Flight Safety Information - December 9, 2021 No. 245 In This Issue : Accident: Transnorthern DC3S at Anchorage on Dec 8th 2021, engine failure and gear up landing : Incident: TUI B788 at Manchester on Dec 8th 2021, could not retract nose gear : Incident: American A319 at Des Moines on Dec 7th 2021, bird strike damages left engine and right wing : Kalitta Boeing 747-400 Loses Panel Flying To Miami : Passenger Confronts Flight Attendant as Plane Begins Descent to Dulles: FBI : Kazakhstan’s Aviation Safety Record Reaches 84 Percent, According to Latest ICAO Audit : Dangerous reason why passengers must tell cabin crew if they lose their phone : Three more 'Apple Car' engineers leave for aviation startups : After 12 years, FAA Pilot Records Database now active : Global Flight Training Solutions Partners with Dineen Aviation to Provide Dual FAA/EASA Certification : Brazil will have sold off dozens of airports by end of 2022, government says : Gulf Air Introduces In-House Type Rating Course for Pilots : Supersonic jet maker could be ‘Project Thunderbird’ at Piedmont Triad International Airport : Organizations can qualify for an insurance discount by utilizing the WBAT platform : PhD Research Survey Request Accident: Transnorthern DC3S at Anchorage on Dec 8th 2021, engine failure and gear up landing A Transnorthern Aviation Douglas DC-3 (C-117 Skytrain), registration N28TN performing freight flight TNV-123 from Anchorage,AK to Kodiak,AK (USA) with 2 crew, was in the initial climb out of Anchorage's runway 07L when the crew declared emergency due to the failure of the right hand engine (R-1820), initially requested to return to runway 07L requesting left turns only but in the turn decided to divert to Anchorage's Merill Field, located 4nm to the northeast of Anchorage's International Airport. After reaching a maximum altitude of about 900 feet the aircraft performed a gear up landing on Merill's runway 07 keeping the left wing up (and engine operating) as long as possible. The crew was able to bring the aircraft to a stop on the runway. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The NTSB reported the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff and made an emergency landing at Merill with two pilots on board, the aircraft was still gear up when the aircraft touched down on runway 07 at Merril. There were no injuries. An investigation has been opened. The aircraft was recovered from the runway by a crane, the runway was returned to service about 6:15 hours after landing. Accident: Transnorthern DC3S at Anchorage on Dec 8th 2021, engine failure and gear up landing A Transnorthern Aviation Douglas DC-3 (C-117 Skytrain), registration N28TN performing freight flight TNV-123 from Anchorage,AK to Kodiak,AK (USA) with 2 crew, was in the initial climb out of Anchorage's runway 07L when the crew declared emergency due to the failure of the right hand engine (R-1820), initially requested to return to runway 07L requesting left turns only but in the turn decided to divert to Anchorage's Merill Field, located 4nm to the northeast of Anchorage's International Airport. After reaching a maximum altitude of about 900 feet the aircraft performed a gear up landing on Merill's runway 07 keeping the left wing up (and engine operating) as long as possible. The crew was able to bring the aircraft to a stop on the runway. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The NTSB reported the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff and made an emergency landing at Merill with two pilots on board, the aircraft was still gear up when the aircraft touched down on runway 07 at Merril. There were no injuries. An investigation has been opened. The aircraft was recovered from the runway by a crane, the runway was returned to service about 6:15 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f1610b5&opt=0 Incident: TUI B788 at Manchester on Dec 8th 2021, could not retract nose gear A TUI Airways Boeing 787-8, registration G-TUIB performing flight BY-186 from Manchester,EN (UK) to Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), was climbing out of Manchester's runway 23R when the crew stopped the climb at FL100 due to the nose gear not retracting. The aircraft entered a hold and subsequently returned to Manchester for a safe landing on runway 23R about 55 minutes after departure. A passenger reported the crew announced the nose gear could not be retracted, therefore they were returning to Manchester. A replacement Boeing 787-8 registration G-TUID is estimated to reach Puerto Vallarta with a delay of about 7.