Flight Safety Information - September 13, 2021 No. 184 In This Issue : Accident: Aeroservice L410 near Kazachinsk on Sep 12th 2021, touched down short of runway : Incident: Ural A321 near Ekaterinburg on Sep 12th 2021, failure of speed and altitude indication instruments : Incident: Austrian A321 at Vienna on Sep 10th 2021, smoke in cockpit : Eurocopter EC 145 (BK 117C-2) - Fatal Accident (France) : Man accused of pointing laser at aircraft arrested after struggle (Canada) : 12 Air India Airbus aircraft remain grounded due to want of engines : Muslim woman reportedly attacked on airplane at Detroit Metro Airport : Plane crash reported at Havasu airport (Arizona) : Southwest Airlines Bans Alcohol Into 2022 : Calicut crash shows why infants at risk (India) : NBAA To Require COVID-19 Vaccination At Las Vegas Convention : Ethiopian Airlines Takes Its 32nd Dash 8-400 Turboprop : Potential component defect to delay next Virgin Galactic flight : Spacewalkers press ahead with power system upgrades : POSITION AVAILABLE: Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants) : Position Available - Safety Evaluator : POSITION AVAILABLE: Decision Science Lead, Flight Safety Accident: Aeroservice L410 near Kazachinsk on Sep 12th 2021, touched down short of runway An Aeroservice LLC Let L-410 on behalf of Sila Avia, registration RA-67042 performing flight 51 from Irkutsk to Kazachinsk (Russia) with 14 passengers and 2 crew, was on approach to Kazachinsk at 22:35L (14:35Z) when the aircraft lost height and touched down about 4000 meters/2.16nm short of the runway. As of 18:55Z the governor of Irkutsk reported the captain of the flight was killed, 3 passengers were found dead, too. By 19:45 the governor reported 8 people have been recovered from the aircraft with moderate to serious injuries. 4 passengers had been able to exit the aircraft on their own and were also taken for medical care. Sila Avia reported the aircraft was on its second approach in heavy fog when it disappeared from radar. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations reported emergency services are moving to the accident location of a L410 suffering a hard landing. 14 passengers and 2 crew were on board. According to Russia's regional investigative committee a passenger first alerted emergency services to the accident, all passengers were rescued by emergency services. According to passenger reports one of the pilots was killed in the accident. The governor of the Irkutsk region reported all occupants of the aircraft survived, there had been no fatality. According to local media emergency services have reached the accident location in the Taiga, hard to reach, at about Sep 13th 01:30L (Sep 12th 17:30Z). Until that time emergency services were talking to the passengers via phones. The accident location is reported on an island (editorial note: which suggests the northern final position). Subsequently local media, now also quoted by Russian News Agencies, reported that emergency services after reaching the accident site found 4 people dead, amongst them the captain of the flight, the first officer is said to have survived and to be in a state of shock. Around 18:55Z the governor of Irkutsk reported the pilot as well as three passengers have been killed in the accident. At about 19:00Z Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MCHS) confirmed 4 fatalities were recovered, works are still ongoing to free trapped people. At 19:45z Irkutsk's governor reported in addition to the 4 bodies removed from the airframe 8 survivors were recovered with moderate to serious injuries and handed over to medics. 4 other survivors have been able to free themselves and are being taken care of by medics, too. Kazachinsk Airport (Position N56.2775 E107.5645) features a paved runway 04/22 of 1600 meters/5250 feet length. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed259dd&opt=0 Incident: Ural A321 near Ekaterinburg on Sep 12th 2021, failure of speed and altitude indication instruments An Ural Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration VQ-BKG performing flight U6-100 (dep Sep 11th) from Moscow Domodedovo to Novosibirsk (Russia), was enroute at FL330 about 110nm west of Ekaterinburg when the crew reported a temporary failure of airspeed and altitude indication instruments and decided to divert to Ekaterinburg for a safe landing on runway 26L about 25 minutes later. The aircraft remained on the ground in Ekaterinburg for about 4.5 hours, then continued the journey and reached Novosibrisk with a delay of 5:20 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed245a8&opt=0 Incident: Austrian A321 at Vienna on Sep 10th 2021, smoke in cockpit An Austrian Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration OE-LBE performing flight OS-229 from Vienna (Austria) to Berlin (Germany), was climbing out of Vienna's runway 16 when the crew stopped the climb at about FL160, donned their oxygen masks and decided to return to Vienna reporting smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely on runway 11 about 19 minutes after departure. A passenger reported there was a sudden intense odour of burnt plastics, the captain subsequently also announced (audibly on oxygen mask) there was a smell of burnt plastics originating from a failed avionics blower fan. Cabin crew acted very professionally and calmly. The odour subsided while the aircraft positioned for landing, the aircraft was received by emergency services. The airline reported the aircraft returned due to smoke in the cockpit, the crew donned their oxygen masks. A failed fan was the cause of the smoke. The passengers were rebooked onto a later flight, the aircraft to perform that flight OS-235 was upgraded to a Boeing 777. