Flight Safety Information - May 17, 2021 No. 098 In This Issue : Incident: Delta A339 at Amsterdam on May 16th 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Skywest E175 near Redmond on May 14th 2021, multiple generator failures : Incident: Uni AT72 at Nangan and Taipei on May 10th 2021, burst both right tyres on approach due to impact with wall : Incident: Allegiant A320 near Lexington on May 13th 2021, unknown odour in cabin : Incident: Pobeda B738 enroute on May 14th 2021, cracked windshield : Cocaine-Snorting Anti-Masker Causes JetBlue Diversion : US FAA Requires Inspections On Boeing 737 Classic Aircraft : Most Foreign Airlines Suspend Flights to Israel Over Gaza Rockets : PNG (Paupa New Guina) ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATION ON HELICOPTER ACCIDENT AT JIWAKA PROVINCE : Aer Lingus Tells Cabin Crew, Pilots Not to Get Vaccinated During USA Layovers : Plane, train and bus travelers still need to wear masks, even if they’re vaccinated : FAA Wants To Add Cardinals To Cessna Spar AD : Pak’s civil aviation authority reveals mismanagement, corruption in pilots’ exams : SpiceJet Pilots Grounded In Croatia For 21 Hours : Senior Trump Air Force official suggested dramatically slashing F-35 jet numbers : Covid-19: Thousands set to jet overseas on holiday as rules ease : Ryanair 'upset' with Boeing, fears no MAX deliveries before summer : CDB Aviation Begins Deliveries of Four A320neo Family Aircraft to Russia’s Aeroflot : Qingdao Airlines reaffirms satcom inflight connectivity commitment : SpaceX on track to launch eight Falcon 9 rockets in six weeks : Position Available: Maintenance Controller/Maintenance Technician : Position Available: Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji: CHIEF EXECUTIVE : Position Available(Cranfield): Deputy Aviation Safety and Compliance Manager : RTCA - Webinar: Human Factors in Flight Deck Design & Certification : ESASI Annual Seminar : Graduate Survey Incident: Delta A339 at Amsterdam on May 16th 2021, engine shut down in flight A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-900N, registration N403DX performing flight DL-142 from Seattle,WA (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was descending through about 8000 feet towards Amsterdam when the crew declared emergency reporting the left hand engine (Trent 7000) had failed and was shut down. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 18R about 20 minutes later. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 15.5 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e780f87&opt=0 Incident: Skywest E175 near Redmond on May 14th 2021, multiple generator failures A Skywest Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of Alaska Airlines, registration N185SY performing flight AS-3332 from Seattle,WA to Fresno,CA (USA), was enroute at FL310 about 70nm south of Redmond,OR (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Redmond due to electrical problems on board. The aircraft landed safely on Redmond's runway 23 about 20 minutes later. Passengers reported the lights in the cabin flickered a lot, the captain announced three of the four generators on board lost power (the passengers did not report about any unusual noises however). The airline stated, the aircraft diverted to Redmond out of abundance of caution over a "mechanical indication" and added that the aircraft is equipped with several redundant electrical systems. The passengers were taken to hotels and continued their journey the following day. A replacement Embraer ERJ-175 registration N171SY departed Redmond about 8 hours after N185SY had landed and reached Fresno with a delay of 9 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Redmond about 37 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e77fcd2&opt=0 Incident: Uni AT72 at Nangan and Taipei on May 10th 2021, burst both right tyres on approach due to impact with wall A Uni Air Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration B-17010 performing flight B7-9091 from Taipei Songshan to Nangan (Taiwan) with 70 passengers and 4 crew, departed Songshan's runway 10, climbed to FL100 and was on short final to Nangan's runway 21 about 40 minutes after departure when both right main tyres were damaged. The crew climbed the aircraft back to FL070, returned to Taipei Songshan, performed a low approach to Songshan's runway 10 about 80 minutes after departure and landed safely back on runway 10 about 100 minutes after departure. Taiwan's TTSB reported: "On May 10, 2021, at 0927 Taipei time, UNI AIR flight B7-9091, an ATR72-600 aircraft, departed from Taipei Songshan Airport (RCSS) to Matsu Nangan Airport (RCFG) with two flight crew, two cabin crew, and 70 passengers on board. At 1007 hours, the right landing gear of the aircraft was broken during landing at RCFG, the aircraft go-around and returned back to RCSS Airport. The aircraft landed at RCSS Airport at 1110 hours. The right landing gear of the aircraft was damaged. No injuries to the persons on board." 5 investigators were dispatched to Songshan, subsequently an investigation was opened. Local Media stated Nangan Airport's Director said, the aircraft was too low on approach, struck a sea wall ahead of the runway causing both right hand main tyres to burst and returned to Songshan. On May 16th 2021 (local time) a passenger reported they were descending into Nangan, visibility was limited even though the passenger could see the fishing boats at the sea during the descent, the visibility decreased further as they approached the aerodrome, then the engines suddenly revved up and less than a second later an impact could be felt. The nose of the aircraft was pulled up, the aircraft turned left and climbed. The crew announced they were returning to Songshan, immediately thereafter preparations for the emergency landing in Songshan commenced with cabin crew insisting to store everything safely in the lockers or below the seats, take off high heeled shoes, badges or glasses (everything that could hurt). http://avherald.com/h?article=4e72e264&opt=0 Incident: Allegiant A320 near Lexington on May 13th 2021, unknown odour in cabin An Allegiant Airbus A320-200, registration N290NV performing flight G4-1313 from Cincinnati,OH to Fort Lauderdale,FL (USA) with 144 passengers and 6 crew, had just reached cruise FL350 when an unknown odour was noticed in the forward cabin prompting the crew to turn around and divert the aircraft to Lexington,KY (USA) for a safe landing about 30 minutes later. A replacement A320-200 registration N277NV reached Fort Lauderdale with a delay of about 6.5 hours. The airline reported an unknwon odour in the forward cabin prompted the diversion to Lexington as a precaution, the odour dissipated. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e75fede&opt=0 Incident: Pobeda B738 enroute on May 14th 2021, cracked windshield A Pobeda Boeing 737-800, registration VP-BPJ performing flight DP-234 from Volgograd to Moscow Vnukovo (Russia), was enroute at FL340 about 110nm northwest of Volgograd when the crew reported a cracked windshield and descended the aircraft to FL140. The aircraft continued to destination for a safe landing at Vnukovo runway 19 about 75 minutes after leaving FL340. http://avherald.com/h?article=4e763959&opt=0 Cocaine-Snorting Anti-Masker Causes JetBlue Diversion JetBlue flight 915 from New York to San Francisco diverted to Minneapolis a short while ago to offload a passenger. This will cause a delay of nearly two hours — while the flight was originally scheduled to land at 5:36PM, it’s now due to land at 7:28PM. Reader Matt was on the flight and was kind enough to pass along the details (and a video) of what happened. He explains that initially when the flight diverted the crew wouldn’t explain the reason for the diversion, other than to say that it wasn’t due to any mechanical issues. The flight attendants stated that the captain would explain the situation after the plane landed. Once the plane landed in Minneapolis, a passenger was offloaded, and then a few minutes later the captain provided an explanation. That’s actually kind of an understatement, as the captain provided an over two minute play-by-play of the entire incident that left nothing to the imagination. Here’s the video that Matt captured of the captain’s explanation: To recap: • The passenger was seated in Mint (JetBlue’s business class) and was “annoying another passenger” with “unwanted touching, possibly inadvertent, maybe intentional, unknown” • The passenger then made “multiple trips to the bathroom” • The flight attendants were able to move passengers so that the woman being harassed felt more comfortable • The passenger then refused to wear his mask repeatedly, and kept going to the bathroom • The passenger then started antagonizing other passengers, including making knife stabbing motions towards other passengers • The passenger was observed exhibiting erratic behavior and “snorting a white substance” • While he was in the bathroom again, the crew found a bag of “white substance” at his seat • When the passenger returned he remained calm after