Flight Safety Information - February 1, 2021 No. 023 In This Issue : Incident: Skywest CRJ2 at Denver on Jan 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Cargojet B763 at East Midlands on Jan 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Atlanta Icelandic B744 at Liege on Jan 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: MAS Cargo B763 at Los Angeles on Jan 29th 2021, engine fire indication : Incident: Ural A320 at Bishkek on Jan 23rd 2021, burning odour and strange sounds in cockpit : Airline pilots making in-flight errors say they’re ‘rusty’ because of pandemic : Family of Indonesian plane crash victims sue Boeing for ‘dangerous’ aircraft : Part of Oakland International Airport temporarily shut down due to bomb threat : Airlines cancel most NYC-area flights ahead of snowstorm : Safety Reports Take On COVID-19 Flavor : Emirates partners with GE Digital Aviation Software : Berlin man caught directing flight traffic with radio : New ASTM Standard Addresses Small Airplane Load Data : Airlines Will Still Face Pilot Shortage Problem Even After Pandemic Downsizings : Less Than Half Of Airline Pilots Still Working : ROLLS-ROYCE CONDUCTS FIRST TESTS OF 100% SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL FOR USE IN BUSINESS JETS : NASA's delayed Moon lander contracts cast doubt on Artemis timeline : Maine company successfully launches prototype rocket : POSITION: Manager, Operations Safety Programs : Position: Assistant/Associate Professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety : 2021 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Incident: Skywest CRJ2 at Denver on Jan 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight A Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 on behalf of United, registration N919SW performing flight UA-5431 from Denver,CO to Billings,MT (USA) with 43 people on board, was climbing out of Denver's runway 08 when the crew declared emergency reporting the failure of the right hand engine (CF34). The aircraft levelled off at about 9000 feet and returned to Denver for a safe landing on runway 17R about 20 minutes after departure and taxied to the apron with emergency services in trail. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SKW5431/history/20210131/2115Z/KDEN/KBIL http://avherald.com/h?article=4e266941&opt=0 Incident: Cargojet B763 at East Midlands on Jan 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight A Cargojet Boeing 767-300 freighter, registration C-GAAJ performing flight W8-972 from East Midlands,EN (UK) to Cincinnati,KY (USA), was climbing out of East Midlands' runway 09 when the crew stopped the climb at 6000 feet due to an engine (CF6) emitting bangs and streaks of flames. The crew shut the engine down and returned to East Midlands for a safe landing on runway 09 about 50 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in East Midlands about 14 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e2644e6&opt=0 Incident: Atlanta Icelandic B744 at Liege on Jan 31st 2021, engine shut down in flight An Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 747-400 freighter on behalf of Saudi Arabian Cargo Airlines, registration TF-AMA performing flight SV-3920 from Liege (Belgium) to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), was climbing out of Liege's runway 04R when one of the engines (CF6) emitted a series of bangs and streaks of flames. THe crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet, shut the engine down, climbed to FL100 to dump fuel over the North Sea and returned to Liege for a safe landing on runway 04R about 80 minutes after departure. Residents below the departure path reported deafening sounds of explosions and seeing the streaks of flames from one of the aircraft engines. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Liege about 14 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e263d34&opt=0 Incident: MAS Cargo B763 at Los Angeles on Jan 29th 2021, engine fire indication A MAS Air Cargo Boeing 767-300 freighter, registration N363CM performing freight flight MA-6853 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Mexico City (Mexico) with 2 crew and a cargo of dangerous goods, was climbing out of Los Angeles' runway 25R cleared to climb to 12,000 feet when the crew stopped the climb at 10,000 feet declareing emergency and reporting they were dealing with an engine failure (CF6) and needed to return to Los Angeles. They needed work checklists. The crew eventually decided to divert to Ontario,CA (USA) due to weather conditions advising they did have an engine fire indication for the right hand engine, but the fire indication had gone out. They had a load of batteries and dry ice on board. The aircraft landed on Ontario's runway 26L about 65 minutes after departure. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/MAA6853/history/20210129/1730Z/KLAX/MMMX http://avherald.com/h?article=4e2508d0&opt=0 Incident: Ural A320 at Bishkek on Jan 23rd 2021, burning odour and strange sounds in cockpit An Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration VP-BDL performing flight U6-8986 from Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) to Ekaterinburg (Russia), was climbing out of Bishkek's runway 08 when the crew stopped the climb at about 8000 feet due to a burning odour and strange sounds from the avionics bay in the cockpit. The crew subsequently received indication of the failure of one of the avionics bay's fans. The aircraft returned to Bishkek for a safe landing on runway 08 about 8 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground in Bishkek for 20 hours, then departed again and completed the flight to Ekaterinburg with a delay of about 20 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SVR8986/history/20210123/0816Z/UCFM/USSS http://avherald.com/h?article=4e24edaa&opt=0 Airline pilots making in-flight errors say they’re ‘rusty’ because of pandemic A pilot preparing to pull a passenger jet away from an airport gate forgot to disengage the parking brake, damaging a part of a towing vehicle that was trying to pull the plane to the runway. Another pilot had so much trouble landing