Flight Safety Information - May 25, 2021 No. 104 In This Issue : Accident: Southwest B737 at Saint Louis on May 21st 2021, rejected takeoff due to blown tyres : Incident: Sundair A320 at Dresden on May 23rd 2021, hydraulic problem : Incident: American B738 near Chicago on May 23rd 2021, service door opened in flight : Dassault Mirage F1 - Fatal Accident (Neveda) : EU to impose sanctions on Belarus following forced landing of plane : Flight Safety Foundation Condemns Forced Diversion of Ryanair Flight : Unfriendly skies: 2,500 unruly U.S. airline passengers reported in 2021 : Southwest Airlines flight attendant loses two teeth after passenger assault; inflight incidents at 'intolerable level,' union says : Mask fights and BYOB breaches: FAA proposes $64,500 in fines against five unruly airline passengers : United Airlines, union agree against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for pilots : Why Do Airliners Rarely Use Full Thrust On Takeoff? : Hampton man found with loaded gun at Norfolk International Airpor : IBAC Announces FlightSafety International as New Industry Partner : Qantas Is Keeping Airbus A380 Pilots On Standby : Experts are convinced that self-flying planes will roam the skies by 2025 - here's how one startup is working to win over the FAA and the public : NetJets' supersonic plans delayed as Boeing-backed Aerion falters : NASA's Mars helicopter will attempt a perilous landing in unknown territory during its first 'bonus' flight this week : Position Available: Maintenance Controller/Maintenance Technician Accident: Southwest B737 at Saint Louis on May 21st 2021, rejected takeoff due to blown tyres A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N558WN performing flight WN-1995 from Saint Louis,MO (USA) to Cancun (Mexico), was accelerating for takeoff from runway 12L when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (above 100 knots over ground) following loud bangs from the left hand side. The aircraft came to a safe stop on the runway, tower immediatey advised the crew they had blown a left tyre, he could see debris all along the runway and instructed sweepers and airport ground services to clear the runway. The aircraft attempted to vacate the runway but became stuck on the end of the runway. A replacement Boeing 737-700 registration N465WN reached Cancun with a delay of 3.5 hours. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT ON DEPARTURE ROLL, ABORTED DEPARTURE DUE TO TWO BLOWN TIRES ON LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, ST LOUIS, MO.", stated the damage was substantial and rated the occurrence an accident. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Saint Louis 3 days later. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e7e2a91&opt=0 Incident: Sundair A320 at Dresden on May 23rd 2021, hydraulic problem A Sundair Airbus A320-200, registration D-ANNA performing flight SR-4888 from Dresden (Germany) to Rhodes (Greece), was climbing out of Dresden when the crew stopped the climb at FL280 due to a hydraulic problem and decided to return to Dresden. The aircraft landed safely on Dresden's runway 22 about 40 minutes after departure. Dresden Airport reported the aircraft returned to Dresden in the morning due to a technical defect. The airport immediately requested THW Kamenz (technical relief organisation Kamenz, part of the town) to assist that passengers didn't go hungry and to supply them with food and drinks. The passengers were able to depart later in the evening. A replacement A320-200 registration D-ASMR reached Rhodes with a delay of about 14 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 23 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e7e329c&opt=0 Incident: American B738 near Chicago on May 23rd 2021, service door opened in flight An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N877NN performing flight AA-1487 from New York JFK,NY to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was enroute at FL340 over Columbus,OH (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Chicago due to an open ground power service door. The crew declared emergency advising they needed to do an overweight landing at Chicago, descended the aircraft to 10,000 feet and landed safely on O'Hare's runway 28C about 55 minutes after leaving FL340. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 100 minutes, then departed again and reached Phoenix with a delay of about 2 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e7e2f9f&opt=0 Dassault Mirage F1 - Fatal Accident (Neveda) Date: 25-MAY-2021 Time: c. 14:30 Type: Dassault Mirage F1 Owner/operator: Draken International LLC Registration: MSN: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Category: Accident Location: near Nellis AFB (LSV/KLSV), Las Vegas, NV - United States of America Phase: Initial climb Nature: Military Departure airport: Las Vegas-Nellis AFB, NV (LSV/KLSV) Destination airport: Narrative: A Dassault Mirage F1, callsign "Sniper 01", went down in the backyard of a home, south of Nellis AFB (LSV/KLSV), Las Vegas, Cark County, Nevada. The pilot died according to local fire officials. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/263028 EU to impose sanctions on Belarus following forced landing of plane European Union leaders on Monday agreed to impose new economic sanctions against Belarus, after the country's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko forced a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk on Sunday so authorities could arrest Roman Protasevich, a dissident journalist on board. Already, there are sanctions in place against Lukashenko and other top officials in response to the violent crackdown on protesters last year during Belarus' disputed presidential election. Protasevich is the co-founder and former editor of the NEXTA Telegram channel, one of the few opposition outlets still in existence following the demonstrations. Protasevich has been living in Lithuania, and was accused of inciting hatred and mass disorder; he faces 12 years in prison