Flight Safety Information - November 4, 2021 No. 222 In This Issue : Crash: Grodno AN12 at Irkutsk on Nov 3rd 2021, impacted terrain on go around : Incident: Airest SF34 at Frankfurt on Nov 2nd 2021, engine failure : Incident: ASL Belgium B744 at Novosibirsk on Nov 3rd 2021, engine problem : Boeing has 'more work to do', says U.S. air safety chief : U.S. FAA refers 37 unruly airline passengers to FBI for criminal review : Delta flight diverted due to 'unruly passenger' adding to the influx of airline disturbances : Man arrested at Twin Cities airport after TSA finds 3 guns, ammo and meth in his luggage, charges say : Air Canada Now Offering New Portable COVID Self-Test Kits For Travelers : Airline staff shortages impacting WMU’s College of Aviation : Bombardier Names Nick W. Verdea Recipient of 2021 Safety Standdown Award : Soon To Join Korean Air: The History Of Asiana Airlines : AUSSIE WHIZZ HAPGOOD TO LEAD DIGITAL PRODUCTION OF BOEING’S NEXT AIRCRAFT : Auburn University - Aviation faculty awarded Delta Air Lines professorships : Bizav Market Surge Brings Challenges, Says Sentient Jet : Boeing finally wins the FCC’s go-ahead for broadband satellite constellation : Amazon seeks FCC approval for prototype satellites to rival SpaceX's Starlink : Recurrent Training Center announcing our new King Air 350 Training Program and FAA Qualified Level D Full Flight Simulator : RESEARCH SURVEY - SEEKING PILOT VOLUNTEERS FOR RESEARCH STUDY : RESEARCH STUDY - Women in Aviation Maintenance Workforce Survey : Position Available: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty Crash: Grodno AN12 at Irkutsk on Nov 3rd 2021, impacted terrain on go around A Grodno Aviakompania Antonov AN-12BK, registration EW-518TI performing a freight flight from Yakutsk to Irkutsk (Russia) with 7 crew and cargo consisting of food and consumer goods, was on approach to Irkutsk's runway 30 when the crew initiated a go around due to weather at about 240 meters/790 feet AGL about 2nm before the runway threshold. Shortly afterwards the radar and radio contact was lost at 19:45L (11:45Z). The aircraft was subsequently found crashed and burning about 1.7nm eastsoutheast of the runway 30 threshold in the village of Pivovarikha. All 7 crew perished in the crash. On Nov 4th 2021 ATC representatives reported within 3-4 seconds after the crew announcing the go around the altitude indication of the aircraft changed from 240 to about 120 meters AGL, then the aircraft tag disappeared from the screen. The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) reported that the aircraft carried 7 people on board, the aircraft An-12BK EW-518TI of Grodno Airlines was destroyed. The MAK have opened an investigation. On Nov 4th 2021 both black boxes have been located. On Nov 4th 2021 it became known that according to the load manifest by Grodno Airlines there were 9 people on board of the aircraft: 5 crew and 4 people escorting the cargo. On Nov 4th 2021 Russian media indicate investigators are looking into possible theories of icing of the elevator/horizontal stabilizer causing loss of control as result of freezing rain at the time. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef98dd2&opt=0 Incident: Airest SF34 at Frankfurt on Nov 2nd 2021, engine failure An Airest Saab 340A, registration ES-LSA performing flight AEG-640 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Birmingham,EN (UK), was climbing out of Frankfurt's runway 18 when the crew declared Mayday Mayday Mayday reporting their right hand engine had failed and requesting an immediate return to Frankfurt. The crew subsequently advised the engine was still running at idle power. The aircraft performed an ILS approach to runway 25L and landed safely about 13 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Frankfurt about 25 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef9b6a9&opt=0 Incident: ASL Belgium B744 at Novosibirsk on Nov 3rd 2021, engine problem An ASL Airlines Belgium Boeing 747-400, registration OE-IFK performing flight 3V-875 from Novosibirsk (Russia) to Qingdao (China), was climbing out of Novosibirsk's runway 25 when loud bangs and streaks of flame were observed from one of the left hand engines. The aircraft stopped the climb at FL100 and returned to Novosibirsk for a safe landing on runway 25 about 50 minutes after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ef9a153&opt=0 Boeing has 'more work to do', says U.S. air safety chief WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Steve Dickson told a U.S. congressional panel that Boeing Co has "more work to do" as the planemaker continues to face scrutiny following two fatal 737 MAX crashes in the space of five months in 2018-2019 that killed 346 people. "Boeing is not the same as it was two years ago but they have more to work to do," Dickson told the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday. "We have reset the relationship with Boeing in no uncertain terms." Boeing said Wednesday it is "is committed to full transparency and cooperation in all aspects of our relationship with the FAA. The ongoing dialogue facilitates continuous improvement in compliance and aviation safety to ensure that commercial aviation remains the world’s safest form of transportation." Dickson's comments came in the face of scrutiny from Congress. Senator Maria Cantwell, the committee chair, disclosed she plans to release a report on aviation whistleblowers by the end of the year. "Line engineers had early warnings, whether it's the (Boeing) 787 battery issue, or whether it was