Flight Safety Information - September 21, 2021 No. 190 In This Issue : Incident: UPS B748 at Cologne on Sep 14th 2021, gear problem on departure : Incident: UPS B748 at Cologne on Sep 16th 2021, gear problem on departure : Incident: Horizon E175 at Sacramento on Sep 18th 2021, bird strike : Incident: Delta B712 at Knoxville on Sep 17th 2021, unsafe gear, gear door debris on runway : Incident: Allegiant A320 at Boston on Sep 19th 2021, unsafe gear, burst tyre on landing : Incident: LOT E170 at Geneva on Sep 18th 2021, flaps problem : Mil Mi-8 - Fatal Accident (Libya) : Which Countries Still Haven’t Recertified The Boeing 737 MAX? : Biden Administration to Lift COVID Restrictions on Foreign Travelers : Air Force refines pilot candidate selection process in support of rated diversity : A Shortage of Pilots Looms as the Next Challenge for Airlines : Hawaiʻi Airport Workers Given Extra Time for Vaccine Mandate : Intl Business Aviation Council Celebrates 40 Years : Small airlines battle to serve the most remote US cities, where even empty flights can be profitable thanks to millions in subsidies : Vietnam's Bamboo Airways to sign $2 billion deal with GE for engines on Boeing jets : Cathay Pacific lowers Q4 capacity forecast as travel restrictions linger : Leasing firms buy more planes than ailing airlines for first time : Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft docks with China space station module : Southern California Safety Institute Upcoming Fall Courses : POSITION AVAILABLE: Safety Analyst, Aviation Safety Action : POSITION AVAILABLE: Aerospace Engineer (Powerplants) Incident: UPS B748 at Cologne on Sep 14th 2021, gear problem on departure A UPS United Parcel Service Boeing 747-8 freighter, registration N614UP performing flight 5X-2 from Cologne (Germany) to Hong Kong (China), was climbing out of Cologne's runway 14L when the crew stopped the climb at FL130, entered a hold and returned to Cologne for a safe landing on runway 14L about 80 minutes after departure. A ground observer reported the nose gear doors had remained open. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed8db5a&opt=0 Incident: UPS B748 at Cologne on Sep 16th 2021, gear problem on departure A UPS United Parcel Service Boeing 747-8 freighter, registration N614UP performing flight 5X-224 from Cologne (Germany) to Louisville,KY (USA), was climbing out of Cologne's runway 32R when the crew stopped the climb at FL140, entered a hold and returned to Cologne for a safe landing on runway 32R about 60 minutes after departure. A ground observer reported the nose gear doors had remained open. The aircraft suffered the same problem two days (45 hours) earlier, see Incident: UPS B748 at Cologne on Sep 14th 2021, gear problem on departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Cologne (standing Sep 20th 2021). http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed8dc82&opt=0 Incident: Horizon E175 at Sacramento on Sep 18th 2021, bird strike A Horizon Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of Alaska Airlines, registration N645QX performing flight AS-2188 from Sacramento,CA to Portland,OR (USA), was in the initial climb out of Sacramento's runway 17L when the crew stopped the climb at 2000 feet due to a bird strike into the left hand engine (CF34). The aircraft returned to Sacramento for a safe landing on runway 17L about 15 minutes after departure. The FAA reported the "EMRABER ERJ170" "STRUCK A BIRD ON DEPARTURE DAMAGING RADOME AND #1 ENGINE, SACRAMENTO, CA." The occurrence "Emraber"/Embraer returned to service after about 24 hours on the ground. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed8bccd&opt=0 Incident: Delta B712 at Knoxville on Sep 17th 2021, unsafe gear, gear door debris on runway A Delta Airlines Boeing 717-200, registration N924AT performing flight DL-2548 from Atlanta,GA to Knoxville,TN (USA) with 119 people on board, was on approach to Knoxville's runway 23L when the crew initiated a go around due to an unsafe nose gear indication. The crew worked the related checklists and performed an alternate (manual) gear extension, which left all gear doors open. The aircraft subsequently landed on Knoxville's runway 23L about 25 minutes later. A post flight runway inspection found debris from the main gear doors on the runway. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR FAILING TO EXTEND AND MANUALLY LOWERED WHICH CAUSED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DOORS TO REMAIN DOWN AND DEBRIS FROM THE MAIN GEAR DOORS WAS FOUND ON THE RUNWAY, KNOXVILLE, TN." A replacement A319-100 registration N322NB performed the return flight with a delay of 3:20 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed8ba63&opt=0 Incident: Allegiant A320 at Boston on Sep 19th 2021, unsafe gear, burst tyre on landing An Allegiant Airbus A320-200, registration N220NV performing flight G4-2601 from Knoxville,TN to Boston,MA (USA) with 154 passengers and 6 crew, was on final approach to Boston's runway 33L when the crew initiated a go around at about 1200 feet MSL advising they needed to troubleshoot a problem. The aircraft climbed to 4000 feet MSL and entered a hold while troubleshooting the problem. After about 15 minutes the crew declared emergency reporting they had an indication the right main gear was not down and locked, after landing they would be disabled and not be able to move off the runway. Flight attendants began to prepare the cabin and passengers for an emergency landing and instructed the passengers to assume the brace position for landing. The aircraft landed on runway 33L about 25 minutes after the go around but blew the right outboard tyre. The aircraft stopped on the runway and was disabled. The passengers disembarked via mobile stairs onto the runway and were bussed to the terminal. The airline reported the aircraft suffered a blown tyre on landing and was disabled. The passengers disembarked via stairs and were bussed to the terminal. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed8a037&opt=0 Incident: LOT E170 at Geneva on Sep 18th 2021, flaps problem A LOT Polish Airlines Embraer ERJ-170, registration SP-LDI performing flight LO-417 from Warsaw (Poland) to Geneva (Switzerland), was on final approach to Geneva's runway 22 descending through about 2400 feet when the crew initiated a go around reporting flaps problems. The aircraft climbed back to FL100, entered a hold while the crew was working the checklists and prepared landing performance, then positioned for another approach to runway 22 and landed safely on runway 22 at a (about 25 knots) higher than normal speed about 25 minutes after the go-around. The aircraft remained on the ground in Geneva for 2:20 hours, then departed for the return flight, after landing in Warsaw the aircraft remained on the ground in Warsaw and has not flown since (for 44 hours). http://avherald.com/h?article=4ed87fe0&opt=0 Mil Mi-8 - Fatal Accident (Libya) Date: 19-SEP-2021 Time: Type: Mil Mi-8 Owner/operator: Libyan National Army (LNA) Registration: MSN: Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 130 km southeast of Benghazi - Libya Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: Two LNA Mil Mi-8 helicopters collided midair and crashed. Two crew members of one helicopter died in the crash. All other crew members survived. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/267888 (Photo Courtesy: Oleg V. Belyakov at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boeing_737-8_MAX_Belyakov.jpg) Which Countries Still Haven’t Recertified The Boeing 737 MAX? Boeing’s 737 MAX is now allowed to fly in most countries, with India recently lifting its MAX ban. Of the countries still to allow the MAX to resume flying, China stands out. China is the biggest aviation market still to let the 737 MAX resume flights. One big country is lagging others Following two fatal crashes in six months, airline regulators worldwide grounded the 737 MAX in March 2019. It wasn’t until November 2020 that the US regulator recertified the MAX. While the FAA is influential, most nations have their own safety regulators. Some, for a raft of reasons, took their time giving the MAX the green light. Among the big airline markets, Brazil was one of the first countries out of the gate. Brazil allowed the MAX to fly again in November 2020. In December, Mexico gave the MAX the thumbs up to start flying again. The following month, in January 2021, both Canada and the EU cleared the MAX to resume flying. Many smaller countries followed the lead of the larger nations. To date, around 175 countries have recertified the 737 MAX. Getting the MAX back in the air was particularly pertinent if airlines based in a particular country flew the type. But there were some laggards. India only recently fully cleared the 737 MAX to resume flying after initially allowing foreign airlines to fly the MAX in and out of Indian airspace in April. China continues to lag other countries in recertifying the 737 MAX Which brings us to China. There are many reasons why China is taking its time recertifying the 737 MAX. Not all of them are related to safety. Last month, a Boeing 737 MAX-7 flew to Shanghai to operate a series of test flights for Chinese regulators. However, according to The Global Times, a Beijing newspaper that many consider the voice of the Chinese Government, successful test flights won’t automatically lead to recertification. “China’s civil aviation authorities always uphold three principles,” the newspaper quotes Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijia. “First, aircraft alteration must be approved for airworthiness. Second, pilots must be fully and effectively retrained. Third, the conclusion of the investigation of the two fatal accidents must be clear, and the improvement measures effective.” The three biggest Chinese airlines, China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern, have 737 MAXs. Until recent years, one-quarter of all planes Boeing built went to China. But an ongoing trade war between China and the United States saw Boeing’s deliveries into China dry up. China is also putting a lot of emphasis on supporting homegrown aircraft manufacturer COMAC. China’s cautious airline safety regulator While China’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), has continued to work on recertifying the MAX, it is taking its time. Once having a patchy safety record, China has now not recorded a fatal commercial airline accident in