Flight Safety Information - October 27, 2021 No. 216 In This Issue : Incident: Logan E145 at Aberdeen on Oct 26th 2021, airline can't tell which alert occurred : Incident: Egypt B738 at Madinah on Oct 25th 2021, burst nose tyres on touch down : Federal judge tosses out Southwest Airlines pilots' petition against vaccine mandate : Trial date for former Boeing chief technical pilot accused of fraud moved to December : United says vaccinated pilots and flight attendants could refuse to fly with unvaccinated coworkers : Delta to roll out facial recognition in Atlanta domestic terminal : Aviation community mourns death of Harry Robertson, inventor and crash-safety pioneer : Airbus fends off growing revolt over jet output plans : Polish airline sues Boeing over 737 MAX : SpaceX needs to fix toilet problems before weekend launch : Blue Origin, Boeing and others join Sierra Space to build commercial space station : Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) integrates SlackTM function for Full-Service Members : Position Available: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty Incident: Logan E145 at Aberdeen on Oct 26th 2021, airline can't tell which alert occurred A Logan Air Embraer ERJ-145, registration G-RJXH performing flight LM-16 from Aberdeen,SC to Norwich,EN (UK) with 27 passengers and 3 crew, was climbing out of Aberdeen when the crew stopped the climb at FL070, about 10 minutes later turned around to return to Aberdeen climbing to FL080. The aircraft landed safely back in Aberdeen about 30 minutes after departure. A replacement Embraer ERJ-145 registration G-SAJN reached Norwich with a delay of about 100 minutes. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Aberdeen following some alert, the aircraft landed safely with emergency services on standby as a standard routine, no action by emergency services was needed. The passengers disembarked normally and were taken to their destination on another aircraft. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Aberdeen about 5 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef38dfb&opt=0 Incident: Egypt B738 at Madinah on Oct 25th 2021, burst nose tyres on touch down An Egypt Air Boeing 737-800, registration SU-GEE performing flight MS-2677 from Cairo (Egypt) to Madinah (Saudi Arabia) with 154 passengers and 6 crew, touched down on Madinah's runway at 16:41L (13:41Z) when both nose tyres burst causing tyre debris to impact fuselage, engines and wings. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway and was disabled. A post flight inspection also revealed damage to the underside of the left engine (CFM56) consistent with a possible pod strike. The runway and airport needed to be closed for about 3 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef371be&opt=0 Federal judge tosses out Southwest Airlines pilots' petition against vaccine mandate A Texas judge on Tuesday dismissed a request for an injunction against an impending vaccine mandate brought by a union that represents pilots at Southwest Airlines, a significant blow against their attempt to sidestep President Joe Biden's mandate for government contractors. Federal workers and government contractors, which includes major U.S. commercial airlines, must be vaccinated by Dec. 8. Background: The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association had last month unsuccessfully sought exemptions to the mandate, petitioning the administration to reconsider. They argued that the vaccine could have medical side effects that could end a pilot's career. Like its sister airlines, Southwest said its contracts with the federal government require "full compliance" with the federal vaccination directive. Employees must be fully vaccinated, or be approved for religious, medical or disability exemption, by Dec. 8 to continue employment — the same date by which federal contractors must prove they’ve been vaccinated. When their plea for an exemption failed, the union then filed an injunction in a Dallas federal court to temporarily block the vaccine mandate. Additionally, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an edict that would ban vaccine mandates for private businesses in the state. Despite Abbott's action, Southwest said it will still continue to require its employees to get vaccinated per federal decree. The ruling: Texas District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn denied SWAPA’s request for an injunction, stating it was “premature" under the Norris-LaGuardia Act, a 1932 law that gives labor unions the right to organize and strike or use other economic means to influence management. SWAPA also had argued that Southwest violated the Railway Labor Act, alleging the airline failed to maintain a status quo during the ongoing “major” dispute between the parties. That dispute is a previous lawsuit filed by SWAPA involving claims of unfair labor practices during Covid. “The Court agrees that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the parties’ disputes as to the complained-of policies,” according to the ruling. But Lynn said vaccination requirements under the Biden’s administration’s mandate is a no-brainer: “Requiring Southwest employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will