Flight Safety Information - October 26, 2021 No. 215 In This Issue : Incident: Southwest B737 at Burbank on Oct 24th 2021, flaps issue : Incident: PSA CRJ7 at Washington on Oct 23rd 2021, door open indication : Incident: American A321 near Madison on Oct 24th 2021, smoke in cabin : Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Takeoff Accident (Alaska) : United Airlines says its unvaccinated pilots are costing the carrier nearly $3 million a month : NTSB: Plane in deadly DeKalb crash had new engine : Sun Air Jets certifies as WYVERN Wingman PRO : Bombardier Safety Standdown Turns 25 : FAA proposes to increase rest periods for U.S. airline flight attendants : Southwest Airlines orders 16 incremental B737 MAX 7s : Aircraft aluminum demand likely to come back faster than previously thought : What Does An Aircraft Look Like Inside During Certification? : How Asia’s Flight Academies Are Preparing For Increased Pilot Demand : Buyer of Jeffrey Epstein’s Gulfstream Jet Regrets His Purchase : SpaceX is 'go' to launch astronauts to space station on Halloween : Position Available: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty : Aero HygenX Partners with Ethiopian Airlines for Deployment of Autonomous UV-C Disinfecting Solution Incident: Southwest B737 at Burbank on Oct 24th 2021, flaps issue A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N728SW performing flight WN-611 from Nashville,TN to Burbank,CA (USA), was on final approach to Burbank's runway 08 when the crew initiated a go around at about 2300 feet reporting a flaps issue and requested to hold for about 10 minutes, they would then make a decision to either attempt another approach to Burbank or divert to Los Angeles. The aircraft climbed to 5000 feet and entered a hold for about 25 minutes, then the crew decided to divert to Los Angeles advising their landing speed would be about 20-25 knots faster than normal. The aircraft landed safely on Los Angeles' runway 25L about 40 minutes after the go around. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef29a02&opt=0 Incident: PSA CRJ7 at Washington on Oct 23rd 2021, door open indication A PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-700 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N532EA performing flight AA-5101 from Washington National,DC to Hartford,CT (USA), was in the initial climb out of Washington's runway 19 when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet requesting to return to the airport due to an open door. The aircraft landed safely on runway 19 about 13 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 4 hours, then departed again and reached Hartford with a delay of 4 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef296d3&opt=0 Incident: American A321 near Madison on Oct 24th 2021, smoke in cabin An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N104NN performing flight AA-3 from New York JFK,NY to Los Angeles,CA (USA) with 190 people on board, was enroute at FL300 about 50nm northwest of Madison,WI (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Madison reporting smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on Madison's runway 36 about 40 minutes later. Following checks by emergency services the aircraft taxied to the apron. The airport reported the aircraft diverted reporting smoke in the cabin. Passengers reported the aircraft diverted due to smoke in the cabin. The airline reported the aircraft diverted due to a mechanical issue, a replacement aircraft is going to take the passengers to Los Angeles. A replacement A321-200 registration N106NN reached Los Angeles with a delay of 5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Madison about 20 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef2924a&opt=0 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Takeoff Accident (Alaska) Status: Preliminary Date: Friday 22 October 2021 Time: ca 09:00 Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Operator: Alaska Seaplanes Registration: N754KP MSN: 208B1264 First flight: 2007 Engines: 1 Honeywell TPE331-12JR Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Juneau International Airport, AK (JNU) ( United States of America) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Juneau International Airport, AK (JNU/PAJN), United States of America Destination airport: Skagway Municipal Airport, AK (SGY/PAGY), United States of America Flightnumber: 501 Narrative: A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crashed on takeoff from Juneau International Airport, Alaska. The plane sustained significant damage but the occupants were not injured. First reports indicate that the aircraft struggled to gain altitude on takeoff and came down again on the side of the runway. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20211022-0 United Airlines says its unvaccinated pilots are costing the carrier nearly $3 million a month United Airlines said its unvaccinated pilots are costing the company $1.4 million every two weeks in paid leave. The carrier explained vaccinated pilots "refuse to risk their safety" by flying with unvaccinated colleagues. United is challenging a lawsuit brought forth by employees claiming the company's vaccine mandate is discriminatory. United Airlines is spending nearly $3 million a month in paid leave for unvaccinated pilots, the carrier said in a court filing on Friday, as Bloomberg reported earlier. United Airlines said vaccinated pilots are hesitant to fly because they "refuse to risk their safety" by flying with unvaccinated pilots, costing the carrier about $1.4 million every two weeks in paid leave, said the company in a Texas federal court where it is battling a lawsuit against its employee vaccine requirement. According to United, the losses are unlikely to be recuperated even if it wins the lawsuit, which was brought forth by six United employees in September who