over a decade, and the CAAC has grown into an ultra-cautious regulator. That’s no bad thing, but as noted, there is more at play here than safety. Nonetheless, Boeing’s CEO Dave Calhoun has previously said he expects the 737 MAX back in the air in China by the end of the year. Meanwhile, China remains the last significant airline market not to recertify the 737 MAX. https://simpleflying.com/which-countries-still-havent-recertified-the-boeing-737-max/ Biden Administration to Lift COVID Restrictions on Foreign Travelers The Biden administration announced Monday that it is lifting restrictions on vaccinated foreign travelers. The new policy will take effect in early November. “With science and public health as our guide, we have developed a new international air travel system that both enhances the safety of Americans here at home and enhances the safety of international air travel,” White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters. “Foreign nationals flying to the U.S. will be required to be fully vaccinated.” Foreign travelers will be required to provide proof of vaccination, as well as a negative coronavirus test within three days prior to departure to the U.S. Vaccines accepted for travel to the U.S. will be determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Zients said. Currently, most non-American citizens are barred from entering the U.S. if they have passed through the U.K. or EU nations within the past 14 days, in what is an effective ban on travel from Europe to the U.S. Similar restrictions on travel from India, China, and other nations are also in place. The restrictions were initially implemented by the Trump administration in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Biden administration expanded the restriction to include India in April due to concerns of the spread of the Delta variant. Americans with family members in Europe have decried the restrictions, with many families struggling to meet in person over the course of the pandemic. European governments have also derided the continuing restrictions as illogical. British officials have pointed out that the U.S. does not ban travel from Caribbean nations or Argentina, despite the fact that the U.K.’s vaccination rate is higher than those countries’, the New York Times reported. https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-administration-lift-covid-restrictions-142549874.html (Photo Courtesy: US Air Force) Air Force refines pilot candidate selection process in support of rated diversity JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Several Air Education and Training Command initiatives to remove barriers for qualified candidates in the pilot candidate selection process were highlighted in the Air Force’s six-month assessment of its initial Racial Disparity Report, Sept. 9. Pilot candidates may now: -Use their highest composite scores from any Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) rather than the most current score. -Complete the Test of Basic Aviation Skills (TBAS) up to three times, with the third requiring a waiver from the applicant’s wing commander or equivalent. -Re-take the AFOQT and TBAS after 90 days compared to the previous 150-day requirement for the AFOQT and 180 days for the TBAS. -Participate in study sessions with other individuals who have not yet taken the test if the examinee has also never taken the AFOQT. These changes came after extensive research conducted by the pilot selection process working group responsible for identifying potential barriers while upholding the standards of excellence in the Pilot Candidate Selection Method used since 1993. “Our studies concluded that these changes will result in more qualified candidates of underrepresented groups being selected for training,” said Lt. Col. Brandi King, the working group’s AETC lead. Prior flying experience a barrier to qualification Prior flying experience, the second largest component of an applicant’s PCSM score, particularly poses a socioeconomic barrier to candidates without access to or financial means to pay for flying lessons. To address this barrier, the Air Force now considers only a candidate’s initial 60 flight hours when scoring a candidate. “There is no evidence that more than 61 hours of flight experience poses a significant benefit to pilot training success,” said Dr. Katie Gunther, chief of strategic research and assessment at the Air Force Personnel Center. “The probability of success in flight training increases substantially from 0 hours to 60 hours, then relatively plateaus.” The working group also found that removing the higher ranges of flight hours as part of the PCSM score would result in a more-diverse applicant pool. According to the Validation of the Pilot Candidate Selection Method 2020 report prepared by the AFPC Strategic Research and Assessment branch, removing the four highest ranges of flight hour codes would have resulted in 69 more Hispanic, 47 more female, and 26 more Black/African-American qualified applicants over a 12-year period. “Flying lessons are expensive and could potentially exclude qualified candidates from becoming pilots in the Air Force due to limited income or lack of opportunities,” said Brig. Gen. Brenda