Flight Safety Information - July 22, 2021 No. 146 In This Issue : Incident: UPS B748 at Hong Kong on Jul 20th 2021, engine fire : Accident: Condor A320 at Kavala on Jul 11th 2021, could not retract landing gear : Incident: Sunstate DH8D at Sydney on Jul 12th 2021, crew did not retract landing gear : Incident: THY A321 at Tunis on Jul 20th 2021, engine malfunction : Cessna 560XL Citation Excel - Runway Excursion (Pennsylvania) : 2 airplanes collide at Dubai’s main airport; no injuries : Disability rights activist says United Airlines damaged her $30,000 wheelchair : FAA reports nearly 100 cases of unruly airline passengers in past week : Russia's Azimuth Airlines orders six Airbus A220-300 jets : American Airlines says it will need 1,350 pilots by 2022 as it ramps up hiring demands : EASA issues STC for Bluebox aircraft-powered W-IFE : Pilots leaving active duty have safe landing place in Reserve, Guard : Southwest Airlines losses narrow as leisure travel bounces back : Who’s an astronaut? FAA weighs in on a murky issue for suborbital space travelers : Human Factors for RPAS Professionals : Position Available: Learjet 60 and 60XR Pilots Incident: UPS B748 at Hong Kong on Jul 20th 2021, engine fire A UPS United Parcel Service Boeing 747-8, registration N624UP performing flight 5X-3 from Hong Kong (China) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), was climbing out of Hong Kong's runway 07R when the crew received indication of the #1 engines (GEnx, outboard left) exceeding limits at 400 feet, at 1500 feet the engine fire warning occurred. The crew discharged both fire bottles into the engine with the warning persisting. The aircraft stopped the climb and returned to Hong Kong for a safe overweight (about 426 tons, MTOW 442 tons, MLW 350 tons) landing on runway 07L coming to a stop about 2500 meters down the runway about 15 minutes after departure. Fire services put the fire out. The aircraft is still on the ground in Hong Kong about 38 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=4ea9b7fe&opt=0 Accident: Condor A320 at Kavala on Jul 11th 2021, could not retract landing gear A Condor Airbus A320-200, registration D-AICP performing flight DE-1763 from Kavala (Greece) to Dusseldorf (Germany), departed Kavala's runway 23 when the crew stopped the climb at FL100 due to being unable to retract the landing gear. The aircraft entered a hold to burn off fuel and troubleshoot the issue, then returned to Kavala for a safe landing on runway 23 about 50 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the crew indicated the landing gear could not be retracted. A ground observer reported the crew told ATC they could not retract the landing gear. The aircraft is still in Kavala 9 days later. The Aviation Herald had received information the aircraft was in Kavala since Jul 11th 2021 and has received structural damage, the source however could not tell anything about the circumstandes of how the damage came together. Another source confirmed the aircraft received substantial damage to its fuselage. Another source pointed out the aircraft had suffered a rejected takeoff in Heraklion the previous day (at low speed according to Mode-S data), reason unknown, and remained on the ground in Heraklion for 22.5 hours before flying the return flight to Dusseldorf and subsequently performing flight DE-1762 to Kavala. The source however could not establish a causal link to the events, that keep the aircraft on the ground now in Kavala. A fourth source suggested the aircraft may have landed hard in Kavala on flight DE-1762, however, there are no corroborating reports so far. On Jul 21st 2021 Germany's BFU reported they have received information about the occurrence and are currently investigating how to rate the occurrence as well as to the sequence of events. Greece's Accident Investigation has asked the BFU to conduct the investigation. https://avherald.com/h?article=4ea8d79b&opt=0 Incident: Sunstate DH8D at Sydney on Jul 12th 2021, crew did not retract landing gear A Sunstate Aviation de Havilland Dash 8-400 on behalf of Qantas, registration VH-QOY performing flight QF-2213 from Sydney,NS to Albury,NS (Australia), was climbing out of Sydney when the crew working the after takeoff checklist did not retract the landing gear. Only later in the flight while enroute at FL240 the crew discovered the gear was still down, verified it was safe to retract the landing gear and decided to return to Sydney for a safe landing about one hour after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground in Sydney for about 16.5 hours before returning to service. Australia's ATSB opened a short investigation rating the occurrence an incident. https://avherald.com/h?article=4ea9ac51&opt=0 Incident: THY A321 at Tunis on Jul 20th 2021, engine malfunction A THY Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration TC-JSS performing flight TK-664 from Tunis (Tunisia) to Istanbul (Turkey), was climbing out of Tunis' runway 01 when one of the engines (V2533) malfunctioned prompting the crew to stop the climb at 3000 feet and return to Tunis for a safe landing on runway 01 about 15 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Tunis about 