this issue related to synthetic airspeeds or the complexity of automation and overload of pilots in the system," Cantwell said. "Those line engineers weren't listened to." Dickson said the FAA is delegating fewer responsibilities to Boeing for aircraft certification. He told the committee the FAA is "demanding more transparency" from manufacturers. The FAA is currently scrutinizing a number of issues involving Boeing airplanes. Boeing agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department in January including $2.5 billion in fines and compensation stemming from the 737 MAX crashes. Congress in December approved legislation boosting FAA oversight of aircraft manufacturers, requiring disclosure of critical safety information and providing new whistleblower protections. Cantwell pressed Dickson on whether the FAA can meet all the reform requirements. "I'm not going to allow the law to be skirted here. This issue is about whether you're going to follow a process that allows us to see the work of the FAA, see that it's completed," Cantwell said. An FAA survey released in August 2020 found some safety employees reported facing "strong" external pressure from industry and raised alarms the agency does not always prioritize air safety. Dickson said on Wednesday he has "made it clear internally that we always do the right thing when it comes to safety — and that I have the workforce’s back on that." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/faa-administrator-says-boeing-more-155814091.html U.S. FAA refers 37 unruly airline passengers to FBI for criminal review WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Thursday it has referred more than three dozen unruly passengers to the FBI for potential criminal prosecution amid a sharp rise in onboard incidents this year. The FAA and Justice Department said they had established an information-sharing protocol for the FAA to refer unruly passenger cases to the FBI for review. The Justice Department and FBI "are committed to prioritizing the review of the cases referred by the FAA and initiating criminal prosecution where appropriate," the agencies said. U.S. airlines have reported a record number of disruptive and sometimes violent incidents this year, and the FAA has pledged a "zero tolerance" approach. The FAA and Justice Department said the "increased coordination is part of a broader effort to prevent dangerous unruly passenger incidents." An FAA spokesman said the agency has initiated 227 enforcement cases and referred 37 to the FBI for review. “Let this serve both as a warning and a deterrent: If you disrupt a flight, you risk not just fines from the FAA but federal criminal prosecution as well,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. On Oct. 8, President Joe Biden said he instructed the Justice Department to "deal" with the rising number of violent incidents onboard planes. FBI Acting Assistant Director Jay Greenberg said the agency is "working in tandem with our partners to ensure the safety of all passengers and investigate crimes within our jurisdiction aboard commercial flights." Through Nov. 1, there have been 5,033 reports of unruly passenger incidents, including 3,642 related to pandemic face covering regulations. In June, a group representing major U.S. airlines, such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, as well as aviation unions, asked the Justice Department to prosecute violent air passengers. FAA and Justice Department officials began meeting in August "to develop an efficient method for referring the most serious unruly-passenger cases for potential criminal prosecution," the agencies said, adding that "resulted in a process where the FAA regularly sends cases to the FBI, which forwards those that merit potential prosecution to field offices for further investigation." On Monday, U.S. prosecutors in Colorado charged a 20-year-old California man with assaulting a flight attendant on an Oct. 27 American Airlines flight bound for Santa Ana, California, that forced the plane to land. Witnesses and court records said a flight attendant was punched in the nose, resulting in bleeding and a concussion. American Airlines Chief Executive Doug Parker called it "one of the worst displays of unruly behavior we’ve ever witnessed." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/u-faa-refers-37-unruly-110933419.html Delta flight diverted due to 'unruly passenger' adding to the influx of airline disturbances • An "unruly passenger" caused a cross-country flight to be diverted to DFW. • The FAA reports 5,033 "unruly passenger" incidents so far. • These incidents involve "threatening or violent behavior." A flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles was diverted to Dallas mid-flight after an "unruly passenger" caused a disruption, actor Bill Moseley tweeted on Monday. "Situations like these are rare and regrettable for the vast majority of our customers and Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior at our airports and aboard our aircraft," Delta Air Lines said in a statement to CNN. Flight 365 from Atlanta to Los Angeles International Airport landed 1 hour and 27 minutes late after making a pit stop in Dallas, according to Delta's flight tracking system. "We applaud our flight crew's quick decision to divert and address the situation as expeditiously as possible so the remainder of our customers can resume their travels," Delta added. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there has been an uptick in airplane conflicts involving "threatening or violent" customers since 2020. The agency reports 5,033 "unruly passenger" incidents between January 1 and November 2 - announcing more than $1 million in fines this year, CNN reported in October. Delta Air Lines and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport declined to provide additional details about the disturbance. https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-flight-diverted-due-unruly-034610225.html Man arrested at Twin Cities airport after TSA finds 3 guns, ammo and meth in his luggage, charges say A 20-year-old man waiting to board a flight from the Twin Cities airport was arrested last week after authorities discovered his checked luggage held three guns, more than 240 rounds of ammunition and a large amount of methamphetamine, according to federal prosecutors. Kevin A. Aguilar-Moreno, 20, an unauthorized immigrant from Mexico, attempted to board a Delta Air Lines flight from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Phoenix last Friday, when Transportation Security Administration screeners found that his two pieces of luggage contained more than 2 pounds of methamphetamine, two pistols and an "AR-15 type" rifle with no serial number, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul said included in the 241 rounds of ammunition were 39 rounds with armor-piercing ammunition. Law enforcement also determined that the rifle was homemade. Such "ghost guns," as they are commonly called, have no serial numbers, making them difficult to track, prosecutors said. Aguilar-Moreno is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing firearms while in the United States illegally. He remains in federal custody ahead of a Thursday court appearance. A message was left Wednesday with his attorney seeking a response to the allegations. https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-arrested-twin-cities-airport-134700935.html Air Canada Now Offering New Portable COVID Self-Test Kits For Travelers Mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements to enter many countries are causing international travelers a great deal of expense and hassle. In response, Air Canada announced the introduction of new testing products, including portable self-administered COVID-19 molecular and antigen test kits, through a partnership with Switch Health, a Canadian-based healthcare company. According to the press release: “Using the Switch Health COVID-19 RT-LAMP Kit, customers can test themselves while travelling abroad prior to their flight to Canada to meet Government of Canada testing entry requirements without the need to visit a foreign COVID-19 testing clinic. These tests are conducted under the remote supervision of a Telehealth professional from Switch Health and include an electronic report suitable for travel.” "Air Canada is a leader in adopting and implementing science-based safety measures to simplify our customers' journey," said Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President, Products Marketing & eCommerce at Air Canada. "Together with Switch Health, we are pleased to offer our customers the most comprehensive range of travel testing options that will make travelling abroad easier and more predictable. Switch Health also seamlessly integrates into Air Canada's digital tool allowing customers to securely submit their COVID-19 test results and records of vaccination, further simplifying the travel experience." "At Switch Health, we pride ourselves on keeping Canadians safe and empowering them to make decisions concerning their health at their convenience through cutting edge, decentralized diagnostics and patient-focused digital solutions," said Dilian Stoyanov, Chief Executive Officer at Switch Health. "Offering these COVID-19 tests will help get Canadians back to their favourite activities - like global air travel with Air Canada - safely, reliably and at their convenience." Travelers to Canada are currently required by the government to show proof of a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of their flight. Switch Health's new portable self-administered test kit, officially called the Switch Health RT-LAMP Test Kit, can be taken by passengers on their travels and can be used to satisfy the testing requirement without the need to visit a foreign testing facility. Air Canada is Switch Health's launch partner for these new tests, with limited quantities initially available for Aeroplan Members. The press release goes on to state that: “The RT-LAMP test is one of several ways Air Canada is offering practical solutions to ease customer experience and reduce the inconvenience related to the current pre-departure testing requirements. Other COVID-19 testing options include travel testing clinics, a self-administered RT-PCR collection kit and a portable self-administered antigen kit containing two tests which is accepted by many countries such as the United States.” The release goes on to note that the Government's COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel recommends the removal of pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travellers, acknowledging that testing at both departure and arrival is excessive. Air Canada will also be offering Preferred pricing for Aeroplan Members. Aeroplan Members have exclusive access to preferred pricing on all Switch Health testing products. Aeroplan preferred pricing for the portable antigen test kit start at $79 plus applicable taxes (one kit includes two tests), and the portable RT-LAMP test kit start at $149 plus applicable taxes. Members also earn 1,000 Aeroplan points on RT-PCR tests and 500 Aeroplan points on RT-LAMP test kits and antigen tests. Members can also redeem their Aeroplan points through the Aeroplan eStore to cover the cost of the test kits. See the website for all the details or to order a test kit. Air Canada also recently introduced a Travel Ready Hub for passengers to obtain information about necessary travel documentation, COVID-19 test requirements and country travel restrictions for any global destination. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sandramacgregor/2021/11/04/air-canada-now-offering-new-portable-covid-self-test-kits-for-travelers/?sh=7d0ab658aeca Airline staff shortages impacting WMU’s College of Aviation BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) — Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation in Battle Creek is a busy place with students flying in and out of the Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field. “Turned it into the third or fourth busiest airport in Michigan due to operations and engagement of our students,” said Tom Thinnes, the college’s manager of recruitment, outreach and marketing. The college’s goal is to help pilots move up in the industry. WMU students become flight instructors once they graduate. As flight instructors they’re eligible to be hired by regional airlines. The aviation industry is going through a hiring blitz as airlines are looking to rebound from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have had to cancel flights in recent months, partly because of staff shortages. American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights last week, citing both staff shortages and weather. The major airlines are hiring talent from regional airlines, which in turn is impacting Western’s College of Aviation. “Then requires regionals to hire, which then start pulling from our ranks, which then causes backlogs in flight training,” Thinnes said. WMU has lost 39 flight instructors in the last six months. While 37 have been replaced, new students are feeling the impact. Airplane mechanic shortage opens opportunities for students “COVID-19 hit, which caused an increase in that backlog,” Thinnes said. “Put us back about two years. All of our incoming students in fall 2021, we told them from the get go that we’re about two years behind in flight training.” Thinnes adds that entry level salaries for pilots have increased significantly in the past four to five years, which is creating interest in the field. Additionally, he says there’s a demand for pilots because veteran pilots are reaching retirement age. https://www.woodtv.com/news/calhoun-county/airline-staff-shortages-impacting-wmus-college-of-aviation/ Bombardier Names Nick W. Verdea Recipient of 2021 Safety Standdown Award Bombardier Inc. • A long-time Safety Standdown supporter, Verdea has demonstrated exceptional safety leadership throughout his 25-year aviation career • Influential award recognizes exceptional efforts to improve aviation safety throughout the industry • Bombardier’s Safety Standdown celebrating 25 years of aviation safety stewardship and education MONTREAL, Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nick W. Verdea, a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) and Global Leadership Professional (GLP), has been named the 2021 winner of the Bombardier Safety Standdown Award, as selected by the Safety Standdown Advisory Council members. Verdea, Director of Aviation and Corporate Travel for The Williams Company in Tulsa, OK., is a long-time supporter and advocate of this highly influential event. Verdea accepted the award on November 3, 2021, during the 25th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown event in Wichita, KS. The two-day, in-person safety gathering brought industry professionals together for enhanced learning opportunities, compelling workshops, presentations and more, laying the foundation for safety training and professional development. For a quarter of a century, Bombardier has led the industry in providing aviation professionals with critical knowledge-based aviation training and lifelong professional development opportunities. The Bombardier Safety Standdown Award is presented annually to an aviation professional who has demonstrated exemplary dedication to improving aviation safety through the Safety Standdown principles of Learn, Apply, Share. Verdea was nominated for his leadership in aviation safety management over the course of his 25-year aviation career by Richard Westmoreland, Director of Aviation for First Horizon. At The Williams Company, Verdea oversees the daily operations and priorities of a high-performing team of 13 that operates corporate aircraft. A major part of his responsibilities is to execute and expertly manage the annual travel services budget with a compliance concentration on travel experience and cost containment. Verdea’s commitment to safety excellence is admirable and this is clearly reflected in his many leadership roles over his career. He is a dedicated life-long learner and has an impeccable flying record of more than 13,000 accident-free hours in the cockpit. “On behalf of Bombardier, I wish to congratulate Nick Verdea for his outstanding career and unwavering commitment to Safety Standdown and to promoting aviation safety and professionalism at all levels of our industry for a quarter of a century,” said longtime Bombardier executive, Andy Nureddin, who stewards the Safety Standdown program. “Nick embodies precisely what the Safety Standdown