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed0cb7a&opt=0 Eurocopter EC 145 (BK 117C-2) - Fatal Accident (France) Date: 12-SEP-2021 Time: c. 16:30 Type: Eurocopter EC 145 (BK 117C-2) Owner/operator: Sécurité Civile Registration: F-ZBQG MSN: 9217 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 5 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Côte 2000, Villard-de-Lans, Isère - France Phase: En route Nature: Ambulance Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: Sécurité Civile Eurocopter EC 145 (BK 117C-2) callsign Dragon 38 crashed in Villard-de-Lans, Isère and was destroyed by a post impact fire. The aircraft was on its way to rescue a mountain biker in difficulty when it lost altitude. One occupant, a mechanic / flight engineer died and four others were injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/267616 Man accused of pointing laser at aircraft arrested after struggle (Canada) With the public's assistance, police pinpointed and arrested a man who allegedly pointed a laser into the cockpits of several aircraft in flight over Vernon Thursday night. About 11:15 p.m., a representative from Nav Canada notified police they were receiving reports someone was pointing a green laser into the cockpits of several commercial aircraft flying over Vernon. Mounties mobilized in search of the green beam, which was believed to be coming from the area of Becker Park in Vernon. Shortly before midnight, a group of people searching for the origin of the laser encountered a person in Becker Park believed to be responsible for pointing the laser. They pointed police in the direction of the suspect. As he was being arrested, the suspect allegedly assaulted the arresting officer and refused to comply with police orders until additional officers arrived on the scene. Fortunately, our officers were not physically injured while dealing with this individual,” said Vernon RCMP spokesman Const. Chris Terleski. “Thankfully, all the involved aircraft were able to land safely.” Under the Aeronautics Act, someone convicted of pointing a laser into an aircraft cockpit could face up to five years in prison and fines up to $100,000. The 39-year old Vernon man remains in custody and faces a number of potential charges under the Criminal Code and Aeronautics Act. https://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_70218910-1338-11ec-83cc-c3cc72c3eb8a.html 12 Air India Airbus aircraft remain grounded due to want of engines Sources from Air India said with the national carrier almost set to go to private hands, whether these Airbus aircraft are put back into operation or not will depend on the outcome of the privatisation process. At least a dozen Airbus aircraft of the disinvestment-bound Air India are grounded since the past few years for engine replacement, but the airline is unable to perform the task due to shortage of funds. Airline sources said that with the national carrier almost set to go to private hands, whether these aircraft are put back into operation or not will depend on the outcome of the privatisation process. Despite repeated attempts, Air India spokesperson did not comment on the matter. An airline source said, “At least 12 Airbus 320 aircraft continue to remain grounded. The airline needs around ₹11 crore to make them operational, which the management is unlikely to spend considering the ongoing privatisation process.” “Unless the new bidder comes in, fate of these aircraft will remain undecided,” the source added. In August 2019, the airline’s narrow-body fleet pilots’ body — Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) — had alleged that 19 planes were on ground for want of spares, resulting not only in huge revenue loss but also massive flight cancellations. The pilots’ body had questioned the airline management over this. In terms of the bidding process for privatisation of the airline, final bidders will submit their bids, marking the completion of the bidding stage, by September 15. Divesting Air India includes selling off government’s 100% stake in the state-owned airline that is incurring losses since 2007. As part of the exercise, the government also plans to sell its entire stake in Air India Express and 50% stake in Air India SATS. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/12-air-india-airbus-aircraft-remain-grounded-due-to-want-of-engines-101631455942157.html Muslim woman reportedly attacked on airplane at Detroit Metro Airport Civil rights group pushes for suspect to be charged with hate crime ROMULUS, Mich. – The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is urging Wayne County officials to charge a woman who reportedly assaulted a Muslim woman Saturday on a Spirit Airlines flight. According to CAIR, Aicha Toure was traveling from Atlanta to Detroit when a white woman, whom she did not know, boarded the plane acting belligerently. The woman allegedly initiated altercations with minority crew members. CAIR described Toure as a “visibly Muslim woman who wears an Islamic head scarf.” CAIR said when the plane landed in Detroit, the woman began harassing an older woman who appeared to be of South Asian descent. When Toure asked the woman to stop cursing at the older