Flight Safety Information - August 24, 2021 No. 170 In This Issue : Incident: American A321 at Dallas on Aug 20th 2021, engine problem : Incident: Envoy E175 at Chicago on Aug 22nd 2021, drone strike : Incident: Delta B752 at Boston on Aug 20th 2021, bird strike : Incident: Delta B738 at Salt Lake City on Aug 20th 2021, hard landing : Alaska Airlines flight evacuates after landing at SEA due to cell phone fire, officials say : These Are the Safest Airlines in the World : China tests superfast aircraft tracking satellite that could prevent another MH370-style tragedy : Cop drone crashes into flight instructor's airplane (Canada) : Lexington-bound flight returns to gate after passenger refuses to wear mask : Vaccines available for travelers, community at Tucson International Airport : Mother upset, says United Airlines left 11-year-old unaccompanied at Charlotte International Airport : Felon charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm at Albany International Airport : FAA opens new review of Boeing engineers’ safety independence : Delta is testing new tool to let passengers upload vaccine cards ahead of their flight : Tampa airport to hire nearly 1,000 workers at largest job fair ever : China's Mach 30 wind tunnel expected to be completed in 2022, help develop aerospace, hypersonic aircraft : NASA Awards 5 Subsonic Aircraft Risk Reduction Contracts : Rocket Lab's Mars mission gets green light from NASA : Astronaut's undisclosed minor medical issue delays spacewalk : The Fifteenth Safeskies Aviation Safety Conference is scheduled to be held in Canberra, Australia in September 2022 : Unmanned Safety Institute Issues 10,000th Certification : Article: Ultrafine particle levels measured on board short-haul commercial passenger jet aircraft : Pilot Pipeline Newsletter : Aviation Safety Community : RTCA - Upcoming RTCA Training Opportunities Incident: American A321 at Dallas on Aug 20th 2021, engine problem An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N122NN performing flight AA-1241 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to Seattle,WA (USA), was climbing out of Dallas when the crew stopped the climb at FL270 due to an indication problem for the left hand engine's (V2533) EGT indications. The aircraft returned to Dallas Ft. Worth for a safe landing about 50 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200 registration N152AA reached Seattle with a delay of 4.5 hours http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec2a879&opt=0 Incident: Envoy E175 at Chicago on Aug 22nd 2021, drone strike An Envoy Embraer ERJ-175, registration N242NN performing flight AA-3961 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Detroit,MI (USA), was climbing out of Chicago's runway 09C when the aircraft was hit by a drone prompting the crew to level off at 6000 feet and return to Chicago for a safe landing on runway 10C about 40 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT WAS IN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN AND STRUCK A UAS , CHICAGO, IL." and rated the damage minor. The aircraft returned to service about 12 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec290a1&opt=0 Incident: Delta B752 at Boston on Aug 20th 2021, bird strike A Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200, registration N727TW performing flight DL-454 from Los Angeles,CA to Boston,MA (USA), was on final approach to Boston's runway 04R when the aircraft received a bird strike. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD ON LANDING DAMAGING COWLING, BOSTON, MA." and rated the damage minor. The aircraft returned to service about 43 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec28f50&opt=0 Incident: Delta B738 at Salt Lake City on Aug 20th 2021, hard landing A Delta Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N3767 performing flight DL-750 from Nashville,TN to Salt Lake City,UT (USA), landed on Salt Lake City's runway 16R at 10:14L (16:14Z) but touched down hard. The aircraft rolled out and taxied to the apron. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND A PIECE OF WINDOW LAMINATE WAS FOUND MISSING, SALT LAKE CITY, UT.", rated the damage unknown and the occurrence an incident. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 22 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec28e5f&opt=0 Alaska Airlines flight evacuates after landing at SEA due to cell phone fire, officials say SEATAC, Wash. — An Alaska Airlines flight arriving from New Orleans had to evacuate shortly after landing at Sea-Tac Airport due to a cell phone fire Monday evening, officials said. At about 8:30 p.m., the Port of Seattle Fire Department responded to a report of a fire in the cargo hold of Flight 751. Alaska Airlines officials said based on a preliminary investigation, as the aircraft was waiting for a gate, a passenger’s cell phone caught on fire. Crews used a battery containment bag and extinguished the fire, according to officials. After the fire was contained, 128 passengers and six crew members evacuated the plane safely. Some passengers had minor injuries. Passengers boarded buses to the terminal. Some passengers sent pictures from inside the plane when it was filled with smoke. Officials said the plane was towed to a gate and there was no impact on airport operations. Airline officials said the plane is a 737-900. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/alaska-airlines-flight-evacuates-upon-arrival-sea-after-fire-cargo-hold-officials-say/DENNJYWJEFDQ5D5KUSYHC6M23U/ These Are the Safest Airlines in the World If you get pre-flight jitters, you're not alone. Many travelers experience some anxiety when flying, whether it stems from a fear of heights, concerns about germs, or worries that something will go wrong mid-flight. Of course, others are most anxious about plane crashes and overall airline safety. To70, an aviation consulting firm, examines accidents among large, commercial passenger planes in its civil aviation safety review each year. In 2020, there were 40 accidents around the world — five fatal — resulting in 299 deaths. These accidents happened in Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and the U.S. (the U.S. incident resulted in one fatality after a person breached security and was hit and killed by the airplane as it landed). The year before, there were 86 accidents — eight fatal — resulting in 257 deaths. Fatal plane accidents are not common — just think of the thousands of flights that happen every day without an issue — but they can be anxiety inducing nonetheless. Thankfully, there are plenty of carriers with great safety records, so you can give yourself some extra peace of mind by booking your next trip on one of the world's safest airlines. AirlineRatings.com analyzes 385 airlines, taking into account their safety, in-flight product, and now, COVID-19 procedures, to rate them according to a seven star system. To determine the safest airlines, the site considers crashes, serious incidents, the age of the airline's fleet, and audits from governments as well as aviation associations and governing bodies. Using its safety rating tool, you can compare airlines to see how they stack up (or find the airlines ranked as the least safe so you know which have had more fatal crashes or other incidents in the past). Here are the world's safest airlines this year, according to AirlineRatings.com. World's Safest Airlines 1. Qantas 2. Qatar Airways 3. Air New Zealand 4. Singapore Airlines 5. Emirates 6. EVA Air 7. Etihad Airways 8. Alaska Airlines 9. Cathay Pacific Airways 10. British Airways 11. Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic 12. Hawaiian Airlines 13. Southwest Airlines 14. Delta Air Lines 15. American Airlines 16. SAS 17. Finnair 18. Lufthansa 19. KLM 20. United Airlines Qantas, the popular Australian airline that has operated for over 100 years, was ranked this year's safest airline and has consistently received high ratings for its safety. These top-ranked airlines offer more than just safe flights, too — many were also among Travel + Leisure readers' favorite international airlines in the 2020 World's Best Awards, commended for their outstanding service, tasty in-flight meals, and comfortable seats. Singapore Airlines topped our list, followed by Qatar Airways, Emirates, EVA Air, and more. Alaska Airlines was the only U.S. carrier to crack the top 10, but Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines followed in the top 20. AirlineRatings.com also identified the top airlines for COVID-19 compliance in January of this year, listing (in alphabetical order) Air Baltic, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, AirAsia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Qatar Airways, and WestJet. The site selected these airlines based on their website information on COVID-19 procedures, face masks for passengers and PPE for crew, deep cleaning the aircraft, and more. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/safest-airlines-world-175500172.html China tests superfast aircraft tracking satellite that could prevent another MH370-style tragedy CHINA has tested a superfast aircraft tracking satellite with the aim of preventing another MH370-style tragedy. The revolutionary technology can update the status of an aircraft every EIGHT seconds - boasting a system twice as fast as the US - allowing an airline to accurately track planes, even if it loses contact with them. • The Beihang Kongshi 1 satellite could allow planes to be accurately tracked every 8 seconds If successful, the Beihang Kongshi 1 could transform the aviation industry forever and see "hundreds of satellites" control a global tracking system, according to state-run publication Science and Technology Daily. After launching last November in near-Earth orbit, the pioneering radio surveillance technology and hardware was reported to have worked "quite well" after being sent up into space. Somewhat inspired by China's newest missile defence system, the Beihang Kongshi 1 has an antenna that can unfold in space with multiple layers. Its multidimensional design gives it the capability to receive and characterise a larger number of similar radio waves at the same time. Its efficiency allows radio signals emitted by each aircraft, which are notoriously difficult to monitor over such a huge scale of airspace, to be pinpointed within seconds. Therefore even if planes lose contact - as the Malaysian Airlines passenger plane did - the Beihang Kongshi 1 could provide a more precise timeline of its path. On March 8, 2014, the Boeing 777 - carrying 239 people on board - mysteriously disappeared from radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, bound for Beijing. The plane took an unexplained U-turn from its planned flight path and headed back across the Malay Peninsula and the Malacca Strait before vanishing. Seven years on from flight MH370, some investigators believe the plane's captain made a series of zig-zagging movements to throw off air traffic teams and evade radar systems. Despite aerospace engineers suggesting the aircraft could have set off invisible "electronic trip-wires", the busy airspace makes it extremely difficult to confirm if it was the Malaysia Airlines passenger