Flight Safety Information - August 10, 2021 No. 160 In This Issue : Incident: United B763 at Zurich on Aug 9th 2021, rejected takeoff after something hit them : Incident: Delta A333 over Pacific on Aug 8th 2021, engine failure : Incident: Alaska A21N at Seattle on Aug 7th 2021, loss of nose wheel steering : Cessna 210H Centurion - Fatal Accident - Arkansas : North American T-28B Trojan - Gear Up Landing (France) : A flight attendant told him how to wear his mask. Then he struck her, Florida cops say : CDC says travelers should avoid France, Israel and other destinations : Parts apparently fell off plane that crashed in Minnesota : Azul E195-E2 Damaged By Tail Strike Landing In Brazil : Pilot Unions Respond to Airlines’ Planned Vaccine Requirements : Hawaiian Airlines is the latest carrier to mandate Covid vaccinations for staff : Liberty University joins Piedmont Airlines’ tuition payment program for aircraft maintenance technicians : Copa Airlines Selects Honeywell's Fuel Tank Safety Technology For Boeing 737 Fleet : Asian airlines offer perks to keep grounded elite flyers on board : Boeing’s KC-46 can now use its refueling boom for operational missions : SpaceX to acquire satellite connectivity startup Swarm Technologies : NASA can't find the Mars rock sample that the Perseverance rover drilled - it mysteriously disappeared : Position: Apply Now! - Manager – Quality Control Incident: United B763 at Zurich on Aug 9th 2021, rejected takeoff after something hit them A United Boeing 767-300, registration N651UA performing flight UA-135 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Newark,NJ (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from runway 16 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (130 knots over ground), the aircraft slowed safely, vacated the runway via high speed turn off E7 and stopped on the parallel taxiway. The crew advised something had hit them, possibly a bird. Tower advised there was smoke and flames coming from the left main gear. Emergency services responded. Two main tyres deflated. https://avherald.com/h?article=4eb86dd8&opt=0 Incident: Delta A333 over Pacific on Aug 8th 2021, engine failure A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N808NW performing flight DL-304 from Honolulu,HI to Atlanta,GA (USA), was climbing through FL260 out of Honolulu about 80nm northeast of Kahului,HI (USA) when the crew declared Mayday reporting the failure of the right hand engine (PW4168) and decided to return to Honolulu. Descending towards FL160 the crew advised they had reduced the engine to idle due to a compressor stall followed by overtemperature and vibrations. The aircraft landed safely back on Honolulu's runway 08L about one hour after departure. The flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Honolulu awaiting a new engine. https://avherald.com/h?article=4eb85bec&opt=0 Incident: Alaska A321N at Seattle on Aug 7th 2021, loss of nose wheel steering An Alaska Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration N921VA performing flight AS-628 from Seattle,WA to New York JFK,NY (USA), was enroute at FL310 about 280nm east of Seattle when the crew decided to return to Seattle. On approach the crew requested a long final and advised they had lost nose wheel steering, they would roll to the end of and stop on the runway. The aircraft landed safely on Seattle's runway 16L about 100 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200N registration N927VA reached New York with a delay of 4:45 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 23 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ASA628/history/20210807/1532Z/KSEA/KJFK https://avherald.com/h?article=4eb85165&opt=0 Cessna 210H Centurion - Fatal Accident - Arkansas Date: 09-AUG-2021 Time: Type: Cessna 210H Centurion Owner/operator: Registration: MSN: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Category: Accident Location: near John E. Miller/Melbourne Municipal Airport (42A), AR - United States of America Phase: Unknown Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Destination airport: Investigating agency: NTSB Narrative: The aircraft impacted the terrain under unknown circumstances and a post crash fire ensued near near John E. Miller/Melbourne Municipal Airport (42A), Izard County, Arkansas. The sole pilot onboard was fatally injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/266586 North American T-28B Trojan - Gear Up Landing ( France) Date: 09-AUG-2021 Time: c. 15:45 Type: North American T-28B Trojan Owner/operator: Strasbourg Aviation Registration: F-AYGK MSN: 219-34 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Haguenau Airfield (LFSH) - France Phase: Landing Nature: Private Departure airport: Haguenau Airfield (LFSH) Destination airport: Haguenau Airfield (LFSH) Narrative: The pilot performed a belly landing at Haguenau Airfield (LFSH), due to a landing gear malfunction. He escaped unhurt and the aircraft sustainend minor damage. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/266583 A flight attendant told him how to wear his mask. Then he struck her, Florida cops say Another tantrum in the sky over face mask rules, and this one in Florida on Thursday afternoon turned violent. According to the Pensacola News Journal, a 70-year-old Oregon man was arrested after allegedly hitting a flight attendant as the American Airlines flight was landing at Pensacola International Airport around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The passenger’s departure city was not included in the police report. Florida woman was unruly on the plane. Things only got worse on the ground, cops say According to Mike Wood, a spokesman with the Pensacola Police Department, the passenger, John Loucky, was told to readjust his face mask and got agitated. The matter escalated, Wood told the Miami Herald, and the suspect struck the attendant in the arm. Though the injuries were minor, he said, the AA employee wanted to press charges, Wood said. Loucky was arrested and was charged with battery and resisting arrest. He was transported to the Escambia County Jail where he was later released on $500 bail. Fines down the road are possible. The latest incident follows a spate of passengers acting up on planes for a variety of reasons, the majority of which are mask-related. ‘Chill out!’ See a disruptive passenger get taped to his seat on a flight to Miami According to the Federal Aviation Administration, “The repercussions for passengers who engage in unruly behavior can be substantial. They can be fined by the FAA or prosecuted on criminal charges. As part of the FAA’s Reauthorization Bill (PDF) FAA can propose up to $37,000 per violation for unruly passenger cases.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/flight-attendant-told-him-wear-172002640.html CDC says travelers should avoid France, Israel and other destinations Americans should avoid travel to France, Israel, Iceland and other destinations regardless of vaccination status, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The health agency moved several destinations into its highest travel advisory tier, "level 4: very high level of COVID-19," on Monday. Travelers should avoid travel to those destinations, but those who must travel should make sure they are fully vaccinated, the CDC said. The countries that moved up to Level 4 include: Aruba Eswatini France French Polynesia Iceland Israel Thailand The changes to come on the same day France began requiring a virus pass to access cafes, restaurants and long-distance travel. ►COVID travel: CDC says travelers should avoid Greece, Ireland and other destinations, regardless of vaccination status ►'Do not travel': CDC, State Department raise UK travel alert after spike in COVID cases France's special pass is issued to people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have proof of a recent recovery from the virus, or who have a recent negative coronavirus test. The measure also applies to tourists visiting the country. Greece, Ireland, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other destinations were added to the CDC's Level 4 advisory list earlier this month as countries around the globe grapple with the highly contagious delta variant. In an interview with the USA TODAY Editorial Board last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases, said CDC guidance urging people to limit themselves to travel only when necessary still holds. The CDC recommends all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested three to five days after they travel. On top of those travel precautions, the agency also recommends that unvaccinated travelers get tested one to three days before leaving the U.S. and that they self-quarantine after travel for up to 10 days. All passengers ages 2 and older flying into the United States must present a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before their flight or proof they recovered from the virus within the past three months. CDC says travelers should avoid France, Israel and other destinations Americans should avoid travel to France, Israel, Iceland and other destinations regardless of vaccination status, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The health agency moved several destinations into its highest travel advisory tier, "level 4: very high level of COVID-19," on Monday. Travelers should avoid travel to those destinations, but those who must travel should make sure they are fully vaccinated, the CDC said. The countries that moved up to Level 4 include: Aruba Eswatini France French Polynesia Iceland Israel Thailand The changes to come on the same day France began requiring a virus pass to access cafes, restaurants and long-distance travel. ►COVID travel: CDC says travelers should avoid Greece, Ireland and other destinations, regardless of vaccination status ►'Do not travel': CDC, State Department raise UK travel alert after spike in COVID cases France's special