being told to settle down, clearly realizing the crew had found his cocaine • All flight attendants felt uncomfortable, as did passengers, so that’s why the captain made the decision to divert • By all accounts it seems like the crew handled this situation very professionally, so huge kudos to them. Matt also shares that there were reports of some passengers in the gate area at JFK noticing that the guy seemed intoxicated, and that he had been saying some racist stuff. So perhaps the ground staff should have been a bit more observant. My gosh, this is one of the wildest inflight incidents I’ve heard of in a long time (and that’s saying a lot, because people act like fools on planes). Something tells me the FAA has a big fine coming this guy’s way… https://onemileatatime.com/cocaine-snorting-anti-masker-jetblue-diversion/ US FAA Requires Inspections On Boeing 737 Classic Aircraft The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) requiring US operators of the 737 Classic series to inspect their aircraft for possible wire failures. This advisory, issued late last week, comes as a result of the investigation of the Sriwijaya Air crash that took place in January 2021. Actions resulting from the January crash in Indonesia According to Reuters, the FAA requires carriers in the US who still operate 737 Classic jets to inspect aircraft for possible wire failures. The 737 Classic line-up, produced between 1984 and 2000, includes 737-300, -400, and -500 models. This generation was the second iteration of the 737 after the very first 737s were developed. This AD is a response to investigation findings from Indonesia’s Sriwijaya Air crash in January, which saw a 26-year-old 737-500 crash into the Java Sea. All passengers and crew onboard, totaling 62, were killed in the incident. Much of the investigation has surrounded the aircraft’s autothrottle system, which had issues prior to the aircraft’s fatal accident. In a statement to Simple Flying, Boeing said, “Boeing works to ensure that our airplanes are safe and meet all requirements. We are in constant communication with our customers and the FAA, and engaged in ongoing efforts to introduce safety and performance improvements across the fleet. Today’s airworthiness directive makes mandatory the guidance Boeing provided to the fleet in March.” Wiring connected to the autothrottle system The FAA is requesting that operators verify that the flap synchro wire, which has a role in operating the aircraft’s autothrottle system, is securely connected to a safety sensor. Failure of this wire could go undetected by the autothrottle computer, posing a safety risk on affected airplanes. The FAA does acknowledge, however, that there has yet to be evidence from the crash indicating that issues with the flap synchro wire had a role in the accident. Nonetheless, the possibility of a failed connection would pose a safety risk, thus warranting action. The aviation regulator notes that a faulty connection could result in the failure of the autothrottle system’s ability to detect the position of the aircraft’s flaps if the aircraft’s engines were operating at different thrust settings due to another malfunction. On March 30th, Boeing directed operators to perform electronic checks of the autothrottle computer to confirm the wire was connected within 250 flight hours. The FAA will require the initial test within two months from the date of the AD or within 250 flight hours, whichever comes first. After initial inspections, the FAA will require subsequent checks every 2,000 flight hours. Over 1,000 aircraft worldwide affected The FAA notes that there are 143 737 Classic series airplanes in the US that require inspections. Worldwide, there are 1,041 aircraft that could be affected. However, due to the ongoing global health crisis, some of these may be inactive or in long-term storage. When it comes to operators in the US, Reuters notes that Aloha Air Cargo, DHL, iAero Airways, Kalitta Charters, and Northern Air Cargo currently operate 737 Classic aircraft. Outside of the US, air operators include Canadian North and Belarussia’s Belavia. https://simpleflying.com/faa-classic-aircraft-ad/ Most Foreign Airlines Suspend Flights to Israel Over Gaza Rockets Only a few foreign airlines will operate flights to Israel, including Ethiopian Airlines, Fly Dubai, and Aegean Airlines Most foreign airlines will suspend incoming and outgoing flights in upcoming days due to Israel's escalation with Hamas in what has become the heaviest flare-up since the 2014 Gaza War. Only a few foreign airlines continue to operate flights to Israel, including Ethiopian Airlines, Fly Dubai, and Aegean Airlines. This is in addition to Israel's flag carrier El Al, as well as other Israeli airlines Israir and Arkia. Delta, United Airlines and Lufthansa were among the first companies to halt their flights to Israel, as hundreds of rockets were fired at central Israel by Gaza militants. British Airways released a statement on Thursday saying "the safety and security of our colleagues and customers is always our top priority, and we continue to monitor the situation closely." U.K.-based Virgin Atlantic also cancelled a flight there late on Wednesday. Despite the cessation of arriving flights by the Civil Aviation https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-most-foreign-airlines-suspend-flights-to-israel-over-gaza-rockets-1.9813022 PNG (Papua New Guinea) ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COMMISSION TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATION ON HELICOPTER ACCIDENT AT JIWAKA PROVINCE The Chief Commissioner of the PNG Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), Mr. Hubert Namani today announced that the AIC commenced an investigation into a helicopter accident occurred on 15 May 2021 at Gobo, Jiwaka Province. Mr. Namani explained that “on 15 May 2021 at about 11:30 am, a MIL MI8 helicopter registered P2-MHM, owned by Captston Aviation PTE Ltd. and operated by Hevilift Aviation Ltd., took-off from Gobo, Jiwaka Province, in a cargo flight to Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province. “Reportedly, after vertical take-off to hover, there was a low rotor RPM indication, causing the flight crew to bring the helicopter back to the ground. Upon contact with the ground, there would have been a loss of control of the helicopter, which subsequently rolled over, impacting its tail boom and main rotor blades with the ground. The helicopter came to rest in the upside-down position.” There were four persons on board the aircraft, two flight crew, one flight engineer and one load master. Reportedly, one of the occupants suffered minor injuries and the rest resulted uninjured. The helicopter was destroyed as a result of the forces of impact in the context of the accident. Mr. Namani explained that: “The AIC became aware of the accident less than one hour after it occurred and immediately commenced an investigation under the Civil Aviation Act 2000 (as amended) and aligned with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. As part of AIC initial investigation activities, a team of investigators has been dispatched to the accident site to perform on-site technical examinations and information gathering. Further stages of the investigation will include the collection of evidence and analysis of information in areas related to flight operations, human performance, aircraft maintenance, environmental conditions, organisational aspects and other areas, to the extent relevant for the improvement of aviation safety.” Investigation of accidents and serious incidents with the sole objective of improving aviation safety is an international obligation for PNG as a State contracting to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The Convention, its Annexes and the guidance of the International Civil Aviation Organization set the International Standards that the AIC, on behalf of PNG, should meet or exceed when conducting an aviation safety investigation. The AIC as a State agency with complete independence from other State authorities including CASA PNG, aviation service providers including National Airport Corporation (NAC) and Niusky Pacific Limited (formerly PNG Air Services Limited) and aviation stakeholders. The Civil Aviation Act 2000 (as amended) mandates the AIC to conduct investigations with the sole purpose of improving safety in the aviation system and without apportioning blame or liability. More information about the AIC and this investigation can be found on www.aic.gov.pg Aer Lingus Tells Cabin Crew, Pilots Not to Get Vaccinated During USA Layovers Pilots and cabin crew working for Irish airline Aer Lingus have been ‘reminded’ not to get vaccinated to protect themselves against COVID-19 during work layovers in the United States over fears they could suffer side effects and then not be fit to work the return flight home. It’s not clear how many flight crew have taken advantage of the ready supply of vaccines available in the US but Aer Lingus management has felt the need to send out a memo forbidding the practice, the Irish