19 hours after landing back. A ground observer reported one of the engines made strange and huge noises as the aircraft passed over him. https://avherald.com/h?article=4ea9adc2&opt=0 Cessna 560XL Citation Excel - Runway Excursion (Pennsylvania) Date: 21-JUL-2021 Time: c. 16:05 Type: Cessna 560XL Citation Excel Owner/operator: PV Transport Inc Registration: N46CF MSN: 560-5218 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Reading Regional Airport/Carl A Spaatz Field (RDG/KRDG), Reading, PA - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Executive Departure airport: Coldwater-Branch County Memorial Airport, MI (KOEB) Destination airport: Reading Municipal Airport/Spaatz Field, PA (RDG/KRDG) Narrative: The aircraft sustained minor damage subsequent to the runway excursion during landing at Reading Regional Airport/Carl A Spaatz Field (RDG/KRDG), Reading, Pennsylvania. There were no reported injuries to the nine occupants onboard the airplane wich came to stop at the EMAS (Engineered Materials Arresting System). https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/265763 2 airplanes collide at Dubai’s main airport; no injuries DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two passenger jets from low-cost carrier FlyDubai and Bahrain-based Gulf Air collided with each other on the taxiway at Dubai International Airport early Thursday morning, though authorities reported no injuries in the incident. FlyDubai said one of its Boeing 737-800s heading to Kyrgyzstan found itself affected by ”a minor incident” and forced to return to the stand. It said passengers took a later flight, which departed six hours later. “FlyDubai will work with the authorities to investigate the incident,” the airline said, adding that the collision damaged a wingtip on one of the aircraft. Gulf Air said one its aircraft “was impacted on the tail by an aircraft of another airline.” Gulf Air did not identify the aircraft involved, but said it was “working to reconnect all the passengers to their final destinations.” Gulf Air flies passengers from Dubai International Airport onto its hub at Bahrain International Airport in Manama. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international travel before the coronavirus pandemic, said the collision forced them to shut down one of its two runways for two hours. It said operations were not affected by the closure. https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-dubai-19e69f5be8e6e79ac314aed7560e421e Disability rights activist says United Airlines damaged her $30,000 wheelchair A disability rights activist is asking United Airlines to cover the cost of replacing her power wheelchair after discovering damage to her chair when she landed in Los Angeles. On July 14, Engracia Figueroa boarded a United Airlines flight and returned with a fully "contorted" wheelchair. After her flight back home from D.C., where she attended a disability rights march, Figueroa said she was unable to sit or turn on her chair, claiming the airline had damaged her wheelchair beyond the point of repair. “It was like my worst nightmare came true,” said Figueroa, president of Communities Actively Living and Free, an independent living center in downtown Los Angeles, in a press release. “My wheelchair is custom made for me and my spinal cord injury. It’s a $30,000 machine that is not easy to replace, and without it, I am now stuck at home.” Figueroa said the airline company should publicly apologize for its treatment of her. “All airlines need to do better by hiring disabled people on their staff, training their staff to know how to respectfully interface with disabled customers, and to handle their critical equipment.” In a statement to USA TODAY, United Airlines said they contacted Figueroa to offer their apologies and hope to welcome her back on board in the future. What is Disability Pride Month?:A chance to 'amplify one another' 'This is my life, my legs':After a woman's wheelchair was damaged on a Delta flight, 'heartbreaking' video goes viral "Our top priority is to provide a safe and comfortable journey for all of our customers, particularly those who require additional assistance or the use of a wheelchair. Immediately after Ms. Figueroa alerted our team in Los Angeles, we made arrangements to provide her with a loaner wheelchair and refreshments while she waited for the repair company to provide it," United Airlines told USA TODAY. "We are actively working with the repair company to reach a resolution to this issue as quickly as possible." Once she noticed her chair was damaged, Figueroa said she spent more than four hours at the Los Angeles International Airport filing a damage report and waiting for a usable loaner power wheelchair. Figueroa said she sat in a loaner wheelchair with a broken armrest and a seat "too small to fit the cushion she requires to support her body," which caused her "excruciating" pain. Airlines do not allow wheelchair users to board their flights with their own chairs. Instead, they must be placed into an aisle chair. Passengers' wheelchairs are stored with other cargo and suitcases. On July 8, the International Air Transport Association announced the launch of a global Mobility Aids Action Group with the goal of improving the care of wheelchairs during transport. In a press release, IATA's general director Willie Walsh said although thousands of wheelchairs are transported by each day, damage is still commonly occurring. Walsh said wheelchairs are extensions of passengers' bodies and aims to bring awareness and solutions to the care of wheelchairs on flights. “Nobody should have to live in fear that they will lose their independence due to an airplane ride," Figueroa said in the release. "But for people with disabilities that’s exactly what we have to go through every time we step on a plane.