Flight Safety Information - July 15, 2021 No. 141 In This Issue : Incident: Emirates B773 at Milan on Jul 13th 2021, hail strike : Incident: S7 A320N at Gelendzik on Jul 11th 2021, gear problem on departure : Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX - Runway Excursion (Guyana) : FAA Gives Passenger Airlines 6-Month Extension For Cabin Cargo : TSA finding more guns at Nashville airport compared to this time last year : Police arrest machete-wielding man after fight at Newark airport, officials say : United Airlines Passenger Carrying Large Wad of Cash Causes Emergency Landing : US Supreme Court Rejects Bid To Drop Airline Mask Mandate : (Navy) Retention bonuses for Reserve FTS officers heading aviation departments mostly fall or remain flat : FAA shows new muscle in working with Boeing : Pilot files intellectual property lawsuit against Delta : China Building Hypersonic Jet to Ferry Passengers Around Globe and to Space : Delta Air Lines Is Profitable Again. American Airlines Is Turning a Corner : China Unveils Its First National Passenger Aircraft—Rivaling Airbus and Boeing : NASA Hubble Space Telescope glitch: troubleshooting identifies potential fix : Blue Origin gets FAA approval for its first human spaceflight on July 20th Incident: Emirates B773 at Milan on Jul 13th 2021, hail strike An Emirates Boeing 777-300, registration A6-ECF performing flight EK-205 from Milan Malpensa (Italy) to New York JFK,NY (USA), was climbing out of Milan's runway 17R when the aircraft flew through a hailstorm and received hail impact damage to nose cone, windshield (cracked) engine inlets and wings. The crew stopped the climb at FL210, dumped fuel and returned to Malpensa for a safe landing on runway 35L about 90 minutes after landing. The aircraft is still on the ground 19 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ea4639c&opt=0 Incident: S7 A320N at Gelendzik on Jul 11th 2021, gear problem on departure A S7 Sibir Airlines Airbus A320-200N, registration VP-BSR performing flight S7-2098 from Gelendzik to Moscow Domodedovo (Russia) with 161 passengers and 7 crew, was climbing out of Gelendzik's runway 19 when tower observed that all but the right main gear strut had retracted and informed the flight crew. The crew extended and retracted the landing gear again after which all gear struts retracted. The crew decided to continue to Moscow where the aircraft landed safely about 110 minutes later. The aircraft returned to service about 17 hours after landing in Moscow. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ea39b49&opt=0 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX - Runway Excursion (Guyana) Date: 14-JUL-2021 Time: c. 11:34 Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Owner/operator: BK Aviation Registration: 8R-ABK MSN: 208B5106 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Eteringbang Airfield (SYET) - Guyana Phase: Landing Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Destination airport: Eteringbang Airport (SYET) Narrative: A BK Aviation Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX veeered off the runway upon landing at Eteringbang Airfield (SYET). The pilot was not injured. Two tires off the airplane were deflated and there is damage to the nose of the airplane. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/265441 FAA Gives Passenger Airlines 6-Month Extension For Cabin Cargo The Federal Aviation Administration has extended until the end of the year the exemption for U.S. commercial airlines to carry cargo in the main cabin when passengers are not present, citing an ongoing need to provide extra cargo lift capability while passenger traffic remains below pre-pandemic levels. The trade group Airlines for America had requested a one-year extension for cargo-in-cabin flights, but the agency said in a Friday ruling that air travel is returning to normal and could soon support necessary freight transportation needs. The determination to keep the temporary rules for another six months was also influenced by the fact that passenger service has not yet been restored to all communities that depend on it to deliver important goods, the FAA added. The agency eased rules restricting cargo to the lower deck in May 2020, during the height of the pandemic, because of severe supply chain constraints on medical supplies and other goods caused by the evaporation of passenger travel and airlines grounding fleets. U.S. authorities allowed airlines to store cargo on seats and in storage closets and overhead bins. They later ruled U.S. carriers could remove seats for floor-loading, but none exercised the right (except for an isolated experiment by Delta Air Lines on one aircraft) because of the expense, uncertainty about future demand for long cargo-only flights and operational challenges. U.S. and international airlines redeployed hundreds of passenger aircraft to dedicated cargo operations at the start of the pandemic to help shippers with a severe shortfall in capacity and take advantage of elevated pricing that made it profitable to cover costs or turn a profit, operating planes only filled with belly cargo. More than 50% of global capacity rides in passenger's bellies. The auxiliary freighters have about 40% the capacity of a pure all-cargo aircraft but proved invaluable in helping to maintain global commerce. Carriers quickly innovated to expand capacity by loading light shipments in the cabin and many international carriers have stripped out seats to optimize loads per flight. Carriers like United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) are selective about putting freight and mail