Flight Safety Information - January 28, 2021 No. 021 In This Issue : Incident: Rusline CRJ2 at Naryan-Mar on Jan 25th 2021, bleed air problem : Bell 212 - Accident (Chile) : Report: 'High-risk piloting' caused fatal JU-52 accident, Switzerland : Pilots' risky flying blamed in Swiss vintage plane crash : UK CAA clears Boeing 737 MAX for return to service : FedEx to relocate Hong Kong-based pilots to San Francisco to avoid quarantine: memo : Air France and Airbus face Paris trial call over deadly crash: source : Oakland International is first airport in U.S. to sell COVID testing kits via vending machines : SCHIFF NAMED CHAIRMAN OF AOPA FOUNDATION LEGACY SOCIETY : Pakistan aviation regulator to outsource licensing exams : 20 Members of One Family Kicked Off Flight Over Face Masks : Odyssey Airlines – The London City Transatlantic A220 Start Up : Boeing gets U.S. approval to offer F-15EX to India : Southwest Airlines posts first annual loss since 1972 on virus woes : 1st private space crew paying $55M each to fly to station : Position: Assistant/Associate Professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety : 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Incident: Rusline CRJ2 at Naryan-Mar on Jan 25th 2021, bleed air problem A Rusline Canadair CRJ-200, registration VP-BMN performing flight 7R-259 from Naryan-Mar to Syktyvkar (Russia), was climbing out of Naryan-Mar when the crew received indication of a bleed air issue on the left hand engine (CF34). The crew stopped the climb and returned to Naryan-Mar for a safe landing. A replacement CRJ-100 registration VQ-BND positioned to Naryan-Mar and completed the flight with a delay of 18.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Naryan-Mar for about 36 hours, then positioned to Moscow Vnukovo (Russia), remained on the ground for another about 9 hours and resumed service. Rosaviatsia reported the left hand engine's bleed air valve on the 14th stage supplying the wing anti-ice systems, engine cowl and thrust reversers had failed. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e23a465&opt=0 Bell 212 - Accident (Chile) Date: 27-JAN-2021 Time: c. 11:00 LT Type: Bell 212 Owner/operator: Calquín Helicopters Ltd. Registration: CC-ATY C/n / msn: 30615 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Lo Conti - Chile Phase: En route Nature: Fire fighting Departure airport: - Destination airport: - Narrative: The Bell 212 helicopter was en route for firefighting duties, crash landing near Lo Conti. Pilot was rescued by a Chilean Army helicopter, taken to a Rancagua hospital. The tail boom was severed and skids collapsed. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=247149 Report: 'High-risk piloting' caused fatal JU-52 accident, Switzerland Status: Final Date: Saturday 4 August 2018 Time: 16:56 Type: Junkers Ju-52/3mg4e Operator: Ju-Air Registration: HB-HOT C/n / msn: 6595 First flight: 1939 Total airframe hrs: 10189 Cycles: 8783 Engines: 3 BMW 132A3 Crew: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Passengers: Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 17 Total: Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 20 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 1,2 km (0.8 mls) SW of Piz Segnas ( Switzerland) Crash site elevation: 2540 m (8333 feet) amsl Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Locarno Air Base (LSMO), Switzerland Destination airport: Dübendorf Air Base (LSMD), Switzerland Narrative: A Junkers Ju-52/3m aircraft, operated by Ju-Air, was destroyed in an accident in a mountainous area in Switzerland. The aircraft crashed into the western slope of Piz Segnas at an elevation of 2540 m. All 17 passengers and three crew members were killed. The aircraft had departed Locarno, Switzerland, at 16:10 on a flight to it's home base at Dübendorf. The aircraft flew on a northeasterly course into the basin southwest of Piz Segnas. Towards the north end of the basin, it began a left turn, which developed into a descending spiral trajectory. A short time later, the aircraft collided with the ground almost vertically and at high speed. Following the crash, all Swiss Junkers Ju-52 aircraft were grounded. Ju-Air was allowed to restart operations on August 17 with the two remaining aircraft of the same type. Since there were no indications of general technical defects at this time, the FOCA had approved the resumption of flight operations in compliance with precautionary measures. On November 20, the Swiss TSB published an interim report. There was still no evidence that a serious technical problem led to the accident. The investigation of the wreck, however, revealed severe structural damage in the form of cracks and corrosion on the main spar, the supporting element of the aircraft wing, and other parts of the aircraft. This damage was hidden during normal inspections and maintenance and could only be determined from the debris. Since the two Ju-52 HB-HOP and HB-HOS stationed in Dübendorf correspond in age as well as in hours of operation to the crashed aircraft, the