pass is issued to people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have proof of a recent recovery from the virus, or who have a recent negative coronavirus test. The measure also applies to tourists visiting the country. Greece, Ireland, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other destinations were added to the CDC's Level 4 advisory list earlier this month as countries around the globe grapple with the highly contagious delta variant. In an interview with the USA TODAY Editorial Board last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases, said CDC guidance urging people to limit themselves to travel only when necessary still holds. The CDC recommends all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested three to five days after they travel. On top of those travel precautions, the agency also recommends that unvaccinated travelers get tested one to three days before leaving the U.S. and that they self-quarantine after travel for up to 10 days. All passengers ages 2 and older flying into the United States must present a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before their flight or proof they recovered from the virus within the past three months. https://www.yahoo.com/news/cdc-says-travelers-avoid-france-204358179.html Parts apparently fell off plane that crashed in Minnesota VICTORIA, Minn. (AP) — Crucial pieces of a single-engine plane piloted by a Nebraska surgeon apparently fell off in flight before it crashed west of Minneapolis, killing him and two relatives, investigators say. The Mooney M20M crashed and burned late Saturday afternoon near a home about a block away from the downtown area of Victoria, a community of about 7,300 people, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Minneapolis. The flames scorched the house but nobody on the ground was injured. Relatives and employers identified those who died as Dr. James Edney, 72, of Omaha, Nebraska, who was piloting the plane, his stepson, Jacob Mertes, 42, and Jacob's wife, Dr. Sara Mertes, 37, both of Libby, Montana. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Mike Folkerts told reporters Sunday that the plane, which had taken off from Alexandria in western Minnesota, was approaching Flying Cloud Airport in suburban Eden Prairie when it crashed. “The pilot contacted the control tower, then made several heading changes and altitude deviations from a normal, stable flight path while on final,” Folkerts said. “The last transmission was about 10 miles from the airport.” He said the contact with the control tower was routine, and no distress call was made. But Folkerts said some parts from the plane's tail — pieces of the left elevator and left horizontal stabilizer — were found a couple blocks from the rest of the wreckage, indicating they fell off in flight. “Without an elevator and a horizontal stabilizer, the aircraft is not flyable,” he said. The sky was overcast with a 1,100-foot (335-meter) ceiling, and 9 miles (15 kilometers) visibility, he said. Folkerts said the NTSB is looking into all factors that could have caused the crash, including the pilot, the aircraft and the environment. A preliminary investigative report is expected in about two weeks; a full report takes 12 to 18 months. https://www.yahoo.com/news/parts-apparently-fell-off-plane-174921921.html Azul E195-E2 Damaged By Tail Strike Landing In Brazil Last Friday, an Azul Linhas Aereas Embraer ERJ-195-E2 suffered a heavy landing while arriving at Caxias do Sul International Airport in Brazil. Following the incident, which led to a tail strike, the aircraft has been grounded. Let’s investigate further. What happened? According to The Aviation Herald, the aircraft involved in this incident was an Embraer ERJ-195-E2 registration PR-PJN. The plane is only 1.88 years old, as it was delivered to Azul on September 24, 2019, according to ch-aviation. The aircraft was landing on Caxias do Sul following a small domestic operation from Viracopos International Airport in Campinas. Azul’s flight number was AD-2860. The crew was landing on Caxias do Sul’s runway 33 at 14:00 local time. When it touched the ground, the tail struck the runway surface. The pilots were able to roll out the aircraft without further incident, and no one was injured. Nevertheless, PR-PJN has been grounded since Friday, as it is receiving maintenance to repair the strike. This particular airplane is averaging 239.2 flight hours per month, as reported by Radarbox.com. It has approximately 152 monthly cycles. Two incidents in one day… On August 6, Azul experienced not one but two incidents. The other one happened at Ilhéus International Airport, in the Brazilian state of Bahía. According to reports by Aeroin, a Boeing 737-800 from GOL and an Embraer E195 E1 from Azul had a collision. The registrations of these two planes are PR-GUC (GOL) and PR-AXJ (Azul). According to Radarbox.com, none of the aircraft were grounded due to this minor collision. Both planes