Flight Safety Information - January 12, 2022 No. 008 In This Issue : Incident: Ryanair B38M over Atlantic on Jan 8th 2022, loss of communication prompts intercept : Incident: Envoy E175 at Miami on Jan 10th 2022, cracked windshield : Incident: Austral B788 near Athens on Jan 10th 2022, electrical problems : Incident: Azul A20N at Manaus on Jan 10th 2022, enigne shut down in flight : Passenger Misconduct - Damaged Flight Controls (Honduras) : Cathay Pacific to comply with Hong Kong probes into COVID-19 outbreak : Southwest Passengers Can Now Get an At-home COVID-19 Test in the Mail : Meth Burritos and Deodorant Ammo: 2 NJ Airports Make TSA's 2021 Top Weird Airport Finds : Delta Air Lines battles with nation’s largest flight attendant union over shortened Covid sick leave : FAA briefly halted West Coast flights amid North Korean missile scare : NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on Fatal Learjet Crash Near El Cajon : Four people, including infant, survive crash of medical transport helicopter : PIA Looking to Save Money By Reducing Number of Employees : NATA Welcomes Keith DeBerry as Senior Vice President of Safety & Education : China's homegrown jet seeks to spread its wings in Indonesia : Boeing wins annual jet order race on adjusted basis : Advances in Space Transportation Systems Transforming Space Coast : RTCA - FAA Administrator January 19 Webinar : POSITION AVAILABLE: Voluntary Safety Reporting Program (ASAP) Manager : POSITION AVAILABLE: Manager, Environmental Health & Safety : POSITION AVAILABLE: Director, Technical & Compliance Programs : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Ryanair B38M over Atlantic on Jan 8th 2022, loss of communication prompts intercept A Ryanair Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration EI-HAY performing flight FR-8288 from London Stansted,EN (UK) to Lanzarote,CI (Spain), was enroute at FL410 about 50 nm south of Lisbon (Portugal) when Portuguese Fighter Aircraft (F-16) intercepted the Boeing due to the loss of communication. Communication was restored, the fighter aircraft returned to their base after inspections, the Boeing continued to Las Palmas without further incident for a safe landing about 80 minutes later. A listener on frequency reported the fighter aircraft approached a Ryanair flight to the Canary Islands due to the loss of communication, subsequently insisted on inspecting the cockpit from the left and right hand side at about 09:50z. The listener however could not remember the callsign of the Ryanair flight. Portuguese Media reported based on statements by Portugal's Air Force a flight from the UK to Las Palmas had been intercepted due to the loss of communication. This information, even combined with the time stamp and information of the listener on frequency, left the possibility of several Ryanair flights from the UK to Las Palmas, which were all within the (Atlantic and Mainland) Airspace of Portugal at the time. Portugal's Airforce reported they performed a "cockpit check" to determine whether they were any suspicious signs like a hijack situation or pilot's unresponsive/passed out. The alarm was determined false. On Jan 11th 2022 another source reported two Portuguese F-16 fighters had been dispatched to intercept a flight originating in London Stansted. On Jan 12th 2022 yet another source reported the aircraft's destination was Arrecife/Lanzarote, not Las Palmas as had been reported by the Air Force. EI-HAY remained on the ground at Lanzarote for about 48.5 hours before returning to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2fea13&opt=0 Incident: Envoy E175 at Miami on Jan 10th 2022, cracked windshield An Envoy Embraer ERJ-175, registration N207AN performing flight AA-3858 from Miami,FL to Tallahassee,FL (USA) with 63 passengers and 4 crew, was climbing out of Miami's runway 08R cleared to climb to 7000 feet when the crew advised they needed to level off at 6000 feet. The crew subsequently advised they had a broken windshield and needed to return declaring an emergency. The aircraft landed safely on runway 12 about 20 minutes after departure. A replacement ERJ-175 registration N288NN reached Tallahassee with a delay of 100 minutes. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Miami about 34 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f3004de&opt=0 Incident: Austral B788 near Athens on Jan 10th 2022, electrical problems An Air Austral Boeing 787-8, registration F-OLRC performing flight UU-977 from Nairobi (Kenya) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was enroute at FL400 about 110nm south of Athens when the crew initiated a diversion to Athens declaring PAN PAN and reporting the loss of major electrical systems. The aircraft landed safely on Athens' runway 03R about 21 minutes after leaving FL400. The aircraft is still on the ground in Athens about 36 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2fc328&opt=0 Incident: Azul A20N at Manaus on Jan 10th 2022, enigne shut down in flight An Azul Linhas Aereas Airbus A320-200N, registration PR-YRC performing flight AD-2649 from Manaus,AM to Recife,PE (Brazil), was in the initial climb out of Manaus' runway 11 when the right hand engine (LEAP) emitted a series of bangs and streaks of flames prompting the crew to stop the climb at 4000 feet, shut the engine down and return to Manaus for a safe landing on runway 11 about 30 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Manaus about 32 