Flight Safety Information - September 17, 2021 No. 188 In This Issue : Incident: Tindi DHC7 at Ferguson Lake on Sep 14th 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Aeroflot B773 near Edmonton on Sep 10th 2021, fumes in cabin : Incident: Rossiya A319 at St. Petersburg on Sep 15th 2021, engine shut down in flight : Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil - Fatal Accident (New Zealand) : Robinson R66 Turbine - Fatal Accident (Georgia, USA) : A year after Air India flight crash, Kozhikode Airport to improve safety standards, check details : 51 pounds of marijuana found in luggage at Nashville International Airport : United Airlines experiencing nationwide system outage : PURDUE UNIVERSITY IS WORKING TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES IN AVIATION : Jim Pfarr Named Chair of EAA Ultralight/Light-Sport Aircraft Council : Rolls-Royce’s all-electric aircraft completes maiden flight in UK : Air Wisconsin Airlines to Upgrade CRJ Fleet with Envoy Data Link System : COMPUTER PILOT NOW BEING TRAINED FOR CARGO DUTY : Boeing to build Navy aircraft at MidAmerica, invest $200M : The US Air Force's special operators are hustling to turn their biggest planes into flying boats : China's 1st space station crew to return to Earth on Friday : Southern California Safety Institute Upcoming Fall Courses : POSITION AVAILABLE: Safety Analyst, Aviation Safety Action : POSITION AVAILABLE: Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants) : Position Available - Safety Evaluator : POSITION AVAILABLE: Decision Science Lead, Flight Safety Incident: Tindi DHC7 at Ferguson Lake on Sep 14th 2021, engine shut down in flight An Air Tindi de Havilland Dash DHC-7-100, registration C-GCEV performing flight DA-801 from Ferguson Lake,NU to Thompson,MB (Canada) with 3 crew, was climbing out of Ferguson Lake when the crew received indication of a #1 hydraulic pressure loss followed by a #2 engine (PT6A) oil pressure loss. The crew shut the #2 engine down and decided to continue the flight to Thompson where the aircraft landed safely on 3 engines. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed5a86f&opt=0 Incident: Aeroflot B773 near Edmonton on Sep 10th 2021, fumes in cabin An Aeroflot Boeing 777-300, registration VQ-BUC performing flight SU-107 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia), was enroute at FL330 about 260nm south of Edmonton,AB (Canada) and about 130nm south of Calgary,AB (Canada) when the crew reported fumes in the cabin and decided to divert to Edmonton. The aircraft landed safely in Edmonton about 40 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported the crew reported fumes in the cabin, the aircraft dumped fuel while enroute for the diversion to Edmonton. Rosaviatsia reported the captain reported a burning odour in the cabin. After landing it was discovered that the cooling fan of the inflight entertainment system had failed. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AFL107/history/20210910/0520Z/KLAX/UUEE http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed5a6e4&opt=0 Incident: Rossiya A319 at St. Petersburg on Sep 15th 2021, engine shut down in flight A Rossiya Airbus A319-100, registration VQ-BAS performing flight SU-6694 from Antalya (Turkey) to St. Petersburg (Russia) with 95 passengers and 6 crew, was descending towards St. Petersburg about 13.5nm before the airfield when the crew reported the failure of the left hand engine (CFM56), shut the engine down and continued for a safe landing on St. Petersburg's runway 28R about 5 minutes later. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed59416&opt=0 Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil - Fatal Accident (New Zealand) Date: 16-SEP-2021 Time: c. 06:30 Type: Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil Owner/operator: Lister Helicopters Registration: ZK-ITD MSN: 7815 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Category: Accident Location: near Lake Mahinerangi, Waipouri - New Zealand Phase: En route Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Milton Destination airport: Alexandra Narrative: Crashed under unknown circumstances, The sole pilot onboard was fatally injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/267751 Robinson R66 Turbine - Fatal Accident (Georgia, USA) Date: 15-SEP-2021 Time: c. 20:45 Type: Robinson R66 Turbine Owner/operator: Registration: MSN: Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Category: Accident Location: Oconee National Forest near Ponticello, GA - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Destination airport: Investigating agency: NTSB Narrative: A Robinson R66 Rurbine impacted wooded terrain in the Oconee National Forest near Monticello, Georgia. The three people onboard were fatally injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/267786 A year after Air India flight crash, Kozhikode Airport to improve safety standards, check details Kozhikode International Airport Director R Mahalingam said that necessary action will be taken to improve the safety measures at the airport after studying the recommendations of the investigation report. The state-run carrier flight had a total of 184 passengers along with the six cabin crew members. A year after the deadly Air India flight clash at the airport, the Kozhikode International Airport is mulling to implement improved