Cartier, AETC’s Director of Operations and Communications and the pilot selection process working group’s overall lead. “In order to ensure we do not eliminate otherwise qualified candidates, flight programs have been implemented at both the United States Air Force Academy and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Cadets receive free ground and flight training, and an opportunity to gain critical skills and directly improve their competitiveness for pilot selection boards.” Pilot selection process A PCSM score quantifies a pilot candidate's predicted aptitude for success at undergraduate pilot training. This score is composed of the AFOQT and TBAS scores, previous flying experience, and other "whole-person concept" merits such as grade point average, physical fitness assessment scores and class ranking. “Data supports that the PCSM is the best single predictor of pilot training completion,” King said. “However, it is imperative that we continue re-evaluating our selection methods and remove barriers that hinder rated diversity without compromising test integrity or lowering standards.” https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2781799/air-force-refines-pilot-candidate-selection-process-in-support-of-rated-diversi/ A Shortage of Pilots Looms as the Next Challenge for Airlines • Can take two years to train a pilot, Alpha Aviation CEO says • Modern narrow-body jets will require more pilots per aircraft After being thrust into crisis by the coronavirus, the aviation industry faces yet more trouble as the world emerges from the worst of the pandemic to find there’s now likely to be a shortage of pilots after thousands were laid off or decided to retire. Government policies such as mandatory vaccinations for trainee pilots and travel curbs have also kept a new batch of potential aviators away, according to Bhanu Choudhrie, chief executive officer of Alpha Aviation Group, which runs flying schools in the United Arab Emirates and the biggest one in Southeast Asia’s training hub, the Philippines. They’ve trained more than 2,500 pilots for carriers including Philippine Airlines, AirAsia Group, Cebu Pacific and Air Arabia. Modern, longer-distance narrow-body aircraft like Airbus SE’s A321 XLR jets -- due to be delivered from 2023 -- will require more pilots than earlier models, compounding the shortage, Choudhrie said in an interview from London. “Airlines are going to continue to buy, modernize their fleets, and as they do that, they are going to require pilots,” he said. “The market is getting interesting again and we’re starting to see that upward trend, we’re starting to see airlines come to us and say -- look this is my delivery schedule, can you have pilots ready for me in two years time?” Many airlines are aggressively trying to rehire pilots as well as cabin crew and ground staff, but that’s not been a simple process and some jobs are left unfilled. Careers in the industry no longer look as secure as before. It takes 18-24 months to train a pilot, according to Choudhrie, which means carriers must work on getting them ready way ahead of the delivery of new aircraft, including narrow-body jets, like the A321 XLR, that can fly longer. Airlines typically order aircraft years in advance given the limited production capacity of plane manufacturers. The crew ratio -- or number of pilots assigned to a plane -- could be as high as 18 for the A321 XLR compared with 10 or 12 for older models in the same family, said Choudhrie, who also heads U.K.-based private equity firm C&C Alpha Group and was an early investor in Air Deccan, a pioneer of India’s low-cost flying boom. Boeing Co. estimates that the world will need more than 600,000 new pilots in the next two decades, during which airlines will take 43,600 new aircraft deliveries. Demand for new planes will soar in markets where carriers are looking to replace their old fleet, and in countries like India, home to IndiGo, the biggest customer for Airbus’s best-selling narrow-body jets. That’s why Alpha Aviation is setting up a new flight training center in India, with an initial investment of $15 million, and has plans to expand and invest as much as $100 million, Choudhrie said. He declined to elaborate ahead of a formal announcement. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-21/a-shortage-of-pilots-looms-as-the-next-challenge-for-airlines Hawaiʻi Airport Workers Given Extra Time for Vaccine Mandate Airline workers and Transportation Security Administration staff have been granted a grace period to comply with a Hawaiʻi order that requires people going to state facilities like airports to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. The grace period is for thousands of airport and airline employees, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Monday. Gov. David Ige's office said in a statement that the airlines and TSA have been granted a grace period until Oct. 15. The order went into effect on Sept. 13. “This aligns with the implementation date for similar federal requirements,” the statement said. Angela Keen, co-founder of a quarantine watchdog group, said the move "doesn’t send the right safety message to the public and to visitors.” “I’m sure there are other companies in Hawaiʻi that are challenged because they have a lot of employees,” Keen said. “Why does the tourism industry get a pass?" Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Alex Da Silva said the airline is consulting with state officials. “(W)e appreciate that the state has provided us with a grace period to allow us to fully understand and comply with the new safety protocols,” he said. He said the airline has implemented a vaccination requirement for all U.S.-based employees that will take place in November. https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2021-09-20/hawaii-airport-workers-given-extra-time-for-vaccine-mandate Intl Business Aviation Council Celebrates 40 Years The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month with a busy agenda that includes continuing its work with the International Civil Aviation Organization, forwarding sustainability efforts, and expanding on the IS-BAH program and other safety initiatives. The organization was formed in September 1981 when six business aviation associations—the Canadian Business Aviation Association, NBAA, British Business and General Aviation Association, European Business Aviation Association, German Business Aviation Association, and African Business Aviation Association—signed a charter during the annual NBAA convention in Anaheim, California, to advocate for the industry globally. As the industry grew, so too have the number of business aviation associations and IBAC now counts among its members organizations around the globe. “Much has been accomplished in 40 years for the business aviation community, including establishing IBAC’s presence at ICAO in Montreal as an official observer; developing two recognized global codes of best safety practice: IS-BAO, and IS-BAH; revising Annex 6 Part II of the Chicago Convention; offering aircrew IDs; and leading industry sustainability efforts, including the new carbon credit exchange voluntary offset platform, among others,” said IBAC director-general Kurt Edwards. As for its agenda, IBAC is remaining involved as the ICAO Council and Air Navigation Commission resumes their sessions in preparations for the upcoming High-Level Conference on Covid-19 in November and the full 41st ICAO Assembly next year. Meanwhile, the organization continues to support the work of the EASA Ground Handling Rulemaking Task Force and grow its own IS-BAH program, which recognized 260 locations as Stage 1 since the program launched in 2014. It recently completed the first IS-BAH Stage 3 renewal for SRC Aviation in New Dehli. As for the long-established IS-BAO program, the organization is working with support affiliates to promote a number of SafetyNet webinars, including those presented by MedAire and Polaris. IBAC further has been active on sustainability on a number of fronts, most recently announcing its alliance with Carbon Trade eXchange (CTX) to offer a carbon offset program. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-09-20/intl-business-aviation-council-celebrates-40-years Small airlines battle to serve the most remote US cities, where even empty flights can be profitable thanks to millions in subsidies The US government's Essential Air Service program gives subsidies to airlines serving remote cities. Around $315 million is being spent in 2021 for Lower 48 cities, given largely to the country's smallest airlines. EAS cities are highly sought after and communities can be very particular with who serves them. Beckley, West Virginia; Burlington, Iowa; and Clovis, New Mexico are among the countless US cities that have been overlooked and underserved by America's largest airlines. There's simply not enough consistent demand to make them profitable. But one airline's money-losing route can be another's profit-maker. In fact, a niche industry of regional airlines seeks out these cities and relies on the US government to help turn a profit when flying to them. The Department of Transportation's Essential Air Service program incentivizes airlines to serve more than 100 cities American cities. More than $315 million in yearly contracts is doled out in the Lower 48 alone, and nearly $27 million is given in Alaska. Any airline can submit a bid to serve EAS cities but regional carriers have cornered the market. The top EAS airlines in the US include SkyWest Airlines, Cape Air, Boutique Air, Southern Air Express, and Denver Air Connection, according to the DOT's most recent data. When considering bids, the DOT factors in items including the service reliability of the airline, connectivity to larger airlines, opinions of the community being served, and the cost of the subsidy. The cheapest bid doesn't always win the contract, nor does the one with the most community support. In the case of Rutland, Vermont, the DOT chose Cape Air to serve the city with an annual subsidy of $1,959,579 for the first year rising to $2,018,366 the next. Cape Air's option won out over a cheaper Boutique Air option in part because of a lack of community support for the latter airline. But what the community gives, the community can also take away. San Francisco-based Boutique Air was forced out of Ironwood, Michigan, for example, after its aircraft suffered two incidents