Award stands for: celebrating individuals who are role models in the field and have made a real difference day-to-day. He is the ideal ambassador for our Safety Standdown mission.” Bombardier’s Safety Standdown is one of the most comprehensive safety conferences in the industry. This year’s in-person event celebrated 25 years of safety stewardship and this year’s theme, “Learn, Apply, Share” reminds aviation professionals and organizations to learn new skills, apply them and share their knowledge to make an impact as a role model. About Safety Standdown Conceived in 1996 as a human factors safety-training event for the Learjet flight demonstration team, the conference quickly garnered a reputation for excellence beyond Bombardier’s customer base. In 1999, in response to growing interest within the industry, Bombardier opened the seminar to all pilots. In 2010, Safety Standdown expanded beyond the seminars into a year-round global human factors program offering online resources. Since 1996, more than 10,000 corporate, commercial and military aviation professionals have attended Safety Standdown seminars around the world, live and through the webcast, including in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Switzerland and the USA. About Bombardier Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, creating innovative and game-changing planes. Our products and services provide world-class experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety. Headquartered in Montréal, Canada, Bombardier is present in more than 12 countries including its production/engineering sites and its customer support network. The Corporation supports a worldwide fleet of over 4,900 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bombardier-names-nick-w-verdea-120000514.html Soon To Join Korean Air: The History Of Asiana Airlines Over the last three decades or so, Asiana Airlines has established itself as a key player in South Korean commercial aviation. The carrier operates a diverse mix of Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies and widebodies, alongside a dedicated cargo fleet. Now a member of the Star Alliance, it serves more than 80 destinations in nearly 30 countries. Asiana Airlines began life as Seoul Air International, with its foundation taking place in February 1988. It commenced operations in December that year, initially serving domestic routes with the Boeing 737. Widebodies and international services became part of Asiana’s operations in the early 1990s, and it hasn’t looked back, joining the Star Alliance in 2003. Breaking the monopoly At the time of Asiana’s initial establishment as Seoul Air International in 1988, South Korea was a one-airline country. Indeed flag carrier Korean Air had a total monopoly on air traffic in the nation. As such, under pressure from conglomerates known as chaebols who saw a chance for competition, the new airline came to life with backing from the Kumho Group. It was not necessarily a bad thing that Asiana’s initial services were domestic ones. After all, South Korea is home to the world’s busiest air route in the form of Seoul-Jeju. As it happened, Asiana’s first Boeing 737-operated flights served Busan instead. It only added Jeju as a destination the following year, alongside the likes of Daegu and Gwanju. International growth Operating out of hubs at both Seoul Gimpo and Seoul Incheon, the 1990s were a fruitful decade for Asiana in terms of growth. It began the decade in style, opening its first scheduled international routes to the Japanese cities of Fukuko, Nagoya, Sendai, and Tokyo. Interestingly enough, it had already begun flying to Sendai in 1989 on a charter basis. By December 1991, the arrival of long-haul widebodies like the Boeing 747-400 had enabled transpacific services to Los Angeles. The mid-1990s saw Honolulu added to Asiana’s list of intercontinental destinations alongside the European pair of Brussels and Vienna. As well as the 747, Boeing’s 767-300 twinjet was also a key 1990s widebody for Asiana. Moving into the 21st century, the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 also began to play a role at the airline. It was around this time that, in 2003, Asiana became a Star Alliance member. Joining forces While Asiana initially came into existence to challenge Korean Air’s monopoly, it is now set to merge with the national carrier. This will provide much-needed stability after an uncertain period that began in April 2019 when the Kumho Group announced that it would be selling the airline to solve its own financial crisis. It had looked as if Hyundai would acquire the carrier, but this deal ended up being canceled in September 2020. However, two months later, the Korean government announced that none other than Korean Air would be acquiring Asiana. The airline is currently going through the business combination review process, and the acquisition will be finalized upon receiving approval from all relevant competition authorities. Integration is set to be completed about two years after the acquisition. https://simpleflying.com/asiana-airlines-history/ AUSSIE WHIZZ HAPGOOD TO LEAD DIGITAL PRODUCTION OF BOEING’S NEXT AIRCRAFT Queensland-born Linda Hapgood’s mantra is “go take the hardest jobs, stretch yourselves, and know you can do more than you ever thought you could.” And Hapgood has stretched herself and her wings and has just been appointed to lead Boeing’s digital preparations for both the design of its next all-new commercial jet and the integrated production system that will build