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2021/07/21/woman-seeks-30-k-united-airlines-after-wheelchair-destroyed/8031352002/ FAA reports nearly 100 cases of unruly airline passengers in past week The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recorded nearly 100 cases of unruly airline passengers in the past week amid a surge in aggressive and violent behavior at airports and on flights as more people return to the skies following loosened pandemic restrictions. According to updated numbers released by the FAA on Tuesday, there have now been 3,509 unruly passenger reports thus far in 2021, with the majority of the reported incidents, 2,605, related to noncompliance with the federal mask mandate that remains in place for flights and public transit. So far in 2021, there have been 581 investigations initiated into unruly passenger incidents. Comparatively, the FAA launched only 183 investigations in 2020, and 146 the year before. Under federal law, no passenger may “assault, threaten, intimidate, or interfere with a crew member in the performance of the crew member's duties aboard an aircraft being operated,” and the FAA may levy fines of up to $37,000 per violation in unruly passenger cases. Earlier this month, the FAA said it had issued a $10,500 fine to a passenger who refused to wear a mask during a February flight. The federal agency at the time also announced fines against eight other passengers who it said refused to wear a face mask, consumed alcohol they had brought onto the plane or assaulted passengers or flight crew members. The nine passengers received a total of $119,000 in fines, with individual penalties ranging from $7,500 to $21,500. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has also reported a similar surge in unruly behavior among passengers passing through security lines at airports. Darby LaJoye, TSA’s acting administrator, said during a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security hearing Tuesday that there have been more than 85 reported physical assaults against TSA officers since the start of the pandemic last year. LaJoye explained that 25 of the assaults have been reported just since the end of May, including one in Denver last month in which a passenger allegedly bit two TSA officers. The TSA last month announced plans to resume its crew member self-defense training in early July after it was previously postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. LaJoye said in a statement at the time, “While it is our hope that flight crew members never have need for these tactics, it is critical to everyone’s safety that they be well-prepared to handle situations as they arise.” “Passengers do not arrive at an airport or board a plane with the intent of becoming unruly or violent,” he explained. “However, what is an exciting return to travel for some may be a more difficult experience for others, which can lead to unexpected, and unacceptable, behaviors.” https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/564071-faa-reports-nearly-100-cases-of-unruly-airline-passengers-in-past-week Russia's Azimuth Airlines orders six Airbus A220-300 jets MOSCOW, July 21 (Reuters) - Russian private carrier Azimuth Airlines has ordered six Airbus A220-300 jets to use on domestic and international flights, Airbus (AIR.PA) said on Wednesday. Deliveries will start next year, Airbus said, and the Azimuth will become the first Russian buyer of the narrow-body A220 aircraft. Azimuth currently uses only Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet planes. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russias-azimuth-airlines-orders-six-airbus-a220-300-jets-2021-07-21/ American Airlines says it will need 1,350 pilots by 2022 as it ramps up hiring demands American Airlines hopes to hire as many as 1,350 pilots by the end of 2022 as demand ramps up coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fort Worth-based American Airlines told employees Wednesday that it hopes to bring on 350 more new pilots this year, adding 50 new employees to its plan to hire 300 by the end of 2021. And in 2022, the company plans to hire 1,000 aviators, increasing from its previous projection to add 600 pilots. “Though we were limited in pilot growth this past year, we are now moving full speed ahead with plans to continue recruiting, hiring and training the best and most diverse pilots in the business,” American’s vice president of flight Chip Long said in an email to employees Wednesday. American Airlines is ramping up for the holidays by