Flight Safety Information - December 2, 2021 No. 240 In This Issue : Incident: Biman Bangladesh DH8D at Chittagong on Dec 1st 2021, gear problem : Cessna 510 Citation Mustang - Gear Up Landing (Arizona) : Japan asks U.S. to ground fighter jets after tank dumping case : Laser blurs vision of pilot who lands at Hollywood Burbank Airport, official says : USS Carl Vinson’s aircraft sustained two ‘Class A’ mishaps last week : Man caught in Norfolk International Airport with loaded handgun : EBAA Shifts Safety Summit to Virtual Format : FAA Launches 2021 Holiday ‘12 Days of Drones’ Safety Campaign : Apple loses key autos engineer to electric aviation startup Archer : New FAA drone detection testing to protect airports happening in Atlantic City : Jump Aero Welcomes New Adviser: Former FAA Associate Administrator - Ali Bahrami : Universal Hydrogen CEO sees jetmakers backing new fuel : United Airlines jet powered by sustainable fuel heads out from O'Hare : SpaceX’s Starlink Is Testing Internet Service for Aircraft : ESASI session, 'FocusOn : Position Available: Analyst, Safety/Flight Operations Quality Assurance Incident: Biman Bangladesh DH8D at Chittagong on Dec 1st 2021, gear problem A Biman Bangladesh de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration S2-AGR performing flight BG-617 from Dhaka to Chittagong (Bangladesh) with 42 passengers and 4 crew, was on approach to Chittagong, aka Chattogram, when the crew reported an unsafe indication for their nose landing gear, a low approach confirmed the nose gear came out of its wheel well but got stuck with the gear strut still closer to the retracted position. The aircraft entered a hold while emergency services were preparing the runway for the arrival. About one hour after the first approach to the airport the crew finally performed the full stop landing and came to a stop on the runway on both main gear and the tyres of the half retracted nose gear. The airline reported the aircraft had a problem with its landing gear and had to make an emergency landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f104b33&opt=0 Cessna 510 Citation Mustang - Gear Up Landing (Arizona) Date: 01-DEC-2021 Time: 12:33 Type: Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Owner/operator: Private Registration: N81CB MSN: 510-0439 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Lake Havasu City Airport (HII/KHII), Lake Havasu City, AZ - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Private Departure airport: Houston Executive Airport, TX (KTME) Destination airport: Lake Havasu City Airport, AZ (KHII) Narrative: The aircraft landed gearup. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/270133 Japan asks U.S. to ground fighter jets after tank dumping case Japan asked the U.S. military Wednesday to ground F-16 fighter jets in the country after one jet dumped two fuel tanks in northeastern Japan before making an emergency landing the previous day, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said. The Defense Ministry said it has made the request to suspend operations of F-16 fighters until their safety is confirmed, following the incident in Aomori Prefecture on Tuesday that triggered safety concerns as one tank apparently landed in a residential area although no one was injured. The ministry also called on the U.S. forces Tuesday to investigate the incident, officials said. Kishi told reporters Wednesday he takes the matter "very seriously" and instructed ministry officials "to work closely with the United States to collect and analyze information to ensure that all possible measures are taken." The 35th Fighter Wing of the Misawa Air Base said in a statement that an F-16 fighter jet experienced a problem during a flight and its pilot jettisoned the fuel tanks in an unpopulated area close to Mt. Iwaki in Aomori Prefecture. The jet landed at Aomori Airport at around 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday. Police spotted bits of metal and liquid believed to be fuel about 20 to 30 meters from some homes in the town of Fukaura with a population of some 7,600, which is about 30 kilometers away from Mt. Iwaki. The tank dumping follows a number of similar incidents by U.S. fighter jets in the northeastern prefecture in recent years. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said in a press conference Wednesday the Japanese government has conveyed to the U.S. forces in Japan that the dumping was regrettable. Col. Timothy Murphy, the vice commander of the 35th Fighter Wing of the Misawa Air Base, told Fukaura Mayor Mitsuru Yoshita as they met Wednesday, "We regret very much that the fuel tank came into the town. We are very thankful that it didn't injure anyone." "What I can tell you, we have a very thorough investigation that we have started on the incident," he said. Murphy also said it was regrettable the wing had initially said the pilot jettisoned the tanks in an unpopulated area. Aomori Gov. Shingo Mimura told reporters Wednesday the prefectural government will make "a serious protest" to the U.S. military and the Defense Ministry over the matter. Senior vice defense minister Makoto Oniki is visiting Aomori to bring local officials up to date on the incident. Aomori Airport resumed operations on Wednesday morning after the emergency landing prompted the closure