if convicted. In addition to sanctions, the EU leaders want planes to steer clear of Belarusian airspace and ban Belarus' national airline from flying over or into any EU territories. Lukashenko's move was "the test of the West," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics told The Washington Post on Monday. "But it was also a show of force and confidence to his own people and the opposition: 'Look, I can come and get you anyway.' This is an inter-European flight, from Athens to Vilnius, with a European company performing the flight, with a person who is under European protection because he is an opposition activist. This is a direct attack against Europe." Lithuanian authorities are working to determine whether anyone else — like Russia — was involved in forcing the plane to divert to Minsk, and want to know the whereabouts of three passengers who got off the plane at the airport but didn't get back on. "This was a major operation," a senior European official told the Post. "These were skilled professionals, skilled guys on board." A video appeared on Telegram Monday evening featuring Protasevich delivering what was seemingly a coerced message, with the journalist saying he was being treated "as correctly as possible" and cooperated by giving "confessional testimony about the fact of organizing mass riots in the city of Minsk." https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-impose-sanctions-belarus-following-231420243.html Flight Safety Foundation Condemns Forced Diversion of Ryanair Flight by FSF Communications Staff | May 24, 2021 BRUSSELS — Flight Safety Foundation strongly condemns the forced diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978 while the commercial aircraft was flying through the airspace of Belarus. “Forcing an aircraft to divert with the purpose of detaining a passenger is a violation of international law and poses a significant safety risk to the passengers and crew of the aircraft,” said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi. “We call on the government of Belarus to immediately release the detained passengers who were removed from the aircraft.” The Foundation also calls for a full, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this event. ### About Flight Safety Foundation Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety. Media Contact: Frank Jackman Vice President, Communications +1 703.739.6700, ext. 116 jackman@flightsafety.org www.flightsafety.org Unfriendly skies: 2,500 unruly U.S. airline passengers reported in 2021 WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Airlines have filed about 2,500 unruly-passenger reports with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration this year, including 1,900 reports of passengers not wearing required face masks, the agency said on Monday. The jump in cases in midst of the coronavirus pandemic prompted FAA Administrator Steve Dickson in March to indefinitely extend a "zero tolerance policy" on unruly air passengers imposed in January. The FAA said on Monday it had proposed new civil penalties ranging from $9,000 to $15,000 against five airline passengers for disruptive and, in some cases, assaultive behavior. The FAA has identified potential violations in 395 cases and initiated enforcement action in 30 cases. In one case, the FAA proposed a $10,500 fine against a JetBlue passenger who failed to wear a mask on a March 17 Orlando, Florida, flight to New York. He was eventually removed from the flight but delayed its departure by 28 minutes. The FAA proposed a $9,000 fine for a Southwest passenger on a Feb. 20 flight who refused to wear a mask. A flight attendant "gave the passenger a mask, and he threw it on the floor, saying he would not wear it," the FAA said, adding that the captain arranged for police to meet the passenger on arrival in Houston. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on April 30 extended a federal face mask mandate on airplanes and in airports through Sept. 13. With more Americans vaccinated, U.S. airplanes are becoming increasingly crowded. TSA screened 1.86 million passengers on Sunday, the highest daily total since March of last year. Dickson will hold an online aviation town hall on Wednesday to talk about masks and other travel requirements. Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said on Monday, "the freedom of flight depends on all of us following the rules and treating others with respect. ... The consequences are steep if you do not and the FAA isn’t playing around on this." Since 2020, Delta Air Lines has banned more than 1,200 passengers from future flights for failing to wear masks but not all of those have been referred to the FAA. Delta said on Monday, "the vast majority of our customers understand the mask requirement and comply with it." Dickson signed the zero tolerance order after supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump were disruptive on some flights around the time of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/u-received-2-500-unruly-141853365.html Southwest Airlines flight attendant loses two teeth after passenger assault; inflight incidents at 'intolerable level,' union says A Southwest Airlines flight attendant was assaulted by a passenger over the weekend and lost two teeth, according to a letter the flight attendants union sent to the airline's CEO Monday in an appeal for more safeguards as travel rebounds. "This past weekend, one of our flight attendants was seriously assaulted, resulting in injuries to the face and a loss of two teeth,'' Lyn Montgomery, president of TWU Local 556 said in the letter. "Unfortunately, this is just one of many occurrences. "such a manner, and because I am asking for your help and leadership in ending these travesties.'' The union said there were 477 passenger misconduct incidents on Southwest between April 8 and May 15. "This unprecedented number of incidents has reached an intolerable level, with passenger non-compliance events also becoming more aggressive in nature,'' Montgomery said. Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz confirmed that a passenger physically assaulted a flight attendant when Southwest Flight 700 from Sacramento to San Diego, California, landed Sunday morning. "The passenger repeatedly ignored standard inflight instructions and became verbally and physically abusive upon landing,'' Mainz said via e-mail in response to questions from USA TODAY. "Law enforcement officials were requested to meet the flight upon arrival, and the passenger was taken into custody. We do not condone or tolerate verbal or physical abuse of our flight crews, who are responsible for the safety of our passengers. '' The TWU said it is seeking several safeguards from Southwest. "Today’s traveling environment requires a new level of firmness in both tone and direction to ensure proper control in the cabin of our aircraft as the attitudes and behaviors of the flying public have, unfortunately, declined,'' Montgomery said in the letter. She said Southwest flight attendants are doing everything they can to ensure compliance with mask rules and other inflight policies but need the support of management when they call out a passengers' unruly behavior. "Oftentimes, appropriate actions to maintain a safe environment have been misconstrued as being unkind or inhospitable. As alcohol sales are added back into this already volatile environment, you can surely understand our concern.'' In the letter, the union proposes that Southwest: ♦ Better inform passengers that misbehaving could land them on Southwest's restricted travelers list and result in potential fines, criminal charges and possible imprisonment. "The flying public needs to understand that egregious behavior will result in being banned from flying with Southwest Airlines.'' ♦ Be consistent in policies. "No passenger should be removed from one flight only to be permitted to board the very next Southwest Airlines flight after a non-compliance incident. We ask that you take a strong stance to ensure that unruly passengers are not welcome to travel with us. Period. Full stop.'' ♦ Demand the U.S. government increase the number of Federal Air Marshals on flights and request that they "get involved and take action'' when crew members are threatened. The FAA has taken notice of a spike in passengers behaving badly, adopting a zero tolerance policy in January and extending it in March so it's in place throughout the pandemic. Since Jan. 1, the agency said it has received approximately 2,500 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, including about 1,900 reports of passengers refusing to comply with the federal facemask mandate. The agency has proposed hundreds of thousands of fines, including $258,250 so far in May. Mask dispute turns ugly on Delta: Passenger strikes flight attendant, faces $27,500 fine Mask fights and BYOB breaches: FAA proposes $64,500 in fines against five unruly passengers Airlines have also added travelers to internal do-not-fly lists, but Southwest has never released figures on how many passengers it has put on the list this year. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2021/05/25/southwest-airlines-flight-attendant-loses-two-teeth-passenger-assault/7425193002/ Mask fights and BYOB breaches: FAA proposes $64,500 in fines against five unruly airline passengers When the Federal Aviation Administration says it has zero tolerance for airline passengers behaving badly, it means business. In what has become a weekly occurrence, the agency on Monday proposed fines totaling $64,500 against five passengers from incidents earlier this year on three U.S. airlines. The new penalties come a week after it proposed fines totaling $107,000 against four unruly passengers. To date this month, it has proposed $258,250 in total penalties. The new infractions include mask struggles, a constant problem during the pandemic, and passengers bringing their own alcohol on board or sharing alcohol from first class. "Wear a mask. It’s required. Period,'' Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International said in a statement on the latest proposed fines. "The freedom of flight depends on all of us following the rules and treating others with respect. Flight attendants are charged with the safety, health and security of everyone in the cabin. Our instructions to the traveling public keep everyone safe. Listen up and do your part. The consequences are steep if you do not, and the FAA isn’t playing around on this.'' The latest proposed fines: ► $15,000 against a passenger on a Feb. 22 JetBlue Airways flight from Miami to Los Angeles. The FAA alleges a passenger in economy class visited a friend in first class and brought back the free items served in the front of the plane, including champagne, food and a headset. The flight attendant carried the items back to first class, called Mint on JetBlue. The passenger followed the flight attendant to the first-class section and allegedly assaulted him with her body and almost pushed him into the bathroom, the FAA says. The flight was diverted to Austin, Texas, and the passenger was removed. ► $15,000 against a passenger on a Jan. 10 JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles. The FAA says the passenger twice drank alcohol he brought on board despite flight attendants telling him that was prohibited. The passenger also talked on his cell phone during the flight and yelled at the flight attendant when told not to do that. ►$15,000 against a passenger on a Jan. 7 Alaska Airlines flight from Washington-Dulles to Seattle. When flight attendants walked down the aisle to check for mask compliance, the passenger "pushed and/or shoved'' the attendant, the FAA alleges. ► $10,500 against a passenger on a March 17 JetBlue flight from from Orlando, Florida, to New York for mask noncompliance. The FAA alleges that the passenger did not comply with instructions about face-mask requirements and swore when he was approached several times by a flight attendant. A flight attendant then knelt down next to him, the FAA