Flight Safety Information - August 31, 2021 No. 175 In This Issue : Incident: American A321 at Las Vegas on Aug 28th 2021, shaved runway edge lights on departure : Incident: Southwest B738 at Portland on Aug 28th 2021, bird strike : Incident: Smartlynx Malta A321 at Iasi on Aug 30th 2021, navigation system problem : Incident: Batik A333 near Kuala Namu on Aug 29th 2021, engine component problem : Accident: China Express CRJ9 at Aksu on Aug 29th 2021, overran runway : SriLankan Airlines elaborates on health and safety regulatory measures in light of IATA’s findings on safety of air travel : Hong Kong bans PAL flights for 2 weeks : Kabul Airport Now Uncontrolled, American Carriers Barred From Flights: US Aviation Body : Man Arrested For Attempted Theft Of Airplane In Hilo : Australia Further Extends Pilot Check Compliance Dates : Delta Variant Slams Brakes On U.S. Domestic Air Travel As Demand, Flight Prices Drop Below Pre-Pandemic Levels : Collins Aerospace to Buy Digital Aviation Company FlightAware; Dave Nieuwsma Quoted : Southwest Airlines ramps up hiring by 16% to ease flight delays, reduce overtime : Israel’s airlines face mass layoffs, bankruptcy : Atlas Air Worldwide to build aircraft MRO facility at Incheon Int’l Airport : Aircraft deliveries and production rates for July remain stable : Purdue aviation experts collaborate with industry to address critical shortage of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians : Amateur astronauts: SpaceX's civilian launch on Sept. 15 is a mission like no other : POSITION AVAILABLE: FOQA Specialist Incident: American A321 at Las Vegas on Aug 28th 2021, shaved runway edge lights on departure An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N582UW performing flight AA-2480 from Las Vegas,NV to Charlotte,NC (USA), had taxied via taxiway B to the holding point F at runway 08L, then lined up runway 08L for departure, however aligned with the right hand runway edge lights and commenced takeoff continuing along the runway edge lights until becoming airborne at 23:30L (Aug 29th 06:30Z), then corrected and drifted to the left edge of the runway. The aircraft continued to Charlotte for a safe landing. The aircraft remained on the ground in Charlotte for about 3 hours, then continued service. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT ON DEPARTURE DAMAGED 15 EDGE LIGHTS, LAS VEGAS, NV.", rated the damage unknown and the occurrence an incident. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2480/history/20210829/0601Z/KLAS/KCLT http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec84631&opt=0 Incident: Southwest B738 at Portland on Aug 28th 2021, bird strike A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8502Z performing flight WN-4153 from Las Vegas,NV to Portland,OR (USA), was on final approach to Portland's runway 28R when a bird impacted the right hand wing. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The aircraft returned to service about 13.5 hours after landing. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD DAMAGING RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE, PORTLAND, OR.", rated the damage unknown and the occurrence an incident. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA4153/history/20210828/1450Z/KLAS/KPDX http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec8432d&opt=0 Incident: Smartlynx Malta A321 at Iasi on Aug 30th 2021, navigation system problem A Smartlynx Malta Airbus A321-200 on behalf of Wizz Air, registration 9H-SLG performing flight W6-3672 from Milan Bergamo (Italy) to Iasi (Romania) with 107 people on board, was on approach to Iasi when the crew advised they did have a problem with their navigation systems. 22 vehicles of Emergency Services took their stand by positions at the runway. The crew performed an instrument approach to runway 14 but came in too high initiating a go around at about 850 feet MSL (approximately 440 feet AGL, on a 3 degree glideslope the aircraft should have been at 210 feet AGL) about 900 meters/3000 feet short of the runway threshold. The crew climbed to 2000 feet MSL, positioned for a visual approach to runway 14 passing 900 meters/3000 feet before the runway threshold now at about 650 feet MSL (240 feet AGL) and landed safely. Emergency services did not need to intervene. The aircraft is still on the ground in Iasi about 5 hours after landing. The airline reported: "An emergency was reported today on flight W63672 Bergamo-Iasi (Wizz Air), scheduled arrival time 13:25. 20 minutes before landing, the pilot of the aircraft announced a technical problem with the navigation instrument, several teams of firefighters were mobilized. Fortunately, the aircraft landed on time, in maximum safety, without the need for their intervention." http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec812d2&opt=0 Incident: Batik A333 near Kuala Namu on Aug 29th 2021, engine component problem A Batik Air Airbus A330-300, registration PK-LEL performing flight ID-6897 from Banda Aceh to Jakarta (Indonesia) with 271 passengers and 11 crew, was climbing out of Banda Aceh when the crew stopped the climb at FL250 and decided to divert to Kuala Namu for a safe landing about 25 minutes later. The airline reported the crew received indication of a problem with one of the engine (Trent 772) components. A replacement aircraft took the passengers to Jakarta. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Kuala Namu about 30 hours after landing. Indonesia's Ministry of Transport is looking into the incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec7ec57&opt=0 Accident: China Express CRJ9 at Aksu on Aug 29th 2021, overran runway A China Express Canadair CRJ-900, registration B-3250 performing flight G5-4394 from Korla to Aksu (China) with 64 passengers and 9 crew, had been holding at 6000 meters (FL197) for about 10 minutes prior to commencing the approach to Aksu's runway 27. The aircraft touched down at 18:14L (10:14Z) but overran the runway and came to a stop on soft ground about 76 meters past the runway end (and about 16 meters past the paved surface of the runway end safety area) and about 31 meters to the left of the runway center line. The aircraft was evacuated. Four passengers received injuries as result of the evacuation. China's Civil Aviation Authority opened an investigation. No Metars are available, the local weather station reported at 18:00L: 26 degrees C, dew point 13 degrees C, winds at 4 knots from the North, 894 hPa, no precipitation. Aksu Airport features a runway 09/27 of 2400 meters length at elevation of 3800 feet/1160 meters. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ec7e91e&opt=0 SriLankan Airlines elaborates on health and safety regulatory measures in light of IATA’s findings on safety of air travel Aug 30, Colombo: SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the oneworld alliance, elaborates on the efficacy of the health and safety measures that are put in place throughout its passenger journey with the intention of ensuring maximum safety and wellbeing for its valued passengers and crew alike. In the onset, International Air Transportation ( IATA) in a communique revealed “The risk of contracting COVID-19 onboard an aircraft to be very low.” (https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/health/low-risk-transmission/) Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Airline has been operating under the most stringent health and safety regulatory measures stipulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka and has been in full adherence with the respective aviation authorities of the countries that it operates to. The Airline also took a progressive measure in vaccinating its workforce on priority basis, staying ahead of the timelines of the nation-wide vaccination programme. Accordingly, the Airline commenced its staff vaccination process as early as in February 2021 and has fully inoculated more than 4,500 employees including key frontline and operational staff representing Flight and Cabin Crew, Airport Services, Engineering, Security, Ticket Office and Sales Staff, and other second-layer operational staff who are directly exposed to the virus. Currently, 95% of cabin and flight crew and around 90% of the operational and other staff are vaccinated with recommend doses. SriLankan Airlines’ fleet undergoes deep sanitation before each journey and is equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. IATA further states that “Cabin air consists of half fresh air and half High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)-filtered air, which remove 99.993% of bacteria and viruses. HEPA filters are those also used in hospital operating theatres.” Additionally, from each point of operation across its network including Colombo, it is mandatory for all passengers to be in possession of a negative PCR or antigen test before departure and temperature screening takes place at multiple points leading to boarding, in order to ensure maximum safety. The Airline has also restricted the availability of shareable items onboard to prevent any form of possible contamination. Wearing face masks is mandatory right through the journey and the cabin crew are attired in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which is inclusive head covers, face shields, face masks, gown, gloves and shoe covers. IATA’s published study dated August 5-6, 2021 titled ‘Air Travel, Public Health Measures and Risk in the Context of COVID 19’ cites, “Universal wearing of face coverings appears to be an effective protection against spread via aerosols [Cheng].” However, certain globally acclaimed airlines have already opted for the cabin crew to be only wearing face masks and gloves, unless otherwise required by a regulatory authority. SriLankan Airlines’ continuous efforts to ensure health and safety were commended with the highest attainable ‘Diamond’ status by the APEX Health and Safety Audit powered by SimplyFlying, thus making the National Carrier the first airline in South Asia to attain the status and one of the 15 global airlines currently belonging to the esteemed tier. The Airline continues to follow strict precautions in order to safeguard health and wellbeing of its valued passengers and crew during every journey. In order to learn more about SriLankan Airlines’ health and safety precautions, click https://www.srilankan.com/en_uk/coporate/covid-update http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21B/Aug30_1630271373CH.php Hong Kong bans PAL flights for 2 weeks MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has been banned from operating passenger flights from Manila to Hong Kong for the next two weeks, but will continue to operate passenger flights from Hong Kong to Manila during the period. The South China Morning Post reported yesterday that the Hong Kong government had banned PAL from operating flights between Manila and Hong Kong starting last Sunday up to Sept. 11. PAL in a statement yesterday confirmed the suspension. “Philippine Airlines passenger