Flight Safety Information - December 27, 2021 No. 257 In This Issue : Incident: United B738 at Newark on Dec 24th 2021, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Red Wings SU95 at Anapa on Dec 25th 2021, rejected takeoff due to disagreeing airspeeds : Incident: ANZ AT72 at Christchurch on Dec 21st 2021, smoke indication : Incident: Eastern B763 at Miami on Dec 19th 2021, flaps problem : IIncident: UTAir B738 at Tyumen on Dec 25th 2021, rejected takeoff due to engine failure : Incident: S7 B738 near Moscow on Dec 24th 2021, loss of cabin pressure : Boeing 737-33R - Bird Strike/Aborted Takeoff (Bolivia) : Airbus A330-343 - blew Tires on Landing (Canada) : Delta: Flight to Shanghai turned back because of COVID rules : Woman allegedly injures passengers, Delta employees on flight from Tampa : Ethiopian Airlines to resume using Boeing 737 MAX planes in Feb : Found To Operate 19 Troubled Aircraft, Citilink and GMF Aeroasia Receive Strict Warning (Indonesia) : United Airlines Boeing 767 Disconnects From Tug In Santiago : 10 Things To Expect From Aviation In 2022 : Israeli flight attendant in Chinese quarantine facility after catching Omicron : Cathay Pacific suffers pilot exodus amid Hong Kong’s ‘permanent quarantine’ :Moon, Mars and asteroid missions top 2022 space goals Incident: United B738 at Newark on Dec 24th 2021, engine shut down in flight A United Boeing 737-800, registration N78509 performing flight UA-794 from Newark,NJ to San Diego,CA (USA) with 167 people on board, was climbing out of Newark's runway 22R when the crew requested to stop climb at 11,000 feet, they needed to run a checklist. About 10 minutes later the crew declared emergency reporting they had shut an engine (CFM56) down and requested runway 22R for the return to Newark. The aircraft landed safely on Newark's runway 22R about 25 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N26215 reached San Diego with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Newark 53 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f239ae9&opt=0 Incident: Red Wings SU95 at Anapa on Dec 25th 2021, rejected takeoff due to disagreeing airspeeds A Red Wings Sukhoi Superjet 100-95, registration RA-89137 performing flight WZ-1282 from Anapa to Chelyabinsk (Russia), was accelerating for takeoff from Anapa's runway 22 when the crew rejected takeoff at about 60 knots due to disagreeing airspeeds. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Anapa about 31 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f2394b9&opt=0 Incident: ANZ AT72 at Christchurch on Dec 21st 2021, smoke indication An ANZ Air New Zealand Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration ZK-MVM performing flight NZ-5777 from Napier to Christchurch (New Zealand), was descending towards Christchurch when the crew received a smoke indication, declared emergency and continued for a safe landing in Christchurch. Emergency services reported they were told about a potential engine fire, but didn't need to intervene. The airline reported a smoke indicator light came on, the crew activated emergency services, however no smoke or fire was found and the passengers disembarked normally. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f239c83&opt=0 Incident: Eastern B763 at Miami on Dec 19th 2021, flaps problem An Eastern Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N705KW performing flight 2D-154 from Miami,FL (USA) to Montevideo (Uruguay), was climbing out of Miami when the crew requested to stop climb at 11000 feet, subsequently requesting a block altitude and being cleared between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. The aircraft entered a hold to work checklists, the crew indicated they might need to come back and needed a long time to hold. The crew subsequently advised they had a problem with the flaps and would need to land at high speed. The aircraft landed on Miami's runway 27 at high speed (196 knots over ground) about 80 minutes after departure and vacated the runway. While taxiing towards the terminal a number of tyres deflated disabling the aircraft on the taxiway. The aircraft is still on the ground in Miami about 6 days later (Dec 25th 2021). https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f22daf1&opt=0 Incident: UTAir B738 at Tyumen on Dec 25th 2021, rejected takeoff due to engine failure A UTAir Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BQP performing flight UT-9875 from Tyumen (Russia) to Yerevan (Armenia), was accelerating for takeoff from Tyumen's runway 21 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (above 90 knots over ground) after the left hand engine (CFM56) surged emitting a streak of flame. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VQ-BLP is estimated to reach Yerevan with a delay of about 10 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Tyumen about 12 hours after the rejected takeoff. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f22a054&opt=0 Incident: S7 B738 near Moscow on Dec 24th 2021, loss of cabin pressure A S7 Sibir Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration VP-BND performing flight S7-1236 from Saratov to Moscow Domodedovo (Russia), was enroute at FL360 about 210nm southeast of Moscow when the crew initiated an emergency descent to FL100 due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft continued to Moscow for a safe landing about 45 minutes after leaving FL360. The aircraft is still on the ground in Moscow about 21 hours after landing. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4f227777&opt=0 Boeing 737-33R - Bird Strike/Aborted Takeoff (Bolivia) Date: 26-DEC-2021 Time: Type: Boeing 737-33R Owner/operator: Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) Registration: CP-2921 MSN: 28868/2881 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Santa Cruz-Viru Viru International Airport (VVI/SLVR) - Bolivia Phase: Take off Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Santa Cruz-Viru Viru International Airport (VVI/SLVR) Destination airport: Narrative: A Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) Boeing 737-33R suffered a bird strike too the no.2 engine on takeoff from Santa Cruz-Viru Viru International Airport, Bolivia. The flight crew aborted the takeoff and taxied the aircraft back to the apron. The flight was cancelled. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/271250 Airbus A330-343 - blew Tires on Landing (Canada) Date: 25-DEC-2021 Time: Type: Airbus A330-343 Owner/operator: Air Canada Registration: C-GFAF MSN: 277 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Montreal Eliott Trudeau İnternational airport - Canada Phase: Landing Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: Fort Lauderdale International Airport, FL (FLL/KFLL) Destination airport: Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, QC (YUL/CYUL) Narrative: Air Canada AC901 A330 Fort Lauderdale - Montreal blew landing gear tires https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/271195 Delta: Flight to Shanghai turned back because of COVID rules BEIJING (AP) — Delta Air Lines said Monday that new pandemic-related cleaning requirements at a Shanghai airport were behind the turning back of a recent flight from Seattle in midair, a move that had prompted a protest from the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. An emailed statement said the new mandates at Shanghai Pudong International Airport “require significantly extended ground time and are not operationally viable for Delta.” It wasn't clear what the rules are and what prompted the change, but it comes as China tightens its already strict COVID-19 travel restrictions in the face of a growing outbreak in the city of Xi'an and ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in six weeks. Xi'an, which is about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Beijing, reported more than 300 new cases over the weekend, a sharp rise from previous days. The city of 13 million people has been locked down, with only one person per household allowed out every two days to shop for necessities. The Delta flight that turned back to Seattle last week left passengers with expired COVID-19 test results and U.S. visas, according to Chinese media reports. Two Taiwan-based airlines, China Airlines and EVA Air, have both cut down on the number of flights heading to Shanghai Pudong International Airport in recent days, citing new disinfection procedures that will take longer to complete, according to Taiwan's semi-official Central News Agency. EVA is suspending flights from two cities to Shanghai until Feb. 3. China Airlines is suspending flights from one city to Shanghai until the end of January, and reducing the number of flights on another route. The consulate in San Francisco did not name Delta but said in a short statement Sunday that many flights from the U.S. to China had been delayed or canceled in recent days including a flight that turned back more than halfway to its destination. The consulate “had made a stern representation to the airline,” the statement said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-flight-shanghai-turned-back-083648561.html Woman allegedly injures passengers, Delta employees on flight from Tampa A woman was taken into FBI custody on Thursday after police say she injured several people and employees on a Delta flight from Tampa to Atlanta, according to a report. Fox 5 Atlanta reported that police were waiting for the arrival of Flight 2790 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Patricia Cornwall was detained after police spoke with passengers on the flight, the report said. The report said investigators did not say exactly what occurred. Delta did not immediately respond to an after-hours email from Fox News. The Tampa Bay Times also pointed out that the extent of the injuries was not clear. TMZ obtained video that was purportedly from the incident that showed a woman confronting a man for not wearing a mask. The man told the woman, who was also not wearing a mask, that he was eating. The woman in the video could be seen striking the man at least once, the report said. Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that airlines should keep face mask rules in place for the forseeable future. "We want to make sure people keep their masks on. I think the idea of taking masks off, in my mind, is really not something we should even be considering," Fauci said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-allegedly-injures-passengers-delta-072900573.html Ethiopian Airlines to resume using Boeing 737 MAX planes in Feb ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) -Ethiopian Airlines plans to resume flying Boeing 737 MAX planes on its fleet in February 2022, saying it was satisfied with their safety, its chief executive said on Monday. In 2019, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX bound for Kenya, crashed six minutes after takeoff from Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, killing all 157 passengers and crew. "Safety is our topmost priority .... and it guides every decision we make and all actions we take," Tewolde Gebremariam said in a statement. "We have taken enough time to monitor the design modification work and the more than 20 months of rigorous rectification process...our pilots, engineers, aircraft technicians, cabin crew are confident on the safety of the fleet." The best-selling, single-aisle airplane, which was grounded worldwide after two crashes killed 346 people in the space of five months, returned to service in late 2020. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ethiopian-airlines-says-resume-using-111923680.html Found To Operate 19 Troubled Aircraft, Citilink and GMF Aeroasia Receive Strict Warning (Indonesia) The Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation, sitting in the Ministry of Transportation, issued a warning to local-based carriers Citilink and GMF AeroAsia after the company continued to operate 19 aircraft that were experiencing technical issues with their braking systems. The warning was delivered in a letter dated Dec. 22 and signed by Director of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations Dadun Kohar. The warning letter was addressed to the GMF AeroAsia accountability manager and Citilink’s vice president of engineering and maintenance. According to the letter, based on the results of the corrective action discussion on the findings of the GMF AeroAsia audit on Dec. 17, the Ministry of Transportation found the Citilink Airbus A320 operated from Dec. 1-17 with a dummy brake assay still installed on the aircraft with tail number PK-GQJ. “And in the last three months, there have been six brake occurrences [melting, jammed, rotor damage, over temperature].” Dadun wrote in this letter. The Ministry of Transportation also sent a warning letter to GMF AeroAsia In this letter, the Ministry of Transportation asked GMF AeroAsia to immediately repair the brakes on the hold item list (HIL) — a list of work orders that were suspended because parts or equipment were not available or could not be used — on 19 Citilink A320 aircraft. The company is also asked to immediately review the HIL status from August to December 2021 to ensure that the HIL closing is truly appropriate. GMF was also asked to immediately identify the serial number of the problematic components to be removed from the aircraft and stored in a quarantine area. The Ministry of Transportation also asked the company to ensure that the problem of unavailability of spare parts and supply chain management does not become a latent hazard that affects flight safety and compliance with applicable regulations and procedures, something the airline has vehemently denied is happening. So far, the Ministry of Transportation has not made any statement regarding this matter. Citilink Corporate Secretary Diah Suryani stated the company continues to closely coordinate and entrust all aircraft maintenance to GMF as a provider of aircraft maintenance services. Thus, all Citilink aircraft under maintenance meet the established flight safety standards. Meanwhile, GMF Vice President Rian Fajar Isnaeni stated that his party had confirmed that all customer aircraft — in this case, Citilink — had been declared airworthy. “GMF has met the requirements as stated in the operator’s minimum equipment list [MEL] document, namely Citilink, which has been issued by the aircraft manufacturer and approved by the local authorities,” Rian said in an official statement. Citilink and GMF Aeroasia Respond Isnaeni said that his airline had made several repair efforts and have always obeyed government regulations, in particular those with regard to the airworthiness of the aircraft. “Amid a pandemic, GMF and Citilink always prioritize aviation safety and security, including complying with all regulations set by the regulator regarding the airworthiness criteria of aircraft when operating,” Isnaeni said in a statement received by local outlet Kompas.com. “GMF