safety measures at the airport. In a deadly flight crash at the airport on August 7 last year, an Air India flight coming from Dubai had overran the runway and crashed at the time of landing. The fatal incident had taken the life of 21 passengers. According to a report by news website Manorama, the final investigation report on the cause of the accident has been submitted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Team (AAIT) last week. Speaking to Manoram Kozhikode International Airport Director R Mahalingam said that necessary action will be taken to improve the safety measures at the airport after studying the recommendations of the investigation report. Mahalingam also said that the recommendations on airport safety will be immediately implemented by the authorities. As per Manorama, the 257-page investigation report pinned the major blame on the pilot of the aircraft for the accident by noting that the pilot did not comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP). The report also added that the role of systematic failures as additional contributory factors can also not be overlooked. The Kozhikode bound flight coming from Dubai had landed at the airport but the runway fell short for the flight as it fell into the pit leading to the death of 21 passengers and injuring many. The state-run carrier flight had a total of 184 passengers along with the six cabin crew members. What safety measures has the investigation report highlighted? The report has particularly highlighted the faulty wind sensor and held that the sensor provided wrong information about the tail wind to the pilot. The report has indicted the airport authorities for setting up the wind sensor at a wrong location and at a disparate height from the runway which contributed to giving wrong information to the pilot. Since the last year’s flight crash, the airport has temporarily closed the operations for the bigger airplanes at the airport that are likely to encounter similar problems at the airport. Decision about the operations of the bigger flights will be taken by the Directorate of Civil Aviation, Mahalingam said. https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/a-year-after-air-india-flight-crash-kozhikode-airport-to-improve-safety-standards-check-details/2331700/ 51 pounds of marijuana found in luggage at Nashville International Airport NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A man has been charged after attempting to bring 51 pounds of marijuana through the Nashville International Airport, according to an arrest warrant. Nashville Airport Police responded around 9:30 Thursday morning. The arrest document states TSA officers found the drugs in two suitcases that belonged to 32-year-old Chardic Brown. Officers examined the bags by hand. Police immediately placed Brown in handcuffs and took him into custody. According to the warrant, the drugs were in 49 vacuum-sealed bags weighing a total of 51 pounds. Brown has been charged with a felony drug offense. He was booked in the Metro jail, but was released Thursday afternoon. https://www.wkrn.com/news/51-pounds-of-marijuana-found-in-luggage-at-nashville-international-airport/ United Airlines experiencing nationwide system outage United Airlines is reportedly experiencing a major nationwide outage Friday morning. The system-wide outage is allegedly causing issues boarding and using website. The United Airlines app and website is also down for many users. “We apologize for any frustration this has caused,” United Airlines said in a reply on Twitter on Friday morning. “Our teams are aware that passengers are currently experiencing these issues are working to resolve them as quickly as they can.” In a series of tweets to customers, United apologized for the delays and said it’s working on the issue. No further details have been provided at time time. This is a developing story. Check back for details. https://wgntv.com/news/nationwide-ground-stop-for-united-airlines/ PURDUE UNIVERSITY IS WORKING TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES IN AVIATION In April of next year, the university will unite the aviation community with a three-day symposium. During that time industry leaders will identify key issues the field is facing and come up with a game plan to create a sufficient pool of qualified applicants. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)-The airline industry has been a hot topic of discussion over the course of the pandemic. From flight cancellations to angry passengers airlines have had a hard time getting off the ground. "There has been more and more passion and tension about this with crew cancellations that have been in the papers recently than there have been in years," said Mike Suckow a Professor of Practice for the Purdue School of Aviation. Now, the industry is faced with a new challenge. A shortage of pilots and maintenance technicians. "The retirement numbers had been predicted some of the air carriers were suggesting that fifty percent of their seniority roster was going to retire in the next five to ten years," said Suckow. So those numbers were known." Several different factors have created the shortage. Suckow says that in aviation hiring cycles go in extreme waves. So while industry leaders were able to predict some retirements, an expansion in the industry also exasperated the number of