Flight Safety Information - August 7, 2021 No. 157 In This Issue : Air Force unmanned aircraft crashes near Gilby (ND); no injuries : China’s New Hypersonic Aircraft Will Be Larger Than A Boeing 737 : Schumer appeals to Air Force to keep helicopter safety feature : Another Alaska Tourism Crash Leads to Serious Questions About Air Safety in Alaska : Class 159 graduates from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School : Southwest Airlines pilot urges passengers to wear masks in viral video: ‘It’s not a political statement’ : Qatar Airways says regulator grounds 13 of its Airbus A350s over surface issue : FAA issues directive on Boeing 737 NG, MAX planes over potential fire suppression issue : United Airlines makes COVID-19 shots compulsory for U.S. employees : FAA urges airports to help stop alcohol to go amid unruly passenger spike : Mach 5 hypersonic aircraft company wins USAF flight test contract : NASA, Russia stress that space partnership remains strong after Nauka incident at space station : Position: Apply Now! - Manager – Quality Control Air Force unmanned aircraft crashes near Gilby (ND); no injuries An RQ-4 Global Hawk soars through the sky to record intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data. Air Force and Navy officials met to discuss joint training with the RQ-4. (Courtesy photo) An unmanned and remotely piloted U.S. Air Force aircraft crashed in a rural field near Gilby as it was returning to the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Authorities say the Air Force RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk crashed at about 7 a.m. Friday. There were no people on board and no reported injuries. A fire that happened after the crash was put out, and an investigation is underway. The public is being asked to avoid the area, as it is now the site of an active military investigation. https://www.kxnet.com/news/state-news/air-force-unmanned-aircraft-crashes-near-gilby-no-injuries/ China’s New Hypersonic Aircraft Will Be Larger Than A Boeing 737 In a recent study published in Physics of Gases, scientists in China’s Mars and moon missions have revealed a new design concept for a hypersonic aircraft that’s larger than a Boeing 737. The plane’s performance was evaluated at high altitudes using a new aerodynamic model. It showed that the aircraft appears a third longer than a 737-700 at 45 meters (148 feet). In addition, the plane has two delta wings that look like the Concorde’s but with tips directing upward and a pair of air-breathing engines on top of its main body. China's New Hypersonic Aircraft Will Larger Than A Boeing 737 Many challenges might be faced during the flight, mainly when the plane goes into a hypersonic mode, which significantly exceeds the sound speed. To overcome this, the researchers came up with a solution while examining the areas on the plane that needed extra attention. All of these vulnerable areas need a strong guard so that they can endure high temperatures and solid pressures when the plane hits Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound – 4,447mph or 7,344km/h). Liu Rui from the Beijing Institute of Technology is the chief scientist of the Mars and Lunar missions. According to Science &Technology Daily, his models played a crucial role in improving the Chinese spacecraft’s aerodynamic design and flight path planning. Rui’s efforts are seen in the two successful missions accomplished by China in the first attempt. Hypersonic aircraft seems to be China’s most eminent high-tech goal, and it has contributed a lot to the sector. According to an official timeline revealed in June, China’s goal is to validate the hypersonic flight mechanism by 2025, including an incredible air-breathing engine that can drive an aircraft to rocket speed. By 2035, the nation’s goal is to run a fleet of hypersonic aircraft that can transport ten passengers to anywhere on Earth within one hour. Finally, by 2045, China expects to have these planes flying with over 100 passengers per flight. Hypersonic planes get oxygen from the air, and therefore, can function at 100th of the cost of rockets. As a result, China will be capable of transporting more than 10K tonnes of cargo and over 10K passengers to the moon or space stations in near-Earth orbit per year. For now, the plane is used for military purposes only. The existing version of the aircraft wouldn’t be ideal for traveling, as its enormous engine and air inlets take up all of the space. Besides, strong turbulence triggering vibration and extreme heat makes it the farthest thing from a smooth and comfortable flight. Regardless, hypersonic planes are the future. In May, engineers at the University of Central Florida developed a new hypersonic engine to see Mach 17 aircraft become a reality. https://www.intelligentliving.co/chinas-new-hypersonic-aircraft-larger-than-boeing-737/ Schumer appeals to Air Force to keep helicopter safety feature Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is demanding answers from the Air Force after the department nixed funding for a program that helps helicopter pilots avoid midair obstacles that was put in place