful at the former, but despite what the judge found to be an overwhelming amount of evidence, including that Delta used its contract psychiatrist as a tool to achieve a management objective, Delta has never apologized to Petitt. “Someone owes this woman an apology,” said Lee Seham, Petitt’s lawyer. “but there’s no contrition. It’s not only morally wrong, it’s unsafe.” Seham’s safety concerns are not lawyer hyperbole. Because Petitt, whose PhD dissertation was on aviation safety culture, claimed she was pushed by Delta into this medical, legal and professional rabbit hole in an attempt to silence her because she brought safety violations to her bosses, including Dickson, who President Trump made administrator last year. Stephen Dickson But when Dickson was still Delta’s senior vice president for flight operations and Petitt told him and others about her concerns, Petitt said Dickson dismissed her with the quip, “If there was a better way, we’d already be doing it.” In his ruling, Judge Morris accused Delta of “weaponizing” its right to order pilots to undergo psychiatric examination, suggesting Delta used it to obtain “blind compliance by its pilots”. The likely outcome Morris suggests is that other pilots will fear speaking out knowing Delta could similarly ruin their careers. At Delta, spokesman Morgan Durrant said, “All Delta people are encouraged and empowered to report potential concerns,” adding that the airline has “zero tolerance for retaliation in any form, especially regarding safety concerns.” Durrant hinted that the airline may appeal the decision. While the ruling should make for some happy holidays for the now vindicated Petitt, Delta should not be surprised to find the coal Judge Morris has deposited in its stocking. Eighteen months ago, Judge Morris issued a warning that the two sides ought to sit down and come to some understanding. But it was clear he was directing the advice to Delta. You must decide if “you want all this laundry out there,” Judge Morris told the parties on the last day of the trial, adding that Petitt had to run a “gauntlet” to get her job back and it wasn’t pretty. Delta stuck by its position and now faces a half-million-dollar award to Petitt. But perhaps the larger cost to Delta is reputational. For in his ruling, Judge Morris ordered the airline to send to every pilot at Delta and every manager in flight operations a copy of the decision in which he found that what Petitt said about Delta was true. Christine Negroni Author of The New York Times bestseller, The Crash Detectives, I am also a journalist, public speaker and broadcaster specializing in aviation and travel. https://christinenegroni.com/delta-retaliated-against-pilot-by-sending-her-to-shrink-judge-rules/ Viagra-smuggling scandal hits federal air marshals In the nearly 20 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Federal Air Marshal Service has suffered enough controversy, scandals and investigations to fill an armory. Its latest scandal and investigation may not come as much of a surprise, but air marshals in the know have given it a catchy name. This time, they’re calling it “Bonergate.” Roughly 20 air marshals posted to the agency’s Dallas field office have been disciplined in recent weeks and months following a secretive two-year internal investigation of a Viagra-smuggling and distribution ring among employees and supervisors there, current and former air marshals said. Whether the practice extends beyond Dallas to other air marshals’ offices around the country is unclear, but sneaking drugs back into the country is not unheard of among federal air marshals. A terrorist attack inside a remake of a commercial Boing 767 passenger airplane is simulated during a training practice for future federal air marshals A simulation of a terrorist attack in an airplane during a training practice for future federal air marshals in 2017. (Astrid Riecken for the Washington Post via Getty Images) The approximately 3,000 armed law enforcement officers assigned to safeguard flights and other U.S. transportation systems against terrorist attacks and criminal activity are highly regarded for their skilled marksmanship but seem to have largely brought that trouble onto themselves in recent years. There have been various arrests — including a murder-for-hire plot, a gun-buying scheme that shook the top levels of the agency and allegations of discrimination against minorities, women and gay people. Then came the “badge bunny” who rearranged flights for trysts followed by the sex tape of a prostitute made with a government phone that underscore an overarching party-hearty attitude rife with misconduct. Their latest scandal, involving the little blue pill used to treat erectile dysfunction, centers on a handful of air marshals who purchased the medication abroad, where often it costs significantly less than in the United States, and, skirting checkpoints, secreted the prescription drugs back into the country. These air marshals, who do not face the same levels of security screening as the flying public, then sold the pills to co-workers. Some simply asked to be reimbursed, while others allegedly made a small profit, current and former air marshals said. Law enforcement officials say they see several potentially criminal violations, including the importation of the prescribed medicine for distribution without a license. They point out that the ingredients used to produce the drug abroad may not have been properly inspected or meet FDA requirements, as counterfeiting is also a consistent issue. Pfizer’s patent on Viagra ended this year, but it has been making a