Flight Safety Information - January 26, 2021 No. 019 In This Issue : Incident: American B772 at Los Angeles on Jan 24th 2021, pressurization problem : Incident: Southwest B737 at St. Louis on Jan 24th 2021, dent in horizontal stabilizer : Incident: Delta A321 at Sarasota on Jan 23rd 2021, bird strike : Incident: Delta A319 at Tampa on Jan 24th 2021, bird strike : Helicopter safety bill pushed on eve of Kobe Bryant crash anniversary : EASA To Strengthen Safety Reviews of U.S.-certified Aircraft : Bakersfield Man Indicted for Laser Strikes on Sheriff Helicopter : Travel troubles force Rolls-Royce to cut 2021 flight forecasts : ATP Flight School Forms Pilot Pathway With Frontier Airlines : Alaska Airlines receives first of many new Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft : Emerging Boeing rival COMAC vows to deliver its first C919 jet by year's end : Delta Air to bring back 400 pilots by this summer : A former TSA agent who forced a passenger to show her breasts has been convicted of false imprisonment : A land rush could threaten the space industry : Position: Assistant/Associate Professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety : Safety Degree from Florida Institute of Technology Becomes a GSP Qualified Academic Program : 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Incident: American B772 at Los Angeles on Jan 24th 2021, pressurization problem An American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N782AN performing flight AA-4 from Los Angeles,CA to New York JFK,NY (USA), was climbing out of Los Angeles' runway 25R cleared to climb to 17,000 feet when the crew requested and was cleared to stop climb at 10,000 feet to check for a minor issue. The crew subsequently advised they needed to return to Los Angeles as a precaution. The aircraft landed safely on Los Angeles' runway 25L about 30 minutes after departure. The Aviation Herald received information the aircraft returned due to a bleed air issue. The flight is now scheduled to depart Los Angeles with a delay of 17:45 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL4/history/20210125/0536Z/KLAX/KJFK http://avherald.com/h?article=4e224d9e&opt=0 Incident: Southwest B737 at St. Louis on Jan 24th 2021, dent in horizontal stabilizer A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N409WN performing flight WN-4145 from Tampa,FL to St. Louis,MO (USA), departed Tampa's runway 19R and completed the flight with a safe landing on St. Louis' runway 12L without apparent incident about 02:13 hours later. The FAA reported however that a post flight inspection discovered a dent at the left hand horizontal stabilizer. The damage is "unknown", the occurrence was rated an incident. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA4145/history/20210124/2220Z/KTPA/KSTL http://avherald.com/h?article=4e22276e&opt=0 Incident: Delta A321 at Sarasota on Jan 23rd 2021, bird strike A Delta Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N103DY performing flight DL-1497 from Atlanta,GA to Sarasota,FL (USA), was on approach to Sarasota's runway 32 when the aircraft received a bird strike. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 32. The FAA reported the aircraft received minor damage as result of the bird strike. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 5 hours, then returned to service. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1497/history/20210123/1510Z/KATL/KSRQ http://avherald.com/h?article=4e222684&opt=0 Incident: Delta A319 at Tampa on Jan 24th 2021, bird strike A Delta Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N318NB performing flight DL-2084 from Tampa,FL to Raleigh/Durham,NC (USA) with 40 passengers and 5 crew, departed Tampa's runway 01L when after becoming airborne the crew reported they hit a bird and needed to return. Tower in response cleared the flight to land on runway 01L, the crew requested emergency vehicles to attend to the aircraft. The crew reported they took the bird with the left hand engine (CFM56) resulting in "heavy vibrations", no other issues. The airport indicated they wouldn't have time to sweep the runway and offered runway 01R, the crew however decided to land on runway 01L as they were already in a left hand circuit. A quick runway inspection showed the runway was clear. The aircraft landed safely on runway 01L about 15 minutes after departure. A replacement A319-100 registration N315NB departed about 4.5 hours after N318NB landed back and reached Raleigh/Durham with a delay of 4:20 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Tampa about 19 hours after landing back. The airline reported the left engine received damage requiring another aircraft to perform the flight, passengers and crew transferred to the other aircraft. On Jan 25th 2021 the FAA reported the aircraft received multiple bird strikes. The aircraft received "unknown" damage, the occurrence was rated an incident. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2084/history/20210124/1630Z/KTPA/KRDU http://avherald.com/h?article=4e2208ca&opt=0 Helicopter safety bill pushed on eve of Kobe Bryant crash anniversary On the eve of the anniversary of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, California’s senior senator and a local congressman announced Monday they will try again to improve chopper safety through legislation. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Northridge) reintroduced the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act, a bill that would require terrain awareness and warning systems on all helicopters that carry six or more passengers. Despite a 2006 National Transportation Safety Board recommendation that such equipment be mandatory on all helicopters, the Federal Aviation Administration, which sets flight rules, only requires it on helicopter air ambulances. Despite a personal plea from Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow and Gianna’s mother, lawmakers did not pass the legislation last year. Opposition from the aviation industry, combined with a Congress overwhelmed with the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues, pushed helicopter safety to the back burner. In the wake of the Jan. 26, 2020, crash, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said that a terrain awareness system, or TAWS, would have provided more information to the pilot, Ara Zobayan, but she did not say it could have prevented the deadly crash. “Mandatory terrain awareness equipment on all helicopters has been recommended by the NTSB for 15 years, but the FAA has failed to require it on any helicopter save air ambulances,” Feinstein said. “It’s clear the simple addition of this equipment will help keep passengers safe and prevent crashes due to poor visibility. “Last January, we saw just how deadly flying in low visibility without this equipment can be when a helicopter carrying nine individuals, including basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, crashed. The accident may very well have been avoided if terrain awareness equipment were mandatory as this bill will ensure it is.” Sherman said this is not about the money that helicopter operators want to save, but lives lost unnecessarily. “Aviation firms oppose this because they say these systems aren’t cheap,” Sherman said. He added that most people who ride on helicopters assume everything to mitigate a deadly disaster has been done, when the reality is different. “With the new Congress, we’re going to take another run at this,” he said. “We still face some dark days ahead, so Congress is of course going to have to remain focused on crushing COVID and getting economic relief done. But I am fairly optimistic we will get this done in 2021.” The aviation industry has argued that the systems are not always necessary for pilots and balked at the costs of installation and repair — upward of $35,000 per helicopter, plus hours of maintenance costs and time lost with repairs and installation. But there is a growing body of evidence that TAWS has become increasingly effective and can save lives. The system in helicopters can help prevent crashes, especially when a pilot has limited visibility, by providing details of the surrounding terrain and visual and audio warnings of obstacles or mountainous topography. Bryant and his daughter, along with several of her teammates, a few parents and coaches, took off shortly after 9 a.m. on Jan. 26 from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, heading to Camarillo Airport for the second day of a weekend tournament at the Mamba Academy in nearby Thousand Oaks. Pilot Zobayan sought air traffic control guidance as a low cloud ceiling hung over the San Fernando Valley into Calabasas. Zobayan told air traffic control he was “climbing” to 4,000 feet to get above the clouds. But in reality, he was descending, having no warning of the rising terrain ahead of him. The helicopter crashed into the hillside near Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street at 9:45 a.m., killing all aboard. Sixteen years before, an almost identical Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crashed into the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, on a night trip to an oil drilling ship, killing all 10 onboard. Two years later, the NTSB found that the pilots failed to realize they were descending into the water while flying at night. The NTSB concluded that a terrain awareness warning system could have alerted the pilots to the waters below and avoided the fatal plunge. The FAA rejected the recommendation. But in 2014, they did begin to require terrain awareness systems for helicopter air ambulances. In the wake of the Bryant crash, the FAA sought to explain why it chose to extend the TAWS requirement only to helicopter air ambulances. It noted in a statement that those helicopters fly at “night and from unimproved and unfamiliar landing areas” that the agency said is far from the scenario with commercial helicopters that tend to fly “in populated areas, relying on a robust network of routes and landing facilities.” https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-25/kobe-and-gianna-bryant-helicopter-safety-bill-feinstein-sherman-again-seek-safety-rules-changes EASA To Strengthen Safety Reviews of U.S.-certified Aircraft The European Union Aviation Safety Agency intends to move away from the established practice of relying on the FAA for the certification of U.S. aircraft and products, and said it will assert a more independent role in clearing their airworthiness. The new practice emerges as a result of the “many lessons learned” from the fatal crashes of Boeing 737 Max aircraft in October 2018 and March 2019 and the model’s subsequent worldwide grounding, noted EASA executive director Patrick Ky. Speaking to the European Parliament's transport committee on Monday, Ky said a bilateral safety agreement between the EU and the U.S. in place since May 2011 resulted in progressively less involvement of EASA on FAA-approved projects. Given the tragedies and what happened, he noted, referring to the lack of oversight of the FAA in certifying the Max-8 and -9, “we have stopped this trend and we will increase our level of involvement [and] our level of independent review of U.S. projects in order to build our own safety assessments.” The change, he added, will apply to U.S. products “in particular,” but also to aerospace