Flight Safety Information - April 7, 2021 No. 071 In This Issue : Incident: Azul A339 at Brussels on Apr 6th 2021, flaps problem : Incident: United B739 at Denver on Apr 5th 2021, hydraulic failure : Incident: Commut E145 at Denver on Apr 5th 2021, engine shut down in flight : United Airlines plans to hire and train 5,000 pilots, including some with no flying experience : United Airlines training program aims to bring diversity to the cockpit : HAI responds to NTSB’s 2021–2022 Most Wanted List : American Airlines to reactivate stored aircraft from Tulsa maintenance facility : Western Global Airlines’ pilots join union : Qatar Airways interested in potential Boeing 777X freighter, CEO says : Nasa helicopter survives first freezing -90C night on Mars : POSITION AVAILABLE: Chair of the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences Incident: Azul A339 at Brussels on Apr 6th 2021, flaps problem An Azul Linhas Aereas Airbus A330-900N, registration PR-ANX performing flight AD-9997 from Sao Paulo Viracopos,SP (Brazil) to Brussels (Belgium) with 7 crew and no passengers on board, was on final approach to Brussels' runway 25R when the crew went around from about 2100 feet MSL advising they had a flaps problem, a flaps logic problem, the flaps had locked. The crew went around, climbed to 4000 feet and entered a hold to work the checklists. The crew advised they would need assistance on the ground, they'd land at a higher than normal speed. The aircraft landed safely on runway 25R at a higher than normal speed about 35 minutes after the go around. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e58156b&opt=0 Incident: United B739 at Denver on Apr 5th 2021, hydraulic failure A United Boeing 737-900, registration N69847 performing flight UA-484 from Denver,CO to Las Vegas,NV (USA) with 146 people on board, was climbing through 12,000 feet out of Denver when the crew reported a hydraulic failure, stopped the climb and returned to Denver for a safe landing on runway 16R about 17 minutes after departure. The aircraft vacated the runway, stopped for an inspection by emergency services and subsequently taxied to the apron. A replacement Boeing 737-900 registration N69840 reached Las Vegas with a delay of 2:45 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Denver about 16 hours after landing back. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL484/history/20210405/2210Z/KDEN/KLAS https://avherald.com/h?article=4e57e341&opt=0 Incident: Commut E145 at Denver on Apr 5th 2021, engine shut down in flight A CommutAir Embraer ERJ-145, registration N11181 performing flight C5-4884 from Little Rock,AR to Denver,CO (USA), was on short final to Denver's runway 35L about 2nm before touch down when the crew reported they had shut the #2 engine (Ae3007, right hand) down due to low oil pressure. The aircraft continued for a safe landing about a minute later. The aircraft is still on the ground in Denver about 15 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e57e8a2&opt=0 United Airlines plans to hire and train 5,000 pilots, including some with no flying experience United Airlines says it will train 5,000 pilots this decade, including taking on applicants with no flying experience, and plans for half of them to be women or people of color. United will borrow an approach used elsewhere, notably at Germany’s Lufthansa, by taking people at the beginning of their flying careers and training them at its own academy, which it bought last year. United will continue to draw pilots from traditional sources such as the military, however. Airline officials began accepting applicants for United’s flight academy Tuesday. The subject of a pilot shortage — it is not universally accepted that one exists — was hotly discussed in the airline industry before the coronavirus pandemic hit, and then receded as airlines around the world grounded planes and reduced their pilot ranks in response to the plunge in air travel. Now travel is rebounding, although it hasn’t returned to 2019 levels. United faces a small shortage of pilots in the near term. Last week, United said it will hire about 300 pilots, many of whom had received conditional job offers before travel evaporated last year. The shortage at United and other major carriers will grow more severe in coming years, as large numbers of airline pilots approach the mandatory U.S. retirement age of 65. It is expensive to learn to fly and gain the 1,500 hours of flight time required for U.S. airline pilots — a commonly cited sum is $100,000. To attract applicants, United says it will offer $1.2 million in scholarship aid this year and more in the future, but most applicants will likely need to borrow against the promise that — if successful — in several years they will earn pilot’s wages at United. Critics of the current system of pilot training say young pilots gain hours flying small piston-driven planes that bear little resemblance to twin-engine jetliners. United CEO Scott Kirby said training at the airline’s Arizona academy, which United bought last year, will be rigorous “and even more focused on safety and preparing people to become commercial airline pilots instead of just pilots of their own airplanes.” United said academy students will get a basic license within two months and a more advanced license within a year. They would gain experience flying for one of United’s regional airline partners and could become a United co-pilot or first officer in five years. United announced its plan in a well-choreographed publicity blitz that stressed the airline’s hope that half the academy graduates will be women or minorities — groups that are vastly underrepresented in cockpits today. United said about 7% of its pilots are women and 13% are people of color. The airline said it will work with three historically Black schools, Delaware State University, Elizabeth City State University and Hampton University, to find and recruit people for the academy. Carole Hopson, a New Jersey-based United co-pilot who flies Boeing 737s, said she hopes the academy will give young Black women a less circuitous route than she took — from newspaper reporter to working for the NFL and then Foot Locker before learning to fly in her 30s — and give Black girls role models in aviation. “For people who have never seen a pilot who looks like me, that gives them an opportunity to say, ‘Gee whiz, I can do that too,’” Hopson said. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/united-seeks-to-build-its-own-diverse-pipeline-of-pilots/ United Airlines training program aims to bring diversity to the cockpit CHICAGO – Gabrielle Harding knew at age 15 that she wanted to become an airline pilot. For the past 14 years, she has worked for one of the biggest airlines in the world, United, where she is considered a rising star. “So far in my journey of having flown a 737, 777, the Boeing 787 has by far been the most fun aircraft I’ve flown to date,” Harding said. Harding credits the Girl’s Scout for sending her to space camp and the Tuskegee Airmen Detroit chapter for taking her on the plane ride that launched her dream of becoming a pilot. Gabrielle Harding “It’s exposure, it’s exposing people to the fact that they can join this career and become an airline pilot,” she said. According to a 2020 survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 5.6% of pilots and flight engineers are women. Five percent of female pilots and flight engineers are Hispanic; 3.4% are Black. United Airlines hopes to diversify the cockpit. The airline, whose headquarters reside in Chicago, has pledged to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 at its Aviate Academy flight school. Half of the attendees will be women and people of color. “I’m delighted,” said Ken Rapier, an airline transport pilot and the Chicago DODO chapter president for Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. He told WGN he knows firsthand how hard it is to become a pilot. A hiring freeze was instituted just as he was set to enter the final interview phase with the airline. While he was never hired, he applauded United for its pledge. “You have to see it to achieve it,” he said. Harding says there’s no better career, especially because of the perks of the job. “It’s definitely a lucrative career and you get to meet interesting people and learn a lot about different cultures because you get to experience them firsthand,” she said. Candidates do not have to have flying experience. And because the school is an expensive endeavor, over $2 million in scholarship money is being made available. Additionally, United will partner with three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to recruit talent. To apply for United’s Aviate Academy flight school, click here. https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/united-airlines-training-program-aims-to-bring-diversity-to-the-cockpit/ HAI responds to NTSB’s 2021–2022 Most Wanted List The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) met April 6, 2021, to select the items for the agency’s 2021–2022 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. Two of the 10 items on the list would affect the rotorcraft industry: From the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, the recommendation is to “Require and Verify the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems (SMS) in All Revenue Passenger-Carrying Aviation Operations” From the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering, the recommendation is to “Install Crash-Resistant Recorders and Establish Flight Data Monitoring Programs.” “Helicopter Association International is grateful to the directors and staff of the NTSB for their continued efforts to improve U.S. transportation safety,” says James Viola, president and CEO of HAI. “We agree and support their recommendation to require SMS programs for all passenger-carrying operations and encourage the use of recorders and flight-data monitoring (FDM) programs.” HAI has adopted a 360-degree approach to safety that includes development of a personal and corporate safety culture, the appropriate use of technology, and lifelong training. “HAI strongly recommends that all aviation operations, not just those that carry passengers for hire, adopt an SMS program,” adds Viola. “An SMS provides a structured, ongoing process to improve operational safety and is endorsed by aviation regulators and safety organizations around the world as the best way to systematically manage aviation risk.” Properly managed SMS programs start with buy-in at the highest level of a company. Application of the SMS program then expands to include every employee, recognizing that each staff member must take personal responsibility to identify and report operational hazards and to follow established policies and procedures. “This commitment to safety, from top to bottom, has been shown to reduce the risk of accidents,” continues Viola. “When it comes to recorders and FDM, I want to be clear that HAI supports the installation and use of this equipment in passenger-carrying operations. All Part 135 operations have a duty to operate at the highest level of safety,” says Viola. “Some missions, such as firefighting, logging, utility construction and maintenance, search and rescue, and offshore passenger transport, are unique in their execution and, as such, often require tailored safety practices, including the safety equipment selected for installation.” To further reduce accidents in the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) industry, HAI