generic version since 2017. According to the drug manufacturer, Viagra can cause side effects, including sudden vision and hearing loss and prolonged erections, which could impair an air marshal’s ability to function while on duty. For some air marshals and lawmakers, it’s yet another reason to take a deep look at the service, which has had its mission and effectiveness assailed for years. It also raises questions about insider threats, as air marshals are subject to fewer security measures. At the same time, other current and former air marshals don’t see what the big deal is in doing a favor for friends. In Dallas, where the air marshals’ ranks number around 200, those caught up in the Viagra ring faced disciplining that ranged from three to at least 10 days of suspension. With decreased air travel because of COVID-19, it’s unclear how much the suspensions affected operations. At least two others may face termination stemming from evidence uncovered during the investigation, according to current and former air marshals. Another air marshal involved in the importing of Viagra resigned after he was suspended, though it’s unclear if his suspension was directly related to the smuggling ring. Two of those air marshals, who were contacted through intermediaries, declined to comment. A third could not be reached for comment. Yahoo News is not naming those air marshals because they have not been charged with a crime. A local supervisor, Kevin Pitman, instructed air marshals not to speak publicly about the now former employee, according to an email shared with Yahoo News. But one air marshal, who requested anonymity to speak about the matter, said it was kept very quiet in the Dallas office, and beyond. “Everybody involved had to sign an NDA [nondisclosure agreement],” the air marshal said. “There was not a lot of real heavy-handed discipline. People took their lumps — it could have been worse — and went on with it.” In December, the Transportation Security Administration, which is the parent agency of the Federal Air Marshal Service, denied a public records request for documents related to any inquiries into the Dallas air marshals’ scheme to import Viagra and other medicines and supplements, citing “open investigations,” according to correspondence shared with Yahoo News. A TSA spokesman declined to comment because of “potential or pending administrative inquiries or investigations.” “TSA holds all of its employees to the highest standard of professional conduct and takes every misconduct accusation very seriously,” spokesman R. Carter Langston told Yahoo News. “We investigate each allegation thoroughly and take appropriate administrative action when substantiated. Those found responsible for misconduct are subject to disciplinary action that may include removal.” A separate criminal complaint has been reported to the FDA, according to current and former air marshals. Meanwhile, the Senate Commerce Committee could add to the number of investigations in the next Congress. A committee aide said that the panel had just received a whistleblower complaint about the Viagra scheme in Dallas, but had not yet evaluated it. The aide said continued oversight of the TSA and the air marshals was among the committee’s priorities in the new year. “The public record [on the air marshals] is concerning all on its own,” said the aide, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “It’s worthy of our oversight.” The air marshals have been the subject of one congressional hearing and investigation after another since they expanded from the 33 officers who were on duty during 9/11 to the thousands who fill their ranks today. The Federal Air Marshal Service has also seen its budget sliced from a high of $966 million in 2012 to $755.6 million in 2020. The job can be exhausting and mind numbing, air marshals say, citing the harmful physical effects of constant flying and jet lag. There have been reports and studies of alcohol abuse to combat sleep deprivation, in addition to other mental health problems that in recent years have reached “a crisis point” among air marshals. A February 2020 Government Accountability Office report found that the air marshal service has made progress in addressing workplace issues. But some problems linger, such as the agency’s failure to assess the health of its workforce. Then there’s the ongoing issue of chemical abuse. Air marshals have been buying prescription and other performance-enhancing drugs abroad for years. Bill Beller, the air marshal chapter president for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said he had referred around five air marshals in Dallas who had come to him seeking legal representation related to the investigation. “We have pride in our positions, and some people — whatever they did — I believe it was an error or error in judgment,” he said. “Men can go to doctors and get a prescription. So why would they have to go and buy it and not know what they’re getting?” Lawrence Berger, general counsel for the FLEOA, declined to comment, citing attorney-client privilege, as “these are pending matters.” Tim O’Connell, a retired supervisory air marshal and former DEA agent, said that after an initial probe, the matter should have been handed off to outside criminal investigators, not handled internally. O’Connell, who retired from the air marshals’ Orlando office in 2012, said not doing so shows a lack of accountability on the part of management, and law enforcement should be held to a higher standard, even when off duty. “Obviously that’s a big no-no,” he said of sneaking Viagra back into the country. “The fact that they were turning it into a selling thing is kind of problematic too. If you were on a mission and got some for yourself, that’s one thing. But to be peddling it in the office? That’s worse.