says, quietly asked him to lower his voice, and reminded him of the face-mask requirement. He refused to comply and continued to yell and use profanity. Flight attendants notified the captain, and the passenger was asked to get off the plane. "He became combative and irate and loudly refused to get off,'' the FAA says. He allegedly screamed at the flight attendant when leaving the plane. The incident delayed the flight by nearly half an hour. ► $9,000 against a passenger on a Feb. 20 Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland, California, to Houston. The FAA alleges a flight attendant asked the passenger to pull his face mask up so it covered his nose, and the passenger refused to comply. The flight attendant gave the passenger a mask, and he threw it on the floor, according to the FAA. "The flight attendant explained the CDC and TSA mask requirement again and asked the passenger to acknowledge what she was saying,'' the FAA says. "He said he would not comply with the policy and that facemask-wearing would not be enforced in Texas.'' The captain asked law enforcement to meet the plane in Houston. https://www.yahoo.com/news/mask-fights-byob-breaches-faa-222926511.html United Airlines, union agree against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for pilots (Reuters) - United Airlines and its pilots' union have reached an agreement to prohibit the airline from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations to its pilots, the Air Line Pilots Association said on Monday. "Since the COVID vaccination is not mandatory, pilots who elect not to be vaccinated will not be subject to any discipline," the agreement stated. United's chief executive officer, Scott Kirby, had told workers at a meeting in January that the company may make the vaccine mandatory for employees and urged other companies to do the same. The agreement between the airline and the union also adds that those pilots who have been vaccinated would be eligible for extra pay. Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines said it would require all new hires in the United States to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. American Airlines had said in January it does not plan to make vaccinations mandatory for pilots and other employees unless it was mandatory for entry into certain destinations. While private U.S. companies can require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, experts have said they could put themselves at risk of legal and cultural backlash if they do so. https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-union-agree-against-014516372.html Why Do Airliners Rarely Use Full Thrust On Takeoff? Wherever it is in the world, an airliner’s departure will typically be an impressive display of noise and power. Of course, such spectacles have these characteristics due to the forces needed to lift the aircraft’s weight off the ground. However, despite this, an airliner will rarely use its full capabilities on takeoff as far as thrust is concerned. But why is this the case? Pre-determined power The amount of thrust that an airliner uses to take off is the result of a calculated decision based on several factors. Rarely does this calculation result in a plane needing to use its full thrust capabilities in order to lift off from a given runway. When an amount of power below an aircraft’s full capabilities is used, this is known as ‘derated’ thrust. John Cox explains in USA Today that: “Most takeoffs use ‘derated’ thrust to save engine wear. For each takeoff, performance is calculated, the necessary power setting is determined, and the thrust setting is made. Usually, this is below the maximum available level, and is known as a derated thrust takeoff. In the interests of engine preservation As Cox observes, an important factor of not departing using full power is the preservation of an aircraft’s engines. This has positive impacts in terms of an airline’s finances. However, most importantly, it also increases the plane’s safety levels. Cox adds that: “Derates improve engine life and reliability. In addition to lowering operating costs, they decrease the likelihood of an engine failure. All jets use some form of derated or reduced-thrust takeoffs.” The decreased likelihood of an engine failure minimizes the risk of the aircraft in question being involved in an accident. Engine failures can be either contained or uncontained, and Simple Flying explored the differences between these types of incidents in February. While many engine failures result in a successful emergency landing or aborted takeoff, reducing the likelihood of more serious incidents remains a worthy cause. Derated thrust leaves space to adjust Of course, pilots can adjust thrust levels during their takeoff roll if necessary. Indeed, the use of derated thrust in the first place, as well as the length of runways in general, makes this possible. Regarding changes to thrust levels during takeoff, Cox notes that: “When using this method during takeoff, it is always possible to increase to full power if the situation requires. The captain always makes the final decision whether to use full thrust or derate.” Overall, the decision to use derated thrust for the majority of departures is the culmination of several interesting factors. However, with space left to adjust and engine wear reduced as a result, it is welcoming, if unsurprising, to know that safety is at the heart of it. Why Do Airliners Rarely Use Full Thrust On Takeoff? Wherever it is in the world, an airliner’s departure will typically be an impressive display of noise and power. Of course, such spectacles have these characteristics due to the forces needed to lift the aircraft’s weight off the ground. However, despite this, an airliner will rarely use its full capabilities on takeoff as far as thrust is concerned. But why is this the case? Pre-determined power The amount of thrust that an airliner uses to take off is the result of a calculated decision based on several factors. Rarely does this calculation