Flight Safety Information - March 9, 2021 No. 049 In This Issue : Incident: American A321 near Dallas on Mar 7th 2021, engine problem : Accident: Berry E120 at Detroit on Mar 6th 2021, gear problem on departure, lands back gear up : Accident: Horizon DH8D enroute on Mar 5th 2021, turbulence injures two cabin crew : Incident: American A321 at Philadelphia on Mar 7th 2021, fumes on board : American Airlines' (AAL) 737 MAX Flight Faces Engine Issue : Pilots Ask FedEx To Halt Hong Kong Layovers Over COVID Rules : Laser strikes increase even with fewer aircraft flying : Airline industry pushes US to standardize health papers : Embry-Riddle Researchers Receive FAA Grants to Assure Drone Safety : Textron Aviation's King Air 90, Citation Sovereign End Their Rule : NOW HIRING: 35 airport security screening officers at Memphis International Airport : Dutch Students Just Unveiled the World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft : Air Force may use contractors to train pilots : Central Pennsylvania woman becomes NASA flight director : NASA-SpaceX launch of next International Space Station crew pushed to April 22 : Helicopter Accident Investigation Online Course : POSITION AVAILABLE: Staff Engineer : 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 T Incident: American A321 near Dallas on Mar 7th 2021, engine problem An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N996AN performing flight AA-818 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) to Cancun (Mexico) with 167 people on board, was enroute at FL330 about 40nm northwest of Houston,TX (USA) when the crew decided to return to Dallas Ft. Worth due to an engine (V2533) problem, initially descending to FL300 for the return. The aircraft subsequently drifted down to FL240 and requested runway 17C. ATC offered runway 17R which was accepted by the crew. The aircraft landed safely on Dallas Ft. Worth's runway 17R about 65 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Dallas about 28 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e41bf94&opt=0 Accident: Berry E120 at Detroit on Mar 6th 2021, gear problem on departure, lands back gear up A Berry Aviation Embraer EMB-120, registration N233SW performing flight BYA-233 from Detroit Willow Run,MI to Akron-Canton,OH (USA) with 2 crew, was climbing out of Detroit when the crew stopped the climb at 14000 feet declaring emergency due to a gear problem. The aircraft returned to Willow Run for a low approach parallel to and right of runway 05R, then positioned for another approach to runway 05R. The aircraft landed gear up on runway 05R. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP, DETROIT, MI." There were no injuries, the damage is "unknown". https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BYA233/history/20210307/0400Z/KYIP/KCAK http://avherald.com/h?article=4e418fb7&opt=0 Accident: Horizon DH8D enroute on Mar 5th 2021, turbulence injures two cabin crew A Horizon de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration N440QX performing flight QX-2306 from Seattle,WA to Pasco,WA (USA), was enroute when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing minor injuries to two flight attendants. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Pasco. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, PASCO, WA." stating two cabin crew received minor injuries. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/QXE2306/history/20210305/2149Z/KSEA/KPSC http://avherald.com/h?article=4e4190e3&opt=0 Incident: American A321 at Philadelphia on Mar 7th 2021, fumes on board An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N976UY performing flight AA-2933 from Philadelphia,PA to Charlotte,NC (USA), was climbing through 12000 feet out of Philadelphia's runway 27L when the crew requested to return to Philadelphia advising they had a fumes event on board. The crew subsequently donned their oxygen masks and explained they had some odour throughout the aircraft. Prior to landing the crew removed the oxygen masks. The aircraft landed safely back on Philadelphia's runway 27L about 20 minutes after departure, advised no further assistance was needed and taxied to the apron. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2933/history/20210307/1130Z/KPHL/KCLT http://avherald.com/h?article=4e41c3ff&opt=0 American Airlines' (AAL) 737 MAX Flight Faces Engine Issue Engine-related issues due to technological glitches are emerging as the latest source of setbacks for the airline stocks, which are already reeling under the coronavirus-induced weak air-travel demand. Notably, on Feb 20, 2021, United Airlines’ UAL Flight 328 made an emergency landing at the Denver International Airport following an engine failure. On Feb 22, a Delta Air Lines DAL flight made an emergency landing at the Salt Lake International Airport after a snag in the engine was detected. American Airlines AAL became the latest U.S.