pilots the industry needs. That on top of the pandemic created the problem the industry is facing today. "What's happened now is that in addition to the planned retirements, were the accelerated early retirements because of the early buyouts and the layoffs and COVID type issues," said Suckow. Purdue University is one of the only colleges in the country that has state of art flight simulation technology that can prepare future pilots to be in the air. Providing students with next-level technology is what Purdue hopes will get more students interested in the field of Aviation. "A lot of programs have the primary flight instruction which is the private commercial instrument multi-engine and single-engine airplanes," added Sucko. "We are one of the few schools that has this level of technology that prepared them for the next step in the airline industry." Giving students access to unique tools isn't all the university is doing. In April of next year, the university will unite the aviation community with a three-day symposium. During that time industry leaders will identify key issues the field is facing and come up with a game plan to create a sufficient pool of qualified applicants. "If we can work together as a collective in the industry with the manufacturing and the airlines and the government to kind of put together a program that will encourage people to come in and let them know that it's affordable then I think we will be able to solve this issues," said Suckow. Through those partnerships, the University hopes they can encourage more students to take flight. "There's a shortage in the mechanic's side," said Suckow. "There are shortages on the flight attendance side, there are shortages in the ground opt and customer service. So, there are opportunities throughout the industry even if you are not one of the pilot groups. They are just one of the groups that are in demand." According to a recent study done by Boeing in the short term, 30 to 40 thousand pilots will be needed to join the aviation industry in the next five years. https://www.wlfi.com/content/news/Purdue-University-is-working-to-address-shortages-in-aviation-575332761.html Jim Pfarr Named Chair of EAA Ultralight/Light-Sport Aircraft Council The council provides essential background and guidance to EAA on ultralight and light-sport aircraft matters. Jim Pfarr of Germantown, Wisconsin, has been named chairman of EAA’s Ultralight and Light-Sport Aircraft Council. He succeeds Mark Solper, who for the past three years chaired the council that provides essential background and guidance to EAA on ultralight and light-sport aircraft matters. Pfarr, EAA Lifetime 1090432, is a U.S. Air Force veteran who logged more than 1,300 hours of navigator time in C-130 and C-141 cargo aircraft in support of nearly every major USAF operation until the late 1990s. He also pursued ultralight flying while in the military. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force Reserve with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2011, Pfarr earned a sport pilot certificate and has served as president and vice president of EAA Ultralight Chapter 1 in the Milwaukee area. He was also a Civil Air Patrol liaison officer supporting the Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol for eight years. “Jim’s diverse leadership background and avid interest in grassroots flying is a real asset to the Ultralight/Light-Sport Aircraft Council,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programming. “Ultralight and light-sport aircraft flying offer a wonderfully fun, simple, and affordable way to be engaged in flight and the council will help EAA preserve that accessibility, as well as enhance programs and activities that will focus on safety and fun for our members.” The council also assists with preparations and programming for the Fun Fly Zone that features ultralight and other light aircraft during the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention each summer. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21238606/experimental-aircraft-association-eaa-jim-pfarr-named-chair-of-eaa-ultralightlightsport-aircraft-council Rolls-Royce’s all-electric aircraft completes maiden flight in UK Rolls-Royce's first all-electric aircraft has completed its maiden flight in the skies above the UK ahead of a world record attempt later this year. The ‘Spirit of Innovation’ soared for around 15 minutes, having taken off from the MOD’s Boscombe Down airfield in Wiltshire on Wednesday. With its powerful 400kW (500+hp) electric powertrain and the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for an aircraft, the Spirit of Innovation represents a significant step towards all-electric aircraft becoming a regular feature of our skies and on the aviation industry’s journey towards decarbonisation. In a statement issued to coincide with the milestone, Rolls-Royce said it marks “the beginning of an intense flight-testing phase in which we will be collecting valuable performance data on the aircraft’s electrical power and propulsion system”. Rolls-Royce is looking to build on the Spirit of Innovation’s success and attempt to set a new world record for electric flight speed later this year. The current record stands at 210mph, but Rolls-Royce believes it will be able to surpass 300mph. Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said: “The first flight of the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is a great achievement for the ACCEL team and Rolls-Royce. We are focused on producing the technology breakthroughs society needs to decarbonise transport across air, land and sea, and capture the economic opportunity of the transition to net zero. This is not only about breaking a world record; the advanced battery and propulsion technology developed for this programme has exciting applications for the Urban Air Mobility market and can help make ‘jet zero’ a reality.” Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The first flight of Rolls-Royce’s revolutionary Spirit of Innovation aircraft signals a huge step forward in the global transition to cleaner forms of flight. This achievement, and the records we hope will follow, shows the UK remains right at the forefront of aerospace innovation. “By backing projects like this one, the Government is helping to drive forward the boundary pushing technologies that will leverage investment and unlock the cleaner, greener aircraft required to end our contribution to climate change.” The Spirit of Innovation is part of Rolls-Royce’s ACCEL programme, which is looking to accelerate the electrification of the aviation industry. The ACCEL programme — which is half-funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the Department for Business and Innovate UK — includes electric motor and controller specialist YASA and aviation start-up Electroflight. “The first flight of the Spirit of Innovation demonstrates how innovative technology can provide solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges,” said Gary Elliott, CEO, Aerospace Technology Institute. “The ATI is funding projects like ACCEL to help UK develop new capabilities and secure a lead in the technologies that will decarbonise aviation. We congratulate everyone who has worked on the ACCEL project to make the first flight a reality and look forward to the world speed record attempt which will capture the imagination of the public in the year that the UK hosts COP26.” Going forward, Rolls-Royce says it will use and apply tech from the ACCEL programme in products for the commuter aircraft and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) markets. Rolls-Royce is also currently working alongside aircraft manufacturer Tecnam to deliver an all-electric passenger aircraft for the commuter market for Norway-headquartered airline Wideroe. https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/rolls-royces-all-electric-aircraft-completes-maiden-flight-in-uk/ Air Wisconsin Airlines to Upgrade CRJ Fleet with Envoy Data Link System Air Wisconsin is upgrading its Bombardier CRJ fleet to the Spectralux Avionics' Envoy data link system. Air Wisconsin Airlines, the regional subsidiary of United Airlines, will install the Envoy data link system onboard it's fleet of Bombardier CRJ aircraft, under a new deal that includes ongoing co-development activities that have already been for product life cycle support. Envoy is a digital data link communications system consisting of three integrated avionics modules, including a communications management unit, VHF data radio, and multipurpose display. Developed by Redmond, Washington-based aircraft systems supplier Spectralux Avionics, a unique aspect of Envoy is its dual-stack data link capability, which means it is compatible with both the communications mediums for domestic Controller to Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) data link in European airspace—Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) Link 2000+—and the Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) 1/A architecture used by the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. Now, a year after the FAA issued Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval for Envoy, Air Wisconsin will deploy Envoy across its CRJ fleet. The airline became the launch customer for Spectralux's previous-generation data link communications system, the Dlink+. “The Spectralux Dlink+ system has served our airline exceptionally well,” Bob Frisch, Air Wisconsin’s Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement. “We now look forward to implementing the latest Spectralux product to further improve our operational efficiency and analytics of CRJ operations in North America.” Air Wisconsin operates a fleet of 64 Bombardier CRJ aircraft. (Air Wisconsin) Spectralux has also included a directional A739 interface that allows it to display and control a separate avionics module that can be displayed and controlled by a separate multifunctional display. According to the company's description of the technology, Envoy is also capable of wirelessly broadcasting stored aircraft system data and messages, "transmitted at specific intervals and received by an application running on a mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone." Upgrading to the Envoy system for Air Wisconsin will mean its pilots can keep taking advantage of the FAA's Data Comm program, which is now operational at a total of 55 U.S. airports and 62 total air traffic control (ATC) towers. Data Comm services are also operational at three Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs), including Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Washington. The deployment schedule for the remaining 17 ARTCCs was put on hold due to COVID-19 and is being re-planned. “Air Wisconsin continues to be a valued customer for Spectralux, and we appreciate the continued confidence they have in our data link products,” said Spectralux CEO Elwood Hertzog. “Envoy will bring a new level of safety and efficiency for global Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) to Air Wisconsin and all our regional airline customers.” Air Wisconsin operates a fleet consisting of 64 CRJ-200 jets, with flights occurring in midwestern and eastern U.S. airspace. The regional carrier expects its first Envoy-equipped CRJs to achieve initial entry into service early next year. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/09/16/air-wisconsin-airlines-upgrade-crj-fleet-envoy-data-link-system/ COMPUTER PILOT NOW BEING TRAINED FOR CARGO DUTY MERLIN LABS REPORTS CLEAR COURSE TO CERTIFY AUTOMATED KING AIR The first computer-flown cargo flights in the system that handles IFR traffic will probably be made in New Zealand, likely to be the first nation to certify fully automated aircraft operations. Beechcraft King Airs have logged thousands of hours flown by an automated system that could be certified first in New Zealand before arriving in U.S. airspace not long after. Present-day IFR procedures and regulations will be a key to collision risk mitigation for the first flights following certification, likely to be cargo deliveries in Beechcraft King Air turboprops, and with a human pilot serving as a safety pilot, ready to intervene if the digital pilot developed by Merlin Labs gets in over its (metaphorical) head. Merlin Labs CEO Matthew George, an FAA-certificated private pilot since January and a digital entrepreneur since founding a ridesharing service in Boston called Bridj in 2013, recalled in a recent video chat how a close call he personally experienced drove home the challenge facing his programming team. He recounted an attention-getting moment in the traffic pattern when his Cessna 182’s high wing obscured his view of a banner-tow aircraft that was far too close for comfort and flying the pattern in the wrong direction. Surprises like that are routine in aviation, relatively easy for human minds to react to, but a major challenge for even the most sophisticated digital systems. High levels of automation in the automotive world have led to accidents, some of them fatal. One dozen of these incidents involving Tesla vehicles are now being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and illustrate how state-of-the-art vehicle control systems may have needed more time than was available to interpret novel situations, or unrecognized objects. The Merlin Labs staff, in various communications with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, decided to call their system “Murray,” an homage to the comedy series, Flight of the Conchords, a quirky Kiwi comedy that aired in the United States on HBO about a fictional band with an amusingly overstressed and wildly ambitious manager named Murray. Merlin Labs has not programmed its digital student pilot to experience stress, or to arrange hotel accommodations, but the programming staff has spent a great deal of time and effort teaching Murray to talk to humans. This natural language programming enables Murray to converse, not just report, which is a very different thing than an automated weather station that broadcasts current conditions at regular intervals in an obviously artificial voice. Natural language programming is a heavy lift, because human speech is often messy, or nuanced, or accented. The standardized phraseology of aviation helps, but every pilot knows that radio messages can still be difficult to decipher due to interference, task saturation, fast-talking controllers—any number of reasons that are expected or not. Murray will need to prove itself adept at requesting clarification or repetition when needed, and responding appropriately to instruction. (It remains to be seen if Murray will be programmed to respond to small talk, the banter between two human pilots that sometimes ensues in the first minutes on a flight deck, before aeronautical operations get underway. Professional pilots are trained to limit their nonaviation conversation during flight operation and focus on the tasks at hand—naturally.) In the not-too-distant future, Murray may serve as second in command on Part 135 flights, and will certainly need to build time as such before the FAA or other regulators approve solo flights by computer-controlled aircraft with no trained human to watch over them. The system is relatively aircraft-agnostic, and while Murray has been “learning” radio communications at a much slower pace than humans, it is likely the system will breeze through its type ratings in record time. George said the company’s “crawl-walk-run” approach differs from others building next-generation air taxis and aiming for full digital autonomy, or something very close to that, out of the gate. “We’re taking a slightly less sexy approach,” George said. “Every system that we test has an onboard safety pilot.” In effect, Murray is a presolo student pilot, always under the watchful eye of a human who is ready to take over when facing any of the myriad, disruptive surprises that inevitably arise in the air. But for basic aircraft control in normal operations, Murray has proved very