Flight Safety Information - March 19, 2021 No. 057 In This Issue : Accident: VivaAeroBus A320 at Puerto Vallarta on Mar 18th 2021, nose gear collapse during backtrack for departure : Incident: S7 A20N at Novosibirsk on Mar 16th 2021, engine shut down in flight : United Flight Diverts As Unruly Passenger Reportedly Injures Others : WHY FREIGHT PILOTS FLYING COVID-19 VACCINES CAN’T GET VACCINATED : US aviation body to inspect Boeing 787s amid production issues : Boeing Loses Key Authority On Additional Aircraft To FAA : Why Do Pilots Measure Airspeed In Knots? : TSB says Iran report on downing of flight PS752 explains what happened, but doesn’t say why : Bombardier’s Demonstration Aircraft Operations Team Earns IBAC’s Highest Recognition for Enhanced Safety Culture : TSA finds loaded handgun in woman's carry-on at Pittsburgh International Airport : Costa Rica-To-Miami American Airlines Delayed Nearly 8 Hours After Flight Crew Robbed At Gunpoint : FAA Delays Drone Remote ID Tracking, ‘Operations Over People’ Rules : Velodyne Lidar names former NTSB chair to board : Israeli Airlines To Benefit From $210 Million Of Government Aid : Jet Airways’ ex-CEO Is Reportedly Looking To Start Another Airline (India) : JetBlue considers whether to leave NYC and move to Florida : US military to keep wary eye on Chinese and Russian space ambitions under President Biden : Aviation Regulation in the U.S. : Graduate Survey Accident: VivaAeroBus A320 at Puerto Vallarta on Mar 18th 2021, nose gear collapse during backtrack for departure A VivaAeroBus Airbus A320-200, registration XA-VAZ performing flight VB-4343 from Puerto Vallarta to Monterrey (Mexico) with 127 people on board, was backtracking runway 22 for departure. While doing the 180 turn to line up for takeoff at 13:42L (19:42Z) the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft was evacuated via slides. No injuries occurred. The airline confirmed a nose gear failure prior to takeoff. The aircraft carried 127 passengers and crew. No injuries occurred. The passengers are being taken to Monterrey on alternatives. The occurrence is under investigation. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e497f2a&opt=0 Incident: S7 A20N at Novosibirsk on Mar 16th 2021, engine shut down in flight A S7 Sibir Airlines Airbus A320-200N, registration VQ-BDQ performing flight S7-5227 from Novosibirsk to Irkutsk (Russia) with 154 passengers and 6 crew, was in the initial climb out of Novosibirsk's runway 25 when the right hand engine (PW1127G) indicated failed prompting the crew to shut the engine down. The aircraft levelled off at FL060 and returned to Novosibirsk for a safe landing on runway 25 about 20 minutes after departure. West Siberia's Transport Prosecution Office reported the crew received an engine failure indication and returned the aircraft to Novosibirsk. The office is looking into the occurrence. A replacement A320-200N registration VQ-BRA reached Irkutsk with a delay of 2:40 hours. On Mar 18th 2021 Rosaviatsia reported the crew received indications of N1 vibrations followed by an engine surge. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e47a64b&opt=0 United Flight Diverts As Unruly Passenger Reportedly Injures Others On Wednesday, United Airlines Flight UA728 took off from Newark at 08:20 on its way to Miami. At 10:06, it touched down in Charleston, having diverted to off-load a sedated and restrained passenger who had struck and injured no less than three of his fellow passengers. The man is now held in South Carolina on charges of drug possession, with federal charges pending. Yesterday, March 17th, the United flight, operated by a Boeing 737-800, was on its way from Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, to Miami International Airport, Florida. A little less than an hour after departure, one of the passengers became increasingly unruly. Following an altercation between the highly agitated man and some of his fellow travelers, the Captain made the decision to divert the plane to Charleston, South Carolina. Initial reports of ear-biting Local authorities were called to the plane. According to the incident report, they boarded and came upon the 45-year old troublemaker face down in the aisle. He had been restrained, and his wrists were fastened behind his back and secured to his belt with a zip-tie. A man who identified himself as a physician said he had given the suspect, identified as John Yurkovich, a shot in the buttocks with the antihistamine Benadryl to help sedate him. According to Count On News 2, before boarding, the officers had received reports of ‘someone’s ear being bitten off’. However, there was no such mention in their incident report. Lacerations and a broken nose Meanwhile, the passenger sitting next to the suspect did suffer a laceration to his left ear as a result of his glasses breaking from the impact of a punch from Yurkovich. The injured row-cohabitant said that the 45-year old had asked the flight attendant for some water, then gotten out of his seat and retrieved what looked like pills from his carry-on. He then sat back down in an agitated state and proceeded to ‘thrash around’ and shout. First, he punched his seat neighbor in the face, breaking his glasses. He then hit a second man from the row behind who tried to intervene. Reports say the man may have suffered a broken nose. Another interjector was hit across the side of the head but not severely injured. A four-hour delay and FBI charges on the way The officials escorted the man off the plane and took statements from witnesses to the reported assault. According to WBTV, they later discovered 1.5 grams of methamphetamine in the man’s pocket. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute and held at the Al Cannon Detention Center. A judge has set the surety bond to $50,000. As criminal offenses committed aboard an aircraft are subject to the jurisdiction of federal courts, additional charges from the FBI are still pending. The plane, a Boeing 737-800 with registration N76503, was then cleared to take off. It arrived in Miami with a delay of four hours and 26 minutes at 14:00 local time. United Airlines confirmed that Flight UA728 was diverted to Charleston due to a disruptive passenger on board but referred any further questions to local authorities. https://simpleflying.com/united-passenger-injures-others/ WHY FREIGHT PILOTS FLYING COVID-19 VACCINES CAN’T GET VACCINATED By Roger Rapoport FSI Senior Editor In what may be the biggest humanitarian event of its kind since the Berlin Airlift, 8,100 UPS and Fed Ex pilots emergency delivering of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines have been lauded as heroes on the world stage. Television crews routinely cover their arrival on the evening news. In recent weeks Hong Kong airport ground crews have been unloading 585,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine flown in by American pilots. While Hong Kong domiciled pilots are being immunized, most of their American counterparts have been waiting since December to receive top priority essential worker status nationwide from the Centers for Disease Control. They have good reason to be worried. Today the Covid-19 rate for pilots at these two freight carriers is more than a third higher than the general public. By the end of February, 963 Fed Ex and UPS pilots had tested positive for the virus and one Fed Ex pilot has died from Covid-19. Captain Robert Travis, president of the Independent Pilots Association, is worried about the vaccination delays for UPS crews. Noting that 13 percent of the freight company’s pilots have tested positive for Covid-19 he says: “Ironically for the last few months UPS pilots have been proudly flying lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines onboard their aircraft. Yet those same pilots do not have a priority for receiving the vaccine.” The International Air Transport Association’s Alexander Juniac fears lack of immunization could potentially hurt delivery of vaccines requiring “the equivalent of 8,000 747 freighter aircraft for global distribution.” Making this happen depends on having a “qualified workforce in place.” The IPA’s Brian Gaudet shares his concern: “At any given time UPS has had up to 70 pilots in quarantine.” Five UPS pilots have been hospitalized in Hong Kong for testing positive and three others have been held in the Asia World-Expo center where they are near seriously ill patients. In addition one spent time in both.” Eager to avoid flight crew detention, the Airline Pilots Association President Joe DePete, has asked Fed Ex, UPS Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Congressional leaders to temporarily suspend Hong Kong overnights for these freight pilots. He points out that: “Flight crews members who test positive for COVID-19 are mandated to government-selected hospitals. Currently, Hong Kong is placing asymptomatic pilots in the AsiaWorld-Expo center with hundreds of patients in cubicle-style rooms and communal bathrooms. “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.” “Those pilots who may have been exposed to COVID-19 have been required to remain in a government quarantine facility or camp for up to 14 days. Despite assurances in November that new procedures were in place to limit exposure of layover crews to these camps, a FedEx pilot recently spent at least six days in such a facility.” “To get out,” says the IPA’s Gaudet, “the pilots have to develop enough antibodies to prove they aren’t infected any more. This problem could have been mitigated if our pilots were put at the top of the essential worker priority list in December.” “To avoid being sent to mass quarantine facilities some pilots exposed to Covid-19 positive crew have been evacuated by charter to more hospitable Anchorage,” says a FedEx pilots union official. Another solution has been offered by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) who wants the American government to quickly evacuate pilots testing positive in Hong Kong. Fed Ex pilots have experienced similar difficulties in other countries. One pilot testing negative for Covid-19 was detained in an Australian hospital because his CPAP machine violated local virus restrictions. A related concern is the well being of FAA workers at more than 250 facilities who have been infected by Covid-19. In many instances control towers at major airports such as Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago Midway, New York’s Kennedy and LaGuardia have had ground stops or temporary closures. To date 6,873 Transportation Security Agency staff have been infected by the pandemic and there have also been significant Covid-19 clusters at three FedEx Ground centers in California. All of this has contributed to the industry’s full court press at the Centers for Disease Control. Immunizing pilots flying the vaccine would seem like an easy sell for airline lobbyists who have scored over $70 billion in Congressional grants, loans and loan guarantees. Vaccine distribution was delegated to the states by the Trump administration last year. Currently the CDC recommends, but cannot mandate, when pilots receive their vaccinations. That means the ability of pilots to get one of the three approved vaccines depends on their Governors, counties and public health departments. Although some states have elevated pilots to essential worker status, pilots have discovered the vaccine may be temporarily unavailable. Their travel schedules can also play havoc with scheduling immunizations. Roger Rapoport is the coauthor of GROUNDED: How To Solve The Aviation Crisis (Lexographic Press) and producer of the feature film Pilot Error. US aviation body to inspect Boeing 787s amid production issues • Manufacturing defects in the Boeing 787 are the latest problem for the aviation giant, which has struggled with the global downturn in travel caused by the pandemic and the after-effects of the 20-month grounding of the 737 MAX US aviation regulators will inspect four Boeing 787s amid concerns over production flaws in the jet, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told AFP on Thursday. Manufacturing defects on the 787 were discovered last year, prompting Boeing to suspend deliveries of the model in November, adding to