- based carrier to suffer a technological breakdown. Per a Reuters report, American Airlines’ Flight 2555, a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, travelling to New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport from Miami, declared an emergency. The declaration came after the captain of the flight was forced to shut down one engine due to a possible mechanical issue. Thankfully, the incident did not result in any casualty as the plane landed safely at Newark with 95 passengers and six crew- members aboard. Per the report, the snag might have been caused by issues related to an engine oil pressure or volume indicator. As a matter of relief, the incident is unlikely to be related to the MCAS system linked to two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that prompted Boeing 737 MAX jets to be grounded for 20 months since Mar 2019. In November 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave the green signal to the aircraft to resume commercial flights. Following FAA’s decision, American Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to restart its commercial flight services using Boeing's 737 MAX jets when it started operating the planes from Dec 29, 2020 on the Miami -New York route. Brazilian carrier Gol Linhas GOL was, however, the first airline in the world to resume passenger services using the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. It started using the aircraft from Dec 9, 2020. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/american-airlines-aal-737-max-190207697.html Pilots Ask FedEx To Halt Hong Kong Layovers Over COVID Rules Pilots for Federal Express (NYSE: FDX) are directly appealing to Chairman, CEO and founder Frederick Smith to stop layovers in Hong Kong because of onerous quarantine conditions they say force crews to be hospitalized against their will in substandard quarters and put their well-being at risk. In a letter posted to Twitter on Friday, Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, repeated calls for the express delivery company to suspend brief rest stays "until these egregious layover conditions are resolved and a safe layover environment is restored." Pilots are upset about a number of restrictive health protocols in Hong Kong. Flight crews who test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival are remanded to government-selected hospitals, and asymptomatic pilots are kept in the AsiaWorld Expo Center with hundreds of patients in cubicle-style rooms and communal bathrooms. DePete, during testimony last week before the House Transportation and Infrastructure aviation subcommittee about the aviation industry's recovery from COVID-19, described the conditions as "deplorable." Last year, ALPA complained that COVID-positive pilots were locked in hospital rooms with another COVID-positive individual even though they were asymptomatic. Some members who tested positive have been detained for more than three weeks, according to the union. Pilots who may have been exposed to the virus are required to remain in a government quarantine facility or camp for up to 14 days, and a FedEx pilot recently spent at least six days in such a facility. And two pilots who ultimately were found to be negative for COVID-19 were hospitalized and required to submit to blood draws and chest X-rays, DePete wrote. "This strikes at the very dignity of work," DePete said during the hearing, adding that it hurts morale because pilots wonder as they enter Hong Kong airspace if they're going to be able to return home. DePete said efforts to evacuate crew members with an air ambulance are often unsuccessful. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, said the U.S. government should intervene to help evacuate pilots who have tested positive in Hong Kong and are denied their freedom. UPS (NYSE: UPS) is trying a new rapid antigen test under which pilots take samples during flight and forward the results to Hong Kong authorities in an effort to avoid quarantines. The Covi-Stix detection kit has yet to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but maker Sorrento Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRNE) says it is much more accurate than other rapid tests. FedEx resumed layovers three months ago against the wishes of the pilots, who are now going over management's head to the top of the company. Last summer, the union asked the express carrier to suspend flight operations in Hong Kong so pilots suspected of having COVID exposure weren't forced into congregate settings that housed others who might carry the virus and that lacked living comforts. FedEx responded by discontinuing rest stays for several months, but they were resumed in December. DePete thanked FedEx for offering in late January to temporarily relocate pilots and their families who live in Hong Kong so they aren't subject to long separations in public facilities, but said the current working conditions are "wholly unacceptable." One potential remedy would be for aircraft to carry double crews so the inbound pilots wouldn't have to disembark for their required rest period. Such a move, however, would increase operating costs and could reduce pilot capacity elsewhere in the FedEx network. Since the start of the pandemic, the airline industry has encouraged governments to exempt flight crews from testing and quarantine requirements for the general public because they isolate themselves in hotel rooms and pose less risk of