result in a plane needing to use its full thrust capabilities in order to lift off from a given runway. When an amount of power below an aircraft’s full capabilities is used, this is known as ‘derated’ thrust. John Cox explains in USA Today that: “Most takeoffs use ‘derated’ thrust to save engine wear. For each takeoff, performance is calculated, the necessary power setting is determined, and the thrust setting is made. Usually, this is below the maximum available level, and is known as a derated thrust takeoff. In the interests of engine preservation As Cox observes, an important factor of not departing using full power is the preservation of an aircraft’s engines. This has positive impacts in terms of an airline’s finances. However, most importantly, it also increases the plane’s safety levels. Cox adds that: “Derates improve engine life and reliability. In addition to lowering operating costs, they decrease the likelihood of an engine failure. All jets use some form of derated or reduced-thrust takeoffs.” The decreased likelihood of an engine failure minimizes the risk of the aircraft in question being involved in an accident. Engine failures can be either contained or uncontained, and Simple Flying explored the differences between these types of incidents in February. While many engine failures result in a successful emergency landing or aborted takeoff, reducing the likelihood of more serious incidents remains a worthy cause. Derated thrust leaves space to adjust Of course, pilots can adjust thrust levels during their takeoff roll if necessary. Indeed, the use of derated thrust in the first place, as well as the length of runways in general, makes this possible. Regarding changes to thrust levels during takeoff, Cox notes that: “When using this method during takeoff, it is always possible to increase to full power if the situation requires. The captain always makes the final decision whether to use full thrust or derate.” Overall, the decision to use derated thrust for the majority of departures is the culmination of several interesting factors. However, with space left to adjust and engine wear reduced as a result, it is welcoming, if unsurprising, to know that safety is at the heart of it. https://simpleflying.com/why-do-airliners-rarely-use-full-thrust-on-takeoff/ Hampton man found with loaded gun at Norfolk International Airport NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Hampton man was arrested by police Sunday after he was found in possession of a loaded handgun at Norfolk International Airport. Transportation Security Administration officers found the .45 caliber handgun loaded with eight bullets at an airport security checkpoint. When the gun was found, they notified Norfolk Airport Authority Police and confiscated the weapon. Police then arrested the man on weapons charges. Authorities didn’t release the man’s identity. The case was forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for possible criminal prosecution. The man could also face a federal financial penalty. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded handgun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. So far this year, nine people have been caught with guns at Norfolk International Airport checkpoints. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/hampton-man-found-with-loaded-gun-at-norfolk-international-airport/ IBAC Announces FlightSafety International as New Industry Partner International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) MONTREAL – May 24, 2021 – The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) announced FlightSafety International has joined as an IBAC Industry Partner. The alliance between the two organizations began more than a decade ago when they co-developed a series of e-learning courses on the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and Safety Management Systems (SMS), hosted by FlightSafety. IBAC welcomes the global training company as the latest Industry Partner. Kurt Edwards, IBAC Director General commented, “We are honored to have FlightSafety International join us as an Industry Partner and excited to expand our working relationship with them. Their dedication to business aviation safety and education is uncompromising, and we welcome their support in our endeavors to further advocate for business aviation and promote safety at the global level.” “The partnership with IBAC and their Progressive stage 3 initiative is fully aligned with FlightSafety International’s mission of ensuring our clients are prepared to handle any situation they may face while flying the most precious cargo, people. We are excited to leverage the power of collaboration with IBAC and their members to protect the lives and livelihoods of those we train,” Richard Meikle, Executive Vice President, Safety at FlightSafety stated. FlightSafety International is a global aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems and displays to commercial, government and military organizations. The company provides training for pilots, technicians, and other aviation professionals from 167 countries and independent territories. The co-developed e-learning courses hosted by FlightSafety consist of a custom IS-BAO library that includes more than 15 safety subjects. Designed for operations that are IS-BAO-registered or working toward IS-BAO registration, the library is a valuable tool to help reinforce an organization’s safety culture. Historically, participation in IBAC has been limited to national and regional business associations, but now business aviation manufacturers, service providers, corporate flight departments, and charter operators can demonstrate leadership in business aviation and get involved with IBAC as an Industry Partner or Operator Affiliate. Organizations wishing to participate in one of the new membership groups must also be a member of at least one of the 15 IBAC member associations. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21223994/international-business-aviation-council-ibac-ibac-announces-flightsafety-international-as-new-industry-partner Qantas Is Keeping Airbus A380 Pilots On Standby Qantas may be downsizing and cutting its employee numbers, but the airline is keeping enough A380 pilots on its books to reboot its A380 fleet at short notice. Qantas has 12 of the mega jumbos, but all are in long-term storage. However, Qantas is confident the planes will return to the air and is ensuring it retains the capability to operate them. Qantas to balance job losses with a need to retain A380 operational capabilities Qantas CEO Alan Joyce caused ripples last week when he said further jobs would go from the airline’s international crews. The Sydney-based airline has grounded most of its international flying. The airline has 16,000 of its 22,000 employees back at work. Most of those employees who aren’t back at work normally work on international operations. Mr Joyce is trying to be as nice as he can be about it. But there is no real nice way to deal with job losses. He says Qantas will call for “expressions of interest” from employees open to leaving the airline. The Qantas boss hopes to trim employee numbers by several hundred. But when making the announcement, Alan Joyce was careful to note Qantas would balance redundancies against a need to retain key international capabilities for the longer term. In follow-up comments to the media, Mr Joyce said that capability included keeping on enough A380 pilots to operate at least six A380s at relatively short notice. Qantas repositions A380 to Los Angeles We know Qantas has some good to fly A380 pilots at the moment because the airline operated a short A380 flight between Victorville and Los Angeles last week. VH-OQC was re-positioned to Los Angeles on Thursday. There is some speculation the plane is off to Dresden for heavy maintenance, but at this point, the A380 remains in Los Angeles. VH-OQC joins VH-OQB and VH-OQD at Los Angeles International while the nine other Qantas A380s remain at Victorville. There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of the A380, not just at Qantas but at nearly all A380 operators. However, Qantas has been at pains to confirm its confidence in the A380’s future. “We think we will reactivate all of the A380s. We spent a lot of money on them … Once demand is there, they’re going to be good aircraft,” said Mr Joyce at CAPA Live in April. Qantas bucks the A380 trend Alan Joyce has steadfastly flagged 2023 as the likeliest date to reboot A380 services. Last week, the Qantas CEO reaffirmed that timeline, saying he expected to have at least six of the A380s back in the air by the end of 2023. By coincidence, six of the 12 Qantas A380s have been freshly refurbished. But key to Qantas’ strategy is the ability to ramp up sooner if necessary. “If demand comes back earlier, we can reactivate the A380s within three to six months. That’s the level of flexibility we have.” To have that flexibility, Qantas needs to keep A380 crews primed to go. Mr Joyce’s comments last week suggest Qantas is keen to retain that capability. Alongside British Airways and Emirates, Qantas is bucking the A380 trend. The mega jumbo is set to disappear from the Qatar Airways, Etihad, China Southern Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air France fleets. The A380’s future at Thai Airways is also highly doubtful. That will leave ANA, Korean Air (who will get Asiana’s A380s from the Korean/Asiana merger), Qantas, Emirates, and British Airways as the only likely A380 operators going forward. https://simpleflying.com/qantas-a380-pilots-standby/ Experts are convinced that self-flying planes will roam the skies by 2025 - here's how one startup is working to win over the FAA and the public Xwing, founded by Marc Piette, is one of the startups working to make self-flying planes a reality. Its Cessna 208B Grand Caravan can already fly on its own, as Insider found on a demonstration flight. Self-flying planes will start by flying cargo and then regional passenger flights as early as 2025. Teaching a 27-year-old aircraft how to fly on its own was the easy part for Marc Piette and his team at Xwing. The real challenge is how to get the technology flying on commercial aircraft, and accepted by the public. Piette had the idea to conquer self-flying aircraft when driving from San Francisco to Eureka, California, a near-300 mile journey that takes five hours by car. As a student pilot taking flight lessons at Palo Alto Airport at the time, he couldn't accept that driving was the most efficient way to travel regional distances for the average person. "The time it takes me to get to places like [Eureka] from San Francisco is about the same time it takes me to get to New York," Piette, the founder and CEO of Xwing, told Insider. "It's absurd. Traveling 250 miles shouldn't take me the same amount of time it takes to travel across the cross country." And the idea for Xwing was born. The vision was to use the vast aviation infrastructure that already exists but make it more accessible and bring costs down by using autonomous technology. "The only way to travel fast on the ground is through massive infrastructure investment ... which isn't happening anytime soon," Piette said. Learning to fly Xwing has already taught a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan how to operate entirely on its own, as Insider saw firsthand on a recent demonstration flight. After the engine was started and the autopilot engaged, the tech took over and no pilot input was required. Getting to this point, Piette explained, was easy. The few challenges that remain come with certifying aircraft with regulators and ultimately getting the public to accept self-flying aircraft. "We don't see very many hurdles left, frankly," Piette said. "There are details on implementation, details about like certification systems [and] specific sensors, but they're not tough problems." Air traffic control is also one of the biggest roadblocks in the way of truly autonomous flight. The current system in the US is based on voice communications