has met the requirements as stated in the operator’s minimum equipment list (MEL) document, namely Citilink, which has been issued by the aircraft manufacturer and approved by local authorities.” Isnaeni said that GMF had taken several corrective steps, including reviewing, mapping, and identifying the HIL. “However, it does not reduce the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft,” he said. “Not only that, but GMF also formed a special team for HIL completion in accordance to the regulation and standard set by the government.” https://airlinegeeks.com/2021/12/26/found-to-operate-19-troubled-aircraft-citilink-and-gmf-aeroasia-get-strict-warning/ United Airlines Boeing 767 Disconnects From Tug In Santiago On December 24, a United Airlines Boeing 767-300ER was disconnected from its tug while being moved in Santiago de Chile International Airport (SCL). The aircraft kept on moving freely through the airport, as can be seen in a video uploaded to social media. What happened? Simple Flying reached United Airlines for a statement; this what the airline said, “While one of our ground vendors was moving an aircraft in Santiago, Chile, the aircraft disconnected from the tug. No one was injured during this incident, and maintenance is reviewing the aircraft.” The aircraft involved in the incident was a Boeing 767-300ER, registration N646UA, according to Radarbox.com. United was set to use this plane on the UA846 flight on December 25 between Santiago and Houston, but it had to be canceled. Currently, United expects to fly the aircraft back to Santiago on Sunday. “Your flight is canceled because we needed to take the plane out of service to address a technical issue,” reported the airline to the passengers. N646UA is nearly 30 years old. United Airlines first ordered the aircraft in May 1989, according to ch-aviation’s database. The airline received the plane in March 1992, and it is expected to retire it in 2027. It has a capacity for 214 passengers, 138 in economy, 46 in economy plus, and 30 in Polaris business. The whole incident at SCL got captured on camera and uploaded to social media by airport employees. They were onboard two vehicles and had to go back, avoiding the unmanned B767-300. While roaming uncontrolled through the airport, the United aircraft may have taken out a taxiway sign. United Airlines B767-300 fleet Currently, United Airlines has 38 Boeing 767-300ERs. Six of them are inactive at the moment. Their registrations run from N641UA to N686UA, although N645UA, N650UA, N678UA, N679UA, N680UA, N681UA, N682UA, and N683UA are not B767-300ERs (or are not longer with the company). United’s oldest 767-300 is 30.8 years old. The airline received this aircraft (N641UA) in April 1991. On the other hand, N686UA is the youngest, at 19 years old. United started operating this plane in 2018, as it previously flew with Hawaiian Airlines. There are not enough pilots Last week, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said 100 planes are grounded because of a pilot shortage. While speaking in a Senate hearing, Kirby told legislators there are not enough pilots to fill the ongoing demand in the US airline industry. As reported by Business Insider, he added, “There has been a looming pilot shortage for the last decade in the United States, and going through COVID, it became an actual pilot shortage.” United Airlines has 100 regional aircraft grounded because there are not enough pilots to fly them. This shortage is impacting smaller communities. The shortage could become an issue if US carriers can’t recruit enough pilots for regional routes in the near future. According to Kirby, the airline is looking to train 5,000 new pilots by the end of the decade. Nonetheless, financing is one of the main problems, since pilots have to spend approximately US$150,000 to learn the job and get certified. https://simpleflying.com/united-boeing-767-chile/ 10 Things To Expect From Aviation In 2022 We are less than a week till the new year begins. With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look at what we can expect from the aviation industry in 2022, especially after plenty of ups and downs this year. Technological advances and the easing of restrictions will dictate the tone of the market for much of 2022. While there will still be challenging conditions, there is more optimism compared to this time last year. Cargo will continue to boom 2020 and 2021 saw a significant rise in cargo activity amid new consumer habits backed by the e-commerce boost. The urgent need for medical supplies also fuelled the increase in operations. The rise is continuing into 2022. IATA reported that there was a 9.1% increase in air cargo demand in September. October then saw a 9.4% increase. As a result of this pattern, airlines such as Qantas have recently been converting their aircraft into freighters. Moreover, there has been a plethora of orders for freighters such as the Boeing 777F and Airbus A350F. The second coming of the superjumbo