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f2fbf87&opt=0 Passenger Misconduct - Damaged Flight Controls (Honduras) Date: 11-JAN-2022 Time: c. 09:00 Type: Boeing 737-823 (WL) Owner/operator: American Airlines Registration: N942NN MSN: 33492/4691 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 127 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP/MHLM) - Honduras Phase: Standing Nature: Passenger - Scheduled Departure airport: San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport (SAP/MHLM) Destination airport: Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA) Narrative: During boarding, a passenger broke into the cockpit of an American Airlines Boeing 737-823 (WL) at Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP/MHLM) and caused extensive damage to the flight controls. None of the 127 POB were injured. The aircraft was grounded. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/274034 Cathay Pacific to comply with Hong Kong probes into COVID-19 outbreak (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd will comply with two government investigations after two crew members who broke self-isolation rules sparked a COVID-19 outbreak in the city, Chairman Patrick Healy said. In a video to staff on Tuesday reviewed by Reuters, Healy said the airline apologised for the "disruption and anguish" caused by the outbreak, which has led Hong Kong to shut primary schools and has set back plans for cross-border travel with mainland China. Cathay has fired the crew members involved. The video came after Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday announced the government was investigating the breach of isolation rules as well as Cathay carrying crew returning to Hong Kong on cargo-only flights to avoid hotel quarantine. Healy said the airline took "full responsibility" for the latter decision, which it was confident was in line with government regulations. The city tightened quarantine rules for air crew after the outbreak, leading the airline to cancel most of its planned passenger and cargo flights in January. Cathay will operate about 20% of its pre-pandemic cargo capacity and around 2% of its pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity this month. The airline had been struggling to crew many flights even before the rules were tightened as some destinations relied on pilots volunteering to fly punishing rosters involving five weeks locked in hotel rooms. Healy said crew had collectively spent 62,000 nights in quarantine hotels in 2021, with none contracting COVID-19 in the first eight months of the year. All are fully vaccinated. Cases, however, had risen since the emergence of the Omicron variant with 11 crew contracting the variant in December, he said in the video to staff that was first reported by Bloomberg. https://www.yahoo.com/news/cathay-pacific-comply-hong-kong-024431419.html Southwest Passengers Can Now Get an At-home COVID-19 Test in the Mail It's about to get a little less complicated to get back home from abroad if you're flying on Southwest Airlines. The airline is partnering with CityHealth, a Bay Area healthcare company, to provide discounted COVID-19 test kits for passengers traveling back to the U.S. from international destinations, Southwest announced recently. Appropriately named "RapidReturn," the test kits don't require travelers to download any additional apps or use a specific operating system to obtain test results. Instead, all that's needed is WiFi and a video-enabled device, like a cell phone, laptop, or tablet. Each kit comes with a CDC-approved rapid antigen test and a virtual appointment with a CityHealth testing specialist. Specialists are available around the clock, and for anyone testing negative for COVID-19, the company promises a secure link to a health certificate in around three minutes. "Since it was launched, the RapidReturn kit has been one of our most popular COVID testing options," Sean Parkin, CEO of CityHealth, said in a statement. The kits have a retail sales price of $75, but Southwest customers traveling on international routes can purchase them for $50 each before or after they purchase airline tickets. Travelers not flying on Southwest can purchase kits at full price and forget about having to spend the last day of their vacation tracking down COVID-19 tests to return home. Tests are currently out of stock but travelers are encouraged to check the website for availability. The U.S. is requiring all international travelers, including vaccinated U.S. citizens, to test negative for the coronavirus within a day of their departure to the U.S. "The quick return of results will help Southwest passengers stay in compliance with the new one-day testing rule," Parkin said. The company also promises a more comfortable testing experience, thanks to slimmer swabs. And if you're nervous testing yourself, the kit comes with a backup swab and testing device, should you mess up on the first try. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/southwest-passengers-now-home-covid-151747790.html Meth Burritos and Deodorant Ammo: 2 NJ Airports Make TSA's 2021 Top Weird Airport Finds A passenger at Atlantic City International Airport was caught trying to smuggle bullets inside of a deodorant stick, while a passenger tried to bring what looked like and old-timey revolver through security at Newark Liberty International Airport Both Newark Liberty International Airport and Atlantic City International Airport made the list of the strangest finds, but couldn’t top a meth burrito and a chainsaw found at other airports. Maybe leave the chainsaw at home next time. Next time you're concerned about possibly going over allowed limit on liquids for your flight, take comfort in knowing that people have tried to get away with bringing far stranger — and more concerning — things on an airplane. The Transpotation Security Administration released its top 10 catches of 2021, and two New Jersey airports made the list. At number 10, a passenger at Atlantic City International Airport was caught trying to smuggle bullets inside of a deodorant stick in September. The photo showed a half dozen bullets, which appeared to have been hidden (not very well, apparently) under the deodorant stick. The TSA called it a "creative attempt to subvert security, but of course an X-ray machine can detect bullets!" The agency also said that the passenger "must have been sweating bullets." Coming in at number 9 was Newark Liberty International Airport, where a passenger tried to bring a long-barreled revolver with a wooden grip through the security checkpoint in August. "It was the type of handgun that you might have seen pulled during one of several movie shootouts in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' the 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' or 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,'" the TSA said in a release. Guns are not permitted to be carried through security checkpoints, the agency said, even if they are old-timey. The rest of the list had plenty of head-scratching items on there as well, perhaps none as strange and befuddling as the meth burrito found at Hobby International Airport in Houston. It appeared that the drugs were wrapped inside, along with what seemed to be the standard ingredients for a burrito. Other items included: a firearm buckle found at Honolulu International Airport in Hawaii; a cleaver at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania; bear spray at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida; a machete at Reagan Washington International Airport in Virginia; fireworks at Syracuse Hancock International Airport; a wine holder that looked like a revolver at Sacramento International Airport in California; and a chainsaw at New Orleans International Airport. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/weird/meth-burritos-and-deodorant-ammo-2-nj-airports-make-tsas-2021-top-weird-airport-finds/3491685/ Delta Air Lines battles with nation’s largest flight attendant union over shortened Covid sick leave • Delta sent the Association of Flight Attendants a cease-and-desist letter last week over comments on social media about the airline’s sick policy. • Delta urged the CDC to reduce its isolation guidelines for breakthrough cases of Covid, warning about employee shortages and flight cancellations, which later materialized, despite the new policies. Delta Air Lines sent the country’s largest flight attendant union a cease-and-desist letter after its president criticized the company’s shortened sick leave policy for staff with Covid-19. Last Thursday, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, tweeted that the union was getting “multiple reports” that Delta “is telling workers across work groups that they should come to work w/ symptoms even if someone in the household tested positive.” She also said that positive workers were told to “come to work after 5 days if the fever is below 100.9, even if still testing positive.” A day later, Peter Carter, Delta’s chief legal officer sent AFA the letter. “Not only is this information false, but it is actionable because it places Delta in a highly negative light by suggesting Delta was asking employees to work while they were ill,” said Carter’s letter. “Such irresponsible conduct is inappropriate, defamatory and must cease immediately.” Nelson, whose union doesn’t represent Delta’s flight attendants but began an organizing drive there in November 2019, defended her comments and said Delta’s policies have confused flight crews. “Delta’s policy now refers to being asymptomatic before returning to work, which was a serious concern as that CDC guidance was initially omitted from Delta’s policy announcement,” she wrote to Delta CEO Ed Bastian on Tuesday. “But we are still getting questions from Delta flight attendants about returning to work with a low grade fever and about the fact that Delta’s current policy only recommends to test before returning to work and does not require a test.” Delta updated its Covid sick leave policy on Dec. 28 to five days off with pay protection — reduced from 10 days — that doesn’t require staff to use days in their sick banks. Staff can get an additional two days if they test positive again on the fifth day. “Delta has always followed the science to form our policies regarding COVID-19,” a Delta spokesman said Tuesday. “We sent a cease and desist letter because we believe institutions and leaders must speak carefully, truthfully, and factually.” The carrier had asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to halve its recommended isolation time for breakthrough Covid infections to five days, warning about staff shortages and flight cancellations, which later materialized. JetBlue Airways and other carriers asked for the same change. CDC had updated its guidance on Dec. 27, after loosening recommendations for health care workers. Cancellations from staff out sick from Covid and a series of winter storms surpassed 20,000 between Christmas and the first week of the year. United Airlines, which still has 10 days of pay protection in place for crews with Covid, said Tuesday that it would further trim its schedule, with 3,000 workers, about 4% of its U.S. staff, positive for the coronavirus. Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines give employees 10 days of pay protection if they test positive for Covid. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/11/delta-air-lines-battles-with-nations-largest-flight-attendant-union-over-shortened-covid-sick-leave.html FAA briefly halted West Coast flights amid North Korean missile scare Exchanges between pilots and air traffic controllers that cropped up on social media late Monday suggested landings were off limits in portions of California and Oregon. The FAA acknowledged it had halted traffic for less than 15 minutes at "some airports along the West Coast on Monday evening" as a "matter of precaution." | Eric Risberg/AP Photo A North Korean missile launch prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to ground flights for a short time at some West Coast airports Monday out of an abundance of caution. The temporary "ground stop" — an order that curtails landings at certain airports most often used during bad weather — prompted a brief mystery about what the threat was that shuttered landings for at least some airports on the West Coast. The FAA acknowledged it had halted traffic for less than 15 minutes at "some airports along the West Coast on Monday evening" as a "matter of precaution," though it did not explicitly tie the decision to North Korea's missile launch. The FAA didn't immediately answer questions about which airports were affected, but exchanges between pilots and air traffic controllers that cropped up on social media late Monday suggested landings were off limits in portions of California and Oregon. Speaking at an event at the Port of Long Beach on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the FAA's bottom line is to maintain safe operations. "We'll err on the side of caution to make sure that the airspace is safe at all times," Buttigieg said. "The FAA regularly takes precautionary measures," the FAA continued. But those precautionary measures don't usually include ground stops for missile scares. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, which is responsible for monitoring the airspace over the U.S. and Canada, said it did not issue a warning to the FAA to order the ground stop. However, a U.S. official with knowledge of the situation, who spoke anonymously to discuss internal procedures, told POLITICO Tuesday that government officials from multiple agencies and commands participate in the threat assessment process, including the FAA. The official suggested that the FAA may have acted out of precaution prior to NORAD's final determination being issued. Ultimately NORAD found that the missile launch was of no threat to the continental U.S. An airline official, also speaking on condition of anonymity to speak candidly, attributed the ground stop to the government "simply being hyper-cautious" and noted that it didn't last for long and was only on West Coast. "There was no real threat," the official said. The FAA and Department of Transportation declined to address the issue further. “We are reviewing the process around this ground stop as we do after all such events,” the FAA said. The missile was launched from the Jagang province near the border with China. Defense ministries from South Korea and Japan determined the missile landed in the ocean between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/11/faa-west-coast-flights-north-korea-526894 NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on Fatal Learjet Crash Near El Cajon The Learjet 35 crashed on Dec. 27, killing all four people aboard A little over two weeks after a fiery crash that killed four people in East County, the National Transportation Safety Board has released the results of its preliminary investigation. NTSB Preliminary Report There seemed to be no bombshells contained within the report, which details the moments leading up the crash on Dec. 27 when the plane came down on the roadway of Pepper Drive near North Mollison, 1.4 miles away from Gillespie Field, where it had been scheduled to land. Two crew members and two flight nurses were killed in the crash Monday about 1.4 miles from the runway at Gillespie Field, reports NBC 7's Alexis Rivas. The report confirms that the aircraft had been on an instrument approach before switching to a visual approach for Runway 27R and asked air traffic control to increase the power to the runway light, only to be told that the illumination was already at 100%. The report does say, however, that the the Learjet 35 struck a set of power lines prior to the crash, creating a debris field 186 feet long and 90 feet wide. Pilots Douglas James Grande, 45, and Julian Jorge Bugaj, 55, and flight nurses Laurie Gentz, 68, and Tina Ward, 52, were killed in the crash. Four people were killed Monday when a Learjet came down in the residential neighborhood, reports NBC 7's Dana Griffin. The plane was being operated by the Aeromedevac company, which is based in El Cajon and offers air ambulance and air-transport services for critical care patients. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ntsb-issues-preliminary-report-on-fatal-learjet-crash-near-el-cajon/2836393/ Four people, including infant, survive crash of medical transport helicopter DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. — Four people survived when a helicopter transporting a pediatric medical patient crashed in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, authorities said Tuesday. "At this time, there are no reported (injuries) to the public, responders, and only minor injuries to one of the helicopter crew members," police in Upper Darby Township tweeted. The helicopter was transporting an infant from Maryland to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Tim Boyce, Delaware County director of emergency services, said the infant was safely taken to the hospital via ground transportation after the crash. According to officials, the helicopter crashed in front of a church in Drexel Hill just before 1 p.m. ET. Flight tracking website FlightAware shows the helicopter lifting off from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania — 108 miles to the west — about 45 minutes earlier. A crew member helped get everyone to the top of the aircraft, Boyce said. The Federal Aviation Administration said the craft was a Eurocopter EC135 and the National Transportation Safety Board would lead the investigation. NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris said: "The NTSB is investigating. I will share additional information when I have it." The helicopter is registered to Air Methods and was from the LifeNet program. Air Methods provides medevac helicopter services using "the world's largest civilian fleet" of 400 helicopters in 48 states, according to a company website. "Our team will cooperate fully with (FAA and NTSB) efforts to assess the cause of this unfortunate accident," Air Methods spokesperson Doug Flanders said. Around the time of the crash, the weather in the area was partly cloudy. Winds were gusting around 20 mph, up to 25 mph just before noon. Medevac helicopters have repeatedly come under fire from NTSB investigators who say more needs to be done to improve the safety of emergency medical flight operations. A 2018 crash of an Air Methods medevac helicopter in Wisconsin killed three on board, with the NTSB citing the pilot's loss of control. https://www.kcra.com/article/four-people-survive-crash-of-medical-transport-helicopter/38739928# PIA Looking to Save Money By Reducing Number of Employees • Airline looks to bring ratio of employees to aircraft down to 220 per aircraft. Jan. 11—Karachi(Dawn/ANN) — Employee-to-aircraft ratio reduced to 260; airline likely to trim further fat from workforce. Rawalpindi: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plans to bring down its ratio of employees per aircraft in a bid to save billions over the coming year. The national flag carrier has cut the number of personnel with access to planes from 550 to 260, as part of ongoing reforms. A PIA spokesperson said that the airline would aim to bring this number down to 220 per aircraft this year. According to PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik, the reduction in the number of employees will save the airline up to Rs 8 billion per year, adding that the restructuring process would not compromise their productivity and standards. According to the spokesperson, this move would bring the airline at par with international aviation standards. The reduction in workforce was down to the initiation of the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), as well as the weeding out of fake degree holders and employees terminated on disciplinary grounds. While 1,900 employees opted for VSS, 837 individuals were terminated for possessing fake degrees and 1,100 on disciplinary grounds, the spokesperson said. In 2020, PIA had set itself a target of reducing the number of employees to 7,500-8,000 for 29 aircraft — over half of the total strength — through the VSS programme and a segregation of core and non-core functions. In a report submitted before the Supreme Court, the management had stated that it had 14,500 employees for a fleet of 29 planes, compared to 31,000 employees working for a fleet of 329 aircraft at Turkish Airlines. According to figures of aircraft-to-employees ratio submitted to the court at that time, Qatar Airways had 46,000 employees for a fleet of 240 aircraft, Emirates had 62,356 employees for 269 aircraft, Etihad Airways employed 21,530 people for 102 aircraft while PIA had 14,500 personnel for 29 aircraft. The PIA CEO further said that the airline also planned to induct the latest fuel-efficient aircraft in its fleet in the coming years, hoping that they would increase the airline's productivity and efficiency. During a recent press conference, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had said that while the Covid-19 pandemic had taken its toll on airlines across the globe, PIA had increased its revenue and decreased operational expenditures. He said PIA had inducted two new A320 aircraft in its fleet last year and four new A320s would be added to the fleet in mid-2022. He had also revealed that six planes, including two 777s and four A320s, whose leases were set to expire, have been re-acquired on ownership basis. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/news/21252792/pia-looking-to-save-money-by-reducing-number-of-employees NATA Welcomes Keith DeBerry as Senior Vice President of Safety & Education The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announces that Keith DeBerry has been named senior vice president of Safety and Education. DeBerry has served as NATA’s Senior Advisor of Regulatory Affairs (Maintenance) and liaison for its Aircraft Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee since January 2020. In his new full-time role, DeBerry will lead the development of safety education efforts, including programs that help members from across the industry plan for, implement, and develop SMS. “Keith brings 45 years of aviation experience to the NATA team, including more than two decades in FAA leadership roles. We are thrilled to have someone of his caliber with a passion for aviation and putting members first to lead our safety and education programs,” stated NATA President and CEO Timothy Obitts. “Keith’s extensive experience, in everything from maintenance and aviation safety oversight to SMS and education program development/implementation, as well as his passion for helping to kickstart next-generation careers in aviation, will be tremendously beneficial in advancing the success of both our members and the entire industry in these key areas.” Before joining NATA, DeBerry served as the FAA’s Academy Director. In this role, DeBerry led a workforce of over 400 federal employees and hundreds of contractors in providing high-quality, cost-effective learning solutions for thousands of aviation students each year. Additionally, DeBerry led the Regulatory Standards Training Division, where he was responsible for providing the FAA’s aviation safety inspectors and engineers technical training, and managed the Academy’s flight program, where he led the development and implementation of the FAA’s first flight program Safety Management System (SMS), utilizing the new Part 5 SMS rule. Throughout his 22-year federal career, DeBerry gained extensive experience leading, directing, and managing aviation safety oversight activities – preparing him for success in his role as the Supervisory Principal Maintenance Inspector for UPS Airlines, where he oversaw a workforce charged with Congressional mandated safety oversight of UPS Airlines’ 300 aircraft fleet. DeBerry served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he got his start as a maintenance technician and was later assigned as chief of maintenance for the Thunderbirds USAF Air Demonstration Squadron. DeBerry holds a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) and a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/trade-associations-events/press-release/21252459/national-air-transportation-association-nata-nata-welcomes-keith-deberry-as-senior-vice-president-of-safety-education China's homegrown jet seeks to spread its wings in Indonesia • Without standard certificate, ARJ21 struggles to be adopted by overseas carriers SHANGHAI/JAKARTA -- A jet emblazoned with the navy and yellow stripes of Indonesian carrier TransNusa took off for a test flight from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport last month. The ARJ21, developed by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, or COMAC, is the nation's first homegrown passenger plane. It is set to make its long-awaited overseas debut after receiving approval from Indonesia's Transportation Ministry, a significant step in China's jet ambitions. The plane seats from 78 to 90 passengers, and has been flying commercially in China since 2016. But the model has never been used by a carrier outside China. COMAC looks to finally break into overseas markets by leveraging its partnership with compatriot China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC). Approved for commercial flights in 2011, TransNusa Aviation used to operate several domestic routes out of El Tari Airport in eastern Indonesia before the coronavirus pandemic forced it to ground planes. The carrier is now preparing to resume service, including using new ARJ21s provided by its controlling shareholder and COMAC strategic partner CALC. CALC invested $28 million to obtain an indirect stake of 35.68% in TransNusa in March 2020. It also signed a deal with COMAC last year for the purchase and purchase rights to 60 total ARJ21s, part of which will go to TransNusa. ARJ21s have struggled to find overseas buyers, due to its lack of type certificate in the U.S. and Europe -- the de facto global standard for aviation safety. Because of this, China has promoted its homegrown jet mainly in countries where it holds more clout, such as in Africa and or among participants of Beijing's Belt and Road infrastructure-building initiative. In 2014, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang toured African nations to drum up interest in the ARJ21. The Republic of Congo agreed to buy three jets, granting the model a type certificate in 2016, and sending pilots to train in China in 2018. But global aircraft demand has plunged due to COVID-19. COMAC has not said whether it actually ended up delivering ARJ21s to the Republic of Congo. In response to headwinds overseas, COMAC began pursuing a strategy of vertical integration -- bringing aircraft production, leasing and flight operation all under one umbrella. CALC had announced plans to invest in an Indonesian carrier back in 2016, when it first entered into a partnership with COMAC. TransNusa is now awaiting approval to resume commercial flights, according to Indonesia's Transportation Ministry. The carrier looks to start flying again in the January-March