after a 2018 crash in Iraq killed seven service members, including three based on Long Island. The Air Force's 2022 budget request to Congress eliminated funding for the Degraded Visual Environment program, which equips rescue helicopters with sensors that help pilots navigate through dust, snow, clouds of smoke and hard-to-see electrical wires. The program was put in place after an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard crashed in March 2018 near the Iraq-Syria border after it struck a steel cable. All seven service members onboard were killed, included two members of the FDNY — Christopher Raguso of Commack and Christopher "Tripp" Zanetis of Long Island City — and Dashan Briggs of Port Jefferson Station, a former All Division football star at Riverhead High School. All three were stationed at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton. Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall last week asking him to put the brakes on the program's cancellation until Congress investigates the decision and determines how the department plans to redeploy the funding. "I am urging the Air Force to consider the lessons learned and the need that still exists before making any rash decisions on limiting [Degraded Visual Environment] solutions installation," Schumer told Newsday in a statement Friday. "Even the Air Force has previously said that this equipment would ‘greatly minimize hazards of DVE operations, prevent mishaps, and fatalities.’ We need to do all we can to give the brave men and women who serve the latest and safest technology." Air Force officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Schumer's letter. At a June 30 hearing of the House Armed Services subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, department officials said the decision to abandon DVE was made because of an accelerated internal time frame for replacing the HH-60G copter with a newer model. Maj. Gen. Richard Moore, director of programs for the deputy chief of staff of the Air Force for plans and programs, said installing the DVE on an aircraft that will soon be retired from service "just did not appear to be a good use of taxpayer dollars. It doesn’t mean we don’t believe in the system, and it doesn’t mean that it’s not very productive for the pilots and very helpful for them. It just didn’t make sense in the particular case for this particular aircraft." But Moore said eliminating the system will not put pilots at risk. "I don't know that it's a requirement for a safe aircraft," he said. "It's an enhancement to the aircraft. It does improve safety. But we don't believe it's a safety of flight issue to not have it on the aircraft." But in his letter, Schumer questioned whether the Air Force was creating an "unnecessary and unacceptable" risk by canceling the program. "Servicemembers across the country who have dedicated their lives to take on the most dangerous and skilled rescue missions with these aircraft deserve the best equipment and resources to do their job," said Schumer, who wants assurances that the Air Force will purchase a similar system for its new combat rescue helicopter. https://www.newsday.com/long-island/schumer-air-force-helicopter-safety-1.50327712 Another Alaska Tourism Crash Leads to Serious Questions About Air Safety in Alaska Yet another fatal plane crash involving a sightseeing plane has occurred in Alaska. On August 5, 2021, six people, including 5 tourists on a sightseeing adventure, were killed after a float plane crashed Thursday near Ketchikan, Alaska. According to reports from the Alaska Department of Public Safety, at approximately 1121 hours, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated for a Southeast Aviation De Haviland Beaver (N1249K). Authorities from the United States Coast Guard, Alaska State troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, US Forest Service, and Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad. Authorities noted poor visibility and deteriorating weather in the area shortly after the crash. Authorities reported the distress signal came from about 1,400-feet elevation, and was northeast of Ketchikan, in the area of the Misty Fjords National Monument. Weather conditions at the time were reported to have a cloud ceiling of 900 feet with mist and light rain, meaning the crash likely occurred while the aircraft was operating in a cloud bank. An area of interest that officials may focus on is the operation of the aircraft in what may not have been ideal weather conditions and weather that hampered visibility for the pilot of the aircraft. Misty Fjords, a well-known tourist destination, is equipped by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with weather cameras intended to make pilots aware of the potentially dangerous and quickly changing weather conditions in southeast Alaska so that flying in dangerous weather can be avoided. These cameras provide both views of current weather conditions and “clearday visual references” so pilots have a comparison to judge how poor weather conditions are. The aircraft involved was a De Havilland DHC-2 MK.1 Beaver float plane, an 