claim the company's strict vaccine mandate is discriminatory and punitive. Earlier this month, US District Judge Mark Pittman ruled United had to temporarily halt its plan to put unvaccinated employees who request a medical or religious exemption on unpaid leave, effectively keeping those workers on the company payroll through October 26, which is when the judge's order is set to expire. While $3 million a month is small compared to United's size and overall operating revenue, it is still a loss that adds to the financial woes created by the coronavirus pandemic. According to United's financial earnings for 2020, the company recorded a $7.1 billion net loss for the year, though the company said in its 2021 third-quarter earnings that it is on track to meet its targets for 2022. https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-says-unvaccinated-pilots-231921696.html NTSB: Plane in deadly DeKalb crash had new engine The investigation into a fatal plane crash at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport continues. Preliminary report says original engine was recently converted The small plane that crashed earlier this month at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, killing everyone on board, had its engine replaced only a couple of months earlier, according to federal officials. A preliminary report released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board said the 1978 Cessna 210′s original engine had recently been changed out and the conversion was completed July 19. Four people died in the fiery crash Oct. 8, including two teenagers. According to the report, “the engine had accumulated 2.3 hours since overhaul.” The previous airframe had accumulated about 1,390 total hours, the report said. [It was originally equipped with a reciprocating engine; however, it was converted to a RollsRoyce 250-B17F/2 turbo shaft 450-horsepower engine, equipped with a five-bladed composite MT propeller.] https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/268425 An airport security surveillance video showed the airplane lifting off about 1,000 feet before it rolled left, flipped upside down and crashed nose first next to the runway, according to the report. Jonathan Rosen, 47, the plane’s pilot and owner, died in the crash, as did his 14-year-old daughter Allison. Lauren Harrington, 42, and Julia Smith, 13, were also on the plane, according to the medical examiner’s office. Daniel Boggs, air safety investigator for the NTSB who is leading the probe of the crash, said he believed the passengers were on a personal family trip to Houston. “We’ll be looking at the weight of the aircraft. We’ll be looking at the engine,” he said. “We’ll be looking at the servicing. We’ll be looking at the qualifications of the pilot.” https://www.ajc.com/news/ntsb-plane-in-deadly-dekalb-crash-had-new-engine/RV6CWAZVZBBKHAZEO6YFQKPPDM/ Sun Air Jets certifies as WYVERN Wingman PRO Sun Air Jets, the first operator to achieve WYVERN’s Certified Flight Leader status, announces it is among the first operators to be re-branded as WYVERN Wingman PRO certification. Issued by WYVERN Ltd, a leader in aviation safety risk management and training, a Sun Air Jets news release states this newly rebranded distinction is a testament to Sun Air Jets’ dedication to high quality, risk-averse safety and operational processes. The WYVERN Flight Leader Program provides operators alternative and innovative pathways to continuous improvement. Focusing less on regular auditing, and more on safety management system (SMS) effectiveness, as well as human factors and organizational culture, operators are coached by industry veterans in a progressive, quarterly assessment and validation cycle with the intent of enhancing safety culture and preventing “safety creep." The Wingman PRO certificate is the pinnacle achievement of the Flight Leader Program. “WYVERN once again celebrates Sun Air Jets’ achievement. It requires discipline and professionalism to become a Wingman, and it takes sound leadership and effective management of human and organizational factors to be a Wingman PRO. A Wingman PRO inspires other Operators to reach higher and attain new levels of excellence. Sun Air Jets’ recognition as a Wingman PRO is proof that their leadership is focused on their organization’s safety culture and the key human factors that matter most in aviation safety,” says Sonnie Bates, CEO of WYVERN. “Sun Air Jets takes great pride in their unsurpassed safety ratings and is thrilled to be recognized for their achievements with this distinguished award," says James Evans, director of Safety for Sun Air Jets. “We are grateful to WYVERN for the opportunity and for their continued partnership as we consistently accomplish our safety goals. Sun Air Jets is dedicated to positioning itself as a leader in this field to ensure our clients the exceptional experience they deserve.” Sun Air Jets is proud of this achievement and progressive step in safety and safety culture. The certificate joins a list of previously earned safety ratings: WYVERN Wingman PRO, IS/BAO Stage 3, ARG/US Platinum, and the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), an achievement held only by four private jet companies out of 2,000 charter operators. https://www.aviationpros.com/fbos-tenants/press-release/21243852/sun-air-jets-sun-air-jets-certifies-as-wyvern-wingman-pro Bombardier Safety Standdown Turns 25 Bombardier’s annual Safety Standdown is turning 25. This year’s event is returning to Wichita next week—from November 2 to 3—at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Established 25 years ago by Bombardier’s Learjet flight demonstration team, the theme for this year’s event is “Learn, Apply, Share,” prompting aviation professionals and organizations to learn new skills, apply them, and share their knowledge to make an impact. Presenters include