in the cabin because of the extra labor and time it takes to manually load and unload planes. Last week, Air Canada (OTCUS: AC) operated its 10,000th cargo-only flight since the pandemic. FAA conditions for cabin cargo include a weight limit of 50 pounds per seat and 20 pounds per space under a seat, extra fire extinguishers, at least two trained crew members riding in the cabin who are able to extinguish a fire before it can become a hazard, and an empty row in twin-aisle planes to allow access to both sides. Global air cargo capacity remains about 20% below pre-crisis levels and international passenger traffic is down by 85%, but U.S. domestic travel has completely recovered this summer. Airlines continue to return aircraft to service but have been unable to fully meet demand because of challenges reinstating furloughed crews. American Airlines https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/faa-gives-passenger-airlines-6-203405192.html TSA finding more guns at Nashville airport compared to this time last year NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As airport traffic continues to bounce back, and in some cases surpass pre-pandemic levels, there’s a troubling trend at Nashville International Airport (BNA) that has the Transportation Security Administration on high alert. Officials say more guns are being found at security checkpoints at an alarming rate. “We have, at times, as many as 3,000 passengers trying to depart this airport in one hour. So, obviously you need all the capacity you’ve got to screen passengers not firearms,” explained Steve Wood, a TSA spokesperson. Drunk, unruly passenger accused of causing disturbance at Nashville airport Wood says last year the TSA discovered 94 firearms at BNA, putting Nashville at number six nationwide for the number of guns found at an airport. So far this year, they have seen 68 firearms within the last seven months. “Of course, that’s not where you want to be, because it offers additional risk,” said Wood, telling News 2 that it happens all too often. Wood showed us a book, filled with pictures of handguns, marking the day a gun was found at the airport. He says three firearms were found on July 9. “We haven’t had a lot of business travel, so we have people that are less experienced coming to the checkpoint and forgetting that it’s in their bag,” Wood said. 120K passengers departed Nashville airport over holiday weekend Wood explains that with more people traveling, there are also more first-time flyers, and many of them may not know how to fly with a firearm. While policy states you cannot bring it in your carry-on bag or purse, News 2 asked what the number one reason people give when the TSA detects a firearm in a carry-on bag. “It’s almost universal, that I forgot it was in my bag. I’m not sure how you do that, because obviously, it’s a pretty serious situation when you bring it into the airport like that,” said Wood. Officials say it’s more than just a rule to follow, storing a firearm in carry-on luggage can put security officers in danger, especially if it’s loaded. Wood said, “I mean I’m concerned about the safety of our officers because in many cases, over 80 percent of the firearms are loaded.” BNA boom indicates return of business, leisure visitors Wood says it doesn’t stop there. When a firearm is found, TSA agents are forced to call local law enforcement, bringing the security line to a halt. Punishment for a passenger who carries a firearm in carry-on baggage could face a civil penalty, along with a $10,000 fine. The TSA does offer tips for traveling with a firearm: • Comply with the laws concerning possession of firearms as they vary by local, state, and international governments • If you are traveling internationally with a firearm in checked baggage, check with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information • Declare each firearm each time you present it for transport as checked baggage. Ask your airline about limitations or if fees apply • Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. • Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts, and firing pins are prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage • Replica firearms, including firearm replicas that are toys, may be transported in checked baggage only. https://www.wkrn.com/news/tsa-finding-more-guns-at-nashville-airport-compared-to-this-time-last-year/ Police arrest machete-wielding man after fight at Newark airport, officials say Port Authority police arrested a man who was waving a machete outside a terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport after a road rage brawl, officials said Wednesday. Five men traveling in two vehicles outside the airport were involved in the fracas that occurred around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday and ended at Terminal C, according to a Port Authority police spokeswoman. Police rushed to quell the melee as one of the men pulled a machete, the spokeswoman said. “One of the individuals involved in the physical altercation had pulled a machete from his vehicle and began waving it in an offensive manner in the vicinity of one of the officers,” PAPD spokeswoman Lenis Valens said. An officer pepper-sprayed the man when he ignored commands to drop the weapon, according to the spokeswoman. The man still did not drop the machete until the officer pulled his gun and the suspect surrendered, officials said. Port Authority police charged Yarian Diaz, 20, with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and resisting arrest, the spokeswoman said. Three other men involved in the incident tried to