Flight Safety Information - March 5, 2021 No. 047 In This Issue : Incident: Azul E195 at Rio de Janeiro on Mar 2nd 2021, gear problem on departure : Incident: Frontier A321 at Nashville on Feb 15th 2021, flight attendant prevents takeoff with contaminated wings : Incident: Jetblue E190 at New York on Mar 3rd 2021, flaps problem : Let L-410UVP-E - Fatal Accident (Sudan) : NTSB: Duke Life Flight pilot shut down wrong engine before fatal crash : U.S. Government Indicts Aircraft Title, Trust Company Owner : Man arrested, accused of shining laser into airplane cockpits for a year : United States: FAA Ends 2020 With Announcement Of Two Major Drone Rules : Hawaiian Airlines Is Holding Off On More Layoffs — For Now : DFW Airport plans to renovate one of its original terminals while new sixth terminal is on hold : China outlines push to develop domestic engine for C919 jet in five-year plan : LATAM Cargo Moves Up Expansion Plan For Boeing 767 Freighter Fleet : NASA awards key contract to bring rock samples back from Mars : POSITION AVAILABLE: Staff Engineer : Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC): 2Q21 Continuing Education/Safety Round Table (CE/SRT) : SCSI Slovenia in-person and virtual Air Safety Investigation courses : Position: Air Investigator : Graduate Survey : ERAU - Research Study : ISASI - 2021 ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Incident: Azul E195 at Rio de Janeiro on Mar 2nd 2021, gear problem on departure An Azul Linhas Aereas Embraer ERJ-195, registration PR-AYG performing flight AD-4357 from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont,RJ to Sao Paulo Viracopos,SP (Brazil) with 96 passengers and 5 crew, was climbing out of Santos Dumont, when upon retracting the landing gear the crew received a "LG WOW SYS FAIL" message. The crew stopped the climb, worked the related checklists, declared PAN PAN and decided to divert to Rio de Janeiro's Galeao Airport for a safe landing. Brazil's CENIPA rated the occurence an incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e3e94cf&opt=0 Incident: Frontier A321 at Nashville on Feb 15th 2021, flight attendant prevents takeoff with contaminated wings A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N710FR performing flight F9-7011 from Nashville,TN to Las Vegas,NV (USA), was taxiing for departure when tower informed the crew braking action was reported good by the last aircraft, tower hoped that information was still good. The aircraft subsequently was cleared for takeoff from Nashville's runway 02L when the crew queried whether there was any traffic. Tower assured no traffic on approach or waiting for departure, tower instructed to advise when they were rolling. About three minutes later the crew indicated they needed to return to the gate due to their left wing not being de-iced. Tower cancelled the takeoff clearance, the aircraft taxied back to the apron. In a memorandum to Air Safety Organizsations as well as ALPA, that was leaked to the Internet on Mar 2nd 2021, the airline reported: Greetings Air Safety Organization and ALPA Safety Council, Earlier this week during the massive snowstorm throughout the Central and Eastern States, we had a DEICE incident that could have led to a catastrophic outcome. We (FFT) had an aircraft request and receive type 1 and type 4 deicing. The Vendor (Trego Dugan) stated to our flight deck crew that the aircraft was deiced and clear of contaminants. Upon reaching the runway, and preparing for departure, an alarmed flight attendant called the flight deck stating that the wings were covered with snow and ice still. The flight crew visually inspected and returned to the gate. Both wings had about a foot of snow and ice still covering the wings with some fluid sprayed throughout the wing area. We found out the vendor was running low on fluid. They have since been terminated from our operations. We are letting everyone know, as a safety precaution, about our experience with Trego Dugan Deice in BNA. The airline confirmed the authenticity of that message. In the following The Aviation Herald checked all Frontier departures back from Mar 2nd 2021 until the flight was found on Feb 15th 2021 and could be verified via ATC recordings. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e3e919d&opt=0 Incident: Jetblue E190 at New York on Mar 3rd 2021, flaps problem A Jetblue Embraer ERJ-190, registration N190JB performing flight B6-1262 from West Palm Beach,FL to New York La Guardia,NY (USA) with 54 people on board, was on approach to La Guardia's runway 22 maintaining 2000 feet when the crew requested delay vectors to trouble shoot a problem with the flaps. Approach cancelled the approach clearance, instructed the aircraft to climb to 4000 feet and vectored the aircraft for about 15 minutes. The crew subsequently queried the landing conditions at JFK airport and decided to divert to JFK. On approach to JFK the crew declared emergency expecting hot brakes due to a fast approach and requested runway 31L. The aircraft landed safely on runway 31L at a higher than normal speed (about 170 knots over ground), stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services, subsequently vacated the runway and taxied to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground at JFK about 18.5 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e3e8b49&opt=0 Let L-410UVP-E - Fatal Accident (Sudan) Date: Tuesday 2 March 2021 Time: 17:05 Type: Let L-410UVP-E Operator: South Sudan Supreme Airlines Registration: (HK-4274) C/n / msn: 902525 First flight: 1990 Crew: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 Total: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Pieri ( South Sudan) Phase: Initial climb (ICL) Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Pieri Airstrip, South Sudan Destination airport: Yuai Airstrip, South Sudan Narrative: A Let L-410 aircraft operated by South Sudan Supreme Airlines crashed shortly after departure from Pieri Airstrip, South Sudan. All ten on board, two pilots and eight passengers, have reportedly died. The aircraft operated on a flight to Yuai and Juba. The Jonlei State Govermnent stated the aircraft involved was registered "HK-4274". HK-4274 matches the registration of a Colombian Agusta-Bell AB-205A helicopter. This helicopter was sold and this Colombian registration mark is no longer in use. It was used as a fake registration on a Let L-410. The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority reported that one of the aircraft's engines failed about ten minutes after takeoff. While turning back to Pieri the second engine is also reported to have failed. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20210302-0 NTSB: Duke Life Flight pilot shut down wrong engine before fatal crash A Duke Life Flight medical helicopter crashed in Perquimans County in northeast North Carolina on Sept. 8, 2017, killing four people. RALEIGH, N.C. — The pilot of a Duke Life Flight medical helicopter that crashed in northeast North Carolina more than three years ago, killing all four people aboard, likely got confused by an array of emergency indicators about a problem with one of his two engines and mistakenly shut down the other one, according to federal investigators. The helicopter, which was based at Johnston Regional Airport in Smithfield, was en route to Duke University Hospital in Durham from Sentara Albemarle Medical Center in Elizabeth City on Sept. 8, 2017, when it crashed in a grassy field outside the town of Belvidere, south of the Perquimans-Gates county line, officials said. Pilot Jeff Burke, flight nurses Kris Harrison and Crystal Sollinger and patient Mary Bartlett were killed. In their final report on the crash, National Transportation Safety Board investigators said damaged roller bearings in the No. 2 engine likely caused the engine to seize up during flight. Because investigators couldn't recover any recorded data from the flight – the battery on a recorder installed on the aircraft may have died, according to the report – they said they couldn't know exactly which indicators went off and in what sequence. But they said Burke likely misread his instruments and believed he was losing power from the No. 1 engine, prompting him to shut it down. "A failure of the rear bearing in the No. 2 engine ... created multiple and likely unexpected and confusing cockpit indications, resulting in the pilot's improper diagnosis and subsequent erroneous shutdown of the No. 1 engine," the report states. The damaged No. 2 engine then likely lost all power, according to the report, and the wreckage "indicated that the helicopter was in a near-vertical descent before impacting the ground." NTSB investigators couldn't determine the reason why the No. 2 engine failed because of a combination of damage from its continued operation and from the crash, as well as a subsequent fire. Witnesses told investigators that they saw a trail of dark smoke coming from the helicopter before the crash, but the NTSB couldn't determine if the No. 2 engine was on fire during flight. Investigators also noted that metallic contaminants were found in oil from the No. 2 engine during routine tests in the months before the crash, indicating a potential bearing failure. But the amount of contamination never rose to the level specified by the engine manufacturer to warrant action. "The oil test evaluation procedures did not include steps to monitor trends of contaminant concentration levels over time. If the engine manufacturer’s procedures had included appropriate trend monitoring criteria, the impending bearing failure in the No. 2 engine might have been detected and mitigated," the report states. The helicopter had its last scheduled maintenance a week before the crash. https://www.wral.com/ntsb-duke-life-flight-pilot-shut-down-wrong-engine-before-fatal-crash/19559292/ U.S. Government Indicts Aircraft Title, Trust Company Owner The indictment of a well-known owner of an aviation title company on various charges raises an important issue regarding the responsibility borne by owner trustees when it comes to helping a non-U.S. citizen purchase an aircraft and register it in the U.S. Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin, owner of Wright Brothers Aircraft Title (WBAT) and Aircraft Guaranty Corp. (AGC), was arrested in Oklahoma on Dec. 18, 2020, and was subsequently moved to Texas. On February 24, a U.S. grand jury indictment was unsealed in the case of the U.S. against Mercer-Erwin; her daughter Kayleigh Moffett, who was an officer of the companies; and six others. The indictment includes drug charges, money laundering, export violations, and aircraft registration violations. According to the indictment, AGC acted as trustee and registered “thousands” of aircraft on behalf of foreign owners, which by itself is legal. For some unexplained reason, the indictment felt it necessary to point out that the aircraft were registered “in Onalaska Texas, an East Texas town without an airport.” Whether or not the registered address has an airport has no bearing on how trustee-registered aircraft are handled, but this seemingly extraneous information caught the attention of reporters at WFAA TV in Dallas, which wrote and produced stories about AGC and WBAT that resulted in an investigation by federal prosecutor Ernest Gonzalez and Mercer-Erwin’s subsequent arrest and the indictment. The problem wasn’t that AGC acted as a trustee but that “defendants circumvent United States laws and regulations by placing N numbers in the hands of drug traffickers and prohibited foreign nationals,” according to the indictment. Specifically, the indictment alleged: “First, the defendants violate FAA and Department of Commerce regulations to register aircraft with the United States while concealing the aircraft’s true ownership and exportation. Second, when law enforcement seizes a registered aircraft laden with drugs, the defendants deregister or otherwise transfer ownership of the aircraft. Finally, the defendants participated in a series of bogus aircraft sales transactions in order to conceal the movement of illegally obtained funds.” TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITY No matter who is involved in the purchase of an aircraft via a trustee, the FAA considers the trustee the owner of the aircraft. The owner is thus responsible for regulatory compliance. The responsibility held by owner-trustees for regulatory compliance is not new; the FAA pointed that out in a policy clarification in 2013, clearly outlining what it expects of aircraft owners that are also trustees for the purposes of helping a non-U.S. citizen buy an aircraft and register it in the U.S. “The FAA does not consider the status of the trustee as the owner of the aircraft under a trust agreement as having any differing effect on its responsibilities for regulatory compliance issues compared to other owners of a U.S.-registered aircraft,” the agency wrote. “The FAA has determined that there is nothing inherent in the status of a trustee owner of a U.S.