8-seat aircraft commonly used in tourism operations in Alaska. According to FAA records, the aircraft was manufactured in 1965 and was owned by Snow Mountain Enterprises, LLC. The aircraft was operated by Southeast Aviation, LLC, which is registered as a Part 135 Operator providing Commuter and On-Demand Operations. According to Cirium fleets data, Southeast Aviation has two DHC-2s, of which only one, the accident aircraft, was in service. FAA records also indicate that the airworthiness certificate on the aircraft expired on June 30, 2021, more than a month prior to the crash. The five passengers on the flight were from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, which had stopped in Ketchikan on Thursday. The ship was close to concluding a seven-day Alaskan cruise that began in Seattle on Saturday, the company said. The area where the crash occurred is near the location of 2019 Ketchikan Alaska midair collision, which took place over George Inlet in Alaska. That collision which involved two tourist planes, one of which was a Beaver, took place despite good weather, and visual meteorological conditions. That Ketchikan midair collision resulted in 5 fatalities and a number of serious injuries. With many recent high profile crashes involving tourists, Alaskan aviation has remained under scrutiny recently. On February 13, 2020, the NTSB issued a Safety Recommendation Report to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) calling for the formation of a group focused on safety to better review, rank and integrate Alaska’s unique aviation needs into the FAA safety enhancement process. “We need to marshal the resources of the FAA to tackle aviation safety in Alaska in a comprehensive way,” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said. “The status quo is, frankly, unacceptable.” https://statewideillinois.legalexaminer.com/transportation/another-alaska-tourism-crash-leads-to-serious-questions-about-air-safety-in-alaska/ Class 159 graduates from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School The United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) held a graduation ceremony for Class 159 on July 30. After an intense 11-month course of instruction for designation as Engineering Developmental Test Pilots, Test Flight Officers, and Test Engineers, 31 students received their diplomas. Retired Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden delivered the keynote address. Bolden is a graduate of USNTPS and former astronaut and NASA administrator. “Follow your passion, and know why doing what you do is important,” said Bolden. “I know why it’s important; we protect and defend the constitution.” Bolden, Col. Richard Marigliano, commander of Naval Test Wing Atlantic, and Cmdr. Jeremy DeBons, commanding officer of USNTPS, presented diplomas and offered congratulations to the new “Testers.” Graduates included members of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force; students from Italy, Spain, and Sweden; and civil service engineers from the Department of the Navy. Navy Lt. Kyle Todd received the Outstanding Developmental Phase II Award, which recognizes the student who produced the best final report. The award is symbolic of the longstanding and mutually supportive relationship between the Empire Test Pilots’ School in the United Kingdom and USNTPS. Navy Lt. Gordon Finlay received the Cmdr. Willie McCool Outstanding Student Award. This award recognizes the top performing student in the categories of academics, flight performance, and technical report writing. The namesake award commemorates the U.S. Navy Commander William C. McCool, a USNTPS alumnus tragically lost in the Columbia space shuttle accident. Marine Corps Maj. Alex Horne received the Capt. Syd Sherby Leadership Award. This award, which is named after the founder of the test pilot training division, now USNTPS, recognizes the student who displays exemplary leadership. Distinguished graduates from the class include: Maj. Alex Horn (fixed wing), Lt. McMillan Hastings (rotary wing), and Maj. Matthew Hamtak (airborne and unmanned systems). Twenty students completed the requirements for the engineering test pilot course. The new test pilots are: Capt. James N. Bashford, U.S. Army Capt. Matthew C. Blessing, U.S. Air Force Capt. Klas F. Boudrie, Swedish Air Force Lt. Dominic J. Busto, U.S. Navy Lt. Nicholas J. Corey, U.S. Navy Maj. Tyler W. Davenport, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Adam J. Fulling, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Class Caleb N. Grandy, U.S. Army Lt. McMillan J. Hastings, U.S. Navy Maj. Alex C. Horne, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Cmdr. Fabio Laporta, Italian Navy Lt. Alexandra R. Mensing, U.S. Navy Capt. Minator Michele, Italian Air Force Lt. Ryan R. Moeller, U.S. Navy Capt. Alejandro Molero Salvatierra, Spanish Air Force Lt. Nicholas A. Padleckas, U.S. Navy Capt. Bryan J. Pulicari, U.S. Army Lt. Mitchell G. Smith, U.S. Navy Capt. Bennet L. Thomas, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Spencer D. Smith, U.S. Navy Eight students completed the engineering test flight officer course. They