capable, and has logged thousands of hours. A human pilot with that much time and still no solo endorsement would be encouraged to find other things to do, but for Murray, George reported a steady series of successful, small steps toward certification to fly alongside a human pilot, a digital autopilot that can control every phase of flight, from engine start to engine shutdown. George said the company is nearing the limit of what can be tested and proved in an experimental environment, and Murray needs to get hours in the system under its belt. “We can’t keep experimenting,” George said. Murray should be able to fly the same instrument procedures as any other pilot, and the next major goal is to prove that. “You can’t do that in protected airspace in California.” George said the certification basis agreement with New Zealand regulators announced September 16 is a major milestone, representing clearing a crucial hurdle in the certification process “where the regulator can really stop you in your tracks,” particularly when regulators are confronted with a novel technology. George is confident Murray will meet the detailed standards to which New Zealand has now agreed. His company has also been working with the FAA to prepare the way for validation of that initial certification that will allow Murray-equipped flights in the U.S. national airspace system. The plan is to fly exclusively under IFR, using radar, ADS-B, and the other airspace protections afforded in the IFR system to mitigate the risk of collision. Murray may eventually be allowed to fly solo cargo missions under Part 135, but programming and equipping Murray to handle emergency procedures without human help, and to earn the trust of national aviation authorities, will come later. George said getting Murray out of the highly protected environment of a test range building time is the key prerequisite to allowing Murray to solo. As with human pilots, experience is the key to earning greater responsibility. “Certification’s a thing. It’s a big thing,” George said. “People really underestimate it.” Once certified to operate with a safety pilot, Murray will need an unknown number of hours to advance to the next step. “It’s the really important aerospace work that needs to happen,” George said. George said the partnership between Merlin Labs and Dynamic Aviation to install Murray in Beechcraft King Airs that was announced in June will focus on defense projects—Murray is likely to “join” the U.S. Air Force at some point, if it has not already in some capacity. Merlin Labs is also seeking employment for its computer pilot with one or more freight carriers, though George said the company is not yet ready to announce where Murray might find work flying unscheduled cargo. It’s also not clear if the name will stick as Murray makes its way to the United States. George said there is a contingent among the staff lobbying for “Otto,” a reference to the farcical comedy Airplane! that featured an inflatable autopilot built strictly for gags. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2021/september/16/computer-pilot-now-being-trained-for-cargo-duty Boeing to build Navy aircraft at MidAmerica, invest $200M SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Chicago-based aerospace giant Boeing Co. will invest $200 million to begin manufacturing the U.S. Navy's latest unmanned aircraft at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in a project that could add more than 150 jobs on the company's southwest Illinois campus, according to an announcement scheduled for Friday. Boeing plans to build the MQ-25 Stingray, the Navy's first carrier-based unmanned aircraft in a state-of-the-art plant of about 291,000 square feet (27,034 square meters), according to a news release provided in advance to The Associated Press. State and company officials have planned a Friday afternoon news conference to announce the plan at MidAmerica in Mascoutah, about 29 miles (47 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis. “That the world's largest aerospace company would double-down on Illinois is a testament to our unparalleled assets in the transportation and logistics sector and the world-class talent of our people," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a prepared statement. He added that $57 million in state money is set aside for MidAmerica St. Louis Airport improvements, nearly half of which will bolster the Boeing project. According to Boeing, the MQ-25 Stingray, developed from a 2018 contract with the Navy, is a refueling aircraft that greatly extends the combat range of existing refueling aircraft and is designed for “seamless integration” on the flight decks of Navy carrier ships. Boeing is receiving breaks on its state income tax liability in exchange for the $200 million investment over 15 years and the addition of 150 jobs to the 70 Boeing already employs at its Boeing-St. Clair site at MidAmerica. The deal is part of an EDGE economic-development agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Construction on the MidAmerica facility is scheduled to start later this year and be completed in early 2024. Production would start by mid-2024. The facility will feature robotic automation and “advanced assembly techniques” aimed at improved quality of product and employee ergonomics and safety. Boeing's digital engineering