plane. After years of unsuccessful searches, the tragedy prompted a huge focus on producing improved tracking technology that could sit in the skies. GLOBAL SATELLITE RACE Ground-based tracking systems are limited because they only have the capacity to cover 30 per cent of the Earth's surface. Its restrictions saw the US, Germany, Canada and Denmark join the race to create a new form of technology to keep tabs on planes. Typically, radio beaming devices known as an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) are installed in most passenger planes, but it emits weaker signals at a longer distance. Experts believe such signals could be more effectively tracked by satellites in orbit - if its antenna was sensitive enough - like the Beihang Kongshi 1's unfolding "lotus flower" transmitter. China have been keen to get one up on the US after Aireon launched the world's first space-based tracing system with an international network incorporating over 60 new-gen Iridium satellites in 2019. The country could knock the Western superpower off the top spot after snubbing America's technology - reportedly due to its sensitivity regarding possible military functions. In a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Chinese Space Science and Technology in June, Professor Chen Lihu, of the National University of Defence Technology in Changsha, said: "The ADS-B data can be used for monitoring and reconnaissance of military targets in the air." CHINA'S SUCCESS After trialling the Tiantuo 3 in 2015, China's first satellite fitted with an aircraft tracking system, they have quietly advanced their technology over the years. The nation then managed to outperform European competitors with their upgraded model, according to Professor Chen, after launching the Tinatuo 5 in August 2020. With a detection range of more than 2,485 miles, it can receive more than 3 million messages a day and has provided the framework for the Beihang Kongshi 1. China could now triumph over the US by steering clear of polar areas, where many of the Aireon systems are closely located, as it is a zone where planes fly. Now, the creators are now tasked with tackling the problem of overlapping signals in areas with high aircraft density before it progresses past the experimental stage. https://www.the-sun.com/news/3525559/china-superfast-tracking-satellite-mh370-technology-us/ Cop drone crashes into flight instructor's airplane (Canada) The plod needs a lesson in keeping air traffic controllers in the loop, it seems A police drone hit and significantly damaged a Cessna coming in for landing in Canada earlier this month. According to an incident report compiled by the nation's transport officials, Ontario's York Police crashed a drone into the light aircraft during the latter's final approach to runway 15 at Toronto's Buttonville airport. Air traffic control "had not been advised" the cops were flying their gizmo in the Richmond Hill area, the paperwork noted. The single-engine Cessna 172N, owned by Canadian Flyers International Inc with the registration C-GKWL, was being flown by a flight instructor and a passenger when "they felt a jolt that pushed them back on their seat. They thought they had hit a large bird," the report into the August 10 prang stated. "They proceeded to land ... When exiting the aircraft, they were shocked to see a major dent on the left underside of the engine cowling. The airbox was also bent. A few hours later, a police detective confirmed a York Regional Police drone had struck their aircraft. The aircraft suffered major damage, including a propeller strike." York Police has not replied to a request for comment. Perhaps it should have followed the spirit of its own advice from a few years back... Drones and airports go together like a duck to an acid bath, and governments are increasingly twitchy about the gizmos. Last year, the US Federal Aviation Administration proposed rules to force drone pilots to report the real-time position of their devices when in flight or be grounded, and in January a drone operator faced up to a year behind bars after his drone hit a cop chopper. With increasing pressure on drone owners to be responsible and not put the lives of others in danger, it would be fantastic if the plod could set a good example. https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/23/canadian_drone_strike/ Lexington-bound flight returns to gate after passenger refuses to wear mask LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A Delta passenger created a stir when she was escorted off a flight heading into Lexington from Atlanta. She refused to wear her mask, even after flight attendants reminded her it’s a federal mandate. For frequent flyer Father Jim Sichko, his Monday afternoon plane trip into Lexington hit a bumpy start before takeoff. “In order for us to get through this pandemic, sometimes we have to suppress our own wants and open ourselves to the needs of others”-Father Jim Sichko was one of many frustrated Delta flyers whose travel plans were delayed when a passenger refused to wear a mask @WKYT pic.twitter.com/h6IBJvJkPa — Grason Passmore WKYT (@GrasonWkyt) August 23, 2021 “We went around the runway and we went back to our gate. It was at that time the pilot told us to remain in our seats and he would update us,” Father Sichko said. The baggage claim was full of irritated travelers who departed Delta flight 1088, almost 40 minutes late, because a passenger refused to wear her mask. “It’s very frustrating because I find it’s very selfish of people. You know before you get onto the airplane, you have to check several boxes before you