are: Lt. Gordon C. Finlay, U.S. Navy Lt. Robert W. Gates, U.S. Navy Maj. Matthew D. Hamtak, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Adam D. Meyrick, U.S. Navy Lt. Nicholas L. Myers, U.S. Navy Lt. Karl A. Petracek, U.S. Navy Lt. George K. Philbrick, U.S. Navy Lt. Kyle S. Todd, U.S. Navy Three students completed the test project engineer course. They are: 1st Lt. Massimo Giangregorio, Italian Air Force Mr. Erik W. Gutenkunst, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Mr. Steven J. Puffenbarger, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division USNTPS trains pilots and engineers for development, test, and evaluation of aircraft. USNTPS is a component of Naval Test Wing Atlantic test wing under Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, Maryland. NAWCAD advances capability and operational readiness for naval aviation. https://www.dcmilitary.com/tester/tenant_profile/class-159-graduates-from-u-s-naval-test-pilot-school/article_26e2967f-0fd0-5878-9ef9-610d845723c9.html Southwest Airlines pilot urges passengers to wear masks in viral video: ‘It’s not a political statement’ A Southwest Airlines pilot is going viral for his frank, funny remarks concerning the federal mask mandate during a recent pre-flight announcement. (NEXSTAR) – A Southwest Airlines pilot is going viral for his frank, funny remarks concerning the federal mask mandate during a recent pre-flight announcement. As seen in a video clip making the rounds on social media, the pilot ticks through a shortlist of rules, urging his passengers to refrain from drinking alcohol and abide by the federal mask mandate for the well-being of his crew. “When you listen to what I have to say, I look really cool in front of them,” he announces from the front of the plane. “After all, look at me. I’m a man in polyester pants and a short-sleeve dress shirt. ‘Cool’ is not exactly my middle name right now.” He then reiterates Southwest’s alcohol policy — “We don’t serve it, you don’t drink it” — before imploring passengers to leave their masks on when not eating or drinking. “The masks: There is not an eye-roll you can give me that I haven’t seen 750,000 times in the last year,” he announces to the cabin. “I know you don’t like ‘em. I don’t like ‘em either. We have to wear ‘em. It’s a rule. It’s not a political statement, it’s not me taking your rights away, it’s not me asserting my will on you, et cetera, et cetera. “All the rhetoric that I hear, I don’t want to hear it anymore. I get it. It’s just a rule, and if we don’t have rules, we have anarchy.” Taking the masks off to eat, he said, was obviously permitted during active snacking. “If you were smart, you would have went to Costco and bought a 7-pound bag of potato chips that would have lasted you 1 hour and 43 minutes,” he joked. “But you didn’t do that. You went to Hudson News and bought the Cheetos, and that’s going to last you two [minutes]. And most of you have eaten those.” The passenger who posted the speech to TikTok indicated that the video was taken in late July on a flight from Baltimore to Chicago. Man taped to seat on Frontier flight after allegedly groping, assaulting flight attendants A representative for Southwest Airlines declined to comment specifically on the video but confirmed that its employees are encouraged to “showcase their personality” on the job. “Overall, our Crews are responsible for supporting compliance of the mask mandate by notifying Customers of the federal requirement during onboard announcements,” a spokesperson for the airline said in an emailed statement. “Our Crews work daily to uphold those expectations during these unusual times and as always, we encourage our People to showcase their personality while working to take care of our Customers.” The viral clip, shared online only days ago, has already been viewed millions of times on TikTok and Twitter collectively. Many viewers applauded the pilot’s speech, but more than a few expressed disappointment that he had to give it in the first place. “Hard to believe they have to do this for adults,” one user wrote. “UNBELIEVABLE that this pilot, (an officer & a gentleman) has to give this lecture to the passengers so that they’ll behave on a flight that lasts ONE HOUR and 45 minutes,” another tweeted. American Airlines says ‘disruptive’ students defied mask mandate, caused overnight flight delay The Southwest pilot isn’t alone in his frustration. In June, a flight attendant for American Airlines scolded disruptive passengers for making the flight “a living hell” by refusing to abide by mask mandates. And only last week, the Association of Flight Attendants (AWA-CFA) called on the Department of Justice to take action amid a rise in incidents caused by unruly and sometimes “physically abusive” passengers, citing a survey that found 17% had experienced a physical altercation in 2021 alone. “This is not just about masks as some have attempted to claim. There is a lot more going on here and the solutions require a series of actions in coordination across aviation,” said AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson in a July 29 media release. “It