woman, the woman allegedly lashed out at Toure and called her a “Muslim Terrorist.” When the white woman realized Toure and others were recording her, CAIR said she reportedly struck Toure with her fist before crew members were able to intervene. The alleged assailant was arrested. “The alleged actions of this individual are reprehensible and she clearly targeted religious and racial minorities for her violent words and actions,” said attorney Amy V. Doukoure. “Michigan’s Ethnic intimidation law was created to protect people like Ms. Toure from being assaulted after being called a Muslim terrorist while traveling on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. It is imperative that Wayne County Prosecutor’s office take this hate crime seriously and ensure that Muslims are safe from hate and violence in all aspects of their life.” According to the Wayne County Airport Authority Police Department, the woman was cited for assault and disorderly conduct. Spirit Airlines released the following statement regarding the incident: “At Spirit, we want each of our Guests to feel safe, welcome and respected. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. A passenger on one of our flights arriving in Detroit last night chose to use appalling language toward one of our Guests. That kind of language has no place on our planes -- or anywhere else -- and she is no longer welcome on any of our flights. We thank our crew for taking control of the situation until law enforcement arrived, and we thank the Wayne County Airport Police for removing her.” https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2021/09/13/muslim-woman-reportedly-attacked-on-airplane-at-detroit-metro-airport/ Plane crash reported at Havasu airport (Arizona) One person is dead after a plane crash at the Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport. Havasu police and the Community Emergency Response Team is on scene in a gated area south of the airport and north of Agave Business Park, about 75 yards from Whelan Drive. According to Havasu Scanner Feed, a website that follows emergency radio dispatches in the Lake Havasu City area, the plane was a single-engine, fixed-wing 1974 Cessna 177RG. The crash was reported around 4:15 p.m. The identity of the plane's owner isn't being immediately released. https://www.havasunews.com/free_access/plane-crash-reported-at-havasu-airport/article_ea51b67a-1427-11ec-b4a6-8b9332adf446.html Southwest Airlines Bans Alcohol Into 2022 If you’re flying Southwest Airlines, don’t expect to be able to purchase an alcoholic beverage until next year at the earliest. Southwest Airlines has revealed internally that it won’t resume alcohol service until January 2022 at the earliest. This timeline coincides with the current federal transportation mask mandate that’s in place, which currently applies through January 18, 2022 (though it’s very likely to be extended). As a reminder, it’s also a violation of FAA regulations to consume alcohol onboard a flight that isn’t served by the crew, so you can’t bring your own drinks either. Many airlines cut back inflight service around the start of the pandemic in order to minimize contact between passengers and crew, and maximize the amount of time people have their masks on. The airline was going to resume alcohol service over the summer, but decided to backtrack due to a huge uptick in the number of air rage incidents. In one particular incident leading up to this decision, a passenger assaulted a Southwest flight attendant, knocking out two of her teeth. Do other airlines also ban alcohol? Southwest is the only major airline in the United States to have a blanket ban on alcohol. Airlines like Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, United, etc., are once again serving alcohol. The only other airline to have a partial ban on alcohol is American — the airline serves alcohol in first class, but doesn’t sell it in economy. In the case of American, the airline plans to bring back alcohol when the federal mask mandate for transportation is lifted, so that could be quite a while. Personally I’m not sure I agree with the logic of American and Southwest, and I say this as someone who almost never drinks on domestic flights: Yes, people are misbehaving horribly on planes, and flight attendants are putting up with a lot That being said, overwhelmingly it doesn’t seem to be alcohol related, but rather seems to involve masks and general divisiveness in the country Is there any data to suggest that Southwest is seeing fewer incidents as a result of its policy than an airline like United, for example? Couldn’t airlines take a middle ground approach and agree to sell passengers one drink? I could see that maybe even leading to fewer incidents, because some people sure act like having a drink may calm their nerves Bottom line Southwest Airlines won’t resume alcohol sales until January 2022 at the earliest, which is when the current federal mask mandate currently runs through. Southwest is the only major US airline to ban alcohol entirely, so it’s interesting to see the airline deviating from its peers in this way. https://onemileatatime.com/news/southwest-airlines-bans-alcohol/ Calicut crash shows why infants at risk (India) MUMBAI: The Air India Express Kozhikode accident has brought to the fore a long ignored issue — the safety of infants onboard flights. The Air India Express aircraft had hurtled towards the end of the table top runway from where it dropped