Flight Safety Information - November 5, 2021 No. 223 In This Issue : Incident: Gojet CRJ7 at Chicago on Nov 3rd 2021, bird strike : Incident: Endeavor CRJ9 enroute on Nov 3rd 2021, bird strike : Boeing 747-8F - Engine Shutdown inflight (Japan) : From vaccines to testing: What travelers need to know before the new US travel system on Nov. 8 : AT&T, Verizon to delay C-Band spectrum use pending air safety review : Fact check: No evidence vaccinated American Airlines pilots are dying during flights : Ultra long-haul flights from London to Sydney? They're still in the works, says Qantas CEO : Standardized runway reporting format to enhance aviation safety worldwide : Mother with biracial daughter accused of human trafficking on Southwest flight : What Is An Enhanced Flight Vision System? : Aviation maintenance technicians in high demand : Commercial airlines facing staggering losses; Total profit loss to hit $51.8B in 2021 : eLoran: Part of the solution to GNSS vulnerability : Wright Electric’s first aircraft will be a 100-passenger based on the BAe 146 : RESEARCH SURVEY - SEEKING PILOT VOLUNTEERS FOR RESEARCH STUDY : RESEARCH STUDY - Women in Aviation Maintenance Workforce Survey : Position Available: Aerospace (Pro Pilot), Tenure-Track Faculty Incident: Gojet CRJ7 at Chicago on Nov 3rd 2021, bird strike A Gojet Canadair CRJ-700 on behalf of United, registration N546GJ performing flight UA-4420 from Syracuse,NY to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was on short final to Chicago's runway 27R when a bird impacted the left hand engine. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 27R. Tower queried whether the bird strike had occurred right over the threshold, initiated a runway inspection and sent the next arrivals into go arounds. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD ON LANDING DAMAGING THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE, CHICAGO, IL.", the aircraft received "unknown damage", the occurrence was rated an incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4efa63d6&opt=0 Incident: Endeavor CRJ9 enroute on Nov 3rd 2021, bird strike An Endeavor Canadair CRJ-900 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N915XJ performing flight DL-5164 from Greensboro,NC to New York La Guardia,NY (USA), departed Greensboro's runway 05R, climbed to FL290 enroute and landed on La Guardia's runway 31 about one hour later completing a seemingly uneventful flight. The FAA reported however that a post flight inspection revealed damage to radome as result of a bird strike. The aircraft sustained "unknown" damage, the occurrence was rated an incident. The aircraft returned to service about 105 minutes after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4efa5ec5&opt=0 Boeing 747-8F - Engine Shutdown inflight (Japan) Date: 04-NOV-2021 Time: c. 17:15 UTC Type: Boeing 747-8F Owner/operator: United Parcel Service Registration: N615UP MSN: 64261/1553 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Location: near Sakhalin - Russia Phase: En route Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX/ZGSZ) Destination airport: Anchorage-Ted Stevens International Airport, AK (ANC/PANC) Narrative: United Parcel Service flight 5X77, a Boeing 747-8F, diverted to Sapporo, Japan, after engine no.1 was shut down because of problems with the oil filter. The aircraft was en route from Shenzhen, China, to Anchorage, Alaska, USA at an altitude of 9450 meters when this issue occurred. The flight crew decided to turn back and divert to Sapporo, where it landed safely 2,5 hours later. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/269374 From vaccines to testing: What travelers need to know before the new US travel system on Nov. 8 The United States is about to make it much easier for vaccinated international travelers to visit. The White House announced that a new air travel system will take effect Nov. 8, allowing entry for fully vaccinated foreign tourists. The system is set to launch nearly two years after the U.S. began imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The move by the White House will essentially have the U.S. drop its travel ban on dozens of countries while also making entry more challenging for the unvaccinated. The new system will allow entry for foreign nationals only with vaccinations approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization and would add testing requirements for unvaccinated Americans. Here’s what we know about the new travel requirements: A new international air travel system will go into effect Nov. 8, allowing entry into the United States for fully vaccinated foreign tourists. What are the entry requirements for foreign nationals? Starting Nov. 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers will need to show proof of full vaccination as well as a pre-departure negative coronavirus test taken within three days of travel before they can board a plane to the U.S. Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include: Digital or paper verifiable record, such as a vaccination certificate or a digital pass with a QR code. Nonverifiable paper record, such as a printout of a COVID-19 vaccination record or COVID-19 vaccination certificate. Nonverifiable digital record, such as a digital photo of a vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record, downloaded vaccination certificate or a mobile phone application without a QR code. The U.S. will accept nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR tests, and antigen tests. The rules will go into effect for passengers on planes leaving for the U.S. at or after 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 8. Airlines will collect basic personal contact information from all U.S.