is time to make the FAA ‘zero tolerance’ policy permanent, the Department of Justice to utilize existing statute to conduct criminal prosecution, and implement a series of actions proposed by our union to keep problems on the ground and respond effectively in the event of incidents.” https://www.wane.com/community/health/coronavirus/southwest-airlines-pilot-urges-passengers-to-wear-masks-in-viral-video-its-not-a-political-statement/ Qatar Airways says regulator grounds 13 of its Airbus A350s over surface issue DUBAI (Reuters) - Qatar Airways has been instructed by its regulator to ground 13 Airbus A350 planes due a faster than expected deterioration of the fuselage surface below the paint on the jets. The state-owned Gulf airline said on Thursday it had been told to ground the planes until "the root cause can be established and a satisfactory solution made available to permanently correct the underlying condition." Qatar Airways has been locked in a months-long public dispute with Airbus, insisting it would not take any deliveries of the carbon-composite widebody jet until the problem was resolved. "With this latest development, we sincerely expect that Airbus treats this matter with the proper attention that it requires," Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said in a statement announcing the regulator's grounding of the jets. "Qatar Airways expects Airbus to have established the root cause and permanently corrected the underlying condition to the satisfaction of Qatar Airways and our regulator before we take delivery of any further A350 aircraft.” An Airbus spokesperson told Reuters the planemaker was always in talks with its customers but those discussions were confidential, declining to comment further. Qatar Airways said in June it had grounded some of its A350 jets until the issue could be understood and fixed, without disclosing how many aircraft had been pulled from service. It said on Thursday it had brought A330 aircraft back into to service to make up for the lost capacity and was also "looking at other solutions." Qatar Airways is the largest customer for the A350 and has taken delivery of 53 out of 76 on order. The airline has periodically criticised Airbus or its U.S. rival Boeing for delays or quality lapses. It says its exacting standards reflect its premium brand, although aerospace executives have accused it of seizing on such details in the past to delay taking deliveries or gain leverage in other negotiations, a suggestion it has denied. Many airlines have adjusted deliveries due to the pandemic-related travel downturn. Qatar Airways said in June 2020 it would not take Boeing or Airbus jets in 2020 or 2021 and later that year said it had reached a deal on schedules with Airbus. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/qatar-airways-says-regulator-grounds-134014855.html FAA issues directive on Boeing 737 NG, MAX planes over potential fire suppression issue WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday issued a new safety directive for Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) and MAX airplanes to address a potential issue with reduced fire suppression capabilities. The FAA said planes may have a failed electronic flow control of the air conditioning packs that vent air into the cargo hold from other areas of the plane. The directive prohibits operators from transporting cargo in the cargo hold if airplanes are operating with this condition unless they can verify items are nonflammable and noncombustible. The FAA said the directive covers all Boeing 737 8, 737 9, and 737 8200 MAX airplanes and some 737-800 and 737-900ER series airplanes. Boeing did not immediately comment. The airworthiness directive impacts 663 airplanes registered in the United States and approximately 2,204 worldwide. Operators must comply with this directive beginning 10 days after date of publication. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/faa-issues-directive-boeing-737-200614138.html United Airlines makes COVID-19 shots compulsory for U.S. employees (Reuters) -United Airlines Inc on Friday became the first U.S. airline to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all domestic employees, joining a swelling list of companies mandating jabs for workers as coronavirus cases rise. Employers from Microsoft to Tyson Foods have mandated vaccines, recent moves that experts said were legal but could raise labor tensions in unionized workplaces. United, the No. 3 U.S. carrier by revenues in 2019 according to government data, said its 67,000 U.S. employees would need to show proof of inoculation for a vaccine fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Such approval is expected this fall.. "The facts are crystal clear: Everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated," United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart said in a letter to employees. Kirby and Hart said they expected some employees would disagree with the decision, although 90% of the carrier's pilots and 80% of flight attendants are already vaccinated. Eric Feldman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, said