of the MQ-25 and its systems actually promote product quality and efficiency, officials said. “The team and state-of-the-art technology we’re bringing to the Navy’s MQ-25 program is unprecedented and we’re incredibly proud to be expanding both as we build the future of autonomous systems in Illinois,” said Kristin Robertson, vice president and general manager of Autonomous Systems, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “We’ve received great support from MidAmerica Airport and countless dedicated employees.” The MQ-25 Stingray's arrival expands Boeing's presence at MidAmerica. Boeing-St. Clair produces components for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft and other defense equipment. The state's outlay is coming from the ongoing $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital construction plan approved in 2019. It has targeted $57 million for the airport. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity previously released $25 million in capital-fund cash for airplane taxiway improvements to support the Boeing facility. There's another $25 million that the Illinois Department of Transportation is scheduled to put up for additional taxiway and airfield improvements, and Pritzker's administration has pledged a $7 million DCEO grant to update the passenger terminal. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-build-navy-aircraft-midamerica-100104155.html (Image Courtesy: US Air Force) The US Air Force's special operators are hustling to turn their biggest planes into flying boats The prospect of a war in the Pacific has the US military thinking about how to spread out and conduct amphibious operations. Those challenges have renewed the US military's interest in an old concept: amphibious aircraft. US Air Force Special Operations Command now plans to rapidly develop an amphibious prototype of its workhorse plane, the MC-130J. Increasing tension with China has the US military looking for ways to spread out across the Pacific in order to counter Beijing's growing navy and missile arsenal. The US Air Force in particular is looking to disperse its aircraft and airmen, and the service's special operators are now hustling to equip their workhorse plane to operate on land and water. US Air Force Special Operations Command said this week that it will conduct a rapid prototyping effort to increase the "runway independence and expeditionary capacity" of its MC-130J by developing "a removable amphibious float modification." MC-130 variants have supported US military operations since the 1960s. The MC-130J is the latest version and is the backbone of AFSOC's fixed-wing force. The $114 million aircraft has advanced navigation and radar systems that allow it to operate in unfriendly territory, but the MC-130J Commando II Amphibious Capability, as the effort is called, will allow it to support operations at sea and in near-shore areas, according to AFSOC. MAC "allows the Air Force to increase placement and access for infiltration, exfiltration, and personnel recovery, as well as providing enhanced logistical capabilities," Lt. Col. Josh Trantham, AFSOC's science, systems, technology, and innovation deputy division chief, said in a release. Seaborne operations offer "nearly unlimited" places for landing and would extend the reach and survivability of the MC-130J and the commandos who use it, Trantham said. AFSOC is working with the Air Force Research Lab's Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation directorate and with private industry. The command plans to use a five-phase rapid prototyping schedule that will allow it to conduct an operational capability demonstration in 17 months. AFSOC and private-sector representatives are already testing prototypes in the Digital Proving Ground, a virtual setting that includes virtual-reality modeling and computer-aided design - "paving the way" for more digital simulation and testing and the use of advanced manufacturing, the release said. The effort also intends to "de-risk" the concept for potential use in a future program to give MC-130Js or other C-130 variants an amphibious capability. The last US military seaplane left service with the US Coast Guard in 1983, 16 years after the Navy retired its last seaplane. Amphibious aircraft played an important role in World War II, but technological advances during the Cold War made them less valuable. Interest in amphibious aircraft has increased in recent years, however. Several countries - including Russia and Japan - still operate them, and China's development of the AG600, the world's largest seaplane, is steadily advancing. China has invested heavily in its fleet of military airlift planes in order to support long-range operations, and the AG600 provides "some niche but important capabilities," Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher at the RAND Corporation, told Insider earlier this year. "An amphibious plane allows you to reach areas that otherwise are hard to get to. They can also support ships that are stranded at sea or just if it needs to connect with some ship at sea where there is no runway," Heath said. China is expected to use the AG600 for search-and-rescue, transport, and firefighting, among other operations. It would be especially useful in the South China Sea, supporting operations around the island bases China has built