a passenger jet on a windy day that it took three tries before the plane touched down successfully. In another incident, the first officer forgot to turn on the anti-icing mechanism that ensures the altitude and airspeed sensors on the outside of the plane are not blocked by ice. Luckily for the passengers, the plane completed its flight without problems. These incidents are among at least a dozen flying errors and mishaps since May that pilots and first officers have attributed, at least in part, to being out of practice because the COVID-19 pandemic — which pushed air travel demand to the lowest levels in decades — had kept them away from flying for a while. “Because I had not flown in a few months I was rusty,” the first officer who forgot to activate the anti-icing mechanism said in an anonymous report to a safety reporting system run by NASA. “I felt that my recollection was strong enough, but in reality I should have taken some time to review” the standard operating procedures. Aviation experts and airline representatives acknowledge that when pilots are inactive for several months, their skills and proficiency deteriorate. Among the most common errors are coming in too fast or too high during a landing or forgetting to get clearance from the air traffic control tower before descending to a lower altitude. “The key to flying safely is frequency,” said Richard G. McSpadden Jr., senior vice president at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn.’s Air Safety Institute. “You are not as sharp if you haven’t flown for a while.” Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines have dramatically reduced the number of daily flights on some routes and, in some cases, eliminated service to low-demand destinations. In April and May, the number of daily takeoffs in the U.S. dropped to about 75% below pre-pandemic levels. In recent months, the number of takeoffs has risen to 43% below pre-pandemic times, according to industry data. As a result, some pilots have been brought back to work after being away for up to four months. Delta Air Lines announced this week that it planned to bring back about 400 pilots by summer in hopes that the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines will boost demand for travel. So far, there have been no reported incidents of out-of-practice pilots causing accidents that have injured passengers. Aviation experts say there are enough backup systems in modern passenger jets to prevent minor oversights from becoming serious accidents. However, an Airbus 330 passenger jet trying to land at Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia on Sept. 15 veered off the runway and onto the adjoining dirt and weeds. None of the passengers were injured. Indonesia’s transportation safety agency, known as the KNKT, concluded that “during the COVID-19 pandemic the operation department had difficulties [trying] to maintain pilot proficiency.” The agency also said that the plane’s second-in-command had not flown in the previous 90 days and that the pilot had flown less than three hours in the previous 90 days. To ensure pilots in the U.S. maintain proficiency even when they are not scheduled to work for long stretches of time, the Federal Aviation Administration bars pilots from flying a commercial jet unless they have performed at least three takeoffs and three landings — either on a plane or in a simulator — in the previous 90 days. But the FAA amended that requirement twice last year, giving pilots more leeway. For pilots who did not perform three takeoffs and three landings in the 90 days before the end of September 2020, the FAA gave a 60-day grace period. For pilots who didn’t meet the requirement before Dec. 31, the FAA amended the rules again, adding a 30-day grace period. In federal documents, the FAA defended the grace periods, saying that putting pilots into cockpits or simulators to practice flying increases the risk of spreading COVID-19. The FAA noted that the grace periods were requested by several aviation industry groups, including Airlines for America, the trade group for the nation’s largest airlines, and the Regional Airline Assn., a trade group for regional carriers in the U.S. No public hearings were held on the changes because the FAA concluded that that pandemic emergency required the new rules take effect immediately. James Belton, a captain of Boeing 767 planes and spokesman for the union that represents United Airlines pilots, said United pilots have met the FAA’s 90-day proficiency policy before going back to work and have not used the grace periods. “Our pilots only leave our training center when they are fully trained, comfortable and ready to fly,” he said. Representatives of the Air Line Pilots Assn. complained in July that several Delta pilots were denied access to simulators so they could practice before flying again and were penalized for making such requests, according to an article in Forbes. Delta denied the accusations, and an Air Line Pilots Assn. representative said this week that the concern over access to simulators has since been been resolved. There is other evidence that out-of-practice pilots have been a problem. The International Air Transport Assn., a trade group for the world’s airlines, reported a steep increase last spring in the rate of planes making “unstable approaches,” which typically occur when pilots try to land at too high a speed or without enough thrust and have to make last-minute adjustments. The airlines group reported that the rate of “unstable approaches” jumped from about 13 or 14 for every 1,000 flights before the pandemic to more than 35 per 1,000 in May. The problem of unstable approaches increased in airports around the world in the spring and summer of 2020, the group said, but the rate returned to pre-pandemic levels in the last few months. “Extended absence of a significant number of flight deck crew can lead to diminished skills, less effective situational awareness and can lead to deviation” from standard operating procedures, the group said in a memo to its members in August. Aviation experts say they’re not too troubled. Commercial passenger jets