Flight Safety Information - June 18, 2021 No. 122 In This Issue : Crash: Kin Avia L410 at Bukavu on Jun 16th 2021, lost height after departure due to load shift : Incident: THY B773 near Winnipeg on Jun 14th 2021, cracked window : Incident: American A319 at Phoenix on Jun 14th 2021, hydraulic failure : Incident: American A321 at Miami on Jun 15th 2021, odour on board : NTSB: Citation Descending at 31,000 fpm before Crash : Fact Check-British Airways is not in ‘crisis talks’ with the government over vaccinated pilots : FAA taps data firm Palantir to help uncover safety issues : Turkey Commits to Securing Afghan Airport After Americans Leave, U.S. Says : U.S. Senate panel to hold hearing on Biden NTSB chair nominee -sources : USDOT launches aviation manufacturing program : FAA advances proposal for landing low-orbit spacecraft at Huntsville airport : Japan assembles superteam of aircraft component manufacturers to build supersonic passenger plane : Aircastle Delivers the First of Four A320neo Aircraft to Frontier Airlines : Boeing’s Largest 737 Max Jet Poised to Take First Flight Friday : After days of flight delays, cancellations, Southwest Airlines hit with another tech issue : CAAi to offer short courses under UK Government's ASRP : FAA Still Faces Challenges with Commercial Space Flight Regulations Despite Recent Rule Changes, GAO Says : POSITION AVAILABLE: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty Crash: Kin Avia L410 at Bukavu on Jun 16th 2021, lost height after departure due to load shift A Kin Avia Let L-410, registration 9S-GRJ performing a flight from Bukavu to Shabunda (DR Congo) with 1 passenger and 2 crew and 1.6 tons of sheet metal, crashed about 30 seconds after takeoff from Kavumu Aerodrome at about 11:15L (09:15Z). All 3 occupents perished in the crash, the aircraft has been destroyed. In the evening DR Congo's Ministry of Transport released a statement reporting 9S-GRJ departed Bukavu with 3 occupants and 1.6 tons of cargo, about 3 minutes after takeoff at about 11:15L the aircraft began deviating from its initial trajectory and impacted ground. An investigation is being set up. On Jun 17th 2021 the airline reported the aircraft 9S-GRJ (MSN 872006) was involved in the crash. The aircraft carried 1500kg of iron roof sheeting, the aircraft departed runway 17. Preliminary information suggests a load shift caused the aircraft to pitch up less than 30 seconds after takeoff and to enter a full aerodynamic stall. The aircraft reached a maximum height of about 300 feet, the left wing dropped, the aircraft turned left and came to rest in a valley just behind the UN Monusco installation of Bukavu Kavumu Airport. The airline states on their website they operate 5 L-410 (tail numbers 9S-CMA (previous 9Q-CMA), 9S-GEN, 9S-GKA, 9S-GRJ, no further tails listed), a Dash 8-100 (tail number C-FASC) and a Beech 1900 (N191CS). https://avherald.com/h?article=4e8f9563&opt=0 Incident: THY B773 near Winnipeg on Jun 14th 2021, cracked window A THY Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration TC-LJI performing flight TK-10 (dep Jun 13th) from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Istanbul (Turkey) with 317 people on board, was enroute at FL290 about 40nm northwest of Winnipeg,MB (Canada) when the crew reported a technical problem and requested to return to Los Angeles. About 7 minutes later the crew advised they had a cracked window, everything was okay and they wanted to return to Los Angeles. Back in US Airspace the crew subsequently decided to divert to New York JFK, NY, where the aircraft landed safely about 3:25 hours after the initial call indicating a technical problem. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e908c86&opt=0 Incident: American A319 at Phoenix on Jun 14th 2021, hydraulic failure An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N732US performing flight AA-679 from Phoenix,AZ to Madison,WI (USA), had reached cruise FL 370 when the crew decided to return to Phoenix due to the failure of the green hydraulic system. The aircraft landed safely back on Phoenix's runway 26 about 85 minutes after departure. A replacement A319-100 registration N815AW reached Madison with a delay of 6:50 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e9094bf&opt=0 Incident: American A321 at Miami on Jun 15th 2021, odour on board An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N908AA performing flight AA-2878 from Miami,FL to Washington National,DC (USA) with 188 people on board, was climbing out of Miami when the crew stopped the climb at 16,000 feet reporting an odour on board. The crew decided to return to Miami for a safe landing on runway 27 about 40 minutes after departure. A replacement A319-100 registration N8009T reached Washington with a delay of 12.5 hours. The FAA reported a post flight inspection of N908AA revealed the R2 panel was missing and the emergency exit slide had separated. https://avherald.com/h?article=4e8fc7f8&opt=0 NTSB: Citation Descending at 31,000 fpm before Crash The last ATC radar return of a Cessna Citation I/SP that crashed into a lake in Smyrna, Tennesee, after an uncontrolled dive on May 29 showed the aircraft at about 700 feet msl and descending at some 31,000 fpm, according to an NTSB preliminary report published yesterday. The pilot and his six passengers were killed. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the Part 91 flight. When the airplane was about three miles north of the departure airport, ATC instructed the pilot to turn right to a heading of 130 degrees; however, the pilot did not acknowledge. About 20 seconds later, the controller asked the pilot if he “copied” the heading instruction. The pilot responded about four seconds later with “130…Bravo Kilo.” A little over a minute later, the controller instructed the pilot to climb and maintain 15,000 feet, but there was no response. Multiple attempts to re-establish communications failed. Radar data revealed that after the pilot established contact with departure control, the twinjet made a series of heading changes along with several climbs and descents before it entered a steep, descending left turn. The airplane was not equipped with flight data or cockpit voice recorders. Weather at the accident site was IMC. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-06-17/ntsb-citation-descending-31000-fpm-crash Fact Check-British Airways is not in ‘crisis talks’ with the government over vaccinated pilots Claims that British Airways is in “crisis talks” with the British government due to the deaths of three pilots who received COVID-19 shots are unfounded, a company representative and British medicines regulator spokesperson has told Reuters. Shared in the form of a voice recording on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, an unidentified male says he has spoken to a “friend who’s a BA pilot” and explains “things are getting crazy” after three fellow pilots passed away (here , here and here). “They’ve had the third BA pilot die in the last seven days, yeah? Third pilot dead in the last week,” says the man heard in the recording. “The first two guys were in their forties and fifties; this guy, mid-thirties, perfectly fit, no underlying conditions. He gets his second jab and he’s dead within days, exactly the same with the first two. “Because of this, BA are now in crisis talks with the government about whether to allow vaccinated pilots to fly. The issue with that of course is that about 80%, according to my friend in BA, 80-85% have been injected.” The man then goes on to say only “10% of pilots will be able to fly,” branding it a “serious issue”. On Twitter, some users have also shared a photo of what appears to be four books of condolence next to framed pictures of four men in a British Airways-themed lounge (here). “I believe it was actually FOUR young pilots who died due to the Maxine,” tweeted one user. Reuters presented the claims to British Airways, which said they were unfounded and that no such talks were underway with the government. The spokesperson, however, confirmed the authenticity of the four condolence books, as four company pilots had recently passed away. “Our thoughts are with their family and friends,” they said, adding that none of the deaths was linked to vaccines. In a statement to Reuters, the UK’s Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also denied any such crisis talks with Britain’s flagship air carrier. “We have not been made aware of deaths of BA pilots after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine and have not had discussions with BA or other airlines, about preventing pilots from flying after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Sarah Branch, the director of vigilance and risk management of medicines for the MHRA. “There are currently no restrictions on aviation or other industries and activities post vaccination. “Our advice remains that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in the majority of people. It is still vitally important that people come forward for their vaccination and for their second dose when invited to do so. “We ask anyone who suspects they have experienced a side effect linked with their COVID-19 vaccine to report it to the Coronavirus Yellow Card website.” VERDICT False. British Airways is not in “crisis talks” with the British government about vaccinated pilots. Four pilots have recently died – and British Airways says none of these is linked to vaccines. https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-coronavirus-aviation-idUSL2N2NZ1ZO FAA taps data firm Palantir to help uncover safety issues The agency signed a $5.8 million deal for its first year of access to the firm’s data integration platform The Federal Aviation Administration has hired data analytics firm Palantir Technologies to help stitch together disparate databases to improve the agency’s oversight of aviation safety. The FAA signed an $18.4 million deal to use the Denver firm’s data integration platform, according to a federal filing. The agency agreed to pay $5.8 million for access the first year, with an option to extend for two more years. The move comes after the FAA has faced sharp criticism from outside investigators, and current and former employees, after deadly incidents in recent years. Federal officials hope the improved data integration will bring “rapid and efficient” decision-making through “monitoring, reviewing, and analyzing aviation safety data,” according to a June 15 federal filing. Palantir’s system will pull in large amounts of data, including satellite airplane tracking information, emergency air-traffic control data and numerous written reports on mechanical problems from pilots and manufacturers, according to the company. In a statement, the FAA said the effort will “integrate data from a number of FAA safety-reporting systems to help the agency quickly identify and address potential safety issues.” Palantir, which has its origins servicing intelligence agencies, has broadened its scope. Clients have included oil giant BP, Fiat Chrysler and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Critics have assailed the firm for providing technology used in Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation efforts. Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s chief operating officer, said that in using the company’s technology, FAA engineers will be able to spend less time gathering data, freeing them up to search for deeper patterns that can reveal safety concerns. Boeing 737 Max crashes were ‘horrific culmination’ of errors, investigators say “I hate to rely on intel analogies, but essentially the challenge here is connecting the dots. The data is there,” Sankar said. Congressional investigators faulted the agency for “grossly insufficient oversight” after a flawed automated system led to two Boeing 737 Max crashes, first in Indonesia in October 2018 and then in Ethiopia in March 2019. An FAA official said an engine failure on an April 2018 Southwest Airlines flight, which killed a mother of two from Albuquerque, was a “canary in the coal mine” regarding agency oversight. ‘It appeared that we had time’: How the FAA missed a chance to save Jennifer Riordan Congress passed a bipartisan bill in December to strengthen agency oversight, and the FAA has said it is working to implement the new requirements. The agency’s top safety official, Ali Bahrami, is retiring at the end of the month after facing criticism in Congress and from family members of those killed in the two crashes. The agency will use Palantir’s data-integration platform for work on “continued operational safety,” an FAA term that generally encompasses airline operations, maintenance and production facilities, and safety standards. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson “has made it a top priority to use data across the agency to achieve the next level of safety,” the FAA said in a statement. https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/06/17/faa-palantir-airline-safety/ Turkey Commits to Securing Afghan Airport After Americans Leave, U.S. Says A major source of strain between the nations, Ankara’s purchase of a Russian air defense system, remains unresolved WASHINGTON—The U.S. and Turkey have agreed to a plan for the Turks to continue providing security at the airport in Kabul, U.S. officials said, ensuring the U.S. and other nations can maintain a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of troops, expected by next month. Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters Thursday that both sides had made a “clear commitment” on the security of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. “We are feeling good about where we are in terms of the planning with the Turks on this issue,” Mr. Sullivan said. The issue of airport security is critical to the American diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. A Taliban takeover of the airport could make it impossible for American and allied personnel to safely evacuate the country. U.S. military officials also have said that without a secure airport, the U.S. Embassy complex in Kabul would have to shut down and all personnel be removed from the country. Turkey, which long has provided airport security as part of its contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission in Afghanistan, had asked for extensive assistance from the U.S. as part of its condition to secure the airport, including political, financial and logistical support. U.S. officials declined to say what the U.S. would give Turkey in return other than to say that Mr. Biden had made those commitments to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a meeting in Brussels on Monday. Turkey also has sought to reduce U.S. and NATO pressure over its purchase of a Russian S-400 air defense system, which has strained relations. Mr. Sullivan said there was no resolution of that issue in this week’s meeting. There was no immediate response from Ankara on Thursday on Mr. Sullivan’s remarks concerning the airport talks, though the Turkish defense ministry said a day earlier that there was no final deal. Turkey also has proposed working jointly with forces from Hungary and Pakistan to provide security at the airport, but hasn’t specified what role if any those countries would play. Asked what the U.S. would do if Turkey leaves the airport mission, Mr. Sullivan said the U.S. was conducting contingency planning that relied on the use of contractors with experience in Afghanistan to secure the complex. Other officials have said the only other viable option would be for Americans to guard the airport themselves. That is seen as unlikely because it would require hundreds of American military personnel to remain in Afghanistan, officials said, against the spirit of Mr. Biden’s decision to remove almost all American military personnel from the country. https://www.wsj.com/articles/turkey-will-continue-securing-afghan-airport-u-s-says-11623971689 U.S. Senate panel to hold hearing on Biden NTSB chair nominee -sources WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a confirmation hearing for President Joe Biden's nominee to chair the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on June 24, sources said on Thursday. Reuters reported the planned nomination of current NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy to serve as the board chair on April 22. read more Homendy has served on the board since 2018 and previously was a senior legislative staffer working on transportation issues. The NTSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating all civil aviation accidents in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportation. NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt has said he will step down on June 30. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-panel-hold-hearing-biden-ntsb-chair-nominee-sources-2021-06-17/ USDOT launches aviation manufacturing program The U.S. Department of Transportation recently launched its Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) program. The program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, provides funding to eligible businesses to pay up to half of their compensation costs for up to six months for certain categories of employees. In exchange for receiving AMJP funds, a company must make several commitments, including agreeing not to lay off employees or furlough employees without their consent during the same six-month period. Companies must meet a list of criteria including having a significant portion of operations based in the United States; when applying, must not be expending financial assistance under the paycheck protection program established in the Small Business Act; and must have experienced at least a 15 percent decline in 2020 revenue compared to 2019 or involuntarily furloughed or laid off at least 10 percent of its workforce compared to 2019. The aerospace industry employed approximately 2.2 million workers before the pandemic, including 1.2 million in the supply chain. Since the pandemic began, more than 100,000 jobs have been lost, and thousands more are estimated at risk. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was enacted on March 11. https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/22970-usdot-launches-aviation-manufacturing-program/ FAA advances proposal for landing low-orbit spacecraft at Huntsville airport Huntsville airport starts work on spaceport proposal HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Work continues on a proposal to make Huntsville International Airport a site for commercial space operations. This month the Federal Aviation Administration posted information about the proposal from the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority and Sierra Space to make the airport a commercial space reentry site. Sierra Space is proposing to use the site to land its Dream Chaser vehicle when it returns from carrying payloads into low-earth orbit. The airport authority’s proposal on the FAA website shows reentry operations would happen at Runway 18L/36R. According to the proposal, Dream Chaser landings would come from the southwestern U.S. or Central America. The vehicle would stay above 60,000 feet until it was about 10 to 20 miles from the airport. It would then land within three to four minutes. The FAA said the airport authority is seeking a reentry site operator license; Sierra Space also would need a vehicle operator license to use the airport. Those applications have not been submitted, according to the FAA. Once they are, the FAA said it would evaluate a number of factors — including safety, environmental impacts, airspace integration and the site location — before making a decision on issuing licenses. A Huntsville International Airport spokesperson said the FAA’s posting of the proposal is just part of the “preliminary general exploratory process.” The Dream Chaser would not be able to launch from Huntsville, because it is designed to be carried as a payload on an Atlas V, made by United Launch Alliance. It would begin its mission somewhere where vertical launches are supported, such as Cape Canaveral, Fla. Sierra Space plans to sent cargo on the Dream Chaser to the International Space Station. According to the FAA, the company also would offer disposal services that would entail releasing items over the open ocean that would burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. A first phase of the project to bring Dream Chaser to Huntsville was finished in 2015, with a compatibility study that looked at the airport’s runways. The airport authority said in 2017 it had begun the process of applying for a permit. https://whnt.com/news/faa-advances-proposal-for-landing-low-orbit-spacecraft-at-huntsville-airport/ Japan assembles superteam of aircraft component manufacturers to build supersonic passenger plane Japan Supersonic Research wants to be in the air by 2030 Japan has a assembled a supergroup of aviation, industrial, and space organisations to build a supersonic passenger jet. The new organisation, Japan Supersonic Research (JSR), quietly signed itself into existence on March 31st. Yesterday, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that it is a member, alongside Japan Aircraft Development Association, Japan Aerospace Exploration Association, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries), IHI Corporation, and Subaru. Japan’s aerospace industry currently focuses on manufacturing components for aircrafts and engines, including wings and fuselages. Mitsubishi recently hangared plans to build its own mid-size passenger jet. Another more successful exception is Subaru’s joint manufacturing deal for the Bell 412 helicopter, sold locally in modified versions called the Subaru Bell 412EPX and XUH-2. JSR’s vision is to engage in international joint development of supersonic aircraft by 2030. JAXA’s contribution to JSR includes a decade worth of sonic boom research. The space agency already has an aircraft design with a nose much more pointed and needle-esque than the bird-like hook nose that Concorde used to improve pilot visibility during takeoff and landing. At one point, a JAXA aviation director claimed the noise pollution from its supersonic aircraft’s takeoffs and landings would be half of that from the Concorde. The other problem with the Concorde was terrible fuel efficiency. JAXA thinks it has that under control too, thanks to its design being lighter than previous efforts. JAXA is betting on each individual member of JSR’s assembled team contributing expertise to make this endeavour viable, while enhancing individual members’ profitability. JSR will have competition: United Airlines is buying 50 supersonic jets from Colorado startup Boom Supersonic for use by 2029. That model is known as the Overture and it is expected to reach Mach 1.7. https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/17/japan_supersonic_research/ Aircastle Delivers the First of Four A320neo Aircraft to Frontier Airlines STAMFORD, Conn., June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircastle Limited ("Aircastle") announced today that it has delivered an Airbus A320neo aircraft to Frontier Airlines, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULCC). This is the first of four new A320neos that Aircastle will deliver to Frontier in 2021. All four aircraft will be powered by CFM Leap engines to be delivered out of Mobile, Alabama, and are part of Frontier's existing orderbook of approximately 150 A320 family aircraft on order with Airbus. The A320neos will expand Frontier's fleet with more fuel-efficient aircraft consistent with the mission of America's Greenest Airline℠. Mike Inglese, Aircastle's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We look forward to being a valued and trusted partner to Frontier for many years to come as they continue to grow and prosper. In furthering the growth and modernization of Frontier's fleet, Aircastle will be delivering three additional A320neo aircraft to Frontier later this year." "We are extremely pleased to be taking delivery of these four additional aircraft through our partnership with Aircastle as we continue to grow our fleet and deliver on our promise of 'Low Fares Done Right,' said James Dempsey, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Frontier Airlines. Headquartered in Denver, CO, Frontier Airlines operates a fleet of more than 107 aircraft to over 100 destinations in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. About Aircastle Limited Aircastle Limited acquires, leases, and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world. As of February 28, 2021, Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint ventures 261 aircraft leased to 75 customers located in 43 countries. Contact: Aircastle Advisor LLC Frank Constantinople, SVP Investor Relations Tel: +1-203-504-1063 fconstantinople@aircastle.com SOURCE Aircastle Limited https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aircastle-delivers-the-first-of-four-a320neo-aircraft-to-frontier-airlines-301314833.html Boeing’s Largest 737 Max Jet Poised to Take First Flight Friday • Will test new airspeed measures in wake of fatal crashes • Plane can seat 230 travelers in a single-cabin configuration Boeing Co.’s biggest 737 Max model is set to take its initial flight as soon as Friday morning, marking another milestone in the jet family’s comeback from tragedy and a lengthy grounding, according to people briefed on the matter. The Max 10 will be the first 737 model to take its maiden flight since U.S. regulators cleared the jets to re-enter the market in November. The jetliner isn’t expected to enter commercial service until 2023, providing extra leeway as Boeing works with regulators to certify changes to how the aircraft measures air flow. European officials demanded that Boeing add so-called synthetic sensors last year as an extra precaution after faulty indicators were linked to two fatal 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people and prompted the flying ban. The technology will be tested on the Max 10 and eventually retrofitted on the rest of the fleet. Friday’s flight is scheduled for 10 a.m. Seattle time, although the schedule could change depending on weather or other factors, said the people, who asked not to be identified since the plans are confidential. The plane was rolled out in late 2019 and remained in storage as the Chicago-based planemaker worked with regulators to end the broader grounding. The Max 10 is the final planned Max model, and also the largest of the single-aisle jets. The aircraft can seat as many as 230 travelers in a single-cabin configuration favored by budget carriers and fly 3,300 nautical miles (about 6,000 kilometers) if outfitted with an auxiliary fuel tank. Boeing borrowed its landing gear design from the wide-body 777 jetliner to accommodate a frame stretched to compete with Airbus SE’s hot-selling A321neo jets. Boeing is also working to certify the smallest Max, the Max 7, as well as its initial 777X jetliner. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-18/boeing-s-largest-737-max-jet-poised-to-take-first-flight-friday After days of flight delays, cancellations, Southwest Airlines hit with another tech issue Southwest customers trying to check their flight status or book trips online after three days of cancellations and delays were met with an error message late Wednesday. The airline was among dozens of businesses worldwide whose websites and apps were hit with internet outages. Southwest is looking into the issue and spokesperson Dan Landson told USA TODAY in a statement that it did not impact operations. Flights, however, were already impacted by technical issues that prompted the airline to cancel roughly 500 flights Tuesday, just a day after grounding flights around the nation for another technical issue. Landson told USA TODAY Wednesday that while Tuesday's technical issues had been resolved, the airline continued to experience cancellations and delays across its network as it worked to resume normal operations. According to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com, 401 Southwest flights were canceled Wednesday and another 1,630 were delayed. The airline said Tuesday's proactive cancellations were tied to "intermittent performance issues" with its network connectivity, whereas Monday's issues were tied to a third-party weather data provider. Both issues are still being investigated by Southwest. In the meantime, the airline is urging customers to check their flight status on Southwest.com or speak to customer service agents to help with their