-registered aircraft that would affect or limit its responsibilities for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The FAA is not aware of any basis for treating one type of owner—such as a trustee under a non-citizen trust— differently from any other owner of a civil aircraft on the U.S. registry when considering issues of regulatory compliance.” The investigation involved the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, and Department of Homeland Security. The indictment cited 22 allegedly “offending aircraft transactions,” many of which involved drug smuggling by aircraft registered with the defendant’s trust company, AGC. One example is as follows: “On or about October 5, 2012, N305AG was registered to AGC. That same day, a Declaration of International Operation was filed by AGC for this aircraft. On or about September 11, 2018, Kayleigh Moffett filed an FAA Registration renewal. On or about January 27, 2020, N305AG was seized in Guatemala with approximately 1,700 kilograms of cocaine. The aircraft was taken into Guatemalan custody, where it has remained ever since. On or about January 29, 2020, news reports published the seizure. Two days later, on or about January 31, 2020, Kayleigh Moffett transferred ownership of the aircraft to Arrendadora SA de CV, a foreign company. AGC and its co-conspirators did not make any export filings for this transaction. On or about February 6, 2020, an open-source video of N305AG flying out of the Guatemalan jungle went viral. On or about February 20, 2020, Moffett filed a bill of sale with the FAA and asked to deregister the aircraft.” The indictment goes on to highlight AGC’s “attempts to shirk its responsibilities by delegating regulation obligations to the foreign national.” As the FAA has repeatedly pointed out, the lessee, in this case, AGC, “is responsible for operating the aircraft in accordance and compliance with all laws, ordinances, and regulations relating to the possession, use, operation, or maintenance of the aircraft, including but not limited to, Federal Aviation Regulations.” The FAA goes on to note: “Lessee warrants it will not use the aircraft for an illegal purpose.” PONZI PROGRAM? A further allegation in the indictment accuses WBAT of a “Ponzi Scheme” whereby Mercer-Erwin, Moffett, and Federico Andres Machado devised a fraudulent way to earn more money. The indictment alleges that they encouraged investors to deposit money into WBAT’s escrow account typically used for aircraft transactions. But unlike a normal transaction where a loan is used to pay the seller for the aircraft, loans were sought to cover the buyer’s refundable deposit. Then the deposit money from the lender went into WBAT’s escrow account. No aircraft transaction happens because the airplane either doesn’t exist or is not for sale, according to the indictment. “WBAT transfers the refundable deposit into accounts designated by the fraudulent buyer to be used for other purposes, and not for the purchase of the designated aircraft," it reads. "WBAT is compensated for these fraudulent transactions with money taken from the escrow account as well.” Finally, the fake buyer gets another loan from a different lender, again for the purchase of another fake aircraft. “This loan pays for the principal and interest owed to the previous lender for the previous aircraft transaction involving WBAT and the fraudulent buyer,” according to the indictment, which includes a long list of transactions where this occurred during 2016 and 2017. An unknown number of aircraft and dollars are tied up in stalled WBAT and AGC transactions, and not much information is available on what is happening with them. According to a letter sent to members from International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) executive director Wayne Starling on February 23, “Generally speaking, the U.S. government has halted a significant amount of the activities of each and either of these companies. While both companies continue to maintain active websites, neither company is currently conducting business.” For those affected by this situation, IADA warned that owners of aircraft in which AGC holds the title are stuck “because the U.S. government has a general freeze on these activities.” For funds and documents that might be stuck in escrow with WBAT, the letter explained, “we are advised that the U.S. government may be making some allowance for moving funds out. If you are currently affected by this situation, we recommend you contact one of our other member-companies that handle aircraft title, legal, or escrow services in Oklahoma City for advice.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-03-04/us-government-indicts-aircraft-title-trust-company-owner Man arrested, accused of shining laser into airplane cockpits for a year MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a man accused of aiming a laser at airplanes en route to and taking off from a major South Florida airport, and they don’t think it was the only time he committed the crime. In bond court Thursday morning, 61-year-old Rolando Yague stood before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Judigh K. Rubenstein as she read his charges. “One count of misuse of a laser lighting device,” she said. Officials said Yague used a green laser pointer and shone it into the cockpits of airplanes as they took off from and landed at Miami International Airport for about a year. Investigators were eventually able to pinpoint the laser to a neighborhood located a mile and a half east of MIA. Police said Yague was outside walking his dog and took out the laser pointer when he saw a plane flying above him and pointed it at the aircraft. In the arrest report, detectives described the pointer as “an apparatus which is used to shine into the cockpit of aircraft and cause impairment to the aircraft and the pilots operating the aircraft.” Police said the first incident was reported in March of 2020. Several reports followed for a year. Officers said the act is significantly dangerous to passengers on planes as well as surrounding communities because it has the potential to cause the plane to crash because the glare from the laser makes it difficult for the flight crew to see. 7SkyForce pilot Joe Mancino echoed officials’ concerns. “It’s very serious. A laser shined in the cockpit could blind a pilot,” he said. Mancino, who has decades of flying experience and has spent 15 years flying SkyForce, said Yague could have put flight crews and passengers in danger. “He could have caused dangerous conditions for countless people,” he said. Police said Yague had an additional device, which he used when shining his laser. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there were 266 confirmed reports in 2020 of someone pointing a laser at an aircraft in Florida alone. Forty of those incidents happened in South Florida. Yague is currently being held on $5,000 bond. He is also facing several additional charges out of Polk County. https://wsvn.com/news/local/man-arrested-accused-of-shining-laser-into-airplane-cockpits-for-a-year/ United States: FAA Ends 2020 With Announcement Of Two Major Drone Rules On December 28, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") announced two final rules for Unmanned Aircraft ("UA" or "drones"): (1) Remote Identification for Unmanned Aircraft ("Remote ID") and (2) Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Over People. These rules come at a time when drones represent the fastest-growing segment in the transportation sector, with over 1.7 million drone registrations and 203,000 FAA-certificated remote pilots. Remote ID final rule The Remote ID rule establishes a new Part 89 to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Under the final rule, which will become effective 60 days after the publication date in the Federal Register (expected in January 2021), all UA required to register must be able to remotely identify themselves while in flight. Operational rules take effect 30 months after the effective date of the final rule (expected to be September 2023). Operators will have three options (outlined below) to satisfy this requirement. Note, however, that for UA weighing 0.55 lbs or less, Remote ID is only required if the UA is operated under rules that require registration, such as part 107. 