always fly with pilot and a co-pilot to reduce the odds of pilot error, said Kenneth P. Byrnes, chairman of the Flight Training Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “I’m comfortable with the safety requirements,” Byrnes said. “I don’t think there is an imminent danger.” The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn. recently offered a video series on its website to help out-of-practice pilots sharpen their flying skills. The series includes tutorials on using the radio to communicate with an air traffic control tower and tips on making a smoother landing. American Airlines, one of the world’s largest carriers, was also worried about pilots being out of practice, so it began more frequent reviews of its data on pilot performances. The pilot data from 2020 showed no loss in proficiency, said Kimball Stone, American Airlines’ senior vice president of flight operations. “There has been no degradation of skills,” he said. It is not just the lack of practice that can lead pilots to make errors. During the pandemic, planes have been carrying fewer passengers — an average of 10% of the seats on U.S. flights were filled in April, down from 80% before the pandemic — which means a much lighter load, said Mark Searle, global director for safety at the International Air Transport Assn. If pilots erroneously assume the plane they are flying is as heavy as it was before the pandemic, they can miscalculate the speed and thrust needed for a landing, he said. In addition, Searle said the drop in demand for air travel has led to less crowded skies, so there’s less need for planes to take circuitous paths in order to steer clear of one another. The shorter, more direct routes could confuse a pilot who arrives at a destination sooner than expected, he said. But Searle said he has faith that pilots are keeping tabs on such changes. “If they adhere to standard operation procedures that we practice, I don’t think there is much of an issue,” he said. Still, there have been mistakes, as shown in NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System. The system was developed so that pilots and other airline crew members could anonymously report mechanical glitches and human errors without fear of reprisal from airplane manufacturers or airline management. In one report, a pilot erroneously lined up to land on the wrong runway. Another pilot accidentally pushed the button to disengage the autopilot. The first officer on another flight made an unusually steep bank after misreading the instruments in the cockpit. In each case, the pilots and first officers blamed the errors on being out of practice. In September, the first officer on a commercial jet reported having misjudged the distance to the runway during a landing and causing the plane to descend too low. Instead of aborting the landing and circling the airport for another try — the safest option — the first officer made last-minute adjustments to land. “Contributing factors included light turbulence requiring constant power adjustments,” the first officer said. “Also, lack of recent flight time due to taking leave — this was my first approach/landing in a number of weeks on top of very limited flight time in the past six months.” During the October incident in which a passenger plane tried to pull away from a gate with the parking brake still engaged, the pilot and the first officer said in a NASA report that they’d even discussed the risks of being out of practice before the flight. “In my case, it had been 40 calendar days since my last flight,” the first officer said. The captain added: “We are flying less, so we need to be even more attentive. Better attention to detail.” https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2021/01/31/airline-pilots-making-in-flight-errors-say-theyre-rusty-because-of-pandemic/ Family of Indonesian plane crash victims sue Boeing for ‘dangerous’ aircraft The lawsuit filed by the family of three victims alleges the Boeing 737-500 aircraft was defective in one or more ways An Indonesian family whose relatives died onboard the Sriwijaya Air flight that crashed into the Java Sea have filed legal action against Boeing, alleging that the aircraft was “defective and unreasonably dangerous”. The Sriwijaya flight SJ-182 plummeted within minutes of taking off from Jakarta’s main airport earlier this month, with 62 people on board. Wisner Law Firm, which is representing the family of three victims, said it filed a lawsuit against Boeing last week at circuit court of Cook county in Illinois, where the company’s headquarters are based. The lawsuit alleges that the Boeing 737-500 aircraft was defective in one or more ways, including possible faults in the autothrottle system, which controls engine power automatically, or the flight control system. Court documents also alleged possible corrosion on “the engine bleed-air fifth stage check valve… causing it to become stuck in the open position during flight, resulting in an uncontrollable compressor stall”. A preliminary report into the crash by the Indonesian authorities is expected early in February. Investigators have managed to recover and read the plane’s flight data recorder, but are still searching for the cockpit voice recorder, which will allow them to listen to conversations between the pilots. Nurcayho Utomo, of Indonesia’s transportation safety committee, said earlier this month that a problem with the Boeing 737-500’s autothrottle system was reported after a flight a few days earlier. Officials are probing whether this contributed to the disaster. Planes are allowed to fly with an autothrottle system that is not working because pilots can control it manually instead, according to Utomo. The aircraft did not have the same cockpit software that contributed to the two fatal crashes of Boeing’s 737 MAX in Indonesia and Ethiopia. A total of 346 people were killed in the crashes, which occurred in the space of just six months. Boeing was fined $2.5bn by the US justice department after being charged with fraud and conspiracy in connection with two crashes, and faces separate litigation brought by families of those killed. The company reported a net loss of $11.9bn (£8.7bn) for 2020, the largest in its history. Wisner said that only one family from the Sriwijaya Air crash had filed a case against Boeing, but that the legal firm was in contact with other people whose relatives died. Boeing said in a statement: “Our thoughts are with the Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182 crew, passengers and their families. Boeing technical experts are assisting with the investigation and we continue to offer any support needed during this difficult time.