-bound travelers for contact tracing. Airlines are required to keep the information on hand so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can reach out to travelers who may have been infected or exposed to COVID-19. Masking will be required, but there will be no quarantine mandate for vaccinated travelers or unvaccinated children. ► US travel bans: How COVID-19 travel restrictions have impacted families and couples The change will make entering the U.S. possible for travelers from countries now listed on the U.S. travel ban, which prohibits entry for travelers who have been in any of the regions within the past 14 days. The travel ban took effect in early 2020 and includes: China Iran United Kingdom Republic of Ireland Brazil South Africa India The European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City) Currently, the U.S. asks international air passengers only to get tested within three days of their flight to the U.S. and show either the negative test result or proof of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding. What about the land borders with Mexico and Canada? New travel rules will also take effect for foreign nationals arriving by land or passenger ferry. Starting Nov. 8, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can cross the land borders for nonessential reasons such as tourism or visiting friends and family. These travelers will need to verbally attest to their reason for travel and vaccination status and be prepared to show proof of vaccination upon request. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will accept both digital and paper records showing proof of vaccination, including documents not in English. Foreign nationals will also need appropriate travel documentation to enter the country. CBP will spot-check travelers' vaccination documents, and those without documented proof of vaccination can be denied entry. Travelers under 18 will be exempt from the vaccination requirement as long as they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, according to Matthew Davies, CBP's executive director of admissibility and passenger programs. The new travel rules will go into effect as soon as a port of entry opens on Nov. 8, or at midnight for ports that operate 24 hours a day changes will go into effect at midnight on Nov. 8 for ports that operation 24 hours a day. U.S. citizens reentering the country should also bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document, such as a valid passport, trusted traveler program card, enhanced driver's license or enhanced tribal card. Entry rules along the border will change again in early January, with all travelers – including those traveling for essential purposes – required to show proof of full vaccination. ► US land borders: Travelers in Mexico and Canada plan their next US visit after new land border policy announced Which vaccines does the US accept for travel? The CDC has announced that vaccines approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization will be accepted for air travel. White House officials expect the CDC to approve the same vaccines for travelers entering the U.S. by land or ferry. The FDA has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use during the pandemic: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech, the last of which has received the FDA's full stamp of approval. Vaccines with WHO approval for emergency use include: Johnson & Johnson Moderna Pfizer-BioNTech Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield Sinopharm Sinovac Covaxin The CDC confirmed that it would accept a mix-and-match approach to vaccinations. Travelers who have any combination of FDA- or WHO-approved vaccines will be considered fully vaccinated. The new travel policy does not accept foreign travelers who have had COVID and received just one shot in a two-dose series. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the administration will "continue to review" its entry requirements. ► Covaxin gets WHO emergency approval: Travelers vaccinated with Covaxin can enter US ► 'You feel lonely and left out': These fully vaccinated travelers want to visit the US. They may not be allowed in. How do the new rules affect kids? Foreign nationals under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two will not need to take a pre-departure COVID test. Kids 2 and older traveling with a fully vaccinated adult can test three days prior to departure, while children traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults will need to get tested within one day of departure. Currently, all air passengers 2 or older, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, need to show a negative coronavirus test to fly to the U.S. What are the entry requirements for Americans? The new travel system adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers. Starting Nov. 8, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will need to take a test one day before departure and test again upon arrival in the U.S. ► New travel rules: What US travelers need to know about the new COVID rules for international flights Entry requirements will not change for vaccinated Americans. They will still need to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before departure. Americans will not need to be fully vaccinated to board international flights to the U.S. Are there any exemptions? There is a limited set of travelers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement for entry. Children under 18, certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants and travelers with adverse reactions to the vaccines – such as people who have had severe anaphylactic allergic reactions to a prior COVID-19 vaccine – will be exempt. People traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with less than 10% of its population vaccinated who need to enter the U.S. for emergency or humanitarian reasons are also exempt from the vaccine requirement. There are about 50 countries considered to have low vaccine availability at this time. These exempt travelers will generally need to show that they will comply with public health mandates, including a requirement to be vaccinated in the U.S. if they plan to stay more than 60 days. Unless they have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days, unvaccinated travelers must agree to be tested with a COVID-19 viral test three to five days after their arrival and quarantine for seven days, even if their post-arrival test comes back negative. Unvaccinated travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must also agree to self-isolate if their post-arrival test is positive or if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. Unvaccinated