likewise improve the safety of air transportation, the efficiency of Southwest’s operations, and further the [collective bargaining agreement]’s goal of safe and reasonable working conditions for pilots. In addition, because Southwest is a federal contractor, the Vaccine Policy is required by law,” the judge said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/federal-judge-tosses-southwest-airlines-213602580.html Trial date for former Boeing chief technical pilot accused of fraud moved to December The trial for Mark Forkner, a former Boeing chief technical pilot accused of fraud, has been moved to Dec. 15 in Fort Worth. The original trial date was set for a month earlier on Nov. 15. Forkner is accused of withholding information from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Aircraft Evaluation Group regarding the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System on Boeing 737 MAX airplanes during the certification process for the planes. In a report published July 2017, the FAA did not include information about the new augmentation system, and pilots flying the Boeing 737 MAX airplanes were not notified of the system in their manuals, federal authorities said. After the report was published, two Boeing 737 MAX airplanes crashed: Lion Air Flight 610 near Jakarta, Indonesia, in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 near Ejere, Ethiopia, in March 2019. The crashes killed 346 people. During Forkner’s first court appearance in Fort Worth on Oct. 15, the Keller resident pleaded not guilty to fraud charges. His attorney said Forkner was being used as a scapegoat for the crashes and asked for former employees of Boeing and the FAA to come forward with the truth. If convicted, Forkner could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison for each count of fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce. He is the only person to be charged in connection with the case. https://www.yahoo.com/news/trial-date-former-boeing-chief-213612134.html United says vaccinated pilots and flight attendants could refuse to fly with unvaccinated coworkers New York (CNN Business)Almost all employees at United Airlines have complied with the company's vaccine mandate -- and they do not want to fly with unvaccinated co-workers, according to the airline. United (UAL) is facing a federal lawsuit brought by six of its employees who have applied for a medical or religious exemption to the vaccine mandate. The airline has said that employees with valid requests for exemptions will be placed on either medical or unpaid leave. The employees bringing the suit are challenging the airline's decision to place them on leave. US Court Judge Mark Pittman in Fort Worth, Texas, has ordered United to keep employees who have requested an accommodation on the payroll while the case is heard. But United said in a court filing last week that it's not practical to allow them to keep working, because some vaccinated pilots won't fly with unvaccinated staff. In a separate filing, United said flight attendants have stated they would hold similar objections to flying with unvaccinated coworkers. The company asked for permission to put unvaccinated workers on leave. "United cannot return the unvaccinated pilots to the cockpit because — aside from the various practical problems with testing and masking — we would face serious and widespread objections from the vaccinated pilots," said Kirk Limacher, vice president of HR at United, in a court filing. "In fact the objections among our vaccinated pilots are so strongly held that many of them would simply refuse to fly with the accommodated pilots. The distractions and dissension this would cause in the workforce represent an unacceptable safety risk." The airline said it is spending about $1.4 million every two weeks to continue to pay pilots who have requested to be exempt from the mandate, even though they are not flying. Last month, United said about 2,000 of its 67,000 US employees, or less than 3%, have applied for a medical or religious exemption. And only a couple hundred workers now face termination for not getting vaccinated or requesting an exemption. Almost all United employees complied with the vaccine mandate Attorneys for the employees who brought the suit said United's claim is not backed by any evidence. "The claim is easily rebutted by showing the instances of vaccinated and unvaccinated pilots flying together throughout the past nine months," the plaintiffs' attorneys said in a filing. Even in the last week, the filing states, United had allowed an unvaccinated pilot to fly and there was no issue. The plaintiffs also dispute that the unvaccinated staff who test negative for Covid-19 would pose a risk to their co-workers. Vaccinated pilots are "safer flying with an accommodated, unvaccinated pilot who just tested negative for Covid-19 than with an untested, vaccinated pilot," the plaintiffs' filing states, because the vaccinated pilot could have a breakthrough case, even without showing symptoms. The plaintiffs' filing accuses United of attempting to "ostracize those seeking accommodations." "Rather than sharing private medical information, United should be informing its pilots — as they do the general public — that the risk of contracting Covid-19 on a United airplane is almost zero." United executives, and executives at other airlines, have insisted since the start of the pandemic that the exchange of fresh air in cabins during flights make the transmission of Covid-19 less likely than in stores or other places where people congregate. But United CEO Scott Kirby has argued that it isn't practical to allow testing instead of vaccines because positive or skipped tests could lead to sudden and unexpected staff shortages and flight cancelations. Kirby pointed to disruptions experienced by Southwest Airlines which recently canceled 2,000 flights over the course of a weekend because the airline didn't have enough available employees to fly the planes. "Imagine if you have thousands of employees on one day calling in and saying, 'For some reason, my test didn't pass.' I mean it is going to be a huge challenge for airlines that are not implementing vaccine requirements," he said in a call with investors, suggesting that United's passengers can have more faith that their flights won't be canceled due to its vaccine mandate. In the end, Judge Pittman decided to extend his temporary restraining order, meaning United employees who requested accommodations will stay on the payroll while he continues to hear arguments. Pittman has said in earlier rulings that his decision is not based on the merits of the case, but on his desire to maintain the status quo as the case proceeds. https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/26/business/united-vaccine-mandate-lawsuit/index.html Delta to roll out facial recognition in Atlanta domestic terminal The way some frequent fliers pass through Atlanta is about to change, as Delta Air Lines rolls out a facial recognition pilot program in the domestic terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International as early as next week. It’s another expansion of biometrics, after Atlanta-based Delta rolled out facial recognition for international travelers at the airport in 2018. The goal is to make the travel experience more convenient and “hands-free and touch-free,” said Greg Forbes, Delta’s managing director of airport experience. The shift to biometrics started years ago. “What COVID did was accelerate it,” he added. However, some have raised privacy issues and other concerns as the use of facial recognition technology grows. Delta plans to launch the pilot program as early as Nov. 3, pending Transportation Security Administration approvals, and continue it until June 2022. The airline plans to add facial recognition as an option for domestic travelers out of Atlanta who meet certain criteria: they have a passport, are members of the TSA’s PreCheck trusted traveler program, are Delta SkyMiles members with their passport information and Known Traveler Number in their profile, and check in via Delta’s app. Combined, Delta says about a quarter of its Atlanta customers would meet those conditions, and they’re likely to be frequent fliers. If they are checking in for a domestic flight, they will be asked on the Delta app if they want to opt in to the facial recognition pilot program that’s a partnership with the TSA. When such passengers arrive at the Atlanta airport, they can go to a new “PreCheck Express bag drop” room with facial recognition camera stations to print out bag tags and drop luggage on a conveyor belt on the lower level of Terminal South. At the Terminal South PreCheck security checkpoint near Delta’s check-in area, TSA has one facial recognition camera where pilot program participants can have their identify verified without having to pull out their ID or boarding pass. Delta says many who would qualify for its pilot program are also Clear members, who use an iris scan or fingerprints to verify their identity rather than pulling out a driver’s license. Delta also has the cameras at its gates on Concourse T, where those who are part of the pilot program can notify the gate agent during boarding to use facial recognition instead of scanning a boarding pass. The Association for Computing Machinery’s Technology Policy Council last year raised concerns about facial recognition, saying “its use has often compromised fundamental human and legal rights of individuals to privacy, employment, justice and personal liberty.” However, the council’s chair, James Hendler, said in a written statement that Delta’s use of facial recognition “makes it clear where and how it is being used,” offers the ability to opt out and has human backup when the system is inaccurate, enhancing the ethical use of the technology. Delta’s expansion of facial recognition has been a gradual process, with different pilots and tests over the years and a vision to use biometrics for a “curb-to-gate” experience. At Hartsfield-Jackson, facial recognition is currently used at international gates, where passengers must opt out if they don’t want their faces scanned. At the Detroit airport, Delta earlier this year launched facial recognition for domestic travelers at the security checkpoint, and plans to add facial recognition to ticket counters there also. https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-airport-blog/delta-to-roll-out-facial-recognition-in-atlanta-domestic-terminal/ZNLXOB2BSBFDPNJXSWBOJ5S6FU/ Aviation community mourns death of Harry Robertson, inventor and crash-safety pioneer Harry Robertson, an aviation legend and part-time Williams resident died Oct. 9 at Flagstaff Medical Center. He was 87. “Harry spent time driving and looking around their land with my dad, brother and two sons earlier that day,” said niece Britt Robertson. Some in Williams only knew Robertson as a rancher, tending his livestock and land at Pine Springs Ranch west of Williams. However, Robertson was well-known nationally as a pioneer of aviation fuel system safety, with his name in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Robertson came from a long line of entrepreneurs, engineers and aviators. He was a descendant of William and Frank Robertson, who ran Robertson Aviation Corporation, a post-World War I aviation service that employed Charles Lindbergh as its chief pilot for contract air mail service. The company also had passenger air service, gave flying lessons and performed exhibition flights, and resold surplus military aircraft. Robertson’s mother, Doris Duffield, grew up in Williams along with her five brothers and sisters. Their father was Elmer Harrison Duffield, a descendant of former U.S. presidents Williams Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison, who made a name for himself in the Williams railroad industry. Beginning from his experiences in his youth and interest in aviation, Robertson translated his curiosity with aircraft into a career as a pilot for the U.S. Air Force, Arizona Army Guard and Air National Guard. However, he will forever be remembered as the “Father of Crashworthy Fuel Systems.” Robertson spent nearly 65 years in a career devoted to aviation safety, specifically the engineering and design of the country’s first crashworthy fuel system, the “Robbie Tank,” a self-sealing fuel system that would eventually lead to saving over 8,000 lives in just the first 20 years of its existence by nearly eliminating post-crash fires in military helicopters. Robertson’s work has reduced the military helicopter death rate by fire from 42 percent in 1970 to less than 1 percent today. The inventor, engineer and aviator holds numerous patents on items he invented for aviation safety. Robertson founded Robertson Fuel Systems in Tempe, Arizona, which continues to improve on the original “Robbie Tank” of the 1970s with the addition of a magneto-activated resistive fuel quantity transmitter that protects the tank from damage in an accident. Many EMS providers, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department and Oklahoma City Police Department, have incorporated the new crash-resistant fuel tanks into their helicopters. “There’s no reason for someone to survive a crash — and then die in a fire,” was a quote that Robertson repeated to any who would listen. Robertson also wrote The U.S. Army’s Crash Survival Design guide, and taught aviation safety and engineering as a professor at Arizona State University, where he co-founded the Crash Survival Investigators School. Robertson later worked with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students in Prescott. He founded the Robertson Safety Institute (RSI), a center for research and development in safety education. RSI continues today by giving industry leaders the ability to stay on the cutting edge of research and practice in aviation and industry safety. Three buildings on the Prescott campus are named after him — the David L. and S. Harry Robertson Flight Simulation Center and the Robertson Aviation Safety Center I and II. The safety center complex includes an aircraft accident investigation laboratory with recreated accident scenarios and equipment for disassembling, inspecting, and evaluating aircraft components. The Robertson Aircraft Crash Investigation Laboratory, located at ERAU’s Prescott Campus, offers students the opportunity to conduct simulated hands-on field investigations of selected actual aircraft accident scenarios. Robertson gave gifts to support scholarships, athletics and research at Embry-Riddle. His generosity helped the university to build the STEM Education Center in Prescott, the Henderson Welcome Center and expand the library, archives and ROTC facilities, according to the university. “Robertson valued his long relationship with Embry-Riddle, as an advisor and benefactor,” the university said in a statement. “Most of all, he appreciated his opportunity to reach students who would continue his commitment to safer skies.” Robertson spent much of his retirement at Pine Springs Ranch in Williams, and enjoyed visiting friends in town. He loved to tell stories and was an eager listener, always displaying a keen interest in what others had to share. Robertson is survived by his wife Linda and her two sons, Chris and Joe O’Neill, his daughter Pamela L Jose and son-in-law Gale Jose, his daughter-in-law Andrea E. Robertson, his brothers Jerry D. Robertson and Gary B. Robertson and niece Britt Robertson. A memorial service for Robertson will be held Nov. 27 at 10 a.m. at Messenger Indian School Mortuary. https://www.williamsnews.com/news/2021/oct/26/aviation-community-mourns-death-harry-robertson-in/ Airbus fends off