Flight Safety Information - January 11, 2022 No. 007 In This Issue : Incident: LOT B738 at Warsaw on Jan 9th 2022, flight control problems : Incident: Republic E170 near Columbus on Jan 9th 2022, loss of cabin pressure : Incident: PSA CRJ9 near Washington on Jan 8th 2022, smoke in cabin : Passenger Misconduct: Investment banker ‘threw chocolate at passengers and attacked BA crew in drunken rampage’ : Taiwan suspends F-16 training missions after jet crashes : Hero Pilot Backs Easy Fix To Pilot Shortage: Just Let Us Fly Past Age 65 : Aeromexico halts flights as COVID 'domino effect' hits crews - unio : AvSax's fire safety device deployed on Babcock's air ambulance helicopters : Nigeria Ready for ICAO Safety Audit of Aviation Industry, Says NCAA : Bell 429 Fleet Tops 500,000 Hours : The National Aviation Hall of Fame Receives Grant : USAF Aircraft Availability on Long Downward Trend, CBO Says : Airbus keeps top planemaker spot with 8% delivery rise : FAA Goes On Hiring Push For More Air Traffic Controllers : Needed fix to Boeing KC-46 tanker hits new issue : James Webb Space Telescope should have fuel for about 20 years of science : POSITION AVAILABLE: Voluntary Safety Reporting Program (ASAP) Manager : POSITION AVAILABLE: Manager, Environmental Health & Safety : POSITION AVAILABLE: Director, Technical & Compliance Programs : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: LOT B738 at Warsaw on Jan 9th 2022, flight control problems A LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration SP-LWA performing flight LO-407 from Warsaw (Poland) to Dusseldorf (Germany) with 141 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Warsaw's runway 15 when the crew requested to stop their climb at 3000 feet due to problems with the trim. The crew worked the related checklists then decided to return to Warsaw advising ATC they were having problems with the flight controls. ATC asked whether they could climb to 4000 feet and after positive response instructed the crew to climb to 4000 feet. The aircraft landed safely on Warsaw's runway 11 about 25 minutes after departure. On Jan 11th 2022 The Aviation Herald received information that the electrical horizontal stabilizer suffered a failure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2f3e00&opt=0 Incident: Republic E170 near Columbus on Jan 9th 2022, loss of cabin pressure A Republic Airways Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of United, registration N865RW performing flight UA-3578 from Indianapolis,IN to Newark,NJ (USA), was climbing through FL260 when the crew detected a bleed air leak at the left hand engine causing problems with the cabin pressure. The crew subsequently received a cabin altitude alert and initiated an emergency descent to 10,000 feet. The aircraft diverted to Columbus,OH (USA) for a safe landing about 25 minutes after stopping the climb. A replacement Embraer ERJ-170 registration continued the flight about one hour after landing and reached Newark with a delay of 90 minutes. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2f3c33&opt=0 Incident: PSA CRJ9 near Washington on Jan 8th 2022, smoke in cabin A PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-900 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N572NN performing flight AA-5144 from Providence,RI to Charlotte,NC (USA), was enroute at FL280 about 20nm east of Washington Dulles,DC (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Dulles Airport reporting smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on runway 01C about 18 minutes later. A replacement CRJ-900 registration N552NN reached Charlotte with a delay of 5.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Washington about 21 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2e622f&opt=0 Passenger Misconduct: Investment banker ‘threw chocolate at passengers and attacked BA crew in drunken rampage’ A “high powered” investment banker threw chocolate bars at sleeping passengers and tried to headbutt British Airways flight attendants during a “bizarre” drunken rampage, a court has heard. William Clegg, who was travelling in business class, also told cabin crew he wanted to “go outside and see his friend” while the plane was still 38,000ft up in the air, jurors were told. Mr Clegg, from Notting Hill, west London, is accused of assaulting five attendants during the flight from San Jose, California to London Heathrow on Aug 25 2019. The 33-year-old, who regularly travels for work, was said to have taken two Ambien sleeping pills and one Imovane sleeping tablet along with three glasses of wine and two travel-sized bottles of Baileys. Dragged member of staff to floor Cabin crew were forced to restrain him after he tried to pull his T-shirt over a female flight attendant’s head before dragging another member of staff to the floor. Clegg, who wore a navy suit and a blue shirt at Isleworth Crown Court, denies five counts of assault by beating. Paul Edwards, prosecuting, said that Clegg suffered from epilepsy and insomnia, and had a "high-powered job involving travelling to different countries and staying just a short while". Mr Edwards said: "On the flight, Mr Clegg took two tablets of zolpidem and one tablet of zopiclone. He also drank three glasses of wine and two bottles of Baileys. "This led, the Crown will say, to him acting bizarrely. "He was walking up and down the corridor in business class. Clegg used a vape "He went to the galley, the kitchen area, and started throwing chocolate bars at passengers who were sleeping at the time. He said he wanted to go outside to see his friend. He was told by a flight attendant that we were 38,000 feet in the air.” When he was confronted by flight attendant Amy Stewart, Clegg responded by lifting up his T-shirt and trying to put it over her head. "He also used a vape in the flight," Mr Edwards said. The cabin crew decided to take Clegg to the back of the plane to try and restrain him. But Clegg grabbed the arm of attendant Jamie Marsh and threw him to the floor. Clegg was then taken to the back of the plane. "It was after he was at the back of the plane that he tried to headbutt Amy Stewart three times," the prosecutor said. As he was being restrained at the rear of the aircraft, Clegg allegedly shouted: "This is a joke, you don't know who I am, who do you think you are doing this to me?" Attendants Cieran Robert Smith and Franz Hartmann were also assaulted while restraining Clegg, Mr Edwards said. He said that Clegg hit Mr Robert Smith in the temple and kicked Mr Hartmann. Carlie Titchner, a fifth attendant involved in restraining Clegg, did not remember being assaulted by him but found afterwards that she had bruises on her arm. Mr Edwards said: "The main issue for the Crown is, was the defendant reckless when he took the tablets?" The trial continues. https://www.yahoo.com/news/businessman-threw-chocolate-passengers-attacked-193905456.html Taiwan suspends F-16 training missions after jet crashes TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's air force on Tuesday suspended combat training for