Independent reports. The Republic of Ireland is currently only allowing residents aged over 50 years old, as well as healthcare workers and medically vulnerable people to access the vaccine with the Health Service Executive (HSE) saying it can’t provide an indication of when younger people might be able to get vaccinated because of limited supplies. The United States currently has a surplus supply of vaccines after taking the decision to impose export bans. All three vaccines currently approved for use in the US are also approved in Ireland. The Johnson & Johnson Jansen jab is particularly popular amongst visitors because it is a single shot vaccine which is readily available across the US. Pilots and cabin crew have caught onto the fact that many vaccination centers in the United States are happy to vaccinate visitors without the need to supply proof of residency or citizenship. The vaccines are available for free and a growing number of centers offer walk-in appointments. But European aviation rules prohibit flight crew from getting vaccinated within 48-hours of a duty just in case of an adverse effect. Most layovers are just 24-hours meaning that crew who get vaccinated during a work trip might not be fit to operate the flight home. “In line with EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), HSE and Aer Lingus medical provider guidelines, Aer Lingus crew are not permitted to report for duty until a minimum of 48 hours post vaccination for Covid-19,” a spokesperson for the airline explained. “Crew are asked to adhere to all medical advice given by the HSE and their medical provider in relation to vaccinations.” Unlike some countries, Ireland has not prioritised transport workers for the vaccine and flight crew must wait until their age group is called forward. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2021/05/16/aer-lingus-tells-cabin-crew-pilots-not-to-get-vaccinated-during-usa-layovers/ Plane, train and bus travelers still need to wear masks, even if they’re vaccinated • Fully vaccinated and planning to fly? You still need to wear a mask. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday said fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors and don’t have to physically distance in that setting either. But a federal rule that requires that all air, rail and bus travelers over the age of 2 to wear a mask is still in effect, the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday. They are also required in bus and rail stations as well as airports. That policy is set to expire Sept. 14. Airlines began requiring masks about a year ago at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and have banned hundreds of customers who have failed to comply. Carriers are now expecting travel to continue rebounding through the summer after more people have been vaccinated and attractions reopen. United Airlines said the carrier will lift its mask requirement when the federal government does. For now, it will “continue to abide by this mandate and remind our customers that masks must be worn on our planes and in our terminals while this requirement is in effect.” Other airlines could follow suit, indicated Airlines for America, the lobbying group that represents United and other major U.S. carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. “CDC’s updated guidance for fully vaccinated people continues to require that all travelers wear face masks on airplanes and at airports, and U.S. airlines will enforce the requirement on flights as long as the federal mandate is in place,” a spokesman for the group said. It is not clear how airlines would verify passengers’ vaccination status, if at all, if the CDC loosens guidance for air travel and other modes of transportation. Flight attendant labor unions whose members were left to enforce airline policies urged the Biden administration for a mask mandate to help add more weight to the policy. That mandate took effect in February and was extended last month. The Federal Aviation Administration in January implemented a “zero tolerance” policy for unruly travelers on board and fines of up to $35,000, noting an uptick in such cases, some of them related to passengers who refused to follow mask policies. The FAA said it has received about 1,300 cases of unruly passengers from airlines since February and has so far found violations in about 260 of the cases. The agency recommended a $32,750 fine for a JetBlue Airways passenger on a New York-bound Feb. 7 flight that returned to the Dominican Republic after the passenger allegedly failed to wear a face mask, threw food in the air, shouted at crew and struck a flight attendant’s arm. It also called for a $16,500 fine for a traveler on a Jan. 26 Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Sacramento, California, whom the FAA alleged refused to cover his nose and mouth, was asked to leave and allegedly hit a flight attendant with his bags. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents about 50,000 cabin crew members at more than a dozen airlines, said she is still in favor of passengers wearing masks on board flights. “Rules for aviation safety are harmonized around the world, and we must have credibility in the safety of flight if the U.S. aviation industry is to regain access to the rest of the world and fully recover,” she said in a statement. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/cdc-still-requires-masks-for-air-train-and-bus-travel-despite-new-guidance.html FAA Wants To Add Cardinals To Cessna Spar AD The FAA wants to expand the AD requiring inspection of the carry-through spars on Cessna 210s to more models of that type and to some versions of the 177 Cardinal. The agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring inspection of the spars on almost 2,000 additional aircraft that were captured by an earlier AD that took effect a year ago. Specifically, the NPRM, which will be open to public comments until June 25, now includes 3,421 U.S. aircraft models 210N, 210R, P210N, P210R, T210N, T210R, 177, 177A, 177B, 177RG, and F177RG. The original AD applied to older 210s but since then examples have been found in newer models and the Cardinals. Operators must perform “visual and eddy current inspections of the [carry-through] spar lower cap, corrective action if necessary, application of a protective coating and corrosion inhibiting compound (CIC), and reporting the inspection results to the FAA.” Each inspection will cost about $1827.50 according to FAA calculations. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-wants-to-add-cardinals-to-cessna-spar-ad/ Pak’s civil aviation authority reveals mismanagement, corruption in pilots’ exams ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has submitted an investigation report before the Supreme Court, revealing a web of mismanagement, irregularities and corruption in the process of pilot examinations. The report said that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had provided incorrect information to around 30 pilots, while adding that several pilots send someone else to take the exams in their places, reported The Express Tribune. Two pilots were not present in the country, while 28 pilots took the pilots test on a closed weekly holiday. Meanwhile, the licences of two senior joint directors, involved in corruption by giving the pilots illegal access to the examination system, have been revoked, said the report. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also registered criminal cases against them. The CAA has informed Pakistan’s Supreme Court that the licences of at least 32 out of 54 pilots have been suspended for being involved in fraudulent practices. According to The Express Tribune, the issue surfaced last year after the May 22 PIA plane crash in Karachi, which killed 97 passengers and crew. The cause of the accident was called a ‘human error’. It was later revealed in June that 262 pilots had fake licences. “People with fake degrees were appointed on political basis, ignoring merit,” Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar had told the National Assembly on June 22, 2020. (ANI) https://www.indiapost.com/paks-civil-aviation-authority-reveals-mismanagement-corruption-in-pilots-exams/ SpiceJet Pilots Grounded In Croatia For 21 Hours In shocking news, four SpiceJet pilots were forced to remain onboard their aircraft during a stop in Zagreb, Croatia. The reason behind this was a missing negative COVID-19 test, which was needed for crew layovers in Croatia. However, confusion over the rules meant that the pilots were in the Boeing 737 for 21 hours. Stuck According to the Times of India, the situation unfolded last Tuesday following a flight from Delhi to Zagreb, with a stop in Tbilisi. Ever-changing testing rules and a lack of foresight meant that four pilots and reportedly more crew members were stuck on the Boeing 737 for over 21 hours. The problems began once the SpiceJet charter flight landed in Zagreb. Airport authorities asked the crew members to produce negative test reports before heading to their hotel layover. However, the