mandates like the one United announced are on "strong legal footing." Workers who lack medical or religious exemptions and refuse to get the vaccination would need to find a different job. The mandate comes as concerns over the variant reverberate through the U.S. airline industry, which is rebounding from a slowdown in travel last year due to the virus. On Thursday, Frontier Airlines lowered its third-quarter forecast and warned the Delta variant was hurting demand. Health officials have called for reinstating indoor mask mandates for most vaccinated Americans and some companies are delaying return-to-office timetables. Unions from several industries, including ones representing pilots from American Airlines Group and United, want any vaccine mandate to be worked out through collective bargaining. Paul Clark, a professor of labor and employment relations at Penn State, said he believes unions want to avoid any precedent of employers taking decisions alone on working conditions. "If you allow an employer to make a unilateral decision in this area it erodes their bargaining rights," Clark said. "What are they going to make a unilateral decision about next time?" The Association of Flight Attendants, the union representing United flight attendants, backed the move. "There is now too much at risk to not ensure the safety and well-being of United Flight Attendants," the union said in a statement. United, like rival Delta Air Lines, was already requiring the vaccine for new employees and had encouraged current employees to voluntarily take the vaccine through incentives like bonuses or vacation time. Some other major industries like U.S. automakers have reinstated mask requirements but declined to mandate vaccines for employees. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/united-airlines-makes-covid-19-113353752.html FAA urges airports to help stop alcohol to go amid unruly passenger spike The FAA's investigations show that alcohol often contributes to unruliness. FAA asks airport bars, restaurants to stop selling alcoholic drinks to go The administration is targeting alcohol use to combat a spike in unruly passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration is calling on U.S. airports to help put an end to the recent spike in unruly passenger cases. The FAA is urging airport police to arrest more people who are unruly or violent on flights and asking airport bars and restaurants to stop serving alcoholic drinks to go. "Even though FAA regulations specifically prohibit the consumption of alcohol aboard an aircraft that is not served by the airline, we have received reports that some airport concessionaires have offered alcohol 'to go,'" FAA Administrator Steve Dickson wrote to airport leaders nationwide. "And passengers believe they can carry that alcohol onto their flights or they become inebriated." The agency's investigations into the surge in aggressive behavior on-board has shown that alcohol is often a contributing factor. MORE: 85% of flight attendants have dealt with an unruly passenger in 2021: Survey "Airports can help bring awareness to this prohibition on passengers carrying open alcohol onboard their flights through signage, public service announcements, and concessionaire education," Dickson said. Some major U.S. airlines, including American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have prohibited purchasing alcohol on board until the mask mandate expires. It is currently in place until mid-September. Southwest was prompted to make the change in June after an unruly passenger allegedly knocked a flight attendant's two front teeth out. "Certainly with the number of incidents you can tell why flight attendants would feel leery about beginning to sell alcohol onboard the aircraft again," Lyn Montgomery, a spokesperson for the union that represents Southwest flight attendants told ABC News. Alcohol was reported to be a factor in one of the most recent unruly passenger incidents that occurred on a Frontier Airlines flight on Saturday. The 22-year-old had at least two drinks on the flight, according to authorities, before allegedly groping two flight attendants and punching a third flight attendant in the face. The crew resorted to duct taping the man to his seat for the duration of the flight. He was arrested when the plane landed in Miami and is now facing three counts of battery. "While the FAA has levied civil fines against unruly passengers, it has no authority to prosecute criminal cases," Dickson told airport executives. The agency has received more than 3,700 reports of unruly passengers since January with more than 2,700 of them involving fliers who refuse to wear a mask. He said they see many passengers -- some who physically assaulted flight attendants -- interviewed by local police and then released "without criminal charges of any kind." "When this occurs, we miss a key opportunity to hold unruly passengers accountable for their unacceptable and dangerous behavior," he said. The FAA is still enforcing its zero-tolerance policy for in-flight disruptions which could lead to fines as high as $52,500 and up to 20 years in prison. The