infection. DePete said in the letter that it is in FedEx's interest to protect the health and safety of pilots who have put themselves at risk to transport personal protective equipment, ventilators and other cargo people have relied on during the pandemic. "Since the onset of COVID-19, our members who fly for FedEx Express have persevered through extraordinary circumstances. ALPA pilots have contributed to the company's success during the pandemic and made certain that the global supply chain continues to move, including through flight operations into and out of Hong Kong," DePete said. FedEx revenue grew 19% to $20.6 billion while operating income more than doubled to $1.51 billion in its fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30. In his testimony, DePete said the U.S. government should move pilots up the priority list for receiving COVID vaccinations because they are vital to delivering vaccines and helping with the economic recovery from the pandemic. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/pilots-ask-fedex-halt-hong-211618671.html Laser strikes increase even with fewer aircraft flying Laser strikes against pilots increased in 2020 even with the overall decrease in air traffic operations. In 2020, pilots reported 6,852 laser strikes to the FAA. This is an increase from 6,136 laser strikes reported in 2019 and is the highest number reported to the agency since 2016. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains vigilant in raising awareness about misuse of lasers when they are pointed towards aircraft. Intentionally aiming lasers at an aircraft poses a safety threat to pilots and violates federal law. Many high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots flying aircraft that may be carrying hundreds of passengers. The FAA works closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against people who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft. The agency takes enforcement action against people who violate Federal Aviation Regulations by shining lasers at aircraft and can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. The FAA has imposed civil penalties up to $30,800 against people for multiple laser incidents. https://verticalmag.com/press-releases/laser-strikes-increase-even-with-fewer-aircraft-flying/ Airline industry pushes US to standardize health papers Top airline and business groups are asking the Biden administration to take a leading role in developing standards for credentials that would let travelers show they have been tested and vaccinated for COVID-19 Leading airline and business groups are asking the Biden administration to develop temporary credentials that would let travelers show they have been tested and vaccinated for COVID-19, a step that the airline industry believes will help revive travel. Various groups and countries are working on developing so-called vaccine passports aimed at allowing more travel. But airlines fear that a smattering of regional credentials will cause confusion and none will be widely accepted. “It is crucial to establish uniform guidance" and “the U.S. must be a leader in this development,” more than two dozen groups said in a letter Monday to White House coronavirus-response coordinator Jeff Zients. However, the groups said that vaccination should not be a requirement for domestic or international travel. The groups include the main U.S. and international airline trade organizations, airline labor unions and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The White House did not immediately comment. The World Health Organization and the United Nations' aviation arm are working on the type of information to include in a credential. The airline industry groups are particularly interested in having the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention take a leading role, believing that would increase certainty that information in the credentials is legitimate. The CDC issued new guidelines Monday for fully vaccinated people, saying they can — without face masks — meet other vaccinated people and visit unvaccinated people in a single household who are at low risk for severe disease. However, the health agency still recommends against travel. “Every time that there is a surge in travel, we have a surge in cases in this country,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. Walensky noted that many variants of COVID-19 now spreading in the U.S. started in other countries. Still, she held out the possibility that with more data CDC might soon approve of travel by vaccinated people. Airlines have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. Despite a partial recovery, U.S. airlines are still losing $150 million a day, according to the Airlines for America trade group. In the U.S., the number of people going through airports remains down nearly 60% so far this year compared to 2019, the last normal, pre-pandemic year. Most of those people are flying within the United States. Airlines are counting on widespread vaccinations to boost travel, and for vaccine passports to give a boost to highly lucrative international flying. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/airline-industry-pushes-us-standardize-health-papers-76331658 Embry-Riddle Researchers Receive FAA Grants to Assure Drone Safety Embry-Riddle received four grants totalling about $500,000, to develop safety standards for package-delivery drones and urban air taxis. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University researchers recently received four Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants to assess risks and help develop safety protocols for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, as they are increasingly integrated into such uses as package delivery and aerial taxi services. The grants, totaling about $500,000, are intended to advance FAA efforts to "integrate UAS safely and efficiently into our nation's airspace system, ultimately delivering new transportation and solutions and economic benefits for the American people," said Acting U.S. Secretary of Transportation Steven G. Bradbury in a U.S. Department of Transportation press release. The grants address four different aspects of drone safety — incorporating UAS data into the Aviation Safety Information and Analysis Sharing system, mitigating glitches in drone location systems such as GPS, quantifying the likelihood and potential severity of drone collisions with general aviation and commercial aircraft, and assessing risks associated with drone operation near structures that are collision hazards for manned aircraft. "Research in this area is especially critical due to the evolving nature of the industry," said John Robbins, associate professor and program coordinator for Unmanned Systems. "We are working to identify gaps and further create unique solutions to challenging problems related to unmanned and autonomous technologies. Embry-Riddle programs in these systems have adapted to evolve with industry, which would not have been possible without the support of faculty and students working on solutions to real-world problems." All of the grants look at improving the safety of aviation, including UAS operation. The data incorporation grant, for instance, will help to group pair data from commercial and general aviation with UAS operations data for "aggregate trend analysis, looking for possible safety issues," said Dave Esser, professor of Aeronautical Science. The research projects — led by principal investigators Esser, associate professor of Aerospace Engineering Hever Moncayo and assistant professor of Aeronautical Science Ryan Wallace, and being conducted over approximately two years — will involve Embry-Riddle students in master's and Ph.D. courses of study. "This experience will likely equip the students with a better understanding of the FAA's approach to risk assessment and mitigation techniques," Wallace said. Moncayo, principal investigator on two of the projects, said they will "advance the criteria to regulate the operation of UAS in close proximity to flight obstacles and identify threats and solutions to increase their operation safety in urban environments, for example." Countermeasures to threats such as UAS subsystem failures, sensor damage or GPS that is corrupted by cyber-attacks could include the application of artificial intelligence techniques, adaptive control and alternative navigation approaches such as geomagnetic-based position estimation, Moncayo said. "Package delivery will benefit from this research," he said, "as FAA will be able to develop or enhance policies and standards for safe and secure small UAS operations with an emphasis on low-cost and easy-to-implement technologies." More than 1.7 million recreational and commercial drones are in the active UAS fleet, according to the FAA, and that number is expected to grow to as high as 2.31 million by 2024. Embry-Riddle has been involved in FAA-sponsored drone research for more than 15 years and joined other universities to co-found the FAA's Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence, through which these grants were awarded. According to Wallace, "the results of this research will serve to provide safety benchmarks and advise the FAA on future UAS policymaking." https://finance.yahoo.com/news/embry-riddle-researchers-receive-faa-193000616.html Textron Aviation's King Air 90, Citation Sovereign End Their Rule Textron Aviation said there was overlap in the market between the Cessna Citation Sovereign+ and its more recent models, the midsize Latitude and super-midsize Longitude. Textron Aviation has ended production of its Cessna Citation Sovereign+ midsize business jet and Beechcraft King Air C90 GTx twin-turboprop, the OEM confirmed to AIN today. Demand for both airplanes had slipped in recent years while Textron Aviation noted its action was based on a continuous alignment of product offerings with current and future market demand. “Both aircraft have been valued members of legendary product lineups for decades,” the company said. The models will continue to be supported by Textron Aviation’s service centers and parts operation. The 2019 certification of the super-midsize Citation Longitude, as well as the earlier 2015 entry-into-service of the midsize Citation Latitude, presented “the opportunity to minimize overlap within