Swiss authorities temporarily grounded both aircraft for inspections. Probable Cause: Direct cause: The accident is attributable to the fact that after losing control of the aircraft there was insufficient space to regain control, thus the aircraft collided with the terrain. The investigation identified the following direct causal factors of the accident: - The flight crew piloted the aircraft in a very high-risk manner by navigating it into a narrow valley at low altitude and with no possibility of an alternative flight path. - The flight crew chose a dangerously low airspeed as regard to the flight path. Both factors meant that the turbulence which was to be expected in such circumstances was able to lead not only to a short-term stall with loss of control but also to an unrectifiable situation. Directly contributory factors The investigation identified the following factors as directly contributing to the accident: - The flight crew was accustomed to not complying with recognised rules for safe flight operations and taking high risks. - The aircraft involved in the accident was operated with a centre of gravity position that was beyond the rear limit. This situation facilitated the loss of control. Systemic cause The investigation identified the following systemic cause of the accident: - The requirements for operating the aircraft in commercial air transport operations with regard to the legal basis applicable at the time of the accident were not met. Systemically contributory factors The investigation identified the following factors as systemically contributing to the accident: - Due to the air operator’s inadequate working equipment, it was not possible to calculate the accurate mass and centre of gravity of its Ju 52 aircraft. - In particular, the air operator’s flight crews who were trained as Air Force pilots seemed to be accustomed to systematically failing to comply with generally recognised aviation rules and to taking high risks when flying Ju 52 aircraft. - The air operator failed to identify or prevent both the deficits and risks which occurred during operations and the frequent violation of rules by its flight crews. - Numerous incidents, including several serious incidents, were not reported to the competent bodies and authorities. This meant that they were unable to take measures to improve safety - The supervisory authority failed to some extent to identify the numerous operational shortcomings and risks or to take effective, corrective action. Accident investigation: cover Investigating agency: STSB Switzerland Status: Investigation completed Duration: 2 years and 6 months Accident number: Np. 2370 Download report: Final report https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180804-0 Pilots' risky flying blamed in Swiss vintage plane crash BERLIN (AP) — Swiss investigators said Thursday that “high-risk flying” by the pilots of a vintage propeller plane led to a 2018 crash in the Alps that killed all 20 people on board. The 79-year-old Junkers Ju-52 operated by local airline Ju-Air crashed in southeastern Switzerland on Aug. 4, 2018. The airplane, which was carrying 17 passengers and three crew members, slammed near-vertically into a mountain. It was flying back from Locarno in southern Switzerland to its base near Zurich. The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board said in its final report that “the pilots’ high-risk flying was a direct cause of the accident.” As they entered a narrow mountain valley, “the flight crew piloted the aircraft at low altitude, with no possibility of an alternative flight path and at an airspeed that was dangerously low for the circumstances,” investigators said. As the plane hit turbulence in the valley, “the high-risk manner of flying through these not unusual turbulences caused the pilots to lose control of the aircraft,” they added. The plane was flying too low to have enough space to recover. The report also found that the aircraft's center of gravity was too far to the rear during the doomed flight, a “dangerous situation (that) was caused by inadequate flight preparation and errors in the Ju-Air software.” It said that the pilots “had become accustomed ... to not complying with rules for safe flight operations and taking high risks even with passengers on board,” and that Ju-Air failed to recognize the risks or to prevent them from violating the rules. The report also faulted Switzerland's Federal Office of Civil Aviation for failing to identify “numerous safety problems” at Ju-Air or being ineffective in dealing with them. That office in March 2019 revoked Ju-Air's commercial flight license after reviewing the risks of passenger flights with vintage planes, but said it could, if it fulfilled various conditions, continue private flights for registered members. Ju-Air said in a statement Thursday that it “will do everything to learn from the crash.” It said it is “glad that the direct causes of the accident could be shown clearly” and is analyzing the issue of a problem with the center of gravity. Evaluations suggest that issue first arose 35 years before the crash, but had caused no problems in the intervening time and hadn't been noticed by Ju-Air or regulators, the company said. It added that issues that led to pilots' risky behavior going undiscovered will be addressed in the future selection, training and oversight of pilots. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/pilots-risky-flying-blamed-swiss-112220038.html UK CAA clears Boeing 737 MAX for return to service The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced on January 27 and with immediate effect that it will allow UK airlines to operate passenger flights with the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, subject to close oversight. The ban on the aircraft operating in UK airspace will also be removed. The decision follows the approval of design modifications to the aircraft itself, how it is flown, and to pilot training. This has included modification to the aircraft’s Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) and other key safety changes aimed at preventing further accidents. The CAA is in close contact with TUI, currently the only UK operator of the aircraft, as it returns its aircraft to service. The removal of the airspace ban will allow foreign operators to fly the Boeing 737 MAX in UK airspace. All airlines, however, will need to go through the necessary steps to return the aircraft to service, including pilot training, so this may result in flights of the type into the UK not being seen immediately. The main modifications to the aircraft that allow a safe return to service are: Flight Control Computer (FCC) software changes, so that both of the aircraft’s Angle of Attack (AoA) sensor inputs are used by the aircraft systems (rather than previously one) safeguards against MCAS activating unnecessarily, due to a failed or erroneous AoA sensor removal of the MCAS repeat command revised limits on the MCAS command authority revisions to flight crew procedures and training requirements implementation of an AoA ‘disagree’ alert indication that would appear on the pilots’ primary flight displays cross FCC trim monitoring, to detect and shutdown erroneous pitch trim commands https://news.aviation-safety.net/2021/01/28/uk-caa-clears-boeing-737-max-for-return-to-service/ FedEx to relocate Hong Kong-based pilots to San Francisco to avoid quarantine: memo (Reuters) - Freight carrier FedEx Corp will temporarily relocate its Hong Kong-based pilots to San Francisco because it expects the Asian financial capital to establish strict 14-day hotel quarantine requirements for crew, it said in a memo to pilots. The company said it did not think it was appropriate to subject Hong Kong-based crew members to extended periods of isolation, preventing them from seeing their families after finishing a trip. "While we don't know what the rule will state, when it will precisely take effect, or how long it will last, we do not want unknowns to prevent us from taking action on what we understand may likely occur," FedEx System Chief Pilot Robin Sebasco said in the memo seen by Reuters, which was first reported by the South China Morning Post on Thursday. A FedEx spokeswoman said it was developing steps to comply with potential quarantine measures in a way that prioritised the safety and well-being of staff while allowing it to continue to operate to Hong Kong. The memo said the company would cover hotel costs and out-of-pocket expenses for pilots and their families in San Francisco, while continuing to pay their housing allowances in Hong Kong. However, a Hong Kong-based FedEx pilot said on condition of anonymity that there were flaws in the plan. Many pilots have children in school in Hong Kong, he said, and regardless, it will be difficult for families to live in hotel rooms for weeks or months at a time. Hong Kong's biggest airline, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, on Monday warned passenger capacity could fall by 60%, cargo capacity by 25% and cash burn would rise if the new quarantine arrangements were put in place. Cathay, in an internal memo seen by Reuters, requested volunteers among its crew who could fly for three weeks, followed by 14 days of quarantine and 14 days free of duty, adding that it would be a temporary measure and not required for all flights. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/fedex-relocate-hong-kong-based-035837651.html Air France and Airbus face Paris trial call over deadly crash: source PARIS (Reuters) - The Paris public prosecutor has requested that Air France and Airbus stand trial on charges of manslaughter over the 2009 crash of flight AF447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, which killed all 228 people on board, a judicial source told Reuters. An appeals court hearing to rule on the prosecutor's request has been set for March 4 at 1200 GMT, the source added on Wednesday, confirming an earlier report by Le Parisien newspaper which was published on its website. The Paris public prosecutor's office and Airbus could not immediately be reached. Air France declined to comment. French judges in 2019 dropped charges against Air France and European plane manufacturer Airbus over the crash, saying the pilots had lost control of the plane. French investigators found the crew of AF447 mishandled loss of speed readings from sensors blocked with ice from a storm, and caused the aircraft to stall by holding its nose too high. Le Parisien reported that the Paris prosecutor now says there were "blameworthy infringements" on the part of Air France, notably in crew training, and says Airbus under-estimated the risks posed by ice on the sensors. https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-france-airbus-face-paris-154554095.html Oakland International is first airport in U.S. to sell COVID testing kits via vending machines Oakland International this week became the first airport in the U.S. to sell COVID-19 test kits in vending machines, according to airport officials. The COVID-19 test kits are located at both airport terminals in contactless kioks. The at-home kits require individuals to submit a saliva sample via FedEx. Individuals will receive results on a mobile phone app, airport officials said. “As one of the first airports to offer on-site rapid COVID testing, we are now providing even more testing options for travelers,” Bryant L. Francis, Port of Oakland aviation director, said in a statement. Francis added, “We still urge travelers to make sure they are current on any quarantines and regulations at their destinations.” The kits range from $130 to $150. The digital health company Wellness 4 Humanity designed the kits, and Swyft produced the kits. For individuals traveling to Hawaii, airport officials say this testing option is separate and not part of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program, which requires travelers entering the state to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-International-is-first-airport-in-U-S-to-15903071.php SCHIFF NAMED CHAIRMAN OF AOPA FOUNDATION LEGACY SOCIETY Esteemed aviation authority, author, and pilot Barry Schiff has been appointed the new chairman of the AOPA Foundation’s Legacy Society. The AOPA Foundation Legacy Society recognizes those who have included a gift to the AOPA Foundation in their estate plans. The gifts help ensure a solid future for general aviation by supporting AOPA’s important You Can Fly program and the Air Safety Institute. These efforts are committed to growing the pilot population and keeping aviators safe in the skies. “Like many other pilots, my entire life experience has benefited from my connection to aviation,” Schiff said. “While I’ve also managed to make a career in aviation, anyone who experiences general aviation knows that the discipline and perspective you have as a pilot enriches all areas of your life. And for that I am grateful and want to make sure that others have the same opportunities that I had. My legacy gift to the AOPA Foundation will help assure that happens.” A longtime AOPA member, columnist, and contributor to AOPA Pilot magazine, and a retired airline captain with more than 28,000 hours logged in more than 360 types of aircraft, Schiff has flown everything from the Lockheed Constellation to the Boeing 747 during his storied career. He has received numerous honors for his many contributions to aviation safety. “Barry has a unique understanding of the Legacy Society’s benefits and needs, and what we need to do to ensure a robust general aviation community for future generations,” said AOPA Foundation Executive Director Melissa Rudinger. “I look forward to working with Barry to create strategies to build recognition and participation in the Legacy Society.” Members of the Legacy Society have made a commitment to future giving in a number of ways: through a specific dollar amount or an asset, such as an aircraft, in their will or trust; by giving a percentage amount from their estate; or by naming the AOPA Foundation as a beneficiary of their life insurance, IRA, 401(k), or other account. “It’s vital that general aviation grow and prosper, and including a legacy gift to the AOPA Foundation gives AOPA members a vehicle to make a personal contribution to that cause,” said Schiff. “There is no other organization that works as hard for general aviation the way AOPA does, and no opportunity like joining the Legacy Society for you to be a part of it.” Rudinger explained that making a legacy gift can be an appropriate giving strategy for individuals in multiple stages of life. “While many may think of an estate plan later in life, considering legacy giving now allows people to implement a smart financial strategy while ensuring that general aviation is an important recipient,” Rudinger said. Legacy Society members have the opportunity to have their names engraved on the Legacy Society recognition wall at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, joining hundreds who have already named the AOPA Foundation in their estate plans. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2021/january/27/schiff-named-chairman-of-aopa-foundation-legacy-society Pakistan aviation regulator to outsource licensing exams After months of suspension due to widescale fraud, exams will resume through the CAAP’s counterpart in the UK. • Last year 262 pilots, or almost a third of all licensed Pakistani pilots, had obtained their credentials fraudulently Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s civil aviation regulator will outsource license examinations to the United Kingdom in response to allegations of widescale fraud in the licensing process, the regulator’s head says. Speaking at a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, Civil Aviation Authority Pakistan (CAAP) Director-General Khaqan Murtaza said the authority would henceforth be conducting all examinations through its counterpart in the United Kingdom. “We are outsourcing our licensing [process] and this is now being finalised with the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority,” said Murtaza. He said he expected examinations, suspended for months, to resume within two months through the new arrangement. The move comes after remarks from the country’s aviation minister last year that 262 pilots, or almost one-third of all licensed Pakistani pilots, had obtained their credentials fraudulently. A subsequent investigation by the aviation ministry found dozens of cases of wrongdoing in the licensing process, and 50 licenses had been cancelled and 32 licences temporarily suspended for lesser offences, Murtaza said on Wednesday. The claims by the aviation minister in June 2020 rocked the country’s commercial aviation sector, causing widespread pilot suspensions both in Pakistan and abroad until credentials could be verified, and prompting the United States to revoke authorisation for Pakistan’s national carrier to fly there over the issue. The EU’s air safety agency also suspended authorisation for Pakistani airlines to use EU airspace over these and other safety concerns, partly for the lack of adherence to safety management system protocols. An Al Jazeera investigation found the existence of a widely known “pay to pass” system in place at the Civil Aviation Authority, where pilots could pay officials to pass their examinations without ever having sat for them. The investigation also found the prevalence of widespread safety issues in Pakistan’s commercial aviation sector, with pilots said to routinely ignore safety protocols and airlines to ignore safety management system guidelines. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/28/pakistan-aviation-regulator-to-outsource-licensing-exams 20 Members of One Family Kicked Off Flight Over Face Masks Ten adults and 10 children on an American Airlines flight from Salt Lake City to Dallas were asked to deplane after they were reportedly non-compliant with the airline’s mask requirement. According to a report in the New York Post, the group en route to Dallas was boarding the plane and heading to their seats in the back when a mask slipped below one passenger’s nose and another passenger complained. Family member Scott Wilson, told KSL-TV in Salt Lake City that it was only for a second and the problem was corrected. However, a gate agent asked the entire group to depart the aircraft. “I didn’t really see who it was but somebody said, ‘Hey, you know, keep your mask up,’” Wilson told the station. “I dropped everything and moved it up, picked up my stuff and made our way to the back of the plane.” “He said, ‘Well, they want you to leave the plane,’” Wilson told the television station. “I said, ‘What, they want us to get off the plane? Can we talk? Can we have a conversation?’ Nobody has even really talked to us.” Wilson noted that several other passengers thought the family was being treated unfairly and that the person who reported their transgression was also harassing other passengers. “There was actually a couple of families around us that stood up and was like, ‘This is wrong, that guy is being a jerk.’ He was yelling at other people as they came on, too, and he was already mad at these guys. They didn’t do anything,” said Wilson. American Airlines, for its part, stuck by its mask mandate. In a statement to KSL, the airline said the family members “were reported to be noncompliant with our mandatory face-covering policy, which requires face coverings be worn properly over the nose and mouth. Per procedure, the customers involved were asked to exit the aircraft before departure and the flight departed for DFW shortly after. “American, like other U.S. airlines, began requiring customers to wear a face-covering while onboard aircraft beginning May 11. We have since strengthened our policy to require face coverings be worn at airports and onboard, and announced in June that we may deny future travel for customers who refuse to wear a face-covering for the duration of this requirement.” The family was rebooked on other flights on American, United and Delta and made it to Hawaii, their final destination, that