products developed in Canada and Brazil—two countries with whom the EU also maintains a bilateral safety agreement. Ky acknowledged that the new approach of independently assessing and analyzing safety-critical components and systems of future aircraft first certified by aviation safety regulators in the U.S., Brazil, and Canada will require more effort, but “give reassurance to European citizens that we are performing our work as safety regulator in Europe.” The committee summoned Ky following reports that EASA will likely recertify the 737 Max 8 and Max 9 Max later this week, allowing the aircraft’s return to service in the EU. Although he repeated earlier statements that he believes the aircraft is fit to fly safely, he did not provide a firm date for the ungrounding, saying only that EASA would become the next authority to follow certification by the U.S., Brazil, and Canada. The FAA, Brazil’s ANAC, Transport Canada, and EASA have done most of the technical work involving the Max’s recertification, he asserted, adding that he understands that Chinese authorities are “performing their own work.” “We have no visibility on when and how they will return the Max to service,” said Ky. EASA issued a proposed airworthiness directive for EU airlines and a safety directive for third-country operators aiming to deploy the Max into the EU on November 24 last year. A public consultation that closed on December 22 received 38 comments, most of them relating to the wording and clarity of the text, and a common response document will be published at the same time as the final AD. In parallel, EASA has been coordinating with the national aviation authorities of the EU on the work they need to perform to support the Max’s re-entry into service. That work mainly involves the oversight of the pilot training activities and of the implementation of the technical changes, as mandated by EASA, on each grounded Max. “All this is expected to take place later this week,” Ky said. Another lesson from the Max fatal accidents centers on a larger focus on human factors during the certification process. “Our human factor experts will intervene as early as possible in the design of the architecture of the aircraft in order to make sure that the operational feeling and the training requirement of pilots are properly taken into account,” according to Ky. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2021-01-25/easa-strengthen-safety-reviews-us-certified-aircraft Bakersfield Man Indicted for Laser Strikes on Sheriff Helicopter FRESNO, Calif. — Andrew Nathan Hernandez, 18, of Bakersfield, was arrested today for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, on Dec. 26, 2020, Hernandez aimed the beam of a laser pointer at the Kern County Sheriff’s helicopter Air-1. Hernandez is scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on Tuesday, Jan. 26. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Hernandez faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charge is only an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/bakersfield-man-indicted-laser-strikes-sheriff-helicopter Travel troubles force Rolls-Royce to cut 2021 flight forecasts LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Rolls-Royce lowered forecasts for how much its engines will fly this year as tighter coronavirus travel restrictions inflict fresh pain on airlines, saying this would mean a cash outflow of some 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion). Countries around the world have tightened border controls over concerns that new COVID-19 variants are more transmissible, and that vaccines may not work against one from South African. That has caused a further air traffic drop just as airlines and engine makers were hoping for a recovery, forcing Rolls to issue a trading update just six weeks after its last warning. The Rolls forecast of a cash outflow of 2 billion pounds is higher than analyst estimates which range from Morgan Stanley’s 900 million pounds to 1.55 billion pounds forecast by Jefferies. Flying hours, Rolls’ main revenue stream from airlines as they pay depending on how much they use its engines, are expected to be about 55% of 2019 levels, compared to a base forecast of 70% it gave in October. “Enhanced restrictions are delaying the recovery of long-haul travel over the coming months compared to our prior expectations,” Rolls, whose engines power aircraft like Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s, said in a statement on Tuesday. The downgrade came after Rolls said in December that 2020’s cash outflow would be worse than expected at 4.2 billion pounds and its shares fell 5% to 93 pence at 1125 GMT. Negative travel news has erased some of the gains made since November when a vaccine was discovered, with Rolls down 18% in the last month. “Challenging conditions in the broader industry mean there may be incremental disappointments in a number of other areas,” Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note. Rolls said that liquidity of 9 billion pounds gave it confidence it was well-positioned for the future. Last year, it raised 5 billion pounds from shareholders and in loans to buffer against the uncertain pace of recovery, after some analysts speculated it could be nationalised. It also plans to sell assets worth 2 billion pounds and is cutting more than 1 billion pounds in costs by axing 9,000 jobs and closing factories. Rolls stuck to its forecast to turn cash flow positive at some point during the second half of 2021, saying it expected the cash outflow mainly in the first half, and said it remained on track to meet its 2022 cash flow guidance contingent on the expected recovery in flying hours. ($1 = 0.7344 pounds) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rolls-royce-hldg-outlook/travel-troubles-force-rolls-royce-to-cut-2021-flight-forecasts-idUSKBN29V0O9 ATP Flight School Forms Pilot Pathway With Frontier Airlines DENVER, Jan. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Frontier Airlines and ATP Flight School have formed a "Frontier Direct Program" targeting ATP graduates and CFIs for employment as Frontier Airlines First Officers. In the Frontier Direct Program, ATP graduates and instructors progress from ATP straight to the flight deck at Frontier after enhanced ATP CTP training that includes additional Airbus A320 full-motion flight simulator experience. The new partnership offers pilots an accelerated path to a rewarding career with Frontier while providing Frontier access to a high-quality pool of qualified pilot applicants, dedicated future employees, and advocates of the Frontier brand. After completing flight training in ATP's Airline Career Pilot Program, graduates gain flight experience with ATP as paid flight instructors. Between 1,250-1,500 hours total flight time, recommended instructors interview with Frontier Airlines. After the candidate selection and interview process with Frontier, applicants receive a Conditional Offer of Employment and continue working towards 1,500 hours of flight experience with ATP. Once ready to transition to Frontier, pilots attend the enhanced ATP CTP course. This tailored course with ATP utilizes full-motion Airbus A320 simulator training to prepare pilots for success at Frontier. "We appreciate Frontier Airlines collaborating with ATP," said Justin Dennis, President of ATP. "This program is a tremendous career opportunity for ATP graduates, while helping Frontier access a pool of highly qualified, professional pilots who appreciate the opportunity to fly for Frontier." Added Brad Lambert, Vice President of Flight Operations for Frontier Airlines, "Frontier is proud to partner with premier flight schools such as ATP to ensure the quality of our future pilot supply. We have been impressed with the caliber of candidates we have seen. Coordinating with ATP to enhance their jet transition program helps to evaluate and improve on the skill set required to be a safe and successful airline pilot." Four ATP graduates have already completed the program in a proof of concept started in 2020. All four pilots have been flying the line with Frontier after successfully completing new-hire training and IOE. About Frontier Airlines Frontier Airlines is committed to "Low Fares Done Right." Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the company operates more than 100 A320 family aircraft and has the largest A320neo fleet in the U.S., delivering the highest level of noise reduction and fuel-efficiency, compared to previous models. The use of these aircraft, Frontier's seating configuration, weight-saving tactics and baggage process have all contributed to the airline's average of 43 percent fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines (fuel savings is based on Frontier Airlines' 2019 fuel consumption per seat-mile compared to the weighted average of major U.S. airlines), which makes Frontier the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline. More information about Frontier's green commitments are available at FlyFrontier.com/Green. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atp-flight-school-forms-pilot-pathway-with-frontier-airlines-301213813.html Alaska Airlines receives first of many new Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft Alaska Airlines made an agreement with the Boeing Company to receive a total of 68 of the new 737-9 MAX aircraft in the next four years. SEATAC, Wash. — Seattle-based Alaska Airlines received its first Boeing 737-9 MAX airplane Sunday as part of a new phase of modernizing the airline's fleet in the coming years. The new aircraft is expected to start passenger service on March 1 with daily roundtrip flights between Seattle and San Diego, and Seattle and Los Angeles, according to a statement from Alaska Airlines on Monday. The airline's second 737-9 MAX is expected to start service later in March. Alaska pilots flew the aircraft on a short flight Sunday from the Boeing Delivery Center at Boeing Field in Seattle to the airline's hangar at Sea-Tac International Airport. "We've eagerly waited for this day. It was a proud moment to board our newest 737 aircraft and fly it home," said Alaska Airlines President Ben Minicucci in a statement. "This plane is a significant part of our future. We believe in it, we believe in Boeing and we believe in our employees who will spend the next five weeks in training to ensure we're ready to safely fly our guests." The five weeks of training has multiple steps, including maintenance technicians becoming acquainted with the new aircraft and receiving at least 40 hours of "differences training," which distinguishes the variations between the new MAX and the airline's existing 737 NG fleet, according to the statement from Alaska. Pilots will also put the 737-9 MAX through rigorous test flights, including flying it more than 50 flight hours and roughly 19,000 miles around the country. Pilots will also receive eight hours of MAX- specific, computer-based training prior to flying the aircraft over the course of two days, the statement said. These new aircraft will also be flown with sustainable aviation fuel to help Alaska Airlines reduce CO2 emissions. Alaska Airlines made an agreement with Boeing in December 2020 to receive a total of 68 737-9 MAX aircraft in the next four years. The airline is set to get 13 planes this year; 30 in 2022; 13 in 