can even print your boarding passes. It’s just a sign of immaturity,” Father Sichko said. Not only that, refusing to wear your mask on a flight is a federal offense. You can face fines ranging from $250 to $1,500. “It’s that whole selfish aspect. This virus is not just about me. It’s about others. If you decide to fly or be on an air carrier, you know you have to wear a mask,” Father Sichko said. Father Sichko said it was a young woman refusing to wear her mask. A Delta spokesperson tells us the passenger deplaned voluntarily and without further incident, but not before she left her fellow travelers with delayed schedules, and a few headaches. “Don’t waste my time, don’t waste others’ time. There are much more important things to be done,” Father Sichko said. The Delta spokesperson tells us they continue to enforce the federal mask mandates in place for the safety of their employees and customers. https://www.wkyt.com/2021/08/23/lexington-bound-flight-returns-gate-after-passengers-refuse-wear-masks/ Vaccines available for travelers, community at Tucson International Airport TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — It’s now even easier for travelers to get vaccinated, whether they’re boarding or leaving a flight. That’s because the Tucson International Airport is home to a new COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic. Travel is picking up and may get busier as the holidays roll around. “Right now, flights are about 90 to 95 percent full. So, anybody that is coming to or leaving Tucson International Airport, you are in a pretty full plane,” said Craig Reck, Tucson International Airport public information administrator. Many destinations outside of Arizona are asking for proof of having the vaccine or proof of a test. Now, TIA is a site for both. “Having vaccines here is just one more step in just being convenient,” said Reck. The location was just that for Meredith Morris who returned home from New York City. “This was convenient. I asked my husband to find me a Johnson & Johnson and he said, 'Actually there’s one right there that popped up at the airport,'" said Morris. She said she got the vaccine because it was now required for her job and she saw firsthand that she couldn’t do everything she wanted to do while traveling. “I couldn’t go to the [9/11] memorial because I didn’t have a card. I couldn’t go to certain places because I didn’t have a card. The trump tower wouldn’t let you in because you didn’t have a card," she said. She isn’t alone. Several others rolled up their sleeves making their choice of which of the three vaccines to get. The pop-up site is also open to everyone in the community. https://www.kgun9.com/news/coronavirus/vaccines-available-for-travelers-community-at-tucson-international-airport Mother upset, says United Airlines left 11-year-old unaccompanied at Charlotte International Airport CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FOX 46) – As summer vacations come to a close and schools begin to welcome students back, many young children are taking to the skies as unaccompanied minors. The service offered by all the major airlines allows parents to send a minor solo under the mindful eye of agents, flight attendants, and ground personnel. For Denisha Richardson, she thought the trip from Houston to Charlotte on United Airlines would be smooth. Richardson told our sister station WJZY in Charlotte that the situation turned scary, quickly. “My baby, my child, could have been kidnapped — anything could have happened to her. Anyone could have grabbed her. The day before school anyone could have grabbed my child.” Richardson says that United Airlines left her 11-year-old daughter alone after she arrived in Charlotte but before she could reunite at the gate, per United policy. “When I was walking to the gate, I was in TSA for a while and all this time I was on Facetime with my daughter.” It was when Richardson met her daughter near the gate, that she realized no one had followed her child when she left the holding area. “I am so upset…when I finally got to the kiosk [in the airport] she was like ‘mama I see you.’ She runs to me. I know I have to sign something, I didn’t sign anything. She said — ‘mama they don’t even know I’m gone.’” United Airlines told WJZY after an internal investigation they found all policies were followed by airline employees. The carrier made note that they require all parents to meet arriving children at the gate, with the exception of certain international destinations. For parents considering using unaccompanied minor services, it is recommended you have a serious discussion with your child as to how serious flying is. • Talk to your kids and explain why it’s important to listen to airline employees and to never leave their sight, even for a brief moment. • Adults dropping off and receiving the children need to be in communication. Make sure the right adult is listed on the minor’s paperwork. If one parent is listed and the other shows up, the child cannot be released to them. • Pack things to stimulate your child’s attention. Delays can be long and airports are busy places. https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/regional-news/north-carolina/mother-upset-says-united-airlines-left-11-year-old-unaccompanied-at-charlotte-international-airport/ Felon charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm at Albany International Airport ALBANY, N.Y. — Josef Jarvis, 32, of Albany, appeared in federal court Wednesday on a charge of unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon at the Albany International Airport on Aug. 16, 2021. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple, Sr. The criminal complaint alleges that Jarvis, who has prior felony convictions for racketeering and weapons offenses, possessed a loaded handgun while attempting to pass through a security checkpoint at Albany International Airport on Aug. 16, 2021. If convicted, Jarvis faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Jarvis appeared Wednesday before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him detained. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Transportation Security Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping. https://www.troyrecord.com/2021/08/23/felon-charged-with-unlawfully-possessing-a-firearm-at-albany-international-airport/ FAA opens new review of Boeing engineers’ safety independence By Alan Levin U.S. aviation regulators are opening a new review of Boeing after a survey of company engineers found a sizable percentage said they couldn’t raise safety concerns without interference. A survey conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration from May through July found that 35% of Boeing employees raised issues of conflicts of interest and a lack of independence, according to an Aug. 19 letter from the head of the agency division overseeing the company. The FAA action is the latest to look at Boeing’s safety practices following twin fatal crashes of the company’s 737 Max. The accidents, tied to a poorly designed flight-control system, led the plane to be grounded for 20 months and prompted multiple investigations. “Boeing’s company culture appears to hamper members of the ODA unit from communicating openly with the FAA,” said the letter, which was obtained by Bloomberg. ODA refers to Organization Designation Authorization, the group within Boeing that is authorized to make safety decisions on behalf of the government and is supposed to remain independent. “These concerns require an objective review and further fact finding,” said the letter, signed by Ian Won, the acting head of the FAA office that monitors Boeing. It wasn’t clear how many people were interviewed or how representative it is of the hundreds of Boeing employees who work on behalf of the FAA. One Boeing employee interviewed by the FAA said other engineers at the company tried to apply pressure. “Yea, that happens all the time from design engineering. They don’t listen and keep pushing,” the unidentified person said in comments that were included in the letter. Boeing has received the FAA’s letter and is working with the agency on the issue, the company said in an emailed statement. “We take these matters with the utmost seriousness, and are continuously working to improve the processes we have in place to ensure the independence of the Organization Designation Authorization unit members,” the company said. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/faa-opens-new-review-of-boeing-engineers-safety-independence/ Delta is testing new tool to let passengers upload vaccine cards ahead of their flight This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Delta Air Lines is testing a new digital feature that would let passengers upload proof of vaccination ahead of international flights to countries requiring tourists to be have received the vaccine, TPG has learned. The airline is currently piloting the tool on some flights to Iceland and Greece, both of which require passengers to be vaccinated in order to visit for non-essential reasons. Screenshots of the test, which were shared with TPG by a tipster who requested not to be named in this article, show an upload screen where customers can submit a scan of their vaccination card, tied which is linked to their passport number and passenger name record (PNR). The passenger received an email from Delta two days ahead of their scheduled flight to Iceland, prompting them to upload a photo of their vaccine card. A link in the email opened a webpage with an upload field — the tool appeared to be web-based, but not currently available through Delta’s app. A spokesperson for Delta confirmed that the airline is testing the upload feature on some flights to Iceland, as well as Greece. “We are continuously looking to bring the technology to more routes where proof of vaccination is accepted or required entry documentation. Customers will also receive guidance prior to travel via email with instructions on how to prepare for their upcoming trip,” the spokesperson added, declining to share additional details. United has previously introduced features allowing passengers to upload vaccine and test documentation ahead of a flight through its Travel Ready Center. The Delta tool comes as nations around the world continue to adjust travel and entry policies as the delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread. The airline previously introduced a web-based tool allowing passengers to upload proof of a negative COVID-19 test, where required. The tool, called Delta FlyReady, was introduced on select routes to the United Kingdom this spring, before it was introduced more broadly on international routes. The feature uses a platform called TrustAssure, by CLX Health, to manage test results. More: Royal Caribbean to require proof of vaccination on cruises from Florida In June, Delta said that it planned to integrate vaccine documentation into the Delta FlyReady platform at some point this summer. The new vaccine proof feature appeared to be part of that same platform, which can be viewed at a public webpage. https://thepointsguy.com/news/delta-air-lines-vaccine-card-upload/ Tampa airport to hire nearly 1,000 workers at largest job fair