same day. Airlines have banned over 2,500 passengers for refusing to comply and wear a face mask. https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/20-members-of-one-family-kicked-off-flight-over-face-masks.html Odyssey Airlines – The London City Transatlantic A220 Start Up The launch of Odyssey Airlines has been in the works for 10 years. The carrier is looking to commence services with premium direct business class flights from London City Airport to other major cities across the globe. The firm will rely on the Airbus A220 for this mission. A decade in the making The carrier was founded in September 2010 and its planned destinations involve easy to access city center airports across North America and the Middle East. Locations discussed include New York and Toronto. After placing an order for the A220 in the summer of 2013, Odyssey CEO Adam D. Scott, shared that his company has a unique strategy that will offer a high-quality service with a concentration on new destinations that can’t presently be flown to from London City Airport. Odyssey recognizes the A220-100’s optimization for use at physically restrictive airports such as London City while having the ability to perform on longer distances routes. The company highlights that the single-aisle aircraft offers the lowest operating cost in its class. Moreover, there are considerable fuel burn benefits and notable sustainability factors. It’s not only external advantages that Odyssey is looking to focus on. There are exciting plans for the cabin. The airline’s units will be configured with just 40 seats, which convert into fully lie-flat units. A clear focus Overall, the company is looking to provide an unmatched experience for business travelers with its innovative setup. In fact, the company’s formation occurred specifically with time-conscious passengers in mind. “Steeped in airline experience, the Odyssey team includes executives from other full-service and premium-only airlines. Odyssey will deliver convenient city centre departures, stress-free on ground experiences, non-stop routes, and exceptional service from door to door,” Odyssey shared on its website. “Utilising an innovative seat configuration, Odyssey will operate the more fuel-efficient and greener Airbus A220-100 jet aircraft. The experience will be more akin to that of a private jet, including an all-new interior configuration, windows that are 40% larger than other aircraft, the longest fully flat beds in the commercial market, and many other features that we can’t wait to tell you about!” A new climate The launch of the airline’s operations has been pushed back several times since 2016. Altogether, following the industry shakeup amid the health crisis, it will be interesting to see if Odyssey’s approach has changed. While there have been concerns about the prospects of business travel, airlines solely focused on this segment could continue to progress in this field amid demand for more private offerings. Nonetheless, the A220 has been touted as the perfect solution when it comes to aircraft in the new era. https://simpleflying.com/odyssey-airlines/ Boeing gets U.S. approval to offer F-15EX to India NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Boeing has received a licence from the U.S. government to offer its F-15EX fighter jet to the Indian air force, a senior executive said on Thursday. Boeing will compete with Sweden's Gripen and France's Rafale among others for the Indian air force's plan to buy 114 multi-role aircraft to replace its Soviet-era fleet. Ankur Kanaglekar, director, India Fighters Lead, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, told reporters discussions on the F-15EX had taken place earlier between the two governments. "Now that we have the marketing licence it allows us to talk to the Indian Air Force directly about the capability of the fighter. We have started doing that in a small way," he said, adding conversations were expected to gather pace during the Aero India show next week. India and the United States have built close defence ties, with the Indian military buying over $20 billion worth of weapons in the last 15 years. Lockheed Martin is also pitching its F-21 fighter to the Indian air force, offering to build the plane in the country to win the deal estimated to be worth more than $18 billion. Boeing is bullish on India for both its defence and commercial aviation businesses, even as the COVID-19 pandemic has hit demand for air travel, forcing airlines to first get their finances in order before ordering new planes. Boeing expects domestic passenger traffic to return to 2019 levels by the end of this year, Salil Gupte, the company's India head said, adding international traffic would return to pre-COVID levels only by 2023. One of the planemaker's biggest customers is Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet Ltd, which has a large order for its narrowbody 737 MAX planes. Boeing on Wednesday got the green light from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to return its 737 MAX planes to service after a 22-month ban and Gupte said it was working to get approvals from the Indian regulator. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-gets-u-government-approval-081543048.html Southwest Airlines posts first annual loss since 1972 on virus woes (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co reported an annual loss of $3.1 billion on Thursday, its first since 1972, and said it was facing stalled demand in January and February driven by high levels of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Airlines are hoping that COVID-19 vaccine distribution will help lift demand, but so far the U.S. vaccine rollout has been patchy and there are concerns that new variants of the virus could further spread the infection, threatening a speedy recovery. "While vaccine availability should mark the beginning of the end of this pandemic, current passenger booking trends do not indicate significant improvement through March 2021," Southwest Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said. The airline forecast first-quarter average core cash burn of about $17 million per day, higher than the $12 million per day it recorded in the fourth quarter. The U.S. airline plans to return Boeing's 737 MAX to service on March 11 and expects to receive 35 737 MAX 8 deliveries through 2021, seven of which were delivered in December. The Dallas-based company reported a net loss of $908 million, or $1.54 per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a profit of $514 million, or 98 cents per share, a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company lost $1.29 per share. Total operating revenue plunged 64.9% to $2.01 billion. Southwest ended 2020 with liquidity of $14.3 billion. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/southwest-airlines-posts-first-annual-113848478.html 1st private space crew paying $55M each to fly to station The first private space station crew was introduced Tuesday: Three men who are each paying $55 million to fly on a SpaceX rocket. They’ll be led by a former NASA astronaut now working for Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the trip for next January. “This is the first private flight to the International Space Station. It’s never been done before,” said Axiom’s chief executive and president Mike Suffredini, a former space station program manager for NASA. While mission commander Michael Lopez-Alegria is well known in space circles, “the other three guys are just people who want to be able to go to space, and we’re providing that opportunity,” Suffredini told The Associated Press. The first crew will spend eight days at the space station, and will take one or two days to get there aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule following liftoff from Cape Canaveral. Russia has been in the off-the-planet tourism business for years, selling rides to the International Space Station since 2001. Other space companies like Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin plan to take paying customers on up-and-down flights lasting just minutes. These trips — much more affordable with seats going for hundreds of thousands versus millions — could kick off this year. Axiom’s first customers include Larry Connor, a real estate and tech entrepreneur from Dayton, Ohio, Canadian financier Mark Pathy and Israeli businessman Eytan Stibbe, a close friend of Israel’s first astronaut Ilan Ramon, who was killed in the space shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. “These guys are all very involved and doing it for kind of for the betterment of their communities and countries, and so we couldn’t be happier with this makeup of the first crew because of their drive and their interest,” Suffredini said. Each of these first paying customers intends to perform science research in orbit, he said, along with educational outreach. Lopez-Alegria, a former space station resident and spacewalking leader, called the group a “collection of pioneers.” Tom Cruise was mentioned last year as a potential crew member; NASA top officials confirmed he was interested in filming a movie at the space station. There was no word Tuesday on whether Cruise will catch the next Axiom flight. Suffredini declined to comment. Each of the private astronauts had to pass medical tests and will get 15 weeks of training, according to Suffredini. The 70-year-old Connor will become the second-oldest person to fly in space, after John Glenn’s shuttle flight in 1998 at age 77. He’ll also serve under Lopez-Alegria as the capsule pilot. Axiom plans about two private missions a year to the space station. It also is working to launch its own live-in compartments to the station beginning in 2024. This section would be detached from the station once it’s retired by NASA and the international partners, and become its own private outpost. https://www.yahoo.com/news/1st-private-space-crew-paying-145623909.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 . 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