Tony Kern, founding partner and the CEO of Convergent Performance; Amy Grubb, digital transformation advisor to the FBI CIO; Dan Boedigheimer, CEO of Advanced Aircrew Academy; Christopher Lutat, managing partner of Convergent Performance; and Captain Clarke “Otter” McNeace, v-p of flight operations and standards at Aviation Performance Solutions, who will explore Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I). “For a quarter of a century, Bombardier has led the industry in providing aviation professionals with critical knowledge-based aviation training,” said Bombardier’s Andy Nureddin, who stewards the Safety Standdown program. “This invaluable event fosters a community of aviation professionals who are committed to lifelong learning and to disseminating higher standards of safety and professionalism throughout the industry.” Bombardier has adopted a Covid-19 vaccine requirement for Safety Standdown 2021. All registrants must present proof of full vaccination to enter the venue and comply with CDC and state of Kansas recommendations on indoor masking for all event activities. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-10-25/bombardier-safety-standdown-turns-25 FAA proposes to increase rest periods for U.S. airline flight attendants The FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to require that flight attendants at large U.S. airlines receive a rest period of at least 10 consecutive hours between periods of duty lasting 14 hours or less. Under the FAA’s current regulations (dating from 1994), a flight attendant who is scheduled for a duty period of 14 hours or less must be given a scheduled rest period of at least nine consecutive hours, which can be reduced to eight hours in some circumstances. In 2018, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which included a provision (section 335(a)) requiring that the FAA implement this change via regulation by November 4, 2018. Section 335(a) also prohibits any reduction in the rest period below 10 consecutive hours. At a recent hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) criticized the FAA for failing to timely respond to this legislative mandate. The FAA, in its defense, determined that the rule change was “economically significant,” which obligated the FAA to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) (which it did in 2019) and to examine and quantify the proposed rule change’s costs and benefits. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which lobbied for congressional passage of section 335(a), has also criticized the FAA for not implementing the rule change more quickly. The AFA disputed that, as a procedural matter, the FAA needed to publish an ANPRM as a prelude to implementing this rule change proposal. Airlines, by contrast, have expressed concern about the costs associated with the rule change and how it may be implemented, including its potential to reduce schedule flexibility and increase irregular operations. They point out that they may need to hire additional flight attendants and schedule additional flight attendant hours in order to accommodate longer rest periods while maintaining existing flight schedules. In the final rule, FAA addresses the “discrete, statutory mandate” in Section 335(a) and does not propose any additional amendments to flight attendant flight, duty, and rest rules, despite the urging of many commentators in response to the ANPRM. Though the FAA considered “conducting a comprehensive review and revision of the flight attendant rest and duty regulations,” it decided against doing so because it did not have data indicating such an update was necessary. Comments are due 60 days after the NPRM is published in the Federal Register. The FAA plans to make a final rule effective 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=ed9c7ecc-de68-4da2-9feb-d48bc3c26d44 Southwest Airlines orders 16 incremental B737 MAX 7s Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field) has firmed a total of sixteen B737-7 options albeit in two batches of eight units, one in the third quarter of 2021 and the other on October 1, as it looks to accelerate the phase-out of its B737-700s. In its quarterly earnings report, the low-cost carrier said the first octet of incremental B737-7s would be delivered in 2022 and the other eight in 2023. Following the conversion of the options, Southwest Airlines has outstanding confirmed orders for 250 B737-7s. Subject to the certification of the type by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), deliveries are due to begin in early 2022 and continue through to the end of 2030, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. The portfolio of aircraft includes 248 new units and two previously used as testbeds by Boeing. Southwest Airlines said it also has 149 outstanding orders for B737-8s in addition to the 69 units of the type already delivered. No further B737 MAX deliveries are scheduled for 2021. The deliveries of -8s are scheduled to resume in 2026 and conclude by the end of 2031. Beyond the confirmed orders, Southwest Airlines has a further 252 B737 MAX options (-7s and -8s) that, if converted, would deliver between 2022 and 2027. "We currently have 72 firm orders and 42 options next year, and we will continue to evaluate option exercises as decision points arise. Regardless of our capacity plans next year, we continue to believe that taking the additional 2022 options will yield a positive net present value on aircraft replacement if we don't deploy them in the network," Chief Financial Officer Tammy Romo said during the ensuing earnings call. The carrier plans to replace the bulk of its B737-700s with the forthcoming MAX. It currently operates 462 -700s, making it by far the largest operator of the type globally (United Airlines, the second-largest, has just 53 in its fleet). It said that as of September 