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Manchester about 11 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f15b0ed&opt=0 Incident: American A319 at Des Moines on Dec 7th 2021, bird strike damages left engine and right wing An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N808AW performing flight AA-2854 from Des Moines,IA to Charlotte,NC (USA), was in the initial climb out of Des Moines' runway 23 when the aircraft collided with a flock of birds prompting the crew to stop the climb at about 5000 feet and return to Des Moines for a safe landing on runway 13 about 10 minutes after departure. The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT STRUCK BIRDS ON DEPARTURE DAMAGING LEFT ENGINE, RIGHT WING AND BOTTOM OF FUSELAGE, DES MOINES, IA.", damage was "unknown" and the occurrence was rated an incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f158918&opt=0 Kalitta Boeing 747-400 Loses Panel Flying To Miami A Kalitta Air Boeing 747 aircraft has been sitting at Miami International Airport since November 29th due to structural damage during a flight. The airplane had no problem during the flight or landing, and it was only after it was on the ground that the damage was found. Let’s find out more. Missing panel Kalitta Air flight CKS538A from Santiago to Miami was uneventful and reportedly faced no problem during any stage of the flight. The aircraft performed a successful landing after a journey just short of eight hours. However, during a post-flight inspection, it was found that there had been substantial structural damage to the plane. According to reports, the 747 was missing a panel, which resulted in damage to its right-hand flap and a related connecting rod. It is not yet known exactly which panel was missing or when it separated. Since no aircraft parts were found either in Miami or Santiago, it is assumed that the panel went missing during the flight. Apart from the damage to the top piece of the right flap, there was a hole found in the fuselage of the jumbo jet. Since the flight was incident-free, it apparently did not cause depressurization, but the damage has been deemed severe enough for the plane to be grounded. With Kalitta since 2017 The aircraft in question is 20 years old and was first delivered to Korean Air in 2001. Since July 2017, the Boeing 747-400F has been flying with Kalitta Air with the registration number N705CK. According to Radarbox.com, N705CK had been flying between Santiago and Miami quite frequently in the last few days. The November 29th flight between the two cities was its fourth on the same route in the previous five days. At the time of publishing this article, the 747 was still parked in Miami. Similar incidents Airplanes are built to withstand considerable forces during a flight, but parts falling off a plane are not entirely unheard of either. In 2019, a China Eastern Boeing 777 had to return to JFK after an L-shaped chunk, right around where the left speed brake is attached to the wing, fell off during the climb. After circling for 2.5 hours, the airplane touched down safely. Earlier this year, on February 20th, A United Boeing 777 had to return to Denver International Airport after parts of the engine cowling fell in a local resident’s front yard. Flight UA328 was due to fly to Honolulu, but just five minutes into the flight suffered what appeared to be an uncontained engine failure at around 13,400 feet. The aircraft performed a safe landing, and the front of the engine cowling was later found lying in somebody’s front yard. Strangely enough, on the same day as the United incident, A Boeing 747-400F aircraft lost metal parts as it departed Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) in the Netherlands for a flight to New York. The 30-year-old airplane was operated by Longtail Aviation, and the fragments apparently detached due to an engine failure. Two people on the ground sustained minor injuries from the falling debris, and some cars and homes were also damaged. https://simpleflying.com/kalitta-boeing-747-lost-panel/ Passenger Confronts Flight Attendant as Plane Begins Descent to Dulles: FBI • Man asked for red and white wine as crew prepared to land, court documents say Investigative Reporter Scott MacFarlane reports on a new arrest of an unruly passenger on a flight into Dulles International Airport. A passenger aboard a flight to Dulles International Airport had an outburst as the crew was preparing to land, prosecutors said. The latest scare in the air happened aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Dublin to Dulles earlier this week. Elias Fethamlk is accused of verbally and physically confronting a flight attendant aboard the plane just as it was making its descent. According to an FBI affidavit, Fethamlk approached the flight attendant and asked for both white and red wine. Fethamlk then tried to take a picture of the flight attendant, grabbed her by the arms and pushed her up against the cabin door, the affidavit says. The pilot had to intervene. Fethamlk has not yet entered a plea in his case. No attorney is listed for him, so he hasn’t been reached for