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/viagrasmuggling-scandal-hits-federal-air-marshals-155928349.html How we investigated toxic chemicals on airplanes For decades, the airline industry and its regulators have known about incidents of toxic gases from jet engine oil and other fluids leaking into the air supply on planes. But the Federal Aviation Administration doesn’t track these fume events. And airlines aren’t required to report information needed to answer basic questions: How many fume events are there? How often are crew members and passengers sickened by fumes? How many pilots have been impaired by fumes, potentially endangering everyone on board? To answer those questions, The Times first turned to a database of safety reports voluntarily made to NASA by pilots and flight attendants. NASA does not identify which reports involve a fume event, so the newspaper’s first step was to identify ones classified in the database as involving either “smoke/fire/fumes/odor” or an “illness” on a commercial plane. Those included more than 900 incidents from January 2018 to December 2019. ‘We are slowly being poisoned.’ How toxic fumes seep into the air you breathe on planes A Times investigation found that vapors from heated jet engine oil leak into planes with alarming frequency across all airlines, sickening passengers and crew. The Times modeled its analysis of those reports after methodologies used in academic and government studies of fume events. The newspaper counted incidents in which reports used terms such as “fume event”; described smells in language the airline industry uses to identify fume events, such as “dirty socks smell” or “acrid”; noted mechanical findings, such as a leaky seal, that confirmed air supply contamination or procedures completed by mechanics to decontaminate the air supply; or described smells and physiological symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic fumes based on an FAA-funded guide for treating fume event-related health problems. Incidents were not counted if electrical or fan malfunctions were the suspected cause of fumes, or if there wasn’t enough information to make a determination. As NASA safety reports are made voluntarily, the information is limited to whatever crew members decide to include in their narratives. The Times used a conservative count of people who received medical attention after fume events. For example, if a report noted that an unspecified number of passengers were treated by paramedics, The Times counted that as two. To calculate the number of times pilots were impaired by fumes, the newspaper included cases in which a report mentioned a pilot suffering partial incapacitation during flight; handing off the controls to a copilot after becoming unfit; or declaring themselves unable to complete scheduled flights following exposure to fumes. Dizzy or confused pilots were not counted as impaired unless a report explicitly stated they were unable to perform their duties. The Times’ analysis of NASA safety reports alone counted 362 fume events reported in 2018 and 2019, nearly 400 crew members or passengers who received medical attention and four dozen pilots who were described as impaired to the point of being unable to perform their duties. The safety reports are anonymized and do not contain airline names or flight numbers. NASA would not provide identifying information about incidents in its Aviation Safety Reporting System. In a handful of cases, The Times was able to cross-check public records, social media, local news coverage and other sources to identify incidents described in NASA reports. The Times also filed hundreds of public records requests to identify fume events and determine whether passengers or crew were sickened. The newspaper reviewed two types of mechanical reports that airlines make to the FAA: Mechanical Interruption Summary reports and Service Difficulty Reports. Additional fume events were identified from internal airline mechanical records The Times obtained from sources. Paramedic reports requested from airports helped determine what symptoms were reported and whether medical attention was administered. The Times spoke with several airline and academic experts in conducting its analysis. Guidance on identifying fume events was provided by an experienced pilot and airline mechanic who reviewed aviation records. While reporting this series of articles, The Times reviewed thousands of pages of court filings from workers’ compensation cases and litigation against airlines and manufacturers. Much of the Boeing reporting was based on a cache of depositions and exhibits from recent lawsuits filed by flight attendants against the company. Additionally, The Times obtained internal airline documents used by pilots and mechanics when dealing with fume events. The newspaper interviewed dozens of people for this story, including pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, union officials, academic experts and medical professionals. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-17/how-we-investigated-toxic-chemicals-on-airplanes Taipei’s Airport Seeks To Join US Pre-Clearance Program Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport has applied to join the US pre-clearance program. The Trusted Traveler Program provides pre-approved US-bound passengers with a smoother clearance process at US entry airports. If accepted, Taiwan would become the first Asia-Pacific country to join the program. Taiwan’s application for US pre-clearance is under review As reported by Focus Taiwan, the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed on Wednesday that Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) has applied to join the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry pre-clearance program. The application was submitted in September after the CBP revealed that it was inviting new airports to join the scheme for the first time in four years. MOFA spokesperson, Joanne Ou, said that the application for the Global Entry program was currently under review by the CBP. She added that, “MOFA is working closely with related Taiwanese authorities to push for Taoyuan’s inclusion in the program that will expedite the entry of its citizens into the U.S.” Speaking at the Heritage Foundation on December 21, acting Secretary of US Homeland Security, Chad F. Wolf, said that the two sides are in talks over the matter. During his speech, Wolf said, “In the travel domain, we are engaging with Taiwan regarding Taipei’s pending application for preclearance for U.S.-bound travelers.” If Taiwan is given the green light, it would be the first country in the Asia-Pacific to provide a smoother travel experience for passengers to the US. The Global Entry Program CBP Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program that streamlines the international arrivals procedure and reduces congestion at US airports. Members of the program are pre-approved, low-risk travelers who are processed by CBP personnel at approved airports before boarding their flight to the US. On arrival in the US, the passenger is treated as a domestic arrival. At the airport, approved travelers can bypass CBP security inspection lines and head straight for Global Entry kiosks. They run their smart chipped passport through the scanner, complete a swift fingerprint verification, and use the screen to complete their customs declaration. According to the CBP website, Global Entry is currently available at 15 preclearance locations, including Argentina, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The benefits of joining the Global Entry program Travelers who are members of the US Global Entry program get to avoid the security processing lines and don’t have to fill out tedious paperwork on arrival in the US. That means much shorter wait times. You can also get access to streamlined entry benefits in other countries. Joining the scheme costs $100, and the clearance is valid for five years. Eligible travelers will be subject to a rigorous background check and must attend an in-person interview with a CPB officer before being approved. The CBP currently has more than 600 officers and agricultural specialists stationed at pre-clearance locations around the world. In 2019, CBP personnel stationed abroad precleared 22 million travelers, representing over 16% of all commercial air travelers to the US. https://simpleflying.com/taipai-us-pre-clearanace/ Aircraft repossessions could be on way as aviation crisis deepens Four in 10 leased aircraft grounded as the pandemic continues to hit air travel The (Irish) Republic is a key centre for aviation finance, with about 60 per cent of all leased aircraft worldwide, worth around €100 billion, held here. Photograph: iStock Aircraft lessors could be forced to repossess planes as the Covid-19 crisis pushes airlines into bankruptcy or insolvency, industry analysts warn in a new report. The Republic is a key centre for aviation finance, with about 60 per cent of all leased aircraft worldwide, worth about €100 billion, held here, while 14 of the top 15 companies in the business are based here. A report by Alton Aviation Consultancy, which has its headquarters in New York, estimates that about four out of every 10 leased aircraft are grounded as the pandemic continues to hit air travel. At the same time, it warns that about 900 aircraft are leased by airlines with enough cash to last two months or less and that are not government owned, leading the consultants to class them as high-risk. Pressure on values and limited scope to find replacement customers mean that lessors are reluctant to repossess aircraft when clients have difficulty meeting rent or payment obligations. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aircraft-repossessions-could-be-on-way-as-aviation-crisis-deepens-1.4444285 German airline Lufthansa reaches deal with pilots on cost savings BERLIN (Reuters) -Lufthansa and its pilots have reached an agreement that secures jobs until end-March 2022 and could help reduce costs by as much as 450 million euros ($548 million), pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) said on Wednesday. Like its rivals, Lufthansa is struggling to deal with global travel restrictions and grounded fleets in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It is surviving on 9 billion euros of state aid, and Chief Executive Carsten Spohr had said earlier this month that the airline would have to lay off 1,000 pilots in the second quarter if it cannot seal a wage agreement with unions. The agreement includes an extension of shortened working hours in 2021 under the government's Kurzarbeit scheme as well as a reduction in working hours with corresponding salary cuts and the suspension of collective pay increases, Germany's flagship carrier said in a separate statement. "Lufthansa is ruling out layoffs of pilots for operational reasons at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Aviation Training and a subgroup of Germanwings pilots until March 2022," the airline said. Markus