Just when we thought it was out, it was pulled back in! At the end of this year, several airlines announced the return of the Airbus A380 to the skies. We can expect a fair number of units in the air by the time 2022 gets in full swing. British Airways this month announced that it added three US A380 destinations for the summer. Additionally, Singapore Airlines is planning a notable increase in flights with the quadjet for the same period, with eight destinations on the cards, including a fifth freedom flight to New York JFK from Frankfurt. New low-cost international offerings There have been several low-cost startups emerging in recent years. The likes of PLAY and Norse Atlantic Airways have been making a name for themselves in Europe. With some experience under their belt, planned transatlantic expansions should be a seamless transition for the airlines. Those that have been slightly longer in the game will also be expanding their networks. For instance, French bee, which recently launched services to New York, will be heading to Los Angeles next spring. There is also plenty of potential heading eastward with airlines looking to offer low-cost long-haul solutions. flypop is edging closer to deploying its A330s to India from the United Kingdom in order to cater to underserved markets. The pandemic will continue to take its toll Several governments continue to keep or reintroduce travel restrictions amid the rise of new variants. The global health crisis is far from over. In the long term, industry stakeholders will be keen to find a balanced approach. So, rather than outright border closures, vaccination and testing requirements will likely be the standard in many regions. One thing for sure is that face masks requirements will remain prevalent in most markets throughout the year. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Long-haul narrowbody triumphs This year saw the Boeing 737 firmly become a mainstay at airports after its return to the skies from the end of 2020. China has also laid the foundations to recertify the type, setting a strong platform for the type next year. On the Airbus side, the A321LR helped JetBlue inaugurate transatlantic service to the UK from New York this year. The model has also been performing well across the ocean with TAP Air Portugal. Passengers are continuing to get used to traveling on a narrowbody on long distances. With a single-aisle option a more economical solution on certain routes, especially during periods of downtime due to restrictions, we can expect more international narrowbody services. New aircraft progressions We will see breakthroughs with several aircraft under development. For instance, the A321XLR is expected to perform its maiden flight in 2022. Additionally, the MC-21 will be introduced in Russia. We can also expect progress with the 777X program, which is expected to enter service in two years. Other new aircraft programs such as the A350F will also have major announcements. A comeback for Boeing? While Boeing witnessed the comeback of the 737 in different regions, it wasn’t the best year for the manufacturer. There were issues surrounding the 787 program, postponements to the 777X project, and delivery numbers falling significantly behind Airbus. The 747 program will come to an end in 2022, paving the way for Boeing to concentrate on other projects or even start fresh on its much-speculated clean sheet design. The company seems confident with its current 777X schedule, and any update on the aircraft will see a boost in morale for the firm. Sustainability priorities This year was notably concentrated around sustainability. Airbus hosted a summit about the topic, and COP26 was heavily focused on the aviation industry’s role in climate initiatives. While there has been a lot of talk about sustainability, we will see more action in 2022. Airlines will be utilizing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) much more. Meanwhile, we can expect more firsts when it comes to electric and hydrogen solutions. eVTOL programs will be taking the next step to overhaul local networks this decade. Domestic shakeups The big four United States carriers have held a market share of over 80% in recent years. Forbes notes that this figure will drop to just 60% in 2022. The likes of Breeze Airways and Avelo Airlines have gotten off to a strong start. Meanwhile, the more experienced players such as Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, and Allegiant will continue to take advantage of the new domestic focus in the US to grab a greater market share. Better finances At the end of this year, global powerhouses have been announcing that they are making progress on their exits from bankruptcy. For instance, LATAM filed a restructuring plan in November. Furthermore, Avianca exited Chapter 11 protection this month. Numerous airlines also recently reported profits for the first time since the pandemic began. With the hope that society will be better adapted to the conditions of the