flights from Hong Kong to Manila continue to operate every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to our planned schedules. In the other direction, while PAL will not be able to carry passengers from Manila to Hong Kong up to Sept. 11 to comply with the restriction, we will continue to operate all-cargo flights into Hong Kong,” the airline said. PAL said passengers affected by the ban may rebook, refund or convert their tickets into a travel voucher. Rebooking and refund service fees are waived. The two-week ban, according to the South China Morning Post report, was imposed after three of the seven COVID-19 cases confirmed in Hong Kong on Sunday were found to have come from PAL’s flight PR300 from Manila. PAL said all three passengers, two Filipinos and one Chinese national, presented negative COVID-19 test results when they checked in for their flight. The airline said it consistently complies with industry and regulatory safety protocols in the Philippines and abroad. “We reiterate that the top priority of Philippine Airlines has always been the safety and health of our passengers. We assure the flying public that strict safety measures are in place to protect our passengers throughout the journey on all our flights,” PAL said. “Our advanced cabin air flow systems ensure a protective air flow inflight, and each plane has onboard HEPA filters to cleanse cabin air from bacteria and viruses. Our cabin crew who serve and assist wear full PPEs as well as face masks and shields. Every aircraft surface is also sanitized and disinfected after every flight,” it said. In 2020, PAL was one of more than 150 airlines audited on its COVID-19 safety credentials by Safe Travel Barometer, an independent rating firm. PAL secured a 4.2 rating out of five, the highest score. PAL said it was also the first local airline to be registered with IOSA, the IATA Operational Safety Audit that is the gold standard for adherence to international safety standards. The airline completed its seventh consecutive IOSA renewal in 2019, marking a full 16 years of international safety compliance to date. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/31/2123716/hong-kong-bans-pal-flights-2-weeks Kabul Airport Now Uncontrolled, American Carriers Barred From Flights: US Aviation Body Earlier this month, the US military said it had assumed air traffic control responsibilities in Kabul to facilitate the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan Washington: Kabul airport is without air traffic control services now that the U.S. military has withdrawn from Afghanistan, and U.S. civil aircraft are barred from operating over the country unless given prior authorization, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Monday. The FAA said in a statement that "due to both the lack of air traffic services and a functional civil aviation authority in Afghanistan, as well as ongoing security concerns, U.S. civil operators, pilots, and U.S.-registered civil aircraft are prohibited from operating at any altitude over much of Afghanistan." Earlier this month, the U.S. military said it had assumed air traffic control responsibilities in Kabul to facilitate the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan. The FAA said U.S. civil operators "may continue to use one high-altitude jet route near the far eastern border for overflights. Any U.S. civil aircraft operator that wants to fly into/out of or over Afghanistan must receive prior authorization from the FAA." On August. 18, the FAA said U.S. air carriers and civilian pilots could fly into Kabul to conduct evacuation or relief flights with prior U.S. Defense Department approval. US airlines helped transport thousands of evacuees this month but conducted flights from airports outside Afghanistan. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/kabul-airport-now-uncontrolled-american-carriers-barred-from-flights-us-aviation-body-2524254 Man Arrested For Attempted Theft Of Airplane In Hilo HILO, Hawaiʻi - Police say the suspect was able to enter the cockpit of the Beechcraft King Air C90A aircraft and start both engines, before he exited the plane. (BIVN) – A Venezuela man has been arrested and charged for the alleged attempted theft of an airplane from the Hilo International Airport. Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged 24-year-old Gabriel Arjona-Molina of Venezuela with attempted theft and other related offenses after he attempted to take an aircraft from the Hilo International Airport. On Friday August 27, 2021, around 1:30 p.m., a South Hilo patrol officer was flagged down by a witness who stated that a vehicle crashed through the fence at the Hilo International Airport. The vehicle driver then parked next to a fixed-winged single engine aircraft, exited the vehicle, and attempted to manually spin the aircraft’s propeller. The suspect, later identified as Arjona-Molina, then approached a Beechcraft King Air C90A aircraft parked on the ramp. He gained access to the aircraft via the pull-down hatch and entered the cockpit where he was able to start both engines before exiting the plane. Officers arrested him at the scene shortly thereafter and transported him to the Hilo police station. Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and the suspect was subsequently charged with attempted theft in the first degree, criminal property damage in the first degree, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, and criminal trespassing in the first degree. Arjona-Molina’s bail was set at $37,000. The value of the King Air C90A is approximately $1,500,000. Arjona-Molina is a Venezuelan national who has been on Hawai‘i Island for approximately two months. Arjona-Molina’s initial court appearance was today where his bail was maintained and he is currently being held at Hawaii Community Correctional Facility. https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2021/08/30/man-arrested-for-attempted-theft-of-airplane-in-hilo/ Australia Further Extends Pilot Check Compliance Dates This story is part of AIN's continuing coverage of the impact of the coronavirus on aviation. To assist operators and other aviation personnel impacted by the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has introduced additional alleviation measures that will be in effect until March 31, 2022. The new extension relieves airmen from the requirements of proficiency checks (except for flight examiner proficiency checks) and flight reviews for pilots at certain operators, including air operator certificate (AOC) holders, flight training organizations, and balloon and agricultural aircraft operators. In addition, the March 31, 2022 date applies to aircraft maintenance engineers, cabin crew, aeronautical knowledge examinations, and ATC and FSS license holders. Special requirements apply to extensions to flight examiner proficiency checks. Generally, the compliance delay applies to pilots, cabin crew, and aircraft operators who conduct domestic operations within Australia and have a proficiency check or flight review due between August 2021 and February 2022 and have an approved Safety Risk Mitigation Plan (SRMP). The exemption also provides for an SRMP to support AOC holders conducting international operations who, due to current government health orders, are unable to meet Covid-19 requirements. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-08-30/australia-further-extends-pilot-check-compliance-dates Delta Variant Slams Brakes On U.S. Domestic Air Travel As Demand, Flight Prices Drop Below Pre-Pandemic Levels The surge in coronavirus cases across the U.S. is slamming the brakes on the recovery of the travel industry, according to Adobe’s Digital Economy Index, reversing a months-long trend of rebounding demand and prices for domestic air travel that was only just reaching pre-pandemic levels. In June, U.S. domestic flight bookings drove $6 billion in online spending, according to Adobe’s Digital Economy Index, just 5% below 2019 levels. The surge in new Covid-19 cases caused as the infectious delta variant spread across the country curtailed this recovery, with data from Adobe showing $5.26 billion spent on domestic flights in July, a 13% drop from June and 16% lower than spending in 2019. This trend continued in August—Adobe Digital Insights lead analyst Vivek Pandya said sales typically match those from July—where the $2.9 billion spent on domestic flights is 33% lower than the same period in 2019. Though July was the first month in 2021 where flight prices bounced back to 2019 levels—continuing a month by month increase from 28% below 2019 levels in January to just 1% below them in June—data from Adobe showed the changing conditions and drop in demand meant August defied this trend. For the first three weeks of August, prices for domestic flights dipped to 6% below 2019 levels, according to Adobe, which measures transactions from six of the top ten U.S. airlines. CRUCIAL QUOTE Pandya said domestic flight bookings in August “show that U.S. consumers are taking the delta variant seriously and once again shifting their travel plans.” Pandya said it is likely spending in August will “be significantly under July... once again showing that like in 2020, the pandemic will continue dictating the terms.” BIG NUMBER $34 billion. That’s how much has been spent on online domestic flight bookings this year (from January through to July), according to Adobe. This is down 28% compared to the same period in 2019. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Bookings for domestic flights for Labor Day weekend are down 16% compared to 2019. The ten most popular destinations according to arrival sites are: Bozeman, MT; Kailua-Kona, HI; Kahului, HI; Honolulu; Orlando, FL; Las Vegas; North Charleston, SC; Phoenix; Reno, NV; and Denver. TANGENT Florida, facing one of the worst outbreaks of Covid-19 outbreaks in the world, has almost as many tourists as it did before the pandemic, according to the state’s tourism board. Key West is the number one destination for the summer season, according to Adobe. Two other Florida destinations—Orlando and Fort Myers—are also among the top ten destinations for domestic bookings this season. KEY BACKGROUND Travel and tourism has been one of the worst hit industries during the pandemic. The crash of international tourism could end up costing the global economy more than $4 trillion in 2020 and 2021, according to a United Nations report, much worse than predictions it made a year ago. The domestic sector in the U.S. has been steadily recovering throughout 2021 amid the widespread rollout of vaccines, highlighted by the Transportation Security Administration reporting record levels of travelers over major travel periods like Memorial Day and July 4, and hotel occupancy rates hitting their highest rates since 2019. The delta variant is denting this progress, however, and polling suggests more than half of Americans will postpone or cancel trips to areas experiencing major