ever Even with COVID-19′s Delta variant surging, people are still traveling to and from Florida in huge numbers. And Tampa International Airport is racing to meet demand. That’s why the airport this week will hold its largest career fair ever, with nearly 1,000 jobs up for grabs. The fair, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday between airsides E and F in the main terminal, will feature about 950 openings at shops, restaurants and rental car companies; as well as airport services like maintenance, baggage handling and customer service. The fair has about twice the number of openings of two other big airport job fairs this year. Events in February and May sought to hire about 480 workers, but filled only a portion of those. Most of the jobs are with companies other than the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. American Airlines, Budget Group and FedEx Express are hiring. So are companies that conduct work for other airlines, like Eulen America (Delta, American, Sun Country, Spirit), Global Aviation Services (Frontier, Air Canada) and UnifiService (United, Spirit, Breeze). Some of the companies looking for workers had to lay off or furlough employees as air travel plummeted during the pandemic. Aviation company Prospect of Tampa laid off 156 workers; they’re now hiring a number of passenger service workers. Hertz and Avis laid off a combined 277 workers; they’re now looking for rental car sales agents and workers to prepare cars for rental. Now, though, 1.7 million passengers traveled through Tampa International Airport in July, up from 594,415 in July 2020. Already this year, two new low-cost carriers, Breeze and Avelo, have launched service from Tampa International Airport. And in their working draft budget for next year, airport officials are expecting record revenues. “We’re excited to see most of our passengers fly again, and we want to make sure we provide them with the service they deserve and have come to expect of the team at TPA,” John Tiliacos, Tampa International Airport’s executive vice president of operations and customer service, said in a statement. Job applicants are asked to bring multiple copies of their resumes and two forms of identification. For more details, see tampaairport.com/hiringday. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting. https://www.yahoo.com/news/tampa-airport-hire-nearly-1-145000927.html China's Mach 30 wind tunnel expected to be completed in 2022, help develop aerospace, hypersonic aircraft China's latest, world-leading hypervelocity wind tunnel that can simulate a speed of Mach 30 at high altitude is expected to finish construction in 2022, and will contribute to the country's hypersonic and aerospace aircraft programs. Hypersonic aircraft developed through the technology can reach anywhere in the world within one or two hours, and the technology could also help develop aerospace aircraft that reduces satellite and spacecraft launch costs by 90 percent. Dubbed the cradle of China's next-generation aircraft, the JF-22 hypervelocity wind tunnel can simulate a top speed of 10 kilometers a second, or 30 times the speed of sound, at an altitude of from 40 to 100 kilometers, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday. The JF-22 will be the world's most advanced hypervelocity wind tunnel when it is fully built in 2022, CCTV reported, noting that it will contribute to the development of hypersonic and aerospace aircraft. Hypersonic aircraft will be able to fly at Mach 5 to 10 and arrive at any location in the world within one or two hours, and aerospace aircraft reduce the launch cost of satellites and spacecraft by 90 percent, Jiang Zonglin, a research fellow at the Institute of Mechanics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the leader of the project, was quoted as saying. According to the CCTV report, a display board at the wind tunnel site uses an illustration of the US X-51 WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle as a depiction of a hypersonic aircraft. The experimental X-51 program aimed to pave the way for future hypersonic weapons, hypersonic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and future access to space, according to the website of the US Air Force. Fu Qianshao, a Chinese aviation expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the development of hypersonic aircraft will come earlier than aerospace aircraft because they are less technologically complicated, and that early hypersonic aircraft could be disposable, when they are used for military purposes like reconnaissance and attacks. After that, hypersonic aircraft could develop civilian uses including transport, Fu predicted. Aerospace aircraft will be more difficult to develop, but it will be worth it, Fu said, noting that they require faster speeds and more complicated power systems, which could be a combination of turbofan, scramjet and rocket engines, in order to break the first cosmic speed. After the successful development of the JF-12 wind tunnel in 2012 that can simulate Mach 5 to Mach 9 and has provided key support to China's major aviation and space missions, the JF-22 project started in March 2018, CCTV reported. The JF-22 will join the JF-12 and form a world-leading aerodynamic experiment platform that can cover all hypersonic speeds, the report said. Wind tunnels are the more accurate and efficient way to develop new aircraft when compared to other methods like computer simulations and model experiments, Fu said. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202108/1232234.shtml NASA Awards 5 Subsonic Aircraft Risk Reduction Contracts Five companies have been awarded contracts to help NASA identify strategies to reduce the risk and cost of a potential future demonstration of subsonic transport aircraft technologies. The agency chose Boeing (NYSE: BA), Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTN), General Electric (NYSE: GE), Blended Wing Aircraft and ROHR to support the Future Subsonic Demonstrator Risk Reduction Activities program, according to award notices posted Monday on SAM.gov. NASA is seeking technologies capable of facilitating subsonic transportation while meeting its aviation sustainability, environmental, noise reduction, efficiency and cost objectives. In a statement of objectives, the agency noted that a next-generation single-aisle transport vision system could include tube and wing configuration, truss braced wing and lifting wing-body configuration concepts. The risk reduction contract details are provided below: • Blended Wing Aircraft: $6,885,011 • Boeing: $4,569,073.68 • Raytheon Technologies: $1,471,683 • General Electric: $989,385.48 • ROHR: $174,8713 https://www.govconwire.com/2021/08/nasa-selects-5-companies-for-subsonic-aircraft-risk-reduction-program/ Rocket Lab's Mars mission gets green light from NASA Rocket Lab is one step closer to going to Mars with NASA's approval of the company's Photon spacecraft for an upcoming science mission. If all continues according to plan the two craft will launch in 2024 and arrive on the red planet 11 months later to study its magnetosphere. The mission is known as the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, or ESCAPADE (hats off to whoever worked that one out), and was proposed for a small satellite science program back in 2019, eventually being chosen as a finalist. UC Berkeley researchers are the main force behind the science part. These satellites have to be less than 180 kilograms (about 400 pounds) and must perform standalone science missions, part of a new program aiming at more lightweight, shorter lead missions that can be performed with strong commercial industry collaboration. A few concepts have been baking since the original announcement of the program, and ESCAPADE just passed Key Decision Point C, meaning it's ready to go from concept to reality. This particular mission is actually a pair of satellites, a perk that no doubt contributed to its successful selection. Rocket Lab's whole intention with the Photon program is to provide a more or less turnkey design for various space operations, from orbital work to interplanetary science missions like this one. Interestingly, Rocket Lab won't actually be launching the mission aboard one of its Electron rockets — the satellites will be aboard a "NASA-provided commercial launch vehicle," which leaves it up to them. Perhaps by that time the company will be in the running for the contract, but for now Rocket Lab is only building the spacecraft, including most of the nonscientific onboard components: navigation, orientation, propulsion, etc. Rocket Lab debuts plans for a new, larger, reusable rocket for launching satellite constellations "ESCAPADE is an innovative mission that demonstrates that advanced interplanetary science is now within reach for a fraction of traditional costs, and we’re proud to make it possible with Photon. We are delighted to receive the green light from NASA to proceed to flight," said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck in the company's announcement of the milestone. Rocket Lab is already under contract to lift a CubeSat to cislunar orbit for Artemis purposes, and has locked in a deal with Varda Space Industries to build that company's spacecraft, for launch in 2023 and 2024. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/rocket-labs-mars-mission-gets-210455372.html (Photo Courtesy: NASA) Astronaut's undisclosed minor medical issue delays spacewalk CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is delaying a spacewalk at the International Space Station this week because of an undisclosed medical issue involving one of its astronauts. Officials announced the postponement Monday, less than 24 hours before Mark Vande Hei was supposed to float outside. Vande Hei is dealing with “a minor medical issue," officials said in a statement. It’s not an emergency, they noted, but didn't provide any further details. Vande Hei, 54, a retired Army colonel, has been at the space station since April and is expected to remain there until next spring for a full one-year mission. This is his second station stay. He and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide were supposed to venture out Tuesday to install a bracket for new solar wings. NASA said the work can wait. The spacewalk will be rescheduled after this weekend's planned supply run by SpaceX and a September series of spacewalks on the Russian side of the orbiting lab, according to NASA. https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronauts-undisclosed-minor-medical-issue-184210368.html The Fifteenth Safeskies Aviation Safety Conference is scheduled to be held in Canberra, Australia in September 2022 Safeskies 2022, 15th aviation safety conference. Canberra, Australia. September 20 to 22, 2022 Sir Reginald Ansett Memorial Lecture and Dinner, Federal Parliament House, Great Hall. Evening of 20 September. Conference sessions. 