crew had not undergone a test in New Delhi since SpiceJet never asked them to do so. According to a SpiceJet spokesperson, the airline had confirmation from Croatian authorities that the crew would not need a negative test for their layover. Instead, the rules seem to have changed mid-flight, the spokesperson said. Airport authorities did not test the crew on arrival, leaving them stranded onboard. Restrictions Under crew rest rules, no pilots can fly without a minimum number of hours spent resting in certain conditions. The rules meant that the crew could not fly the 737 back to New Delhi right after the issue. Instead, airport authorities offered the crew bedding, food, and water, along with cleaning services for their layover. All four pilots, and some cabin crew, then spent the next 21 hours onboard the 737 to reach the minimum resting time before operating the return flight. However, the cabin of a 737 hardly meets the requirements of adequate resting conditions. Due to this, SpiceJet sought special permission from the DGCA (India’s aviation regulator) to fly the aircraft without meeting the conditions. The DGCA approved the request but barred the airline from carrying any cargo or passengers on the way home and needed three pilots to be present in the cockpit through the flight. SpiceJet has also reportedly been “admonished” by the regulator following this situation. Crew in focus Everchanging testing and quarantine requirements have become a headache for travelers globally. However, airline crews have found themselves in focus since they do not usually need to quarantine while operating services. This has led to some pressing issues, including COVID-19 outbreaks recently. In this case, the crew seems to have been a victim of changing guidelines. However, SpiceJet would have been wise to test their crew before the flight given how many countries require the same. Given India’s severe COVID-19 outbreak, several carriers have been taking drastic measures to prevent their crew from entering India during their layover. https://simpleflying.com/spicejet-pilots-stuck-onboard-21-hours/ Senior Trump Air Force official suggested dramatically slashing F-35 jet numbers (CNN)The official in charge of purchasing military hardware for the US Air Force suggested slashing the total number of Lockheed Martin F-35 jets for the service by more than half late last year, according to two former defense officials involved in the discussions who spoke with CNN. The news comes as Congressional criticism of the most expensive weapons program in US history grows. Will Roper, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics for the last three years of the Trump administration, recommended that Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown, former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord, and others reduce the number of jets purchased from 1,763 jets to about 800, the officials said. Roper questioned the cost of the jet, even after former President Donald Trump touted it as "invisible" and the greatest fighter jet in the world. Instead, Roper threw his support behind the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, a secretive, sixth-generation aircraft designed with digital engineering, the officials said. He revealed last October at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference that a full-scale prototype had flown and "broken a lot of records in the doing." Though the plan was not accepted the revelation come as the F-35 program faces growing scrutiny, with increased skepticism from members of Congress and suggestions within the Pentagon that all is not well with the military's prized program. "There is recognition from everyone involved in this program -- from the Air Force and from everyone in Congress -- that this is a challenge. This program is not working out the way we wanted it to," said a source with direct knowledge of the F-35 program. According to the source, an Air Force official said in a closed door meeting, "At this point, we paid for 'outstanding.' We got 'very good.'" In this case, "very good" comes with a staggering price tag. The total cost over the life of the F-35 program is estimated to be $1.7 trillion, according to the Defense Department's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. The vast majority of that money -- $1.27 trillion -- is sustainment costs, not the cost of buying the jets, but the costs to keep them flying. Any cuts would have huge ramifications The military plans to purchase nearly 2,500 F-35s in total. A reduction in the Air Force purchase to approximately 800 jets could potentially reduce sustainment costs by some $400 billion. A cut that large would affect not only Lockheed Martin, but an industrial base across the country that supports the manufacture of the aircraft. A company executive said at a House Armed Services Committee Hearing in late-April that the US supply chain is more than 1,800 companies, of which about 1,000 are small or disadvantaged businesses. Ellen Lord, the former chief of Pentagon acquisitions under the Trump administration, said there is a debate within the Pentagon about how to prioritize the mature F-35 program against the unproven NGAD. Lord was one of those in the department to whom Roper suggested cutting the Air Force's F-35 purchase. Speaking with CNN, she emphasized the importance of the overall F-35 program, especially its interoperability with key allies and partners. Trump's acting defense secretary called F-35 fighter jet program 'f----d up' "It's important to realize the difference between one prototype that has shown potential and the ability to guarantee a product that can generate multiple aircraft per month. We must be very careful not to discard a concept that has been built up over time," she said. "The debate is about the degree to which you can reduce the F-35 to put money into NGAD. Right now, [the F-35] is performing very, very well for the Air Force, Navy, and the Marines. The pilots love it when they go downrange." But Lord said the sustainment costs of the fighter must come down. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said the service is still "fully committed" to the F-35. At the same time, she said the Air Force is working to find "the fighter force mix that best meets the challenges of the highly contested environment." "In addition to the aircraft we are procuring now, we are looking at affordable capacity and capability for the future and determining where we should invest our R&D money, using a digital approach, so we have the right fighter mix 15-20 years from now," Stefanek said in a statement to CNN. In its latest report on F-35 sustainment released last month, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said the program was projected to be $6 billion short in the year 2036 alone. The problem is sharpest for the Air Force, where the GAO found that the estimated cost of the F-35s was 47% higher than what the Air Force said it could afford. "The services have a plane that they cannot afford to fly the way they want to fly, at least in the long run," Maurer said at the House Armed Services Committee hearing about the F-35 last month. F-35 program plagued by problems The program, which will mark its 20th anniversary this October, has not yet completed its testing or entered full production, despite being operational in the field, and it has been plagued by cost overruns and delays for years, including a shortage of 800 engines by 2030. Across the Air Force, Navy, and Marines, the F-35 remains well below its target full mission capable rate, which is the rate at which it can perform all of its intended missions. The Navy F-35 is fully mission capable only 7% of the time, according to the GAO. "It's more expensive than we expected it to be. It's taking longer than we expected it to take. The engine breaks down more quickly than we expected it to and is more expensive and time-consuming to fix than we expected it to be," said Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, speaking with CNN. "We do not yet have the full capability that has been promised in terms of what the F-35 can do." Brett Ashworth, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin, said the company still sees strong support for the F-35. "Recently the Chief of Staff of the Air Force called the F-35 the cornerstone of the U.S. Air Force fighter fleet. The importance of the F-35 to the US Air Force was highlighted by recent deployments to the CENTCOM area of responsibility in which the Air Force flew more than 1,300 sorties, completing their mission and returning the pilots home safely every time," he said in a statement to CNN. Dramatically reducing the purchase of the country's latest fighter aircraft is not without precedent. In 1997, the Air Force planned to purchase more than 400 Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors. At the time, the stealth Raptor was being developed as the most advanced fighter jet in the world. But spiraling costs led to the purchase of only 187 aircraft before the production line was shut