growing revolt over jet output plans PARIS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Airbus was forced for the second time in as many days to defend sharp increases in production, after one its engine makers said its industrial plans did not match Airbus proposals for a near-twofold increase in the output of A320 jets by 2025. The exchange with the world's largest aerospace supplier, Raytheon Technologies, comes after Airbus on Monday rejected worries about overproduction from leasing companies. Engine makers and lessors rely on the attractiveness of existing planes to support their repair revenue or rental fees, putting them naturally at odds with planemakers who make money on new jets. But the balancing act between contrasting business models has erupted into growing tensions since the pandemic. Raytheon Technologies Chief Executive Greg Hayes said on Tuesday he was sceptical the market would support proposals to lift A320-family output to 75 a month by 2025 from some 40 now. Rival Boeing Co is lagging behind Airbus after a safety crisis over its 737 MAX but suppliers say it is aiming for output of 50 or more MAX a month, beyond its current target of 31. "The question is are we really going to see a market that will support, call it 50 737s and 75 A320s on a monthly basis or 125 airplanes a month," Hayes told analysts. "We'll be ready to support Airbus, our customer, if indeed it does. But I would tell you that our plans, our 5-year plans, do not anticipate getting to that kind of rate by 2024 or 2025." Boeing last month predicted 14,370 deliveries in the busy A320/737 segment over the next 10 years, equivalent to a monthly total of 120 spread between the world's largest planemakers. CUSTOMER DEMAND Asked about Hayes' doubts over demand, Airbus Americas Chief Executive Jeff Knittel - a former leasing industry veteran - said: "Greg and I have had some very direct discussions about that and I would respectfully disagree at this point." Speaking at a jet delivery, Knittel told CNBC: "Customers are asking us to bring airplanes forward, not push them out. To accommodate customers, to ensure that we have airplanes available, in our view ramping up is an important next step. The speed of that is the question, not whether we need to ramp up." Raytheon Technologies owns Pratt & Whitney, one of two engine suppliers on the A320 family. The head of one of the partners in the plane's other engine supplier, General Electric Co, backed "near-term" goals at Airbus and Boeing but declined comment on discussions being held behind closed doors on Airbus' long-term plans. GE co-owns engine maker CFM with France's Safran. In May, Airbus announced a firm target of increasing A320-family production to 64 a month by second-quarter 2023 and asked suppliers to enable a "scenario" of 70 by first-quarter 2024. It also said it was investigating rates as high as 75 by 2025. On Monday, Airbus pushed back against criticism from leasing companies about the output plans. "The key to all this is that we have these firm contracts with our client - we cannot say that we are not going to respect those contracts because we think they are too many for the business," said its Latin America head, Arturo Barreira.. Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury is expected to face questions from investors over the rift when the company releases earnings on Thursday. Airbus has said it is confident of a rebound, but people close to the company stress it has not decided on monthly A320 family production rates above 64. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airbus-hits-back-engine-maker-144542524.html Polish airline sues Boeing over 737 MAX LOT Polish Airlines is suing the Boeing Co. over the manufacturer’s 737 MAX jet. According to Poland’s state news agency, the airline is seeking at least $252.8 million to compensate for operating losses during the MAX’s global grounding. The lawsuit, confirmed by a LOT spokesperson in a Reuters report, came after months of negotiations failed to reach a settlement. A previous report from Simple Flying on those negotiations noted that there was noting in LOT’s contract for the aircraft that provided compensation as a result of technical issues. The MAX was grounded following deadly crashes of the jet in October 2018 and March 2019 that killed 346 people. A flight control system installed by Boeing (NYSE: BA) was acknowledged by investigators and the company as a factor in each crash. The MAX began flying again in the U.S. and other countries late last year. The 20-month grounding had a significant impact in Wichita, where Spirit AeroSystems Inc. (NYSE: SPR) builds the jet’s full fuselage and other components. None of Spirit’s work was implicated in either crash. After continuing to build the MAX but not deliver them to customers throughout the last three quarters of 2019, Boeing halted production at the end of the year. That led to 2,800 layoffs at Spirit, compounded later in the year by pandemic-driven cuts that saw the company let go of around 5,000 workers in total last year. Spirit has gotten back to hiring and recalling workers in 2021 as it prepares to meet rising production rates in aerospace, with expected increases on the MAX being the biggest