2023; and 12 in 2024, according to the statement from Alaska. Boeing's 737 MAX airplanes were grounded in March 2019 following the crashes of a Lion Air flight near Jakarta on Oct. 29, 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines flight on March 10, 2019, killing a total of 346 people. Investigators determined the cause of the crashes was a faulty computer system that pushed the plane's nose downward in flight and couldn't be overridden by pilots. The 737 MAX returned to the skies in the United States last month, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved changes that Boeing made to the automated flight control system. The 737 MAX aircraft is expected to be approved to resume flights in Europe this week, following nearly two years of reviews. https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/aerospace/boeing/alaska-airlines-first-flight-boeing-737-9-max-aircraft-seattle/281-db009fb0-8f4e-46cd-bba6-6e5ab9766819 Emerging Boeing rival COMAC vows to deliver its first C919 jet by year's end Chinese jet maker Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) has vowed to deliver its first completed C919 single-aisle jet to an airline customer by Dec. 31. The vow by COMAC was reported at the end of a recent story by Global Times, the Chinese government's English-language edition of the People's Daily. "The C919 aircraft is scheduled for delivery to the first client at the end of 2021," said Yang Zhigang, who was described as the general engineer of COMAC. The airline customer that would get the first jet was not identified, but the delivery, if completed, could mark the start of a new chapter in a global aerospace competition currently dominated by Boeing and European rival Airbus. The state-owned newspaper said China's "domestically developed" C919 aircraft is undergoing frequent flight testing in different areas of China. On Jan. 16, a C919 completed its first low-temperature, 23-day flight test in Hulunbuir, located in northern China's Inner Mongolia region. The state manufacturer has built a fleet of six test jets, but testing has been slow and the program is years behind schedule. COMAC, backed with the money and emotional support of Chinese President Xi Jinping, has even already opened what it calls its "customer service training base," for which it held a big opening ceremony on Dec. 29. COMAC officials frequently promise aggressive timelines and often miss them. Their jet is now just starting the official aviation safety certification process in China, so it's unclear how it will meet its self-imposed deadline. However, the aircraft maker surprised many by flying one of its jets at a Chinese air show before Christmas. Analysts don't believe the C919 is an immediate threat to Boeing's leading market technology, but the Chinese government's decision to force its own domestic airlines to buy COMAC jets might hurt the Chicago-based jet maker and Airbus in the world's largest airplane market by reducing sales there. That has already started to happen with regional jets. COMAC made 20 of its ARJ21 regional jets in 2020, and intends to increase the rate to 21 in 2021, the Global Times reported, poaching potential sales from Brazilian jet maker Embraer, French jet maker ATR and Mitsubishi's now-suspended SpaceJet regional program. Further complicating matters, COMAC and Boeing are partners in a 737 Max finishing center in Zhousan, China, at which seats will be installed and planes will be painted. The 737 Max remains grounded for safety reasons in China after two crashes killed 346 people. Japan's Nikkei reported Monday that China's three major state-owned airlines "put off" delivery of over 100 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus last year, but kept every single order from COMAC in a show of support for the domestic manufacturer during the coronavirus pandemic. The big three Chinese carriers — China Southern, China Eastern and Air China — deferred a total of 58 planes from Boeing and 53 from Airbus in 2020, Nikkei Asia said, citing its own research. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/01/25/boeing-comac-c919-first-delivery-promise-2021.html Delta Air to bring back 400 pilots by this summer (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines plans to bring back 400 full-time pilots by this summer, according to a company memo on Monday seen by Reuters. Having avoided furloughs last year, the company said it was restoring the pilots to full-flying status due to the federal payroll support program and available training capacity starting in March and April. "We're cautiously optimistic that demand will increase as vaccinations roll out across the world, and we look forward to restoring all affected pilots back to full flying status as the recovery continues," said John Laughter, senior vice president of flight operations. However, he reiterated that Delta expects its average cash burn in the first quarter to be between $10 million and $15 million per day, with customer demand likely to be similar to the depressed levels seen in the fourth quarter. "We are encouraged that Delta has begun recalling pilots that the pandemic has sidelined," a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association, a union that represents Delta pilots, said in a statement. Delta declined to comment or provide a forecast for future schedules or capacity. https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-air-bring-back-400-164655422.html A former TSA agent who forced a passenger to show her breasts has been convicted of false imprisonment An ex-TSA agent was convicted of charges that he forced a woman to expose her breasts to him at LAX. Johnathon Lomeli told the woman traveling in June 2019 he had to look in her bra and down her pants. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and was barred from serving as a security officer in the future. A former Transportation Security Administration agent who convinced a female traveler to show him her breasts at the Los Angeles International Airport has been convicted of false imprisonment, the California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced. In June 2019, Johnathon Lomeli was arrested and accused of carrying out the scheme outside the primary security screening area at LAX, according to a statement from the office. "We all have the right to be treated with dignity and respect in all places. And no one is entitled to use a position of power to violate those rights," Becerra said in a written statement. "Why can't some men absorb that simple truth? This is 2021, not 1921. Today, Johnathon Lomeli learned this the hard way." Lomeli told the woman he had to look inside her bra to make sure she wasn't hiding anything, and to pull her waist band away from her body so he could check inside her pants as well, NBC News reported. Lomeli told the woman he could conduct the screening in a private room, but when they got on an elevator together he told her he could perform the check there, according to the station. He ordered her to lift her top and then looked down her pants. NBC reported Lomeli then told the woman she was free to go and that she had "nice breasts." He has been sentenced to 60 days in county jail and 52 classes to address sexual compulsion. He will also complete two years of felony probation, according to the AG's office. Lomeli can also never serve as a security officer again. https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-tsa-agent-forced-passenger-174347605.html A land rush could threaten the space industry Space is the new Wild West. Nations and space companies are racing to come to a consensus on what they can own, mine and take possession of in outer space before competitors stake ground first. Why it matters: Private companies are building their businesses on sending spacecraft to the Moon, asteroids and other objects in the coming years to eventually extract resources that will be used or sold. While companies are still years away from being able to effectively mine the Moon for resources, lack of clear regulation creates uncertainty for them — and threatens projections that the space industry will become a trillion dollar industry by 2040. What's happening: In an economics report released just before the Biden administration took office, the Trump administration warned that working out space property rights will be key to the space industry's growth. "Although applications like space mining and space solar power satellites might be decades away from being profitable enterprises, it is worth laying the foundation for the emergence of future space industries now," the report reads. The big picture: Right now, the United Nations' Outer Space Treaty effectively governs property rights in space, but it's very much open to interpretation, particularly when it comes to space companies, experts say. Countries and companies cannot own land on cosmic bodies, but countries have been allowed to effectively own what they can extract in space — like dirt from the Moon. The big question now is centered around what companies might be able to own and sell eventually — like water they extract from the Moon or heavy metals from asteroids — without owning property. "If you have two competing companies or two competing governments looking to use the same resource deposits on the Moon, for example, who has first claim? Who has access? Who has the right to use that space, and over what period of time?" Ian Christensen, of the Secure World Foundation, told me. The intrigue: Today, many in the space industry are advocating for a framework governing property rights that isn't based on a "first come, first served" mentality. Instead of seeing space as a place that should be exploited for gains by one nation, many are starting to think the focus should be on preservation and fairness among many. "We can find ways to both develop and use resources, and do so in a responsible way," Jessy Kate Schingler of the Open Lunar Foundation told me. NASA is working to sign a variety of nations onto its Artemis Accords, in part, as a way to standardize how many nations are looking at resource extraction and development in space. While NASA wants to help create a sustainable environment for private development of space, the most important thing for the space agency today is to focus on a robust framework for using resources extracted in space — called ISRU, or in-situ resource utilization — and scientific sampling, according to NASA's Mike Gold. "We don't want policy to fall behind our substantive activities, and that's why it's important that we focus on ensuring that there is as much global understanding and common ground, relative to ISRU and scientific sampling," Gold told me. NASA has plans to buy cached Moon dirt from four private companies that are expected to launch to the lunar surface in the coming years. Yes, but: Aside from the U.S., China is arguably the nation closest to managing to extract resources from cosmic bodies, and Beijing hasn't yet signed on to the Artemis Accords. NASA is unable to enter into bilateral agreements with China without congressional approval, so getting on the same page will likely be difficult to manage for both nations. What's next: The space industry is now looking to the Biden administration to see what comes next for space property rights. Some predict the new