1. Standard Remote ID Unmanned Aircraft Broadcasts remote ID messages directly from the UA via radio frequency broadcast (likely Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology), compatible with existing personal wireless services. Standard Remote ID message includes: UA ID (serial number of UA or session ID); latitude/longitude, altitude, and velocity of UA; latitude/longitude and altitude of Control Station; emergency status; and time mark. Remote ID message will be available to most personal wireless devices within range of the broadcast; however, only the FAA (and authorized law enforcement) will have the ability to correlate the serial number or session ID with the registration database. Range of the Remote ID broadcast may vary, as each UA must be designed to maximize the range at which the broadcast can be received. 2. UA with Remote ID Broadcast Module Broadcast Module may be a separate device that is attached to an UA, or a feature built into the aircraft. Enables retrofit for existing UA, and Broadcast Module serial number must be entered into the registration record for the UA. Broadcast Module Remote ID message includes: serial number of the module; latitude/longitude, altitude, and velocity of UA; latitude/longitude and altitude of the takeoff location, and time mark. UA remotely identifying with a Broadcast Module must be operated within visual line of sight at all times. Broadcast Module to broadcast via radio frequency (likely Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology). Compatibility with personal wireless devices and range of the Remote ID Broadcast Module message similar to Standard Remote ID UA (see above). 3. FAA-Recognized Identification Areas ("FRIA") Geographic areas recognized by the FAA where UA not equipped with Remote ID are allowed to fly. Organizations eligible to apply for establishment of a FRIA include: community-based organizations recognized by the FAA, primary and secondary educational institutions, trade schools, colleges and universities. Must operate within visual line of sight and only within the boundaries of a FRIA. The FAA will begin accepting applications for FRIAs 18 months after the effective date of the rule, and applications may be submitted at any time after that. FRIA authorizations will be valid for 48 months, may be renewed, and may be terminated by the FAA for safety or security reasons. Other key provisions in Remote ID final rule Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast ("ADS-B") Out and Air Traffic Control ("ATC") Transponder Prohibition for UAS The final rule amends Parts 91 and 107 to prohibit use of ADS-B Out or ATC Transponders on UAS unless otherwise authorized by the FAA, or if flying under a flight plan and in two-way radio communication with ATC. ADS-B Out & ATC transponder authorization is likely for large UAS operating in controlled airspace. Part 89 prohibits the use of ADS-B Out as a means of meeting Remote ID requirements. Aeronautical Research: The rule provides for operators to seek special authorization to operate UA without remote identification for the purpose of aeronautical research or to show compliance with regulations. Foreign Registered Civil UA Operated in United States: The rule allows a UA registered in a foreign country to be operated in the United States only if the operator files a notice of identification with the FAA. This enables the FAA and law enforcement to correlate a remote ID broadcast with a person responsible for the operation of a foreign-registered UA. Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems ("UAS") Over People Final Rule The Operation of Small UAS Over People Final Rule, which has also been sent to the Office of the Federal Register and will become effective 60 days after the publication date in the Federal Register (expected in January 2021), amends the existing Part 107 in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations to allow routine operations over people and routine operations at night under certain circumstances. The final rule will eliminate the need for those operations to receive individual Part 107 waivers from the FAA. Operations are permitted based on four categories, which are based primarily on the kinetic damage potential of the aircraft. The final rule requires that small drone operators have their remote pilot certificate and identification in their physical possession, ready for presentation, when operating over people. This rule also expands the class of authorities who may request these forms of identification from a remote pilot. The final rule replaces the requirement to complete a recurrent test every 24 calendar months with the requirement to complete updated recurrent training that includes operating at night in identified subject areas. https://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/aviation/1041118/faa-ends-2020-with-announcement-of-two-major-drone-rules Hawaiian Airlines Is Holding Off On More Layoffs — For Now The state’s largest private employer has said it will delay plans for a large lay off, even as changes to Hawaii’s travel policy remain in limbo. Hawaiian Airlines is delaying plans to lay off more than 800 workers in the next three months, the result of changing market conditions and some good travel news. The Honolulu-based carrier, which before the COVID-19 crisis was the state’s largest private employer with about 7,500 workers, told state labor officials in late January that it plans to lay off 810 workers in two waves, with some starting around April 1 and others around June 1. The bulk of the workers, a total of 647, are flight attendants. But Hawaiian spokesman Alex DaSilva said this week the company already has decided it will delay the first wave of layoffs until May 1. The situation could change further, he said, explaining that the company is continually analyzing the situation. The airline got good news on Tuesday when Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami announced he would seek to modify a policy requiring travelers to the island to quarantine for 10 days; instead, Kawakami would join the rest of the state in adopting Hawaii’s Safe Travels plan, which lets travelers sidestep the quarantine by obtaining a negative test before traveling. “That has a tremendous impact on demand when the mayor says people can participate in the state’s Safe Travels plan,” DaSilva said. Hawaiian Airlines has resumed service