operated commercial flights during the weekend despite the incident. As far as we can tell, GOL’s aircraft suffered damage on its left winglet, while Azul’s had some issues on its horizontal stabilizer. Azul’s fleet Azul is currently the largest domestic airline in Brazil, according to data provided by the Civil Aviation authorities. Until June 2021, Azul had carried 9.6 million passengers versus the 7.4 and 7.0 million from GOL and LATAM, respectively. The airline is only 23.8% below its pre-pandemic numbers. During 2019’s first half, Azul carried 12.6 million passengers. Azul currently has a fleet of 151 aircraft, according to ch-aviation. Moreover, it still has to receive 73 additional planes, including 14 A320-200N, five A321-200NX(LR), and 54 Embraer ERJ 190-400, like the one involved in Friday’s incident. Plus, Azul wants to operate 220 electric aircraft around Brazil by 2025. The current fleet of Azul is composed mainly of Embraer E190-E1 planes. It has 49 units, followed by 42 Airbus A320-200ceo aircraft. It also has 33 ATR 72-600 aircraft, nine Embraer E2, seven A330-200, five A330-900, four A321neo, and two B737-400F. Additionally, it has several Cessna aircraft that operate for Azul Conecta, a small regional carrier with bases in Aracatuba, Junidiaí, Macapá, and Marília. https://simpleflying.com/azul-e195-e2-tailstrike/ Pilot Unions Respond to Airlines’ Planned Vaccine Requirements Groups that represent pilots for United, Frontier Airlines express concern about proposed policies. Frontier joined United Airlines in mandating the COVID-19 vaccine to varying degrees. Unions representing airline pilots of two US airlines have responded to recently announced policies by their companies that require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. United Airlines told its 67,000 employees on Friday that they must be fully vaccinated by October 25 or five weeks after the Food and Drug Administration gives any COVID vaccine full approval, whichever comes first. “The vaccine requirement represents an employment change we believe warrants further negotiations to ensure our safety, welfare, and bargaining rights are maintained,” the United Master Executive Council said in a statement. United and its pilots union had agreed to prohibit the airline from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations back in May. Late last week, however, officials cited “incredible compelling” proof of the effectiveness of the vaccine as a reason to require employees to have it. “We know some of you will disagree with this decision to require the vaccine for all United employees,” Scott Kirby, United’s CEO, and Brett Hart, its president, said in a letter to their employees. “But, we have no greater responsibility to you and your colleagues than to ensure your safety when you’re at work, and the facts are crystal clear: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated.” Frontier’s policy asks all direct employees of the company to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 1. Employees of Frontier do have the option not to be vaccinated. However, those employees will be asked regularly to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The group representing Frontier’s pilots, the Frontier Master Executive Council, said it plans to talk with airline leadership about how to implement that policy. “The Association plans to meet with the Company to discuss the contractual implications of the new protocols,” the organization said in a statement, “as the implementation of the guidelines will need to align within the constraints of our CBA in order to prevent contractual disputes.” Frontier’s MEC did recognize the flexibility in their airlines policy. “In conversations with MEC leadership, the Company has repeatedly expressed its desire to avoid mandating vaccinations,” the group said. “With [Friday’s] announcement, it appears the Company remains committed to that goal while seeking to provide what they believe are alternatives for the workforce.” In a statement, Barry Biffle, president and CEO, Frontier Airlines, cited the COVID-19 Delta variant as the catalyst for its policy. “As we continue to watch the rapid increase of new COVID-19 cases across the United States caused by the Delta variant, I am concerned for the well-being of our team members, their families and friends,” the statement said. “Safety is of the utmost importance at Frontier and we need to take every step possible for us to keep our teams safe, protect the operation and protect our passengers. The time has come to do what we can to help put an end to COVID-19.” https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/airline-vaccine-pilot-union-response/ Hawaiian Airlines is the latest carrier to mandate Covid vaccinations for staff • Hawaiian Airlines employees will have to have received their final shot no later than Nov. 1. • United and Frontier issued vaccinate mandates last week. • More than a dozen U.S. corporations