health crisis by the time 2022 is over, those that have battled with long-term financial difficulties, such as Air India, with its new ownership, and South African Airways, will be looking to overturn their fortunes. Altogether, even though 2021 was a tough year for aviation by usual standards, there was significant progress compared to 2020. The industry will be hoping for far more frequencies, passengers, and profits by the time the next year is over. https://simpleflying.com/10-things-to-expect-from-aviation-in-2022/ Israeli flight attendant in Chinese quarantine facility after catching Omicron El Al employee tested negative twice before takeoff from Israel but then positive in Guangzhou on Thursday; Foreign Ministry aims to have her returned as early as Monday A flight attendant for Israel’s El Al national airline tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus after landing in China, and has been quarantined at a local facility since Thursday, Hebrew media reported Sunday evening. The woman tested negative twice for COVID-19 before departing on a cargo flight to Guangzhou, but tested positive for the new strain after landing. In accordance with China’s policy of aiming for zero cases, the flight attendant was promptly taken to a hospital quarantine facility and has been in contact with the Israeli consulate, according to the reports. The reports said China isn’t placing blame on Israel for the incident, adding that the Foreign Minister is aware of the situation and making efforts to have the flight attendant returned to Israel as soon as Monday. On Thursday, China locked down the northern city of Xi’an — population 13 million — recalling the sequestering of the central city of Wuhan in January 2020 when the virus first emerged. Omicron has not been reported in Xi’an and only dozens of the less infectious Delta strain have been detected in the city in recent days. But the Chinese government, which has throughout the pandemic pursued a zero-case strategy, reacted with typical forcefulness and ordered all residents to stay indoors. Only one person per household can leave home every two days to buy necessities, while non-essential businesses are closed. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-flight-attendant-in-chinese-quarantine-facility-after-catching-omicron/ Cathay Pacific suffers pilot exodus amid Hong Kong’s ‘permanent quarantine’ Cathay has been operating with passenger capacity at 93% below pre-pandemic levels as a result of Hong Kong’s zero-Covid-19 policy When a Cathay Pacific cargo pilot was named in December as one of the first carriers of Omicron in Hong Kong, it was a fitting end to another bleak year for the airline. Cathay has been operating with passenger capacity at 93 per cent below pre-pandemic levels as a result of Hong Kong’s zero-Covid-19 policy, with weeks of quarantine for pilots and crew devastating morale. Strict quarantine measures in the city were made even tougher after the Omicron coronavirus variant prompted new travel curbs. Non-residents from more than 90 countries were banned from entry and passengers from the UK and the US were subjected to 21 days’ quarantine. Cathay pilots told the Financial Times that dozens had quit in the weeks since November following a high-profile quarantine fiasco. That month, three pilots who had tested positive for coronavirus in Hong Kong were sacked after they left their hotel rooms and breached quarantine rules during a layover in Frankfurt. Because of the positive cases, 130 Cathay pilots who had stayed at the same hotel were forced to enter 21 days of isolation in the government-run Penny’s Bay quarantine centre, nestled beside Hong Kong Disneyland. Most pilots were released less than a week later after authorities reassessed the risk but for many, the draconian quarantine order represented a breaking point. “The guys here are absolutely desperate,” said one pilot who has been with the company for more than 15 years and was part of the Frankfurt saga. “It feels like we are permanently in quarantine. There are a lot of pilots at the moment who are on long-term stress leave or sick leave.” Cathay pilots and crew have to undergo up to two weeks of quarantine if they land in the city. Pilot exodus The pilot has moved up about 270 places in the airline seniority list as a result of the exodus from the airline, whose largest shareholder is the Swire Group, the former British colonial trading house that is now one of Hong Kong’s biggest conglomerates. Cathay’s troubles predate the pandemic. In August 2019, the airline was put under heavy pressure by Beijing after its staff participated in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Two years later, Cathay’s chief financial officer Rebecca Sharpe said that the airline was continuing to go through the “toughest period in our history”. Speaking in a December earnings call, the company’s chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam warned that even if mainland China opened up a travel