30, twenty-four -700s remained in long-term storage due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its network. The airline expects to return one leased -700 and retire eight owned units of the type by the end of the year. The decision to retire the owned aircraft was taken recently as they were originally scheduled for phase-out in 2022. According to the ch-aviation fleets ownership module, Southwest Airlines owns the bulk of its -700s and leases 88 units. On top of the -700s and the MAX 8s, the airline's fleet also comprises 207 B737-800s. During the earnings call, incoming chief executive Bob Jordan said Southwest expects 2022 to be a "transition year" ahead of a full recovery in 2023 and beyond. While it has been gradually rebuilding its network, Southwest said its total capacity in the fourth quarter of 2021 would be 8% lower than pre-pandemic and in the first quarter of 2022 - 6% lower. The LCC posted a net loss of USD135 million in the third quarter of 2021 and a cumulative USD1.36 billion loss for the first nine months of the year. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/109029-southwest-airlines-orders-16-incremental-b737-max-7s Aircraft aluminum demand likely to come back faster than previously thought Few would argue that semiconductor shortages have hampered automotive output. Earlier in the year, automakers temporarily shuttered factories, cutting into output. According to Toyota, it would slash worldwide vehicle production by 40% in September because of the shortage. Globally, the market lost some 2 million vehicles due to chip shortages. As a result, automotive aluminum demand took a hit this year. While producers lost out in that premium sector, consumers in the wider industrial landscape had one less source of rampant demand sucking up precious supplies in what has been the worst buyers’ market for semi-finished aluminum products in memory. Each month, MetalMiner hosts a webinar on a specific metals topic. Explore the upcoming webinars and sign up for each on the MetalMiner Events page. Aluminum demand recovering in aerospace? If the aluminum mills’ other favored industry, aerospace, had been running at its pre-pandemic levels, those same buyers would have faced even more constraints. But lockdowns and even more extended international travel restrictions burst the bubble that had seen extended order books and solid build programs stretching out to the end of the decade. Both Airbus and Boeing have seen build programs halved from pre-pandemic levels. While deliveries to airlines are now picking up, international air travel is still far from “normal.” That is true, even for a notoriously cyclical business. So when Airbus announced its intention to aggressively ramp up in build rates, alarm bells began to ring up and down the supply chain. From the demand end of the spectrum, major leasing companies Avolon and AerCap are reported in the Financial Times as raising concerns directly to Guillaume Faury, Airbus chief executive, and are said to have copied in the chief executives of aero-engine makers, including Safran and General Electric. Airbus said in May that suppliers should be ready for an increase in production of its most popular single-aisle A320 jet. It said production would increase to a firm rate of 64 jets a month by the second quarter of 2023. That is higher than the rate of 60 the company had been delivering pre-coronavirus. Furthermore, it is higher than the 45 targeted for the fourth quarter of 2021. It is now exploring “scenarios” of rates as high as 70 a month by early 2024 and 75 by 2025. Those rates would be way above even pre-pandemic levels. Those rates would severely strain aero engine makers. However, they would also strain aluminum rolling mills, as well as the rest of the supply chain. Supply chain impacts The Financial Times makes the point that the aerospace supply chain was far more impacted by the near halt in production during the pandemic than either Airbus or even 737Max hit Boeing. Such an aggressive ramp-up will cause shortages and failures of its own. Avolon and AerCap worry that such a surge on new aircraft onto the market is not warranted by revised demand projections. As such, the glut will result in a devaluation of existing fleet values. For aluminum consumers — at least outside of the aerospace market — the worry that a resurgent automotive industry next year followed by an equally aggressive ramp-up of aerospace demand shortly thereafter will perpetuate the roller coaster ride we have seen this year in terms of prices and extended deliveries. At some point, both industries were going to come back to some semblance of normality. However, their respective returns were perhaps not expected to be so fast or so closely following on one from the other. https://agmetalminer.com/2021/10/25/aircraft-aluminum-demand-likely-to-come-back-faster-than-previously-thought/ What Does An Aircraft Look Like Inside During Certification? The certification of any new aircraft requires scores of tests and thorough analysis to put the plane through its paces. But what does the inside of an aircraft look like during this time? The answer depends on what’s been tested and how many planes are taking part in the process. Let’s find out more. Almost done Making an aircraft is a tough task. After years of design and manufacturing processes, companies can proudly roll their first aircraft off the assembly line. However, this is the only start of a new journey: the certification process. Perhaps the most critical part, new aircraft models must go through extensive and extreme testing to prove their safety to global regulators. When they are first built, test aircraft only have one fully completed part, the cockpit. The cabin of the jet is usually left empty for the various tests that will be carried out, which means the interiors look similar to a temporary