comment. The case is part of a rapidly growing number of air rage investigations across the nation this year. A recent News4 I-Team report found case numbers have exploded with more than 5,400 reviews this year alone. The head of the Association of Flight Attendants says many of the incidents are fueled by passengers who’ve consumed alcohol. “People do things and make decisions that they wouldn’t otherwise,” Sara Nelson said. “And they’re also not aware that at 8,000 feet, pressurization in the cabin, that has an additional effect on you if you’re also drinking alcohol.” She says disputes over face masks also are leading to the increase in air rage disputes. https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/passenger-confronts-flight-attendant-as-plane-begins-descent-to-dulles-fbi/2904773/ Kazakhstan’s Aviation Safety Record Reaches 84 Percent, According to Latest ICAO Audit NUR-SULTAN – Kazakhstan’s safety record increased to 84 percent, 15 percent higher than the global average, according to the latest independent audit conducted by ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission, reports the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan. More international routes are becoming available for citizens of Kazakhstan. Photo credit: astana.citypass.kz In 2021, the Kazakh aviation industry continued to adapt to the consequences of the pandemic and the results of the audit were among the major highlights of the year, said the administration. Kazakhstan is on a par with the Netherlands – 87 percent, Belgium – 87 percent, Portugal – 87 percent, Latvia – 86 percent, Denmark – 85 percent, Iceland – 84 percent, Poland – 84 percent, Slovenia – 82 percent, and Cyprus – 82 percent. Domestic traffic has been fully restored and exceeds the pre-pandemic level with new routes being opened up, said the Aviation Administration. “As part of the effort to develop domestic tourism, flights to the tourist destinations of Turkistan, Alakol, Balkhash and the Schuchinsk-Borovoe resort area are now operating. New international flights to 23 countries on 65 routes are now resumed, which are at levels equivalent to 66 percent of the pre-pandemic period. New routes to Maldives, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Kuwait have been opened,” said the Aviation Administration. This year, the Majilis, a lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, approved the draft law to ratify the Air Services Agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and the United States that will ensure a legal framework for launching direct flights between the two countries. To modernize ground-based air transport infrastructure, the reconstruction of the runway at the Ust-Kamenogorsk airport is now in progress that will increase the runway by 300 meters and replace lighting and signaling equipment to better accommodate modern types of aircraft. Construction of the new Shymkent airport terminal also continues, backed by private investments. With an area of 35,000 square meters, the terminal capacity will be increased from 150 to 2,000 passengers per hour. The terminal complex at the Uralsk airport in western Kazakhstan is also under reconstruction. The area of the terminal will be more than doubled, and the terminal capacity will be increased from 100 to 200 passengers per hour. To ensure the transport accessibility of Lake Alakol, one of the most popular destinations in Kazakhstan, the runway and terminal building of Urjar village are also being reconstructed. For the next three years, the main task for the industry will be passing the ICAO audit in 2023 with an increase in the level of compliance with the flight safety standards above 90 percent. Over the year, the Aviation Administration also had several important visits, including the visit from the European Commission with the representatives of the European Aviation Safety Agency and European Union aviation authorities and experts from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. The recommendations were given to continue work on reforming the industry. There are currently no restrictions on Kazakh airlines that perform flights to the European Union. https://astanatimes.com/2021/12/kazakhstans-aviation-safety-record-reaches-84-percent-according-to-latest-icao-audit/ Dangerous reason why passengers must tell cabin crew if they lose their phone Airline pilot Patrick Smith told Sun Online Travel that phones in checked-in luggage pose an even bigger problem to flight safety. There are a number of ways to make yourself the most unpopular person on a flight – showing up late for boarding, picking your toenails and getting drunk on the free booze should all do it. But starting a fire, even unintentionally, has got to be the clincher. It is far easier than you think to get a blaze going on a plane though – all a passenger has to