children under 18 will not need to quarantine but will still need to take a post-arrival test. ► Who is exempt?: These select groups of unvaccinated foreign travelers can enter the US The CDC will not give exemptions to people who object to the vaccinations due to religious or moral convictions. There will also be testing accommodations for travelers who can prove they recently recovered from the coronavirus. These travelers will need to show a positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before their flight's departure and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official saying they are cleared for travel. https://www.yahoo.com/news/vaccines-testing-travelers-know-us-202115155.html AT&T, Verizon to delay C-Band spectrum use pending air safety review WASHINGTON: AT&T and Verizon Communications said they had agreed to delay by a month the commercial launch of C-band wireless service pending an assessment of any impact on aviation safety technologies. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said in a joint statement they would "continue to coordinate closely to ensure that the United States keeps pace with the rest of the world in deploying next-generation communications technologies safely and without undue delay." The carriers had been set to use the spectrum on Dec 5 and have agreed to delay it until early January. Both carriers agreed they would delay deployment at the Transportation Department's request. AT&T said it would "continue to work in good faith with the FCC and the FAA to understand the FAA’s asserted co-existence concerns. It is critical that these discussions be informed by the science and the data." The FAA and FCC are holding intensive discussions about the issue and the White House National Economic Council has also been involved, officials said. The FAA on Tuesday issued a bulletin alerting manufacturers, operators and pilots that action may be needed to address potential interference with sensitive aircraft electronics caused by the 5G deployment. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said Wednesday: "We will figure this out so that 5G and aviation safety can co-exist." The FAA said operators "should be prepared for the possibility that interference from 5G transmitters and other technology could cause certain safety equipment to malfunction, requiring them to take mitigating action that could affect flight operations." The bulletin said "there have not yet been proven reports of harmful interference due to wireless broadband operations internationally." It recommended pilots remind passengers portable electronic devices equipped with 5G be should be turned off or placed in airplane mode during flight. The aviation industry has voiced alarm about the plan to use C-Band spectrum for more than a year. Wireless trade group CTIA said on Friday 5G networks can safely use C-band spectrum "without causing harmful interference to aviation equipment," and cited numerous active 5G networks using this spectrum band in 40 countries." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/att-verizon-delay-c-band-spectrum-use-pending-air-safety-review-2292046 Fact check: No evidence vaccinated American Airlines pilots are dying during flights • The claim: COVID-19 vaccinated American Airlines pilots died during flights As air travel across the U.S. faces a spike in unruly passengers, aircrew understaffing and flight cancellations, one article circulating on social media takes it a large step further by claiming vaccinated airline pilots are dying while on duty. "Vaccinated Pilots Dropping Dead Mid-Flight," reads the headline of an article shared to Facebook on Oct. 28. The article, published on a website called bestnewshere.com, claims that two American Airlines' pilots died in October during separate flights leaving Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. One pilot is described as dying from cardiac arrest during an Oct. 15 flight bound for Fort Meyers, Fla. The other, a co-pilot on a flight to Los Angeles, died from "acute myocarditis," an inflammation of the heart muscle, the article claims. The article asserts both pilots had been vaccinated a few weeks before their flights and that there have been "at least 12 non-fatal incidents involving pilots that had recently received the jab." However, none of this is true, said American Airlines spokesperson Whitney Zastrow in an email to USA TODAY. Fact check:COVID-19 vaccines aren't linked to cancer, HIV That's because the article is fabricated, originating from a website that regularly publishes fantastical, false stories. USA TODAY was unable to reach bestnewshere.com for comment. Article originated from fake news website The article is a repost of an Oct. 27 article published on another website called Real Raw News, which is attributed as the source for the information within the story. Despite the seemingly authentic headlines and reporting, the website has a disclaimer saying otherwise. "Information on this website is for informational and educational and entertainment purposes," reads the disclaimer found on Real Raw News' "About Us" page. "This website contains humor, parody, and satire." USA TODAY has reached out to Real Raw News for comment. This is not the first time a rumor claiming a pilot died while flying spread on social media. In October, a video of a right-wing political pundit claiming a Delta Airlines pilot died during a flight went viral on social media. Delta told USA TODAY the claim was baseless, and the Federal Aviation Administration said there was no evidence the incident described in the video occurred. Fact check:Biden comment on COVID-19 vaccines and hurricanes misconstrued The FAA similarly told USA TODAY there have been no events related to what's described in the Real Raw News story. "The FAA has seen no evidence of aircraft accidents or pilot incapacitation caused by pilots suffering medical complications associated with COVID-19 vaccines," said agency spokesperson Eva Lee Ngai. Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim COVID-19 vaccinated American Airlines pilots died during flights. The article making the claim originates from a website that creates false news stories. Both American Airlines and the FAA have said there is no evidence the incidences occurred. Our fact-check sources: • USA TODAY, Sept. 24, 'Anxious, fearful' flight attendants plead for Congress' help to deal with air rage • USA TODAY, Oct. 15, U.S. airlines are grounded by understaffing, fatigue and raising violence despite billions in aid • USA TODAY, Nov. 1, American Airlines cancels, delays more than 1,400 Sunday flights due to weather, 'tight' staffing • Real Raw News, Oct. 27, Vaccinated Pilots Dropping Dead Mid-Flight (archived) • Real Raw News, accessed Nov. 1, About Us (archived) • USA TODAY, Oct. 13, Fact check: Delta debunks rumor that vaccinated pilot died mid-flight • Whitney Zastrow, Nov. 1, Email exchange with USA TODAY • Eva Lee Ngai, Nov. 1, Email exchange with USA TODAY https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/11/04/fact-check-no-evidence-vaccinated-pilots-dying-during-flights/6236189001/ Ultra long-haul flights from London to Sydney? They're still in the works, says Qantas CEO (CNN) — As Australia reopens to international travel for the first time in nearly 20 months, resulting in some emotional reunions, the country's flag carrier is setting its sights on recovery. That doesn't mean it's given up on Project Sunrise -- a Qantas plan to operate the world's longest nonstop flights, which would allow travelers to fly between London or New York to the eastern Australia cities of Sydney and Melbourne. In an interview with CNN's Richard Quest, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the airline plans to revisit the development of these ultra long-haul routes in 2022, with an aim to launch in the following two to three years. "We still have Project Sunrise in the pipeline, which is our ability to fly from Sydney and Melbourne to the last horizon, the last tyranny of distance, direct into London, direct into the east coast of the United States," said Joyce. "That will be a unique value proposition that no other airline in the world will be offering." At the moment, Joyce says Qantas is focused on plans to replace its domestic fleet. "Once we finish that, which we'll do early in 2022, we'll revisit Sunrise and the likelihood is somewhere like 2024 or 2025 for the first aircraft arriving, given the delay." Planes capable of ultra long-haul flights Joyce says the airline plans to order a series of modified Airbus A350-1000 jets -- extra fuel tanks will bump up the range of the aircraft -- to service the routes. In December of 2019, Qantas announced it had chosen Airbus over Boeing for the flights. Both aircraft makers had pitched their jets to Qantas in a competitive months-long process, with Boeing offering up the 777X and Airbus the A350. Joyce called the decision "a tough choice" that was "made even harder by innovation from both manufacturers to improve on what they had already spent years designing." Originally, the ultra long-haul routes were set to launch in 2022 or 2023. But with the pandemic decimating the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to shift to survival mode, The name "Project Sunrise" was inspired by clandestine World War II flights that were made from Perth to Sri Lanka en route to London. They were fraught with danger, and lasted so long they saw two sunrises. In 2019, Qantas conducted three trial research trips to gather data to present to Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which will need to approve the routes based on proof that pilots, cabin crew and passengers can cope with up to 22 hours in the air without a break. During these flights, pilots wore brainwave monitors and had their urine tested in the weeks before and after the flights to track levels of melatonin, a hormone that controls sleep cycles. Passengers in the main cabin wore monitoring devices, allowing scientists to study how their "health, wellbeing and body clock" were impacted by a set of variables including lighting, food and drink, movement, sleep patterns and inflight entertainment. Among the three Project Sunset trial trips was Flight QF7879. Passengers on board the factory-fresh 787-9 Dreamliner included Qantas employees, frequent fliers and a handful of journalists, CNN included. It became the world's longest passenger flight by a commercial airline both for distance, at 17,800 kilometers (about 11,060 miles), and for duration in the air, at 19 hours and 19 minutes. Living up to the project's name, passengers did indeed experience two sunrises. In terms of the world's longest scheduled passenger flight currently in service, that honor goes to Singapore Airlines' Singapore-JFK flight, which covers 9,536.5 miles. Flights from Singapore to JFK take 18 hours and 5 minutes, while JFK to Singapore takes 18 hours and 40 minutes, due to the headwind. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/qantas-project-sunrise-launch-dates/index.html Standardized runway reporting format to enhance aviation safety worldwide The ICAO Global Reporting Format (GRF) for assessing and reporting runway surface conditions, which became applicable worldwide today, will help mitigate the risk of runway excursions, which continues to be the most common form of aviation accident. The harmonization of the assessment and reporting of runway surface conditions will not only benefit runway safety, but also efficiency and sustainability, through a better planning of contaminant removal and the more effective use of de-icing and other treatments. The ICAO anticipates that the rollout will accelerate in the coming weeks and months, and continues to assist States to achieve progress toward harmonized reporting of runway surface conditions. “Early implementation by a number of pioneer States has confirmed the benefits and suitability of the GRF,” declared ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar, noting that the operational experience gained during the upcoming winter, rainy, and monsoon seasons in various parts of the globe will provide important opportunities to review and enhance implementation. The GRF comprises a number of elements: • A harmonized matrix through which a trained observer allocates runway condition codes and descriptors; • A Runway Condition Report (RCR) containing the above information, which is