driver. The company expects to have erased most all of the cuts of 2020 by the middle of the decade. https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2021/10/26/polish-airline-sues-boeing-over-737-max.html?ana=yahoo SpaceX needs to fix toilet problems before weekend launch • Urine-flushing tube needs repair after leaks on previous two flights CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX is taming some toilet troubles in its Dragon capsules before launching four more astronauts. The company and NASA want to make sure any toilet leaks won’t compromise the capsule launching early Sunday from Kennedy Space Center or another one that’s been parked at the International Space Station since April. During SpaceX’s first private flight last month, a tube came unglued, spilling urine onto fans and beneath the floor, said William Gerstenmaier, a SpaceX vice president who used to work for NASA. The same problem was recently discovered inside the Dragon capsule at the space station, he told reporters Monday night. As a permanent fix, SpaceX has welded on the urine-flushing tube that’s inside the company’s newest capsule, named Endurance by its U.S.-German crew. NASA isn’t quite finished reviewing the last-minute fix. NASA astronaut Raja Chari, the spacecraft commander, said Tuesday that he has “complete confidence” in the repairs. SpaceX jumped quickly on the issue, he noted, with hundreds of people working on it to ensure the crew’s safety. As for the Dragon capsule in orbit, less urine pooled beneath the floor panels than the one that carried a billionaire and three others on a three-day flight, Gerstenmaier said. That’s because the NASA-led crew only spent a day living in it before arriving at the space station. SpaceX is conducting tests to make sure the spilled liquid didn’t weaken the orbiting capsule during the past six months, Gerstenmaier said. Any structural damage could endanger astronauts during their flight back to Earth next month. The final tests should be completed later this week, he noted. This will be SpaceX’s fourth launch of NASA astronauts and its fifth passenger flight overall. NASA turned to SpaceX and Boeing BA, -1.44% to transport crews to and from the space station, following the retirement of the shuttle fleet in 2011. U.S. astronauts hitched rides on Russian rockets until SpaceX took over the job last year. Boeing has yet to launch anyone. A repeat test flight of its Starliner capsule, without a crew, is off until next year because of valve trouble. Once he launches atop SpaceX’s Falcon rocket, German astronaut Matthias Maurer will become the 600th person in space, according to NASA statistics. He said at a news conference Tuesday that he offered the designation to U.S. crewmate Kayla Barron, who will be the 601st. “She and I will be together like No. 600,” Maurer said. “I was the lucky one that got the round number, but we will all have fun in space,” Maurer said. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/spacex-needs-to-fix-toilet-problems-before-weekend-launch-01635289647?siteid=yhoof2 Blue Origin, Boeing and others join Sierra Space to build commercial space station The orbital real estate rush is just getting started as Sierra Space released more details on its plans to launch a private space station, with news that Blue Origin and Boeing would be joining the team to send the spacecraft to orbit in the second half of the decade. The planned station, called “Orbital Reef,” will also include tech and services from Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering and Arizona State University. It’s the third announced commercial space station to date, coming just days after Voyager Space, Nanoracks and Lockheed Martin laid out their own plans for a commercial space station, which the group says will launch in 2027. Axiom Space is also planning a commercial station. VIDEO Sierra Space originally announced its plans for a commercial space station in April of this year, part of a growing chorus of private companies looking to replace the soon-to-be-retired International Space Station. The company, a division of Sierra Nevada Corporation, has been developing a large inflatable LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) habitat, which will be used for Orbital Reef. This latest news builds on those earlier announced plans. Orbital Reef will operate as an “off-world mixed use business park,” Blue Origin’s senior VP of advanced development program, Brent Sherwood said during a media event Monday. The space station could be used for many commercial purposes, including scientific research, manufacturing, media, entertainment and tourism, he mused. Orbital Reef will be capable of hosting 10 people once fully operational, and its internal volume will be around 90% of the current volume of the ISS. Blue Origin will be providing core modules, utility systems and, crucially, the company’s heavy-lift New Glenn launch system. Boeing will conduct station operations, the science module and provide its Starliner crew spacecraft to ferry humans to and from the station. Redwire will provide microgravity research tech and in-space manufacturing, as well as payload operations and deployable structures. Maryland-based Genesis