travel needs. On Tuesday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Twitter that it had issued a temporary nationwide ground stop at Southwest Airlines' request while the company resolved a reservation computer issue. The ground stop was later lifted. Monday tech issues ground flights across the US The Dallas-based airline had reported that operations were back to normal following Monday's technical issues before hitting another snag with Tuesday's "system issue." Southwest spokesperson Chris Mainz said the company does not believe the two issues were related, but Southwest was "looking into it to make sure." Southwest Airlines passengers were stuck for hours at airports across the country Monday because of technical issues. Southwest's Landson told USA TODAY Monday evening's technical issues "prevented the transmission of weather information that is required to safely operate" its aircraft. "While Southwest teams and the vendor worked to restore connectivity, we implemented a ground stop to protect the safety of our crews and customers," he said. FlightAware.com showed that Southwest had 1,769 delays and 566 cancellations Tuesday. On Monday, it had over 1,450 delays. People began posting on social media on Monday evening that their flights were grounded, with some reporting that they were told it was due to issues with the electronic system used to monitor the weather. https://www.yahoo.com/news/southwest-airlines-operations-return-normal-123850339.html CAAi to offer short courses under UK Government's ASRP CAA International (CAAi), the technical cooperation and training arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), has been appointed as a training provider under the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT) Aviation Skills Retention Platform (ASRP). The ASRP platform launched in February 2021 to support skills retention within the UK aviation industry. It is designed to help individuals showcase their experience and develop their expertise while helping businesses find the skills they need – Aiding redeployment and recruitment, skills retention and development activities across the aviation sector. Aviation professionals currently unemployed who worked within the UK aviation sector before the pandemic will be eligible for enrolment, with course placements funded by the DfT. CAAi is offering 16 virtual and e-Learning course titles, covering multiple areas of aviation regulation, oversight and compliance, including safety risk management, air law, just culture and industry recovery. Sophie Jones, Head of Operations and Training at CAAi, commented: “COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on UK aviation, that has sadly led to many colleagues from across the sector out of work. As a social enterprise, it was important for us to help as many people as possible get back into work. We are delighted to be part of the Government's Aviation Skills Retention Programme. By offering our courses via ASRP, we hope to help aviation professionals develop valuable skills to support their efforts for redeployment and recruitment.” Robert Courts, Aviation Minister added: “Keeping skilled and talented people in the sector is a clear priority for everyone involved with aviation, as it will help us bounce back faster and rebuild following the pandemic.” “That’s why we launched the Aviation Skills Retention Platform in February and now, by offering training courses, we will help people be more confident that they can secure jobs and further their careers in this exciting and innovative area.” To apply for a CAAi course via the ASRP programme, please visit: https://trs-system.co.uk/aviation https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/caai-to-offer-short-courses-under-uk-government-s-asrp.html FAA Still Faces Challenges with Commercial Space Flight Regulations Despite Recent Rule Changes, GAO Says As of December 2020, the number of commercial space launches has increased by 41 percent year-over-year as the commercial space industry has experienced substantial growth in the last decade. According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released June 16, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still facing several regulatory challenges despite having recently updated rules related to launch and re-entry licensing. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently updated and streamlined its launch and reentry licensing regulations but has made less progress on other key commercial space transportation regulations,” the report states. The updated licensing and reentry rules released by the FAA in December 2020 streamlined regulations by consolidating multiple regulatory parts to create a single licensing regime and replacing prescriptive requirements with a performance-based regulatory framework, according to the report. However, these are not the only areas the GAO has cited for improvements. The FAA has not made updates to financial responsibility regulations like calculating potential third-party losses and re-entry accidents, according to the report. “The federal government’s shared liability risk for licensed operations is an important element to promote the commercial space launch industry as the government bears a portion of the risk for third-party damages and losses to government property and government personnel resulting from potential space launch accidents,” the report states. The weaknesses cited by the GAO were first identified in 2015 in the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (CSLCA). The CSLCA required the FAA to evaluate its maximum possible loss methodology, which had not been updated since 1988. In 2018, the GAO again reported that these weaknesses had not been