quarter, and is eager to serve popular routes like Jakarta to Denpasar in the island of Bali. It also plans to obtain up to 30 ARJ21s by 2026, on top of its orders of Airbus A320neos, under its proposal to the ministry. But uncertainties remain. For one, Indonesia has not yet approved the ARJ21 for commercial flight. Industry insiders are also skeptical that a small regional airline with no active routes will buy dozens of new jets. "It's not realistic," one insider said. In addition, Indonesia and China are at increasing loggerheads over territorial issues in the South China Sea. China is Indonesia's largest trading partner, but despite this high degree of economic dependence, it is not certain that Jakarta will certify the ARJ21. In China, the ARJ21 has been adopted by major airlines, including China Southern Airlines and Air China, in addition to Chengdu Airlines, in which COMAC has a stake. Meanwhile, the plane has built up a solid safety record. China is expected to have 9,641 passenger aircraft in service in 2039, 2.5 times more than in 2019, according to COMAC and British aviation information company Cirium, surpassing the U.S. as the country with the world's largest commercial fleet. Will China be able to take advantage of its superior market size and its ample capital to expand overseas and punch a hole in an international aircraft market now dominated by Boeing and Airbus? The aviation community is keeping a close eye on the skies. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Aerospace-Defense/China-s-homegrown-jet-seeks-to-spread-its-wings-in-Indonesia Boeing wins annual jet order race on adjusted basis SEATTLE (Reuters) - Boeing Co bounced back to win the traditional annual order race against Airbus SE on an adjusted basis, but its European rival remained the world's largest planemaker based on the number of jets delivered, data showed on Tuesday. Shares in Boeing rose around 2% after the closely watched data showed it ended 2021 with 535 net orders after cancellations and conversions that were partially offset by regular accounting adjustments. Gross orders were 909. Excluding the upward accounting adjustments, which reflect a more positive view from Boeing on airlines' ability to take delivery, Boeing fell behind its rival with 479 orders. Airbus sold 771 airplanes in 2021, giving a net total of 507 after cancellations, almost twice its 2020 level. 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. Boeing largely met analyst expectations on aircraft deliveries, handing over a total of 340 aircraft to customers in 2021, up from 157 in 2020, but down from 380 in 2019 and a record 806 jets in 2018. Its 2021 numbers include a severely depressed delivery tally of 14 787 Dreamliner twin-aisles - compared to 41 in 2020 - as intensive inspections over production flaws compounded delays from the COVID-19 crisis. By comparison, Airbus delivered 611 jets in 2021, retaining its crown as the world's largest jetmaker for the third year running. In December, the latest data showed Boeing delivered 38 planes to customers, including 32 of its 737 MAX jets, one P-8 maritime patrol aircraft to Norway, and five widebodies. Boeing had 79 net orders for aircraft in December, after cancellations and instances where a buyer converted an order for one type of aircraft to another. That included an order for 50 737 MAX airplanes from Allegiant Air, seven jets for an unspecified customer, 19 767 freighters for United Parcel Service, and four 777 freighters for Atlas Air. Boeing continues to dominate booming sales of freighters as lockdowns boost e-shopping. It notched 84 orders for new production freighters, surpassing its previous record of 83 set in 2018. Airbus for its part booked the first orders for a new A350 freighter - albeit partially by swapping existing orders for passenger versions to the cargo planes. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-wins-annual-jet-order-160515262.html Advances in Space Transportation Systems Transforming Space Coast CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — From a seaside perch overlooking the hustle and bustle of ships coming and going at Port Canaveral on Florida’s east coast, Dale Ketcham reflects on decades of history with nostalgia. “I moved here and learned how to walk on Cocoa Beach three years before NASA was created” in 1958, he said. Not only can Ketcham trace his life alongside the U.S. space program, he’s had a firsthand view of the transformation of the economies of communities surrounding NASA’s Kennedy Space Center several times since the 1950s. “The space program continued to progress, but it was always government-focused,” said Ketcham, adding that the configuration did not bring long-term stability to the local workforce. “For 50 years roughly, Florida’s Space Coast was the place for launch” but not production of spacecraft, said Brian Baluta of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) of Florida’s Space Coast. Most of the equipment used in the Apollo and space shuttle programs in the last half of the 20th century was shipped to Florida for assembly.When Atlantis touched down in 2011 on the final shuttle mission, it marked the end of an era in human spaceflight, with painful economic consequences for the Space Coast. “The job losses started to pile up, and that happened to coincide with the Great Recession,” Baluta said.