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/31/family-of-indonesian-plane-crash-victims-sue-boeing-for-dangerous-aircraft Part of Oakland International Airport temporarily shut down due to bomb threat Part of the Oakland International Airport was shut down on Sunday from about noon to 2:45 p.m. due to a bomb threat, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. Officials told KCBS Radio that there was an irate passenger on a Volaris flight to Mexico who was upset with the airline because of delays to his flight. He then told the ticket agent he had a bomb in his bag. The airline immediately reported the incident to the Alameda County Sheriff's Deputies who patrol the airport. Terminal one was evacuated, while terminal two remained operational. Sergeant Ray Kelly said the suspect initially resisted officers, but was eventually arrested for the bomb threat, for resisting law enforcement and for obstructing the Oakland Airport. "The Alameda County bomb squad was called out to the scene. We were able to locate the individual's luggage," he told KCBS Radio. "Upon inspection of that luggage, we were able to unfound the threat that there was a bomb inside." The airport is now open. https://www.radio.com/kcbsradio/news/local/oakland-international-airport-shut-down-due-to-bomb-threat Airlines cancel most NYC-area flights ahead of snowstorm Airlines called off most flights for the New York area as a Nor’easter approached. The winter storm could bring more than a foot of snow to New York City and more to suburbs. Flight schedules are already limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Airlines canceled most New York City-area flights scheduled for Monday ahead of a strong winter storm that’s expected to bring high winds and heavy snow to the region. Local officials also urged people to stay off roads. Flight schedules were already drastically lower than the norm because of the Covid-19 pandemic and a host of travel restrictions. More than 70% the departures scheduled from John F. Kennedy International Airport, or 151 flights, have been canceled as have 90%, or 106 flights from LaGuardia Airport, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking site. More than 70% of the departures, 162 flights, from United Airlines hub Newark Liberty International Airport were also canceled. A snowstorm canceled about a quarter of departures from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Sunday. Airlines stopped charging ticket-change fees last year in an effort to boost bookings in the pandemic but several major carriers said they won’t charge fare differences for travelers affected by the winter storm. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines said travelers can change their tickets to and from more than two-dozen airports in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast without paying a difference in fare if they can rebook by Saturday. New York-based JetBlue Airways said travelers won’t have to pay the fare difference if they can travel by Friday while United had a similar policy if customers rebook Sunday. All the carriers encouraged customer to check with their airline for up-to-date information. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/01/winter-storm-snow-travel-airlines-cancel-flights.html Safety Reports Take On COVID-19 Flavor The Aviation Safety Reporting System has been inundated with hundreds of reports from pilots, flight attendants and support personnel on flight safety issues directly related to COVID-19. NASA runs the program as a consequence-free method for aviation personnel to describe safety miscues that didn’t result in incidents. Acting on a request, NASA culled out all the COVID-19-related incidents it could identify and it tallied 841. Among the most common topics (aside from passengers refusing to wear masks) are errors made by rusty pilots. Pilots have claimed their lack of recency has been to blame for everything from missed clearances to having to make three tries for a gusty crosswind landing. “Air Carrier flight crew reported flying an unstabilized approach,” says one report synopsis. “First Officer was the Pilot Flying and had not flown in 30 days.” Crews also reported incidents of air traffic control issues they attributed to staff shortages and closures. ATC personnel also reported those kinds of problems. “Pilot reported attempting to land at an airport with a closed Control Tower and other aircraft landing on an unlit runway at night,” said one of those reports. The overwhelming majority of safety concerns reported had nothing to do with actually flying the aircraft. Cabin crew reported dealing with everything from screaming children who couldn’t be masked to general COVID-19 fatigue. “Flight Attendant suggested many passengers seem more stressed than usual because of COVID-19 pandemic procedures,” said one report. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/safety-reports-take-on-covid-flavor/ Emirates partners with GE Digital Aviation Software Emirates has partnered with GE Digital Aviation Software and TE FOOD to trial TrustOne, a mobile app that allows passengers to undergo COVID-19 PCR tests at special discounted rates. The app, created in partnership between GE Digital Aviation Software and TE Food, helps passengers adhere to the latest regulations and protocols, making travel seamless and more convenient. When using the app, Emirates customers with an upcoming flight booking will be offered special rates for COVID-19 PCR tests through Eurofins—one of the global independent market leaders in testing and laboratory services—at one of its global lab facilities. Passengers can also manage all related information in one place, including finding lab locations, booking of appointments, and test results with minimal additional data entry needs. The app will first be launched as a trial, and the first phase has commenced in the UAE, France, UK, Spain and the Netherlands. Emirates customers travelling from the UAE can benefit from preferred rates of AED 130 if they do their COVID-19 PCR test at the authorised labs via the app. Customers travelling from other countries can expect to pay competitive rates of approximately EUR70 and EUR90 (AED 310–AED 400), depending on the country they are travelling from. Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ chief operating officer, said, “We are constantly looking for solutions to improve our customer experience. Travel requirements today are dynamic, and even more than ever, our goal is to give our customers confidence and enable them to travel safely. With this latest solution, provided in partnership by GE Digital Aviation Software and TE Food, passengers will be able to easily source accurate information on tests, approved laboratories to get tested, as well as other vital measures to be taken prior to travel. We look forward to working with our partners on a successful trial and to expand the app’s offering and benefits to our customers in the future.” Rami Aynati, GM Commercial, EMEA at GE Digital, said: “Our business thrives in large part because of our commitment to innovating with our customers. Today marks another proud moment in the partnership between GE Digital and Emirates. The airline is dedicated to being at the leading edge of innovation, and we’re extremely excited to make the TrustOne app available to its customers. This is the first step in making international travel during the pandemic as convenient as possible by facilitating pre-travel requirements. The app will be further enhanced with more capabilities to meet all government testing and verification requirements, and Emirates customers will be among the first to have these services.” https://www.arabianaerospace.aero/emirates-partners-with-ge-digital-aviation-software.html Berlin man caught directing flight traffic with radio BERLIN (AP) — A man has been arrested in Berlin on allegations he made radio contact with air traffic, including police helicopters, and gave fake flight orders while impersonating an aviation official, German police said Friday. The 32-year-old, whose identity wasn't released in line with German privacy laws, was arrested Thursday night in the capital's eastern Koepenick district, police said. Police were able to swoop in on his apartment after he made contact with a police helicopter that was dispatched to the neighborhood in the hope of flushing him out. During a search of his home, police found two radios that transmitted on the frequencies needed to make contact with aircraft. "For everyone who has been asking about our police helicopter operations in Koepenick, an unusual arrest," Berlin police tweeted, with a link to more details. The man is alleged to have made contact with pilots of passenger and transport aircraft, as well as state and federal police helicopters, over the past six months, giving "potentially dangerous" instructions and becoming increasingly professional with his communications. No accidents or other incidents are known to have been caused by his actions, police said. https://komonews.com/news/offbeat/berlin-man-caught-directing-flight-traffic-with-radio New ASTM Standard Addresses Small Airplane Load Data ASTM International has developed a new standard it said will help determine load data for small airplanes. Developed by its general aviation aircraft committee, the new standard will be published as F3498. Aircraft manufacturers will use the new standard to certify new designs, aircraft MROs to certify changes to aircraft, and regulatory agencies in approving changes by applicants, according to ASTM member A.K.M. Haque. “Fatigue load spectra generated using this practice can be used on small airplanes,” said Haque, a Textron Aviation senior engineer specialist. “It does not depend on the materials used to build the wing and/or empennage, the stabilizing surfaces on an aircraft’s tail.” He added that the standard defines overall fatigue load spectra for a conventionally designed wing or empennage. It can be used for airplanes powered by any type of clean energy. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2021-01-29/new-astm-standard-addresses-small-airplane-load-data Airlines Will Still Face Pilot Shortage Problem Even After Pandemic Downsizings Pandemic job cuts won’t solve the industry’s longstanding issue of needing a new generation of pilots to replace those retiring. Now is the time for the airlines to do the right thing — open the field to a more diverse and inclusive pool of talent as they recover from the pandemic. Despite an unprecedented number of pilots currently being furloughed throughout the world and several airlines reporting losses or shutting down operations, industry experts agree a pilot shortage will still loom as the industry prepares for long-term air travel recovery from the pandemic. More than 600,000 pilots will be needed in the next two decades. “We were deep into a pilot shortage pre-Covid, meaning that the second a pilot was qualified, they were being hired by an airline,” said Kenneth Byrnes, associate dean and chairman of flight at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. While that’s no longer the case with the current state of the industry, experts and industry trade groups warn the pandemic has only put a pause on a shortage, that it hasn’t gone away with more pilots nearing the age of retirement and because of a continuing undersupply of new pilots. Already during the first half of 2020, 50 percent of the pilot workforce was positioned to reach the mandatory stopping point — retirement — within 15 years, said Faye Malarkey Black, president and CEO of the Regional Airlines Association (RAA). Within the half of that workforce, 15 percent must retire in five years “The pandemic has