its F-16 fleet after a recently upgraded model of the fighter jet crashed into the sea in the latest of a series of accidents. The defence ministry said the F-16V, the most advanced type in Taiwan's fleet, went missing from radar screens after taking off from the Chiayi air base in southern Taiwan for a training mission over a coastal firing range. President Tsai Ing-wen issued instructions to spare no efforts in the search and rescue mission and "to further clarify the cause of the accident", her spokesman said. The government's Rescue Command Centre said witnesses had seen the aircraft crash into the sea and helicopters and ships were searching for the pilot. Air Force Inspector-General Liu Hui-chien said the aircraft had only recently been upgraded to the "V" version, with new weapons systems and avionics. Combat training for the F-16 fleet has now been suspended, he added. In late 2020, an F-16 vanished shortly after taking off from the Hualien air base on Taiwan's east coast on a routine training mission. Last year, two F-5E fighters, which first entered service in Taiwan in the 1970s, crashed into the sea off the southeast coast after they apparently collided in mid-air during a training mission. While Taiwan's air force is well trained, it has strained from repeatedly scrambling to see off Chinese military aircraft in the past two years, though the accidents have not been linked in any way to these intercept activities. China, which claims the democratic island as its own, has been routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan's air defence zone, mostly in an area around the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands but sometimes also into the airspace between Taiwan and the Philippines. https://www.yahoo.com/news/taiwan-air-force-searches-missing-091601148.html Hero Pilot Backs Easy Fix To Pilot Shortage: Just Let Us Fly Past Age 65 Pilot hero Jeff Skiles, first officer on US Airways Flight 1549, which landed in the Hudson River 13 years ago Saturday, sees a simple solution to the pilot shortage. Let pilots who are over 65 keep flying, Skiles says. Congress raised the mandatory retirement age to 65 from 60 in 2007. Now it should be raised again. Raising the mandatory retirement age again “is something that should be looked at,” Skiles said. “The retirement age has always been arbitrary. It never reflected any kind of medical science.” John Mica, the retired former Florida congressman who spearheaded the 2007 expansion to age 65, adds, “We could look at even further expansion today. “I have no problem with that, as long as they pass a medical test and also look at reflex and cognitive ability,” Mica said in an interview Monday. “Something that can’t be beat is experience on the job,” Mica said. “I don’t know of any incidents where we have had a problem [with pilots over 60].” Today, the pilot shortage is a looming crisis, as older pilots retire faster than newer ones come aboard. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told a Senate panel last month that United’s regional partners will have to park nearly 100 regional jets due to the shortage. The country faces a shortage of more than 12,000 pilots by the end of 2023, according to a study by Oliver Wyman. In Japan, the mandatory pilot retirement age is 67. Two key factors mitigate any risk from raising the age. One is that pilots already undergo mandatory medical examinations every six months, so age-related decline can be measured and tested as part of a robust, existing protocol. Secondly, commercial aviation requires two-pilot cockpits. “We do have to acknowledge that as you get older, you lose some motor function and lose some memory, but you also become very experienced,” Skiles said. “Experience doesn’t make up for physical decline, although it’s not the same for every individual, but certainly, with robust testing you could extend the age,” he said. “We already have individual testing records. We could test for those things that are going to be problematic in older populations, and we could continue to have those people in the cockpit.” As for the cockpit environment, Skiles noted that, “You are already in a multi-pilot crew. Even with somebody 66 or 67 in the left seat (captain), the person in the right seat passed the same check ride and is fully qualified,” and is very likely younger. Skiles, a Chicago-based American Airlines AAL pilot, was hired by predecessor US Airways in 1986. Now 62, he would like to fly after he turns 65. “I’m healthy,” he said. “I think of myself as 35. I definitely believe (my career) should extend to 67.” Oh sure, he concedes, “I’ve lost some hair. I don’t look as much like Aaron Eckhart.” The actor played Skiles in the 2016 movie “Sully,” which told the story of the landing of Flight 1549, which Skiles and Capt. Sully Sullenberger landed on the Hudson River after it lost both engines. The two pilots and the flight attendants all became heroes. While the case for lifting the mandatory age seems clear, it does not have the support of the U.S. aviation community. In Skiles’ words, “At this point, the unions are on the sidelines on this. That’s one of the difficulties of moving this forward: No group right now is interested in doing anything about it.” As for the carriers, he said, “the industry keeps saying we need to lower qualifications, not increase the age where we can take advantage of the experience out there. and there is no John Mica out there,” Skiles said. Mica, a Florida congressman for 24 years until his unexpected 2016 defeat, had a powerful impact on aviation in various transportation-related offices including chair of the House Transportation Committee and of its aviation subcommittee. Mica said he pushed for the bill on behalf of a onetime fraternity brother, who was “about to be forced out of a major commercial airline when he turned 60. It was kind of unfair. He was an excellent pilot with an impeccable record. He loved to fly. He was going to be put out to pasture. It was something that needed to be updated.” Mica makes clear that he is open to extending the age past 65. “My motivation [the first time] was the age limit needed to be changed,” he said. “We had that provision for decades. But today people are healthier. The live longer. And the more experience a pilot has, the better the operations.” The two principal pilots’ unions, the Air Line Pilots Association and the Allied Pilots Association, do not support an increase to 65. ALPA declined to comment for this story. Airlines For America, the industry trade group, provided this one sentence comment: “U.S. airlines comply with all federal regulations regarding our crews.” APA spokesman Dennis Tajer said the pilot shortage results from poor planning by the industry. “It is not a reason to consider raising the retirement age,” he said. APA represents 14,000 American Airlines pilots. “Airlines and governments have failed to ensure that there is an unhindered pathway to becoming an airline pilot,” Tajer said. “They have failed to connect the pilot pipeline to becoming a pilot. “This is a pilot pipeline problem, not a pilot shortage,” Tajer said. “After a pilot obtains a commercial license, the supply chain breaks and many are not finding the ability to build their experience and hours.” As for raising the retirement age, Tajer said, “It’s not nestled in science nor is the rest of the world considering it. It’s a lazy solution.