on flights from the city. The airport board voted to "seek a new air carrier," according to a government filing, and three airlines - Air Choice One, Southern Air Express, and Denver Air Connection - all submitted multi-million-dollar bids to take Boutique Air's place. Major US airlines can also advocate in support of their regional airline partners as ease of connections in major airports can be crucial in securing a contract. Some major airlines, including American, do bid for EAS routes themselves but are a small percentage of the program as of the most recent DOT tally in July. The unique airlines operating these flights often use unique aircraft, including older models that are cheaper to operate. Aircraft can be more than 40 years old, such is the case with some of Cape Air's fleet of Cessna 402C aircraft. Other airlines, including Boutique Air, use private aircraft intended to transport the wealthy. "Some airlines do feel more like a private [flight,]" Joey Gerardi, an aviation writer who has taken more than 40 EAS flights and has seen the best and worst of the program, told Insider. Most EAS flights that he's taken have been bare-bones with no in-flight entertainment or even a flight attendant. "A lot of Essential Air Service carriers don't have much service at all and that's just because of the size of the plane," Gerardi said, adding that some offer special treats like a snack basket of full-size candy bars. Alaska sees a lot of EAS flights given the remote nature of the state's cities and Alaska Airlines is a prominent carrier, using its fleet of Boeing and Embraer aircraft. On those flights, the experience may be indistinguishable from a standard Alaska Airlines flight. But the type of aircraft used can be a point of contention for communities. Michigan resident Dennis Lennox complained in a letter to the DOT about SkyWest's Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft operating daily flights between Detroit and Pellston, Michigan under the Delta Connection brand. "This aircraft has outlived its viability, is regularly in bad condition, and provides an unacceptably uncomfortable in-flight experience for passengers even on a flight of only 45 minutes to 1 hour in duration," Lennox wrote, estimating that 40% of the flight he's booked on the aircraft have been delayed or canceled. And with millions in government subsidies, these airlines don't have to worry about filling every seat, and they often don't. "At least 80% of the EAS flights I've been on have five or fewer people," Gerardi said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/small-airlines-battle-serve-most-124300752.html (Photo: Public Domain) Vietnam's Bamboo Airways to sign $2 billion deal with GE for engines on Boeing jets HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's Bamboo Airways will sign a deal valued at nearly $2 billion with General Electric to purchase GEnx engines to power Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the airline said on Tuesday. The deal will be signed in the United States later on Tuesday in the presence of Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Bamboo said in a statement. The GEnx engines, due to be delivered in 2022, will be used on the airline's wide-body Dreamliner fleet to operate planned non-stop routes between Vietnam and the United States, the company said. "This new signing agreement will be an important milestone for the airline to expand its transcontinental flight network, connecting Vietnam with medium- and long-range markets," the statement said. The airline said it will open a representative office in the United States and sign agreements with San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport this week, paving the way for its first test of a non-stop flight between the countries on Thursday. Bamboo said it aims to finalise procedures for non-stop commercial flights to the United Sates early next year, pending government approvals. Bamboo said it is also seeking to expand its international flight network and open more routes to Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany, using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/vietnams-bamboo-airways-sign-2-033606385.html Cathay Pacific lowers Q4 capacity forecast as travel restrictions linger (Reuters) -Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on Monday it had lowered its passenger capacity forecast for the remainder of the year to 13% of pre-COVID levels, down from an earlier 30% target for the fourth quarter as travel restrictions linger. The airline said it continued to target cash burn of less than HK$1 billion ($130 million) a month for the rest of the year. Hong Kong lacks a domestic aviation market and has some of the world's toughest pandemic-related travel restrictions. The city requires fully vaccinated travellers from destinations considered "high-risk", including the United States and Britain, to spend three weeks in hotel quarantine. Cathay last month said its target of reaching 30% of pre-COVID passenger capacity in the fourth quarter hinged on quarantine rules for passengers and crew being relaxed. Passenger numbers in August were better than in previous months because of strong student traffic