transmitted to flight crew; • The flight crew’s correlation of the RCR with aircraft performance data, enabling them to calculate their take-off or landing performance; and • A facility for flight crew to provide observations of runway surface conditions. • During the run-up to the applicability date, ICAO has worked closely with its Member States, regional offices and industry bodies to ensure that the necessary capacity-building resources have been made available. This includes building awareness, through some 35 seminars and webinars, delivering computer and instructor-led training courses, providing additional guidance and clarifications, and developing tools to help with implementation. Current reporting indicates that implementation is still ongoing in many States. However, ICAO anticipates that the rollout will accelerate in the coming weeks and months, and continues to assist States to achieve progress toward the truly harmonized reporting of runway surface conditions. https://skiesmag.com/press-releases/standardized-runway-reporting-format-to-enhance-aviation-safety-worldwide/ Mother with biracial daughter accused of human trafficking on Southwest flight SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) – “Southwest Airlines called into Denver police at Denver airport a suspicion of human trafficking involving my daughter and myself as passengers,” Mary MacCarthy said. On October 22, Southwest Airlines passenger Mary MacCarthy and her 10-year-old daughter Moira connected in San Jose on the way to MacCarthy’s brother’s funeral in Denver. As they exited the plane in Denver, they were detained on the jetway by a Southwest gate agent and two uniformed police officers. She filmed part of the encounter and her frightened daughter cried in the background but that turns out not to be entirely true. A police report she obtained indicates a Southwest flight attendant contacted authorities believing MacCarthy was involved in human trafficking. What was the supposed evidence? “Their claim we boarded the flight suspiciously late. We allegedly didn’t speak to each other during the flight and I allegedly forbade the flight crew from speaking to my daughter. None of those claims are true,” MacCarthy said. MacCarthy says this is nothing more than racial harassment and racial profiling on the part of Southwest Airlines, and she wants them held accountable. “We had been profiled for being a white mother with a biracial Black child, I know if I had a daughter that was blonde we would not have to go through this trauma,” MacCarthy said. In a statement Southwest Airlines says: “We were disheartened to learn of this mother’s account when traveling with her daughter. We are conducting a review of the situation internally, and we will be reaching out to the Customer to address her concerns and offer our apologies for her experience traveling with us. Our Employees undergo robust training on Human Trafficking. Above all, Southwest Airlines prides itself on providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for the millions of customers who travel with us each year.” Despite repeated attempts, MacCarthy has not heard directly from Southwest Airlines. Now she and her attorney are considering filing a federal civil rights lawsuit. https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/mother-with-biracial-daughter-accused-of-human-trafficking-on-southwest-flight/ What Is An Enhanced Flight Vision System? Even in recent memory, the technology available to pilots of commercial aircraft has come a long way. Cockpit crew’s workloads have been managed by the implementation of various technologies that improve aspects such as vision from the nose of the plane. An Enhanced Flight Vision System is one of these, but what exactly does an EFVS do? What is an EFVS? An Enhanced Flight Vision System, otherwise known by the acronym EFVS, refers to technology that gives pilots a better view of the world around them than would naturally be possible. The system can take one of several forms, with pilots able to view the EFVS either as part of their heads-up display, or even through a head-mounted goggle-based device. Similarly, the equipment that records the pictures transmitted through such displays can also differ. For example, the cameras in question can depict the world around them in either a standard colour manner, or in the form of an infrared or even radar display. By providing pilots a more complete picture of the world around them, the use of an EFVS can help at times when visibility is limited, either by weather or the cockpit’s sightlines. The latter of these helps to eliminate what can be considerable blind-spots from the pilot’s elevated position. In some instances, the display will also feature overlays depicting aspects like a horizon bar. Things such as these enhance both safety and operational capabilities. Airbus’s plans for such technology In the world of European commercial aviation, the topic of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems has recently become one of particular interest. This comes after Airbus announced that it would be developing a form of EFVS for use on its A320 family planes. According to Aviation Today, it may also roll out the program on other designs from its diverse portfolio. In August this year, the European manufacturer selected Collins Aerospace as the provider of its EFVS equipment. Collins will offer Airbus the services of a next-generation Enhanced Vision Sensor to optimize visibility in poor weather. The company explained that the use of its product will lead to “improved on-time performance, operational cost and fuel savings.” The company has now reached a key step in bringing this to life. This week, in association with Invest In Toulouse and Finn Partners, Simple Flying has been in attendance at Aerospace Tech Week in Toulouse, France. Here, Fabrice Bousquet, a Vision Systems Expert at Airbus UpNext, confirmed that the manufacturer has now tested a demonstrator for the system inflight on an A320. This involved the use of a camera box in the plane’s nose. Historically a military system In the grand scheme of things, EFVS has only recently become a topic in civil aviation. Indeed, the FAA first certified