into a deep gorge, crashed into the airport perimeter wall and broke into three. During the eventful landing, ten infants sat on the laps of their parents. Their only safety net, their parent’s arm grip. Three out of them died, another three had serious injuries. The accident, that occurred in August last year, has highlighted the need for a ‘child safety restraint system’, the kind advocated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and in use in countries like the US. A child restraint system (CRS) is a contraption of belts that a parent can fasten onto the seat back, through which the passenger seat belt can be pulled in to secure an infant safely onto the seat. But for this, the parent would need to buy a separate seat for the infant. Currently, Air India Express and some other Indian carriers do not allow the purchase of a separate seat for an infant. Said an airline official, requesting anonymity: “Some parents might not want to spend and buy a separate seat for the infant, given that accidents are a rare occurrence. But CRS can keep infants safe during turbulence as well. Those who wish to buy a separate seat should have that option.” Directorate General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar said: “We have just seen the AIX Kozhikode accident report. An appropriate call will be taken in due course.” The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team collected feedback from the parent of a deceased infant. The infant — although placed on the lap — was not held firmly as the crew made no announcement of the impact. Therefore, during the frontal impact of the crash, the infant was displaced from the lap and was thrown in the cabin and, as a result, received fatal injuries, it said. Air India Express does not have provisions for child/infant restraint system and they rely solely on lap-held infants without any supplemental restraint, it added. US aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration — in its ‘Flying with Children’ page — says: “The safest way to secure an infant or child on board an aircraft is in a state-approved CRS, in a dedicated seat... The use of CRS provides an equivalent level of safety to infants and children as that afforded to adult passengers wearing seat belts. “Proper use of occupant restraints is one of the most basic and important factors in surviving an accident, it says. “It is not possible for a parent to physically restrain an infant or child, especially during sudden accelerations and/or decelerations, unanticipated or severe turbulence or during impact,” it said.The ICAO manual on the Approval and Use of Child Restraint Systems (Doc 10049) contains guidance for countries to develop regulations and approval processes enabling the use of CRS. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/calicut-crash-shows-why-infants-at-risk/articleshow/86155443.cms NBAA To Require COVID-19 Vaccination At Las Vegas Convention Organizers are following the lead of other live events held in the city. Several events in Las Vegas are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will require attendees at this year’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19. “For decades, the aviation industry has brought people together and transported them forward safely and responsibly,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said in a statement. “We are leveraging that approach to aviation safety to guide us with regard to NBAA-BACE. “We are taking guidance from health and safety experts and adopting trade show best practices. Including a vaccine requirement in the comprehensive safety protocols for the show will create the most interactive environment possible for buying, selling, networking and learning.” Other trade shows and events in the Las Vegas area have implemented the same policy, including: • Las Vegas Raiders games • CES (formerly known as Consumer Electronics Show) • The National Association of Broadcasters annual show • The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) • Other Safety Measures Mask wearing will be optional at the convention, but will be required in certain circumstances, including shuttle bus travel out to the Henderson Executive Airport (KHND), where the NBAA-BACE static display will be staged. Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the LVCC including: • Meeting room corridors • Exhibit areas • Food and beverage areas • Occupancy at food and beverage areas will be limited to allow social distancing. https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/nbaa-2021-vegas-convention-vaccination-required/ Ethiopian Airlines Takes Its 32nd Dash 8-400 Turboprop De Havilland Aircraft of Canada announced yesterday that it had delivered its 32nd Dash 8-400 aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines. The manufacturer said that it wishes Ethiopian Airlines and its strategic partners ongoing success as they continue to increase connectivity across Africa. Ethiopian Airlines plays a leading role in helping other African Dash 8-400 operators by providing flight simulators and is the only De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Authorized Service Facility in Africa. Ethiopian Airlines’ strategic partners include ASKY Airlines, Malawi Airlines, Ethiopian Mozambique Airlines, and Tchadia Airlines. Ethiopian Airlines received its first Dash 8-400 in 2010 According to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, there are over 190 Dash 8 