flee in their vehicle, but were arrested at the airport exit, according to Valens. The others face charges including resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The arrests did not impact airport operations, the spokeswoman added. https://www.nj.com/essex/2021/07/police-arrest-machete-wielding-man-after-fight-at-newark-airport-officials-say.html United Airlines Passenger Carrying Large Wad of Cash Causes Emergency Landing A United Airlines flight to Los Angeles had to be diverted to Denver after a passenger seen carrying what appeared to be a large wad of cash caused a disturbance on board. The United flight 2649 from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was forced to land at Denver Airport on Monday night because of an unruly passenger. According to one passenger also on board the flight, the man causing the disturbance had started arguing with another female passenger, with whom he was apparently not traveling. Images taken from inside the plane show a man carrying what appears to be a large bundle of cash in his hand. It is unclear why the man was carrying such large number of bills, or if it had anything to do with the disturbance. The incident, believed to be minor, meant the flight had to be diverted to Denver Airport, where the man reportedly exited the plane peacefully. "No one knows what was up with the bundle of cash in his right hand was about," the passenger, who posted a photo of the man on Twitter and did not wish to be named, told Newsweek. "This man and another passenger had something transpire that was inappropriate," she added. "They were not traveling together. The operator kept very low key. Most passengers didn't know anything was going on." After landing at Denver Airport, the United Airlines flight continued its intended journey towards LAX. Denver Police confirmed that law enforcement were called to meet the man at the gates, but they were not aware of anyone being arrested in connection to the disturbance. In a statement to Newsweek, United Airlines said: "United flight 2649 from Chicago to Los Angeles diverted to Denver last night [Monday] due to a passenger disturbance on board. "Law enforcement officials met the aircraft at the gate and, following the passenger's removal, the flight continued to Los Angeles." It is unclear why the man was carrying such a large bundle of cash in the United Airlines flight. The incident occurred after a woman claims she was placed on a "no fly list" by United Airlines for creating a "biohazard" after putting her baby's diaper in the plane's lavatory trash. Farah Naz Khan, 34, was on board a flight from Kalispell, Montana, to Houston, Texas, on July 9 with her husband and baby daughter when she had to change a diaper, according to NBC News. "I had to change the baby's poop diaper in the back bathroom and I disposed of it in a scented diaper disposal bag inside the bathroom trash," Khan wrote on Facebook. "When I came to the front, the flight attendant berated me for throwing away a poop diaper on the plane. He said it was a 'biohazard' and that I should retrieve it if I can." Three hours after she landed, Khan said she received a call from the same flight attendant, who told her she had been placed on no-fly list over the "biohazard" incident. He also allegedly told her while on the call: "I can hear your obnoxious baby in the background right now." The United Airlines flight was operated and staffed by Mesa Airlines. In a statement, a spokesperson for Mesa Airlines told KOMO: "The details as described by our customer do not meet the high standards that Mesa sets for our flight attendants and we are reviewing the matter." https://www.newsweek.com/united-airlines-passenger-carrying-large-wad-cash-causes-emergency-landing-1609516 US Supreme Court Rejects Bid To Drop Airline Mask Mandate The United States Supreme Court has dismissed an application to void face mask-wearing rules on public transport, including airlines. The fast-tracked application was brought by Lucas Wall, 44, of Washington DC. He wanted to fly to Germany with this weekend but says he suffers from panic attacks when wearing a face mask. “Due to my Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I have never covered my face,” Mr Wall stated in his application to the court. “I tried a mask a couple of times for brief periods last year, but had to remove it after five or so minutes because it caused me to instigate a feeling of a panic attack, including hyperventilating and other breathing trouble. “I have been illegally restricted from flying during the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic because of my inability to wear a mask.” Busy month in the courts for Lucas Wall Previously, Mr Wall has been busy in the lower courts in his fight against the CDC and seven airlines. Those airlines include Southwest, Alaska, Allegiant, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines. He accuses them of discriminating against travelers who can’t wear masks because of medical conditions. Federal law mandates the wearing of face masks on public transport, including United States-based airlines. Lucas Wall has made six applications to lower courts since June 1. Those courts dismissed or denied all the motions and petitions. In early June, Mr Wall recorded an attempt to enter Orlando International Airport to board a Southwest Airlines flight not wearing a face mask. He was not allowed to board the flight. Justice Clarence Thomas denies the application Mr Wall’s argument to the Supreme Court highlighted previous religion-based rulings. Mr Wall suggested constitutional rights, including the freedom to travel, to due process, and states’ rights under the 10th Amendment, can’t be suspended by the government due to COVID-19. But Mr Wall was asking the Supreme Court to hand down a decision that defied its normal procedural regularity. “Such applications are both rare and rarely accepted, likely only in a case where irreparable harm could occur through not acting immediately,” Elliot E. Slotnick, Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University told Business Insider. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court’s Justice Clarence Thomas denied Lucas Wall’s application. Airlines have welcomed the decision. “Nothing is more important at Delta than safety,” a Delta Air Lines spokesperson said in response. JetBlue says the case was “entirely without merit” JetBlue argued Lucas Wall’s case was entirely without merit. “Mr Wall cites that he needs emergency relief from this Court because, otherwise, he will be ‘stranded at his mother’s house. Plaintiff’s procrastination is not an emergency.” Legal insiders say even if the Supreme Court had upheld Mr Wall’s case and granted relief, airlines remain free to enforce a face mask rule. The same experts suggest United States-based airlines would continue to impose the mask-wearing rule. If a passenger doesn’t like a carrier’s conditions of carriage, they remain free to choose another airline. Mr Wall told Simple Flying he will not be traveling to Germany this weekend. He also says it is not the end of the legal road, saying the lawsuit now proceeds on its merits in the US District Court in Orlando. A motion for summary judgment was filed in early July and the government’s response is due on July 29. https://simpleflying.com/us-supreme-court-airline-masks/ (Navy) Retention bonuses for Reserve FTS officers heading aviation departments mostly fall or remain flat With one notable exception, the Navy is offering the same or smaller aviation retention bonuses, compared to last year, for full-time support officers serving as squadron department heads. The FTS Officer Program consists of U.S. Navy Reserve officers on active duty who are responsible for managing, organizing, administering and training the Navy’s reserve component. The helicopter maritime strike (HSM) community is the only group of pilots slated to get more money in retention bonuses for FY21, according to a new naval administrative message. Bonuses for these pilots are set at $25,000 this year — an increase from the $15,000 they were offered last year. Meanwhile, pilots in several aviation communities are being offered the same amounts as last year to sign a new contract. For example, pilots and naval flight officers from the strike fighter (VFA) community and pilots from the fleet logistics support (VR) community are being offered $35,000 a year, just like last in fiscal 2020. Similarly, pilots from the helicopter training squadron (HT) community are being offered $15,000 this year, like they had been previously. $100,000 retention bonuses offered to commanders of Navy aviation units Officers must complete a post-command commander tour lasting between 24 and 36 months as part of the bonus program. But other aviation communities are seeing a decline in retention bonuses. For example, pilots and naval flight officers from the electronic attack community are being offered $15,000 this year — a steep departure from the $35,000 offered to them last year. Bonuses for pilots in the helicopter mine countermeasure (HM) and helicopter sea combat (HSC) communities are set at $15,000 annually this year, down from the $25,000 a year offered to those communities last year. Pilots and naval flight officers from patrol and unmanned patrol (VP/VUP) communities are also being offered retention bonuses of $15,000 this year, a drop from the $25,000 they were offered last year. Lastly, pilots and naval flight officers from jet training squadrons (VT) are offered, $25,000 a year, down from $35,000 last year, while pilots and naval flight officers from prop training squadrons (VT) are offered $15,000 this year, a decrease from the $25,000 offered the previous year. The bonuses will be issued in either three or five annual installments, according to the Navy. The NAVADMIN stated that the bonuses are for those who have served in department head billets during FY21, and are designed to “retain those officers through a post-DH aviation staff tour.” Those eligible to serve in department head billets are lieutenant commanders, according to Cmdr. Zachary Harrell, a spokesperson for Naval Air Forces. The Navy previously announced aviation department head bonuses for active-duty officers in February, offering up to $35,000 per year for helicopter mine countermeasure and helicopter sea combat communities, among others, for an early commitment with a five-year obligation. Three-year obligations are also offered to officers this fiscal year. Applications are due for both active-duty and full-time support aviation department head retention bonuses by Aug. 31. https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/07/14/retention-bonuses-for-reserve-fts-officers-heading-aviation-departments-mostly-fall-or-remain-flat/ FAA shows new muscle in working with Boeing Ahead of a 2016 meeting to discuss training requirements for the 737 MAX, a Boeing employee infamously described clueless federal regulators as “dogs watching TV.” After two deadly crashes that claimed 346 lives and a congressional investigation that blasted “grossly insufficient oversight,” these dogs may have finally found their bite. The Federal Aviation Administration recently denied