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed/2022/01/10/hero-pilot-backs-easy-fix-to-pilot-shortage-just-let-us-fly-past-age-65/?sh=15b0caaf6052 Aeromexico halts flights as COVID 'domino effect' hits crews - union MEXICO CITY — More than 70 Grupo Aeromexico pilots have tested positive for COVID-19 as infections surge due to the Omicron variant, leading to 22 canceled flights, said a union that represents pilots for the prominent Mexican airline. Jose Suarez, press secretary for pilots’ association ASPA, told television station Milenio the cases triggered a “domino effect,” forcing Aeromexico to isolate entire crews to prevent the virus from spreading. ASPA Secretary General Jose Gual, also speaking with Milenio, said the pilots who tested positive for COVID-19 made up 5% of Aeromexico pilots represented by ASPA. He added the cancellations represented 5% of Aeromexico’s operations and affected planes heading to the Mexican cities of Guadalajara, Cancun and Monterrey, plus an international flight. “We are seeing a quite severe wave of infections,” Gual said. He attributed the jump to the highly contagious Omicron variant that has caused airlines around the world https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/airlines-grapple-with-omicron-related-disruptions-start-off-2022-2022-01-02 to cancel hundreds of flights during the busy winter travel season. Aeromexico said the new spread of COVID-19 had affected “some flights,” without providing details. “The safety of our customers and collaborators is and will always be the main priority,” Aeromexico said in a statement. The company did not respond to questions about COVID-19 cases among its pilots and crew members, or about how many flights had been canceled. Mexico is likely to surpass 300,000 deaths https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-nears-300000-deaths-covid-19-cases-surge-after-holidays-2022-01-06 from COVID-19 this week as infections rise after the holiday season, fueled by Omicron as well as largely unrestricted tourism to hotspots such as Mexico’s capital and beach destinations Cancun and Los Cabos. https://leaderpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/aeromexico-halts-flights-as-covid-domino-effect-hits-crews-union-2 AvSax's fire safety device deployed on Babcock's air ambulance helicopters AvSax's award-winning lithium battery fire containment bags are now on board Babcock's air ambulance helicopters, protecting its 20-strong UK frontline fleet. Above: An AvSax lithium battery fire containment bag ready for deployment. Courtesy AvSax Many air ambulance helicopters in the UK are now carrying this specialist piece of equipment to help keep the crew, patients and aircraft safe in the event of a fire or even an explosion. More than 20 helicopters are operated by specialist aerial emergency medical services (EMS) company Babcock and following a detailed look into the possible risks posed by lithium-ion batteries on aircraft, Babcock now carries specialist AvSax battery fire containment bags on board their UK air ambulance fleet. This means that in the very rare situation of a battery malfunction - a process known as thermal runaway - the crew can seal the battery inside one of the specialist bags, ensuring that it stays safe, even if it’s at risk of bursting into flames. Thermal runaway happens when one cell in a battery overheats it can produce enough heat – up to 900°C (1652°F) – to cause adjacent cells to overheat. This can cause a lithium battery fire to flare repeatedly and they are very difficult to put out which is why AvSax battery fire containment bags are needed. VIDEO AvSax won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the UK in 2018. A Babcock spokesman said: “Our air ambulance helicopters carry a number of battery-operated medical and aviation devices. On rare occasions lithium-ion batteries can malfunction, leading to thermal runaway and possibly even igniting. “But our aircraft carry specialist AvSax battery fire containment bags which can cool down an overheating device and are strong enough to withstand a blast should they explode.” AvSax spokesman Richard Nikolic said: “The AvSax have proved themselves on fixed wing aircraft across the world and every time they have been deployed to deal with an overheating personal electronic device the planes have been able to continue their journeys rather than having to divert and make emergency landings. “The same potential dangers exist on helicopters and the space on board is even more confined which is why AvSax have become such an important piece of risk management kit for them.” AvSax are now on more than 15,373 aircraft operated by 80 airline companies. They have been used 33 times to deal with emergencies in flight since the start of 2017. They are designed to cool down the overheating device and are strong enough to withstand a blast should they explode. Babcock - an international aerospace, defence and security company - operates emergency medical aircraft which act as mobile intensive care units with a reaction and mobility capacity that enables them to reach inaccessible locations and carry out complex rescues in record time. Its EMS operations work with more than 1,000 specialist medical professionals spanning the UK, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Along with the flight crew, Babcock’s medical staff play a crucial role in patient safety. They are able to give initial care at the scene of the accident, provide in-flight medical care and brief doctors who will provide ongoing treatment once the patient has been transported to hospital. Babcock has 140 EMS bases worldwide and carries out 82,000 missions every year, transporting around 65,000 patients. In the UK they operate from East Anglia to Wales and from Scotland to Northern Ireland. https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/avsax-s-fire-safety-device-deployed-on-babcock-s-air-ambulance-helicopters.html Nigeria Ready for ICAO Safety Audit of Aviation Industry, Says NCAA The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) said it has put everything in place for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) slated for the first quarter of 2022. The Authority said Nigeria was fully prepared for the exercise, known as Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA), which includes ensuring that the country abides by the global body’s recommended standard practices, having adequate technical personnel and efficiently regulating the industry to ensure high standard of air safety. Speaking during the opening ceremony of the League of Aviation and Airport Correspondents (LAAC) training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria yesterday, the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu said Nigeria had sustained a regime of robust regulations and over eight year of zero accident in commercial flight operation. Nuhu who said Nigeria was primed to excel by maintaining and improving on the reputation already achieved in the area of air safety, appealed to all stakeholders, including the media to join hands with NCAA to ensure a successful audit. “From now on, all your reports are very sensitive. Let us eschew sensationalism capable of putting the nation in bad light. Therefore, I will advise anyone to endeavour to verify and confirm his/her stories before publishing, if in doubt. It is my view that your watchdog role plays a very important part in fostering stability in the industry. “These balancing, developmental and promotional stories are the hallmark of a burgeoning aviation industry like ours. Let us present our aviation industry as the most improved that it is. “There is no doubt that there is increased confidence in the sector as new airlines are coming in and existing operators are expanding their routes. “Expectedly, our coast of surveillance programme and other oversight responsibilities as the regulator of the industry have increased correspondingly,” he explained. He noted that continuous human capacity development was one of NCAA’s administration core values, adding that the regulatory authority considers training (including initial, on-the-job and recurrent training) as a key component of aviation development in Nigeria. “Training and retraining is a capital project for us as it is critical to our operations as the country’s apex regulatory authority for civil aviation in Nigeria. Our personnel are exposed to appropriate trainings all over the world so as to maintain and enhance their competence,” he added. https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/01/11/nigeria-ready-for-icao-safety-audit-of-aviation-industry-says-ncaa/ Bell 429 Fleet Tops 500,000 Hours The in-service fleet of 400 Bell 429 light twin helicopters has amassed more than 500,000 flight hours, the rotorcraft manufacturer said late last week. Bell delivered the first 429 in 2009 in air ambulance configuration and since then has developed variants for law enforcement, utility, executive/VIP transport, and military training. A pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D1/D2 turboshafts (620 shp each) power the 429, which features a main gearbox with run-dry capability; four-blade, rigid, composite main rotor; composite main rotor hub; four-blade, composite tail rotor; and graphite tail boom and tail-rotor drive shaft. Standard equipment includes dual hydraulics and a three-axis autopilot. Kits for the 429 include rear fuselage doors, a tail-rotor guard, air conditioning and seating options, floats, wheeled landing gear, a cargo hook, a rescue-hoist searchlight, dual controls, a four-axis autopilot, weather radar, and a 40-gallon auxiliary fuel tank in the cabin. In 2015, the Mecaer Aviation Group unveiled a VIP interior for the 429 that features luxury seating, cabin noise dampening, electro-chromatic windows, and the I-Feel in-flight entertainment system, which passengers can control from their personal devices. The 429 is in service with a diverse roster of customers, including the Swedish National Police, the New York Police Department, the Canadian Coast Guard, and Air Zermatt’s Swiss Alps rescue team. In 2012, the FAA denied Bell’s petition for an exemption from the normal category Part 27 weight limit of 7,000 pounds for the Bell 429 light twin to 7,500 pounds, after Transport Canada and a dozen other countries had granted the exemption. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2022-01-10/bell-429-fleet-tops-500000-hours The National Aviation Hall of Fame Receives Grant • The Berry Family Foundation awards the NAHF $30,000 to support Heritage Hall and Education Center DAYTON, Ohio – January 11, 2021-The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is honored to share that the renovation of their Heritage Hall and Education Center (HHEC) will be supported by a generous grant provided by The Berry Family Foundation. NAHF President and CEO, Amy Spowart, said, "The support from the Berry Family will have a substantial impact on our work to help visitors of the HHEC learn about the inspirational lives of our Enshrinees and discover a passion for aviation and aerospace. We welcome over a quarter of a million visitors annually and improving the space encourages increased visitation and makes each interaction more memorable. We are beyond grateful to John Berry and The Foundation for this support." The grant provided by The Berry Family Foundation will be combined with a $250,000 grant from the State of Ohio for the re-design of the centerpiece of the HHEC, our 1300 sq. ft., immersive, flexible, multi-purpose theatre in which Discovering Flight with the National Aviation Hall of Fame program will be highlighted. Within the reimagined theater, the NAHF plans to host an assortment of programs and special events that honor and share our nation’s aviation history. Theater-style seating will allow the space to be opened for projection mappings on the floor and walls. During the day, visitors will have access to short educational presentations that are designed with our content partners PBS Learning Media and interact with state-of-the-art digital programming. For evening special events, the NAHF plans to host family-oriented aviation movie nights, Enshrinee meet-and-greets, and scholarly lectures from aviation historians, authors, and experts. The core beliefs of The Berry Family Foundation are focused on free enterprise, entrepreneurialism, supporting educational programs for youth, and fostering healthy communities. Vivian O'Connell, Director of Foundation Relations for The Berry Family Foundation, said, "We seek to support education programs that instill knowledge and confidence in the next generation, and the mission-driven work that the NAHF is striving for amplifying those values that we seek to encourage in students." Construction of the space is taking place now and will be complete in late Spring 2022. ************ About The National Aviation Hall of Fame- Formed through an Act of Congress in 1964, the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is dedicated to honoring America’s aerospace pioneers. Considered by many to be a true national treasure, the NAHF serves as the only Congressionally-chartered aviation hall of fame and works tirelessly to confidently promote the vision, innovation, skill, and courage of the national heroes who lent their genius to further our nation’s aerospace legacy. Founded and based in Dayton, OH, the NAHF is committed to informing the public of American aviation heroes, their accomplishments, and their impact on advances in aviation from Early Flight to Space Travel. The NAHF strives to create a distinctive educational resource that will inspire future generations to appreciate our nation’s extraordinary aviation heritage