it. As Program Manager Integrated Product Team for Digital Transformation at Boeing it is Hapgood’s mission to leverage all the expertise and innovation of the company’s 50,000 engineers and the lessons of over 100 years of building aircraft, rockets, satellites and space stations and move it all onto a virtual world for integrated design, test, production and service. Announcing Hapgood’s appointment in a staff memo Boeing’s chief engineer Greg Hyslop, Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Stan Deal and Chief Information Officer Susan Doniz said that for “our next BCA (Boeing Commercial Aircraft) development program” the company will “create a digital environment where the next new airplane and production system can be designed together. “This effort will determine the standards and interfaces by which we are linked together with a digital thread through design, test, certification, build and support,” the memo said. Hapgood’s new virtual world will be where the next Boeing commercial aircraft will be born and it will be a massive game-changing competitive edge for the cost of designing, building, and testing an all-new design tops over $20 billion. For instance, says Hapgood we will digitally build the next product thousands of times before we physically build the first one as “it will be built in a virtual world.” Designing a new aircraft in a 3D computer environment is not new and Boeing used that technology in the early 90s with its 777. However only advances in computing power in the past ten years have enabled that to be taken to a whole new level of integrated design, test, build, and production process and tools. “What it represents is an acceleration of ambitions, desires, and readiness as a company to leverage what we’ve been learning in different places around Boeing,” adds Hapgood. “Our vision is to capture the advantages of technology in the sense of being able to simulate the product design, the production system design, and our services environment in the digital environment first before we build our first aircraft or lay the ground on our first factory.” Hapgood has aviation and engineering in her genes. Her father was an engineer with Ansett and her older sister Karen went into engineering inspiring Linda to put her “maths and science skills to good use and do something unique.” She admits with a smile that 25 years ago she “didn’t really know much about engineering other than fixing engines.” “So, I decided to take aerospace engineering at the Queensland University of Technology.” While at QUT Hapgood secured an internship at Boeing Australia, which transformed into a full-time job on her graduation with honors in a Bachelor of Engineering, Aerospace, Avionics. A three-year stint at Boeing Australia designing and implementing new weapons systems for Australia’s F-111 bombers caught the attention of Seattle and Hapgood found herself as an Avionics Project Manager responsible for 71 retrofit projects over two years. Hapgood rapidly moved up the management ladder becoming a chief engineer on 767 and 747 Airplane Systems. As Chief Engineer, she was responsible for more than 200 electrical and systems engineers on the 747-8, 767 Freighter, and 767-2C tanker. “I really enjoyed the sense of bringing all the facets of a complex project together and I learned a lot about leading through influence because, as a project manager, you are not a direct manager of people, but you need to inspire people to help you achieve the goal.” Hapgood adds that her “main passion is innovation and leading teams. As a manager, I really enjoy listening to people, understanding what they want to do and helping them bring their ideas to life. Reflecting on her stellar career Hapgood muses that all she wanted was to get a degree in engineering and see what happened next. “All that I knew for sure was that I wanted to have a challenging career and work overseas and see the world,” she said. On the huge and game-changing challenge ahead Hapgood says “that in my experience, the big breakthroughs and innovations have come by bringing people from diverse perspectives and positions together to design the best solutions, with a focus on the customer. But a key says Hapgood is that “if you have an idea of how to do something better, first you have to be patient enough to understand why folks are doing it the way they are today.” https://www.airlineratings.com/news/aussie-whizz-hapgood-lead-digital-production-boeings-next-aircraft/ Auburn University - Aviation faculty awarded Delta Air Lines professorships Two Department of Aviation faculty members have been awarded the Delta Air Lines Endowed Professorship. Department chair and professor James Witte and assistant professor James Birdsong are the first recipients of the professorship established by Delta to support outstanding faculty dedicated to high quality aviation instruction, research and service. “This prestigious recognition of Witte and Birdsong highlights their sustained dedication to educating the next generation of aviation professionals,” said Ana Franco-Watkins, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “We are grateful for Delta’s generous support of our aviation program and its faculty and students.” James Witte joined the Department of Aviation in 2020 as chair and professor of aviation management. He is a career Army officer and pilot with over 60-years of experience in military and civilian rotor-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. He has an academic background in workforce development and evaluation, individual learning styles, and learning assessment. Witte spent extensive time in industrial training, developing programs of instruction ranging from sexual harassment, loss control management, supervisor's safety development, methods and techniques of training for safety instructors, and Office of Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, compliance training. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, a master’s degree from the College of William and Mary, and a doctoral degree from the University of South Florida. James Birdsong serves as the aviation program coordinator where he is responsible for all facets of the university’s aviation program. In addition to his administrative role, he teaches junior and senior-level aviation economics and global aviation courses. Birdsong is Auburn’s principal investigator for the FAA’s Technical Training and Human Performance Center of Excellence and is a member of the center’s executive leadership committee. Prior to joining Auburn University, he served in the United States Air Force for 20 years as a command C-130 pilot, headquarters staff officer, academic instructor and squadron operations officer. He has held various positions in finance, operations, safety, systems acquisition and strategic planning, and has extensive international aviation experience. He holds degrees from the United States Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Auburn University. “Delta is pleased to partner with Auburn’s Aviation program to support professors who embody integrity and excellence in flight education,” said Tad Hutcheson, senior vice president, The Delta Air Lines Foundation. Witte and Birdsong will hold their professorships for four years. http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/campus_notices/2021/11/031417-aviation-faculty-delta.php Bizav Market Surge Brings Challenges, Says Sentient Jet The industry has done a “wonderful job” of highlighting the benefits of business aviation during the pandemic, said Sentient Jet president and CEO Andrew Collins, but jet card and other providers also need to be prepared to manage through the supply constraints that have come along with Covid-19. Speaking to attendees at Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2021 on Tuesday, Collins said Sentient “made the right call” to halt card sales to ensure that it can provide proper service to existing clients. “Nobody wanted a pandemic," he added. "Nobody thought it was going to happen, but it played right into some of the attributes of business aviation. I think last year we were all evangelists for why private aviation matters. We created this surge and built up a real demand.” A lot of people who previously did not fly privately became private flyers during the pandemic and “enthusiasm for it became even greater.” That followed with referrals, expanding the market, and then it grew further once the vaccines rolled out. While initially private aviation was looked upon mostly by individual flyers for personal travel, Collins said he doesn’t believe that is still true. “I think it feels that way because you don't have the Fortune 100, Fortune 500, or those different companies running around saying this is our travel policy,” he said. “But we're seeing a lot of individuals from businesses. A lot of them may work transactional work deals through teams. You can see it in travel patterns. You can see it in the kind of turn-and-burn aspect for some of the flights. So there's definitely business [travel]." However, Collins noted that supply is a challenge. If operators haven’t been prepared for the market in terms of sourcing, “organizational firepower,” the right investment sources, and necessary relationships, then it will be a tough market. Collins stressed that there are operators in “great shape” that have managed business really well and will continue to grow. Regarding Sentient, he noted that the decision to pause card sales was a first. “I don't think we'd ever done that.” It was a move taken by other providers and Collins said that at some point the industry will take a new look at sales of flight legs. This is key, given guarantees provided to customers. But with the current capacity constraints, Collins believes there “will be a shakeout.” That could result from lack of profitability as products morph, because of consolidation, or because companies have been running on razor-thin margins and simply "punch out." Added Collins: “You need that strong balance sheet. You have to be willing to invest. I think it’s going to get better over time.” He sees aircraft deliveries accelerating, as well as new entrants skipping cards and fractional shares and going into ownership. Once acquisition and ownership costs set in, Collins believes, “some stuff that’s on [Part] 91 might slip to 135 and bring more capacity in the market.” Additionally, some may push aircraft back into the market, he added. “I can't tell you exactly when that happens," Collins said. "Maybe a macroeconomic event starts to trigger some of that. And maybe people just get a little bit past the novelty of it." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-11-03/bizav-market-surge-brings-challenges-says-sentient-jet Boeing finally wins the FCC’s go-ahead for broadband satellite constellation The Federal Communications Commission has authorized Boeing to put 147 satellites in orbit for a broadband internet constellation, adding to a list of competitors including Amazon, OneWeb and SpaceX. Boeing’s constellation was proposed in 2017, but it took four years for the FCC to iron out the technicalities surrounding the plan. Most of the satellites will circle the globe at a height of about 650 miles. Fifteen of them will go into highly inclined orbits at an altitude between 17,000 and 27,500 miles. To comply with the requirements laid out in the FCC’s order, half of the satellites will have to be launched by 2027, with the rest in place by 2030. Boeing’s aim is to provide high-speed satellite data services to consumers on a global basis — echoing the goals set for SpaceX’s Starlink service, OneWeb’s constellation and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, among others. SpaceX is currently leading the pack by providing limited service via more than 1,600 satellites. OneWeb is due to begin limited service this winter, and this week, Amazon asked the FCC to authorize the launch of its first two prototype satellites next year. In a statement posted online today, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Boeing’s contribution would be welcome. “Advanced satellite broadband services have an important role to play in connecting hard-to-serve communities,” she said. “We are committed to a careful and detailed review of all such applications and I thank the International Bureau team for their work completing this first round of NGSO [non-geostationary orbit] applications.” Boeing had sought the FCC’s clearance to use a variety of V-band and Ka-band frequencies for satellite-to-satellite communications, but in response to objections lodged during the regulatory process, the FCC cleared only a limited set of V-band channels. The commission said the other channels weren’t internationally approved for space-to-space links. Some of the requested frequencies would have been used to connect with satellites outside the Boeing constellation. Boeing’s ambitions for providing broadband access from low Earth orbit first came to light in 2016. Back then, Boeing was planning a more extensive constellation that would grow from nearly 1,400 satellites to twice that number. In 2017, rumors coursing through the satellite grapevine suggested that Boeing might be partnering with Apple on satellite broadband internet service, but those rumblings have gone quiet in recent years. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-finally-wins-fcc-ahead-014751198.html Amazon seeks FCC approval for prototype satellites to rival SpaceX's Starlink Amazon on Monday announced plans to launch prototype satellites for its proposed satellite broadband network. Why it matters: The plans bring Amazon one step closer to building a satellite constellation to provide internet connectivity around the world, rivaling the SpaceX's Starlink service. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Driving the news: Amazon sought permission from the Federal Communications Commission to launch, deploy and operate two prototype satellites for its Project Kuiper constellation. The prototypes will be used to test the technology Amazon wants to use in its final satellite design, the company said. Amazon reached an agreement with ABL Space Systems to launch the satellites using its RS1 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida by the end of 2022. ABL is preparing for its first RS1 launch before the end of the year from Kodiak Island, Alaska, with its launch period ending Dec. 15, according to a Space News report. What they're saying: "There is no substitute for on-orbit testing, and we expect to learn a lot given the complexity and risk of operating in such a challenging environment," Rajeev Badyal, vice president of technology for Project Kuiper, said in a statement. Yes, but: Amazon is behind SpaceX in deployment, with Starlink satellites already providing internet service to customers. The big picture: Amazon and SpaceX have sparred before the FCC, which gives regulatory approval for communications networks, as they seek to carve out positions for their competing satellite internet infrastructure systems. https://www.yahoo.com/news/amazon-seeks-fcc-approval-prototype-170038133.html RESEARCH SURVEY SEEKING PILOT VOLUNTEERS FOR RESEARCH STUDY Volunteers are sought to participate in research about pilot experiences during flight operations. The research will consist of an online survey that will only take approximately ten minutes of your time. You may participate in this study if you are currently a pilot, defined as someone who holds a valid airmen and medical certificate. There is no compensation offered for this study but your assistance may help further the understanding of pilot experiences during flight operations. If you are interested in volunteering for the study, please follow the link below. Thank you! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PilotQ RESEARCH STUDY Women in Aviation Maintenance Workforce Survey Dear Aviation Maintenance Professional, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your experience in aviation maintenance. This study is expected to take less than 15 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be female, at least 18 years old, a resident of the U.S., actively employed in the U.S., and an FAA-certificated mechanic or repairman. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. I appreciate your consideration and time to complete this study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://forms.gle/mSGMdZiv6f8NZZgM9 For more information, please contact: Danita Baghdasarin baghdasd@my.erau.edu 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