between controllers and pilots. Xwing's self-flying aircraft, however, can't talk at all. The temporary solution is using a ground-based operator that can communicate with controllers and relay commands to aircraft. The initial launch of Xwing's tech will likely see one operator on the ground control multiple aircraft in the sky. It's not a perfect solution, as the goal is for complete autonomy, but it will still significantly reduce aircraft operating costs. Airlines and aircraft operators can potentially save millions on salaries and benefits by reducing their pilot pools. Lessons learned from the Boeing 737 Max Piette doesn't view the Boeing 737 Max crashes as a setback to his goal of autonomous flight. Rather, he says the response to the crashes a "testament" to how safe commercial aviation has become since those fatal incidents are so rare. "In the end, people understand that despite these accidents, [aviation is] still the safest way to travel," Piette said. "And that's due to decades of diligent work in systems engineering, system safety analysis, [and] accident reviews to keep improving the safety of aviation." Piette pointed to Tesla and the rare incidents that resulted from the Autopilot functionality of its electric vehicles. And yet, the cars are still among the most popular on the road. Increased automation helps reduce pilot error, which Piette says is the cause for a majority of aviation incidents over the years. "Part of the reason why the rate of accidents has declined so significantly over the past few decades is due to increased levels of automation in these aircraft," Piette said. But the Max did have an impact on how new aircraft are certified. The FAA is strengthening its "designated engineering representative" program with more scrutiny to ensure the aircraft that are being developed are safe to fly in. "That can slow things down a bit, but in the grand scheme, it doesn't change things," Piette said. Flying packages first instead of people Small cargo planes will likely be the first aircraft to see pilotless operations as having an inanimate payload means there's less risk involved. "Cargo is, to some extent, an easier first place to deploy this because you can get exemptions [and] work with the regulator to start flying initially over unpopulated areas," Piette said. "That way you're not just putting anyone on board in jeopardy, but you're also not putting anyone on the ground at risk." Xwing cites short-haul cargo runs to remote communities as the first example of what it hopes to replace. Mountain Air Cargo, for example, flies a cargo route between Raleigh and Wilmington in North Carolina. A morning flight from Raleigh takes the packages that arrived earlier on larger FedEx Express planes and delivers them to Wilmington. Then, a pilot waits around all day until it's time to fly back, after the cutoff time to send packages in the evening. Both flights take an average of 30 minutes and can be easily replaced by autonomous aircraft. Xwing's technology, regardless of whether it will fly cargo or passenger planes, will aim to meet the higher standards required for passenger planes. It won't be too long, Piette estimates, before self-flying planes are flying people once the tech is established in the cargo-flying realm. "Passenger applications for this will come fairly soon after the commercial deployment of cargo applications," Piette said. "If I were to predict, within two years of commercial deployment of this application on the cargo side, you'll start seeing passenger applications, as well." Slowly increasing automation in the cockpit Regional passenger aircraft and business jets will likely be the first planes to move into the self-flying realm, according to Piette. And the first step is to move away from having two pilots in the cockpit. Business jet manufacturers have primarily taken the lead on incorporating more automation into their cockpits. The Cirrus Vision Jet or Cessna Citation aircraft, for example, are intended for single-pilot flying and operate alongside their larger counterparts in the upper altitudes. Dassault Aviation is leaning more into automation with its new flagship, the Falcon 10X business jet, which is designed to accommodate single-pilot operations during cruise flight. "The level of automation will allow us to have one pilot flying the aircraft, while the other is resting in the cockpit," Philippe Duchateau, Dassault's chief test pilot, said during the aircraft's unveiling. While the shift to fully self-flying systems won't take place overnight, the foundation is already there with current autopilot and single-pilot cockpit systems. And inch by inch, the industry will move closer to fully self-flying aircraft. "By the middle of this decade, you're definitely going to have pilotless cargo aircraft, and very shortly after that pilotless passenger aircraft on the regional side," Piette said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/experts-convinced-self-flying-planes-120800594.html NetJets' supersonic plans delayed as Boeing-backed Aerion falters CHICAGO (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway's private aircraft firm NetJets said on Monday that it has temporarily halted plans to add supersonic jets to its fleet after news that Boeing Co-backed Aerion was unable to raise funding for production. NetJets, the world's largest private jet company, said in March it had obtained purchase rights for 20 of Aerion's AS2 aircraft. But plans for the first supersonic business jet stumbled over financing issues. "In the current financial environment, it has proven hugely challenging to close on the scheduled and necessary large new capital requirements to finalize the transition of the AS2 into production," Aerion said in a statement. After Aerion’s announcement, NetJets said its supersonic fleet plans were on hold. "However, we remain interested in the future of supersonic aircraft and will investigate other ventures," it said in a statement to Reuters. Boeing, which made a strategic investment in Aerion in 2019, said: "While we are disappointed Aerion could not secure additional funding to continue their work, we remain committed to working with innovative and creative partners who, like Aerion, continue to push limits on groundbreaking technology." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/netjets-supersonic-plans-delayed-boeing-015132163.html NASA's Mars helicopter will attempt a perilous landing in unknown territory during its first 'bonus' flight this week • NASA's Ingenuity helicopter, photographed on Mars by the Perseverance rover on April 4, 2021. NASA/JPL-Caltech • NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has embarked on a new mission on Mars after five successful flights. • It's scheduled to conduct its most daring flight yet within days. • Ingenuity was expected to crash last month, but the helicopter has exceeded expectations. A month ago, NASA was preparing to sacrifice its Mars helicopter in the name of science. Ingenuity was designed to soar five times over the Martian surface as a technology demonstration. With each flight, NASA engineers were pushing the 4-pound rotorcraft as far and fast as it would go, so they anticipated that it would eventually crash. But time and again, Ingenuity wasn't felled — not by the strong Martian winds, clouds of copper dust, or other challenges to its mechanics and navigation system. So by the end of April, NASA announced that it would extend the helicopter's life on Mars. Ingenuity has now embarked on a new, secondary mission to scout out Martian terrain and test operations that NASA might want to conduct with future space helicopters. That includes exploring rough areas that rovers can't access, observing interesting features of Mars from the air, and snapping photos for elevation maps. Ingenuity is scheduled to complete its first "bonus" flight — the helicopter's sixth flight in total — within the next few days. The excursion will require more precise maneuvering and aerial observations than any of Ingenuity's previous flights, making it the drone's riskiest voyage yet. During its first four flights, Ingenuity returned to the same landing spot, which NASA dubbed Wright Brothers Field. But it's now making one-way trips to different areas. Ingenuity's fifth flight took it to a new spot in Mars' Jezero Crater, a 28-mile-wide impact basin that was filled with water about 3.5 billion years ago. The helicopter had scouted out the location during a previous flight. This week's flight will be the first time Ingenuity touches down at an area that it didn't previously survey. NASA's only information about that new landing spot, called "Field C," comes from images collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. These suggest the area is relatively flat and boulder-free, making it a safe place to land. The plan is for Ingenuity to spend 140 seconds above the Martian surface — the longest it has ever been airborne — moving at a speed of 9 miles per hour. Ingenuity should also soar 33 feet in the air, an altitude it reached during its fifth flight, which NASA engineers previously thought impossible for the little drone. From there, it's programmed to head southwest for about 492 feet then move about 50 to 66 feet south. Along the way, Ingenuity should capture images of bright Martian outcrops and sand ripples. After that, the chopper is set to fly about 164 feet northeast before touching down at Field C. 'Ingenuity is not going to land gently' At this point, every one of Ingenuity's landings is challenging. "Note that Ingenuity is not going to land gently — it will attempt to fly in winds as high as 22 mph," Bob Balaram, Ingenuity's chief engineer, and Jeremy Tyler, an aeromechanical engineer at AeroVironment, wrote in a coauthored post for NASA. "Our strategy for landing in windy conditions is to come down with authority, placing Ingenuity's feet firmly on the ground so that it won't drift across the surface of Mars and snag a foot on a rock," they said. The helicopter's suspension system is designed to cushion its touchdown on the Martian surface. But it's still possible that the rotorcraft could tip over and land on its side, which would damage the blades, effectively ending Ingenuity's mission. "We hope we will be flying over unsurveyed terrains and, over time, continuing to transfer to airfields that are not well characterized. So there is a higher probability of bad landing," MiMi Aung, the Ingenuity project manager, said in a recent briefing. Even before Ingenuity's new mission, Aung repeatedly said that a bad landing could end the chopper's flights. So far, however, the helicopter continues to exceed expectations. NASA extended Ingenuity's mission by 30 days on April 30, so the mission isn't guaranteed to continue next month. But the drone could keep flying longer, as long as it stays alive and doesn't interfere with the science work of the Perseverance rover, which carried Ingenuity to Mars. "We're in a kind of see-how-it-goes phase," Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, said last month. Perseverance has begun its main mission on the red planet: hunting for fossils of ancient alien microbes. For now, that work is taking place near the helicopter, since Ingenuity must communicate with NASA through the rover. NASA's initial plan called for Perseverance to travel farther from its landing spot in the Jezero Crater than it has by now. But then the rover photographed some promising rocks that convinced NASA scientists to further investigate the immediate region. "These rocks are likely to be mudstones, very fine grained, once mud on the bottom of the lake," Perseverance scientist Ken Farley said in a briefing last month. "These are very important for our investigation, because this is the kind of environment that we expect to be the most habitable by organisms that might have existed on Mars billions of years ago." https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-next-flight-2021-5 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 Curt Lewis