this customer segment” by ceasing Sovereign production, the company added. The Model 680 Sovereign featured a stretched Excel fuselage and a new wing and entered service in 2004. Since then, Textron Aviation has delivered 349 Sovereigns and 94 Sovereign+s. It was upgraded to the plus variant in 2012 with FAA type certification and first delivery occurring the following year. In the past four years, annual deliveries of the Sovereign+ had slipped to the single digits, with only the now out-of-production Mustang and X+ recording fewer deliveries, according to figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Beechcraft King Air C90 GTx Textron Aviation called the C90 "a pioneer of the King Air family." (Photo: Textron Aviation) A “pioneer of the King Air family,” the C90 was a derivative of the Queen Air and in 1964, the 65-90 was the first King Air 90 series variant to be delivered. Between 2004 and 2009, the C90 received a series of three upgrades—GT, GTi, and GTx—with the last refresh in 2015 adding Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics to its flight deck. In all, 2,178 variants of the King Air 90 series—including A and B models—have been delivered. Last year, the Wichita airframer announced the King Air 260 and 360/360ER. GAMA figures showed C90GTx deliveries in the past five years representing a fraction of its larger siblings. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-03-08/textron-aviations-king-air-90-citation-sovereign-end-their-rule NOW HIRING: 35 airport security screening officers at Memphis International Airport Starting pay is $16.51 per hour and benefits include paid training, annual and sick leave, health care plans, and a retirement plan. TSA seeks to hire 35 airport security screening officers at Memphis International Airport MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is launching recruitment efforts across Memphis to fill 35 Transportation Security Officer (TSO) part-time positions by summer 2021 at Memphis International Airport (MEM). TSOs are a critical first line defense in securing our nation’s commercial air transportation system,” said Melanie Harvey, acting Executive Assistant Administrator for TSA’s Security Operations. “Each day, our officers screen hundreds of thousands of airline travelers ensuring they arrive at their destinations safely. We expect to screen a higher number of travelers regularly by the summer months and will need additional officers to support our critical mission.” Based on anticipated seasonal travel trends in the months ahead and the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations for the general public, TSA has launched national efforts to recruit new employees in support of screening operations at approximately 430 airports nationwide. Benefits include paid training, annual and sick leave, health care plans for full- and part-time employees and a generous retirement plan. TSA is committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and encourages individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including military veterans and persons with disabilities. Starting pay is $16.51 per hour with opportunities for pay increases after six months. TSA seeks those who want to take the initial step into a rewarding federal career and support TSA’s critical mission of protecting our nation’s transportation systems. For more information on the duties, of a TSO and to learn a little more about TSA’s mission, a video titled “Day in the Life of a TSO” is available. https://www.localmemphis.com/article/money/now-hiring-35-airport-security-screening-officers-at-memphis-international-airport/522-0277fff2-cf67-4d0f-8e03-6be23c679833 Dutch Students Just Unveiled the World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft While hydrogen-powered aircraft have been viewed with skepticism by many mainstream aviation experts, a team of students in the Netherlands plans to fly the world’s first aircraft with liquid-hydrogen fuel cells in July. The students from Delft University of Technology, calling themselves the AeroDelft team, just revealed a prototype called Phoenix PT. Delft University also achieved another milestone last September, successfully demonstrating a prototype of the Flying V, a blended-wing design that promises to be much more fuel-efficient than traditional commercial aircraft. AeroDelft just announced that it recently completed the ground tests for the crew-less Phoenix PT, which weighs about 113 pounds. It will carry two pounds of liquid hydrogen for its maiden flight. AeroDelft calculates Phoenix PT will have a range of 311 miles and flight time of up to seven hours. The students, comprising 23 nationalities, started the hydrogen aircraft project in September 2018. AeroDelft began building a full-scale, two-passenger aircraft Phoenix FS last October. It is scheduled to make its first flight in 2022. AeroDelft chose liquid hydrogen to fuel its Phoenix aircraft because hydrogen is not only the world’s lightest element, but it can pack three times the energy of fossil fuels without emitting any greenhouse gases. It emits only water vapor. Phoenix is also designed to have an unusually low noise