Boeing permission to move ahead with a key step in the certification process for its new 777X widebody twin-engine jet, citing a litany of concerns, including a serious flight-control incident in December. In a scathing letter first reported by Times aerospace reporter Dominic Gates, the agency listed almost a dozen issues with the airplane, which began its test-flight program last year. “The technical data required for type certification has not reached a point where it appears the aircraft type design is mature and can be expected to meet the applicable regulations,” wrote Ian Won, acting manager for safety at the FAA’s Boeing oversight office. In short: “The aircraft is not yet ready.” The move will likely delay the jet’s use in commercial service into early 2024, four years past its initial target. This is bad news for a struggling Boeing in the short term but a welcome sign that the FAA may no longer have a rubber-stamp relationship with the aerospace company. Late last year, Congress passed legislation that restored stricter oversight by the FAA and in May, a congressional committee requested records to investigate lapses in production quality on the 787 Dreamliner, the 737 MAX and the 767-based KC-46 tanker. Also in May, the FAA fined Boeing $17 million over 737 production errors. During the 737 MAX certification process, Boeing misled compliant regulators who had delegated increasing authority to the manufacturer in determining the safety of its own planes. It turned out to be misplaced trust in a company that had left its tradition of engineering rigor behind in a rush to feed the bottom line. The return of real government oversight is a critical step not only to rehabilitate the FAA’s reputation at home and around the world, but also help restore the credibility and standing of America’s largest manufacturing exporter. The work of rebuilding that trust and changing the corporate culture that allowed it to erode won’t happen overnight. Won’s letter points out that Boeing has been pushing for months to continue certification even while the FAA questioned the new jet’s readiness. For its part, Boeing said it “remains fully focused on safety as our highest priority throughout 777X development.” That’s good. But whether the company has learned its lesson, thanks to federal regulators finally doing their job, no one has to take Boeing’s word for it. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/faa-shows-new-muscle-in-working-with-boeing/ Pilot files intellectual property lawsuit against Delta A pilot has filed suit against Delta Air Lines, alleging the company stole his idea for a text messaging platform used by crews. The messaging app, which was rolled out in 2018, is used by gate agents, flight dispatchers, pilots, flight attendants and other workers who hustle to get planes out on time. They text updates on the status of everything from cleaning, catering, fueling and loading bags. It replaced a decades-old mish-mash of communications by two-way radios, jetway phones, word of mouth and jaunts down the jet bridge to relay messages, according to Delta. The suit by pilot Craig Alexander was filed in DeKalb County state court. In it, he says he shared his idea for a crew messaging app with the company before Delta’s app was introduced. The complaint names Delta, CEO Ed Bastian, chief information officer Rahul Samant and other executives as defendants. The lawsuit is seeking damages estimated at more than $1 billion for “stolen trade secrets and the unjust enrichment to Delta.” “Captain Alexander spent countless hours and more than $100,000 of his own money developing this innovative, game-changing communications platform for Delta, only to have his own employer steal it right out from under him like a thief in the night,” Morgan & Morgan attorneys John Morgan and Keenan Nix said in a written statement. Delta, for its part, issued a statement saying: “While we take the allegations specified in Mr. Alexander’s Complaint seriously, they are not an accurate or fair description of Delta’s development of its internal crew messaging platform.” Alexander, a Delta first officer on the Boeing 767 and 757, alleges he originally designed a text messaging system called “QrewLive” for crew members to resolve pre-flight departure issues. He said he presented it to Delta executives over several years, starting in 2014. He alleges he received “verbal assurances that Delta would purchase his innovative text messaging platform.” But, in 2017, Delta told him the text messaging system did not fit its needs. The following year, Delta announced the launch of its Flight Family Communication app. Alexander alleges the Delta platform was developed by using QrewLive, “even though the entire project was subject to a confidential non-disclosure agreement.” The complaint also alleges the Flight Family Communication app is saving Delta “hundreds of millions of dollars per year” by increasing on-time departures. In 2018, Delta announced it had seen a 65% increase in its ability to get time-crunched flights out on time when there were circumstances such as late-arriving aircraft. On an average day, Delta said about 11,000 messages were sent using the Flight Family Communication platform — and even more when bad weather disrupts flights. Delta said the app was one of a number of digital tools it had rolled out for employees over a couple of years, including a handheld tool for gate agents to help customers with seat changes and rebookings, handheld devices for flight attendants and a weather app for pilots. https://www.ajc.com/news/business/pilot-files-intellectual-property-lawsuit-against-delta/YM3GFTE3UNFOJMXOEWGUMYQIN4/ China Building Hypersonic Jet to Ferry Passengers Around Globe and to Space Engineers involved in China's ambitious space program are building a hypersonic plane that could be ferrying more than 10,000 passengers to space every year by the middle of the century, according to a new report out of the country this week. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post says the jet, which shares some design elements with the now retired supersonic commercial airliner Concorde, will measure 148 feet in length—significantly larger than a Boeing 737. Designs published in the bimonthly Chinese journal Physics of Gases last week show sleek delta wings with notable winglets. Two engines mounted atop the fuselage will help propel the aircraft to speeds of Mach 6—or six times the speed of sound—the newspaper reported on Wednesday. Researchers with the Beijing Institute of Technology and the Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering are taking part in the design and modeling of the new hypersonic jet. Among them is Liu Rui, one of the key scientists involved in China's Mars and moon missions. Liu helped engineer spacecraft that could withstand atmospheric travel at "hypervelocity," The Post said. Similar aerodynamic modeling will be used in the construction of the country's hypersonic plane, which will need to perform at high altitudes and at high speeds, which create "spikes of heat and pressure" on certain sections of the aircraft, the report noted. According to the paper, China plans to complete and verify all components necessary for hypersonic flight by the middle of the decade. This will include next-generation "air-breathing" engines that will take in oxygen and push the plane to five or six times the speed of sound. The new propellant technology could operate at one-hundredth of the cost of traditional rockets, its report said. By 2035, China plans to have a fleet of hypersonic jets that can ferry up to 10 passengers to anywhere on Earth within an hour, The Post said. A decade after that, the aircraft could be carrying 100 passengers per flight as well as delivering 10,000 tons of cargo and 10,000 people to space—or moon—stations every year. China is among a few world powers, along with Russia and the United States, currently investing large sums into the research and development of dual-use hypersonic equipment, including missiles and aircraft. The newspaper says Chinese hypersonic technology is so far reserved for use in the military. China also joins Russia and the U.S. in having developed its own hypersonic missiles. The PLA's DF-17 ballistic missile and the DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle were revealed at China's 70th anniversary National Day parade two years ago. https://www.newsweek.com/china-building-hypersonic-jet-ferry-passengers-around-globe-space-1609537 Delta Air Lines Is Profitable Again. American Airlines Is Turning a Corner. Airlines are getting back to profitability for the first time since the pandemic struck. Delta Air Lines (ticker: DAL), the first carrier to report second-quarter results, said it turned a profit, excluding special items, earning $1.02 per share in the quarter as domestic leisure travel rebounded to prepandemic levels. The results handily beat consensus estimates, which called for Delta to lose $1.33 a share. American Airlines Group (AAL) also issued a positive update on Wednesday, including forecasts for a “slight” second-quarter pretax profit. American said it expects revenue in the quarter to be 2.5 percentage points higher than its prior forecast and predicted lower operating costs. The airline also said it was profitable in June for the first time since December 2019, excluding special items. American’s stock outperformed Delta on the news. It ended the day ahead 3%, at $20.62, while Delta settled down 1.9% at $40.68. Citigroup ‘s Stephen Trent, who had a Sell rating on the stock, upgraded American to Neutral. While the airline isn’t “out of the woods,” he wrote, its quarterly update represents a “tactical opportunity” in the stock. Delta’s stock may not be reacting as much because its results weren’t surprising. The airline predicted months ago that the second quarter would be a turning point for profitability, anticipating a robust summer travel season. Moreover, Delta is positioned as a premium full-service carrier aimed at international markets where bookings remain depressed, especially in its core Atlantic and Pacific routes. Nonetheless, Delta’s results implied that travel momentum continues to build. The company reported $7.1 billion in total revenue, compared with $4.1 billion in the March quarter. Consensus estimates had called for $6.2 billion in revenue. Passenger revenue per seat mile jumped, and the airline’s load factor, or the percentage of seats sold, surged to 69% from 45% in the March quarter—a sign that Delta is getting back to nearly full flights. Delta’s outlook was encouraging. It said its booking curve had normalized, indicating that travelers are booking flights further in advance. Daily cash net sales in June were 70% of 2019 levels—indicating that Delta is overcoming the drag from tickets refunded due to cancellations in the pandemic. Also encouraging: Corporate ticket sales rose to 40% of prepandemic volume in June from 20% in March. “Domestic leisure travel is fully recovered to 2019 levels and there are encouraging signs of improvement in business and international travel,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a release. If there were trouble spots in the