series aircraft in Africa and the Middle East of which more than 90 of them are Dash 8-400 planes. Since Ethiopian Airlines first introduced the Dash 8-400 aircraft into its fleet in 2010, it has used its Dash 8-400s to transport more than 12 million passengers. Ethiopian Airlines received its 30th and 31st Dash 8-400 aircraft registration numbers ET-AXY and ET-AXZ from the Canadian planemaker earlier this year. Ethiopian Airlines group chief executive officer Tewolde GebreMariam said: “This milestone 30th delivery highlights our confidence in the Dash 8-400 aircraft and is a testament to the joint success in supporting our network and strategic partnerships with several carriers across Africa. “The Dash 8-400 aircraft continues to provide the operational flexibility, exceptional performance capability, capacity, and passenger comfort we need. “Most importantly, the Dash 8-400 aircraft supports the cost leadership strategy we rely on in our market – particularly in these unprecedented times during the COVID-19 pandemic.” When congratulating Ethiopian Airlines on its phenomenal growth as a significant regional and global airline Regional Vice President, Sales – Europe and Russia, Middle East, Africa, and South America/Caribbean Sameer Adam said: “Ethiopian has taken tremendous positive steps to strengthen their capabilities by acquiring the first Dash 8-400 simulator for Africa and by recently adding a second simulator; achieving recognition as an Authorized Service Facility; proving the value of a business class configuration on regional aircraft in Africa. We certainly look forward to more examples of Ethiopian’s continuing leadership and the success of their ongoing strategic partnerships.” About the De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8-400 Calling it the world’s most advanced turboprop De Havilland Aircraft of Canada says that the Dash 8-400 offers its operators unmatched versatility and value. The Dash 8-400 offers the best of both worlds for its operators as it can minimize fuel burn by flying slower or maximize productivity by flying faster. The Dash 8-400 offers the same per trip cost as other 76 seat turboprops but can fit another 14 seats for a total of 90. Compared to jet-powered aircraft, flying the Dash 8-400 can cut the costs in half. The Dash 8-400 has one of the most extended maintenance intervals of any aircraft allowing it to spend more time in the air than in repair. De Havilland Aircraft of Canada says that the Dash 8-400 provides an extra 270 days of flying before needing a C-Check. Dash 8-400 specifications Calling the aircraft the “network builder,” the Dash 8-400 can land and take off from small regional airports. Able to carry 90 passengers, the quick turnaround times also make it appealing to regional carriers. The Dash 8-400 has the following specifications: Maximum Passengers = 90 Range = 2,040 km Maximum Cruise Speed = 667 km/h Maximum Takeoff Weight = 27,987 kg /29,574 kg https://simpleflying.com/ethiopian-dash-8-400-turboprop/ Photo Courtesy: Virgin Galactic (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SS2_and_VMS_Eve.jpg) Potential component defect to delay next Virgin Galactic flight Virgin Galactic says the inspections of a potentially faulty component will delay the next SpaceShipTwo flight to at least mid-October, assuming the FAA has completed its investigation of an unrelated issue by then. WASHINGTON — Virgin Galactic is further delaying its next SpaceShipTwo suborbital flight in order to check a potential issue the company says is unrelated to an ongoing Federal Aviation Administration investigation. In a statement issued late Sept. 10, Virgin Galactic said a third-party supplier, which it did not identify, notified the company of a potential manufacturing defect in a flight control actuation system component. Virgin said it is conducting inspections with the vendor to determine if the suspect component needs to be repaired or replaced. Because of the inspections, Virgin Galactic said the earliest it would perform the next SpaceShipTwo mission, called Unity 23, is the middle of October. The company had previously stated the mission would take place in late September or early October. The issue, the company added, is not related to the incident on the previous SpaceShipTwo flight July 11. After a report that the vehicle had flown outside of its planned airspace during its glide back to the runway at Spaceport America in New Mexico, the FAA said Sept. 2 that it would not allow SpaceShipTwo to fly again until it completed its investigation into the incident. The FAA offered no schedule for that review in its announcement. “We have a robust preflight readiness approach that is rooted in our thorough, proactive and safety-first culture. There is nothing more important to us than the integrity of our vehicles,” Michael Colglazier, chief executive of Virgin Galactic, said in a statement about the delay. “Our test flight processes and procedures are rigorous and structured to identify and resolve these types of issues. We look forward to taking to the skies again soon.” The company has said little else about the FAA investigation or this issue. Company founder Richard Branson, appearing by video during a brief session of the Satellite 2021 conference Sept. 8, did not bring up the FAA investigation nor was he asked about it by the moderator. Branson was on the July 11 flight, which landed safely despite the airspace excursion. “I would love