have issued vaccine mandates for all or some of their employees in recent weeks. Hawaiian Airlines told U.S. staff on Monday that they will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19, becoming the third major carrier to issue such a mandate in less than a week. CEO Peter Ingram told employees that they must receive their second shot, if they are getting a two-dose vaccine, by Nov. 1, though there will be exceptions for medical or religious reasons, according to a staff memo reviewed by CNBC. Last week, United Airlines became the country’s first major carrier to mandate vaccines, requiring that its 67,000-person U.S. workforce show proof of inoculation by Oct. 25 at the latest. Frontier Airlines also announced that it will require that its employees be vaccinated against Covid by Oct. 1 or that they are regularly tested. “There is no greater demonstration of our values than ensuring the safety of others,” Ingram said. “Safety is the foundation of air travel, and it is ingrained throughout our operation and service. This is no different.” Most other U.S. airlines have encouraged but not mandated that staff get vaccinated. However, Delta Air Lines in the spring said new hires would need to show proof of vaccination. United had followed suit several weeks later. More than a dozen large U.S. companies have issued vaccine mandates for all or some of their employees in recent weeks, some executives citing concerns about the fast-spreading delta variant of Covid. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/hawaiian-airlines-mandates-vaccines-for-us-workers.html Liberty University joins Piedmont Airlines’ tuition payment program for aircraft maintenance technicians LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) – With an ongoing relationship between Piedmont Airlines and Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics, a new, limited-rollout tuition payment program has been developed for select students in the 12-month Aircraft Maintenance Technician Program (AMTP). Piedmont Airlines is offering the tuition program for the first time as a beta test for the company starting this fall and Liberty University is one of a small group of schools chosen to participate. Establishing healthy sleep schedules for students as they head back to school A limited number of students will receive a conditional offer of employment with Piedmont Airlines and full payment of tuition and fees as they work toward their AMT certificate. Spots are limited and interested students will need to apply by Friday, Aug. 13. Skilled aircraft technicians are in high demand as the aviation industry recovers from the recent pandemic and as an older workforce is starting to retire. A recent report from Boeing says that over 739,000 new aviation technicians will be in need across the world by 2039. The partnership between Liberty University and Piedmont Airlines hopes to meet that need by making quality training possible for students who are seeking a rewarding career in aviation. “We are delighted to be able to participate in Piedmont Airlines’ groundbreaking program,” said School of Aeronautics Dean Rick Roof. “We have enjoyed a special, longstanding partnership with Piedmont Airlines with many of our graduates currently serving as Piedmont employees. Their new tuition payment program offers Liberty students the resources to fulfill their potential, becoming Champions and difference makers in an industry that is in desperate need. We are grateful for our innovative partnership with Piedmont Airlines and look forward to collaborating to serve our Liberty University students while addressing Piedmont’s needs for exceptional maintenance technicians, pilots, and support personnel of character.” RICK ROOF, DEAN OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF AERONOAUTICS An open house will take place at Piedmont Airlines’ Roanoke maintenance facility on Wednesday, Aug. 11 and Thursday, Aug. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m., where guests can learn more about the Aircraft Maintenance Technician Tuition Payment Program and how it can potentially make this career a reality in as few as 12 months. Piedmont Airlines is a regional air carrier of American Airlines and operates nearly 400 daily departures to over 50 destinations from regional markets throughout the East Coast into American Airlines’ hubs and focus cities. https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/local-news/lynchburg-central-virginia-news/liberty-university-joins-piedmont-airlines-tuition-payment-program-for-aircraft-maintenance-technicians/ Copa Airlines Selects Honeywell's Fuel Tank Safety Technology For Boeing 737 Fleet Copa Holdings SA (NYSE: CPA) subsidiary Copa Airlines has selected Honeywell International Inc (NASDAQ: HON) to provide the Air Separation Module (ASM) kit for its fleet of Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) 737 aircraft. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. Copa is the first airline to operate Honeywell's version of the safety system that has a seven-year warranty. Honeywell's ASM can be installed roughly six to eight hours faster than the current product from the original equipment manufacturer. This shortened installation time contributes to lower maintenance costs. Additionally, Honeywell's ASM has increased durability over other options currently installed in 737 aircraft and is designed to integrate with its Nitrogen Generation System, which has been line-fit on every 737 built after 2008. It is supplied as a kit and contains a new Honeywell ASM, complete with all needed blankets and brackets, ozone destruct filter and instructions for installation. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/copa-airlines-selects-honeywells-fuel-205517203.html Asian airlines offer perks to keep grounded elite flyers on board SYDNEY (Reuters) - From wellness workshops to dinner with a celebrity chef and flights to nowhere, Asia's big international airlines are working hard to keep their most lucrative customers engaged as the pandemic-related travel halt stretches beyond 18 months. While flights are starting to rebound in the United States and Europe, international travel is still down 96% in Asia due to tough travel restrictions, making it harder to maintain a relationship with grounded premium clients. Elite frequent flyers, many of them business travellers, are coveted by full-service carriers like Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd, Singapore Airlines Ltd and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, and the airlines want them back when travel resumes. Before the pandemic, around 5% of international passengers globally flew in premium classes, but they accounted for 30% of international revenue, data from airline industry group IATA shows. Asian airlines have given status extensions of at least two years to elite tier customers who have earned access to airport lounges and other perks such as priority access to seats and upgrades to higher flight classes. Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said customers had made clear to the airline that such extensions were important. "They work in many cases for years to achieve these high statuses and high tiers, so it was really important for us that we were going to continue to be loyal to them just as they had been loyal to us in the years gone by," she said. For airlines, the extensions come at relatively little cost given the potential future reward. Grounded elite members are not accessing airport lounges stocked with fine wines, made-to-order meals and day spas, although Qantas did host a dinner in Sydney for a few of them with celebrity chef Neil Perry and CEO Alan Joyce in June. Singapore Airlines, which lacks a domestic market, said it has hosted virtual wine tastings, wellness workshops and online courses such as miniature clay art and coffee-brewing and offered a first class dine-at-home experience. Some other engagement initiatives are paid for by the flyer. Michael Dean, a Qantas Platinum One flyer, said his status enabled him to secure his preferred business class seats on a 747 joyflight from Brisbane last year - for A$747 ($550) a seat - just before Qantas retired the jumbo jet. "It was not cheap, but great fun," he said. HEY BIG SPENDER With flights grounded, airlines globally have also boosted engagement with another lucrative group - customers who fly less often but spend large amounts on co-branded credit cards that earn users air miles they can redeem for flights. Airlines earn money from such cards by selling the frequent flyer miles to credit card issuers to use as rewards for cardholders. Consumers have kept spending on co-branded cards at a similar rate to the broader credit card market during the pandemic, Qantas data and American Express Co data on its co-branded Delta Air Lines Inc cards shows. Evert de Boer, Singapore-based managing partner at consultancy On Point Loyalty said there were industry concerns earlier in the pandemic that consumers would switch from airline co-branded cards to cards that offer cash-back or other incentives, due to the halt in travel. "But that hasn't happened at all," he said. "You can actually see that people want to travel." During the pandemic, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific have developed their loyalty programmes into broader lifestyle brands, adding more miles-earning opportunities through e-commerce, dining and hotel stays, as Qantas has long done. These highly engaged members could become increasingly important to airlines amid industry forecasts that business travel will take a long-term hit from video-conferencing and environmental concerns. Fiona Downes, a Qantas Platinum One flyer, said it could take two to three years after borders reopened for her work travel to return to pre-COVID levels. Her points balance has grown through credit card spending, but she is also hoping the