Wahl, president of the VC union, which represents Lufthansa's roughly 5,000 pilots, said: "We are relieved that... we have succeeded in protecting the cockpit staff against compulsory layoffs at least until 31 March 2022." Lufthansa has an option to extended the agreement until the end of June 2022, according to the union. ($1 = 0.8206 euros) https://kfgo.com/2020/12/23/german-airline-lufthansa-reaches-deal-with-pilots-on-cost-savings/ Airbus to be world's largest planemaker for second year By: Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus is set to beat Boeing to be the world's largest jetmaker for the second year in a row, ending 2020 by resuming deliveries of its A380 superjumbo to Emirates, though its final deliveries are likely to have dropped 35% from 2019 due to the pandemic. There were no immediate reports on Tuesday of deliveries or production being disrupted by travel bans imposed by many countries on Britain, where Airbus makes wings. No flights have been scheduled over the Christmas break of special Beluga transport planes, which carry aircraft sections under an exemption from most coronavirus travel restrictions. Barring widespread new travel upheaval, industry sources expect Airbus to deliver 550-560 planes in 2020 after it reached more than 520 this week, with nine days of the year still to go. But they cautioned deliveries are subject to an unusual number of variables and schedules are not set in stone. Airbus is unlikely to repeat a record surge of more than 100 deliveries in December last year. An Airbus spokesman declined to comment on specifics, but said Airbus continued to operate normally. "We continue to deliver at full steam and this will continue over the holidays," he said. Airbus said on Monday it had delivered an A330neo to Uganda Airlines, though fresh doubts have surfaced over similar jets already built for troubled AirAsia X. After a year-long pause in A380 deliveries to Dubai, Airbus has delivered two A380s to Emirates this month, tracking data shows. It will end the year with three A380 deliveries after Japan's ANA put a newly delivered plane into storage in October. Airbus has halted initial assembly of the four-engined jet and has six left to deliver. Charter firm HiFly last week ended efforts to make profits out of a second-hand aircraft, meaning more A380s are seen likely to follow the ANA jet into storage. Total Airbus deliveries are expected to fall 35% this year due to the impact on airlines of the pandemic, but Airbus has an insurmountable lead over Boeing, which delivered 118 planes up to the end of November, with the 737 MAX grounded during that period. Between January and November, Airbus delivered 477 jets. It has delivered 46 of its main category of planes so far in December, according to the Airbus Hamburg Finkenwerder tracking website, lifting total deliveries so far this year beyond 520. Industry sources say Airbus may reach an informal goal of 560 deliveries in 2020, though each delivery comes with uncertainty and some experts say 550 is a safer estimate. Deliveries have outperformed earlier expectations after deals with cash-strapped airlines. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airbus-worlds-largest-planemaker-second-113157845.html U.S. gives final OK for Aer Lingus to join transatlantic joint venture WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Irish airline Aer Lingus received final U.S. approval on Monday to join a transatlantic joint venture with other major airlines. The U.S. Transportation Department in November granted tentative approval for Aer Lingus to join the venture consisting of American Airlines, British Airways, OpenSkies, Iberia and Finnair. The announcement will give the joint venture control of more than half of the U.S.-Ireland passenger flight market. The approval will integrate Aer Lingus into the venture's network planning, pricing and sales. Aer Lingus did not immediately comment. Aer Lingus controls 44% of the U.S.-Ireland flight market, a figure that will rise to 60% for the alliance. In 2015, International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, Iberia and OpenSkies, acquired Aer Lingus. The group petitioned in 2018 to allow Aer Lingus to join the alliance. Despite the alliance's majority market share, the U.S. regulator noted steps that it said would support competition. As a condition of approval, the department proposed the venture maintain commitments to release landing and takeoff gate slots at London airports to competitors. Those were imposed when the alliance was first approved in 2010. In addition, the Transportation Department noted the presence of a strong competitor outside the alliance. It said the second-largest carrier in the Irish-U.S. market, low-cost airline Norwegian, "has shown an aggressive ability to challenge established carriers in the transatlantic market with its low-fare pricing model." The department also argued that new aircraft models would allow airlines to fly transatlantic routes with fewer seats and lower costs. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/u-gives-final-ok-aer-223459154.html Alaska Airlines is buying another 23 Boeing 737 Max jets for a total of 68 and adding new routes to its namesake state Alaska Airlines and Boeing signed an agreement in principle for a total of 68 of the 737 Max aircraft with an option for 52 more. Deliveries will take place over the next four years as Alaska uses the jets to replace its Airbus A320 family fleet. Alaska has not yet taken delivery of a Boeing 737 Max yet but plans to fly the jet in March 2021. Anchorage, Alaska will also see three new routes to the Lower 48 and year-round service to Phoenix. Alaska Airlines and Boeing just inked an agreement for 23 additional 737 Max aircraft, growing the airline's total order to 68 aircraft to be delivered from 2021 to 2024. An agreement in principle for the Max 9 variant, based on the 737-900 Next Generation that Alaska currently flies, was signed on Friday at Boeing Delivery Center in Seattle, just miles from Alaska's primary hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Alaska had just agreed to lease 13 aircraft earlier in December from Air Lease Corporation, which was incorporated in Friday's agreement. The total order will also see an option for an additional 52 aircraft that would grow Alaska's fleet to 120 if exercised. Alaska opted for nine "white-tail" aircraft, or planes that were built but never delivered due to an order cancellation, in the order, CEO Brad Tilden told CNBC, as they were likely more cost effective than buying new builds. The number of Max white-tails grew due to the protracted grounding of the Max, which led to order cancellations by airlines around the world over safety concerns. The lack of demand for new aircraft caused by the pandemic only compounded the number of cancellations across the board. Case in point, Air Canada notably canceled 10 Max orders, along with 12 Airbus A220 orders. Alaska's order brings the airline closer to once again having an all-Boeing fleet. The 737 Max 9 will replace the A320 family aircraft acquired by the airline in a 2016 merger with Virgin America, though the Airbus A321neo aircraft will stay in the fleet. Currently Alaska's largest aircraft, the A321neo is Airbus' counterpart to the Max 9 with comparable range and seating capacity. While a single-fleet type can help keep pilot training costs low and maximize the efficiency of a pilot pool, the A321neo offers similar levels of fuel efficiency to the Max that will be useful to the airline until Boeing fulfills its orders. Alaska is slated to be the third or fourth airline in the US to fly the Max. With a tentative start date of March 1, per Cirium data, it may be beat by Southwest Airlines, which hasn't yet announced a firm return to service date but already has 34 Max jets in its fleet. The first routes for the aircraft in Alaska's schedule are Los Angeles-Portland, Oregon; Seattle-Los Angles, and San Diego, California-Seattle. Once delivery is taken of the first model from Boeing, over 50 hours and 19,000 miles will be put on the aircraft to ensure it's safe to fly passengers, Alaska's website states, with proving runs on routes across the US including Hawaii and Alaska. American Airlines is just one week away from flying passengers on the Max again for the first time in 21 months while United Airlines is waiting until February 11, 2021. Alaska will be working with passengers who don't want to fly on the Max to rebook them on other aircraft, a spokesperson told Business Insider. All US airlines flying the jet have implemented similar policies in addition to eliminating change fees for most flights. New routes to Alaska coming in 2021 The new year will also see Alaska connect more of its namesake state with the Lower 48 as Anchorage will receive three new routes aimed at leisure travel. Denver, Las Vegas, and San Francisco will all receive direct links to America's largest state, while the existing Anchorage-Phoenix route will be increased to year-round service. Flights to Denver and San Francisco begin on June 17, 2021, until August 16, 2021, and will operate daily. Las Vegas service begins on May 20, 2021, with year-round service. The weekender service will see flights on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Alaska will go head-to-head with United on the Denver and San Francisco routes while going untouched on the Las Vegas route. The new year-round service to Phoenix will also compete with American, Alaska's soon-to-be partner in the Oneworld airline alliance. It's unclear whether any will be flown with the Boeing 737 Max, though they're all prime candidates for the jet at over 2,000 nautical miles, with the exception of Anchorage-San Francisco at 1,754 nautical miles. For comparison, the Anchorage-Phoenix route is 66 nautical miles longer than the Los Angeles-New York route and is one of the longest in Alaska's route network. Alaska is open to tourists but has entry restrictions in place, similar to Hawaii. Non-resident arrivals need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or pay $250 to have one administered at the airport and self-isolate upon arrival, according to the state government. Travelers who have recovered from COVID-19 will need to show proof of a positive test from within 90 days, be asymptomatic on arrival, and show documentation from a medical professional or public health official confirming that isolation isn't required. https://www.yahoo.com/news/alaska-airlines-buying-another-23-225558617.html Airlines Get $15 Billion in Aid — or $500,000 for Each Rehired Worker The new Covid-19 relief package will give U.S. airlines $15 billion, with the money intended to be used to bring about 32,000 workers back onto payrolls. But the airline business is in terrible shape thanks to the virus, with traffic down by two-thirds, and the industry doesn’t see it coming back any time soon, which means many of those rehired workers could lose their jobs again, perhaps as soon as March. “That’s right: The American taxpayer is putting up almost $500,000 for each airline worker to have three months worth of employment,” says Bloomberg’s Joe Nocera in an op-ed piece Tuesday. The major players in the airline industry seem to have enough capital to weather the downturn on their own, Nocera says: “United Airlines Holdings Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc., which laid off the vast majority of those 32,000 employees, are both burning between $25 million and $30 million in cash a day — but each has more than $15 billion in liquidity.” The remarkable level of support for a relatively small group of multi-billion-dollar companies may have something to do with their political influence in Washington, Nocera says, not least their ability to hire lobbyists. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airlines-15-billion-aid-500-235358451.html Astroscale ships its space junk removal demonstration satellite for March 2021 mission Japanese startup Astroscale has shipped its ELSA-d spacecraft to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazahkstan, where it will be integrated with a Soyuz rocket for a launch scheduled for March of next year. This is a crucial mission for Astroscale, since it'll be the first in-space demonstration of the company's technology for de-orbiting space debris, a cornerstone of its proposed space sustainability service business. The ELSA-d mission by Astroscale is a small satellite mission that will demonstrate two key technologies that enable the company's vision for orbital debris removal. First will be a targeting component, demonstrating an ability to locate and dock with a piece of space debris, using positioning sensors including GPS and laser locating technologies. That will be used by a so-called "servicer" satellite to find and attach to a "target" satellite launched at the same time, which will stand in for a potential piece of debris. Astroscale intends to dock and release with the "target" using its "servicer" multiple times over the course of the mission, showing that it can identify and capture uncontrolled objects in space, and that it can maneuver them for controlled de-orbit. This will basically prove out the feasibility of the technology underlying its business model, and set it up for future commercial operations. In October, Astroscale announced that it had raised $51 million, making its total raised to date $191 million. The company also acquired the staff and IP of a company called Effective Space Solutions in June, which it will use to build out the geostationary servicing arm of its business, in addition to the LEO operations that ELSA-d will demonstrate. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/astroscale-ships-space-junk-removal-122535439.html NTSB - Position Available - Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) Specialist The NTSB hiring a Transportation Disaster Assistance (TDA) Specialist in our TDA division. TDA works closely with federal, state, local, and volunteer agencies, as well as the transportation carrier, to coordinate disaster response activities following a transportation accident. Our team focuses on meeting the needs of transportation accident victims and their families during this difficult time. TDA specialists engage directly with victims and family members to address questions and provide investigative updates during the on-scene phase, and throughout the course of an NTSB investigation. Our ideal candidate will bring working knowledge of: · family assistance response operations following transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events; · domestic and foreign air carrier emergency response and family assistance operations, to include the development of family assistance programs and the interface with alliance and code-share partners, and airports in the implementation of family assistance response plans; and · U.S. civil airport emergency response operations with a specific focus on passenger and family assistance operations. Our ideal candidate will have experience in: · project or case management of victim or family assistance in the aftermath of transportation accidents, natural disasters, criminal events, or other critical incidents or traumatic events. To learn more about this opportunity and what we’re looking for, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/586748300 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Registration Now Open ** With over 500 registrants in just 10 days - the sponsors have extended the free registration to the first 1000 registrants ** 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference 15 to 18 March 2021 1500 to 2000 GMT daily via Zoom (0700 to 1200 PST) Four online days of powerful talks given by industry and subject matter experts. Registration is open and FREE for the first 1000 registrants. https://www.aircraftcabinair.com/ Following on from the success of the 2017 and 2019 Aircraft Cabin Air Conferences, the 2021 conference will be an essential four-day free modular online event via Zoom. Providing an in-depth overview or update for all those seeking to understand the subject of contaminated air, the flight safety implications, the latest scientific and medical evidence investigating the contaminated air debate and the emerging solutions available to airlines and aircraft operators. The 2021 conference will be the biggest conference ever held on the issue. Who should participate? Airline Management - Aircraft Manufacturers - Safety equipment providers - Health & Safety Regulators - Maintenance Companies - Airline Safety Departments - Air Accident Investigators- Crew & Unions - Policy Makers- Press & Media - Aircraft Insurers - Leasing Companies - Scientists - Occupational Health Professionals - Academics & Researchers - Engineers Register Curt Lewis