just temporarily made the issue seem like it isn’t an issue anymore,” said Women in Aviation CEO Allison McKay. But she added that when air travel goes back to 2019 levels, maybe three to four years, the shortages will be just as severe. “The pandemic has caused the airlines to offer retirement to that older group of pilots, so when we go back to say, 2019 levels I think that by all accounts, the shortage could even be more urgent.” A Boeing pilot and technician outlook for 2020 shows pilot retirements coinciding with the the industry’s recovery timeframe and forecasts the need for 605,000 new commercial pilots over the next 20 years. A 2020 pilot outlook from civil aviation training group CAE goes one step further forecasting the industry will require 27,000 pilots by the end of this year due to mandatory retirements and attritions, and require a total of 260,000 pilots this decade. “As an industry, we have weathered global storms before and have learned from those setbacks. Following 9/11, the aviation industry failed to anticipate the important need of building a strong and steady supply of pilots to support the last decade’s record growth. Disruptive events are opportunities to innovate. Together, let’s collaborate to develop the future of aviation training,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE group president. That’s a sentiment echoed by Byrnes who stresses the importance of flight training institutes and airlines woking together out of the pandemic. He put it into action by reaching out to Delta, United and regional airlines that Embry-Riddle partners with to keep the lines of communication open. While furloughs aren’t new to the airline industry, RAA’s Malarkey Black believes a lot of pilots were deterred from the career after the 9/11 furloughs the industry experienced. “So those of us who have been around for a long time will talk about how 9/11 was a poisonous effect and there was sort of a last generation of aviators that saw the risk and saw an industry that was embattled and decided this this is not for me,” Malarkey Black said. That disenchantment is prevalent in a pilot survey conducted during the pandemic by Goose Recruitment and Flight Global released Thursday showing that of the nearly 2,600 pilots surveyed worldwide, 40 percent felt the pandemic has affected their mental health. And only 64 percent of the pilots surveyed said they would consider becoming a pilot if they had the chance again. What’s more, graduate level pilot training does offer the same financial aid opportunities as with other professions, RAA’s Malarkey Black said. “And that is making this profession the domain of the wealthy and the privileged and that is very challenging, and it is, it’s something that has grown worse over time because the costs have gone up, but the funding has not kept pace.” Another aspect of the pilot shortage is a lack of diversity in the flight deck. “What is needed is continual, intentional, engagement with underrepresented groups of people. Engagement to increase awareness about career opportunities, engagement and investment to bring dollars directly to students, and a support system that helps to offset the socio-economic drag experienced by many of these groups,” said Joel Webly, the board chairman at the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals. In an effort to assist pilots, the Federal Aviation Administration launched an aviation workforce grant for pilots this month. Workforce development grants are a great step in the right direction, but increasing diversity means more than just helping with tuition, Webly said. It takes partnering with organizations that are deeply rooted in communities, and understanding the full spectrum of cultural and societal challenges that present barriers to entry. https://skift.com/2021/02/01/airlines-will-still-face-pilot-shortage-problem-even-after-pandemic-downsizings/ Less Than Half Of Airline Pilots Still Working Only 43 percent of the world’s airline pilots are still in the same job they had before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and some of those are loving their jobs less and also getting paid less. A poll of 2,600 pilots by GOOSE Recruitment and FlightGlobal found the other 57 percent were unemployed (30 percent), furloughed (17 percent) and the other 10 percent are doing something else. “The amount of stress and anxiety the pandemic has caused me has permanently scarred my outlook on life,” one surveyed pilot said according to Reuters. Those still on the job say it isn’t the same. Cathay Pacific pilots recently accepted a 58 percent pay cut. Others said the changes in operations, the constant threat of quarantine and fear of getting the disease are affecting them acutely, not to mention they too fear for their jobs. “Large numbers are feeling insecure about their jobs, an increased number are planning to look for new roles this year as well as many feeling less valued by their employers,” GOOSE Recruitment chief executive officer and founder Mark Charman said in a statement. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/less-than-half-of-airline-pilots-still-working/ ROLLS-ROYCE CONDUCTS FIRST TESTS OF 100% SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL FOR USE IN BUSINESS JETS Rolls-Royce has conducted the first tests of 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in a business jet engine, as part of our ongoing ambition to play a leading role in enabling the sectors in which we operate reach net zero carbon by 2050. The tests on our latest business aviation engine in development, the Pearl 700, in Dahlewitz, Germany, come just weeks after unblended SAF was successfully used for the first time in engine ground tests on a Trent 1000 engine in Derby, UK. This test demonstrates once again that our current engines for large civil and business jet applications can operate with 100% SAF as a full “drop-in” option, laying the groundwork for moving this type of fuel towards certification. At present, SAF is only certified for blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel and can be used on all current Rolls-Royce engines. The SAF