freighter. However, this won’t be for long, as new systems are fitted for each test. The most common sight inside a test aircraft is the engineer’s stations. These are sets of seats and server frames that include computers and sensors that track the movement of the aircraft in real-time. During all tests, engineers will keep checks on systems like fuel flow, engine response, efficiency, response time, and much more. However, while this might be the most common sight, test aircraft include several more components across the fuselage. Everything In addition to internal systems, there are some special modifications made to test outdoor conditions too. For instance, to test aircraft turbulence and static pressure readings, the aircraft contains a 300-foot plastic tube that can be deployed out of the tail, according to Wired. This would mean leaving a portion of the fuselage unsealed and not installing anything in the usual galley area. The aircraft can also be fitted with dozens of weight shifting tanks across the aircraft to simulate the changing center of gravity with passengers and cargo passengers. These tanks are filled with water and can transfer water between themselves to change the CGI. Every aircraft will have different requirements, and new systems can be added and removed as needed by the mission. Considering these planes undergo everything from long-haul flights to cold-soak testing, accurate data from these systems is critical for certification. Four Currently, the most popular undergoing testing is the Boeing 777X. The American giant has built four 777-9s to participate in the test program, each of which checks different parts of the plane. Eventually, most of these aircraft will go into commercial service after they are outfitted with their respective cabins. https://simpleflying.com/aircraft-interior-during-certification/ How Asia’s Flight Academies Are Preparing For Increased Pilot Demand Aircraft operations were rocked in 2020, leading to minimal activity across the globe for over a year. Numerous airlines were forced to reduce pilot numbers amid the ongoing flight suspensions. However, business has been picking up again this year, with several regions relaxing restrictions. Nearly 100k pilots needed While activity hasn’t quite reached 2019 numbers, it’s generally expected that the industry will reach these figures again within a few years. Subsequently, demand will continue to grow this decade, especially in Asian markets. Asia Sky’s Asia-Pacific Training Report forecasts that between 2023 and 2033, Asia-Pacific will need 95,000 new pilots to handle commercial and business operations. Bhanu Choudhrie, Founder and Executive Director of Alpha Aviation (AAG), spoke with Simple Flying about what is being done to adapt to these conditions. Alpha Aviation is a leading provider of pilot training solutions, working with global carriers with its specialisms in cadet assessment and selection, flagship ab-initio cadet programs, and type ratings. The academy serves Southeast Asian markets from its base in the Philippines. Here, it operates a certified Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO) and an Approved Training Organization (ATO) for the Airbus A320. Additionally, it holds the sole EASA-certified Level D A320 Full Flight Simulator in its Philippine platform. This base also has a CAE A330/340 full flight simulator. Alpha Aviation also has a presence in the UAE amid a joint venture with Air Arabia. The group has also heavily invested in India in a bid to help tackle the forecasted growth in the country. The core factors A key aspect contributing to the need for new pilots is the widespread number of crew retirements across the industry. Throughout the 2020s, a significant amount of pilots in airline networks will retire. Choudhrie highlights that if all training schools ran at 100%, the market would not be able to fulfill the void left by retiree pilots. In markets such as India and Southeast Asia, there are many pilots available, but fresh faces need to be coming in continuously, especially to fill first officer roles. This is because seasoned pilots are switching their roles to fill other positions such as training captains. “There is a lot of churn happening. We can’t just say, well, because we used to fly 100 aircraft and now we fly 50 aircraft, we have too many pilots – that’s not true. A lot of pilots also retired, a lot of pilots changed jobs. There’s a lot of that happening behind the scenes, so it is definitely paramount that money is put into infrastructure, and money is put into more training,” Choudhrie told Simple Flying. “With our expansion into India, there are huge investments. We see India as a big growth market with the population there. The middle-class population in India is growing at over 20% per year. So, there is a huge pent-up demand.” Get your boarding pass to the flight of the year. The Future Flying Forum is taking off soon! Getting ready for the cockpit Alpha is keen to encourage more women to help fill the flight deck in this era. Therefore, it has introduced a series of organizational changes to inspire cadets of all backgrounds and overcome socioeconomic and cultural hurdles. The organization launched an initiative a few years ago called Women in Aviation. With this program, there were goals to have up to 20% of its courses filled by women. Choudhrie highlights that the company has exceeded this number in every batch that it has recruited. Altogether, a fresh outlook is needed in this next stage. Encouraging new pilots, breaking down barriers, and investing in Asia’s grassroots aviation is vital to maintain operations in this new chapter. https://simpleflying.com/asia-flight-academy-pilot-demand/ Buyer of Jeffrey Epstein’s Gulfstream Jet Regrets His Purchase A man who allegedly bought Epstein’s Gulfstream says the plane’s value has been “damaged by the