outbreaks. https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/30/delta-variant-slams-brakes-on-us-domestic-air-travel-as-demand-flight-prices-drop-below-pre-pandemic-levels/?sh=6c61176720fe Collins Aerospace to Buy Digital Aviation Company FlightAware; Dave Nieuwsma Quoted Raytheon Technologies’ (NYSE: RTX) Collins Aerospace subsidiary has agreed to acquire FlightAware for an undisclosed sum. Houston-based FlightAware is a digital aviation company with approximately 130 employees and has been delivering global flight tracking platforms, analytics, predictive technology and historical and real-time flight data to the aviation community since 2005, Raytheon said Monday. Collins will integrate FlightAware with its information management services portfolio within the avionics strategic business unit upon the transaction’s closing, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Dave Nieuwsma, head of avionics at Collins Aerospace, said global connectivity impacts aviation’s every segment and FlightAware’s analytics, customer experience and data collection capabilities will help Collins optimize the connected system’s power in support of clients. “FlightAware’s flight tracking and data platform, the largest in the world, has the potential to deliver new capabilities and innovations across our entire business,” Nieuwsma added. https://www.govconwire.com/2021/08/collins-aerospace-to-buy-digital-aviation-company-flightaware/ Southwest Airlines ramps up hiring by 16% to ease flight delays, reduce overtime The Dallas-based carrier is aiming to hire 5,200 workers. Southwest Airlines increased the number of workers it wants to hire by 16% to 5,200, part of an effort to ease flight disruptions and reduce overtime, even as the carrier pares service. The airline wants to add the new employees by the end of November to reduce delays and cancellations, Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said Monday in a message to employees. It has already hired 1,500 new workers toward the goal. The new target, boosted from one set Aug. 18, is intended “to support our future growth,” he wrote. While Southwest hasn’t fully detailed its plans to cut capacity in November and December, fourth-quarter capacity will be lower than the 2019 level, Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven told workers in an Aug. 27 memo. The carrier previously said fourth-quarter capacity would match the level of two years earlier. The Dallas-based airline said last week that it would reduce flying for the final four months of this year, after employees complained they were overworked and flight crews said they were being left without hotels, transportation or food at some locations. “We know you’re tired and running low,” Kelly told employees Monday. “What I hope you take away from this is that we are 100% dedicated to improving the quality of your workday and setting you up for success. I hope these solutions begin to bring some much-needed relief.” The airline has been offering incentives to workers for job referrals after seeing a “sharp decline” in qualified applicants. The carrier also boosted its starting wage to $15 an hour. Southwest shares fell 3.4% Monday to $49.17, part of an industrywide slump as the European Union imposed new restrictions on travel from the U.S. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2021/08/30/southwest-airlines-ramps-up-hiring-by-16-to-ease-flight-delays-reduce-overtime/ Israel’s airlines face mass layoffs, bankruptcy The global aviation market faces a grim future due to the pandemic, as Israeli firms prepare for a labor strike. Israeli airlines are facing new waves of mass layoffs and potential collapse as the global aviation market continues to be pummeled by the COVID-19 pandemic. With long lists of travel restrictions and dashed dreams for summer tourism due to the emergence of the delta variant, millions around the world are in immediate danger of losing their jobs. For more stories from The Media Line go to themedialine.org According to Professor Yaniv Poria, a tourism expert from Ben-Gurion University’s Hotel and Tourism Management Department and academic director of its Eilat Campus, the travel sector has changed forever as a result of the coronavirus. “I predict that our DNA, as far as the tourism industry goes, has been changed,” Poria told The Media Line. “This could be the end of travel as we knew it.” “Forget about the tourism of the 20th century,” he said. “It was so easy to move from one place to another, and now it’s also so easy for the coronavirus to move from one place to another.” Poria estimates that airlines globally will be forced to significantly downsize and fire between 50% and 70% of their employees in the coming months. They will then have to engage in hiring sprees and bring on board workers temporarily in between pandemic waves and during the traditional peak tourism summer months. “In general, the industry will substantially shrink and companies will do the most to minimize the number of employees,” he warned. “Many of the people working in this industry will, unfortunately, have to find a new job.” Poria’s predictions could materialize quicker than expected. Italian airline Alitalia on Wednesday announced that it would officially shut down in the coming weeks, and that all flights from October 15 onward would be canceled. Once Italy’s largest carrier, Alitalia has suffered from financial setbacks for several years. However, the situation was severely exacerbated by the coronavirus; in fact, the airline posted a loss of