recalling flight attendants out on voluntary leaves. As of 2019, the average American Airlines pilot made $238,000 in salary and benefits, according to the MIT Airline Data Project. American will report a projected $1.1 billion second-quarter loss on Thursday and has spent more than a year making constant adjustments to its schedules, network and workforce as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape the airline industry. More than 16 months after COVID-19 was declared a worldwide health emergency, demand is now nearly back to pre-pandemic levels and airports and planes are nearly full, even though airlines are still flying fewer flights than they did in 2019. Airlines hope to change that through the end of 2021 and into next year. “As an airline, our revenue and expense performance for the quarter came in better than expected,” Long said in the email. “As an industry, travel demand is returning.” Airlines across the country are now scrambling to find pilots after major cutbacks since the beginning of 2021. American Airlines lost about 1,000 pilots to early retirements through various buyout packages over the last year and a half. Those buyouts were aimed at reducing payroll costs while airlines hemorrhaged cash. But now that demand is recovering, airlines need pilots to ferry a growing number of passengers. “Though the numbers aren’t at 2019 levels and the demand itself looks different right now, it’s the path to recovery we’ve all be focused on,” Long said. American Airlines also has about 1,000 pilots out on leave who were furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic and are being trained to get back into the air. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has told employees that it plans to hire 120 new pilots in 2021. Southwest posted those jobs last week and plans to leave the jobs open until Aug. 1. “Southwest does expect to hire pilots in 2022; however, we don’t have any numbers to confirm today,” said Southwest Airlines spokesman Brian Parrish in an email. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2021/07/21/american-airlines-says-it-will-need-1350-more-pilots-by-2022-as-it-ramps-up-hiring-plans/ EASA issues STC for Bluebox aircraft-powered W-IFE The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the aircraft-powered version of Bluebox Aviation Systems’ ‘Bluebox Wow’ W-IFE technology. The STC, which applies to all Airbus A320 Family aircraft, was issued to Design Organisation Approval (DOA) holder, Aerospace Engineering Solutions. The STC was approved after testing was completed with a soon-to-be-announced customer in the Asia-Pacific region. “Our original version of Bluebox Wow, with its swappable battery system, has been a game-changer in the IFE market,” said James Macrae, CTO of Bluebox. “But as the demand for W-IFE has grown… we’re attracting the interest of airlines with larger fleets. By utilising aircraft power, Bluebox Wow devices can deliver the same digital IFE services without a battery present, eliminating the need for logistics management of batteries, and still offering a considerably lighter and lower-cost system than fully fitted W-IFE.” “The STC also includes automatic ‘Pause on PA’ functionality that pauses IFE playback in the event of announcements from the flight deck or cabin crew. “Further, by removing the battery completely from this version of Bluebox Wow, we avoid the need for complicated battery/flight status logic and control and the possible risks involved with that – making it much easier to ensure our system is DO-178 compliant,” added Macrae. Bluebox Wow is a lunchbox-sized unit that is typically stowed securely in overhead bins, with battery- and aircraft-powered versions available as a linefit option linked to Airbus’s Open Software Platform or as a retrofit using traditional avionics-grade hardware. As well as wireless streaming of IFE content to passenger devices (with either complimentary or paid access), the system can be used to offer onboard retail services, including the ability to order and pay via passenger devices, and pre-paid (booking path) purchases. https://www.aircraftinteriorsinternational.com/news/inflight-entertainment/easa-issues-stc-for-bluebox-aircraft-powered-w-ife.html Pilots leaving active duty have safe landing place in Reserve, Guard During the COVID-19 pandemic, many airline pilots were furloughed as the industry came to a screeching halt. Now that airlines are seeking to hire hundreds of pilots, those pilots coming off active duty can continue serving in an Air Reserve Component. As COVID-19 travel restrictions ease around the world, commercial airlines are looking to hire more pilots. Air Force officials want to remind active-duty pilots leaving the Air Force for the civilian aviation industry that such a move doesn’t have to end their service to their country. Air Force Recruiting Service’s top recruiter said keeping trained pilots in uniform is one of the Air Force’s top priorities. AFRS is a Total Force recruiting enterprise charged with finding Airmen and civilians to serve full or part time, in or out of uniform. “COVID tipped the balance for many Airmen deciding whether to stay in the Air Force,” said Maj. Gen. Edward Thomas, AFRS commander. “Now that the country is opening up, Airmen who wanted to hit the pause button on active duty will consider moving out with their separation plans. For those who do, we want to keep them on the team and benefit from their training and talent in the Guard or Reserve. With our nation’s pilot shortage, keeping our world-class aviators flying for our Total Force is critical.” The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard allow former active-duty pilots to continue their military service while giving them supplemental income and benefits, should the airline industry experience slow-downs or setbacks in the future. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many airline pilots were furloughed as the industry came to a screeching halt. Commercial pilots serving in an Air Reserve Component were able to stay employed, work toward retirement and continue receiving benefits. “The nature of the airline industry is cyclical,” said Brig Gen. Derin Durham, Air Force Reserve Command’s director of Air, Space and Information Operations. “I have seen it swing many times, with wars, terrorist attacks, economic downturns and now, pandemics. Many factors can affect the industry. The one constant for many of these airline pilots is the Guard or Reserve. We are able to keep them whole, pay bills and weather the storm until things turn around.” The Reserve components are eager to bring in these fully-qualified Airmen. “Retaining trained Airmen is the primary reason for the ARC’s existence,” Durham said. “The nation has invested millions of dollars in training these great Americans to protect and defend our way of life. As a Reserve component member, that training continues to be honed and exercised, ready in order to guarantee that war fighting capability and strategic depth when called upon.” The general said about 75% of Airmen who switch to the Reserve after their active-duty tour continue serving until they earn a Reserve retirement. Many stay until they reach their mandatory retirement age of 60. “We strive to make Reserve service something our members love to do,” he said. “They do it for the mission, the people and the satisfaction of knowing they are still making a contribution to their country.” For the Reserve and Guard, gaining pilots from active duty not only brings in a wealth of knowledge and experience, it also saves total Air Force dollars on training costs and pilot training seats. “Due to pilot training capacity limitations, we are unable to train the number of pilots we need to meet readiness requirements,” said Col. Eugene Smith, 367th Recruiting Group commander. “Capturing rated pilots from active duty is critical to fill Air Force Reserve flying unit vacancies. An additional benefit is that the majority of Reserve pilots are also pilots in the civilian world. The networking opportunities are vast for future growth as they transition into civilian life.” Retaining pilots is also critical to military readiness and preparedness. “The Air National Guard is focused on ensuring pilots remain in the Total Force,” said Col. Nashid Salahuddin, ANG Recruiting and Retention Division chief. “If pilots decide to leave active duty to pursue airline positions, the ANG or Air Force Reserve are the perfect way for them to continue serving part time. It’s critically important to the ANG and the Air Force that we retain pilots in the Total Force. From a readiness perspective, if we maintain this talent, regardless of which component they’re in, they’re accessible for our wartime mission.” The colonel said that over the past 12 months, ANG pilot manning has gone from 80% to 82%. “Although we’ve made progress, we need to aggressively bring in new talent and retain existing talent,” he said. “If there’s an increase in the number of active-duty pilots separating to accept full-time positions with the airlines, it presents an opportunity for them to join the Air National Guard as part-time members.” The Guard has designated recruiters to work with rated officers coming off active duty. “ANG In-Service Recruiting has created a team of four ISRs who specifically field inquiries for rated officers,” Salahuddin said. “They will send special messaging to rated members separating six to 12 months out, and then pass them to this specific team of ISRs to highlight the benefits of maintaining affiliation and walk them through the process from beginning to accession into the ANG.” For the Reserve, pilot manning is currently around 95%, said Douglas Miller, AFRC Operations Resource Division chief. “We work with the Air Force Personnel Center and get a monthly list of aircrew, officer and enlisted who are separating active duty,” Miller said. “I have a pilot (individual mobilization augmentee) who personally makes contact with each individual to discuss Reserve opportunities.” He said recent policy changes have made it more difficult to attract pilots leaving active duty. “The increase in the Undergraduate Pilot Training service commitment from six-to-eight years to eight-to-10 years has reduced the time active-duty separations spend in AFRC, and created a two-year period when very few pilots were