corridor with Hong Kong, that route represented just 7 per cent of the airline’s available seat kilometres, a measure of carrying capacity to generate revenue. “Other international hubs in the region are starting to recover, while Hong Kong in some respects is going in the opposite direction,” said Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst and consultant based in Singapore. Cathay’s regional rivals such as Singapore Airlines have seen passenger capacity pick up to 32 per cent compared with pre-pandemic levels as of November. The zero-Covid policy was steadily eroding Hong Kong’s status as one of Asia’s largest aviation hubs, said Richard Aboulafia, vice-president of analysis at the US-based aerospace consulting company Teal Group. The “real, long-term dangers” to Hong Kong’s aviation industry were the loss of talent and wealth, said Aboulafia. He said that would “diminish the city’s standing... and lead to the likely departure of businesses”. A Cathay spokesperson said the company had “fully acknowledged” the quarantine rules were placing a burden on their air crew. While admitting that sentiment had been “affected” recently, he was unable to provide the number of pilot resignations over the past month. He reiterated the company’s plans to employ “hundreds of pilots in the coming year”, adding that “there has been significant interest within the Hong Kong pilot community and around the world”. But the Cathay pilot who was forced into quarantine at Penny’s Bay last month was sceptical the company could attract new people. “I can see the rest of the world carrying on, but I can’t see Hong Kong opening up,” he said. “It’s not going to get any better.” https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/cathay-pacific-suffers-pilot-exodus-amid-hong-kong-s-permanent-quarantine-1.4764373 Moon, Mars and asteroid missions top 2022 space goals Space science next year will be rocketed forward with missions to the Moon, asteroids, Mars and the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope coming online. Why it matters: The data sent back to Earth from these upcoming missions will help scientists learn more than ever before about objects in the solar system and far beyond it. What's happening: Space agencies like NASA, the European Space Agency and Japan's space agency, JAXA, are all aiming to send probes to various targets around the solar system this year. They include: Mars: The European Space Agency and Russia are planning to launch their joint ExoMars lander and rover to the surface of the Red Planet in September. It will join NASA's Perseverance and Curiosity rovers on the Martian surface. Both are expected to continue their work next year. Asteroids: NASA's Psyche mission is due to launch in August 2022 on a mission to explore a strange, metal-dominated asteroid that may have once been part of the core of a long-dead planet. NASA's DART mission is also expected to arrive at its asteroid target next year in the hopes of slamming into it and figuring out just what it would take to throw a dangerous space rock off of a collision course with Earth. The Moon: NASA is expected to launch the first flight of its Space Launch System mega-rocket on a trip around the Moon, and the space agency plans to load it with scientific experiments. The rocket will carry a clutch of small satellites that will investigate water in the lunar environment. Other nations like Japan, Russia and India are also aiming to send missions to the Moon next year. Russia's mission — called Luna-25 — is designed to search for water near the south pole of the Moon. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope — the successor to the Hubble — is also expected to be up and running starting early in 2022. The JWST is tasked with no less than piecing together the early history of the universe using its powerful, sensitive instrumentation to see the light of some of the universe's first galaxies and cut through dust to see newborn stars. The space telescope is also expected to parse the atmospheres of distant alien planets. Between the lines: As all of these missions launch and arrive at their targets, astronomers and planetary scientists will also be shoring up their goals for the coming years. In 2021, an influential report laid out the major priorities for the next decade of astronomy and astrophysics, centering on the idea that scientists should strive to find a potential twin of Earth orbiting a star like the Sun. 2022 will be the year that researchers and agencies like NASA continue to find ways to prioritize those goals and others laid out by the scientific community this year. What to watch: China is expected to continue collecting data from ongoing robotic missions to the Moon and Mars. The nation is also expected to complete its space station in the next year or so, providing a new platform for possible scientific research above Earth. https://www.axios.com/space-science-missions-2022-15b89d24-fd17-4067-ade2-da8255878ddf.html Curt Lewis