administration will slow down efforts to get people back to the Moon by 2024, opting for a later date instead. That could lead to companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX, which are already working on building spacecraft to land humans on the Moon, jumping ahead — and potentially driving the direction of new rules. "So, having a regulatory or policy framework that responds to that is going to be even more important," Schingler said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/land-rush-could-threaten-space-101517927.html Position: Assistant/Associate Professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety The Applied Aviation Sciences Department of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, FL invites applications for Assistant/Associate Professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety (AOS) to begin August 2021. This is a nine-month position. Teaching assignments may include, but not be limited to, graduate and undergraduate courses in occupational safety and/or aviation safety/accident investigation, and related areas. These position will also include advising students as they explore different options with internships, research, coursework, and career trajectories. The Applied Aviation Sciences Department offers four bachelor's degree programs, each unique: Spaceflight Operations, Air Traffic Management, Aerospace and Occupational Safety, and Meteorology. Each program is very different from the others, however, all are good choices for students who want challenging and rewarding careers. Aerospace and Occupational Safety gives students opportunities to gain the knowledge and the expertise needed to address safety concerns in aviation, aerospace operations, as well as most businesses and industries across the globe. Graduates of the AOS program have gone on to fill key safety management roles in both the public and private sectors. Qualifications Master’s Degree required, PhD Preferred. The preferred candidate will have a Doctorate degree in Safety, Health, Environmental, Public Health, or closely related field. ABDs with a clear plan for completion are encouraged to apply. Prior aviation and/or aerospace workplace, including risk management experience is a plus. Demonstrated or potential excellence in teaching, research, service, and mentoring undergraduate students is expected. The position will begin in August 2021. Applications will be reviewed immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Interested individuals should submit a letter of application clearly showing that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications, a current resume or curriculum vitae, and a statement of teaching and research interests. Please include three professional references with contact information and unofficial transcripts from accredited institutions. Official transcripts will be required at a later date should the applicant be selected. Applications must be submitted online at https://embryriddle.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Daytona-Beach-FL/Assistant-Associate-Professor-of-Aerospace-and-Occupational-Safety--Daytona-Beach-Campus-_R-00104 . Safety Degree from Florida Institute of Technology Becomes a GSP Qualified Academic Program Melbourne, Florida (January 1, 2021) – Florida Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in Aviation, Aviation Safety has been reviewed by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) and approved as a Graduate Safety Practitioner® (GSP®) Qualified Academic Program (QAP), providing the program’s graduates the opportunity to apply with BCSP for the GSP designation after graduation. The GSP meets the credential requirement for the Certified Safety Professional® (CSP®), the “gold standard” in safety certification, allowing those who hold the designation to waive the Associate Safety Professional® (ASP®) certification examination. It demonstrates accomplishment and commitment to professional development. “We welcome Florida Institute of Technology’s exceptional safety program and those who graduate from it,” says the Interim CEO of BCSP, Christy Uden, CAE, IOM. “Those who graduate from GSP Qualified Academic Programs have a strong foundation of knowledge that deserves recognition and BCSP looks forward to supporting them in the development of their careers.” A GSP QAP is a degree program in safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) practice that has been reviewed by BCSP and demonstrates a substantial match to the ASP exam blueprint. Any person having graduated from Florida Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Aviation, Aviation Safety may apply for the GSP designation within their program’s applicable dates as it appears on the QAP list. More information on the Florida Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in Aviation, Aviation Safety can be found at www.fit.edu, and details on the GSP are available at bcsp.org/gsp. ##### The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a not-for-profit corporation recognized as a leader in high-quality, accredited credentialing for safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) practitioners. BCSP establishes standards and certifies competency criteria in professional safety practice. Since 1969, over 100,000 of BCSP’s CSP, SMS, ASP, OHST, CHST, STS, STSC, or CIT certifications have been achieved. 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Registration Now Open ** Thanks to our generous sponsors, registration is currently free, so book today! ** 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 currently FREE, so book today! 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