to all destinations it served on the mainland before COVID-19. But it’s capacity remains a fraction of pre-COVID levels. The planned layoffs are the latest shift for Hawaiian as the company engages in the complex task of right-sizing an enormous workforce of largely unionized, skilled workers at a time when travel conditions are in flux. Perhaps no Hawaii company has suffered more than Hawaiian from the COVID-19 pandemic. What started a year ago as a suspension of service to some Asian markets quickly escalated, and by late March had widened to a large-scale shutdown after Gov. David Ige announced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers coming to Hawaii. During this time Hawaiian was burning through about $4 million per day, the company’s chief executive, Peter Ingram, said. Still, Hawaiian managed to keep its workforce largely intact thanks to some $654 million in relief funds and loans from the federal government. That changed in October, when it finally laid off some 2,500 workers or about a third of its workforce. The launch of the Safe Travels program on Oct. 15 has helped the company rebound. According to Hawaiian’s annual report for 2020, filed in February, during the fourth quarter, the company resumed non-stop service from Honolulu to Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose, Oakland, New York and Boston, which meant it restored service to all of its pre-pandemic destinations on the mainland. The company also restored flights from Honolulu to Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea. Still, while all this meant doubling capacity during the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter, the airline’s capacity was down approximately 72% compared to the same period in 2019, it reported. The company also plans to add three new mainland destinations this month: Austin, Texas; Orlando, Florida, and Ontario, California. A new round of federal support money for airlines meant Hawaiian was able to bring back workers previously affected by the layoffs. But that money, Hawaiian told state labor officials, will run out on March 31. So despite measures to cut costs and generate more revenue, Hawaiian said it “does not anticipate that it will be able to retain all employees beyond March 31, 2021.” Peter Ingram, speaking to a Hawaii House COVID-19 committee in November, said the company once was spending $4 million a day to sustain its workforce with almost no revenue. Hawaiian’s announced layoffs come even as some economists see Hawaii’s tourism industry poised for a summer rebound, as both Hawaii residents and people in key markets get their shots. But what’s not clear is whether Hawaii will further modify the Safe Travels program to ease restrictions as the vaccines roll out. With travelers making plans now for summer travel, Hawaii could miss out on opportunities by not signaling to potential visitors a time frame for further lifting restrictions, said Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Bonham acknowledged there are unknown factors, including uncertainties about vaccination rollouts and the effect new strains of the virus could have on the disease’s spread. But he said the state giving some guidance to potential travelers now could help lead to more bookings – and mean hundreds of Hawaiian Airline employees working rather than sitting at home. “You can’t plan for nothing; you have to plan for something,” he said of travelers. “Then if things don’t work out you adapt, rather than sitting in limbo.” https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/03/hawaiian-airlines-is-holding-off-on-more-layoffs-for-now/ DFW Airport plans to renovate one of its original terminals while new sixth terminal is on hold Terminal C is the only original terminal at DFW to never get a major overhaul. DFW International Airport is planning to renovate one of its original terminals while it waits for traffic to rebound and demand to return for the future Terminal F project. The airport board of directors approved a $75 million design management project Thursday that will kickstart upgrades on Terminal C, the 39-gate terminal that is one of the key hubs for American Airlines’ operations at the airport. Construction on the project likely won’t start for at least a year, airport CEO Sean Donohue said Thursday. But it would give a much-needed update to both the customer-facing sections of the terminal as well as behind-the-scenes updates to systems, such as electrical and HVAC. 2020 was the worst year for DFW Airport travel since Ronald Reagan was president The pandemic-stricken year of 2020 was the worst for DFW International Airport in more than three decades, far outpacing the worst economic disasters since the airport opened in 1974. Terminal C, used exclusively by American Airlines and mostly for domestic flights, lags behind the airport’s newer and more recently renovated terminals. It has outdated tile floors, low ceilings and fewer premier shopping and dining options than other parts of the airport. Completed in 1974, it’s the only terminal at the airport that hasn’t had a complete refurbishment. The airport has been targeting Terminal C for renovation for years, but the airport and American Airlines have delayed the renovations on several occasions. The airport’s board approved $500 million for the renovation in 2019, but the scope of the project and construction costs could change the final cost. The renovations would be paid for through gate rental fees by airline tenants, namely American Airlines. Airports often partner with their major tenants to help design terminals, and Fort Worth-based American has done similar partnerships at airports in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Chicago. Renovations on Terminal A, which American also played a large role in, were finished in 2017 at a cost of about $1 billion. But the result was a transformation from an older, dimmer and cramped terminal into a brighter and more airy space with bigger windows to see onto runways, new seating and charging ports as well as new stores, new restaurants and renovated security checkpoint areas. Of course, the renovations come while the future of a new sixth terminal is in limbo, at least for the time being. The COVID-19 pandemic rolled DFW passenger traffic back to 1985 levels, making a new terminal a low priority for the airport and American Airlines as they both have scrambled to stay afloat fiscally. But before the COVID-19 pandemic, American Airlines was growing rapidly at DFW, pushing to more than 900 incoming and outgoing flights a day during peak periods in 2019. The airport renovated the shuttered satellite terminal in Terminal E to open more space, and the airport is adding two new gates there. American Airlines has leaned even heavier on DFW during the pandemic, with executives describing flights from the Texas airport as more profitable than most other routes. Donohue said he believes the airport will eventually need Terminal F. Analysts say the airline industry may not recover entirely until 2023 or 2024, and that’s just to get back to 2019 levels. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2021/03/04/dfw-airport-plans-to-renovate-one-of-its-original-terminals-while-new-sixth-terminal-is-on-hold/ China outlines push to develop domestic engine for C919 jet in five-year plan BEIJING (Reuters) - China will push forward with the development of CJ1000, a turbofan jet engine designed to power the homemade C919 narrowbody aircraft, the government said on Friday in its development plan for the 2021-2025 period. It also aims to achieve breakthrough in engine technology for widebody jets, the government said. Chinese-made civil aircraft, including the C919, currently use foreign engines but the country has been trying to develop a home-grown alternative as it seeks to cut its dependence on foreign sources of sophisticated technology. In 2018, the United States charged Chinese intelligence officers for a data hack to steal information on a turbo fan engine used in commercial jetliners. China denied the charges. China’s C919 plane is on track to get its airworthiness certification by the end of 2021 and deliver the first aircraft to the launch customer, Wu Guanghui, chief designer of the C919 programme, said on Friday. China Eastern Airlines, which is the launch customer, signed a firm order on Monday to buy 5 C919 jets. The government will also push for “exemplary operations” of C919 over the next five years, it said. Russia, which has teamed up with China to develop the widebody jet CR929, in December flew a new passenger airliner with domestically built engines for the first time since the Soviet era. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-aviation-engines/china-outlines-push-to-develop-domestic-engine-for-c919-jet-in-five-year-plan-idUSKBN2AX0OZ?il=0 LATAM Cargo Moves Up Expansion Plan For Boeing 767 Freighter Fleet LATAM Airlines, motivated by the exponential growth in e-commerce shipments and the availability of more resources resulting from restructuring, is accelerating plans to grow its cargo fleet up to 75% in three years with the conversion of up to eight Boeing 767 aircraft from its passenger fleet. The decision is the latest example of cargo airlines snapping up the prized medium-size aircraft as passenger airlines discard them in favor of smaller, modern aircraft that are profitable to operate in a depressed travel market. 767-300s have become the midrange freighter of choice for express carriers and other operators involved in supporting e-commerce. Santiago, Chile-based LATAM Airlines Group, which currently operates 11 767 all-cargo aircraft, said Tuesday it has four confirmed slots with Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) to retrofit the 767-300 Extended Range jets, with redelivery between 2021 and 2022. The work will be performed by Boeing's licensed engineering partner in Singapore, LATAM spokeswoman Maria Teresa Escobar said. Boeing outsources modification work based on its conversion kit to a number of global companies, including ST Engineering in Singapore. ST Engineering late last year added a second assembly line for 767-300 conversions. LATAM also has options with Boeing for four additional conversion orders that would bring its cargo fleet to 19 aircraft in 2023. Escobar said the company planned to expand the fleet more gradually over four years but moved up the initial tranche to take full delivery within two years. "These conversions will enable [LATAM's] cargo affiliates to grow in key segments such as the Colombian flower market or imports to Brazil," LATAM Cargo CEO Andrés Bianchi said in a statement. "It also allows our affiliates to expand their network in domestic markets where e-commerce is rapidly generating an increase in air cargo traffic. Growing with Boeing 767-300s is extremely efficient as it is the optimal aircraft for all these undertakings and we can take advantage of the benefit of operating a single fleet type." Officials said the ability to invest sooner in freighter conversions was made possible by the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Last year, LATAM and its affiliates in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, the U.S. and Peru filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. after suffering a dramatic loss in business due to the coronavirus pandemic. Converting passenger aircraft to full-time cargo mode can take three to four months. The process includes stripping the interiors, cutting a new cargo door into the fuselage, adding reinforced flooring with rollers for maneuvering pallets, covering windows, and adding a rigid barrier behind the cockpit. IBA, a provider of aviation advisory and appraisal services, said in a recent report that more than 40 B767-300ERs have been added to the global freighter fleet since last May, and an additional 26 are set to be converted in the next 12 months. LATAM increased flight frequencies in some markets by 40% last year and deployed some passenger aircraft for exclusive cargo operations to help meet freight demand. *** Austrian Airlines In related news, the first of three 767-300s sold by Austrian Airlines to Austin, Texas-based MonoCoque Diversified Interests LLC departed Vienna on Tuesday for Pinal Airpark in Arizona, the airline said. The next transfer flight is scheduled for May. MonoCoque is an engine management provider and aviation investment fund that recently began acquiring fleets of used aircraft. The company could not be reached for comment about its plans for the aircraft, but options include selling or leasing intact planes, and separating them into airframes and engines for sale as parts. With an average age of 28.5 years, the three B767s sold are among the oldest aircraft in Austrian Airlines' fleet. It has three other 767s that are 20 to 22 years old. The long-haul fleet includes six Boeing 777s. Austrian Airlines has also removed 10 Dash turboprops from the fleet, with an additional eight and seven Airbus A319 jets scheduled for retirement in early 2022 for a total capacity reduction of about 20%. Austrian will operate about 60 aircraft in 2022. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/latam-cargo-moves-expansion-plan-142751304.html NASA awards key contract to bring rock samples back from Mars NASA's Perseverance Rover is equipped with the most advanced science lab ever brought to another planet, so it will be able to thoroughly analyze any rocks and soil that it digs up. However, NASA also has something even more ambitious in mind: bringing Perseverance samples back to Earth via the Mars Sample Return mission. Now, NASA and its European Space Agency (ESA) partner have taken a big step in that mission, awarding the Mars Ascent Propulsion System (MAPS) contract to Northrop Grumman Systems. Now that Perseverance has landed in the Jezero Crater, it will spend the next couple of years searching the area for signs of life. If it finds interesting rocks or dirt, it will cache them into "hyper-sterile" vessels that are uncontaminated from any Earthly organic materials. Those will then be place in tubes and stored inside the rover body. The Mars Return Mission involves sending two spacecraft to Mars. One will land on the planet, meet up with the rover and grab the samples, then take off and orbit Mars (the "take off" part is where the MAPS contract comes in). The second spacecraft will rendezvous with that craft in Mars orbit and carry the samples back to Earth. The original plan was to launch the sample return craft in 2026, land it in 2028 and return the Mars samples to Earth by 2031. Those dates are still up in the air, however, after an independent board recommended allowing more time (and cost) for the mission. The Northrop Grumman contract is worth up to $84.5 million, which is a small part of the current $3.3 billion estimated mission budget. NASA sad it covers "support and products" for the MAPS ascent propulsion mission and "moves NASA and ESA one step closer to realizing Mars Sample Return." However, given the complexity of the project and the fact that it's never been tried, don't be surprised if those dates and budgets get pushed. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nasa-awards-contract-to-bring-samples-back-from-mars-094858919.html POSITION AVAILABLE: Staff Engineer The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the largest airline pilot union in the world and the largest non-governmental aviation safety organization in the world (representing over 59,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines) seeks an experienced Staff Engineer for our Tysons (McLean), Virginia office. The Staff Engineer provides staff coordination and liaison with government, industry, and professional stakeholders on behalf of the Air Safety Organization and other Association committees, MECs, and National Officers, as assigned by the department Director or Manager. They provide coordination and technical support to the Air Safety Organization, accident and incident investigations, FAA/TC pilot certificate enforcement action cases, and other safety investigations in the areas of aircraft design, manufacturing, and maintenance. Their specific focus is in the areas of aircraft design, certification, operations specifications, and maintenance. They analyze internal and external databases to identify trends and develop mitigation strategies. They also effectively represent the Association and the department, interacting with government and industry safety officials on a routine basis. In coordination with relevant committees and staff members, they develop and coordinate written communications to membership and government and industry groups outlining ALPA positions on a wide variety of operational safety issues. Local, national, and international travel: 20 - 40%. Minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Minimum Requirements: · Bachelor's degree in relevant area, e.g., Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Science, or other related discipline, from an accredited college or university required; or, the equivalent combination of education and practical aviation experience. Additional applicable aviation experience may be substituted for the academic requirement. • Three (3) years of related experience in the aviation industry, five (5) or more strongly preferred. • Special expertise in U.S. and Canadian Aviation Regulations (FARs and CARs), national and international aviation standards, and aircraft design standards required. • Familiarization with and participation in Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council (CARAC), and Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) processes is required. • A pilot’s license with an instrument rating and/or special knowledge or applicable expertise in the aviation industry strongly preferred. Experience in aircraft design and operations may be substituted for the pilot’s license. • FAA Airframe and Powerplant certification (A&P license) and/or equivalent experience with maintenance and/or large aircraft manufacturing preferred. • Experience with NTSB and/or TSB accident investigation processes preferred. • Strong technical writing and public speaking skills required. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, oral and written, for effective interaction with all levels of contacts, internal and external. • Must be a self-starter with professional maturity and sound judgment, capable of independent decision-making and to be proactive in identifying and responding to issues and problems. • Must possess exceptional time management skills; be able to work in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment; and, transition easily between projects. • Software: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint. Physical Demands: Note: The physical demands described herein are characteristic of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential physical activities of this position described below. Constantly operates a computer/smartphone/tablet. Regularly required to maintain a stationary position, move about the office and the local metropolitan area, determine what others have said or written, and converse with others and exchange accurate information. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about the office and travel (locally, nationally, and internationally). Also includes occasional bending, stooping, squatting, and/or pushing and pulling or moving, e.g., to pack, unpack, and/or move cases. Occasionally required to move, raise, reach, and/or retrieve binders, books, boxes, and files up to ten (10) pounds (lbs.). While on travel, could be responsible to move luggage weighing as much as 50 lbs. (Assistance may not always be available.) Please apply online at https://jobs-alpa.icims.com/jobs/1353/staff-engineer/job ALPA offers competitive salaries with excellent benefits, including: • 26 days paid vacation and holidays per year; • Generous sick and bereavement leave; • Generous health care benefits – PPO, two HMO’s (where available) and a High Deductible Health Plan which includes coverage for medical, dental, and vision benefits for employee, spouse, and/or dependent children; • Company-paid premiums for disability and life insurance; • $3 for $1 matching 401(k) retirement savings plan; Roth 401k; • Flexible Spending and Health Savings accounts; and • Retiree health plan. The Air Line Pilots Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Relocation not provided. Sponsorship not available for this position. posted on March 2, 2021 08:00 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC): 2Q21 Continuing Education/Safety Round Table (CE/SRT) Approved For NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Points on May 11, 2021, 1000 CDT. Milestone