do is lose their phone down the side of a seat. On a Qantas flight to Melbourne in 2018, a man did just that, dropping his mobile and then trying to fish it out. While he was trying to retrieve it the handset started smoldering, with the situation getting so bad that the pilot considered diverting the aircraft to Sydney and crew having to use fire extinguishers to put the blaze out. Passengers are now warned to contact a flight attendant every time they lose a phone down the side of a plane seat, as crushing the powerful lithium batteries can easily spark a fire or explosion. The incident follows a previous warning from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, who had released a statement that read: “Smartphones can fall into aircraft seat mechanisms and be crushed when the seat is moved. “This can result in damage to the phone’s lithium battery which can cause overheating and fire. “Passengers must remember never to move their seat if a phone goes missing while in-flight and to always ask the aircraft cabin crew for assistance. “If a phone is damaged cabin crew should be alerted immediately.” The incident is just one of a number of phone fires that have happened on planes in recent years. In August of this year, a mobile phone caught fire in the cabin of an Alaska Airlines flight, leading to the plane being evacuated. In July 2018, Ryanair passengers were filmed escaping on an emergency chute after mobile phone battery burst into flames minutes before take-off. Holidaymakers could be seen falling over each other in a bid to get away from the aircraft as quickly as they could after the inflatable slide was activated. Then in February 2018, a passenger’s hand luggage was filmed in flames on China Southern flight as a flight attendant was forced to fight the fire. Airline pilot Patrick Smith told Sun Online Travel that phones in checked-in luggage pose an even bigger problem to flight safety. He said: “I would be concerned with fires in the lower hold. “If one was to occur then crew people on board won’t have an understanding of what is happening or how fast it’s spreading. “Holds are equipped with fire suppressant systems but these systems aren’t always effective against those types of fires.” https://nypost.com/2021/12/08/dangerous-reason-why-passengers-must-tell-cabin-crew-if-they-lose-their-phone/ Three more 'Apple Car' engineers leave for aviation startups AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content. Following the departure of a senior director of engineering, three more "Apple Car" engineers have left to pursue similar positions at air taxi-focused startups. Recently, Apple lost Michael Schwekutsch, senior director of engineering to Archer Aviation, a startup bent on creating electric-powered air taxis. Schwekutsch currently serves as senior vice president at the startup. But the losses haven't stopped there, as pointed out by Bloomberg. Both Alex Clarabut, engineering manager for the team's battery systems group, and Apple hardware engineering manager Stephen Spiteri, have also departed to Archer Aviation. Eric Rogers, one of Apple's chief engineers for radar systems, has also departed for an air-taxi startup, though this time it's Joby Aviation. Apple's yet-unannounced "Apple Car" project has existed in some form or another for at least seven years. Sources familiar with the project have stated that Apple plans to make the vehicle fully autonomous and gives the project a potential launch date in 2025. Investment bank Morgan Stanley recently advised clients it expects the forthcoming "Apple Car" to be the "ultimate EV bear case," and affect stocks in rival automotive companies. https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/12/09/three-more-apple-car-engineers-leave-for-aviation-startups After 12 years, FAA Pilot Records Database now active Families with loved ones killed in the crash of Flight 3407 are celebrating a big win in Washington. Congressman Brian Higgins says the Pilot Records Database is a reality. It’s been 12 years in the making. Air carriers are now required to file pilot training, employment history and safety records into an FAA databank. Higgins says it’s meant to ensure transparency and accountability when an airline decides who to trust with your safety. "Each time we board an airplane we can be thankful to the families of Flight 3407 who fought tirelessly to make flying safer for everyone. The Pilot Records Database builds accountability and transparency into the decisions made around who is entrusted to fly. This is a final piece in a complicated puzzle that took years to complete," Higgins said. Fifty people died in 2009 when Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center. Federal authorities determined the crash was caused by pilot error. Higgins previously said the captain of the airplane only had 600 hours of flight experience and failed three practical tests. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2021/12/09/after-12-years--faa-pilot-records-database-now-active 777 Partners Orders 30 Additional 737 MAX Airplanes - Investment firm has ordered a total of 68 737 MAXs in 2021, including 737-8 and 737-8-200 models - 777 Partners leveraging the 737 to expand cost-effective, fuel-efficient operations for its affiliated low-cost carriers SEATTLE, Dec. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] and 777 Partners today announced the Miami-based investment firm will nearly double its 737 MAX order book with the purchase of 30 additional jets. The new order expands 777 Partners' commercial aircraft portfolio to a total of 68 737 MAXs, in its fourth order this year for the fuel-efficient, single-aisle jets. Valued at $3.7 billion at list prices, the order will enable 777 Partners to expand 737 MAX operations across the fleet of its affiliated global low-cost carriers. "We're delighted to be able to announce the almost doubling in size of our order with Boeing," said Josh Wander, managing partner of 777 Partners. "We have long been confident in the economics of the 737 MAX family but we are especially excited about the 737-8-200 variant which represents the bulk of our additional orders. We're confident that this aircraft will be the hallmark ULCC/LCC asset, particularly in the sub-200 seat market. As travel demand returns, 777 has accelerated our quest for efficiencies in both operating cost and carbon footprint at our operating carriers. . In these areas the 737-8 is compelling and the 737-8-200 is simply unrivalled." The 737 MAX family reduces fuel use and carbon emissions by at least 14% compared to the airplanes it replaces, reducing operating costs as well as the environmental footprint for 777 Partners' affiliated airlines. Every 737 MAX features a passenger-pleasing Boeing Sky Interior, highlighted by modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead storage bins. "We greatly appreciate 777 Partners for their trust in our products, including repeat orders for the 737 MAX and expanding their fleet to include the high-capacity 737-8-200 model," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "777 Partners is enabling growth for its affiliated low-cost carriers by leveraging the 737 family's flexibility, reliability and efficiency to serve passengers for years to come." As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Learn more at www.boeing.com. 777 Partners is a Miami-based private alternative investment firm that invests across a number of high growth attractive verticals. Founded in 2015, 777 Partners initially applied its expertise in underwriting and financing of esoteric assets to diversify across a broad spectrum of financial services businesses, asset originators, and financial technology/service providers. In recent years, the firm has broadened its mandate and now invests across six different industries: insurance, consumer and commercial finance, litigation finance, direct lending, media and entertainment, and aviation. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/777-partners-orders-30-additional-737-max-airplanes-301439187.html Global Flight Training Solutions Partners with Dineen Aviation to Provide Dual FAA/EASA Certification The program offers the chance to earn certificates from the FAA and EASA at the same time. Headquartered at Immokalee Airport (KIMM), GFTS offers dual certification for pilots under both FAA and EASA requirements. Credit: Global Flight Training Solutions Global Flight Training Solutions (GFTS) and Dineen Aviation Services have entered a partnership to launch a full-time commercial pilot program. The program offers the opportunity to earn certificates from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) at the same time, saving students money and time. The average cost of the dual certification program will be about $76,000. GFTS accepts Veterans Affairs benefits from eligible students. The program is estimated to run 18 months and students must be 18 years of age or older to enroll. A big component of the program is multi crew coordination (MCC), which will prepare a graduate to work effectively with a flight crew. GFTS will work with students who have previously achieved pilot certificates and provide them with one complete flight school report, to allow them to take advantage of the benefits. The report will detail their performance throughout the entire program and make applying for and landing airline interviews seamless. The school describes the program as “built by airline pilots, for airline pilots,” and says it will provide students a platform to complete their training swiftly and cost effectively. https://www.flyingmag.com/global-flight-training-solutions-partners-with-dineen-aviation-to-provide-dual-faa-easa-certification/ Brazil will have sold off dozens of airports by end of 2022, government says (CNN)Brazil is auctioning airports in what the government describes as a bid to raise investments and modernize infrastructure. Sixteen airports will be auctioned -- including Congonhas in São Paulo, and Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro -- by the end of 2022, the government said in a tweet Wednesday. They add to the 34 airports already auctioned by Brazil since 2019, which raised around 34 billion Brazilian real (US$ 6 billion), the government said. "It is strategic for Brazil to transfer control of airports to the private sector in order to increase investments and the quality of services," it added. The auctions come as the global aviation industry grapples with the fallout of coronavirus travel bans. While there has been some recovery to the industry in other nations like the US and in Europe, Brazil's aviation sector has felt the impact of being one of the hardest hit countries by the pandemic. Brazil holds the second highest Covid-19 death toll in the world, second only to the United States. https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/08/americas/brazil-auctions-airports-intl/index.html Gulf Air Introduces In-House Type Rating Course for Pilots Gulf Air has developed for the first time an in-house type rating course for its pilots who fly Airbus to be qualified to fly its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet. Approved by Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs, the course was fully conducted by Gulf Air’s experienced Bahraini instructors. The first pilots who successfully completed the course were Captain Jasim Abu Idrees and Captain Mohamed Shabib. Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has developed for the first time an in-house type rating course for its pilots who fly Airbus to be qualified to fly its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet. Approved by Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs, the course was fully conducted by Gulf Air’s experienced Bahraini instructors. The first pilots who successfully completed the course were Captain Jasim Abu Idrees and Captain Mohamed Shabib who were transferred from Airbus fleet to the airline’s flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. With the launch of this program, all future Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner type rating and operational training will continue to be under Gulf Air’s Flight Operations and Training administration. Commenting on this milestone, Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Capt. Waleed AlAlawi said: “Congratulations to Capt. Jasim and Capt. Mohamed for being the first two pilots who graduated from this in-house type rating course. We’re proud to have introduced a course that is fully developed and conducted by a 100% Bahraini team and targeted to all Gulf Air pilots. More convenient and time effective, the program will allow us to move around our flying talents between Airbus and Boing fleet”. He also added: “I’d like to thank the Operations Division, headed by Chief Operations Officer Captain Suhail Ismaeel, for managing this great initiative and working closely with our partners in Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs to make this a reality”. Capt. Abu Idress and Capt. Shabib both served the airline for 30 and 27 years respectively and their careers progressed throughout the years from Second Officers to First Officers and then to Captains as well as type rating instructors and examiners. Recently, and in line with its commitment to invest in Bahraini workforce, Gulf Air has appointed experienced Bahraini professionals in various roles in the Operations Division as well as Bahraini First Officers and Second Officers . Gulf Air is a leader in the Bahrainization program in the Kingdom as it provides the opportunity for local experienced talents to work in its various areas of the airline’s business and is committed to invest in its Bahraini workforce and their career development. The airline continues to provide opportunities for Bahraini nationals to take over higher management positions in the company. https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/press-release/21249455/gulf-air-gulf-air-introduces-inhouse-type-rating-course-for-pilots Supersonic jet maker could be ‘Project Thunderbird’ at Piedmont Triad International Airport GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) – Project Thunderbird has a name associated with it. The News & Observer in Raleigh reported Wednesday that Boom Supersonic of Denver is in negotiations to open a facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. The newspaper said it had confirmed the report through five unnamed government and business sources. The company would produce