such a system for commercial use in 1999, despite suggestions dating back to the 1970s. Meanwhile, military aircraft have benefitted from night vision technology for many years. Impressively, this dates back to the Second World War. https://simpleflying.com/enhanced-flight-vision-system/ Aviation maintenance technicians in high demand VIENNA, Ohio (WKBN) – Companies across the county, from major airlines to those that handle charter flights, are looking for aviation maintenance technicians. There’s a shortage of these mechanics. Boeing Technician Outlook estimated 192,000 of them will be needed between now and 2039. Because of this, a local school that specializes in training these mechanics says they’re seeing a high job placement because of it. “It’s just amazing, the opportunities that have come to me,” said student Jared Kaiser. Kaiser is a student at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. He’s a little more than a month away from graduating but already has job interviews set with two different aviation companies. “These employers are here, they’re basically fighting over us. They want us to go work for them. We don’t have to compete to try to get a job from them, they’re competing to get us to go work for them,” Kaiser said. “A lot of these students get to pick where they’re gonna work,” said PIA Youngstown campus director Joe Deramo. Aviation maintenance technicians are in such high demand that some companies were conducting on-site interviews and offering jobs on the spot at a career fair the school hosted at the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport. “The aviation industry, in general, is struggling to find technicians. There’s a shortage basically so it’s tough right now, not only for us, but for everyone else,” said Constant Aviation recruitment manager Nicole Richard. So, companies are getting creative, offering generous sign-on bonuses and other incentives in addition to competitive wages. “I couldn’t think of a better time to kinda get into the field,” said student Evan Griffiths. Deramo says right now, their job placement rate after graduation is above 90 percent, but there aren’t enough students entering the field to meet the demand. “You hear about flights possibly being canceled, part of it is due to an aviation maintenance technician shortage and we’re trying to fill that void,” Deramo said. https://www.wytv.com/news/local-news/aviation-maintenance-technicians-in-high-demand/ Commercial airlines facing staggering losses; Total profit loss to hit $51.8B in 2021 According to data presented by StockApps.com, commercial airlines are expected to end this year with a profit loss of nearly $52bn and revenues 43% lower than before the COVID-19 hit. After devastating 2020 and colossal revenue losses caused by the first and second wave of the pandemic, the COVID-19 continues paralyzing the aviation industry. The growing number of COVID-19 cases, fears of travel restrictions due to Delta variant and concerns about the economic recovery caused a new hit to the world's largest airlines, hoping for a steady upturn in the aftermath of the pandemic. According to data presented by StockApps.com, commercial airlines are expected to end this year with a profit loss of nearly $52bn and revenues 43% lower than before the COVID-19 hit. European Airlines the Worst Hit, with $21 Billion in Profit Losses During the last decade, the aviation industry witnessed stable growth, with revenues rising at a CARG of around 5.3% between 2009 and 2019 and reaching $838bn that year. However, after the pandemic hit, revenue streams dropped to historically low levels, with most of the world's biggest airlines not even covering their operating costs. Although government aids across the globe brought hopes for the steady recovery of the global aviation industry, this scenario might not happen for years. Along with remaining one of the worst-hit sectors during the pandemic, the entire market faces increased costs, including labor and fuel. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) survey showed that commercial airlines generated only $373bn in revenue in 2020 or 57% less than pre-pandemic projections. Although this figure is expected to jump by 25% YoY to $472bn in 2021, that is $100bn less than revenues from 2008. Statistics show the global commercial aviation profit loss is expected to reach $51.8bn this year, after the industry already lost almost $138bn in 2020. In regional comparison, most of that loss, or nearly $21bn, will be generated by the European airlines. The IATA predicts Asian Pacific to witness the second-largest profit loss this year of $11.2bn. Middle Eastern and African carriers reported combined losses even before the COVID-19 shock. However, according to the IATA survey, the airlines from the two regions are expected to lose around $8.7bn in 2021. Latin America and North America follow, with a $5.6bn and $5.5bn profit loss, respectively. However, North America is the only region expected to witness significant recovery next year, with airlines reaching $9.9bn in profit gains. Almost 85% of People Changed their Travel Habits; Catching the Virus Abroad the Biggest Concern Besides increased costs and plunging profits, the entire airline industry is facing massive changes in travel habits caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Passenger Confidence Tracker 2021, commissioned by Inmarsat, 84% of respondents claim their travel habits are likely to change post-COVID-19. Around 35% of people have decided to travel less frequently by any means after the pandemic ends, while almost 30% would travel less frequently by air. Catching the virus is the biggest concern preventing people from traveling abroad, with a 52% share among respondents. However, the five other concerns with high shares of responses were also all related to the pandemic. The survey also showed that India, South Korea, and China had the largest number of people who decided to travel less frequently by any means, while people from the United Kingdom, Greece, and Germany are the least likely to change their post-COVID-19 travel habits. https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/commercial-airlines-facing-staggering-losses-total-profit-loss-to-hit-518b-in-2021 