21 and 22 September, Hyatt Hotel Canberra. Details on the website as they become available. www.SafeskiesAustralia.org Unmanned Safety Institute Issues 10,000th Certification Due to broad acceptance and recognition by both Academic and Commercial markets, Unmanned Safety Institute’s (USI) Remote Pilot Certification structure surpasses 10,000 Issued Certifications Deland, FL (August__, 2021) – Vincent Collins, served in the US Navy for over 5 years from 2015 to 2020. After deciding to exit the military, he spent considerable time researching career opportunities that could provide him with a challenging, exciting, and interesting career. Based on his search criteria, Vincent found that Unmanned Aircraft Systems, (or “drone”) pilots were in significant demand and industry forecasts confirmed that this could be a rewarding, long-term career opportunity. Collins’ research further led him to a UAS Bootcamp Program offered by Gulf Coast State College and taught by the Unmanned Safety Institute. He enrolled in the Bootcamp Program in Port St. Joe, Florida and earned his USI Safety Level 1 and 2 Certifications in March 2021. As the spring testing season was in full swing, it wasn’t until all the test results were in that USI determined that Vincent’s USI Safety Level 1 certification was the 10,000th USI Certification issued since the program’s inception in 2016. When notified about this accomplishment, Collins remarked, “I came to the UAS Bootcamp without any drone experience and have been extremely impressed with Gulf Coast State College and USI”. He added, “It is now easy for me to understand why USI Certifications are the most respected and recognized by industry. Anybody can teach you how to fly a drone, but USI is truly preparing me to be a leader in UAS operations.” USI created the proprietary 3 stage Certification Structure to fill a huge void in the marketplace. Part 107 provides for one certification level across all commercial operations. Companies hiring Remote Pilots have very specific requirements for experience, proficiency, and knowledge. USI’s tiered certification structure, combined with digital badges (via Credly) can assure hiring entities that these candidates have documented proof of their credentials. As the need for Remote Pilots in Command (RPIC) is growing significantly and the labor market does not contain enough qualified individuals, USI has implemented its Certification Program in over 200 high schools and colleges across the country. This growing list of schools is producing thousands of qualified UAS pilots and other needed positions per year. USI President, Josh Olds commented on this achievement, “Vincent Collins is a perfect example of someone who can apply a well-rounded background and education to their rigorous UAS training and be market ready upon the achievement of USI Certifications. In fact, he is so impressive that USI has already hired him to provide support to our UAS Bootcamp, OEM Training, and nationwide academic programs”. About the Unmanned Safety Institute The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, academia and organizations focused on integrating and operating UAS for civil or commercial purposes. The Unmanned Safety Institute provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. With more than 200 instructors and over 10,000 customers around the world, including several Fortune 500 enterprises and nearly 200 schools in over 30 states, USI is the global leader in commercial and academic UAS training and certification, delivering the most highly regarded training program of its kind. Programs include the Small UAS & Advanced Safety Certifications, Visual Line of Sight Systems Operations™ (VSO) and Professional Remote Operator™ (PRO) certifications and Unmanned Connect™ workforce development initiative. USI’s training and certification programs are endorsed by major aviation insurance providers and incorporated into aviation association professional development programs and have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education. Discover more at www.UnmannedSafetyInstitute.org. USI - Alexis Creedy Alexis.Creedy@unmanned-safety.org Article: Ultrafine particle levels measured on board short-haul commercial passenger jet aircraft • Susan Michaelis, Tristan Loraine & C. V. Howard Environmental Health volume Abstract Airline crew members report adverse health effects during and after inhalation exposure to engine oil fumes sourced to the air supply system onboard commercial and military aircraft. Most investigations into the causal factors of their reported symptoms focus on specific chemical contaminants in the fumes. The adverse health effects reported in aircrew exposed to the aircraft air supply, bled unfiltered off the engine or Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) may be related to particulate exposures, which are widely known to effect health. While oil contaminates the aircraft air supply, some suggest that this will only occur when there is a bearing seal failure, others document that there is low level oil contamination of the air supply during normal engine operation. This brief pilot study explores whether particulate exposure may be associated with the normal engine/APU and air supply operation and to therefore increase the understanding that UFP exposures may have on crew and passengers. See Article: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-021-00770-7 Upcoming RTCA Training Opportunities DO-178C, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment w/Supplements – September 13-17, 11am-5pm est. Airworthiness Security Certification – September 27-30, 11am-5pm est. Safety Management Systems Overview – October 11-14 1pm-5pm est. DO-160G, Environmental Testing – October 25-29, 11am-5pm est. DO-254, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware – December 7-10, 11am-5pm est. Learn more about RTCA’s training offerings. Curt Lewis