stigma.” A Georgia man has filed a lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, claiming the late sex-trafficker sold him a Gulfstream jet in the weeks before his 2019 arrest without disclosing that the aircraft was used in a “criminal enterprise.” Thomas Huff claims that JEGE LLC, the company Epstein once controlled and which owns the plane, has been “damaged by the stigma” connected to sex offender. “JEGE’s customers, some of which are very well known to the public, are tracked, surveilled, and reported to the press for using, what they believed to be Jeffrey Epstein’s company,” states the federal suit filed in Atlanta last week. According to the complaint, Epstein’s minions traveled to the Peach State with the aircraft to show Huff, who runs a charter plane business based in Cobb County. The financier then sold Huff the “controlling interest in JEGE” without mentioning he “was engaged in a massive criminal enterprise involving rape, sex trafficking, sexual abuse, physical assault, blackmail, intimidation, fraud, and deceit,” court papers allege. Huff “would not have purchased JEGE” had he known of wealthy predator’s sex ring, the lawsuit says, and tried to stop the sale once the feds cuffed Epstein. “Upon Mr. Epstein’s arrest and his crimes against children becoming public knowledge, Thomas Huff contacted Jeffrey E. Epstein’s counsel and gave him notice of rescission of the purchase agreement,” court papers state. “This was rejected by Jeffrey E. Epstein.” “Mr. Epstein committed fraud by failing to disclose a material fact that could not have been known through any amount of due diligence by Thomas Huff,” the complaint alleges. It’s unclear whether Huff was aware of widespread news coverage in late 2018 and 2019 related to Epstein’s abuse of girls and controversial plea agreement in Florida. Huff and his lawyers didn’t return messages by press time. An attorney for Richard Kahn and Darren Indyke, the co-executors of Epstein’s estate who are named as defendants in the lawsuit, also could not be reached. The lawsuit alleges that “just prior” to Epstein’s arrest, the perverted moneyman’s plane company had assets worth more than $3.5 million. But after Epstein’s high-profile indictment in New York in summer of 2019, the firm “immediately depreciated in an amount in excess of” $1.5 million. “Additionally, JEGE was not able to obtain financing, not because of credit worthiness, but because of the stigma of Jeffrey E. Epstein’s victimization of children attached to JEGE,” court papers allege. Epstein “violated his fiduciary duty to JEGE” by raping and molesting underage girls while he was a director of the firm, the lawsuit states. Epstein’s “lies were a breach of the duty of candor,” the complaint adds. “He knew or should have known that his ongoing criminal enterprise would undermine the value of JEGE if and when it was discovered.” Corporation records show that JEGE, LLC was registered in Georgia in March of this year. The company’s registered agent is the same law firm that’s representing Huff in his suit against Kahn and Indyke. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, a Boeing 727 is registered to JEGE Inc., while a Gulfstream IV jet is registered to JEGE LLC, a company which still lists the address of Epstein’s compound in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It’s unclear why JEGE’s FAA records haven’t been updated to reflect Huff’s alleged ownership. (Epstein owned at least three jets, including a Gulfstream G550, which was listed for sale last summer.) An Insider database of Epstein’s flights appears to back up Huff’s claims that the Gulfstream was flown to Georgia for him to examine before the purchase. The aircraft was in Atlanta twice in April 2019, the records show. On June 19, 2019, the jet traveled from Palm Beach to an undisclosed location in Georgia, and from there to Atlanta one week later. The flight logs also show the plane traveled from Atlanta to Anguilla on July 2, 2019, and returned on July 6, 2019—the day Epstein was arrested. Multiple accusers have named JEGE Inc. or JEGE LLC in their lawsuits against Epstein’s estate and the financier’s companies. In August 2020, the New York Post reported that Epstein's swanky Boeing airliner, which the tabloids dubbed the “Lolita Express,” was mothballed at a Georgia airport. https://www.thedailybeast.com/buyer-of-jeffrey-epsteins-gulfstream-jet-regrets-his-purchase SpaceX is 'go' to launch astronauts to space station on Halloween • But there's one issue to resolve first — a slight redesign of a space toilet. SpaceX is "go" to launch its spooky space station mission this weekend — as long as a toilet issue gets cleared up in time. No showstoppers were found during a flight readiness review (FRR) for the company's Crew-3 mission, which will send four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Crew-3 therefore remains on track to lift off early on Halloween morning (Oct. 31), NASA and SpaceX announced Monday (Oct. 25). "We had a good review today," Joel Montalbano, NASA's ISS program manager, said during a news conference Monday evening after the FRR wrapped up. The review revealed no surprises, Montalbano said. But that doesn't mean the NASA and SpaceX teams aren't working on any issues. Indeed, they need to resolve one outstanding item before Crew-3 can lift off — a slight redesign of Crew Dragon's toilet system. That tweak was prompted by an issue experienced on SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission, which sent four private citizens on a three-day trip to orbit last month. After that capsule, named Resilience, returned home, inspections revealed that a tube hooked up to a toilet storage tank had popped loose during flight. This "allowed urine to not go into the storage tank but, essentially, to go into the fan system," Bill Gerstenmaier, vice president of build and flight