from China to the United States and Britain but were 95.3% below the same month in 2019, the airline said. Cathay said the cargo market strengthened in August, with freighter demand ramping up to peak season levels. Air cargo accounted for 80% of the airline's revenue in the first half of the year due to the pandemic-related hit to passenger demand. Cathay separately said on Monday that it had committed to using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for 10% of its fuel consumption by 2030 as part of its broader commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Delta Air Lines and British Airways owner IAG set the same 2030 SAF targets earlier this year. Doing so would require a major ramp-up in production as SAF accounts for less than 0.1% of jet fuel at present, according to airlines group IATA. Cathay said a deal with Fulcrum BioEnergy would give it access to some SAF for flights departing the United States from 2024. ($1 = 7.7875 Hong Kong dollars) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cathay-pacific-lowers-q4-capacity-043712327.html Leasing firms buy more planes than ailing airlines for first time LONDON (Reuters) - Aircraft leasing companies are for the first time buying more of the world's passenger planes than airlines after the pandemic clobbered carriers around the world, senior industry executives said on Monday. The historic shift, following decades of gradual growth, is down to leasing giants being able to access cheaper financing than carriers in another sign of the financial woes facing much of the airline industry, they said. Aircraft lessors, who buy planes from manufacturers like Airbus SE and Boeing Co and lease them on to airlines, had accounted for around 40-45% of aircraft deliveries before the pandemic, said industry pioneer Steven Udvar-Hazy. "Leased content has grown to around 60% of deliveries," Udvar-Hazy, executive chairman of lessor Air Lease Corp, told the Airline Economics conference in London. Udvar-Hazy, who said he remembered the sector providing finance for just 1% of deliveries when he helped pioneer the industry in the early 1970s, said it was hard to say if the number could go higher. "It's in a range now that is probably a good equilibrium for the industry," he told Reuters. "I never thought it would get to 50% or even 40%." As the industry recovers, airlines may recover the ability to get the financing on their own, he added. A senior executive for larger rival AerCap agreed that the leasing sector was now responsible for financing a majority of new passenger jet deliveries, financing somewhere between 50% and 60%. "Going into COVID, we were always 'will we ever get to 50%?' and we've blown through that," AerCap Chief Commercial Officer Peter Anderson told Reuters, adding he thought the new level was sustainable. Udvar-Hazy said the 60% number included sale-and-leasebacks, finance leases and operating leases. He said the industry's manufacturing duopoly of Airbus and Boeing were comfortable with the shift in power from the airlines to the leasing companies. "It's much better for Airbus to have a financially capable buyer," he said. "The leasing industry has the capital to show up at delivery and actually take delivery." Some lessors are paying under 2% for finance compared with over 4% for some of the largest airlines in the United States and Europe, Udvar-Hazy told the conference, the first major gathering of leasing sector since the pandemic hit. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/leasing-firms-now-buy-more-141203958.html (Image Courtesy: Godai, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons) Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft docks with China space station module BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese robotic resupply cargo spacecraft successfully docked with an orbiting space station module on Monday in the fourth of 11 missions needed to finish building China's first permanent space station by the end of next year. A Long March-7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-3, or "Heavenly Vessel" in Chinese, blasted off at 3:10 p.m. Beijing time (0710 GMT) from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan, state media reported. It successfully docked with the core Tianhe module of the space station at 1408 GMT. Tianzhou-3 will deliver fuel and supplies for three astronauts due to travel to the Tianhe module in October. Their planned six-month stay would be the fifth mission in the series and the last for this year. Next year, China will launch two additional core modules for the space station - Wentian and Mengtian - on Long March 5B rockets - China's most powerful space transport vehicles. China began building the three-module space station in April with the deployment of Tianhe, followed by a three-month crewed mission that ended last week. The station, on completion, will rival the International Space Station (ISS), which is backed by countries including the United States, Russia and Japan. China was barred from participating in the ISS by the United States. https://www.yahoo.com/news/tianzhou-3-cargo-spacecraft-docks-144903091.html 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 Curt Lewis