of the airport's lone runway, affecting several domestic flights, according to the prefectural government. The Tohoku Defense Bureau said Wednesday it has confirmed that the metal objects found near the municipal government offices in Fukaura were from one of the two tanks dropped from the jet. The other tank has yet to be discovered. "I heard a large sound and thought it was thunder. I was surprised that a U.S. jet had dropped it. I'm scared that it could have hit somebody," said a woman in her 80s. In 2015, an F-16 fighter jet dumped its fuel tanks into the Sea of Japan off Aomori Prefecture, and another F-16 fighter ditched its fuel tanks into a lake near the Misawa base in 2018. The Misawa base houses both the U.S. military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/12/273e1cff8ce2-japan-seeks-probe-on-us-jet-dumping-fuel-tanks-before-landing.html Laser blurs vision of pilot who lands at Hollywood Burbank Airport, official says A plane landed safely at the Hollywood Burbank Airport after the pilot’s vision was impacted by a laser Wednesday night, according to airport and airline officials. The pilot’s vision was blurred by the laser, according to an airport official, and Dan Landson of Southwest Airlines confirmed in an email that a pilot serving as first officer of Southwest Flight 4188 was struck by a green laser “shortly after taking off from Phoenix.” “The flight continued to Burbank, and once at the gate the Pilot was checked out by medical personnel,” Landson said. “As Safety is our number one priority, a different First Officer was called in to continue flying tonight. There were no other reported concerns among the other Crew members or Passengers.” The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Police responded to the initial report of a pilot being affected by the laser, then notified the FBI, whose agents are investigating, according to an FBI spokesperson. No further details were available. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/laser-blurs-pilots-vision-forces-landing-at-hollywood-burbank-airport-official-says/ (Photo Courtesy: US Navy) USS Carl Vinson’s aircraft sustained two ‘Class A’ mishaps last week Two aircraft assigned to the deployed aircraft carrier Carl Vinson suffered so-called “Class A” mishaps last week, but officials said no one was injured. The first occurred at about 1 p.m. Nov. 22, when the starboard engine on a F/A-18E Super Hornet caught fire in flight during training over the Philippine Sea, according to Lt. Cmdr. Miranda Williams, a Carl Vinson spokeswoman. The jet was able to return to the carrier, she said. Two days later, at about 4:30 a.m. Nov. 24, a dipping sonar system used to hunt submarines “unexpectedly detached” from a cable connecting it to a MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter during anti-submarine warfare training, Williams said. The dipping sonar equipment was lost to the sea and not recovered. Both incidents are under investigation, Williams said, and both aircraft remain onboard Carl Vinson and are expected to be returned to flight status. A Class A mishap involves loss of life or more than $2.5 million in damage to an aircraft. While the Naval Safety Center has deemed both mishaps at the Class A level, such designations are sometimes downgraded following investigations. Carl Vinson deployed in August to the West Pacific waters of U.S. 7th Fleet and became the first carrier to deploy with the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter. https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/12/01/this-carriers-aircraft-sustained-two-class-a-mishaps-last-week/ Man caught in Norfolk International Airport with loaded handgun NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach man was caught with a loaded .380 caliber handgun at Norfolk International Airport (ORF) on Nov. 30. According to TSA officials, the firearm, loaded with six bullets, was detected at the airport security checkpoint. Norfolk Airport Authority confiscated the weapon and cited the man. The case has been forwarded to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for possible criminal prosecution. The man faces a federal financial civil penalty. This is the 22nd gun found in the airport this year. Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter to be transported in the belly of the plane. Guns are not permitted to be carried onto planes. Checked firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm and ammunition posted on its website. https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/man-caught-in-norfolk-international-airport-with-loaded-handgun/ EBAA Shifts Safety Summit to Virtual Format Citing the rise in Covid-19 cases in Europe, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is moving its annual Safety Summit from an in-person to a virtual forum on December 13 and 14, the association announced this morning. Registration for the virtual Safety Summit is free. Attendees who registered for the in-person event will automatically be signed up for the virtual Safety Summit and EBAA will reimburse ticket costs for the event. European Union Aviation Safety Agency executive Patrick Ky is the opening keynote speaker for the two-day event, which will be held on the originally scheduled dates. With a focus on “Operational Excellence: daily actions to ensure safe operations,” the summit also will include sessions on business aviation safety, ground operations, and threat-line auditing. “This continues to be a very challenging situation, and the health and well-being of our attendees and speakers remains our highest priority,” said EBAA COO Robert Baltus. “We decided that, in the current epidemiological situation, we had to take a proactive stance to showcase that safety remains our prime concern.