the crises faced by the struggling aviation giant. "The FAA is taking a number of corrective actions to address Boeing 787 production issues. One of the actions is retaining the authority to issue airworthiness certificates for four 787 aircraft," the regulator said. "The FAA can retain the authority to issue airworthiness certificates for additional 787 aircraft if we see the need." Issuing airworthiness certificates is usually handled by Boeing employees who inspect the planes under an agreement with the regulator, though the FAA said its inspectors do occasionally examine planes themselves. Boeing announced last September that it had discovered defects in a fuselage joint and the horizontal stabilizer, and launched an investigation into the defects. The company has struggled with the global drop in travel demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the after-effects of the 20-month grounding of its best-selling 737 MAX jet, which has returned to the skies in recent months. Boeing said new orders overtook cancelations last month for the first time since November 2019. The company aims to resume production of the 787 this month but at the slower rate of five per-month rather than the usual 10. "We are encouraged by the progress our team is making on returning to delivery activities for the 787 program," a Boeing spokesperson said. "We have engaged the FAA throughout this effort and will implement their direction for airworthiness certification approval of the initial airplanes as they have done in the past." https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-aviation-body-inspect-boeing-161827100.html Boeing Loses Key Authority On Additional Aircraft To FAA The Federal Aviation Administration said late Wednesday that its regulators, not Boeing (BA) employees, would inspect specific 787 Dreamliners before they enter service. Boeing stock fell. Boeing had been responsible for the basic final safety checks needed to issue an airworthiness certificate before delivery. But FAA said it would now be responsible for the checks for four 787 Dreamlines as Boeing deals with production issues. "The FAA is taking a number of corrective actions to address Boeing 787 production issues," the FAA said in a statement. "One of the actions is retaining the authority to issue airworthiness certificates for four 787 aircraft. The FAA can retain the authority to issue airworthiness certificates for additional 787 aircraft if we see the need." The FAA's move is similar to what it did in 2019 with the 737 Max after two fatal crashes, which raised scrutiny on the regulator's earlier practice of delegating certain safety and oversight functions to Boeing. Boeing has more than 80 787 Dreamliners awaiting delivery, according to Ascend data cited by the Wall Street Journal. United Airlines (UAL) is due to receive two of them in late March or early April, sources told the Journal. The aerospace giant stopped deliveries in October as it looked to deal with quality control issues that included excessive gaps in the vertical tail fin that could cause strain on the structure of the plane and shims that were the incorrect size. Boeing's manufacturing processes came under fire after two deadly 737 Max crashes led to a 20-month grounding. Investigations into Boeing's certification process further exposed a toxic work culture, and warnings from some employees said overworked factory staff were making mistakes. https://www.investors.com/news/boeing-stock-aerospace-giant-loses-key-authority-additional-aircraft-faa/ Why Do Pilots Measure Airspeed In Knots? While most of us on the ground are used to measuring speed in kilometers or miles per hour, pilots use a different unit of measurement: Nautical miles per hour – also known as knots. Knots are also how the speed of boats is measured. But why is this unit the standard rather than what we’re used to seeing when we’re driving? • A Boeing 777 cruises at about 518 knots. This translates to roughly 960 kilometers per hour. One common unit Anyone who travels any kind of distance – internationally or even across one large country – knows that various things are done differently depending on the region. Of course, when crossing international borders, those differences are all the more noticeable. We mostly encounter differences like language, currency, and social norms in our daily (non-aviator) lives. But for those in the cockpit, who have to deal with overseas air traffic controllers and other authorities, having set standards for critical data like speed and altitude ensures relatively smooth operations across borders and oceans. This has been made possible through the work of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In 1947, the first assembly of ICAO adopted a resolution that recommended a standardized unit system. Known as Annex 5, the system was adopted in 1948, although it would take a few more decades to get everyone on the same page in terms of common units. The ICAO introduced the International System of Units, known as SI from the “Système International d’Unités,” as the basic standardized system to be used in civil aviation. The meter was the base unit of all SI measurements dealing with length. However, it was recognized that some non-SI units have a special place in aviation and had to be retained – “at least temporarily,” the ICAO notes. “These are the nautical mile and the knot, as well as the foot when it is used in the measurement of altitude, elevation or height only. Some practical problems arise in the termination of the use of these units and it has not yet been possible to fix a termination date.” – ANNEX 5 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, ICAO • The knot is based on the nautical mile and is a non-SI unit. Why knots? According to Scandinavian Traveler, the use of knots (kt) makes air and nautical navigation easier because it’s based on the nautical mile. The nautical mile is closely related to the longitude/latitude geographic coordinate system and is based on the circumference of the Earth. “Imagine that the equator is a circle divided into 360 degrees (like a