able to separate and affiliate,” Miller said. “In addition, the 2011 Budget Control Act significantly reduced active-duty pilot production from 2013 through 2017.” Miller said starting in 2023, pilots will have a 10-year active-duty service commitment, which will result in reduced affiliations with AFRC. “This is requiring us to increase UPT graduates and give them experience, which comes with a significant cost to AFRC,” Miller said. The pandemic has created some unique challenges for the Air Force in the area of recruiting and retention. A large number of Airmen who planned to retire or leave the military decided to stay in during these uncertain times. “While we have not been able to recruit many from the active component, those members we have are choosing to stay for the benefits the Reserve component can offer,” Durham said. “We depend on Airmen separating from the active component to fill our ranks. Every retention action the active duty implements to keep pilots longer, requires the Guard and Reserve to hire new, untrained people and that comes with a very expensive training bill. We are not designed to support that training construct.” Smith pointed out several advantages for those considering continuing their service in the Reserve. “Joining the Reserve is a great way to network, continue with the camaraderie you love, get numerous great benefits and continue serving your country,” he said. “Why do people serve in the Reserve? To continue to fulfill their oath to support and defend the Constitution, a sense of purpose, and to share commitment, mutual loyalty and group trust.” Salahuddin believes giving Airmen flexibility will strengthen the Total Force moving forward. “The pilot shortage is not just an active duty or ANG issue, it’s a Total Force issue,” he said. “Going forward, we need to continue to focus on presenting pilots, and Airmen in all career fields, with multiple ways to serve, whether full time on active duty or part time in the Guard or Reserve.” https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2702712/pilots-leaving-active-duty-have-safe-landing-place-in-reserve-guard/ Southwest Airlines losses narrow as leisure travel bounces back (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co on Thursday reported a smaller quarterly loss and said it would remain profitable for the rest of the year, as leisure bookings rebound thanks to aggressive vaccination drives. The U.S. budget carrier has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the easing of coronavirus curbs as it mainly caters to the domestic market, unlike larger rivals who fly transatlantic routes and are struggling due to international border restrictions. That has propelled Southwest's market value to more than $31 billion as of Wednesday's close, above Delta Air Lines, whose value has fallen by about a third to $26.6 billion from two years ago. Delta last week posted a smaller quarterly adjusted loss and also said it expects to remain profitable for the rest of 2021. Southwest said it stopped burning cash in June, with an average core cash flow of about $4 million per day for the month. Its average core cash burn was about $1 million per day in the second quarter, down from about $13 million per day in the first quarter. June leisure passenger traffic rose above June 2019 levels while passenger fares were on par with the same period two years ago, Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said, adding that the company expected to see further improvement in July. Southwest said it now expects July operating revenue to drop between 10% and 15% compared with the same period in 2019, an improvement from its prior forecast of a fall between 15% and 20%. The company expects August operating revenue to decline between 12% and 17% from two years earlier. Excluding items, Dallas-based Southwest's net loss narrowed to $206 million, or 35 cents per share, in the second quarter, from $1.50 billion, or $2.67 per share, a year earlier. Total operating revenue rose nearly 300% to $4 billion from a year earlier, but fell about 32% from 2019. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/southwest-airlines-losses-narrow-leisure-103318370.html Who’s an astronaut? FAA weighs in on a murky issue for suborbital space travelers Hundreds of deep-pocketed tourists are likely to take suborbital space trips as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture, as well as the Virgin Galactic venture founded by fellow billionaire Richard Branson, ramp up their commercial operations. But will they all get astronaut wings? The answer appears to be no, if you go by the Federal Aviation Administration’s newly issued guidelines for its commercial space astronaut wings program. Those guidelines suggest that astronaut wings can go only to crew members on a licensed spacecraft who contribute to flight safety and rise above the 50-mile altitude mark. Which leaves a big question: Where exactly will the line be drawn? For example, will Bezos and Branson get the FAA’s wings, even though neither of them touched the controls of their rocket-powered vehicles? What about all the other folks who fly