and the men and women who created it. National Aviation Hall of Fame | 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton, OH 45433 | (937) 256-0944 | www.nationalaviation.org http://www.nationalaviation.org/ USAF Aircraft Availability on Long Downward Trend, CBO Says The Air Force and Navy are both seeing a long-term, downward trend in aircraft availability and flying hours per aircraft, which is actually worse than the Pentagon reports because of the way the Defense Department counts aircraft as ready for duty, according to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office. While USAF availability recovered a little during the COVID-19 pandemic, flying hours continued to fall, the CBO said. The Pentagon’s stated aircraft availability is higher than the CBO’s because the Defense Department counts some aircraft as ready for action even if they are torn down for maintenance at their owning unit—not in depot—or are in storage, the audit agency said. The Air Force measures “availability” as “mission capable” rates, and these metrics have changed over the last couple of years. While the CBO provided only broad graphs and not specific numbers, it showed USAF’s availability for all aircraft as declining from about 60 percent in 2000 to less than 45 percent in 2020, with a similar performance in fighter/attack aircraft (though the F-35 reports differently and was not reflected in the CBO’s charts). Over the same period, flying hours for all USAF aircraft declined from an average of about 300 per year to about 230. Air Force fighter/attack aircraft flew an average of about 200 hours per year in 2000, gradually declining to about 125 hours per year on average. The peak of both availability and use was in 2008. For a more granular look, the CBO examined the F-15C/D and F-16C/D and found that their availability declined from just under 70 percent for both aircraft in 2000 to about 55 percent for the F-16 in 2020, while the F-15 came in about 45 percent. In flying hours per year over the same period, both were running about 260 in 2000 but had fallen to about 150 for the F-16 and 110 for the F-15 by 2020. Peak availability for the F-15 and F-16 was in 2008. For rotary and tiltrotor aircraft, USAF saw availability rates at around 60 percent through 2012; followed by a decline to about 55 percent through 2016; and a subsequent recovery to about 58 percent. Flying hours per aircraft per year were at 275 in 2000, and after ticking up to 300 by 2010, have declined to about 240 hours per year. With ups and down of as much as 10 percent over the past 20 years, Air Force trainers are where they were in 2000, at an availability of just over 60 percent. From just under 300 a year in 2000, trainer flying hours per aircraft got up to about 320 per year by about 2006 and have since declined to about 270. The Air Force saw a bump in availability of all aircraft due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The availability rate “rose from 49 percent in February 2020 to a peak of 54 percent in April 2020, falling to 49 percent in September 2020 and March 2021,” the CBO reported. However, USAF saw a precipitous drop in annual flying hours per aircraft. “In April, 2020, the Air Force flew 69 percent as many hours as it typically did before the pandemic” and was still at only about 82 percent of its pre-pandemic high water mark by February 2021, according to the report. “By March 2021, it had recovered to pre-pandemic levels of flying hours.” The CBO speculated that flying less led to a greater availability of spare parts, thus improving the aircraft availability numbers. To illustrate the disparity between how the CBO calculates availability versus the Air Force, it used the Pentagon’s numbers for the F-15C in 2019. In that year, “the Air Force had 304 F-15Cs,” declaring an average of 121 to be mission capable “and possessed by operators,” the CBO said. However, 110 airplanes were “coded as mission capable but could not be flown on combat or training missions, because 17 were undergoing depot-level maintenance and 93 were in storage.” By the DOD’s counting, in 2019, “67 percent of F-15Cs were available … [121 out of 180].” The CBO, however, counted “all aircraft, including those in storage or … depot … as part of the fleet. By CBO’s measure, 40 percent of F-15Cs were available [121 out of 304].” The audit agency suggested that its method is a more realistic way to assess the true availability of aircraft for training or combat, since it is unrealistic to assume that aircraft in storage or heavy depot could be rapidly made ready for action. The Navy’s decline in availability of the 2000-2020 period was more pronounced than the Air Force, but the Navy flew its aircraft more per tail than USAF did over the same period. The availability of the F/A-18C/D has fallen more than any other fighter that CBO looked at. https://www.airforcemag.com/usaf-aircraft-availability-on-long-downward-trend-cbo-says/ Airbus keeps top planemaker spot with 8% delivery rise By Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) -Airbus kept its crown as the world's largest jetmaker for the third year running as it outstripped Boeing by delivering 611 jets in 2021, up 8% from the year before, company data showed on Monday. The numbers gave Airbus an unassailable lead on revenue-generating deliveries - the industry's main yardstick - after Boeing handed over 302 jets in the first 11 months. After slashing production due mainly to the pandemic, planemakers are seeing more demand for medium-haul passenger jets and freighters, despite global concern over Omicron. Reuters reported last week that Airbus' auditors, who must validate each delivery, were torn between a tally of 605 or 611 jets after last-minute handovers took the total above an official target of 600. The outcome confirms the top end of the range. Airbus said it sold 771 airplanes in 2021, giving a net total of 507 after cancellations, almost twice the 2020 level. Chief Executive Guillaume Faury called this the "first fruits of a recovery" and added: "Demand is real". Boeing is rebounding more slowly as it tackles the aftermath of a 737 MAX safety crisis and negotiates snags that suspended deliveries of its wide-body 787 Dreamliner. Recent changes in accounting rules and sharp swings in airline fortunes during the COVID-19 crisis have made it harder to compare the underlying performance of the two plane giants. With Airbus well ahead on deliveries, the winner on new orders depends on which accounting definition for net orders investors prefer when Boeing publishes data on Tuesday. Based on partial 2021 data, Boeing looks set to at least match Airbus on net orders on an adjusted basis after a recent deal with Allegiant for 50 737 MAX that surfaced last week. For the first 11 months of 2021, orders rebounded sharply to 829 planes but fell to a net total of 400 after cancellations. On an adjusted basis, Boeing posted 457 net orders by end-November after partially restoring to its count orders that it at one point had deemed unlikely to materialise. Barring