agency has looked into more than 628 potential violations of federal law so far this year -- the highest number since the agency began keeping records in 1995. e American Airline departure check in desks at Miami International Airport...Read More The largest flight attendant union in the U.S. doubled down on its call last week for the FAA and Department of Justice to "protect passengers and crew from disruptive and verbally and physically abusive travelers." A DOJ spokesperson told ABC News that "interference with flight crew members is a serious crime that deserves the attention of federal law enforcement." "As with any case, we exercise prosecutorial discretion in deciding which cases to charge federally," the spokesperson continued. "Factors include egregiousness of the offense, were lives in danger, victim impact, mental health, did the plane have to make an unscheduled landing, is this a repeat offense, are there mitigating factors, etc. This is a serious crime that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison."ABC News maximum penalty of 20 years in prison." https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/faa-urges-airports-stop-alcohol-amid-unruly-passenger/story?id=79271866 Mach 5 hypersonic aircraft company wins USAF flight test contract Aerospace company Hermeus has won a $60 million US Air Force contract to flight test its first Mach 5 hypersonic aircraft. The aircraft, called Quarterhorse, will validate the company's proprietary turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine, based around the GE J85 turbojet engine, and is the first in a line of autonomous high-speed aircraft. By the end of the flight test campaign, Quarterhorse aims to be the fastest reusable aircraft in the world and the first of its kind to fly a TBCC engine. The award was made under the AFWERX Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) programme led by the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate (PE) as a follow-on to a Phase II SBIR contract. The collaboration also includes support from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). “Small business partnership is recognized by the U.S. Air Force as an important component to driving innovation. Reducing risk in high speed transport technologies, as we are doing with this contract, provides near-term and long-term benefits to both the U.S. Air Force and the defense industrial base,” said Joshua Burger, the Vector Initiative programme manager who is spearheading the effort. “We are very excited to see Hermeus translate their demonstrated successes in engine prototyping into flight systems.” Hermeus is taking a different approach than traditional high-speed flight test programmes. Hermeus will be leveraging autonomous and reusable systems, ruthlessly focused requirements, and a hardware-rich programme. These three strategies allow the team to push the envelope, sometimes strategically to the point of failure in flight test, which accelerates learning while simultaneously improving the safety of flight test crew and the public. Pushing more risk to flight allows the company to move through the engineering lifecycle quickly, reducing programmatic costs. When exploring beyond the speeds that air-breathing aircraft have flown before, learning must come through testing in the real world. The technology Hermeus has chosen positions the company in the dual-use space for hypersonic aircraft – technologies normally used for civilian purposes but which may have military applications. "While this partnership with the US Air Force underscores U.S. Department of Defense interest in hypersonic aircraft, when paired with Hermeus' partnership with NASA announced in February 2021, it is clear that there are both commercial and defense applications for what we're building," said Hermeus CEO and co-founder, AJ Piplica. www.hermeus.com https://www.aero-mag.com/hermeus-mach-5-hypersonic-05082021 Atlas Air Buys Eight 747 Freighters Off Lease To Maintain Capacity Atlas Air Worldwide (NASDAQ: AAWW) said Thursday it is purchasing eight Boeing 747-400 freighters as their leases expire between this summer and the end of 2022 to ensure capacity as strong air cargo volumes collide with supply shortages. The cargo airline holding company's second-quarter revenue increased 20% to $990.4 million and it projected sales will reach $1 billion in the current period as shippers flock to air transport to support heavy ordering from customers and avoid ocean shipping congestion that has doubled or tripled transit times. Atlas officials said exorbitant ocean prices have been a catalyst for increased volumes, with aircraft utilization increasing to 93,190 block hours compared with 84,966 hours in the second quarter of 2020. With airfreight volumes above pre-pandemic levels and the exit of many international widebody flights due to COVID, Atlas is flying more hours and charging more for space on its aircraft, resulting in higher yields. Air cargo volumes increased 8.8% for the first half of the year, the strongest performance in four years, according to the International Air Transport Association. Revenue and earnings