airline will allow her to retain elite status. "I certainly would like to know that when I do start flying again - even at a small scale, but as things are starting to ramp up - that I am not disadvantaged in any way or I am not starting from scratch again," she said. ($1 = 1.3602 Australian dollars) https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/asian-airlines-offer-perks-keep-231916198.html Boeing’s KC-46 can now use its refueling boom for operational missions WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has started conducting operational KC-46 missions using the aircraft’s refueling boom, marking another small step forward for fielding the troubled tanker. U.S. Transportation Command can now task the Boeing KC-46 tanker to refuel C-17 cargo planes, B-52 bombers and other KC-46s using its refueling boom. Previously, the KC-46 was only permitted to use its centerline drogue for refueling operations requested by TRANSCOM. The decision was made by Air Mobility Command head Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost on Aug. 5 and announced by the service on Aug. 6. “We have reviewed many of the KC-46 operational employment criteria over the past several months and it was clear we were ready for another milestone,” said Brig. Gen. Ryan Samuelson, who leads the KC-46 cross-functional team. Although a fully mission-capable aircraft is still “a few years away,” the Air Force hopes to accelerate the fielding of the KC-46 by incrementally approving it for operations, Samuelson added. According to an Air Force statement, the KC-46 has safely refueled the C-17, B-52 and KC-46 more than 4,700 times since October 2020 during training and exercises. By allowing the KC-46 to take on operational missions refueling these aircraft, the service hopes to decrease the workload on legacy KC-135 and KC-10 tankers. Air Force leaders have asserted the service will not declare the KC-46 operational until all its critical technical deficiencies are resolved. The program currently has six category 1 deficiencies on the books. Those issues impose a risk to either safety or operations. Two recently discovered problems are “well on track to being resolved,” Paul Waugh, the Air Force’s program executive for mobility and training aircraft, told reporters on Tuesday. They include a software issue involving the KC-46′s flight management system and cracking of the drain tube, experienced while flying in freezing temperatures. However, the biggest problem requires a redesign of the aircraft’s Remote Vision System —which feeds video imagery to the boom operator during a refueling — and the new system will not be ready for production until at least 2023. Boeing delivered the newest KC-46 on Aug. 6 to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The company slowed down the pace of KC-46 deliveries this spring due to the pandemic but is set to ramp up to two a month, Waugh said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-kc-46-now-refueling-153939412.html SpaceX to acquire satellite connectivity startup Swarm Technologies SpaceX will be acquiring satellite connectivity startup Swarm Technologies, the first such deal for the 19-year-old space company headed by Elon Musk. Swarm operates a constellation of 120 sandwich-sized satellites as well as a ground station network. The deal would transfer control of Swarm’s ground and space licenses to SpaceX, in addition to any licenses pending before the commission. If the transaction is approved, the startup would become a “direct wholly-owned subsidiary” of the larger company. The acquisition, which was reported in under-the-radar filings with the Federal Communications Commission, marks a sharp departure from the launch giant’s established strategy of internally developing its tech. The deal was reportedly reached between the two companies on July 16. The FCC filings do not disclose any financial details or terms of the transaction. Neither SpaceX nor Swarm could be reached for comment. “Swarm’s services will benefit from the better capitalization and access to resources available to SpaceX, as well as the synergies associated with acquisition by a provider of satellite design, manufacture, and launch services,” the companies said in the filing. For SpaceX’s part, the company will “similarly benefit from access to the intellectual property and expertise developed by the Swarm team, as well as from adding this resourceful and effective team to SpaceX.” What this means for SpaceX’s operations, particularly its Starlink satellite network, is unclear, as these satellites operate in a different frequency band from that of Swarm. In the short term, Swarm CEO Sara Spangelo told TechCrunch last month that the company is “still marching” toward its goal of operating a 150-satellite constellation. Compared to SpaceX, Swarm is a relatively new company. It raised a $25 million Series A almost exactly three years ago, in August 2018, but it only went commercially live with its flagship product earlier this year. That product, the Tile, is a small modem that can be embedded in various connectivity devices and linked to the satellite network to allow users a low-cost way to power Internet of Things devices. Swarm's Evaluation Kit. Swarm also launched its second product last month, the $499 Evaluation Kit, an all-in-one package designed to give anyone the ability to create an IoT device using a Tile, a solar panel and a few other components. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spacex-acquire-satellite-connectivity-startup-164935466.html Perseverance rover robotic arm holds up golden tube for coring samples against mars plains background Photo Courtesy: NASA/JPL NASA can't find the Mars rock sample that the Perseverance rover drilled - it mysteriously disappeared NASA's Perseverance rover tried to collect its first Mars rock sample on Friday, but came up empty. Perseverance drilled a hole in the rock, withdrew, then found that the rock core had vanished. Mission controllers suspect that the rock reacted unexpectedly, not that the rover made an error. NASA has spent nine years and about $2 billion in its quest to drill and store samples of Martian rocks. The Perseverance rover was poised to finally make that happen for the first time on Friday. The rover picked a rock in an ancient Mars lake bed that could have once held alien life, and attempted to drill. But then something strange happened: The sample seems to have vanished without a trace. There's a finger-sized hole in the rock where the sample should have come out, but there's nothing in the rover's sample-collection tube. And the rock core isn't laying around anywhere near the hole. It's just not there. "While this is not the 'hole-in-one' we hoped for, there is always risk with breaking new ground," NASA associate administrator Thomas Zurbuchen said in a press release. "I'm confident we have the right team working this, and we will persevere toward a solution to ensure future success." To figure out what happened, NASA is instructing Perseverance to take close-up pictures of the bore hole it made. Mission controllers will then try to make plans for another sampling attempt. "The initial thinking is that the empty tube is more likely a result of the rock target not reacting the way we expected during coring, and less likely a hardware issue with the Sampling and Caching System," Jennifer Trosper, project manager for Perseverance, said in a statement. "Over the next few days, the team will be spending more time analyzing the data we have, and also acquiring some additional diagnostic data to support understanding the root cause for the empty tube." Perseverance's main goal on Mars is to explore a region called Jezero Crater and gather rock samples; the tube that came up empty is one of 43 that the rover is carrying for this purpose. NASA's long-term plan is to send another mission to Mars in about a decade to collect the samples Perseverance collects and bring them back to Earth. Then future scientists can investigate whether microbial life may have lived in the lake that once filled the basin. In other words, a significant amount of planning and money is riding on Perseverance's ability to drill these samples successfully. In its attempt to take its first sample, Perseverance first used an abrasion tool to clear dust and surface coatings from the rock. Then the rover extended its 7-foot-long arm, which has a sample-collection tool on the end. This tool uses a percussive drill to push a hollow coring bit into the rock. The entire process is autonomous. Mission controllers simply send a "go" command to Perseverance. The data the rover has beamed back to Earth from its attempt so far indicates that it carried out the necessary steps exactly as planned. Still, for some reason, the tube is empty. The rock Perseverance was trying to sample is typical of the region it's been driving through. Jezero Crater's floor is covered in what NASA is calling "paver stones." These porous rocks could be sedimentary (meaning made by river and lake activity) or volcanic. Taking a sample would help scientists determine which type of rocks line the crater floor, thereby enhancing their understanding of the area's history. Other Mars missions have encountered unexpected difficulty from rock and soil, too. NASA recently had to abandon its InSight lander's "mole," a probing tool that was supposed to burrow into the Martian crust and measure its temperature. The mole found itself bouncing in place on a foundation of firm soil called "duracrust." "I have been on every Mars rover mission since the beginning, and this planet is always teaching us what we don't know about it," Trosper said. "One thing I've found is, it's not unusual to have complications during complex, first-time activities." https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-cant-mars-rock-sample-010109675.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