down. The Air Force acknowledged similar problems with the cost of the F-35 in response to the GAO report. "Air Force officials told us that, as a result, the only remaining options for their meeting their affordability constraints are to reduce the total number of F-35A aircraft they plan to purchase, or to reduce the aircraft's planned flying hours," the GAO report stated. In January, acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller called the F-35 a "piece of ..." and said, "We've created a monster," in comments made just days before he left office. A month later, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown referenced the F-35's costs to operate when he likened it to a "Ferrari" and said its use should be moderated. Brown called to develop a "fifth-gen minus" aircraft. In March, Rep. Smith was far more blunt in his assessment, saying he wants to stop "throwing money down that particular rathole." F-35 program has some staunch supporters Rep. Donald Norcross, a member of the House Armed Services committee, told CNN that it will be difficult to reduce the cost of a program that has completed much of its design and development, even as he called the jet "remarkable." "The reality is that the more mature a platform is, the unknown areas where you could potentially bring down the cost narrow, and we're facing that right now, that "We're not going to be able to reduce cost on a mature program as much as we potentially will need to," he said. "Unless we see substantial improvement or a pathway forward, then you have to look at what we're able to do -- what we can afford -- and is there a better platform to do it with." The F-35 program still has its staunch supporters in Congress and the Pentagon. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin supports the "critically important program," said chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby Monday, while adding that the problems are being worked through. "The department remains committed to the F-35 going forward, as do many of our allies and partners." His comments echoed those of Brigadier General David Abba, director of the Air Force's F-35 Integration Office. "The United States Air Force is absolutely committed to the F-35," Abba said at the House Armed Services Committee hearing two weeks ago, though he acknowledged "difficult decisions" may be ahead if the sustainment costs aren't reduced. Meanwhile, Rep. Don Bacon called the jet "the most significant and consequential military modernization for the United States, our allies, and freedom-loving nations around the world," adding that the F-35's performance is "unmatched." Rep. Blake Moore, a fellow Republican, said at the hearing, "This plane can simply not be beat." Lord, the former Pentagon chief of acquisitions, said there is a balance between the program's critics and its advocates. She cautioned, "We need to be very thoughtful with what one prototype has demonstrated versus what one proven aircraft can do." https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/15/politics/f-35-jet-air-force/index.html Covid-19: Thousands set to jet overseas on holiday as rules ease Holidaymakers from England, Scotland and Wales are expected to jet off for some early summer sun from Monday as the ban on foreign holidays is lifted. Travellers will now be able to visit 12 countries on the government's green list, including Portugal and Israel, without isolating on their return. But the vast majority of tourist destinations remain on the amber and red lists, meaning travellers must quarantine when they get back. And that has hit demand for holidays. Online travel agent Thomas Cook said the number of people booking to travel abroad was "still small". It said 75% of its bookings were for Portugal, although Thomas Cook customers planning to jet off this week numbered only in their hundreds. The rules for holidays in green list countries such as Portugal Portugal to allow UK tourists from Monday Public must play their part as lockdown eases - PM On Friday, Portugal announced that travellers from the UK would be allowed to enter its borders provided they could show a negative PCR test result from the previous 72 hours. That led to an increase in demand for flights to the country. Tui, which has 19 flights scheduled from the UK to Portugal next week, said eight of those would now be on a Boeing Dreamliner, which can carry up to 345 people. Due to a surge in demand for landing slots at Portugal's airports, Tui was unable to put on more flights so it decided to use the larger planes, which are normally used for long-haul flights and can carry almost twice as many people as the Boeing 737s that it had planned to use. BA chief executive Sean Doyle told the BBC that the airline's six flights due to depart from Heathrow on Monday to green destinations like Lisbon, Faro and Madeira were "very busy". He said the latest relaxation of restrictions was "a small step in the right direction", and added: "We're looking forward to a broader recovery, but today is an important milestone." Five star Many of those who do intend to get away plan to do so in style. Thomas Cook reported that 85% of customers had booked four or five-star hotels. Before the crisis, only around half of people chose to splash out on that kind of luxury. Hays Travel has noticed a similar trend. At present around half of its customers are booking for next year but it highlighted a "cautious optimism" among travellers following an almost four-fold increase in bookings for Portugal this summer. Chief operating officer Jonathon Woodall said the average spend on a two-week holiday for a family of four had increased by £370 to £4,000 as people look to "fulfil their bucket list". For those looking to holiday closer to home, the average spend on a 14-night family break in Europe is £1,800. "People are upgrading to better destinations and accommodation, spending more to treat themselves," he said. "Cruises both around Britain this summer and worldwide are very popular." 'Far from smooth' For those making their escape on Monday, the process has been "far from smooth", according to Håkan Jönsson, who plans to fly to Faro from London with his fiancé Vanessa and their three-month-old baby. "It feels like we are all a bunch of guinea pigs," he told the BBC. "Thankfully we got there in the end, but it has been stressful organising all the tests and documentation at such short notice." Nevertheless, he said he was nervous about the flight in case there is something they have missed - "despite checking the requirements about a hundred times". "On top of that we had some issues with the online check-in with BA and it was very hard to get hold of someone." He and his family do not have much planned. "We are just looking forward to some sun by the pool or by the beach, some nice lunches out and dinners at the hotel," he said. "We will be super careful because of Covid as we want to make sure that we are allowed back into the UK without any problems." While travel from England, Scotland and Wales is permitted to the 12 countries on the green list, most of the destinations are either remote islands or do not currently allow UK tourists to enter. And the government is advising people not to make non-essential trips to locations on its amber list, which covers popular destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Greece. However, the guidance is expected to be ignored by some holidaymakers. EasyJet and Tui have both said that they will operate holidays to countries classified as amber, provided Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not advise against "all but essential" travel. The majority of countries around the world are in the amber category, meaning that arrivals from these places to the UK are required to quarantine at home for 10 days as well as taking a Covid test before departure and two more on arrival. However, BA boss Sean Doyle said "cautious optimism" should be exercised when decisions are made about whether to expand the green list when it is reviewed on 7 June. He said vaccination and infection rates in a number of the major aviation markets were "trending positively". "The United States now has 60% of its adult population vaccinated, infections are falling. It's an important market for tourists but it's also a very important market for ex-patriot Britons who live there, but also for doing business, so I think there's a lot of economic opportunity, if we do use the data and look at the trends and add more countries to the green list over the coming weeks." In a statement last week, an EasyJet Holidays spokesperson said: "We want holidays to go ahead for as many of our customers as possible this summer, and we recognise that the discrepancy between countries on the amber list and the FCDO's 'all but essential travel' warnings are confusing for holidaymakers and the industry alike. Tui said: "We want to offer our customers flexibility and choice this summer, so where borders are open and FCDO advice allows travel, we will operate to those destinations." From Monday, people travelling abroad will be able to use the NHS app - which is different to the NHS Covid-19 app - to prove they have had the vaccine. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps previously said people who have had both doses will be able to use the app at border controls, although the government says people should still check countries' entry requirements as tests or quarantine might still be needed. https://news.yahoo.com/covid-19-thousands-set-jet-230126073.html Ryanair 'upset' with Boeing, fears no MAX deliveries before summer DUBLIN, May 17 (Reuters) - Ryanair fears it may not take delivery of its first 737 MAX aircraft until after its peak summer period and the Irish airline is "quite upset with Boeing" , Group Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said on Monday. But he said he believed the production issues would resolve in the medium term and said the Irish airline, Europe's largest low-cost carrier, was in talks with Boeing about a significant order of the larger, 230-seat, MAX 10 aircraft. The largest European customer of the MAX with 210 firm orders of the 197-seat MAX200 model, Ryanair in late March said it expected that before summer it would take delivery of 16 of the aircraft, down from an earlier forecast of 40. But Boeing is now promising the first delivery of the jet, which has been delayed in part due to a recent electrical grounding issue, in late May. "We are now being told the first delivery will be in late May. I am not sure we necessarily believe that," O'Leary said in a pre-recorded presentation following the release of the company's full-year results. "As the management team in Seattle continues to mismanage that process I think there is a real risk we might not see any of these aircraft in advance of summer 2021," O'Leary said. Ryanair was initially due to take delivery of its first MAX two years ago before the jet was grounded for 20 months after two fatal crashes. The airline has agreed "reasonable and fair" compensation for that delay, it said in its results statement on Monday. Ryanair is confident it will have 60 of the aircraft in place for the summer of 2022, he said. Ryanair remains in talks with Boeing for a significant order of the larger MAX 10 aircraft, but "we are not quite there on price yet," Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan said in an interview. Asked how big such a deal would be, Sorahan said it would cover both fleet renewal and growth in the 2026 to 2030 period. "We don't tend to do small deals," he said. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/1-ryanair-upset-boeing-fears-063258142.html CDB Aviation Begins Deliveries of Four A320neo Family Aircraft to Russia’s Aeroflot Aircraft Placements from the Lessor’s Orderbook to Support the Carrier’s Strategy 2028 Initiative Aimed at Increasing Operational Efficiency and Fleet Optimization DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited (“CDB Leasing”), announced that the company delivered the first of four Airbus A320neo family aircraft on long-term lease to Russia’s flagship airline, Aeroflot. Aeroflot took delivery of the first aircraft, a new A320neo, on May 14 at Airbus’ delivery center in Toulouse, France. The remaining three deliveries include two additional A320neos and one A321neo, which will be received by the carrier later in May. “We are pleased to expand our strategic relationship between Aeroflot and CDB Aviation,” noted Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation Chief Commercial Officer, adding that “these modern aircraft will deliver the right mix of operational efficiency and flexibility” to support Aeroflot’s fleet optimization as the carrier works towards its Strategy 2028 and seizes on opportunities in the Russian and international air transportation markets. The neos will support Aeroflot’s strategic efforts to retrench its leading position in key markets on the domestic network, while enhancing its fleet with the latest technology narrowbody aircraft offering higher capacity and improved fuel-efficiency. About CDB Aviation CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited (“CDB Leasing”) a 36-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moody’s (A1), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is the world’s largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating. CDB Leasing is the only leasing arm of the China Development Bank and a leading company in China’s leasing industry that has been engaged in aircraft, infrastructure, ship, commercial vehicle and construction machinery leasing and enjoys a Chinese sovereign credit rating. It took an important step in July 2016 to globalize and marketize its business – listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX STOCK CODE: 1606). www.CDBAviation.aero https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210516005041/en/CDB-Aviation-Begins-Deliveries-of-Four-A320neo-Family-Aircraft-to-Russia%E2%80%99s-Aeroflot Qingdao Airlines reaffirms satcom inflight connectivity commitment Qingdao Airlines has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding and accelerating the deployment of satellite-supported, inflight high-speed Internet across its fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. News of the carrier’s decision comes as ZTE Corporation reveals it is readying to roll out a 5G air-to-ground (ATG)-based inflight connectivity service in China, with the “top 10 busiest routes” to be served first. The race to connect China’s domestic fleet is well and truly on. In July 2020, Qingdao began evaluating FTS’s Xstream-branded Ka-band IFC aboard a single A320. The solution represents “the first China developed IFEC system to receive all three major international airworthiness STC certifications from FAA, EASA and CAAC”, according to FTS. China’s TD Link acts as service provider. Rotation “Over the past 10 months, the trial aircraft has flown more than 1,200 flights flawlessly with impeccable service, delighting Qingdao Airlines passengers with [an] unprecedented inflight connected experience equivalent to ground 4G performance, with services such as movies, social media, live video broadcast, maps and e-commerce (with mobile payment),” said FTS. The IFC service, added Qingdao Airlines president Wu Longxue in a statement, “not only won strong accolades from passengers but also created a new business model of ‘Internet + Aviation’, making Qingdao Airlines a role model for the domestic industry. Qingdao Airlines’ innovative and pioneering spirit has attracted strong endorsement and support from local government, CAAC and industry bodies. “After carefully weighing all these factors and firmly believing in the benefits of connected aircraft, the airline stood firm in its decision to go full steam and accelerate the fleet-wide adoption of inflight connectivity.” Qingdao operates a 25-strong A320/A321 fleet. https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2021/05/16/qingdao-ifc-fleet/ SpaceX on track to launch eight Falcon 9 rockets in six weeks After yesterday’s successful Starlink-26 launch, SpaceX is now more than half of the way to completing eight orbital Falcon 9 launches in six weeks. On April 23rd, after a one-day delay for bad weather, SpaceX launched four astronauts on a flight-proven Falcon 9 booster – and in a flight-proven Dragon capsule – in a historic spaceflight first. Six days later, the company aced its 24th operational Starlink launch, followed by two more 60-satellite Starlink missions on May 4th and May 9th – the latter of which marked the first time a single Falcon 9 booster completed ten orbital-class launches. Finally, Falcon 9 completed yet another Starlink launch on May 15th – this time carrying 52 flat-packed internet satellites and two third-party payloads as part of SpaceX’s fourth Starlink rideshare mission. However, after launching 234 satellites, four astronauts, and five Falcon 9s – and recovering all five boosters – in 22 days, SpaceX is far from finished. Some two weeks ago, the bulk of SpaceX’s June launch manifest had already more or less fallen into place with three specific dates in the first half of the month. A few days prior to Starlink-26’s successful launch, what is likely SpaceX’s fourth and final launch of May 2021 also came into focus. Unsurprisingly another Starlink mission, Starlink-28 is now scheduled to launch no earlier than (NET) 2:59 pm EDT (18:59 UTC) on May 26th – 11 days after Starlink-26. Of note, SpaceX has chosen Falcon 9 booster B1063 to support the mission. That booster debuted in November 2020 at California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) and was transported to Florida two months ago. Starlink-28 will be its second launch. Up next, SiriusXM’s 7-ton SXM-8 radio satellite arrived at SpaceX’s payload integration facilities in Florida earlier this month and is scheduled to launch as early as 12:25 am EDT (4:25 UTC) on June 1st. The mission could slip a few days but is still likely to launch in early June. Less than three days later, a rare new Falcon 9 booster could launch SpaceX’s second upgraded Cargo Dragon spacecraft – also new – on NASA’s CRS-22 space station resupply mission. Earlier today, NASA confirmed that the mission is on track to launch on June 3rd – likely around 1pm EDT (15:00 UTC). If the weather, space station, and SpaceX’s rockets, spacecraft, and pad facilities cooperate, the completion of those three upcoming missions would mark eight successful Falcon 9 launches – carrying two Dragon spacecraft, four astronauts, and almost 300 satellites to orbit – in less than six weeks (41 days). If SpaceX manages that feat and averages one launch every five days, the company will have completed ~45% of its 2021 launches in ~26% of the year to date – a clear pattern of acceleration. In the same period, a SpaceX Crew Dragon also safely returned four astronauts to Earth after the longest crewed spaceflight in US history (May 2nd) and the company successfully launched and landed a full-size Starship prototype for the first time (May 5th). https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-eight-falcon-9-launches-six-weeks-2021/ Position Available: Maintenance Controller/Maintenance Technician FlightWorks, Inc. is growing, and we are seeking an experienced Maintenance Controller/Maintenance Technician to join our team for a high-volume full-time Part 91 and 135 opportunity based in Kennesaw, Georgia. This is a great opportunity to join one of the most trusted management companies in the industry with career growth potential. Must reside in or be willing to locate to Georgia. FlightWorks is not your typical aircraft management company. Our core values focus around Safety, Safety and FAA compliance are our top priorities, with exceptional service being a close second! Please see below for more details on our benefits package. The responsibilities consist of any and all tasks generally recognized as, but not limited to, a mechanic's work on or in reference to aircraft, its component parts and related equipment performed at line stations, major stations and shops. Mechanic/Technicians may be required to inspect and test systems, component parts used in their work and sign for the work performed. Must be capable of performing their work satisfactorily to our company standards. Sensitive material or subject matter may be discussed in your presence. Strict confidentiality must be adhered to. Mechanics/technicians may be required to instruct less experienced employees. Responsibilities: · Maintaining the many different types of aircraft operated by the company, in accordance with current FAA regulations, manufacturer's maintenance manuals, FlightWorks General Operations Manual (GOM) and FlightWorks General Maintenance Manual (GMM). · Maintain adequate tools necessary to perform all tasks on aircraft. The company will supply aircraft specific specialty tools. · Maintain a clean and orderly work area. This includes cleaning up after completion of a job and general housekeeping of hangar, shop, and office areas. · Completing all required documentation in accordance with current FAA regulations, FlightWorks General Operations Manual (GOM), and FlightWorks General Maintenance Manual (GMM). · Communicating aircraft discrepancy information, aircraft status, and changes in a timely manner to direct supervisor. · Performs all maintenance and repairs on aircraft for which s/he is assigned and qualified. · Approves aircraft for return to service after scheduled or unscheduled maintenance for which s/he is authorized and qualified. · Returns all equipment and tools checked out at end of work shift and reposition equipment in assigned area after use. · Reports all inoperative or faulty equipment to the Maintenance Supervisor in charge. · Performs duties of Maintenance Coordinator as qualified when assigned to that position by an authorized person. · Completes all paperwork for the maintenance s/he performs. · Assures that hangar workshops, and other areas assigned are maintained in an orderly manner. · Will have adequate tools to perform work. FlightWorks is not your typical aircraft management company. Our core values focus on Safety, Compliance and Service. As an example, all of our flight crews receive real prospective duty and rest assignments every duty day. We do not believe in the 24/7/365 on-call scheduling that so many other companies offer. Safety and FAA compliance are our top priorities, with exceptional service being a close second! Please see below for more details on our benefits package. Because FlightWorks cares about the health and well-being of our employees and their families, we offer a comprehensive benefits package. Full-Time Employee Benefits · Competitive salary · 401(k) retirement plan · Medical and dental insurance · Prescription drug plan · Vision care plan · Healthcare Reimbursement and Flexible Spending Accounts · Employee Assistance Program · Basic life and accidental death insurance, with optional elective coverage · Optional spouse and dependent life insurance · Short-term disability coverage and basic long-term disability insurance, with optional “buy-up” coverage. · Legal Shield and Identity Theft insurance · Pet Insurance Time Away From Work · Paid time off · Holiday pay (qualified employees) Qualifications · Must hold a valid A & P Certificate, IA preferred. · Must travel as necessary, for company business. · Must be able to be reached by telephone, cellular phone, and report to work at all times, except when prior arrangements have been made with maintenance supervisor. · Experience with Bombardier preferred. · Part 135 experience preferred. · Must stay up to date with current FlightWorks Policies and Procedures. · Must stay up to date with current Federal Aviation Regulations. · Must be willing to work nights, weekends and holidays. · Display initiative, integrity, and an overall positive attitude. · Be able to independently identify tasks that need to be accomplished. · Ask questions as they arise. · Be a "Team Player". This is a Safety Sensitive position and is subject to Random Drug and Alcohol testing. APPLY AT: www.flightworks.com/about/careers Position Available: Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji: CHIEF EXECUTIVE Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (“CAAF”) is a statutory authority established under the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji Act 1979 (“the Act”). CAAF’s prime objective is to ensure that the highest safety standards are met, and services are provided in an efficient manner, meeting both the regulatory requirements and the need of its customers. CAAF is seeking to recruit an experienced, visionary and dynamic individual for the position of Chief Executive (“CE”) to be in the CAAF head office in Nadi, Fiji. POSITION PURPOSE The primary purpose of this position is to lead and steer CAAF to achieve its strategic objectives as set out under the Act and by the Board and to fulfil its vision “to be a model aviation regulator” and ensure that CAAF’s functions are fulfilled under the relevant laws and regulations. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES • 1. Work with the Government to establish the National Civil Aviation Management Plan and policies and align the same with and to support the International Civil Aviation Organisation (“ICAO”) regional and global aviation safety, security, efficiency and environment initiatives and goals. • 2. Ensuring the national aviation legislation/regulations/standards are constantly reviewed, • modernised, harmonised and consolidated to comply with international standards and best • practices. • 3. Leading the ongoing review and development of CAAF’s strategic and corporate business plans to ensure that they remain relevant and responsive to national stakeholders needs without compromising Fiji’s international obligations. • 4. Regularly reviewing and implementing CAAF’s functions, structure, staffing, decision support systems, processes and operations. • 5. Providing leadership to ensure sound corporate governance and accountability, and enhanced productivity and effective service delivery are achieved. • 6. Progress Fiji towards the new ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme • (“USOAP”)/Universal Security Audit Program (“USAP”), Continuous Monitoring Approach • requirements and update Fiji’s implementations of the Standards and Recommended Practices (“SARPs”) to maintain a favourable rating of Fiji on ICAO USOAP/USAP Online Framework. • 7. Developing and implementing safety education and awareness policies and strategies to promote behavioural changes that support the development and maturity of safety culture across the aviation industry. • 8. Ensuring effective implementation of Safety Management System across the civil aviation industry and, the State’s Safety Programme and balanced integration between CAAF’s compliance and performance-based safety oversight systems is achieved. • 9. Achieving compliance with ICAO programmes, frameworks and requirements and maintaining favourable ratings. • 10. Sustaining the effectiveness of Fiji’s civil aviation safety and security systems. • 11. Developing and constantly monitoring the national civil aviation system performance metrics. PERSON SPECIFICATION In addition to a tertiary qualification in aviation or air transportation or civil aviation management from a recognised institution, the following knowledge, experience, skills and abilities are required to successfully undertake this role: KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE • 1. Proven experience in managing a civil aviation organisation or similar systems. • 2. Qualification in aviation technical disciplines will be an added advantage. • 3. Knowledge and experience of ICAO Annexes and SARPs. • 4. Ability to prioritise, delegate, and oversee a multitude of departments. • 5. Strong oral and written communication skills; comfortable with public speaking. SKILLS AND ABILITIES • 1. A visionary strategic thinker, but also able to see and manage the details. • 2. Proven leadership abilities. • 3. Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship building skills. • 4. Identify risks within CAAF and find solutions. • 5. Represent CAAF in public and attend Board meetings. • 6. Uphold company business laws and ethics. • 7. Manage CAAF’s resources. An attractive remuneration package and benefits which will commensurate with qualification and experience will be negotiated with the successful candidate. The initial term of the contract will be for three years from the date of appointment. Application Process • To apply and be eligible for consideration applicants must submit the following documents: • 1. A signed cover letter addressing the knowledge, skills, experience and abilities required for the position and how you meet the above criteria; • 2. Certified true copies of documents in support of the application; and • 3. A current resume with contact details for three referees. • Applications marked “Private & Confidential" must be submitted by 11.59pm on 25 June 2021. quoting “Chief Executive – CAAF”. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants are required to submit their application by email to recruit.ceo.caaf@gmail.com. Telephone enquiries may be directed to Ms Torika Colati on (+679) 222 4222 or via email on torika.colati@caaf.org.fj https://www.caaf.org.fj/sites/default/files/2021-05/Vacancy%20-%20Chief%20Executive.pdf Position Available (CRANFIELD): Deputy Aviation Safety and Compliance Manager Job Type: Senior Management & Heads of Department, Other Senior Management Contract Type: Permanent Hours: Full Time School/Department: Cranfield Airport Operations Limited Based at Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire Hours of work 37.5 hours per week - worked to an agreed shift pattern that may include some weekend working Contract type Permanent Salary £33,000 to £37,000 per annum Apply by 09/05/2021 Role Description Cranfield Airport is a commercial and GA airport situated in Class G airspace situated between Bedford and the City of Milton Keynes with a 1799m runway which can accommodate business jets such as the Falcon, Gulfstream and Boeing Business Jet, which currently do not require runway slots. As a key function of safety and compliance you will be responsible for providing direction and guidance for the planning, implementation and operation of Cranfield Airport’s Safety Management System. This will cover the University’s Aviation Operation including: • Cranfield Airport • Canfield Airport Rescue and Firefighting Service • National Flying Laboratory • Cranfield Air Navigation Service Provider • UAV/Drone Operations • Fuel Farm Installation Working as part of a team, the number one priority is safe operations in accordance with National (CAA) and European (EASA) requirements. As the Deputy Aviation Safety and Compliance Manager you will work with several domain specialists across the various elements of aviation operations to ensure we meet or exceed these standards. Qualifications and Skills To have undertaken a recognised course on the management of safety and quality (or equivalent) and being IOSH trained are essential to this role. Along with proven experience in the Aviation environment and proven exposure to a safety and quality management system. Experience in conducting monitoring audits and inspections and a solid understanding of risk management principles and techniques to support the SMS. Additional information Cranfield Airport offers a range of excellent benefits which includes 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, a contributory pension scheme and excellent development opportunities. For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Lindsay Grant, Aviation Safety and Compliance Manager on (E): l.grant@cranfield.ac.uk https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/en-us/listing/251927/deputy-aviation-safety-and-compliance-manager/ AVIATION COMMUNICATION: STRATEGY AND MESSAGES FOR ENSURING SUCCESS AND PREVENTING FAILURES, 1ST EDITION 'THIS BOOK IS A MUST-HAVE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL AVIATION BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS A TRI-FUNCTIONAL INDUCTION, TRAINING, AND REFERENCE TOOL.' Now available to order from www.routledge.com/9781138624825 Aviation Communication: Strategy and Messages for Ensuring Success and Preventing Failures by Linda J. Tavlin www.lindatavlin.com With a foreword by Professor Graham Braithwaite "This is a great book that helps prepare communicators and business leaders in facing the worst. As Linda rightly points out, communication is a thought process and needs to be practised." - Tony Fernandes, Group CEO, AirAsia Group Do you ever wonder why an airline's communication strategy can crash and burn in a crisis? A lack of understanding an acceptable aviation communication strategy can, in this fast world of social media, ruin a company's credibility in the aviation industry. Aviation Communication: Strategy and Messages for Ensuring Success and Preventing Failures is the first go-to book to reveal to everyone in the aviation industry how to stop an organization's communication strategy from becoming the tragedy-after-the-tragedy that we've seen so often. In such instances, after the media go home, the economic, political, regulatory, and legal effects can linger for years. The strategies and messages in this book show how to prevent this along with the ultimate safety net used by those who have been successful. Readers will learn to prevent catastrophic communication mistakes with strategic templates for a wide array of scenarios, as well as 25 specific techniques that give the actual words to use to deliver the book's messages and reveal the safety net of the 4-point formula that organizations with successful strategies have used. New Discount Code Is AC230 For 20% Discount It is valid from from 14th of May to the 28th October 2021 Purchase your copy here: https://www.routledge.com/9781138624825 Webinar: Human Factors in Flight Deck Design & Certification Wednesday, May 19, 1pm ET Free to attend The role of ergonomics in flight deck design continues to remain a critical safety priority in aviation. RTCA brings together key stakeholders including FAA, Airbus, Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, and Applied Ergonomics Group to identify how we can work together to enhance the integration of Human Factors from concept of design through product certification. An audience Q&A session follows the discussion. After the session, Captain Bob Fox of ALPA presents a Tech Talk: “Airline Pilots – The Most Important Safety Feature on An Aircraft “. Register: https://bit.ly/3tvK4HH ESASI Annual Seminar Dear ESASI Members and Friends, The ESASI Committee has decided to convert the ESASI Annual Seminar into a webinar. The dates remain the same. It will be held on Zoom on the afternoons of the 1st and 2nd of July 2021. The ESASI Committee has been working with our hosts in Hungary to organize ESASI 2022 in Budapest in Spring 2022. CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS • Challenges faced by air safety investigators. • The environment, and culture, that air safety investigators operate in. • Practical experience of applying investigation techniques. • New techniques to aid the investigation. • Investigating UAVs. • Investigating accidents involving manned spacecraft. • Topical cases studies. Details of proposed presentations should be sent to Thorkell Agustsson and Brian McDermid by the 14th May 2021 at presentations@esasi.eu Best regards Steve Hull - ESASI Secretary Graduate Survey My name is Pierre DION, I am an airline Captain and student at City, University of London doing an MSc in Air Safety Management. Department of Mathematics of City, University of London We are looking for volunteers to participate in a study of "Artificial Intelligence in Safety Management System". As a participant in this study, you would be asked to answer 18 questions for an anonymous questionnaire. Your participation would involve one session of approximately 10 minutes of your time. Please follow the link below. Thank you. Survey Link: https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4UCz8cT2NDRdIxg Thank you. Pierre DION Curt Lewis