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-12-01/ebaa-shifts-safety-summit-virtual-format FAA Launches 2021 Holiday ‘12 Days of Drones’ Safety Campaign If you are considering buying a drone as a holiday gift, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants you and your loved ones to understand how to fly it safely. The FAA is launching its 12 Days of Drones campaign to educate the public about the rules, regulations and best practices of operating a drone. This December, the agency will share important drone-safety information and resources that will help future pilots stay up to date with the latest rules. All of the campaign’s safety messages will be posted on the FAA Drone Zone Twitter and Facebook accounts throughout the week. The campaign will run each weekday from December 2 – 17 with each day dedicated to a specific drone safety topic. Day 1 (12/2): What do I need to know before I fly? Day 2 (12/3): Register and mark your drone Day 3 (12/6): Test requirements for recreational flyers: The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) Day 4 (12/7): Test requirements: Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate Day 5 (12/8): Where can I fly? Day 6 (12/9): Airspace restrictions Day 7 (12/10): Airspace authorizations Day 8 (12/13): Flying at night Day 9 (12/14): Flying over people Day 10 (12/15): Flying in weather conditions Day 11 (12/16): Don't fly near wildfires, natural disasters and police operations Day 12 (12/17): Drones for good The FAA also released a new video reminding everyone of the rules and regulations that drone pilots must follow. Additional information about safely flying a drone is available on the FAA website. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21248542/federal-aviation-administration-faa-faa-launches-2021-holiday-12-days-of-drones-safety-campaign Apple loses key autos engineer to electric aviation startup Archer • Michael Schwekutsch, an ex-Tesla engineer with experience in powertrains, has left Apple’s Special Projects Group to join electric air taxi startup Archer as senior vice president of engineering. • The move is the latest example of staff turnover in Apple’s secretive car project. • The move also indicates that tech start-ups attacking climate issues can attract the most qualified engineers. Michael Schwekutsch, a director of engineering in the Apple Special Projects Group that’s reportedly working on self-driving cars, has left to join electric air taxi start-up Archer as its senior VP of engineering. Schwekutsch noted the change on his LinkedIn page on Wednesday. The move is the latest example of staff turnover in Apple’s secretive car project. Former VP of special projects Doug Field left in September to lead Ford’s emerging technology efforts, a priority for the legacy automaker under its new Ford+ turnaround plan. The move also indicates that tech start-ups attacking climate issues can attract the most qualified engineers. A former VP of engineering at Tesla, Schwekutsch holds more than 100 patents related to vehicle design, worked on prototypes for the Tesla Plaid systems, and led production of electric drive systems for several vehicle models from Tesla, Porsche, BMW and others, according to his online resume. Archer is working on electric-powered air taxis that take off and land vertically. Like competitors Lilium and Joby Aviation, Archer aims to transport passengers on short trips, avoiding traffic on the ground and the noise and emissions generated by traditional fuel-burning aircraft and cars. It’s already developed a model known as the Maker that can carry one passenger and a pilot, and is working on a four-passenger model. The company aims to operate urban air mobility services starting in Los Angeles once its aircraft are cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration for commercial use. Founded in 2018 and based in Palo Alto, Calif., Archer went public in September after merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Atlas Crest Investment Corp. There’s a ‘great battery race’ ahead says Goldman Sachs. These stocks will win A potential Apple car is the ‘ultimate EV bear case’ for other companies, says Morgan Stanley’s Jonas Archer previously announced that United Airlines not only invested in its business, but also placed an order for $1 billion of its fully electric aircraft with the option to buy an additional $500 million worth over time. Commercial passenger aviation generated 785 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2019, according to research by the International Council on Clean Transportation. Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association predicts that air travel passenger numbers will recover to more than 85% of pre-pandemic levels next year, and surpass pre-pandemic levels by 5% in 2023. Schwekutsch told CNBC in an e-mail on Wednesday, “While automobiles have certainly progressed, the only way to see true climate reform is by not making only cars more sustainable, but every means of transportation. And air travel clearly has the biggest opportunity to become more sustainable.” Archer co-founder and CEO Brett Adcock said, “Michael’s decision to come on board validates the success of the last several years and we are excited to move our powertrain development forward at pace towards our planned commercial launch in 2024.” Schwekutsch will lead the company’s battery and electric motor development efforts. The EV threat from Apple Apple has never acknowledged it’s working on a car, but multiple media reports since 2014 have tracked its progress, it has a driverless vehicle testing permit in California, and CEO Tim Cook has obliquely mentioned the company’s interest. Regardless, the threat of the well-capitalized tech titan introducing an electric, driverless car has automotive and tech investors on notice. In a note out Wednesday, Morgan Stanley equity analysts Katy L. Huberty and Adam Jonas talked about how an Apple car might look, when it might launch, and how it would effect Tesla and the broader battery electric vehicle market. Jonas wrote, “One of the things that we think drives Elon Musk and the Tesla’s mission isn’t ‘can we make a better EV than Volkswagen’ or something.” Instead, he said, Tesla is motivated to gain every competitive advantage it can before Apple makes its move. “That fear of Apple potentially turning Tesla into a BlackBerry is one of the things that we think is motivating Tesla and their mission,” he said. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/01/apple-ex-tesla-engineer-michael-schwekutsch-jumps-to-archer-aviation.html New FAA drone detection testing to protect airports happening in Atlantic City According to the FAA, they're seeing just over 100 drone sightings on a monthly basis. As many of us prepare to be wheels up this holiday season, there's a new effort to protect the nation's airports, passengers, and crews from malicious drones ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- As many of us prepare to be wheels up this holiday season, there's a new effort to protect the nation's airports, passengers, and crews from malicious drones happening at the Atlantic City Airport. "There's always the risk of distracting a pilot or potential for engine ingestion," said Jim Patterson, Manager FAA Airport Research and Development. Recent Stories from 6 ABC Jacqueline Avant, wife of music executive Clarence Avant, killed in Beverly Hills home invasion Drone incursions are on the rise and the risk to those in the air is very real. According to the FAA, they're seeing just over 100 sightings on a monthly basis. "With the holidays approaching and people buying small UAS we want to make sure the public is aware of what they can and cannot do with these UAS and keep them away from airports," said Patterson. Patterson is leading the FAA's first of its kind testing of drone detection. The research started in November at the FAA's technical center, right next to the Atlantic City Airport. That means the airport is unique because it has just about every system in the national air space system. For the next 18 months, the team is studying which technologies can accurately determine the location of a drone before it gets too close to an aircraft. "Our flights that we've designed for this test mimic what we're seeing out in the country to show what it looks like when a drone comes from the outside to the inside of the airport permitted fence," said Patterson. Patterson says their research will also look at how each technology pairs with the navigation and communication systems already at the airport. "If we can prove that the technology works here in Atlantic City, we have a pretty high level of confidence that it will work at another airport," he said. Tests will soon expand to five other airports including Syracuse, New York, Huntsville, Alabama and Seattle, Washington. https://6abc.com/drones-atlantic-city-airport-faa-airports/11290066/ Jump Aero Welcomes New Adviser: Former FAA Associate Administrator - Ali Bahrami PETALUMA, Calif., Dec. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jump Aero Incorporated is pleased to announce the addition of the former FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, Ali Bahrami, to the Jump Aero Advisory Board. Mr. Bahrami will provide strategic guidance regarding the efforts leading to safe and efficient operation of the Jump Aero eVTOL aircraft. Mr. Bahrami's long experience in certification and regulatory matters will assist Jump Aero in defining and evaluating key strategic elements for Jump Aero regarding aircraft certification, operational safety, and go-to-market strategy for the company's eVTOL platform. A long-time aviation executive, Mr. Ali Bahrami was the FAA's Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety from 2017 until 2021. In this role, he led the organization responsible for setting safety standards and overseeing all parts of the aviation industry – airlines, manufacturers, repair stations, pilots, mechanics, and any person or product that operates in aviation, including unmanned aircraft systems. These programs have a direct impact on every facet