that was used in the tests was produced by low-carbon fuel specialist World Energy in Paramount, California, sourced by Shell Aviation and delivered by SkyNRG. This unblended fuel has the potential to reduce net CO2 lifecycle emissions by more than 75% compared to conventional jet fuel, with the possibility of further reductions in future. Dr Joerg Au, Chief Engineer – Business Aviation and Engineering Director Rolls-Royce Deutschland, said: “Sustainable aviation fuels have the potential to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of our engines and combining this potential with the extraordinary performance of our Pearl engine family brings us another important step closer to enabling our customers to achieve net zero carbon emissions.” The highly efficient Pearl 700 combines the Advance2 engine core, the most efficient core available across the business aviation sector, with a brand-new low-pressure system, resulting in an 8% increase in take-off thrust at 18,250lb compared to the BR725 engine. The engine offers a 12% better thrust-to-weight ratio and 5% higher efficiency, while maintaining its class-leading low noise and emissions performance. It brings together innovative technologies derived from the Rolls-Royce Advance2 technology demonstrator programmes with our experience from the Rolls-Royce BR700, today’s leading engine family in business aviation. This includes a highly-efficient 51.8” blisked fan, a high pressure compressor with a market-leading pressure ratio of 24:1 and six blisked stages, an ultralow emissions combustor, a two-stage shroudless high pressure turbine and an enhanced four-stage low pressure turbine that is one of the most efficient and compact in the industry. For high-res images please see here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rolls-royceplc About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc 1. Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs. 2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. 3. Annual underlying revenue was £15.45 billion in 2019, around half of which came from the provision of aftermarket services. 4. In 2019, Rolls-Royce invested £1.46 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 29 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research. For further information, please contact: Stefan Wriege External Communications – Business Aviation & Rolls-Royce Deutschland Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Tel +49 (0) 171 6130802 stefan.wriege@rolls-royce.com www.rolls-royce.com NASA's delayed Moon lander contracts cast doubt on Artemis timeline More signs are emerging that NASA’s Artemis program might not bring people to the Moon on time. The Verge has learned that NASA quietly pushed back the award timeframe for two lunar lander contracts from late February to April 30th, including the lunar landing system contract involving Blue Origin, SpaceX and Dynetics. The space agency said it needed more time to evaluate proposals and maintain a “seamless transition” from the development phase, although it said there was a chance it would award contracts sooner than late April. Blue Origin is working on its Blue Moon lander, while SpaceX is developing its Starship rocket. Dynetics is building a lander in a team-up with Sierra Nevada. The setback doesn’t come as a shock. Congress only gave NASA’s Human Landing System project $850 million in its latest spending bill versus the $3.2 billion it said was necessary for the planned 2024 Moon touchdown. it doesn’t help that NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine left as President Biden took office, leaving his deputy Steve Jurczyk in his place. The organization just doesn’t have the resources or direction it was expecting. As such, the chances of NASA making its 2024 Artemis goal are that much slimmer. That’s also discounting any possible changes in priorities at NASA under the Biden administration. The new White House has focused much of its energy on dealing on immediate crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. It may be reluctant to devote much (if any) attention to a Moon landing until the country is in better shape. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nasa-delays-artemis-moon-lander-contract-awards-221522659.html Maine company successfully launches prototype rocket VIDEO BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — A Maine company that's developing a rocket to propel small satellites into space passed its first major test on Sunday. Brunswick-based bluShift Aerospace launched a 20-foot (6-meter) prototype rocket, hitting an altitude of a little more than 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) in a first run designed to test the rocket's propulsion and control systems. It carried a science project by Falmouth High School students that will measure flight metrics such as barometric pressure, a special alloy that's being tested by a New Hampshire company — and a Dutch dessert called stroopwafel, in an homage to its Amsterdam-based parent company. Organizers of the launch said the items were included to demonstrate the inclusion of a small payload. The company, which launched from the northern Maine town of Limestone, the site of the former Loring Air Force Base, is one of dozens racing to find affordable ways to launch so-called nano satellites. Some of them, called Cube-Sats, can be as small as 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters. Sascha Deri, chief executive officer of bluShift, said the company is banking on becoming a quicker, more efficient way of transporting satellites to space. “There's a lot of companies out there that are like freight trains to space,” Deri said. “We are going to be the Uber to space, where we carry one, two or three payloads profitably.” Another aspect that makes bluShift's rocket different is its hybrid propulsion system. It relies on a solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer passing either through or around the solid fuel; the result is a simpler, more affordable system than a liquid fuel-only rocket, said spokesperson Seth Lockman. The fuel is a proprietary biofuel