compass). Each degree can be split into 60 equal parts called minutes. The length of each such -minute is equal to approximately 1 nautical mile. One knot is equal to 1 nautical mile per hour or 1.85 km/h.” -First Officer Jimisola Laursen, SAS Pilot via Scandinavian Traveler HighSkyFlying points out that In aviation, air routes are defined in terms of waypoints (latitude, longitude), and their distance is expressed in terms of nautical miles. Therefore, the use of knots provides a quick estimation of time and speed requirements for pilots. Additionally, it is noted that using knots is simpler as the numbers are within a smaller range when it comes to the speed of commercial aircraft– between 0kt and 400kt. The bottom line At the end of the day, knots were essentially carried over from the maritime sector and thus gained prominence as the aviation industry became more prominent. Even though it is a non-SI unit, the ICAO has recognized that using knots is too prevalent to terminate its use. The unit’s ease in usage, understandability, and history means that it will be in use for the foreseeable future. https://simpleflying.com/pilot-airspeed-knots/ TSB says Iran report on downing of flight PS752 explains what happened, but doesn’t say why Canada’s Transportation Safety Board says Iranian officials failed to provide evidence that a passenger jet was shot down by mistake early last year, leaving key questions unanswered as Iran’s military effectively investigated itself. It is unusual for the TSB to comment on the results of a report into an incident that took place in another country. Under international civil aviation rules, the country where the incident took place is in charge of the investigation and addresses questions and concerns from affected nations in its final report. But board chair Kathy Fox said the “unprecedented situation” where the Iranian military effectively oversaw the investigation compelled the agency to speak out Thursday, noting that dozens of its comments and questions went unanswered in the final report. The final report from Iran’s civil aviation body blamed “human error” as the reason why the Revolutionary Guard shot down a jetliner minutes after it took off from Tehran on Jan. 8 last year. All 176 people on board were killed, including 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents and dozens of others bound for Canada. The report didn’t provide a detailed explanation or evidence about the underlying factors that caused Iran’s military to fire two surface-to-air missiles at Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. Iranian officials only explained what happened, provided what Fox called a plausible explanation for the shootdown, and left unanswered questions about what actions Iran’s military has taken to prevent a repeat occurrence. The TSB’s concerns added to a mountain of international criticisms about the report released Wednesday. Domestically, the federal Liberals described the report as devoid of “hard facts or evidence.” Ralph Goodale, the former Liberal public safety minister who was named Canada’s special adviser on the response to the crash, called the report “shambolic” and “insulting” to loved ones. Goodale previously recommended the government strike a special group of investigators to look into the incident. A report from that group, which is acting separately from the TSB, is expected in the coming weeks. The investigation report from Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said a military operator fired two surface-to-air missiles after misidentifying the Boeing 737-800 as a “hostile target” and despite not getting a green light from superiors, as per procedure. Iranian officials leading the investigation decided they couldn’t probe the military’s actions under international investigation rules, a determination Fox said the TSB rejects. “This investigation needed to look into the military activities that led to their stated cause _ which was a misalignment, a misidentification, a miscommunication, a breakdown in procedures _ to support that scenario, which they haven’t done,” Fox said. “It would be very challenging for any state to investigate its own military activities in such a case, but I think it’s important for public confidence in the findings of the report to delve into those areas so that there can be confidence that if it was, in fact, an error, it won’t happen again.” Iran initially denied responsibility but three days later said the Kyiv-bound aircraft was accidentally shot down after being mistaken for a missile amid heightened tensions with the United States. The admission came after video footage on social media appeared to show at least one missile striking the jet. The disaster unfolded hours after Iran launched missiles into Iraq at two American military bases in retaliation for the U.S. having killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad airport by order of then-U.S. president Donald Trump. The report only partially explains why the airspace remained open and active for commercial airlines after the military action, Fox said. She also said the TSB, Canada’s air-safety investigator, does not believe the risk to commercial airlines operating in Iran’s airspace has been reduced. Kourosh Doustshenas, whose partner Forough Khadem was one of victims, said the final report was disappointing but not unsurprising. He said the investigation team wasn’t capable of producing an independent report, calling the final product “full of lies and misrepresentations.” “I can’t really move on,” he said in an interview. “This report, it doesn’t help (in) any way or shape to tell the truth, or provide any kind of justification of what happened.” He, like other families, wants to know what the federal government plans to do. The families, in a statement, called on the Liberal government to push Iran to release more information from the investigation, including through economic sanctions on the Revolutionary Guard, and then consider taking the regime to the International Court of Justice if talks stretch beyond three months. “We want to know what is the roadmap