Flight Safety Information - January 13, 2022 No. 009 In This Issue : Incident: Emirates B773 at Dubai on Jan 9th 2022, rejected takeoff without clearance due to crossing aircraft : Incident: North Star AT72 at Thompson on Jan 4th 2022, engine shut down in flight : Incident: Ural A320 at Ekaterinburg on Jan 12th 2022, gear problem on departure : 'Those are hills': NTSB report shows pilot ignored safety warnings before Smokies crash : European carriers are flying thousands of near-empty planes this winter just to keep their airport slots : Air Force Awards Boom Supersonic $60 Million Contract For Aircraft Development : US expected to be short 12,000 pilots by next year : Gulfstream’s Fastest, Longest-Range Luxury Jet Boasts Next-Gen Sustainable Aerostructures : James Webb Space Telescope begins lining up its golden mirrors : 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: Emirates B773 at Dubai on Jan 9th 2022, rejected takeoff without clearance due to crossing aircraft An Emirates Boeing 777-300, registration A6-EQA performing flight EK-524 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Hyderabad (India), was accelerating for takeoff from Dubai's runway 30R when the crew was instructed to reject takeoff at high speed (above 100 knots over ground) due to a crossing aircraft. The aircraft slowed safely and vacated the runway via taxiway N4 behind the aircraft, that had crossed the runway. An Emirates Boeing 777-300, registration A6-EBY performing flight EK-568 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Bangalore (India), was taxiing for departure and was cleared to cross runway 30R from taxiway M5A to N4 and was entering the runway just when EK-524 began the takeoff roll. According to information The Aviation Herald received from two independent sources, EK-524 began their takeoff roll without ATC clearance. Tower subsequently instructed EK-524 to stop. According to information EK-524 may have reached 130 KIAS when they rejected takeoff. According to ADS-B data transmitted by the aircraft's transponder EK-524 had reached 100 knots over ground about 790 meters/2600 feet down the runway and about 1700 meters/5700 feet short of taxiway N4. EK-568 continued taxi and departed normally. EK-524 taxied back the holding point of runway 30R and departed about 30 minutes after the rejected takeoff. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f30b5c8&opt=0 Incident: North Star AT72 at Thompson on Jan 4th 2022, engine shut down in flight A North Star Air Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration C-FNIJ performing flight BF-503 from Thompson,MB to Brochet,MB (Canada), was climbing out of Thompson when the crew received indication of intermittent low oil pressure for the right hand engine (PW127F). The crew opted to return to Thompson. DUring the return the crew received indication of decreasing oil pressure for the right hand engine and decided to shut the engine down. The aircraft landed safely back in Thompson. The Canadian TSB reported an inspection revealed the oil cap had not been properly secured, in addition the check valve to prevent oil venting out if the cap is not secured was not functioning. All North Star aircraft are being inspected. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f30a8d5&opt=0 Incident: Ural A320 at Ekaterinburg on Jan 12th 2022, gear problem on departure An Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration VQ-BDM performing flight U6-223 from Ekaterinburg to St. Petersburg (Russia), was climbing out of Ekaterinburg's runway 26L when the crew stopped the climb at FL180 due to a problem with the gear doors that didn't close. The aircraft descended to FL060, burned off fuel and returned to Ekaterinburg for a safe landing on runway 26L about 115 minutes after departure. A replacement A321-200 registration VQ-BGY reached St. Petersburg with a delay of 5.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4f30a4cc&opt=0 'Those are hills': NTSB report shows pilot ignored safety warnings before Smokies crash The moments leading up to last month's fatal helicopter crash in Cosby, Tennessee, have been revealed, including the pilot's decision to ignore warnings about dangerous flying conditions in the Great Smoky Mountains — mountains he called just "hills," according to a preliminary federal report. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office has identified the pilot as Matthew Jones, 35, of Utah. Jones survived the crash and has since been released from the hospital, while passenger Julianne Gerritsen, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sheriff's Office has been told Jones and Gerritsen were partners, according to Jeff McCarter, deputy chief of investigations. Pilot told there's 'no way' to fly safely Gerritsen and Jones arrived at Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Airport from Utah the morning of Dec. 29 to pick up a helicopter they were leasing, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. Federal Aviation Administration records show Jones has a commercial pilot's license to operate helicopters. Jones flew around the airport's traffic pattern to make sure the helicopter, a four-passenger Robinson R44 II, was in working order. He was warned by multiple employees at the service center about the dangers of flying in the Smokies under the current weather conditions, the report said. Just before the crash, the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee, issued a hazardous weather outlook. The alert, issued for several counties including Sevier and Cocke, warned about thunderstorms, damaging winds and potential tornadoes. The report states an eyewitness who later called 911 when the helicopter crashed told authorities "it was extremely foggy that day." FAA records