achievement for Industry leading Continuing Education program. On February 17, 2021, the BASC 2Q21 Continuing Education/Safety Round Table (CE/SRT) was approved by the NBAA CAM Governing Board for CAM Points. BASC Full-Service Members, following a verification process, will be awarded ¼ point for the one-hour session on May 11, 2021. Points are applicable to aspiring CAMs accumulating points for an application, as well as, current CAMs accumulating points for recertification. The NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Program identifies qualified professionals to lead departments and organizations that use business aircraft. The CAM credential acknowledges professionals committed to continuous development and higher standards of practice. The CAM program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and was the first organization in the aviation industry to receive this credential. The Founder and President of BASC, Rick Malczynski (a CAM himself), was thrilled upon notification of the approval. “The CAM program is very robust. It is no walk in the park. The CAM test itself is quite an experience. During the test, your life kind of flashes before your eyes. You truly find yourself recalling your past practical experiences and hours of preparation! The program and test cover an incredible scope and definitely say something about the 600 CAMs in the industry. There are some great mentors out there, but we need to continue making great training available, and accumulate CAM points, whether they be for recertification or a new applicant.” Regarding BASC’s involvement, Malczynski added, “We have been providing quality education for our members for four years now. It made sense to reach for the stars, as well as, provide that added value for our team members. It was great working with the Program Administrator, Tyler Austin, and the CAM Governing Board. The process for approval was very straight forward, and I see us applying for CAM Point approval much more often for future CE/SRTs!” ### About the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (AviationConsortium.com, LLC or BASC): Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BASC serves as a logical partner for SMS, regulatory, and operational excellence verification for high performing business aviation organizations. BASC was founded in 2016 and accepted the first member in January of 2017. For more information, visit http://www.aviationconsortium.com. Position: Air Investigator · Continue your air safety career · Apply your flying expertise · Central Wellington location The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigates significant aviation, rail, and marine accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future. The Commission has set a visionary goal of "No Repeat Accidents - Ever!". Highly skilled accident investigators are pivotal to the Commission's successful performance. To complement the team, we're seeking an experienced commercial pilot to join them as an Air Investigator. It's likely you'll have around ten years of commercial flying experience, and importantly, demonstrable experience or interest in air safety. Ideally, you'll have investigation reporting and evidence analysis experience. In addition, you will be able to bring to the role: · excellent communication skills - and be able to write to a high standard · strong problem solving skills · analytical capability, with very strong attention to detail and accuracy · an innate ability to think logically, anticipate risk, and identify solutions · proven project management skills · outstanding relationship management skills · energy and vigour, balanced with diplomacy and tact. Given the nature of this work, you must be medically and physically fit, and have the emotional and psychological maturity to handle stressful and emotionally difficult circumstances. Accident investigation is a highly specialised and time critical task involving expertise in a wide range of disciplines, and the successful candidate will undergo extensive and highly regarded long term training to become a skilled accident investigator. In return, you can further your accident investigation career in a supportive and development focused environment, within an internationally regarded organisation clearly focused on the avoidance of repeat accidents. Applications close at 5pm on Monday, 15 March 2021. If you are interested in the position please visit our website www.peopleandco.nz and search on the keyword 19631 under the Jobs tab. All applications will be acknowledged electronically. For further information contact Jacaleen Williams on 0064 4 931 9450 quoting job number 19631. To be eligible to apply you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand and meet any entry requirements if you're outside the country. For advice on obtaining a New Zealand work or residence visa and our entry requirements visit www.immigration.govt.nz Graduate Survey Survey of Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot’s Perception of the Impact Cockpit Organizational Framework has on Flight Safety and Subordinate Pilot Behavior https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COF-Survey ERAU - Research Study Dear Pilot, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your opinions on urban air mobility. This study is expected to take approximately 10 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the U.S., a certified pilot, and have piloted with the last 5 year. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://forms.gle/PMY7C4fh9LL3VWUa9 For more information, please contact: Dr. Scott R. Winter scott.winter@erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! ISASI - 2021 ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Are you a full-time student in a collegiate aviation program? Do you know a full-time student in the aeronautical/aerospace engineering, aviation operations, aviation psychology, aviation safety and/or aircraft occurrence investigation fields? Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship! This award includes funded attendance at the ISASI Annual Seminar. An award of $2,000 will be made to the student(s) who meets the eligibility criteria and is chosen by the Scholarship Fund Committee based on the contents of the application package including an essay submission. The 2021 annual scholarship award will function a bit differently than past awards. This year the award includes funded attendance at the ISASI Virtual Annual Seminar. Additionally, all remaining funds from the scholarship award will be used to cover costs for the seminar registration fees, travel, and accommodation expenses for either the 2022 or 2023 in-person seminar. Please see eligibility requirements and an application attached. We look forward to receiving your applications and reviewing your essays! Thank you, ISASI Scholarship Fund Committee Application Form: https://tinyurl.com/11hf7onq Curt Lewis