report, it was Atlantic and Pacific travel, which are largely moribund. Delta reported just $288 million in Atlantic travel and $88 million in its Pacific segment, both down more than 85% from 2019 levels. Latin America showed a bit more strength, at $485 million, down 36%. For the September quarter, Delta predicted capacity to be down 28% to 30% compared with the September 2019 quarter, with revenue down 30% to 35%. Those would be sequential improvements from the June 2021 quarter, when capacity was off 39% and passenger revenue was down 53%, compared with 2019 levels. Analysts generally praised the report. Delta’s “results look very encouraging,” wrote Citi’s Trent, who reiterated a Buy rating on the stock. Delta’s guidance for the third quarter was slightly better than consensus forecasts, noted Raymond James’ Savanthi Syth. Cowen’s Helane Becker called out some positives. “Yield trends likely remain positive, given corporate demand is recovering faster than anticipated,” she wrote, referring to revenue yields, a measure of airlines’ operating profitability. Bernstein’s David Vernon reiterated an Outperform rating and $64 target on Delta. “Guidance for back half revenue and profitability is constructive,” he wrote, “as underlying demand trends remain intact, business travel is on the mend, and cost performance, if choppy, is pointing in the right direction.” Despite the positives, airlines are facing new headwinds: The spread of the delta variant is renewing lockdowns and travel restrictions in Europe and other regions. And a surge in jet fuel prices is pushing up operating costs and squeezing margins. Delta’s stock is up just 1.2% this year, sharply trailing the broader NYSE Arca Airline Index, which is ahead 16%. But the sector has been ailing lately—down 7.9% in the last three months versus a 5.9% gain for the S&P 500. https://www.barrons.com/articles/delta-air-lines-earnings-51626276292?siteid=yhoof2 China Unveils Its First National Passenger Aircraft—Rivaling Airbus and Boeing Imagine stepping onto a Chinese-made airplane with outdated movies, scripted English from flight attendants, and corn chowder on the in-flight menu—this could be what travelers experience on China Eastern Airlines. With more than $72 billion in state support, China’s commercial airline is set to operate roughly 1,000 new Comac C919 airplanes, due to take flight before the end of this year. The airline industry is dominated by European planes like the Airbus and the American-made Boeing, which are battling the aviation market against China’s aircraft manufacturer Comac. The company has been testing a new passenger jet called the C919 for short-haul flights, and the C929 for long-haul. It’s all part of the Chinese government’s Made in China 2025 strategy, which aims to reduce China’s dependence on foreign technology. “National airlines have long been a marker of a state’s status and prestige in the international sphere, so it’s not surprising to see a new airline in China as its importance and influence in global affairs grows,” said Michelle Murray, a professor and chair at the political studies program at Bard College in New York. But how does China’s first commercial airline differ from the rest? According to Skytrax, China Eastern Airlines is a three-star airline for its level of quality, from seats to service and cleanliness, putting it on par with American Airlines and easyJet. This low-cost international airline is not polished but has unbeatable prices. The cuisine offers both Western-style and Chinese meals (though you may want to steer clear of the rubbery chicken). On the downside, one travel blogger, Christine Ka’aloa of Grrrl Traveler, said that in her experience, the cabin staff “seemed to treat me like a passenger with second-class needs, when it came to dealing with the comforts of Chinese nationals.” Ka’aloa tells AD: “Chinese technology is strong with innovating of successful Western brands, but the American public is hard won, because Chinese brands cater to Chinese consumers.” She explains: “With the pandemic’s effect on travel, I predict American travelers will stay closer to home with traditional travel brands they know, gravitating toward comfort and safety. They won’t rule out Chinese carriers completely, but it won’t be their first thought.” Though the flight attendants have some understanding of English, their language skills are limited to a standard set of phrases and they’re not adept at going off-script. In-flight entertainment is limited too, with older films like The Karate Kid from 2010 and a video game featuring the aircraft as the star. However, the company has its own VIP lounge at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport. China Eastern was founded in 1988 (the same year Air China was founded), and today offers flights to roughly 250 destinations. It flies to seven destinations across America, including Anchorage, Chicago, and Honolulu. The parent company, China Eastern Air Holding, invested over $4.6 billion into the state-owned airline last fall—part of China’s boost to tourism after the airline lost over $1.28 billion in the first half of 2020 due to the pandemic. Tourism in China is slowly growing, at least locally. The airline has seen travel demand this past spring reaching beyond pre-pandemic levels with 2,700 local flights a day (the Shanghai and Beijing routes are the most popular). They’re hoping to garner international interest through social media, where they’re highlighting stories from their foreign staff. In one Instagram post, a China Eastern captain from Italy says: “I want to experience the excitement