a supersonic passenger jet that is an update of the old Concorde SST, the newspaper reported. The News & Observer said the deal could close in 30 to 90 days. A Boom spokesperson responded to an email query from WGHP to say, “Boom does not comment on speculation or rumors.” PTI spokesperson Shannon Allen responded with a statement from November when PTI officials said “The airport has attracted the interest of a number of aerospace companies, which the local economic development community is actively pursuing. “ Various political and economic sources in the Triad did not immediately respond. The project has been shrouded under the codename “Project Thunderbird” since an economic incentive bill passed last week by the General Assembly and was signed this week by Gov. Roy Cooper to help lure an “airplane manufacturer” to the 1,000 vacant acres on the northern extension of his airport’s property. The $106.75 million in a Job Development Investment Grant was said to be for “a high-yield project for an airplane manufacturer in Guilford County,” but officials kept very quiet the name of the company. Qualifications for a JDIG, this project would mean about 1,700 new jobs and $500 million in investment, although the bill didn’t specify those numbers. They would make an average of $60,000 a year, the bill did stipulate. The Guilford County Board of Commissioners also have discussed incentives and has scheduled a public hearing on Dec. 16 to review those. Boom was founded in 2014 by CEO Blake Scholl, a former Groupon executive, and rolled out its XB-1 supersonic jet in October 2020. The company has a contract to United Airlines to provide jets. The company says on its website that it builds jets that could fly from Paris to Montreal in 3 hours and 45 minutes instead of the 7:15 for commercial airliners. “We believe in a world where more people can go to more places more often. Sustainable supersonic travel unlocks new possibilities for business relationships, prospects for vacation, and opportunities for human connection,” Scholl said on Boom’s website. PTI has 1,000 acres in various stages of development on the north side of I-73 that is “ready for multiple users.” “We have sections from 100 to 200 acres that are ready to go,” PTI Executive Director Kevin Baker said Tuesday. “Any project that comes around will depend on where it goes and the needs to finalize it.” The parcel is connected by a taxiway constructed across I-73 – “It needs to be paved,” Baker said – and the legislature’s appropriation directs $15 million for site work at the airport, $35 million for roadwork through the NC Department of Transportation and $56.75 million for the airport to use “for the construction of one or more new hangars.” Baker said a radar tower that had to be relocated south near Market Street is just about complete. “That’s already funded,” he said. “It will be done by summertime.” The airport is home to about 50 companies, including HondaJet and Cessna, that, as of 2019, had an $8,641,160,000 economic impact, based on a report commissioned and published by the NC Department of Transportation. https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/report-supersonic-jet-maker-will-be-project-thunderbird-at-piedmont-triad-international-airport/ The report says PTI employs 30,015 and generates $204.727 million in state and local taxes. https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/report-supersonic-jet-maker-will-be-project-thunderbird-at-piedmont-triad-international-airport/ PhD Research Survey Request This survey aims to understand whether a gap exists between the regulatory authorities' expectation of Crew Resource Management training curriculum (FAA outlines this in AC 120-51E) and the current training offerings across all facets of the industry. If a gap does exist, the study aims to understand which topics are under or inaccurately trained, measure the baseline level of understanding of these topics, and the perception of relevance-to-safety by industry pilots. To make it easy, I’ve created a posting that you’re welcome to modify and personalize or completely ignore and make your own. :) ----------------- Calling all pilots: A pilot and Ph.D. student is conducting cognitive science research on Crew Resource Management. Would you please help them by taking this survey? https://forms.gle/pkXH3cH1BYbvSoGz5 It’s 34-questions of mostly multiple-choice and shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. Your input is anonymous and very much appreciated! Participation in this survey aids in the ongoing research on aviation human performance, human factors, and safety culture. -------------- Thank you, in advance, for your support. Kimberly Perkins Captain I Researcher I Writer Ph.D. Student University of Washington Doctoral Research: The Impact of Cognitive Biases on Aviation Safety Curt Lewis