eLoran: Part of the solution to GNSS vulnerability Though marvelous, GNSS are also highly vulnerable. eLoran, which has no common failure modes with GNSS, could provide continuity of essential timing and navigation services in a crisis. GPS fits Arthur C. Clarke’s famous third law: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Yet, it also has several well-known vulnerabilities — including unintentional and intentional RF interference (the latter known as jamming), spoofing, solar flares, the accidental destruction of satellites by space debris and their intentional destruction in an act of war, system anomalies and failures, and problems with satellite launches and the ground segment. Over the past two decades, many reports have been written on these vulnerabilities, and calls have been made to fund and develop complementary positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems. In recent years, as vast sectors of our economy and many of our daily activities have become dependent on GNSS, these calls have intensified. A key component of any continent-wide complementary PNT would be a low-frequency, very high power, ground-based system, because it does not have any common failure modes with GNSS, which are high-frequency, very low power and space-based. Such a system already exists, in principle: it is Loran, which was the international PNT gold standard for almost 50 years prior to GPS becoming operational in 1995. At that point, Loran-C was scheduled for termination at the end of 2000. However, beginning in 1997, Congress provided more than $160M to convert the U.S. portion of the North American Loran-C service to enhanced Loran (eLoran). In 2010, when the U.S. Loran-C service ended, its modernized and upgraded successor was almost completely built out in the continental United States and Alaska. During the following five years, Canada, Japan, and European countries followed the United States’ lead in terminating their Loran-C programs. Today, however, eLoran is one of several PNT systems proposed as a backup for GPS. The National Timing Resilience and Security Act of 2018 required the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to “provide for the establishment, sustainment, and operation of a land-based, resilient, and reliable alternative timing system” as a backup to GPS. In January 2020, the DOT awarded contracts to 11 companies to demonstrate their technologies’ ability to act as a backup for GPS. Of these companies, two were working on eLoran projects. Technical advisers to the federal PNT Executive Committee have been advocating and recommending that the government implement eLoran for the past 11 years. Yet, while the U.S. government announced in 2008, and again in 2015, its intention to build an eLoran system, it has not done so yet. Not Your Grandfather’s Loran In the 1980s, I used Loran-C to navigate on sailing trips off the U.S. East Coast. It had an accuracy of a few hundred feet and required interpreting blue, magenta, black and green lines that were overprinted on nautical charts. The system was a modernized version, launched in 1958, of a radio navigation system first deployed for U.S. ship convoys crossing the Atlantic during World War II. Its repeatability was greater than its accuracy: lobster trappers could rely on it to return to the same spots where they had been successful before, though they may have had some offset from the actual latitude and longitude. By contrast, eLoran has an accuracy of better than 20 meters, and in many cases, better than 10 meters. It was developed by the U.S. and British governments, in collaboration with various industry and academic groups, to provide coverage over extremely wide areas using a part of the RF spectrum protected worldwide. Unlike GNSS, eLoran can penetrate to some degree indoors, under very thick canopy, underwater and underground, and it is exceptionally hard to disrupt, jam or spoof. Unlike Loran-C, eLoran is synchronized to UTC and includes one or more data channels for low-rate data messaging, added integrity, differential corrections, navigation messages, and other communications. Additionally, modern Loran receivers allow users to mix and match signals from all eLoran transmitters and GNSS satellites in view. Finally, eLoran can be used for integrity monitoring of GPS — and vice versa. “Think of a resiliency triad, consisting of GNSS (global), eLoran (continental), and an inertial measurement unit, a precise clock, or a fiber connection,” said Charles A. Schue, CEO of UrsaNav. “It is extremely difficult to jam or spoof all three sources at the same time, in the same direction, and to the same amount.” For the eLoran system to cover the contiguous United States, between four and six transmission sites could provide overlapping timing coverage, and 18 transmission sites could provide overlapping positioning and navigation. U.S. Developments The INVEST in America Act authorizes $157 million for the Department of Homeland Security to conduct research in five separate areas, one of which is positioning, navigation and timing resiliency; however, none of this money is for eLoran per se. The regular DOT appropriation for next year has $17 million for PNT-related research, $10 million of which is for “GPS Backup/Complementary PNT Technologies Research.” However, neither of these bills has yet been finalized, let alone passed into law, so they may change. “These are very complex systems, with five- to seven-year sales cycles,” pointed out Schue, “and the process is even slower now due to the pandemic. With adequate funding, eLoran signals could start becoming available in the contiguous United States within a year of a service contract being signed. We should recall that GPS — as, indeed all of the GNSS — was brought online gradually as satellites were developed and launched into space. There should be no expectation that any other nationwide system would be available at the flip of a switch instead of through gradual implementation.” International Developments Loran-C and eLoran operate internationally. Saudi Arabia, China and Russia continue to operate Loran-C or Chayka systems. In October 2020, a Chinese paper