that can only be found in the Orient.” Among their selection of video commercials on YouTube, one details the airline’s journey to transport China-made vaccines from Beijing to the Dominican Republic, while another tells the story of a delayed flight, due to a doctor carrying a heart transplant to Wuhan (the dramatized ad is based on a true story). “What is interesting about the commercials for China Eastern Airlines is that they seem to be pitched toward Chinese nationals living abroad and missing home,” says Murray. “This message has a broader resonance; the branding is capturing something relatable, and that message might be useful in promoting China as a tourist destination.” But will foreigners feel safe boarding a Chinese-built airplane? “How the world will embrace China in a post-pandemic world is yet to be determined,” explains Murray. “As we see here in the United States and in other parts of the world, there is—unfair in my view—blame and animosity cast on China for the spread of the coronavirus. I will not be surprised if this continues and therefore, in the near term, it might not be the most sought-after destination for American tourists.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-unveils-first-national-passenger-164047194.html Photo Courtesy: NASA NASA Hubble Space Telescope glitch: troubleshooting identifies potential fix After over a month in safe mode, there's a new sense of hope for Hubble. The Hubble Space Telescope is one of NASA's most beloved projects. After over 30 years in service, it's now facing one of its greatest challenges, as a technical glitch has left it in safe mode for over a month. On Wednesday, NASA said it may have tracked down the source of the issue. The Hubble team had been looking at the payload computer -- hardware dating back to the 1980s -- as the potential source of a memory problem. "A series of multi-day tests, which included attempts to restart and reconfigure the computer and the backup computer, were not successful, but the information gathered from those activities has led the Hubble team to determine that the possible cause of the problem is in the Power Control Unit," NASA said. As with the payload computer, the PCU is part of Hubble's Science Instrument Command and Data Handling unit. The PCU is responsible for supplying a constant and steady source of electricity to the computer and its memory. Herein lies the possible problem. "The team's analysis suggests that either the voltage level from the regulator is outside of acceptable levels (thereby tripping the secondary protection circuit), or the secondary protection circuit has degraded over time and is stuck in this inhibit state," NASA said. Hubble is equipped with a lot of backup systems, including a backup PCU. On Thursday, NASA will attempt the switch to the other hardware in an effort to restore the telescope to normal operations. Since the issue cropped up on June 13, Hubble's science work has been stalled. If the plan works, it could still take several days to get the telescope back up and running. There has been concern for the aging telescope, which is a joint project from NASA and the European Space Agency. Hubble's successor, the much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope, is still here on Earth, waiting for a possible October launch. Hubble has weathered many technical glitches in its time, and it may yet survive this latest one. The good news is NASA has a plan, and the hope to go along with it. https://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-hubble-space-telescope-glitch-troubleshooting-identifies-potential-fix/ Blue Origin gets FAA approval for its first human spaceflight on July 20th The FAA has approved Blue Origin's maiden crewed rocket voyage set for July 20th with the company's founder Jeff Bezos aboard. The flight aboard the New Shepard will take Bezos, his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk and three other passengers to Kármán line, just beyond the edge of space. To get the certification, Blue Origin had to verify New Shepard's hardware and software operation during its NS-15 test flight conducted on April 14th, 2021. If all goes to plan, the New Shepard booster and capsule with astronauts aboard will blast off to an altitude beyond 100 kilometers (62 miles). The booster will eventually separate from the capsule and attempt to land Earth, while the capsule with passengers aboard will descend to the ground carried by a triple parachute system. Rival Richard Branson beat Bezos to be the first billionaire in space aboard Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo. However, Blue Origin claimed that Virgin Galactic didn't truly go to space as it "only" went 57 miles up and didn't cross the Kármán line considered by many to be the edge of space. In any case, neither company will be taking passengers into orbit, unlike SpaceX, which is set to do a true orbital flight with passengers aboard later this year. The prices for the different systems are also vastly different: Virgin Galactic's customers pay $250,000 for a ticket to the edge of space, Blue Origin space tourists are expected to pay around $500,000 and SpaceX clients will pay $55 million for a 10-day mission to the ISS. However, a seat to fly with Jeff Bezos on the maiden Blue Horizon flight sold at auction for $28 million to a buyer expected to be named soon. That's a lot for a flight expected to last about 10 minutes, but it should be quite a ride. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/blue-origin-gets-faa-clearance-for-its-first-human-flight-on-july-20th-105015875.html Curt Lewis