surprise new orders, the Airbus data suggests Boeing faces a harder task in matching its arch-rival in net orders on an unadjusted basis. PRODUCTION PLANS INTACT Airbus starts 2022 with some momentum. Recent orders from Air France-KLM and Qantas have yet to be counted. It reported a new sale on Monday of 22 A220 small jets to Azorra, a Florida leasing firm. Boeing continues to dominate booming sales of freighters as lockdowns boost e-shopping. Airbus did book the first orders for a new A350 freighter - albeit partially by swapping existing orders for passenger versions to the cargo planes. Faury said production plans for the wide-body A350 had not been impacted by a dispute with Qatar Airways over surface problems on existing jets. He reaffirmed plans to lift production of the smaller A320 family, which competes with the Boeing 737 in the busiest part of the market, by around 30% to 65 a month by summer 2023. Airbus expects to decide midyear whether to push that even higher despite resistance from leasing companies and engine makers that benefit from getting the most out of existing jets. Like Boeing, Airbus carries out an accounting exercise to reflect the likelihood of some planes not being delivered. But it applies this to the value of cumulative orders once a year, rather than expressing it in the number of planes affected. Analysts say adopting the same methodology as Boeing would imply a lower number of net orders for Airbus than the 507 published for 2021, but the extent of the gap is unclear. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airbus-delivers-611-jets-2021-165528591.html FAA Goes On Hiring Push For More Air Traffic Controllers On Friday, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it was looking to hire experienced Air Traffic Controllers. To apply for the job, you must be an American citizen younger than 35-years-old and have maintained at least 52-weeks of consecutive Air Traffic Control experience. FAA hiring ATCs The FAA plans to hire 4,300 controllers over the next five years. The experience must include full-time work involving the separation of aircraft. Candidates also need to provide an ATC certification within five years from one of the following facilities: • A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control facility • A civilian or military air traffic control facility of the Department of Defense, including National Guard facilities • A tower operating under contract with the FAA under section 47124 The FAA has facilities in every US state and territory The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has facilities in every state and territory, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. Qualifying candidates must be prepared to relocate and work in any of the FAA facilities. An Air Traffic Controllers duties the following: • • The control of air traffic at airports • Giving pilots taxiing and takeoff instructions • Air traffic clearances based on their own observations and information from the National Weather Service • Giving pilots advice regarding flight conditions while en route between airports • The receiving of aircraft coming into controlled air space • Giving pilots advice on the separation between aircraft • Las Vegas McCarran Airport -Getty Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Pay is based on the ATCS Collective Bargaining Agreement While the FAA says it will do its best to place candidates in the location of their choice, ultimately, where a candidate ends up will be decided by the needs of the FAA. Successful candidates will receive a salary and benefits package agreed to under the ATCS Collective Bargaining Agreement. The current jobs the FAA is looking to fill are: • AT-2152 AG – this is the position level for selectees who are NOT former FAA 2152 Certified Professional Controllers (CPC); salary $42,005, plus applicable locality pay based on facility assignment • AT-2152 – xD/xF/xG – these are position levels for former FAA developmental controllers rehired within one year of separation; salary $50,429 to $117,471 plus applicable locality pay based on facility assignment • AT-2152 – DH/EH/FH/GH/HH/IH/JH/KH/LH – these are position levels for former FAA CPCs; salary $54,623 to $158,586 plus applicable locality pay based on facility assignment The average salary for an FAA Air Traffic Controller is $138,556. All successful candidates will receive on-the-job training and pay increases, as appropriate, upon successfully completing the progressive phases of controller training at your assigned facility. A part of the training will require taking specific courses at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Conditions of Employment include the following Requirements: • Not older than 35 years of age • Be a United States citizen • The taking of a designated or random drug test • Being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 • The passing of a pre-employment physical • Pass a security investigation • Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment test • Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment Once hired, Air Traffic Controllers receive a salary increase as they complete each training phase. In 2021 the median average wage for an Air Traffic Controller in the United States was $138,556. https://simpleflying.com/faa-air-traffic-controllers-hiring-2/ Needed fix to Boeing KC-46 tanker hits new issue The Boeing Co. and the U.S Air Force now face more problems on planned fixes to the KC-46 tanker due to the lingering issues with the aircraft remote vision system (RVS). According to a report from Aviation Week, the manufacturer and the service have yet to finalize the upgrades to the RVS and that means a preliminary design review of the system won’t be closed this fall as was previously planned. Maj. Hope Cronin, spokesperson for Air Mobility Command, said in a separate report from Defense News that overall development of changes needed on the tanker remain on schedule, but that AMC has requested the review remain open longer than scheduled “until resolution is reached to address deficiencies with the panoramic visual system that detects, recognizes and identifies receiver aircraft during aerial refueling rendezvous procedures.” Cronin didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from the WBJ. The camera system that helps the tanker refuel other aircraft is one of the major components still needing work three years past the original delivery of the tanker to the USAF. While Boeing (NYSE: BA) is having to cover the upgrades to that system, the service is paying for a needed redesign to the refueling boom. It is expected to be several years before the tanker is fully operational. Boeing has incurred more than $5 billion in cost overruns on the program. McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita is the main operating base for the tanker and will eventually be home to 36 of the 179 KC-46s Boeing intends to build for the Air Force. Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems Inc. (NYSE: SPR) builds the forward fuselage on the aircraft. https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2022/01/10/needed-fix-to-boeing-kc-46-tanker-hits-new-issue.html?ana=yahoo James Webb Space Telescope should have fuel for about 20 years of science Webb will be working for a long, long time, scientists hope. As the James Webb Space Telescope heads towards its distant destination from Earth, good news flowed from deep space: it has plenty of fuel left. Scientists delivered the news during a press conference Saturday (Jan. 8) held to mark the historic mirror deployment in space, as Webb executed the most complicated deployment of its lifetime with no major hiccups. "When we launched, by design our limiting resource is propellant," Bill Ochs, the Webb project manager, told reporters in the livestreamed press conference, which was hosted by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. He paid tribute to the super-precise launch that an Arianespace Ariane 5 heavy-lift rocket executed as it hefted Webb to space from French Guiana on Dec. 25. "Right now, because of the the efficiency or the accuracy with which Ariane 5 put us on orbit, and our accuracy and effectiveness implementing our mid-course corrections, we have quite a bit of fuel margin right now relative to 10 years," Ochs said, speaking of an earlier fuel estimate. "Roughly speaking, it's [now] around 20 years of propellant, roughly speaking, and that's TBD [to be determined]," he added. While Ochs did not elaborate on why that is to be determined, one large factor is a looming midcourse correction the telescope is expected to execute in about two weeks to put it on track for its ultimate destination. The James Webb Space Telescope after separating from the Ariane 5 rocket that carried it into space. This is one of our last views of the impressive telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope after separating from the Ariane 5 rocket that carried it into space. This is one of our last views of the impressive telescope. (Image credit: ESA) Webb is expected to arrive at an "insertion location" by Jan. 23, where it will fire its engines to glide to a "parking spot" called Earth-sun Lagrange Point 2 (L2) about 930,000 miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from our planet. This Lagrange point is balanced between the gravitational forces of the sun, Earth and moon and will allow the telescope to stay steady while using a minimum of fuel, NASA has said. https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-fuel-20-years Manager, Voluntary Safety Reporting Program (ASAP Manager) Company: NetJets Aviation, Inc. Area of Interest: Flight Operations Location: Columbus, OH, US, 43219 Req ID: 4781 Purpose of Position The Manager, Voluntary Safety Reporting Program position assists the Director, Aviation Safety in the execution of the comprehensive NetJets Safety Program. This includes the responsibility for management and operation of the Pilot, Flight Attendant, and Dispatch Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) and related safety department functions. Tasks and Responsibilities · Evaluate, analyze and process safety reports submitted to any of the NJA administered Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) including but not limited to: · Investigating the issues raised in each safety report. · Make recommendations to management regarding changes to policy, procedures and practices to enhance safety. · Collection and analysis of policy, maintenance records, and fatigue assessments to determine if safety enhancements are available or warranted. · Provide opinion and interpretation of collected materials to the ASAP ERC. · Act and speak on behalf of NJA as the ASAP Event Review Committee (ERC) representative on a rotating basis. · Administer corrective actions in response to ASAP ERC findings. · Plan for and manage all voluntary safety reporting program requirements for the Pilot, Flight Attendant, and Dispatch groups in line with FAA and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) requirements. · Participate or lead investigations of the facts related to reports submitted through ASAP. · Research and analyze trend data in the NetJets Safety Program and other industry data. · Track ASAP related safety recommendations and corrective actions to ensure that follow-up actions have been taken that are effective. Determine if the actions have been effective and if not, make recommendations for additional changes or corrective action. · Manage the production of ASAP communications. · Acts as an information conduit to bring safety of flight issues to the attention of management and to deliver safety information to NJA employees. Education Bachelor's in Aviation Management or Business Management Certifications and Licenses FAA Commercial Instrument Years of Experience 2-4 years of experience Core Competencies Adaptability Collaboration Curiosity Service-Oriented Strives For Positive Results Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other (KSAOs) · Must be able to work independently and use independent discretion and judgment. · Exposure to responding to irregular events as well as identifying, evaluating and writing risk assessments for said events. · Experience with safety analysis, trending and risk assessment. · Experience or training in Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). · Ability to use sound judgment in analyzing reports, assessing risks and making recommendations. · Must possess a demonstrated high degree of personal and professional integrity with the ability to maintain confidentiality. · Detail oriented characteristics with an ability to prioritize multiple objectives in a dynamic environment with constantly shifting priorities. · Strong verbal and written communication with the ability to write effective reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. · Technical computer expertise and proficient knowledge in commercial off-the-shelf applications, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). · Must be effective working both individually as well as in a team environment with the ability to interact in a tactful manner. · Able to read and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations with a detailed knowledge of applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. · Demonstrated ability to interact with people at varying levels of authority. · Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to effectively present on both the individual level and to large audiences, including NJA employees, industry professionals and federal agencies. APPLY HERE Manager, Environmental Health & Safety (NJUS) Company: NetJets Aviation, Inc. Area of Interest: Flight Operations Location: Columbus, OH, US, 43219 Req ID: 4581 Purpose of Position The Manager, Environmental Health & Safety is responsible for the continuous compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. In addition, the Manager, Environmental Health & Safety ensures the well-being of employees through the deployment and maintenance