on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, or Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket ship? Giving wings to the pilots of suborbital spacecraft appears to be a no-brainer: That made the wings-or-no-wings decision easy for the flights of SpaceShipOne in 2004, as well as the first flight of SpaceShipTwo in 2018. The category was broadened beyond pilots in 2019, when the FAA awarded wings to Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic’s chief trainer. Moses rode in a passenger seat on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity to evaluate the customer experience. Branson and other Virgin Galactic representatives (including Moses) filled similar roles on this month’s test flight in New Mexico. The situation is somewhat different for Bezos and the others who flew on New Shepard this week: Because the spacecraft flies autonomously, there are no pilots. And only Bezos seems to stand a chance of fitting the FAA’s definition of crew, which is limited to employees or contractors who are associated with a company involved in the spacecraft’s launch or re-entry. The FAA provides an out, however: Wings could be awarded on an honorary basis to “individuals whose contribution to commercial human space flight merits special recognition,” even if they don’t meet all the regular qualifications. The FAA’s associate administrator for commercial space transportation has the final say. That means it’s ultimately up to Associate Administrator Wayne Monteith to decide which billionaires, and which of their fellow fliers, merit being awarded the FAA’s astronaut wings and the prestige that goes with them. The FAA’s wing-shaped pins aren’t the only badges of recognition for space travelers: Last year, the Association of Space Explorers created its own pin for customers as well as crew members who fly above the 50-mile mark. In addition, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have created their own astronaut pins, which will be awarded to everyone who flies on their suborbital spacecraft. Virgin Galactic’s pin is inspired by the shape of flying sycamore seeds, while Blue Origin’s is a stylized A with a feather emblem and a tiny blue sapphire to represent Earth. Branson and Bezos were among the first to receive their own companies’ pins from the hands of retired astronauts, during ceremonies that immediately followed their flights. That’s one way to ensure that commercial spacefliers will have something to put on their lapels or in their keepsake boxes, no matter what the FAA says. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/astronaut-faa-weighs-murky-issue-033809702.html Online Professional Training Course “Human Factors for RPAS Professionals” Why ? The course was developed by Massey University’s School of Aviation upon observation that Human Factors principles applying to the pilots of manned aircraft are also relevant to the operators in the unmanned aircraft industry. Who should do this course? It is particularly relevant to those professionals engaging in RPAS operations involving multi-crew, night, and large, high-risk complex undertakings such as those requiring ground control stations. Those applying for, or renewing, an RPAS Operational Competency Assessment (OCA) will find it very useful. Pilots will gain knowledge which can be applied to real-world operations to better manage human performance. Managers will be able to apply human factors principles to the design of systems and processes used within the organisation to prevent latent failures and thus minimise the likelihood of an accident outcome. Regulators will identify which human factors need to be appropriately managed by organisations undertaking complex unmanned aircraft organisations, allowing for effective regulatory oversight. What? The course covers a wide variety of Human Factors pertaining to the operation of unmanned platforms in many different scenarios giving it international appeal and relevance. This course consists of 10 topics including the final assessment. The course makes use of self-learning exercises where students will have the flexibility to apply the concepts to their individual work settings and receive comments and feedback based upon these. The course is offered online enabling clients to fit it in around their existing schedules. By the end of the course, students should be able to: • Explain the importance of human factors in aviation • Apply the principles of visual perception • Apply strategies for managing mental wellbeing • Manage fatigue and circadian rhythms • Design systems and processes based upon human cognition and decision-making • Apply models of accident causation to help prevent future accidents • Manage communication and assertiveness in multi-crew and organisational environments • Assessment; Self- learning portfolio and an online test; Requires 50 % grade - or above - to pass Course Cost: NZ$700 plus GST To register please click here Position Available: Learjet 60 and 60XR Pilots Need qualified Learjet 60 and 60XR aircraft pilots, Captains & Co-Pilots for operations in Europe and the Middle East. Send Resume/CV to: Hr@asm.aero Nasrin.qurashi@asm.aero Aviation Services Management (ASM) www.asm.aero Curt Lewis