there. AFSOC officials have said amphibious aircraft would be a valuable capability in an era of great-power competition, and Trantham echoed that view in the release. "MAC will be able to be used by our sister services, allies, and partners," Trantham said, and its use "alongside other innovative tools will provide even more complex dilemmas in future battlespaces for our strategic competitors." https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-air-forces-special-operators-213550570.html China's 1st space station crew to return to Earth on Friday China's three astronauts are set to return home on Friday after two spacewalks and setting a new national record for longest crewed spaceflight mission. Astronauts Nie Haisheng (commander), Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo have spent 90 days aboard China's Tianhe space station module since arriving aboard Shenzhou 12 on June 17. Airspace closure notices issued on Wednesday indicate that the crew will be returning between 1:14 and 1:44 a.m. EDT (0514-0544 GMT or 1:14-1:44 p.m. local time) on Friday (Sept. 17). The landing will, for the first time, take place near Dongfeng, in the Gobi Desert in Inner Mongolia. The landing area is close to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center from which China's human spaceflight missions launch. Previous Shenzhou landings targeted grasslands at Siziwang (Dorbod Banner), also in Inner Mongolia. Teams have been carrying out search and rescue drills at the Dongfeng landing site for at least the last week, according to media reports. While in orbit the Shenzhou 12 astronauts have completed two extravehicular activities (EVAs), or spacewalks, to prepare Tianhe for future arrivals, carried out a range of experiments and sent back stunning images of Earth. A few tasks remain. Before returning home, the Shenzhou 12 astronauts will circumnavigate Tianhe in their capsule and test a radial rendezvous, by undocking from the module and approaching Tianhe from below, rather than along its flight path. Tianhe will, however, receive a new visitor very soon. The Tianzhou 3 cargo spacecraft is expected to launch from Wenchang, south China, around September 20. Tianzhou 3 will deliver supplies for the next crewed mission to the station, Shenzhou 13, which is set to launch from Jiuquan in October. https://www.space.com/china-space-station-astronauts-shenzhou-12-landing-soon Safety Analyst, Aviation Safety Action Indianapolis, IN US Schedule Full time POSITION PURPOSE Provides support for Republic Airways Safety Action Programs. Assists with projects and process studies for ASAP programs in Flight Operations, Inflight, Dispatch, and Maintenance to promote Safety in preventing accidents and incidents while enhancing Company policy and FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) compliance. 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. · Maintains Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) agendas and supporting documentation. · Serves as the focal point for safety information regarding the status of ASAP reports. · Maintains a database that tracks safety events and the analysis of those events. · Build data visualization by leveraging existing tools, as well as providing enhancements to business dashboards, and provides department deliverables. · Analyzes and investigates trends relative to ground and flight safety. · Acts as the liaison between the FAA, Company, and Union/Employee Group Representatives for implementation for recommended changes and corrective actions. · Provides feedback to submitters regarding the status of ASAP reports. · Assists in the implementation of policies and procedures in accordance with company and industry guidance. · Conducts follow-up analysis to ensure compliance and effectiveness of corrective and preventative actions. · Maintain the security, integrity, and confidentiality of all report data from all data sources. · May perform other responsibilities as assigned. Responsibilities and duties may change when circumstances dictate (e.g., emergencies change in workload, rush jobs, or technical developments). 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 (B.S. / B.A.), or aviation related field or equivalent experience in air carrier maintenance, quality assurance, or operations. · 3 years relevant experience (job or coursework). PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE · 3 years of experience with air carrier quality and/or safety program management, Safety Management System (SMS), or Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). · Airman Certificate: Commercial pilot, dispatch, or Airframe and Powerplant (or comparable military experience). · Basic knowledge of Microsoft Power BI. · Statistical background and good communications. · Understanding relevant 14CFR and FARs. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. 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 day-to-day decisions used to support strategic direction. Decisions often require some thought and are somewhat structured. Decisions tend to be short-term and usually moderate cost. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Ability to travel up to 10% of the time, including overnight and weekend travel. APPLY HERE 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. 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