profile, with a tail-mounted electric motor. With a wingspan of 164 feet, the full-scale Phoenix FS will have a crew of two and hold up to 22 pounds of liquid hydrogen for an expected range of 1,243 miles and flight time of up to 10 hours. The two-passenger model’s 2022 flight will be powered by gaseous hydrogen. In 2024, Phoenix FS is expected to fly with liquid hydrogen. AeroDelft’s sights are set beyond the flight of the Phoenix, with the team’s projection for the first hydrogen-powered flight around the world to happen by 2025, and the first commercial, hydrogen-powered aircraft to begin operations by 2035. Airbus also plans to fly its first zero-emission commercial aircraft that year. Its ZEROe program is looking at different configurations and technologies for hydrogen power. While liquid hydrogen is the fuel of choice for the space program, having it become the primary fuel for commercial aircraft has its challenges. Aircraft designers will need to ensure that its storage on board future aircraft will be as safe as existing commercial airliners, while also developing hydrogen storage facilities at airports. Current hydrogen extraction is highly energy intensive, so ways to harvest “green hydrogen” using water electrolysis are being explored. “Cost-competitive green hydrogen and cross-industry partnerships will be mandatory to bring zero-emission flying to reality,” said Glenn Llewellyn, vice president of Zero-Emission Aircraft at Airbus, in a recent statement. https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/worlds-first-aircraft-powered-by-hydrogen-fuel-cells-1234600400/ Air Force may use contractors to train pilots In a bid to finally overcome a chronic pilot shortage, the Air Force says it may use private contractors to train some of its fledgling aviators. It has issued five “requests for information” that could produce 200 pilots a year over a five-year period. “The idea is to reach out to industry and see how you all might be able to support, provide ideas and provide information that will help us as we formulate our plans moving forward,” said Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. “As you know, the pilot shortage is a worldwide phenomenon. It’s not strictly limited to the U.S. Air Force,” he added. The decision to use private contractors, rather than Air Force instructor pilots, underscores concerns the service has long had about producing enough aviators. It has grappled with a pilot shortage for years and has tried to find ways to increase production. The shortage at the close of the 2020 fiscal year Sept. 30 was around 1,925 pilots and reflected a 7 percent increase in retention, perhaps because fewer Air Force pilots were leaving for commercial airlines in the coronavirus pandemic. The Air Education and Training Command based at JBSA-Randolph produced 1,263 pilots in the same period. Using contractors to train novice pilots is just one tactic in the Air Force’s overall strategy to dig its way out of what commanders call the “pilot crisis.” The Air Force has cut as much as five weeks from the time required to teach novice pilots, a move that could help it replace rapidly departing veterans. In 2018, Undergraduate Pilot Training — called UPT — had been trimmed from 54.7 weeks to an average of 49.2 weeks, a prospect that alarmed some veteran instructors. The Air Force insists safety hadn’t been jeopardized. On ExpressNews.com: AF to cut training time from 54 to 49 weeks, produce 1,500 pilots by FY 2022, Oct. 20, 2018 The Air Force also has developed a pair of new, innovative programs — Pilot Training Next and Undergraduate Training 2.5 — that have graduated small clusters of aviators in only eight months or so. Pilot Training Next began in February 2018, and Undergraduate Pilot Training 2.5 started last July. Both are at Randolph and train novices by relying far more on sophisticated simulators that use “intelligent tutors” to instruct the students. The training command expects to expand Pilot Training Next’s most successful concepts to all novice pilot training after classes now underway at UPT 2.5 conclude at Randolph and Vance AFB in Oklahoma and an analysis of its effectiveness is presented to Wills. The Air Force hopes to ultimately take the lessons learned and apply them to all pilot instruction. It isn’t yet clear how that would work in part because both experimental flying training programs rely on a near 1-to-1 student-instructor ratio. Ordinarily, pilot instruction requires three or four instructors for every student, said Lt. Col. Ron Knight, commander of Randolph’s 559th Flying Training Squadron, which is testing UPT 2.5. “That’s really the objective, to take the success stories out of Pilot Training Next and implement them into an actual flying squadron with a more realistic student-to-instructor ratio,” he said. Commanders at all levels say the changes are overdue to tip the scales in the battle to keep enough pilots in uniform. “While we have the best-trained pilots in the world, we haven’t significantly changed Undergraduate Pilot Training in more than 50 years,” Gen. David Goldfein said before retiring last summer as Air Force chief of staff. “Now, by leveraging