over $500 million in the first half of 2020. Other airlines did not fare any better. Air France-KLM reported a loss of $8.33 billion in 2020 and Wizz Air logged a loss of roughly $675 million from March 2020 to March 2021. Some airlines did receive substantial government assistance. Air France-KLM received some $12.2 billion in government loans and guarantees, while Lufthansa received $10.6 billion in aid. Poria believes that companies focusing on business and medical tourism will have greater odds of surviving the crisis than those focused on the leisure arena. As the pandemic marches on, he said, “people will decide whether to take the risk [of traveling] and many of us will decide to stay at home.” Traveling will no longer be as simple a decision as it once was, with tourists regularly being expected to provide test results, vaccination certificates and other health declarations before they can take off. The psychological impact of the pandemic has fundamentally impacted the sector, Poria notes. “We will fly less,” he said. With ongoing restrictions and quarantine requirements for nearly all travelers, most Israelis are not flying abroad at the moment and many have delayed their travel plans indefinitely. The crisis has hit Israeli airlines particularly hard. The Histadrut workers’ union formally declared a labor dispute and said that airport workers, as well as those employed by Israeli airlines, could go on strike come September 6 if the Finance Ministry does not agree to compensate workers that have been laid off. Histadrut Transport Workers Union Chairman Avi Edery told The Media Line that the union had initially agreed that 3,000 workers could be laid off in order to cut costs. However, companies are looking to let go of hundreds more employees and the government has done little to help the situation. “Now we have a new wave of layoffs, no agreement, and no financial aid for companies,” Edery said. “We’re on the cusp of bankruptcy.” Some 20,000 people work in the Israeli airline and airport sector. “The air travel sector is critical,” he said. “If Israel had no aviation industry it would be a risk for its national interests.” The Finance Ministry on Sunday agreed to provide assistance packages in the form of loan extensions for Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia and Israir. The ministry suggested a $150 million loan for El Al, Israel’s national air carrier, in addition to $20 million for Arkia and Israir. However, Edery said that the Histadrut has already rejected the offer. “El Al is in danger and the government doesn’t care,” he said. “There won’t even be salaries to pay workers in September.” Others also laid the blame for the scope of the crisis on government action and inaction. “On the one hand, they are saying we are not going into lockdown and therefore there won’t be any compensation for businesses that are crumbling, but on the other hand they are also telling the public that they shouldn’t travel and making it difficult for them to do so,” a source in the travel sector, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Media Line. Israel has not treated aviation as a strategic asset and the situation is dire at the moment, she warned. “Travel companies did not receive any financial aid from the government … It’s a very complicated situation,” she said. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israels-airlines-face-mass-layoffs-bankruptcy-678237 Atlas Air Worldwide to build aircraft MRO facility at Incheon Int’l Airport Global airfreight leader Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings will set up a maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) facility for U.S. cargo planes at S. Korea’s main gateway Incheon International Airport in a joint venture with Korea’s MRO service provider Sharp Technics K. The JV plans to start operating a 2.5-bay hangar that can accommodate 2 large-sized planes simultaneously by early 2025, with an option to build another 2.5-bay hangar, which could allow them to accommodate total 5 planes, depending on demand. About 40 percent of the entire 138 aircrafts owned and operated by Atlas Air will likely receive the MRO service at the facility. Atlas Air estimates the new MRO facility will generate an average $5.6 billion in revenue for 50 years from 2025 with new jobs for up to 1,200 engineers. https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?sc=30800024&year=2021&no=839453 Aircraft deliveries and production rates for July remain stable Figures for global aircraft orders and deliveries for July 2021 continue to show a mixed picture with July orders the lowest since January 2021, while deliveries continue a slow recovery from the worst of the crisis. Customers ordered 33 aircraft – 21 single-aisle and 12 widebody – while year-to-date deliveries for 2021 are now 66% ahead of this time in 2020, at 528. As the recovery in orders and deliveries remain volatile month to month, it is difficult to precisely forecast the pace of recovery as the aerospace sector continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are welcome signs of potential recovery supported by flight data showing UK flight numbers now around 50% below 2019 figures, and Europe-wide just under 30% below 2019 volumes. The backlog of aircraft orders remains substantial at 12,800 aircraft but has fallen from the pre-crisis peak of more than 14,000. The backlog represents several years’ worth of work and significant value to the UK aerospace manufacturing estimated to be £180bn at current input levels. ADS Chief Executive, Kevin Craven said: “The aerospace and aviation sectors continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, though industry production rates and slowly rising flight numbers are showing welcome signs of potential recovery. “However, deliveries and orders for widebody aircraft remain significantly supressed and despite welcome UK Government updates to green lists, changes in quarantine rules for double vaccinated travellers from the EU, US and UK there is still more to be done. “To continue to nurture the UK and international aerospace and aviation recovery there is a need for continued international cooperation and coordination to restore flights and operations particularly on the vital transatlantic routes to pre-crisis levels.” https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/aircraft-deliveries-and-production-rates-for-july-remain-stable.html Purdue aviation experts collaborate with industry to address critical shortage of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians FAA’s Administrator Dickson to speak at Purdue’s aviation symposium August 30, 2021 – To avoid a looming personnel crisis in the aviation industry, Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology announced today the creation of the Purdue University National Aviation Symposium – Emerging Critical Shortages of Pilots and Maintenance Technicians. This three-day symposium, scheduled for April 6-8, 2022, will unite the aviation community – including airlines, manufacturers, industry associations, labor unions, government agencies and academic institutions – to identify and mitigate challenges to creating a sufficient pool of qualified pilots and technicians. Aging and retiring pilots, combined with fewer numbers of pilots and technicians entering the workforce, have created a potentially crippling shortage of workers. One report by consulting firm Oliver Wyman predicts that the worldwide aviation industry could need as many as 50,000 more pilots than are available by 2025. According to the Aviation Technician Education Council, some progress has been made to increase the availability of aviation maintenance technicians, but technicians are still retiring faster than they can be replaced. This shortage of human capital has the potential to create a human resource crisis in the aviation industry, but Purdue’s aviation experts intend to change that. Stephen Dickson, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will address symposium attendees. Dickson has been an advocate for safety, global leadership, operational excellence, and the health, welfare and evolution of the FAA's workforce since he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2019. Before going to the FAA, Dickson spent nearly three decades at Delta Air Lines, retiring as the senior vice president of flight operations. In addition to hearing from Administrator Dickson, three objectives of the National Aviation Symposium include: Reviewing the baseline projected levels of demand and supply of pilots and maintenance technicians. Identifying challenges and roadblocks that impede the creation of candidate pools. Proposing a unified position and voice on policy changes and actions required for industry, government and academia. “As air travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, the shortage of qualified pilots and maintenance technicians is only going to get worse unless we do something about it,” said Thomas Frooninckx, head of the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University. “By combining our expertise and resources across all facets of the aviation industry, we hope to identify and act upon the best ways to attract, train and retain a reliable, robust pipeline of aviation professionals.” To participate in Purdue’s National Aviation Symposium, request more information online at polytechnic.purdue.edu/national-aviation-symposium. About the Purdue Polytechnic Institute The Purdue Polytechnic Institute, one of 10 academic colleges at Purdue University, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in aviation, computing, construction management, engineering technology, technology leadership, and technology education. In addition to Purdue University’s main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue Polytechnic offers select degree programs in nine Indiana communities. Media Contact: Melissa Templeton Director of Marketing and Communications Purdue Polytechnic Institute templetm@purdue.edu (765) 496-0094 https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/newsroom/purdue-aviation-experts-collaborate-industry-address-critical-shortage-pilots-technicians Amateur astronauts: SpaceX's civilian launch on Sept. 15 is a mission like no other The launch next month of the first all-civilian mission to orbit is an ambitious test for a burgeoning space industry's futuristic dream of sending many more ordinary people to space in the next few years. Why it matters: Companies and nations envision millions of people living and working in space without having to become professional, government-backed astronauts. Those hopes are riding on SpaceX's next crewed mission, called Inspiration4. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Previous launches have taken billionaires to suborbital space or sent space tourists to the International Space Station alongside professional astronauts, but this mission is the first with a crew made up entirely of amateur astronauts. What's happening: Inspiration4 is effectively a proof of concept for the idea that an all-civilian mission aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft — and ostensibly that all-amateur spaceflight — can work. Four crewmembers — Jared Isaacman, Sian Proctor, Chris Sembroski and Hayley Arceneaux — will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Sept. 15. They will orbit the Earth for about three days, flying higher than the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope before coming in for a splashdown off the Florida coast. During their mission, the crew will live in close quarters, stare down at Earth and at the stars, perform science experiments and keep an eye on how their spacecraft is performing while mission controllers monitor it from the ground. The big picture: SpaceX wants space travel one day to be akin to air travel so that anyone who wants to can fly to orbit or far-off parts of space. "We'd like to see aircraft like — airline, like — operations from a human spaceflight perspective, and so this chance to have our first commercial all-civilian flight is awesome," SpaceX director of human spaceflight Benji Reed told me. Yes, but: Flying to space isn't anything like flying on a commercial airliner, at least not yet. It's taken this crew months of training in locations around the U.S. to get ready for their launch, and it has dominated their lives since the full crew was announced in March. The four crewmembers have effectively gotten a crash course in astronaut training, spending time in simulators, studying reams of notes on their own time and taking quizzes from SpaceX. While they may not be professionals, they will certainly not be like a typical airline passenger when they fly to space in September. Their training has effectively been a test of how much pre-flight instruction ordinary people will need to fly to orbit and how quickly that process can go. How it works: Inspiration4's crew was chosen through means more akin to something on reality TV than professional astronaut selection. Isaacman wanted the mission to be all-civilian from the start and he didn't want to just take a few of his friends along for the ride. Instead, he decided to add a fundraising component — raising $100 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on top of Isaacman's $100 million donation — and open up seats to complete strangers. Sembroski was chosen via a sweepstakes that anyone could enter. Proctor won her seat through a contest for entrepreneurs. Arceneaux — a childhood cancer survivor treated by St. Jude who is now a physician assistant at the hospital — was picked by the charity to represent it in space. The bottom line: Inspiration4 is a coming-of-age moment for an adolescent commercial spaceflight industry trying to fly many more people to space in the future. https://www.yahoo.com/news/amateur-astronauts-spacexs-civilian-launch-093015409.html FOQA Specialist (NJUS) Purpose of Position The FOQA Specialist processes day-to-day Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) data using the Ground Data Replay Analysis System (GDRAS) and performs routine data analysis. The FOQA Specialist creates weekly and monthly deliverables in addition to working with Gatekeepers and other members of Safety and FOQA Management Team (FMT). Tasks and Responsibilities · Supports the FOQA Program Manager with daily administration of the FOQA efforts to ensure analysis of flight data for improved flight safety including validation of FOQA events, identification of events for Gatekeeper contacts and identification of events for Maintenance reporting. · Performs data analysis, root cause analysis and determines corrective actions of digital flight data to determine adverse events, trends in flight and maintenance operations. Coordinates and validates aircraft specific event definitions. Maintains and identifies new FOQA events, and manages documentation supporting these functions. · Prepares flight operations trending analysis charts and reports. Compiles and presents FOQA data summaries to enhance training, maintenance, flight operations. Performs specialized studies and fulfills special data requests. Assists in the creation of safety and FOQA department publications. Prepares reports, presentations, and statistical data required to identify trends for safety enhancement. · Oversees data collection process of aircraft fleet in conjunction with Maintenance. Education Bachelor's in Aviation or Engineering Certifications and Licenses Years of Experience 0-2 years of experience Core Competencies Adaptability Collaboration Curiosity Service-Oriented Strives for Positive Results Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other (KSAOs) · Basic computer programming and statistical methods experience · Strong work ethic, ability to work in a fast-paced environment and a positive attitude toward teamwork · Previous experience maintaining and enhancing corporate safety standards and safe operation practices · Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs, including spreadsheet and database applications · Travel up to 10% of the time, including overnight stays · FAA Commercial Pilot License or higher preferred · Prior experience with Austin Digital or equivalent GDRAS platforms preferred · Knowledge of aircraft flight data recorders preferred · Previous work experience, preferably in 14 CFR Part 121 or 135 air carrier operations; quality control, maintenance, operations, safety or a combination of these areas. APPLY HERE Curt Lewis