of domestic and international civil aviation safety. Mr. Bahrami first joined the FAA as an engineer in 1989 and from 2004-2013 served as a manager of the Transport Airplane Directorate. In addition, Mr. Bahrami has served as the Vice President for Civil Aviation at the Aerospace Industries Association, a Washington, D.C. based trade association that represents the nation's leading aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers. He holds B.S and M.S degrees in engineering from the University of Michigan. "Jump Aero's focus on the application of advanced aviation technology toward a mission with a clear public good should not only directly benefit the company, but it should also help society realize an even greater value from aviation. I look forward to working with the Jump Aero team to help make their vision a reality." Local Trending News – Mr. Ali Bahrami "Safe and efficient operation begins with sound and effective strategies for certification, training, and maintenance. With the advice of aviation safety experts like Ali Bahrami, we can advance our strategic plans with confidence to ensure that Jump Aero will be a leader in the rapidly emerging eVTOL market. I look forward to working with Ali to create a new, life-saving use for aviation and accelerate the growth of our venture." – Dr. Carl Dietrich, Founder & President of Jump Aero Incorporated Jump Aero was founded in 2019 by experienced aviation entrepreneurs to help the every-day heroes of our society: First Responders. The company's mission is to enable first responders to fly to the scene of an emergency and begin life saving measures as fast as possible. Jump Aero expects to cut emergency response time in half – helping first responders save thousands of lives. https://www.wfmz.com/news/pr_newswire/pr_newswire_stocks/jump-aero-welcomes-new-adviser-former-faa-associate-administrator---ali-bahrami/article_70bd7eb5-8125-584a-831e-4495cb9a75fe.html Universal Hydrogen CEO sees jetmakers backing new fuel PARIS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing Co (BA.N) will launch all-new successors to their best-selling single-aisle jets powered by hydrogen from around the middle of next decade, the head of a U.S. company that champions the fuel told Reuters. The prediction by Paul Eremenko, chief executive of Universal Hydrogen, counters assertions by Boeing that it is too early to think about hydrogen for a future 737 successor, while Airbus strongly backs hydrogen but initially for smaller planes. Eremenko, who spoke as part of the Reuters Next conference, is a former chief technology officer for Airbus and United Technologies, now part of Raytheon Technologies (RTX.N). He co-founded Universal Hydrogen last year with plans to speed up the introduction of hydrogen, initially for 40-60-seat regional airplanes, based on fuel cells. But Eremenko has also set his sights on breaking in to the busiest part of the aviation market, the 150-seat-plus single-aisles dominated by the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo. "I think there will be a new airplane in that class from both aircraft manufacturers probably around the mid-2030s, which means they would need to make a decision on that by the late 2020s," Eremenko said. "We want to make sure that the decision is to make that a hydrogen airplane." Boeing appears to have ruled that out. It said in July that hydrogen has a future but that significant hurdles must be overcome before it is widely used. It said sustainable aviation fuel offers the quickest and most effective potential. 'RHETORIC' "Irrespective of the rhetoric that we hear today on this subject, I think by the time this is in service in the regional market ... in 2025 the tenor of the conversation is going to fundamentally change," Eremenko said. "When it is visibly in commercial service ... I think it will be uncontroversial and irrefutable that the next generation single-aisle has to be a hydrogen airplane in the 2030s." Experts say the high cost of hydrogen, challenges of storing and super-cooling the gas and building a reliable and widespread supply system, as well as certification, must all be addressed. Eremenko said Universal Hydrogen is in discussions with U.S. regulators to show hydrogen is safe. Hydrogen-powered airplane flight is not new. The predecessor to America's NASA flew a modified bomber with one engine running on hydrogen in 1957. The Soviet Union flew a hydrogen-powered TU-155 airliner in 1988, again replacing kerosene in one engine. "There is no real fundamental science to be done; there is no fundamental invention," Eremenko said. "It is engineering, hard engineering, and a lot of engineering will need to happen over the next decade to make this possible." While Universal Hydrogen is looking at replacing turboprop engines on regional aircraft with retrofittable electrical ones powered by a hydrogen-based fuel cell, it aims to focus purely on supplying hydrogen if it penetrates the single-aisle market. French-U.S. engine venture CFM (SAF.PA), (GE.N), the biggest supplier of gas turbines for the single-aisle market, in June unveiled a radical open-bladed design capable of burning convention fuel or hydrogen from the mid-2030s. read more Eremenko acknowledged a standoff over infrastructure for green hydrogen produced using renewable energy. "Until you have a hydrogen airplane nobody is going to invest in the infrastructure and unless there is infrastructure the Boeings and Airbuses of this world aren't going to build a hydrogen airplane," he said. Universal Hydrogen plans to test-fly a hydrogen-powered regional airplane next year, "hopefully well before the end of the year," Eremenko added. British-American firm ZeroAvia said in October it would team up with MHI RJ Aviation Group to cooperate in developing hydrogen-electric propulsion for regional jets. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/universal-hydrogen-ceo-sees-jetmakers-backing-new-fuel-2021-12-01/ United Airlines jet powered by sustainable fuel heads out from O'Hare What would normally be a ho-hum United Airlines flight from O'Hare International Airport to Washington on Wednesday is being hailed as a breakthrough that will help reduce pollution from jet fuel. That's because the product that was pumped into the United 737 MAX 8 aircraft was sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, which unlike petroleum uses leftovers from cooking oil, agriculture and other sources. The jaunt to the nation's capital, which carried more than 100 passengers including United CEO Scott Kirby and U.S. Reps. Sean Casten and Brad Schneider, is the first use of jet fuel that is 100% sustainable on a commercial flight, officials said. "Climate change is the biggest issue our generation faces and our generation has to solve it. The implications if we don't are catastrophic," Kirby said. He called the flight, where 500 gallons of SAF were used in one engine and the same amount of conventional fuel in another, "a historic day" in its impact to decarbonize the airline industry and one that will be scaled up over time. Airlines now are permitted to use only up to 50% SAF blend on board, United says. Deerfield Democrat Schneider noted that "2% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from aviation. SAF cuts that by at least 50% or higher. If we convert the entire fleet, which is the long-term goal, that eliminates 1% of greenhouse gas emissions in just one initiative." In October, the aviation industry announced a 2050 target for zero carbon emissions. Switching from petroleum-based jet fuel to alternatives means "a whole different infrastructure," said Casten, a Downers Grove Democrat. The new fuel chain should lead to "all sorts of new jobs and innovations and all the rest of that, but you've got to prove you can do this at scale. So, this is the first time we'll have enough on one plane to run the flight, and (we) look forward to a growing demand." The revamped fuel emits fewer greenhouse gases than traditional petroleum, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Sustainable jet fuel comes from a variety of sources, including corn grain, algae, fats, oils and greases, agricultural residue, wood mill waste and municipal solid waste streams, the DOE reported. Expert Gene Gebolys was asked about the recipe for the fuel on Wednesday's flight. "We make it out of fats, oils and greases," said Gebolys, the CEO of World Energy, which partnered with United. "It could be used cooking oil, it could be animal fat, it could be vegetable oil like soybean oil, it can come from a variety of sources -- today." Research is ongoing on "feedstocks of the future," such as algae or kelp, Gebolys said. Sustainable aviation fuels have been tested in myriad aircraft for years using blends and without needing to retrofit planes, Gebolys said, adding that greenhouse gases can be reduced by 60% to 80%. Argonne National Laboratory Senior Scientist Michael Wang, who also flew to Washington, said the lab is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration on modeling greenhouse gas emissions in alternative fuels. "Sustainable aviation fuel plays an important role in the carbon neutrality goal," Wang said. Although battery-powered airplanes are foreseeable for short trips in the future, "for cross-country or international trips, we still need liquid fuels." One word of caution came from Environmental Law and Policy Center Executive Director Howard Learner. United's trial run "is a step in the right direction," Learner said. "But the devil's in the details." If the entire aviation industry adopts SAF, "as the airlines go up to scale, it will make an enormous difference what the feed stock is and how it is converted into jet fuel." For example, if recyclables such as plastics are converted en masse, that will raise questions about sustainability, Learner said. https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20211201/united-airlines-jet-powered-by-sustainable-fuel-heads-out-from-ohare SpaceX’s Starlink Is Testing Internet Service for Aircraft SpaceX’s Starlink unit is testing its space-based internet service with several aircraft and wants to offer in-flight connection to airlines “as soon as possible,” a company vice president said. Starlink is in talks with several airlines about offering in-flight broadband connections, Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of commercial sales, said Tuesday on a panel at the Airline Passenger Experience Association gathering in Long Beach, California. That would put the company in direct competition with Viasat Inc., Intelsat SA, Telesat Corp. and others. Starlink is producing six satellites a week at its assembly site near Seattle, Hofeller said. It is also moving to a more sophisticated version. He didn’t disclose details of the testing or how advanced the company’s discussions with airlines are. The Space Explored blog reported Monday that SpaceX founder Elon Musk raised the potential of a bankruptcy filing in an internal memo if the company is unable to fix production issues on its Raptor engines, which power the company’s newest and largest rocket, Starship. The vehicle is needed to launch the next iteration of Starlink’s satellites, Musk wrote. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., as SpaceX is formally known, is working toward a constellation of more than 30,000 satellites to provide high-speed internet coverage around the world. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-30/spacex-s-starlink-is-testing-internet-service-for-aircraft The next ESASI session, 'FocusOn…Protected Information', will take place on Tuesday 7 December 2021 from 13:00 to 14:30 (UK Time & UTC). If you are interested in joining this free event, please send an email to registrations@esasi.eu to obtain a link to the meeting and details of Zoom meeting good practices. The full programme will be posted on the ESASI website soon. https://esasi.eu/focuson We are looking forward to meeting you on the 7th of December, Best regards Steve Hull IEng FRAeS FISASI Analyst, Safety/Flight Operations Quality Assurance Job Locations US-TX-Irving ID 2021-4254 Category Safety/Security Position Type Regular Full-Time Overview Who we are: Would you like to work for a stable, secure, and fast-growing airline where you will be stimulated, challenged, and have the opportunity to develop your career? If so, read on! Come and work with the best of the best at Envoy Air where you will join a team committed to providing outstanding service. We offer: · Amazing employee flight privileges within the American Airlines global network · Training and development programs to take your career to the next level · Comprehensive health and life benefits (subject to location) Responsibilities How will you make an impact? Responsibilities · Assist in the continued development of the FOQA Program · Support Manager of Flight Safety with the daily administration of the FOQA Program · Coordinate FOQA data collection with Maintenance Planning · Manage data processing and storage (including processing by the analysis system) and screen the data for accuracy and integrity · Track external media and aircraft recording conditions to maintain un-interrupted flow of data · Interface with senior management, ALPA and FAA representatives · Work with engineers and vendors to troubleshoot and diagnose problems, evaluating and implementing actions · Assist Manager of Flight Safety with data analysis as assigned · Create monthly preparation of FOQA trend analysis reports for FOQA Monitoring Team (FMT) · Support Manager of Flight Safety with facilitation of FMT meeting · Present FOQA information to various internal and external groups such as senior management, pilots, industry, and government agencies · Contributes to internal newsletters as well as external safety related publications, communicating significant trends to internal and external audiences · Maintain records of FOQA corrective action items · Performs administrative functions as assigned to maintain program efficiency · Others tasks as assigned · Requires planned and unplanned overnight travel Qualifications Who are we looking for? Requirements · Minimum age: 18 · Bachelor Degree or equivalent amount of Commercial Aviation work experience · Ability to effectively use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, WBAT, Intelex and PowerPoint · Possess the legal right to work in the United States · Ability to read, write, fluently speak and understand the English language · Experience with data analysis and trending preferred · Experience in working effectively under extreme deadline pressure preferred · Knowledge and proficiency in the Austin Digital EMS software, Google Earth, and CEFA flight animation preferred · Possession of a Commercial Pilot, Dispatcher or A&P Certificate is preferred Please note: The description is intended to provide a brief overview of the position. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, expectations, and skills required of those in this position. Duties and expectations may be subject to change at any time. Envoy Air is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled. Envoy Air Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, provides regional flight service to American Airlines under the American Eagle brand and ground handling services for many American Airlines Group flights. The company was founded in 1998 as American Eagle Airlines, Inc., following the merger of several smaller regional carriers to create one of the largest regional airlines in the world. Envoy is headquartered in Irving, Texas, with hubs in Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago and Miami, with a large ground handling operation in Los Angeles. Connect with Envoy on Twitter @EnvoyAirCareers, on Instagram @EnvoyAirCareers, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/envoyaircareers and Facebook.com/EnvoyPilotRecruitment. Curt Lewis