to go again,” he said in the only discussion of Virgin Galactic during the session, which focused primarily on Virgin Orbit. “It was more extraordinary than I ever imagined it would be. The day was just magical.” “Based on the waitlist we’ve got at Virgin Galactic, I suspect I’ll be in my 90s before I get a chance to go again,” the 71-year-old Branson said. The company had about 600 customers signed up before it announced plans in August to reopen ticket sales. “I’m telling them to hurry up and build as many rockets as they can. There’s so many people who would love to go to space.” https://spacenews.com/potential-component-defect-to-delay-next-virgin-galactic-flight/ Spacewalkers press ahead with power system upgrades Three days after a Russian spacewalk, Japanese space station commander Akihiko Hoshide and Frenchman Thomas Pesquet floated outside for their own excursion Sunday to build a support fixture for a roll-out solar array blanket that will be attached later. The astronauts also planned to replace a device that measures the strength of the electrical environment around the International Space Station as it interacts with charged particles in the extreme upper atmosphere while streaking through space at nearly five miles per second. Looking on throughout will be a 3D camera mounted on the space station's robot arm that will capture high-definition shots of the spacewalk for use in a commercial documentary series — "The ISS Experience" — giving viewers an immersive look at life in orbit. The camera and robot arm will be operated by flight controllers in Houston. "The procedures are developed in a way where the camera will be completely out of the path of the spacewalkers," said flight director Ali Boudous. "We made sure that the camera gets some amazing views, however it doesn't interfere at all with our spacewalk tasks themselves." Floating in the Quest airlock compartment, Hoshide, making his fourth spacewalk, and Pesquet, making his sixth, switched their spacesuits to battery power at 8:15 a.m. EDT, officially kicking off a planned six-and-a-half-hour excursion. For identification, Hoshide, call sign EV-1, is wearing a suit with red stripes and using helmet camera No. 22 while Pesquet, EV-2, is wearing an unmarked suit and using helmetcam 20. Both astronauts also are equipped with new high-definition cameras. NASA is in the process of installing six new roll-out solar array blankets — IROSAs — to augment the space station's eight original wings, which have degraded over the years and no longer generate the power they did when they were new. The IROSA blankets are designed to be mounted on triangular frames made up of multiple struts. Two IROSA blankets were installed on the left outboard set of arrays in June. Hoshide and Pesquet plan to assemble the support bracket for a left-side inboard IROSA array, which will be installed next year or in 2023. The remaining three IROSA's will be installed on the right side of the power truss. In any case, with the iROSA support frame in place, Hoshide and Pesquet plan to replace a device called a floating potential measurement unit, or FPMU, that has a failed power supply. The device, located just inboard of the left-side solar arrays, measures charges on the station from its interaction with the space plasma environment. Astronaut Mark Vande Hei originally planned to join Hoshide for Sunday's spacewalk, then scheduled for early September, but the outing was delayed after Vande Hei developed a pinched nerve in his neck. In order to get the spacewalk video back to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo ship at the end of September as originally planned, NASA managers decided to replace Vande Hei with Pesquet because they wear the same size suit and because Pesquet carried out three similar spacewalks in June. https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacewalkers-press-ahead-power-system-125959605.html POSITION AVAILABLE: Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants) VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT #: AS-11194481-21-AE POSITION TITLE: Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants) POSITION SERIES & GRADE: GS-0861-14 OPEN DATE: September 3, 2021 CLOSE DATE: October 4, 2021 Area of Consideration: U.S. Citizens Duties Summary This position is located in the Office of Aviation Safety, Aviation Engineering Division. The incumbent will participate and direct technical analyses of general aviation and air carrier accidents and incidents in the specialty area of turbine and reciprocating engines, propellers, fuel systems, engine accessories, and auxiliary power units. Responsibilities As an Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants), GS-0861-14, you will: Participates and directs technical analyses of general aviation and air carrier accident and incidents in the specialty area of turbine and reciprocating engines, propellers, fuel systems, engine accessories, and auxiliary power units. Serves as Group Chairman, documenting and analyzing airworthiness issues potentially involved in accidents and develops accident prevention strategies. Coordinates efforts with other Group Chairman, the IIC, and the Team Lead to assure thoroughness of all investigations and that necessary documentation is accomplished as a result of the investigative activity. Prepares factual and analytical reports covering specialty area on each accident. Correlates these findings with those of other Group