reliability at SpaceX, said during Monday's news conference. But the leak didn't markedly affect Inspiration4, he added. "We didn't really even notice it; the crew didn't notice it until we got back" to Earth, Gerstenmaier said. Still, SpaceX decided to revamp the toilet system on the Crew-3 capsule, known as Endurance, going with an all-welded structure to eliminate tube pop-offs, Gerstenmaier said. NASA needs to give the redesign a final thumbs-up before Crew-3 can fly, but that is expected to happen in the coming days. The toilet issue could potentially apply to another Crew Dragon: the capsule known as Endeavour, which flew SpaceX's Crew-2 mission and is still docked to the ISS. Endeavour is scheduled to come back to Earth with the four Crew-2 astronauts soon — on Nov. 4, if Crew-3 launches on time. Astronauts on the orbiting lab have examined Endeavour, looking for signs of corrosion caused by leaked urine (or rather, by an additive that SpaceX puts into the Crew Dragon septic system to remove ammonia from urine). They haven't found anything troublesome, and analyses by teams here on Earth indicate that all should be well for Crew-2's return, Gerstenmaier said. He also noted that leakage on Crew-2 was likely significantly lower than on Inspiration4, given that crewmembers used Endeavour's toilet only during its 24-hour trip to the space station rather than for three full days. Crew-3 is scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:21 a.m. EDT (0621 GMT) on Sunday. You can watch the liftoff live here at Space.com courtesy of NASA, or directly via the space agency. The mission will send four spaceflyers to the orbiting lab for a six-month stay: NASA astronauts Raja Chari (mission commander), Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron, along with the European Space Agency's Matthias Maurer. All are spaceflight rookies except Marshburn, who has two visits to the station under his belt. Crew-3 will mark Endurance's spaceflight debut. The capsule will arrive at the ISS just after midnight on Monday (Nov. 1), if the mission launches on time and all goes according to plan. https://www.space.com/spacex-crew-3-mission-go-for-launch Position Available: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty Department Aerospace University Expectation MTSU seeks candidates who are committed to innovative teaching, robust research/creative activity, and meaningful service. We also seek to attract a culturally and academically diverse faculty who value working with a diverse student body. Salary Salary and rank commensurate with education and experience Job Summary/Basic Function The Department of Aerospace at Middle Tennessee State University invites applicants for two full-time, tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of assistant/associate professor. The start date for the positions is August 1, 2022. The positions are contingent upon funding. Successful candidates will be expected to teach classes in the Professional Pilot concentration, undertake collaborative and multi-disciplinary research within the department and university, and be actively involved in university and professional service. Required Education Master’s degree in Aerospace, Aviation or closely related field by appointment date Required Related Experience One year of aerospace or aviation industry experience is required. Required License/Registration/Certification Applicants must have : 1) FAA Commercial - Multi-Engine, and valid Flight Instructor Certificates (CFI, CFII, MEI) OR 2) FAA ATP with 14 CFR Part 121 or Part 135 Pilot-in-Command (PIC) experience. Other Desirables Candidates who possess industry or collegiate teaching experience and those with a terminal degree or ABD in Aerospace, Aviation, Education, Business, or other industry-related fields will receive special consideration. Documents Needed to Apply In order to successfully apply, applicants are required to include the following documents as separate attachments at the time of online application submittal: a cover letter, their curriculum vitae, a statement of Teaching Philosophy, and their Research Statement or Creative Activities (as appropriate to the discipline). NOTE: In addition to the REQUIRED documents listed above for successful application, applicants must include copies of FAA Certifications held attached as Other Document 1. Special Instruction to Applicants If you need help in applying, please contact the Faculty Recruitment Specialist at (615) 898-5128. If you have position-specific questions, please contact Dr. Chaminda Prelis at Chaminda.Prelis@mtsu.edu. MTSU is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that values diversity in all its forms. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility for U.S. employment will be required prior to employment (Immigration Control Act of 1986). Clery Act crime statistics for MTSU are available at http://www.mtsu.edu/police/docs/2021AnnualSecurityReport.pdf or by contacting MTSU Public Safety at (615) 898-2424. MTSU is a Tobacco & Drug-Free campus. This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position. For individuals requiring a reasonable accommodation to apply: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with MTSU, please call 615-898-2929 or email emp@mtsu.edu. Application Review Date: 11/22/2021 APPLY HERE: https://careers.mtsu.edu/en-us/job/496571/aerospace-pro-pilot-tenuretrack-faculty Aero HygenX Partners with Ethiopian Airlines for Deployment of Autonomous UV-C Disinfecting Solution • With hygiene in sharp focus, industry support for Aero HygenX continues to grow • Chemical-free disinfection via UV-C light offers a safer work environment for staff and is gentler on aircraft interiors • A global problem requires global solutions: It is the intention of Aero HygenX to support COVID-19 recovery in regions with lower vaccination rates • “As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, aircraft disinfection and safety are top priorities for Ethiopian Airlines”, GCEO Ottawa, 21 October 2021: In a virtual signing ceremony which took place October 12th, executives from Ethiopian Airlines Group and Aero HygenX, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining a plan for fleetwide deployment and regional marketing of Aero HygenX’s autonomous UV-C light disinfecting robot, RAY. The signing of this MoU marks a first foray into the African market for Aero HygenX, a Canadian technology company taking aviation by storm with its safe, efficient, and chemical free solution designed for aircraft cabins and rail cars. It is the intent of the two parties to establish local final assembly capabilities for Aero HygenX’s autonomous UV-C disinfecting robot “RAY”, thus creating local employment opportunities and expediting rollout of the chemical-free, pathogen-killing solution for Ethiopian Airlines. The MoU further sets out to foster exchange of expertise and ideas between Aero HygenX and the Ethiopian Airlines Innovation Hub, which leads all innovation activities across Ethiopian Airlines. The purpose of the Innovation Hub collaboration is to further optimize the product and determine where else in the retravel chain, and indeed the wider region, Aero HygenX’s leading disinfection technology can be useful. Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, commenting on the partnership said: “As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, aircraft disinfection and safety are top priorities for Ethiopian Airlines. We are one of the few global carriers that has been successful in combating the adverse effects of COVID-19 and we are proud to have been recognized international humanitarian organizations for our commitment in the global fight against the virus. With the signing of this MoU, we continue our investment in sustainable hygiene solutions that will benefit not only our staff and passengers, but the entire region. Aero HygenX has developed a phenomenal technology that enhances biosafety onboard – in accordance with our ‘Safety First’ policy – and will help Ethiopian attract more customers for a speedy recovery from the pandemic.” In Ottawa, CEO Arash Mahin signed for the Aero HygenX team and was accompanied by the firm’s Executive VP of Business Development Peter Bahraini, as well as Executive VP of Engineering, Kris Rupay. “This understanding with Ethiopian Airlines is very exciting for our whole team and we are truly grateful for their trust and support,” commented Arash Mahin, Aero HygenX CEO. “At Aero HygenX, we want to help aviation get back on its feet as quickly as possible, and for that to happen we must work globally. A global problem requires a global solution and we’re thrilled that, together with Ethiopian Airlines, we can bring thorough, efficient, and safe pathogen-killing technology to this region.” Aero HygenX was formed in January 2020 by a group of self-proclaimed aviation “geeks” (aka enthusiasts) with strong backgrounds in technology and aviation. In March 2020 RAY, the only fully autonomous UV-C disinfecting robot, was introduced to market and the first production line units were delivered to customers in April 2021. Already, the company has customers across Canada, the USA, the Middle East, and now East Africa. Designed for the transportation industry, RAY is a compact and light-weight autonomous robot which uses motion sensing technology to navigate cramped spaces (such as aircraft cabins) and disinfect surfaces quickly, safely and without the use of harmful chemicals, using UV-C light. RAY has the ability to disinfect a narrow body aircraft (such as a B737 or A320) in as little as seven minutes and can also be used to treat in lavatories so airlines can fully sanitize aircraft after every flight. Unlike competing disinfection robots, the RAY unit does not require a crew member to move it through the cabin. Furthermore, RAY can be optimized for various aircraft types and comes equipped with HygenX Stream, a customizable software that records and transmits usage data wirelessly to the cloud, providing valuable system health monitoring and status updates to the operator. UV-C light has been used to effectively disinfect food, water, and air for decades. It is proven to destroy the pathogens that cause MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV1, Ebola, and SARS-CoV2 (and other serious viruses.) -END- About Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy-five years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 130 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft. Email: CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com Tel: (251-11)517-8913/165/529/ Web: https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/et Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EthiopianAirlines Twitter: https://twitter.com/flyethiopian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fly.ethiopian/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Ethiopianairlinescom About Aero HygenX Aero HygenX is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, where it has developed and manufactures its revolutionary autonomous UV-C robot called RAY. Its founders and executives have a passion for the aviation industry and a combined 80+ years of experience in safety and quality management, airline operations, software, electrical engineering, and electromagnetics. The company’s vision is to instill confidence in passengers to travel again and set a new precedent in the transportation disinfecting industry. Email: info@aerohygenx.com Web: www.aerohygenx.com Tel: 1-800-260-0787 Twitter: https://twitter.com/aerohygenx/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aerohygenx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aerohygenx/ Web: www.aerohygenx.com Curt Lewis