of safety and wellness programs including training, ergonomic and hearing assessments. Tasks and Responsibilities · Reviews and approves internal procedures to ensure company compliance with applicable safety regulations including but not limited to OSHA, EPA, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and internal safety policies and promote continuous improvement of organizational safety. · Develops, distributes and oversees environmental and safety policies as outlined in the NetJets safety manual. This includes safety monitoring of employees and organizational outputs including but not limited to industrial hygiene monitoring, hazardous waste disposal, and hazardous waste manifesting. · Develop, deploy and oversee environmental and safety training. · Investigate reports of unsafe conditions received through established safety reporting systems. · Perform scheduled environmental and safety audits and analysis for communication to leadership. Education Bachelor's Certifications and Licenses Years of Experience 2-4 years of experience Core Competencies Adaptability Collaboration Curiosity Service-Oriented Strives for Positive Results Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other (KSAOs) · Ability to recognize and analyze hazards for corrective action · Ability to develop training and present information in formal classroom settings · Ability to research and apply appropriate safety standards and best practices to the needs of the organization · Aviation maintenance safety, line operations safety, or flight operations safety experience preferred. · Experience with audiometric testing program, respiratory protection program, and/or hazardous materials program · Experience conducting job safety analyses or risk analyses APPLY HERE Director, Technical & Compliance Programs (NJUS) Company: NetJets Aviation, Inc. Area of Interest: Flight Operations Location: Columbus, OH, US, 43219 Req ID: 4675 Purpose of Position The Director, Technical & Compliance Programs is a senior member of the Flight Operations management team and is accountable to the VP, Safety for the overall direction of the various Flight Operations teams responsible for NetJets Aviation (NJA) technical and compliance programs, including preparation and production of regulatory manuals and documents; airport analysis function; and centralized document distribution. A primary function of the Director, Technical & Compliance Programs is coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure all NJA flight operations policies and procedures are following all applicable federal regulatory requirements including, FAA specifications and safety guidelines. Additionally, the Director, Technical & Compliance Programs assists in the operational control functions of the department. Tasks and Responsibilities · Provide effective leadership and direction to the Technical and Compliance Operations team by prioritizing work and designating resources required for timely completion of tasks and achievement of objectives assigned by the VP, Safety. · Direct all federal and other relevant regulatory compliance functions as they relate to the creation and maintenance of up-to-date flight operations policies and procedures ensuring safety and service standards remain paramount. This includes but may not be limited to the development and management of policy and procedure consistent with all applicable federal and related regulatory guidelines; the development and management of the processes supporting compliant policy creation and maintenance; partnering with internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance, standardization, and effective implementation of new or revised policy and procedure. · Analyze the impact to Company operations of proposed, new, or revised regulations, specifications, or technical requirements. Recommend or develop means for compliance. · Direct compliance-related activities of NetJets managers serving as Company representatives for FAA or other industry committees, taskforces or workgroups engaged in the development of new or revised regulations, procedures, or technical operating requirements. · Develop or recommend technology solutions and process improvements that enhance safety, compliance, customer service, and/or efficiency of operations. · Serve as FAA Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program (VDRP) coordinator for the Flight Operations Department. Education Bachelor's in Aviation Certifications and Licenses FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Years of Experience 10+ years of experience Core Competencies Adaptability Collaboration Curiosity Service-Oriented Strives For Positive Results Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other (KSAOs) · 3+ years of aviation management experience. · 2+ years’ experience as a flight operations manager in a large 14 CFR, part 135 on-demand Air Carrier or FAR 91, subpart K, fractional program manager. · Working knowledge of on-demand or fractional program operations, regulations, FAA specifications, and technical requirements. · Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to effectively manage multiple work groups and projects. · Some technical writing experiences · Excellent verbal & written communication skills. · Personal Computer skills including MS Office Suite and Outlook. APPLY HERE GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY My name is Jason Starke, and I am a doctoral student at Northcentral University. I am conducting a research study to determine if the effects of servant leadership are positively related to employee participation in the organization’s safety management system through positive commitment to the organization. I am recruiting individuals who meet all these criteria: 1. Are 18 years of age or older. 2. Are employed by an organization that conducts business aviation operations under 14 CFR 135. 3. Are employed by an organization that is registered to the International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). 4. Are employed as a flight crew member (cockpit or cabin) and/or as an aircraft mechanic. If you decide to participate in this study, you will be asked to do the following activities: 1. Complete an online survey for 15 minutes. During these activities, you will be asked questions about: · Your age, gender, and race. · Your current job role in the organization, how many years you have served in that role across your career, and how many years you have served with your current organization. · Servant leadership characteristics of your immediate supervisor or manager. · Your current level of commitment to your organization. · Your perception of the degree to which certain safety behaviors and safety management activities are part of your job responsibilities. If you are interested in participating in this study, please click this link: https://ncu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5nC84XvifID4jtQ If you have questions, please contact me at J.Starke8609@o365.ncu.edu. Thank you! Jason Starke Curt Lewis