blend sourced from farms, Deri said. “It’s a very nontoxic fuel, I like to say that I could give it to either one of my little daughters. Nothing bad would happen to them, I swear," he said. “So it’s very much nontoxic. It’s carbon neutral.” The goal is to create a small rocket that could launch a 30-kilogram (66-pound) payload into low-Earth orbit, more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) above Earth's surface. Lockman said orbit could be possible by 2024. The company has spent $800,000 on research and development, with some of the money coming from NASA. Representatives from bluShift said they don't anticipate being able to launch from Brunswick, where they are headquartered, because of population density in the area. An attempted test launch in Limestone earlier in January was postponed because of weather. Sunday's launch was also held back by a couple of false starts, but event organizers described the eventual 3 p.m. liftoff as “perfect.” http://blushift.aero/ https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/maine-company-successfully-launches-prototype-203638859.html POSITION: Manager, Operations Safety Programs Requisition Number: 21-0041 Title: Manager, Operations Safety Programs Department: Safety, Security & Quality Assurance City: Honolulu State: HI Description At Hawaiian Airlines, we are all about welcoming our guests with Hawaiian hospitality and aloha, and taking care of our people, our home and the communities we serve. Join our ‘ohana and be a part of an exciting team of professionals dedicated to serving our kama‘āina and introducing our islands to the world! Position Summary The position reports to the Director, Safety Programs & Analytics and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the operational safety programs, that shall include the collection and analysis of operations statistical data pertinent to Federal Aviation Regulations and company’s operational safety. Key Responsibilities · Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) · Manages data card processing, routine data analysis, root cause analysis and determines corrective actions of digital flight data to determine adverse events, trends in flight operations, exceedance report processing, trend analysis and report preparation. · Daily administration of the FOQA efforts to ensure analysis of flight data for improved flight safety including validation of FOQA events, identification of events for Gatekeeper contacts and identification of events for Maintenance reporting · Prepares reports, presentations, and statistical data required to identify trends for safety enhancement. · Works with Gatekeepers and other members of the Event Review Team including union, company, and FAA representatives. · Subject matter expert to FOQA vendors and programs · Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) management · Facilitates Event Review Committee meetings for Pilot, Dispatch and Maintenance employee groups to include scheduling, holding and closing monthly meetings. · ASAP submission analyst, processing and researching all reports for the 3 employee groups. Coordinates with ERC Union members for suggested employee submissions. · Compiles and posts ASAP Feedback for the 3 employee groups (monthly for pilots, quarterly for Dispatch and Maintenance). · Confidential Information Sharing Program (CISP) Analyst · Primary Point of contact for the CISP program. Reviews posted ATSAP events, coordinates posting of Pilot ASAP reports with the PSAP Event Review Committee. · Provides feedback on matched events to those involved in posted events and the Pilot ERC. · Coordinate data interfaces between the Operations Safety Programs and the airlines Safety Management System (SMS) · Assists in coordinating and conducting other evaluations such as DOD audits, IOSA audits · Assists in the development and implementation of corrective action plans that result from safety evaluations. Verifies the implementation of solutions and corrective action plans. · Other duties as assigned Requirements: Minimum Requirements · High School diploma or equivalent education. · Three years aviation experience with a 14CFR Part 121 carrier or relevant operational experience, such as 14CFR Part 135 or military. · Working knowledge in Aviation Safety Programs including SMS, AQP, ASAP, FOQA, ASIAS, and LOSA. · Experience in Statistical methods · Strong work ethic, ability to work in a fast-paced environment and a positive attitude toward teamwork. · Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat software · Strong written and verbal communication skills. Capable of developing and providing wide range of reports for executive review. · Ability to work with sensitive or confidential information without inappropriate disclosure. · Ability to obtain and maintain an Airport SIDA badge Preferred Qualifications · Bachelor Degree · Possess an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate and/or FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate · Formal training and/or certification in Safety Management System · Experience in the use of Event Measurement System (EMS) and CEFA animation tool. · Part 121 Flight Operations crewmember experience · Experience collaborating with the FAA, NTSB, and international regulatory authorities About Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i. Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i's biggest and longest-serving airline. In 2019, Hawaiian offered nonstop flights between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service connecting the islands with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is offering an adjusted schedule of daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, and between Hawai‘i and the U.S. mainland as well as Japan. The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page. For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom. · Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. · Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here. · The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) Apply On-line 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