Chairmen to assist in identifying the causes(s) of the accident. Assists the IIC and report writers in the preparation of the Safety Board's accident report with particular emphasis on the accuracy of factual information and the logic of analyses of the evidence from the investigation. Critically reviews drafts of the Safety Board's accident reports and provides constructive and timely feedback to improve the technical accuracy and logic presented in these reports. Researches and develops appropriate safety recommendation to correct hazardous or unsafe conditions using information obtained in the course of investigations, personal observations, and knowledge of current aviation engineering trends and developments. Acts as an advisor to the US Accredited Representative on foreign investigations. May be required to act as the US Accredited Representative to foreign investigations. Makes presentations and responds to Member's questions at Board meetings following the conclusion of major investigations or projects. Work Environment: The incumbent supports major go-team launches as well as significant international investigations. Major go-team launch teams commonly travel on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jet from Reagan National Airport within two hours after an accident notification is received. Timely arrival at the scene of a major accident allows for timely documentation of a wreckage; a delay in this effort can have significant impacts, such as impeding the re-opening of an airport. International travel by US Government employees frequently requires the issuance of a visa from the host country, which is most efficiently obtained at the embassies located in Washington, DC. Additionally, security concerns in many locations make it essential that the investigative team travel together. Physical Demands: Occasionally the aircraft wreckage may contain hazardous materials that may be burning by the time the investigator arrives on-the-scene; therefore, the incumbent may be exposed to a variety of weather conditions and other environmental discomforts such as remote, rugged, snow, rain, temperature extremes, swampy or mountainous areas and hostile settings and may have to wear a hardhat, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and other protective equipment. Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. APPLY AT: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/613161300 Position: Safety Evaluator Job Description At Republic Airways, our vision is to be America’s regional airline of choice, and our 6,000 associates work together each day to achieve that by providing a safe, clean and reliable flying experience. Whether the role is on the aircraft or in the office, every person at Republic contributes to our success and our family-oriented work environment. Since our founding in 1974, we’ve grown to become the world’s largest operator of the Embraer 170/175 jet, flying more than 1000 flights daily for our partners, American Airline, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Beyond our operations, we’re focused on sharing our time, talents and treasures with our community—both locally and globally. Join Republic Airways where you will find opportunities, reach new heights and be part of something bigger than yourself. Republic Airways, opportunity elevated. #WhyRepublic POSITION PURPOSE Conducts internal evaluations of operational divisions to ensure adherence to federal regulations, company policies and procedures. Conducts aircraft damage investigations, tracks regulatory correspondence and completes special projects as assigned. ESSENTIAL DUTIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Conducts internal evaluations of operational divisions to ensure compliance with federal regulations as well as company policies and procedures. Communicates company policies/procedures, Federal Aviation Regulations and other Standards including but limited to International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audits (IOSA) standards, Department of Defense Standards etc. facilitating fair resolutions and imparting quality expertise to all operational departments. Coordinates Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Safety Assurance System (SAS) inspections conducted by the FAA Coordinates IOSA conducted by appointed Audit Organization Coordinates DOD inspections conducted by the DOD Communicates with external audit organizations, the FAA and DOD Identifies, tracks, and solves quality and safety concerns, issues or hazards (this includes, but not limited to, interviews, reviews of past evaluation/audit records and compliance data for trends) Reviews changes to applicable regulations in order to recommend appropriate actions to ensure company compliance. Ensure adherence to all Safety and Security regulations Develops and maintains Data Analysis Group key performance indicators, and continuous improvement initiatives for data analysis and visualization. Provides technical leadership to team and department members. Leads through example; monitors, influences and trains others. OTHER DUTIES Performs data analysis on aircraft ground damage to identify trends & systemic causes of aircraft damage. Participates in investigations of aircraft ground damage. Leads investigations into company controllable damage and participates in conference calls for codeshare partner damages. Contributes to the development of SMS training modules for all company associates covered under SMS. Responsible for the continuous improvement of Republic’s Safety Management System Assists with development of SMS structured risk assessment and safety assurance processes, including facilitating Data Analysis Groups Participates in special projects including but not limited to: special request audits, Codeshare meetings and initiatives, Safety Management System (SMS) implementation, monthly safety newsletter and manual reviews using SAS tools. Performs various other duties as assigned. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE. Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years of Aviation experience required. Knowledge of the Code of Federal Regulations for Title 14 and 49 and associated regulatory materials. Knowledge in aviation safety systems including, but not limited to: Safety Management System (SMS), System Safety, Safety Assurance System (SAS) and IOSA. Skills in Microsoft Office applications is a must. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree in an aviation or safety related discipline is preferred. At least 3 years of previous experience in aviation. Airframe and Powerplant, Dispatch License or Pilot’s License is preferred. Previous auditing and evaluating experience. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. DECISION MAKING Makes decisions and determines best methods to solve problems by referring to established precedents and policies. Decisions tend to be medium range and of medium significance with moderate consequences. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move about the work environment. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Work in an open air hangar and outdoor weather conditions occasionally. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Travel up to 15% of the time, including overnight stays. Equal Opportunity Employment and Disability Accommodations Republic Airways is committed to achieving a diverse workforce by providing equal employment opportunities to all Associates and applicants, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type with regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are committed to providing applicants and Associates reasonable accommodation to enable the individual to perform the essential duties of the job. If you require accommodation, please contact Human Resources. APPLY HERE POSITION AVAILABLE: Decision Science Lead, Flight Safety Atlanta, GA This position will support the delivery and continued evolution of products based on the safety data, classifications, and models built with Flight Safety metrics and data science. The Technical Lead will help develop the safety data best practices for adoption and training within Flight Safety as well as Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. This requires a deep knowledge of aviation safety metrics and models, classification models, statistical processes, and core data science/data engineering skill sets. This role will report directly to the Manager, Data and Decision Science. Primary responsibilities: • Bridge the gap between data collected from operations and the risk analysis needed for Delta to make informed decisions about areas of flight safety risk. • Design, develop and implement software products based on data science/machine learning models. • Help develop best practices for flight safety data architecture, data stewardship, and data presentation. • Define and execute the data modeling roadmap. • Build data sets from multiple data sources, both internally and externally. • Partner with Operational data analysis teams to optimize and enhance the data environment for addressing known safety risks and applying methods to discover potential new risks. • Work with operational leaders to ensure that the data products are produced with optimal efficiency and best practices. • Leverage emerging technologies and identify efficient and meaningful ways to disseminate data and analysis in order to satisfy the business' needs. • Provide technical leadership to the Flight Safety department and Corporate Safety. • Practice safety-conscious environment resulting in employee safety and well-being. • Embraces diverse people, thinking and styles. What you need to succeed: • Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or equivalent experience. • Must have at least 2 years of relevant analytical/project management experience. • Must have a working knowledge of Flight Operations and Flight Safety metrics. • Proficiency in working with relational databases and query authoring (SQL). • Proficiency in data visualization best practices and commercially available tools (e.g. Tableau). • Proficiency in Python, Bash script or other basic functional programming tools. • Strong written, oral communication, and interpersonal skills. • A natural curiosity towards constant improvement. • Strong project management, organizational, and prioritizations skills. • Must be able to interact and collaborate at all levels within Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance, Flight Operations, cross-divisional working groups and outside entities. • Must be performing satisfactorily in current position. What will give you a competitive edge: • PhD degree/candidate preferred. • Working knowledge of statistical/machine learning tools (e.g. scikit-learn) preferred. To apply, please visit: https://delta.avature.net/careers/JobDetail/Decision-Science-Lead/6087 APPLY HERE Curt Lewis