Engineering is developing a single-person spacecraft for routine operations and tourism purposes, while Arizona State University will lead a consortium to offer research advisory services. “The microgravity environment provides a whole new arena for scientific and commercial discovery,” Redwire’s executive VP for civil space and external affairs Mike Gold said. “We truly believe that the countries and companies that master microgravity research, development and manufacturing will be the global economic leaders of the future.” What's less clear is how much the station is anticipated to cost. Company executives declined to specify exactly how much capital they'll each be putting into the project, or the overall total anticipated investment. “The question you’re asking is part of our business case and [we're] not going to give you a specific number,” Sherwood said. NASA is planning on investing up to $400 million on initial space station proposals as part of its Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations project, but that money will be stretched between multiple proposals, and is likely to be just a fraction of the overall cost to develop and launch even a single station. Last month, NASA told CNBC that the agency had received "roughly about a dozen proposals" from companies vying for some of those funds. The other major piece of the puzzle is the launch capabilities of Blue Origin's New Glenn, Boeing's Starliner and Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane. None of these vehicles have yet reached space, though Boeing is looking to try another test launch of Starliner in the first half of 2022. Blue Origin plans to launch New Glenn in the fourth quarter of this year, while Sierra Space has a contract with NASA for seven missions to the ISS using Dream Chaser. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/blue-origin-boeing-others-join-161658943.html posted on October 27, 2021 08:00 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) integrates SlackTM function for Full-Service Members Supercharged network for knowledge and data sharing made easy for the top Business Aviation organizations in the world! Monday marked the first day of a new era of enhanced communications among world class corporate flight departments. BASC Full-Service Members were initially invited to connect via a portal on the BASC website that opened access to the organization specific SLACKTM application. The President of BASC, Rick Malczynski, and other BASC Facilitator/Auditors (F/A) are often asked questions pertaining to benchmarking, operations in a certain environment, successful navigation of an unusual or common road block, training solutions, mentorship opportunities, etc. When increasingly confronted with this industry need, the BASC IT Chief immediately recommended adopting the SLACKTM platform. This proven application is very reliable, has excellent features, is user friendly and many organizations are already familiar with its utilization. By adding this function, BASC members no longer have to reach out to a BASC F/A or Standardization Board Member to ask for answers or counsel, share success stories, or provide (or seek) mentorship opportunities. By utilizing the SLACKTM application, members are immediately connected to the top operational aviation experts in the world who are more than willing to share their experiences, data, and knowledge. Some networking requests/connections were initially made via the BASC Newsletter. However, now at over one thousand subscribers, queries often went out to several hundred recipients that had no expertise or interest in the subject matter. Requests, queries, posts, etc., will now only be sent to interested members. This new function provides for the BASC Newsletter to remain one of the most effective and productive newsletters of its kind. Founder and BASC President, Rick Malczynski, shared, “I can’t wait to see what takes place in this new feature. The capabilities and connections are limitless, and with the caliber of professionals in this group, there will be industry leading collaboration, brainstorming, and problem solving. Up to this point, I have served as the point person in connecting departments with similar needs or experiences. I quickly realized, ‘I didn’t know, what I didn’t know’. For every two departments that I thought might be a good match, there were likely several other teams that had similar experiences. This powerful application opens the barn door in a user-friendly manner that is extremely effective. I am very excited to see what these amazing organizations accomplish in the near and long term.” The new SlackTM application implemented by BASC is available to BASC Full-Service Members free of charge. ### About the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (AviationConsortium.com, LLC or BASC): Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BASC serves as a logical partner for SMS, regulatory, and operational excellence verification for high performing business aviation organizations. BASC was founded in 2016 and accepted the first member in January of 2017. For more information, visit http://www.aviationconsortium.com. 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 Curt Lewis