military, academic and industry expertise, we are on the cusp of a more modern and advanced pilot training program.” On ExpressNews.com: Close calls and near-misses: Air Force chief has had highs, and at least one low The latest concept was pitched late last month by AETC and the 19th Air Force, which hosted Flying Training Virtual Industry Days at Randolph. The event reviewed the current state of Air Force flying training and asked 100 industry representatives from 43 companies to suggest ways of improving pilot production. Wills outlined the new “learner-centric” approach being used in Pilot Training Next and UPT 2.5. Some officers at Randolph have described the new training model as more akin to a relationship between coaches and athletes than instructors and students. “We have a different mentality that says, why don’t we teach folks as much as possible so, at the end of their training program, they are as proficient as possible,” he explained to the gathering. If all goes as planned, the Air Force could award contracts to companies that train UPT students in fixed-wing aircraft and simulators, as well as in helicopters. A 19th Air Force spokeswoman, Aryn Lockhart, cautioned that the service is only requesting information from contractors at this point. She added, “We are only in the stage of seeing how industry might be able to assist.” The idea of using contractors to train Air Force novice pilots isn’t new. They’ve been used in UPT in decades past, most recently in the 1950s, before being phased out, an Air Force spokesman said. Wills said the government “is very much interested in coming up with solutions that are advantageous to the taxpayer. It is our goal to bring the very best that American industry brings to the table, and we are not convinced that we are the only people that have good ideas.” https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Air-Force-to-use-contractors-to-train-pilots-16009692.php Central Pennsylvania woman becomes NASA flight director And a central Pennsylvania native reached her dream to shoot for the stars. Chloe Mehring recently became a flight director for NASA. She grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Bloomsburg, where Mehring discovered a love for space in grade school. She later went on to pursue aerospace engineering at Penn State, immediately heading to NASA after her 2008 graduation. 13 years later, she’s holding a position that only 100 others have in NASA’s history, thanks to her encouraging peers. “Find your support system, you know, find people who are in those same shoes, continue to encourage each other, and then pick up others along the way and then pick up others along the way and let them know about the journey you’ve taken so far,” Mehring said. Mehring says she appreciates NASA because they respect you for the work you do, not who you are or where you come from. https://www.pahomepage.com/top-stories/central-pennsylvania-woman-becomes-nasa-flight-director/ NASA-SpaceX launch of next International Space Station crew pushed to April 22 (Reuters) - The next launch window for a NASA crew to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket has been pushed back by at least another two days, to no earlier than April 22, the space agency said. SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, had been scheduled to carry its second "operational" space station team into orbit for NASA in late March from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. But NASA announced in January that the target date had slipped to April 20. The schedule was adjusted again on the basis of available flight times to the space station, driven by orbital mechanics, that would keep the astronauts' need for sleep shifting to a minimum, NASA spokesman Dan Huot said on Monday. The flight marks only the second full-fledged space station crew-rotation mission launched aboard a private company's spacecraft - a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket tipped with the Crew Dragon capsule it will carry into orbit. The four-member SpaceX Crew-2 consists of two NASA astronauts, mission commander Shane Kimbrough and pilot Megan McArthur, along with Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and fellow mission specialist Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency. After docking with the space station, they will join the four SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts who arrived in November, and cosmonauts carried to the orbiting outpost aboard a Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft. The newly arrived Crew-2 are to remain in orbit six months, while Crew-1 is due to return to earth by early May. McArthur will become the second person from her family to ride a Crew Dragon into space. Her husband, Bob Behnken, was one of two NASA astronauts on the first manned Crew Dragon launch, a trial flight last August marking NASA's first human orbital mission from U.S. soil in nine years, following the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nasa-spacex-launch-next-international-233119554.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. 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