“And that was really a one-two punch for this area. In 2011, unemployment was 12% at that point. The economy and its outlook (were) not that strong.” Baluta’s organization responded by forging a plan to boost the fortunes of the area’s workforce — permanently. “It started with taking the unusual step of reaching out to the companies who were likely to produce the successor to the space shuttle," he said.“At the time, it was called the Crew Exploration Vehicle, and there wasn’t a contract for it yet,” he said. “But we reached out to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing — the companies that would likely compete and win for that contract. And we made the unusual pitch of, ‘If you win the contract, not only should you consider launching from Cape Canaveral, but you should consider assembling your spacecraft here.’” Diversify products The concept took off. “Just like diversifying a portfolio, if you diversify the area and your products, you can ride through those lows,” said Lockheed Martin’s Kelly DeFazio. Her company won the contract to create NASA’s next-generation spacecraft transporting humans back to the moon. The Crew Exploration Vehicle, now called Orion, is the crew capsule of the upcoming Artemis missions. Instead of making them elsewhere, some of Orion’s key components are pieced together at Lockheed Martin’s new STAR (Spacecraft, Test, Assembly and Resource) Center near Titusville, Florida, which is the former home of Space Camp and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. “This particular center here was an 18-month, $20 million investment by Lockheed Martin, and that is helping to expand the manufacturing footprint for the Space Coast and allowing us to increase throughput (output) over time to support the lunar mission,” said DeFazio, who is also a longtime resident of Florida’s Space Coast. She now oversees the work at STAR Center, which includes creating wiring harnesses and the application of thermal tiles that will protect the Orion capsule. Amid all the activity at STAR Center, DeFazio said local excitement is building. “I think that it will start to become very clear with the launch of Artemis 1 that there is a difference," said DeFazio. “And you know what? We’re going to take humans farther than they have ever gone before.” “When I was growing up with the original seven astronauts, it was really a frontier town,” Ketcham said. That Wild West frontier town description is also how he characterizes the present-day Space Coast, with government contractors and private companies jockeying for real estate and launch access. “In many ways, we’re going back. … The workforce is younger, particularly with Space X. They aren’t afraid to fail,” Ketcham said. ‘The more the merrier’ Space X, Blue Origin, and the Airbus and One Web partnership are just a few of the growing number of companies now with facilities near the rocket launch pads at Kennedy Space Center, thanks in part to the efforts of the EDC and organizations like Space Florida, where Ketcham now serves as vice president. “We just had an announcement this week that there will be a small launch company called Astra coming here to build small rockets for small satellites, which is a big new component of the space industry,” said Ketcham. “But we’ve also got Firefly, Relativity coming — and others will be coming after that.” The more the merrier said Ketcham, who believes the flurry of activity not only helps the local economy but also keeps the United States competitive globally in what he sees as a new international space race. China leading the race “The Chinese will put more rockets into orbit than we will because the Chinese are competitive, very smart, very capable, very well-resourced and very committed. And they are the major competitors in space,” Ketcham said. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson agrees. During a U.S. House of Representatives appropriations hearing conducted remotely last year, he signaled alarm over the recent successes in the Chinese space program, including landing a rover on the surface of Mars, and is concerned that their ambitions are not limited to the red planet. “They want to send three big landers to the south pole of the moon,” Nelson told members of Congress. “And that’s where the water is. And we are still a year or two away from a much smaller lander going there.” Nelson wants U.S. lawmakers to increase NASA’s funding so the agency can complete the Artemis program, which plans to return humans — including the first woman — to the moon, with Mars as an eventual destination. “I think that’s adding a new element as to whether or not we want to get serious and get a lot of activity going on landing humans back on the surface of the moon,” he said. https://www.voanews.com/a/advances-in-space-transportation-systems-transforming-space-coast-/6391463.html RTCA - FAA Administrator January 19 Webinar RTCA kicks off the 2022 webinar series featuring a conversation with FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. During this webinar, attendees will hear directly from Administrator Dickson on the agency’s key priorities for 2022. The Administrator’s opening remarks are followed by a conversation with RTCA President and CEO, Terry McVenes, on FAA’s priorities for infrastructure investment, certification reform, and safety plus international initiatives, workforce development plans and more. Webinar: January 19, 1pm ET. Register: https://bit.ly/34sxzpg 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