exceeded internal forecasts and consensus expectations on Wall Street. Adjusted pretax earnings of $243.7 million dipped a hair from $247 million a year ago because of increased operating costs due to higher pilot pay and COVID-related measures to maintain crew safety, but relative stability of profits shows the market for air cargo services remains very strong. "Economic and supply chain conditions remain favorable for air cargo and our dedicated freighters," President and CEO John Dietrich said. Comparisons are skewed by a huge boom in 2020 charter activity when governments and their partners needed emergency deliveries of personal protective equipment and medical supplies to combat COVID. Adjusted profit jumped $157.3 million compared to the second quarter of 2019, which was a more normal year for the global economy. Yields have fallen industrywide since the pandemic rush last year but are much higher than normal. Atlas Air said it expects third-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of about $250 million, with adjusted net income up 50% versus 2020 ($82.7 million). "This outlook reflects the contribution of long-term customer agreements with favorable rates and guaranteed levels of flying; high levels of aircraft utilization driven by strong customer demand; and commercial cargo charter yields to remain above typical seasonal levels," Dietrich said. Management said it is experiencing higher operating costs due to higher pilot pay and COVID-related measures to maintain crew safety. The largest operator of 747 cargo aircraft in the world said it has purchased three 747-400 aircraft that were previously leased and reached an agreement with lessors to take ownership of five more aircraft at the end of their existing lease terms next year. Officials said the move reflects the company's confidence in the ongoing strength of the air cargo market, which is being turbocharged by the rapid growth of e-commerce transactions and demand from express parcel carriers for extra airlift. Second-quarter performance was boosted by the reintroduction last year of four 747 freighters that were in long-term storage, and a 777 that Atlas kept for its own use rather than leasing to other airlines. "This capacity, along with a tremendous team effort, contributed to our ability to enter into and extend long-term agreements with strategic customers, as well as to capitalize on lucrative short-term opportunities in the strong global airfreight market," Dietrich said. Flexport, for example, last year signed a long-term agreement with Atlas to fly two 747 freighters six or seven times per week from Asia to the U.S., officials at the San Francisco-based freight forwarder have said. The parent company said contentious negotiations with its Atlas Air and Southern Air pilots have moved closer to completion, with an arbitrator's binding decision expected late in the third quarter. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/atlas-air-buys-eight-747-201149112.html Apply Now! - Manager – Quality Control mba is seeking an experienced mid-career individual to manage its Quality Control function with respect to IOSA* (IATA Operational Safety Audit). The candidate must meet the following requirements, be a self-starter and a leader within the organization. • Must have aviation/airline quality control, operational and/or safety experience and be familiar with the IOSA Program. • Be familiar with Quality Control processes and methodology. • Manage and lead a team of experienced individuals in the performance of aviation safety focused audits. Duties and Responsibilities: Become familiar with IOSA Standards and Recommended Best Practices by discipline Interface with IOSA Auditors, as necessary, through the Quality Control process Together with Director of Audit Programs, responsible for IOSA Audit Report (IAR) production and Program Quality requirements, including: . • Structuring the QC process for IOSA reports; • Ensuring that a complete QC review of all IOSA Audit Reports is carried out in accordance with the IOM Quality Control procedures; and • Ensuring that published deadlines for report delivery and QC processes Maintain QC procedures and documentation support structures for auditors Monitor and administer the QC and continual improvement processes Review outputs from all phases of audit and administrative processes, measuring results, and suggesting improved processes, when appropriate Monitoring of AO and Auditor quality performance and provide feedback to Auditors by means of: • Performing analysis of the gaps in the internal QC process and Auditor QC performance; • Performing analysis of IATA AO monthly performance report biannual AO QC performance summary (Statistical analysis and performance results); • Identifying weaknesses in internal processes, repetitive errors, and auditor behavior or techniques; and • Identifying and recommend any training needs, provision of internal QC training, or any other action necessary to ensure IAR quality to VP of Technical and Quality APPLY NOW! *IOSA is a registered trademark of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Curt Lewis