described how the nation is expanding Loran to its west to cover the whole country to protect itself from disruptions of space-based services. A previously published report made it clear that they are upgrading or have upgraded from Loran-C to eLoran. South Korea has an ongoing project to upgrade its Loran-C to eLoran. It also seems the project will ensure that the South Korean system will be useable on its own, even if the Russian and Chinese systems with which it normally cooperates are not available for some reason, according to Dana Goward, president of the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation. The United Kingdom is still committed to eLoran, and operates one station that has been used as an alternative time reference to GNSS. “However, as the sole station still transmitting in that area of Europe it’s of no use for positioning,” said Nunzio Gambale, CEO of Locata Corporation. “Unfortunately, the EU’s shutdown of their old Loran sites seems to have been completed, and no EU-based Loran sites remain operational. Their actions leave scant hope for Loran’s resurrection any time soon as an alternative to GNSS positioning in Europe. That’s a shame, because eLoran has beneficial PNT characteristics that other alternate technologies will struggle to replicate.” Advocacy “There is fairly good agreement across the PNT community that there is no sole solution [to GPS vulnerabilities],” Schue said. “It needs to be a system of systems.” The PNT community, he said, is working with Congress and the administration “to move ahead with actual RFPs to start the contracting process — instead of continuing to admire the problem.” UrsaNav, NextNav, OPNT and other companies and organizations “are working together as best as we can to tell the federal government that we all believe in a system-of-systems approach and that there ought to be some tangible forward motion.” While DOT has the lead on providing PNT resiliency, it and the departments of Defense and Homeland Security need to cooperate on this, Schue argued. “Many, if not all, of the other departments — such as Commerce, Energy, State, Interior and Agriculture — also have a stake.” GNSS will remain for a reason. “Unless a new national terrestrial PNT system moves the game forward for many markets, it’s just far too easy to remain with the GNSS system, which is fundamentally free,” Gambale said. “That’s a really difficult price point to compete with, unless you’re delivering significant new value to the market.” The time to act is now. “This issue has been studied to death for more than 20 years,” Goward said. “There are technologies ready to deploy. It is time for action. A failure of national PNT will be catastrophic.” https://www.gpsworld.com/eloran-part-of-the-solution-to-gnss-vulnerability/ Wright Electric’s first aircraft will be a 100-passenger based on the BAe 146 • Wright Electric is to modify a BAe146 aircraft with its electric propulsion system US-based Wright Electric is to install its 2MW electric propulsion on the BAe 146 regional aircraft and plans to fly the aircraft in fully-electric mode within the next three years. The Wright Spirit will incorporate Wright’s megawatt-class electric propulsion system and will be capable of transporting up to 100-passengers for one-hour flights. Wright Electric plans to convert existing BAe 146 aircraft – a 100 passenger, 4-engine aircraft originally made by British Aerospace in 1983, with its all-electric propulsion system. The BAe 146 is the same aircraft that Airbus and Rolls-Royce were modifying for their E-Fan X development program, which was cancelled in April last year. That project aimed to install and fly a 2.5MW hybrid-electric propulsion system on a BAe 146. Jeff Engler, CEO of Wright Electric said, “Aviation has committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but we are committed to a 100% reduction in all emissions starting in 2026. Because we have built the world’s largest aerospace propulsive powertrain, we can build the world’s largest zero-emissions retrofit directly serving the world’s busiest routes.” Engineers at Wright have been focussed on developing a megawatt-scale electric propulsion system for aircraft since early 2020, when the company moved into new premises in Albany, New York. Wright has been proving key components of the system including a high-efficiency, high-power density inverter and a 2MW, 2,700hp motor. The propulsion system is currently undergoing ground testing. The company plans to start flight testing it in 2023 with one all-electric propulsor. Wright then plans to fly a BAe 146 with two all-electric propulsors by 2024 leading to full-electric flights by 2026. According to Wright, the modified BAe 146 / Wright Spirit’s 460 miles (740km) range will make is possible to serve the world’s busiest city pairs, such as Seoul-Jeju, London-Paris, Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo, and San Francisco-Los Angeles. “We can make a significant impact on global emissions by targeting this high-demand segment of the market,” said Engler. Wright Electric was founded in 2016 and is also developing the Wright 1 narrowbody aircraft to have 186 seats and a range of 800 miles. The company has previously said it is targeting a 2030 entry into service for this aircraft The company is partnering with aviation companies such as European airline Easyjet and business aviation services provider Jetex for the development of its electric aircraft. David Morgan, director of flight operations at EasyJet said, “We believe zero emissions aircraft are key to addressing aviation’s environmental impact and so we fully support Wright Electric in their ambition to bring a zero-emissions aircraft to market. Wright have come a long way since we first started working with them in 2017 and we welcome this announcement as another important step on their journey.” The company also won a US$650,000 grant from the US Department of Energy’s Electric Aircraft Program to help develop a propulsion system last October. https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/electric-hybrid/wright-electrics-first-aircraft-will-be-a-100-passenger-based-on-the-bae-146.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