going forward,” Doustshenas said. https://globalnews.ca/news/7703957/iran-plane-crash-final-report-tsb/ Bombardier’s Demonstration Aircraft Operations Team Earns IBAC’s Highest Recognition for Enhanced Safety Culture • Stage 3 IS-BAO certification validates Bombardier’s vigour in developing and maintaining an effective safety culture • Bombardier first achieved Stage 3 IS-BAO safety rating in 2018; renewal further highlights ongoing efforts to exceed all safety protocols • Bombardier’s Safety Standdown event and monthly Safety Talks highlight industry-wide commitment to ongoing knowledge-based safety training MONTREAL, March 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier announced today that its demonstration aircraft operations team has once again earned the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 3 accreditation for its ongoing commitment to the implementation of a robust safety culture. Stage 3 designation is the highest level of recognition issued by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), and this year’s award marks the second consecutive time that the Bombardier demonstration aircraft team has earned this designation. The team first achieved Stage 3 certification in 2018, IS-BAO’s highest safety rating for developing and maintaining an effective Safety Management System (SMS) for its demonstration aircraft. The designation, given out every three years, continues to shine a light on the organization’s overall commitment to an outstanding safety culture for its customers and employees. “Bombardier is committed to ensuring all levels of its operations meet the highest safety standards, and this recognition from IBAC aptly reflects the high safety standard displayed by our demonstration aircraft operations team,” said Andy Nureddin, Vice President, Customer Support, Bombardier. “Our goal is to meet and exceed safety protocols and professionalism throughout all of our operations, and we will continue to ensure our SMS program exceeds all industry safety standards.” Based in Hartford, Connecticut, Bombardier’s demonstration aviation team prides itself in delivering the safest flying environment while delivering an amazing experience to its customers. The team is dedicated to achieving a higher level of corporate responsibility and professionalism in the aviation industry, and aims to provide expertise, guidance, mentoring and creative support solutions to its customers. In addition to implementing stringent measures to attain Stage 3 status, the crew also enhances the company’s safety culture by vetting charter operators for crew hours, holding monthly safety committee meetings and implementing stringent Covid-19 procedures for crew and passengers. Officially recognized as the global safety standard for business aviation by the International Civil Aviation Organization, IS-BAO helps operators apply industry best practices by challenging them to review and compare their safety-related policies, processes and procedures, and then make improvements, elevating them to the worldwide standard for business aviation. This commitment to the highest safety protocols extends beyond this organization. Bombardier is a longtime leader and steward of the tremendously important air safety portfolio. With its strong engagement in drafting ICAO’s Annex 19 on Safety Management Systems and its ongoing contribution to international air safety and accident organizations, Bombardier is a true leader in developing a robust safety culture. The company also supports numerous safety workshops and seminars with aircraft manufacturer and business jet operator associations worldwide. Additionally, Bombardier organizes and hosts the awarding-winning Safety Standdown – recognized as one of the top annual safety gatherings in civil aviation, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. The Bombardier demonstration aircraft team is a steward of our annual Safety Standdown event. Safety Standdown provides aviation professionals with essential knowledge-based aviation training and learning. Held in concert with a series of comprehensive monthly Safety Talks, Standdown’s goal is to foster a community of aviation professionals who are committed to lifelong learning and to disseminating higher standards of safety and professionalism throughout the industry. About Bombardier Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of approximately 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals. News and information is available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/03/15/2192938/0/en/Bombardier-s-Demonstration-Aircraft-Operations-Team-Earns-IBAC-s-Highest-Recognition-for-Enhanced-Safety-Culture.html TSA finds loaded handgun in woman's carry-on at Pittsburgh International Airport Another gun has been caught at the main security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport. According to Allegheny County Police, Transportation Security Administration officers found a loaded .380 caliber handgun in a woman’s carry-on bag around 5:42 a.m. Thursday. The TSA said the woman, a resident of Pittsburgh, had the gun in a bag similar in shape to a diaper bag, and told officials that she had no idea it was in her bag. County police said they determined the woman has a valid concealed carry permit and inadvertently left the firearm in the bag. The FBI was notified, and the woman was allowed to fly. County police confiscated the firearm. County police said they do not expect to file any charges against the woman. However, the TSA said the woman faces a stiff federal financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to the checkpoint. The penalty for a loaded firearm ranges from $3,000 up to $10,000, according to the TSA. “If you own a firearm, you need to know where it is at all times,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “To stand there and tell us that you had no idea that you had a gun with you is absolutely inexcusable. It begs the question: ‘Where did you think it was?’ Travelers know where their wallets are, where their keys are, where they left their car. They should know where their guns are too.” This is the ninth handgun stopped by TSA officers at the airport so far this year. The last, also a .380, was found on March 8. That compares to 21 caught at the checkpoint in all of 2020. According to the TSA, travelers, including those with concealed carry permits, are not permitted to carry guns onto airplanes. Passengers are allowed to transport firearms as checked baggage if they are properly packed and declared at their airline ticket counter to be transported in the belly of planes. Checked firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked and packed separately from ammunition. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm on its website. https://triblive.com/local/tsa-finds-loaded-handgun-in-womans-carry-on-at-pittsburgh-international-airport/ Costa Rica-To-Miami American Airlines Delayed Nearly 8 Hours After Flight Crew Robbed At Gunpoint MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Costa Rica to Miami American Airlines flight was delayed seven and a half hours on Tuesday after the Miami-based crew van to the airport was stopped on the road, and the crew was robbed at gunpoint. Viewfromthewing.com first reported the incident on their website. The crew had departed their San Jose hotel in a van very early in the morning and the incident occurred after the van was forced to stop after running over a plastic box. Once the van stopped, the driver got out to clear the box from under the van and that is when a man jumped into the vehicle. He reportedly held a knife and demanded everyone’s possessions. At that moment, according to Viefromthewing.com, a second man jumped in the vehicle brandishing a gun and demanding the rest of the belongings from the van’s occupants. American Airlines released a statement, which read: “We are aware that our crew members, unfortunately, fell victim to a crime while en route to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) on March 16. Our security team is in close contact with local law enforcement and have acted quickly to implement enhanced measures to ensure the safety of our team members”. The flight eventually took off to its final South Florida destination. https://miami.cbslocal.com/2021/03/19/costa-rica-miami-american-airlines-robbery-flight-delayed/ FAA Delays Drone Remote ID Tracking, ‘Operations Over People’ Rules • Compliance deadlines for manufacturers and operators have also been pushed out. A new rule that will develop an identification and tracking ecosystem for domestic drones will now go into effect in April, one month later than originally planned. The Federal Aviation Administration developed the rule over a couple of years with the goal of establishing a unique identifier for every small unmanned aerial system, or UAS, colloquially known as drones, and a system to track the aircraft at all times when in flight. The “digital license plates” for drones requires all UAS over 0.55 pounds to be equipped with one of two tracking methods: a built-in system that “broadcasts identification, location and performance information” for both the drone and the operator; or a separate “broadcast module” that can be attached to the UAS and serves the same purpose. The FAA also included a third option enabling operations without a remote ID capability in pre-designated areas. Within 18 months of the rule going into effect, UAS manufacturers selling in the U.S. will have to incorporate remote ID capabilities on all drones above the size standard. Drone pilots will have two and a half years to install such capabilities on their existing drones or buy new, compliant UAS. The remote ID rule was finalized in December and set to go into effect on March 16. However, as with most incoming administrations, the Biden team enacted a regulatory freeze to prevent any new regulations from coming into effect without a review from the new political leadership. The original March 16 date would have fallen just within the 60-day freeze window, prompting FAA to push the effective date out an additional month. The rule will now go into effect on April 21. “As a result of the delay in the effective date, the agency is also delaying the compliance date for the production requirements for remote identification broadcast modules by correcting the regulatory text,” according to a notice posted in the Federal Register. The FAA also delayed a rule allowing drone operators to fly over people and vehicles, in certain situations, as well as at night. “Part 107 currently prohibits drone operations over people, over moving vehicles and at night unless the operator obtains a waiver from the FAA,” the agency said in a statement. “The new FAA regulations jointly provide increased flexibility to conduct certain small drone operations without obtaining a waiver.” The Operations Over People rule will also go into effect on April 21. https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2021/03/faa-delays-drone-remote-id-tracking-operations-over-people-rules/172758/ Velodyne Lidar names former NTSB chair to board Velodyne Lidar (NASDAQ:VLDR) appoints former National Transportation Safety Board chair Deborah Hersman to the board of directors, effective immediately. Most recently, Hersman served as the first Chief Safety Officer for Google's self-driving project Waymo. "For the entirety of my career, I have been at the forefront of solving the most serious and complicated transportation safety issues in the U.S.,” says Hersman. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow Board members and company management to advance truly innovative technology that improves safety in workplaces, communities and on the roads.” https://seekingalpha.com/news/3673816-velodyne-lidar-names-former-ntsb-chair-to-board Israeli Airlines To Benefit From $210 Million Of Government Aid Israeli airlines are set to receive a bailout from the government to weather the coronavirus crisis. The government is planning advance ticket purchase agreements with airlines to boost revenues. El Al is the first to receive this bailout and saw the government buy $210 million in advance tickets. Long coming According to Reuters, Israel has announced a new bailout package for the country’s struggling airlines. The package has been long-awaited since the country did not provide direct financial assistance during the crisis, offering only government-backed loans instead. This time around, the government is offering bailouts, but with a catch. Airlines will be bailed out through advance ticket purchases for Israeli aviation security personnel who need to travel to different airports. This means the government will buy hundreds of thousands of tickets in advance, boosting airline cash reserves, and use the tickets over the next two decades for security personnel who need to travel. El Al is the first recipient of this scheme, which replaces a proposed $300mn government-backed loan. The government bought $210 million worth of seats from El Al and subsidiary Sun Dor to be used by security officers over 20 years. Other airlines that carry security personnel will be offered similar deals in the coming weeks. This is not a novel idea, with Hong Kong purchasing 500,000 tickets from the city’s airlines last Spring to boost airlines and later offer the tickets through a lucky draw. These tickets cost the government $260 million and came at a critical time for flag carrier Cathay Pacific and others. Not direct While many major aviation markets have provided direct stimulus through bailout plans, Israel has not done so. Instead, the government has taken a more fiscally conservative approach to ensure it recoups its funding. This meant flag carrier El Al and others got loans with a state guarantee, providing cash but adding to the debt pile. However, ticket purchases are a palatable middle ground for airlines, providing benefits now. While carriers could lose future revenue from blocked seats for the government, the need for survival outweighs this. Considering Israel’s border has been largely closed for a year, the bailout will be critical for airlines. Recovery The bailout comes at a key time for airlines, at a cusp of a recovery. Israel has raced ahead to vaccinate its population, providing both doses to nearly 50% of the population. Once a critical mass of the population is reached, the country will reopen fully for tourism, domestic at first and international later. Countries around the world will be looking towards Israel as the first example of a country reaching normalcy. If cases fall soon, the country could even reopen its border and allow vaccinated tourists to return. For now, airlines are hoping the bailout is enough to ensure they see through the aviation recovery. https://simpleflying.com/israeli-airline-government-aid/ Jet Airways’ ex-CEO Is Reportedly Looking To Start Another Airline (India) New reports suggest that the former CEO of Jet Airways and GoAir, Vinay Dube, is considering starting a new carrier. The new domestic airline will begin operating by the end of the year and is planned to have a relatively small fleet. Talks have already begun with the government, paving the way for the new carrier. Let’s find out more. New airline? If you thought the Indian domestic market was becoming too populated, there could a new airline on the horizon. According to Firstpost, former airline executive Vinay Dube is mulling a new domestic airline, with plans to begin flying before the end of the year. This new carrier plans to have a fleet of five aircraft by the end of 2021 to start operations. Moreover, Dube has also reached out to Airbus and Boeing to consider future aircraft plans, showing the advancing progress of setting up the airline. Reports suggest that this new airline will be another budget carrier, making it the fourth major low-cost carrier in the country. Low-cost airlines have found success in India due to the cost-sensitive market and high input costs, making them more feasible. But who is Vinay Dube and who will be the airline’s leadership? Known face Prior to his experience in India, Vinay Dube spent a decade working with Delta Air Lines in the US and also American Airlines. In August 2017, he joined as the CEO of Jet Airways, at a time when the airline’s future seemed to be in danger. However, less than two years later, in April 2019, Jet was forced to ground all flights and later file for bankruptcy. In May, Vinay Dube resigned from the airline following its grounding. He remained in the aviation industry, taking up a role with GoAir. In February 2020, just before COVID-19 crippled the industry, Dube was chosen to lead GoAir. Dube led the airline through the peak of the crisis over the spring and summer. But then, in August, he quit the airline. For this new airline, Vinay Dube has partnered with Praveen Iyer (former CCO) and Nikhil Ved (former Head of Flight Operations), both of whom are also Jet Airways and GoAir veterans. With an experienced team at the helm, the airline has taken the first step towards possibly taking to the skies. Scrutiny Before any airline becomes a reality, the government must approve such a venture with a “no-objection certificate” (NOC). Vinay Dube reportedly has met with the Ministry of Civil Aviation in pursuit of such a certificate and pushing the airline’s approval along. Once the airline has the NOC, it can begin hiring and inducting a fleet before receiving the critical Air Operators Certificate (AOC). It’s unclear if the new carrier will able to take to the skies by the end of the year considering the several steps remaining. However, if government support and funding are present, India could be looking at its next major airline. https://simpleflying.com/jet-airways-ceo-new-airline/ JetBlue considers whether to leave NYC and move to Florida NEW YORK (AP) — JetBlue Airways is considering whether to stay in New York, where it was founded two decades ago, or move its headquarters to Florida. A spokeswoman for the airline said Thursday that a decision is expected later this year. She said more than 1,300 employees work at the headquarters in Long Island City, across the East River from Manhattan. The airline said in a statement that its current lease in expires in July 2023 and it is reviewing its options “and considering how our space