again points to the value of continual training for all pilots, starting at the earliest stages of their careers. “For pilots, the development of a personal safety culture must begin on the first day of flight school and never stop,” Viola says. “Throughout their careers, pilots need recurrent training to ensure they remain current, competent, and confident in their ability to execute standard and emergency procedures, able to bring every flight in for a safe landing.” “Again, we extend our appreciation to the staff and board members of the NTSB for their time, expertise, and efforts to improve flight safety, as well as safety in all forms of transportation in the United States,” says Viola. https://verticalmag.com/press-releases/hai-responds-to-ntsbs-2021-2022-most-wanted-list/ American Airlines to reactivate stored aircraft from Tulsa maintenance facility TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — American Airlines will bring back some of its aircraft stored at the Tulsa maintenance facility today. Workers will be getting ready to reactivate part of the fleet sent to storage last year when the pandemic started and forced a lot of people to stop traveling. The airline is planning to bring all of its fleet into service by the end of spring. https://ktul.com/news/local/american-airlines-04-07-2021 Western Global Airlines’ pilots join union The National Mediation Board on Tuesday certified the Air Line Pilots Association as the bargaining representative for the 180 pilots of all-cargo carrier Western Global Airlines. The pilots were previously unrepresented. Sixty-nine percent of those participating had voted in favor of joining the world’s largest pilot union. Western Global Airlines, based in Estero, Florida, is a 6-year-old company that flies aircraft under contract to airlines and logistics companies. Its fleet consists of MD-11s and Boeing 747-400 freighters. Customers include UPS, DHL Express, the Postal Service, Amazon and the Department of Defense. The company received $34 million in federal COVID relief payments in last year’s CARES Act as well as millions more in Payroll Protection Program loans, which House Democrats complained was money the company didn’t deserve because the pandemic didn’t cause it to lose business. In 2019, logistics company Flexport dropped Western Global as its charter operator because of service issues. In related news, ramp workers at Aloha Air Cargo last week ratified a new contract that provides some beneficial wage and work-rule changes, said Clazy Griswold, the airline division coordinator for Teamsters Local 986. The negotiations were mediated by the National Mediation Board. “In tough times, we did OK,” he said. Teamsters Local 986 represents about 200 ground agents and pilots at Aloha Air under separate contracts. Aloha Air Cargo, a subsidiary of Northern Aviation Services, operates a Boeing 767 and a 737 between the Hawaiian islands, as well as two routes connecting Honolulu with Los Angeles and Seattle. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/western-global-airlines-pilots-join-union Qatar Airways interested in potential Boeing 777X freighter, CEO says DUBAI (Reuters) - Top Boeing customer Qatar Airways on Tuesday expressed interest in a potential new freighter from the U.S. planemaker, while urging engine maker GE to invest in future technology as pressure builds on airlines to reduce emissions. Plans for a freighter 777X have been delayed as Boeing wrestles with certification delays and weak demand for its passenger version. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker told an online event the Gulf carrier would "definitely be interested to look into" a freighter 777X, though said he had not been notified by Boeing about plans to launch it. Qatar Airways would need to start replacing older 777 jets by the time Boeing or rival Airbus launch any new aircraft programmes, he said. European planemaker Airbus is also gauging airline interest in a freighter version of its A350 passenger jet, which if launched would target a market key to Boeing, Reuters reported in March. Qatar Airways has ordered 65 777X passenger jets, according to Boeing's website, and Baker said the airline would receive its first three in 2023 following delays at the planemaker. Boeing said this year the jet would start deliveries in 2023, three years later than initially planned with a longer and costlier certification process. Baker also urged GE to get involved in "future technology engines sooner than later," citing an airline industry carbon neutral growth commitment in 2050. "When you look at how long things take to develop, 2050 is not far away," he said. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/qatar-airways-interested-potential-boeing-145929311.html Nasa helicopter survives first freezing -90C night on Mars A battery-powered Nasa helicopter which hopes to become the first vehicle to make a powered flight on another planet has survived its first test - a freezing night on Mars. The four-pound Ingenuity helicopter was deployed on the surface by Nasa’s Perseverance rover, having previously been attached to the rover’s belly. Evening temperatures at Jezero Crater can plunge to minus 90C. This can freeze and crack unprotected electrical components and damage the onboard batteries required for flight. Ingenuity will be the first aircraft to attempt powered, controlled flight on another planet. MiMi Aung, Ingenuity project manager at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said: "This is the first time that Ingenuity has been on its own on the surface of Mars. "But we now have confirmation that we have the right insulation, the right heaters, and enough energy in its battery to survive the cold night, which is a big win for the team. We’re excited to continue to prepare Ingenuity for its first flight test.’ The Perseverance rover was instructed to move away from Ingenuity shortly after deploying it - so that the solar array atop the helicopter’s rotors could begin getting sunlight as soon as possible. Until the helicopter put its four legs onto the Martian surface, Ingenuity remained attached to the belly of the rover, receiving power from Perseverance. The rover serves as a communications relay between Ingenuity and Earth, and it will use its suite of cameras to observe the flight characteristics of the solar-powered helicopter from Van Zyl Overlook. The helicopter carries no science instruments; its only mission a technology demonstration, is to conduct flight tests in the thin atmosphere of Mars. Within 30 Martian days, or sols (a Martian day is 24.6 hours), on the surface, Ingenuity will complete its testing, and Perseverance’s scientific exploration of Jezero Crater will kick into high gear. "Our 30-sol test schedule is frontloaded with exciting milestones," said Teddy Tzanetos, deputy operations lead for the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at JPL. "Whatever the future holds, we will acquire all the flight data we can within that timeframe." On April 4, Perseverance downlinked the first of the images of the helicopter on the surface of Mars. Taken by the rover’s rear left Hazard Avoidance camera, the image shows the helicopter’s rotor blades still stacked in alignment on top of each other (a configuration used to save room during the trip to Mars) and its four footpads firmly planted into the surface of Mars. For the next two days, Ingenuity will collect information about how well the thermal-control and power systems perform now that the small helicopter is standing on its own in the Mars environment. That information will be used to fine tune Ingenuity’s thermal-control system to help it survive the harsh Mars nights through the entire flight experiment period. https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-helicopter-160220954.html POSITION AVAILABLE: Chair of the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences The College of Aviation (COA) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Daytona Beach invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair, Department of Applied Aviation Sciences. The College seeks a dynamic, nationally recognized academic leader with experience in developing and implementing strategic plans for the department that are aligned with the needs and goals of the College of Aviation. This 12-month faculty appointment is at our campus in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the gold standard in aviation and aerospace-related education. The Department of Applied Aviation Sciences is home to four-degree programs: Air Traffic Management, Aerospace and Occupational Safety, Meteorology, and Spaceflight Operations. The department draws students from around the world who are serious about their careers. Its talented faculty and state-of-the-art classrooms and lab facilities produce graduates who are highly sought after by industry. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Aviation, the Chair of the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences will be responsible for providing leadership in the development of faculty and academic programs, as well as participating in student recruitment, enrollment, and retention efforts. He/she will develop and maintain channels of communication with professional groups and industry to ensure that the department’s programs are providing appropriate educational preparation for its students. The Chair will encourage the faculty in the department to embrace new teaching methods and research opportunities. Qualifications Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The successful candidate will have: • · Earned a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., etc.) from an accredited institution. • · Experience in academic administration in scheduling courses, assigning faculty, evaluating faculty, ensuring appropriate recordkeeping and regulatory compliance, etc. • · A record of developing and maintaining channels of communication with professional groups and industry to ensure that programs are providing appropriate educational preparation for the students. • · Experience in maintaining academic excellence with respect to a department’s teaching and research efforts. • · Experience in developing a strong and competent faculty to meet the University curriculum requirements and high standards of the department. • · A demonstrable record of providing strong leadership in encouraging and growing research among faculty. • · Experience fostering collaboration among faculty both inside and outside the department, in both research and innovation in teaching. • · Demonstrated successful leadership experience at a four-year institution of higher education focused on teaching, research, and service. • · Attained tenure and an academic rank of Associate Professor or higher. The Department Chair is expected to begin no later than August 16, 2021. Applications should include a CV and a detailed letter describing the candidate’s aviation and administrative leadership experience as well as academic qualifications that demonstrate a fit with the Department of Applied Aviation Science and the position. All materials should be submitted online through our application system at https://embryriddle.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Daytona-Beach-FL/Chair-of-the-Department-of-Applied-Aviation-Sciences--Daytona-Beach-Campus-_R300550. Any questions should be directed to Associate Dean and Professor Daniel Friedenzohn at friedend@erau.edu. Curt Lewis