addressed, according to the report. “As of June 2021, FAA has not yet addressed our recommendations,” the report states. “By not resolving these issues, FAA lacks assurance that launch companies are purchasing the appropriate amount of insurance and that the federal government is not exposed to greater liability than expected.” According to the report the FAA also still needs to update regulations for launch site operator licensing and orbital debris mitigation. The GAO has also found challenges caused by the nature of the industry’s recent evolution. The report says the FAA will need to review how it approaches compliance oversight and enforcement approaches. The FAA will also need to address regulating human spaceflight passengers. “As we previously reported, FAA continues to face the challenge of whether and when to regulate the safety of crew and spaceflight participants, such as space tourists,” the report states. “While several companies have announced plans to take tourists to space within the next several years, FAA is prohibited by law from regulating crew and passenger safety before 2023, except in response to events that either caused a serious or fatal injury or contributed to an unplanned event during a commercial human space flight that posed a high risk of causing a serious or fatal injury.” On June 7, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, announced that he would be a passenger on a July 20th space flight on Blue Origin. Bezos also said his brother would be a passenger on the flight. “Ever since I was five years old, I’ve dreamed of traveling to space,” Bezos wrote in a June 7 Instagram post. “On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother.” In February of 2019, the FAA reported to Congress that commercial human spaceflight activities were not advanced enough to warrant a new safety framework. According to the GAO, the FAA is set to submit a final report on this by March 2022. The FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) published a report in September 2020 stating that standards for commercial human spaceflight safety were minimal and new standards development was slow. “COMSTAC recommended FAA evaluate several of the standards as potential inputs to future regulations and guidance,” the report states. “COMSTAC also recommended that FAA form an industry rulemaking committee to help focus industry efforts on voluntary standards development, apply relevant lessons learned, and to inform future spaceflight safety regulations. In June 2021, FAA officials told us that they plan to implement COMSTAC’s recommendations when they begin their rulemaking effort assuming the moratorium expires.” https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/06/17/faa-still-faces-challenges-commercial-space-flight-regulations-despite-recent-rule-changes-gao-says/ Subject: POSITION AVAILABLE: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty Middle Tennessee State University Position: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty MTSU seeks candidates who are committed to innovative teaching, robust research/creative activity and meaningful service. We also seek to attract a culturally and academically diverse faculty who value working with a diverse student body. Salary and rank commensurate with education and experience. The Department of Aerospace at Middle Tennessee State University invites applicants for two tenure-track faculty positions (#101220 and #117010) at the rank of assistant/associate professor. Start date for the positions is August 1, 2021. Positions contingent upon funding. Successful candidates will be expected to teach classes in the Professional Pilot concentration, undertake collaborative and multi-disciplinary research within the department and university, and be actively involved in university and professional service. A Master’s degree in Aerospace, Aviation or closely related field by appointment date is required. Applicants are required to also have: 1) FAA Commercial, Multi-Engine and valid Flight Instructor Certificates (CFI, CFII, MEI) OR 2) FAA ATP Certificate and valid Flight Instructor Certificates (CFI, CFII, MEI). Candidates who possess industry or collegiate teaching experience and those with a doctorate or ABD in Aerospace, Aviation, Education, Business, or other industry-related field will receive special consideration. In order to successfully apply, applicants are required to include a cover letter, their curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy, and their Research Statement at the time of online application submittal. NOTE: In addition to the REQUIRED documents listed above for successful application, applicants must include copies of FAA Certifications held attached as Other Document 1. To apply, go to: https://careers.mtsu.edu/en-us/job/495335/aerospace-pro-pilot-tenuretrack-faculty. If you need help in applying, please contact the Faculty Recruitment Specialist at (615) 898-5128. If you have position specific questions, please contact Tyler Babb at Tyler.Babb@mtsu.edu. MTSU is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that values diversity in all its forms. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility for U.S. employment will be required prior to employment (Immigration Control Act of 1986). Clery Act crime statistics for MTSU available at http://www.mtsu.edu/police/docs/2020AnnualSecurityReport.pdf or by contacting MTSU Public Safety at (615-898-2424. MTSU is a drug free campus. This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position. For individuals requiring a reasonable accommodation to apply: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with MTSU, please call 615-898-2929 or email emp@mtsu.edu. Curt Lewis