requirements may evolve in a hybrid work environment post-pandemic.” JetBlue said it is exploring a number of options, including staying in its current headquarters, moving elsewhere in New York City, or shifting some New York-based jobs to existing JetBlue facilities in Florida. The airline has a training center in Orlando and a travel-products subsidiary in Fort Lauderdale. The airline said that no matter what it decides about the headquarters, it still plans to expand at all three New York City-area major airports. The airline's plans were previously reported by the New York Post, which obtained a memo to headquarters staff. JetBlue began flying in 2000 and is currently the nation's sixth-largest airline by passenger-carrying capacity. Its strongest routes are up and down the East Coast. It flies to nearby international destinations including the Caribbean, and plans to launch service to London later this year. Like other carriers, JetBlue has been hit hard by the pandemic. It lost nearly $1.4 billion last year, as revenue fell more than 63% compared with 2019. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/jetblue-considers-whether-leave-nyc-190848397.html US military to keep wary eye on Chinese and Russian space ambitions under President Biden A continued focus on the space ambitions of Russia and China is likely to be a throughline between the Trump and Biden administrations. The space ambitions of Russia and China will likely stay front and center for the U.S. military during the administration of President Joe Biden, experts say. During the presidency of Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, U.S. officials repeatedly stressed that Russia and China pose a substantial and growing threat to the United States' long-held space dominance. In 2019, for example, then-Vice President Mike Pence said that the U.S. is in a space race with those two adversaries, "and the stakes are even higher" today than they were during the 1960s Cold War space race with the Soviet Union. Biden has already pivoted away from a number of Trump policies. But the new president will probably keep a wary eye on Russia and China in the space domain, if the words of his defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, are any guide. . In written testimony submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing in January, Austin noted that space is "already an arena of great power competition" and identified China and Russia as the United States' two main rivals in this sphere, as they are in other domains. "Chinese and Russian space activities present serious and growing threats to U.S. national security interests," Austin wrote, identifying Russia as a "key adversary" but singling out China as "the pacing threat." "Chinese and Russian military doctrines also indicate that they view space as critical to modern warfare and consider the use of counterspace capabilities as both a means of reducing U.S. military effectiveness and for winning future wars," he added. "Addressing these challenges in the space domain is central to 'great power competition' more generally." Those "counterspace capabilities" include anti-satellite (ASAT) technologies, which both Russia and China have been developing and testing. China famously destroyed one of its own defunct satellites during a January 2007 ASAT test, for example, generating a huge new swarm of orbital debris. In May 2013, China conducted a less destructive test of a different ASAT system, which really caught the attention of officials in the administration of President Barack Obama. It apparently prompted the initiation of a National Intelligence Estimate about the ASAT threat, which in turn kicked off a Department of Defense "Space Strategic Portfolio Review" in May 2014, said Brian Weeden, director of program planning for the Secure World Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to space sustainability. The goal of the review "was to assess whether the department's investments aligned with policy and goals in light of the changing threat environment," Weeden told Space.com. Shortly thereafter, Gen. John Hyten, then the head of Air Force Space Command, began stressing publicly that the United States couldn't take its space superiority for granted. In April 2015, for instance, Hyten appeared on a "60 Minutes" segment called "The Battle Above," which discussed ASAT technology and other components of the escalating competition in the final frontier. "It’s a competition that I wish wasn’t occurring, but it is," Hyten said on the show. "And if we’re threatened in space, we have the right of self-defense, and we’ll make sure we can execute that right." So, concerns about Russian and Chinese space activities didn't originate with the Trump administration, and neither did the airing of such concerns. The U.S. defense and intelligence communities have been focused on such activities for a while now, and there's no reason to expect a big shift under Biden, Weeden said. But that doesn't mean there won't be some changes around the margins. "I hope there is even more of a public discussion of these issues, because they affect a lot more than just the military. A future conflict in space affects pretty much everybody who's going to use space," Weeden said. "And I also hope there's more of a public discussion about what our response should be, and what the options are," he said. "That really hasn't existed. The Trump administration ramped up the rhetoric and the public discussion of the threats, but did not have a good public debate about what we do about it." The U.S. Space Force could be part of the solution, Weeden said, noting that U.S. officials invoked the Chinese and Russian space threat as a key justification for the creation of the nation's newest military branch. But that fix will not be an immediate one, if it does indeed come; it'll likely take five to 10 years for the Space Force to upgrade the nation's space defenses in a meaningful way, Weeden said. https://www.space.com/us-space-policy-china-russia-biden-administration 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 Curt Lewis