also show Jones has an instrument helicopter rating, which allows pilots to rely on instrumentation to navigate when skies are not clear. However, flight tracking provider FlightAware does not show an instrument flight rules plan was submitted for the Dec. 29 flight. Prior to takeoff, someone even showed Jones a book from the training room that included "controlled flight into terrain" crashes that happened in the area. His response? "Those are hills," according to the report. He also told employees about his 14 years of experience flying in the mountains. Another helicopter pilot met with Jones to ask about his plans for the flight. The report indicates Jones planned to fly toward Asheville, North Carolina, while following Interstate 40 to meet family in Raleigh. "The other helicopter pilot told him that the mountains east of (the airport) were 6,000 ft and 'there was no way he would make it there,'" the report said. "He also stated there were powerlines above the I-40 gorge." Helicopter flew out of fog before crash Jones took off and headed east around 2:15 p.m. The helicopter traveled through valleys at between 1,200 and 1,750 feet altitude, according to radar data cited in the report. A flight path map and data from FlightAware shows Jones turned in multiple directions during his short flight, rather than traveling in a typical straight line. An eyewitness called 911 after noticing the helicopter fly out of fog and crash into trees. The crash happened near the Sevier County and Cocke County line, roughly 15 minutes northeast of downtown Gatlinburg. • This preliminary radar data shows the flight path of a Robinson R44 helicopter from Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Airport to the site of the Dec. 29 crash that injured the pilot and killed his passenger. The pilot, identified by local authorities as Utah resident Matthew Jones, was warned multiple times by service center employees about the dangerous flying conditions before taking off but chose to ignore them, according to a preliminary NTSB report. "The cabin impacted the ground and was crushed forward with the tail boom raised behind the cabin," the report says. "The tail rotor was separated and resting on the right side of the wreckage." The engine was examined and showed no obvious damage. 'Mistakes of others' should be a lesson While it's too early to tell whether mechanical failure was involved, the NTSB report confirms continuity between the flight equipment and the controls. "Given the story that we're reading here from the encounters this guy had from other people at the scene, they were all trying to put a stop to what inevitably happened," said Robert Katz, a commercial pilot and flight instructor from Dallas with 40 years of experience. Katz told Knox News he does not personally pilot helicopters, but the aircraft type does not matter in this situation. It boils down to bad judgment and decision making, he said. "We're talking about a pilot here who is feeling invincible, feeling bulletproof, feeling like he can fly in between the raindrops," Katz told Knox News. "It is what has killed pilots over the decades and will continue to do so until the pilot community learns from the mistakes of others." Touchstone Helicopters, a California-based company that leases helicopters, owns the R44, according to the FAA. The NTSB report is preliminary, and the agency's investigation is ongoing. https://www.yahoo.com/news/those-hills-ntsb-report-shows-030027656.html EPA commits to regulating lead in aviation gasoline Victory: Most lead air pollution in the country comes from piston-engine aircrafts NEW YORK, NY — Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will take the necessary steps to regulate lead pollution from aircrafts, the largest source of lead emissions in the country. EPA said it will propose an endangerment finding on leaded aviation gasoline by the end of 2022 and finalize the endangerment finding in 2023. The endangerment finding is a necessary first step before EPA, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), can regulate lead in aviation gasoline. EPA’s actions stem from a petition that community groups represented by Earthjustice, together with the County of Santa Clara, California and the Town of Middleton, Wisconsin, filed in 2020. Though the use of leaded gasoline in most motor vehicles was banned 25 years ago, leaded aviation fuel is still used in nearly 170,000 piston-engine aircraft across 20,000 airports. EPA estimates that emissions from these airplanes account for about 70% of lead released into the atmosphere. According to an Earthjustice review of lead pollution data, airports with the highest lead emissions are located in a handful of states, including California, Florida, Arizona, Washington, and Colorado. “Lead causes adult mortality and irreversible damage to children, and it is high time that EPA regulate the country’s largest source of airborne lead emissions,” said Jonathan J. Smith, Earthjustice attorney. “Every day of delay means more people, including hundreds of thousands of children, are harmed by lead. We urge the FAA to support communities, counties, and EPA, in this much needed process.” Over 5 million people, including more than 360,000 children under the age of 5, live near at least one of the airports where piston-engine aircraft operate, according to EPA. Multiple studies have shown that children who live near airports have higher levels of lead in their blood. Most general aviation airports with the highest lead emissions are in communities of color. In August, a peer-reviewed study showed that leaded aviation gasoline increased blood lead levels among thousands of children living nearby a Santa Clara general aviation airport. Children living downwind of the airport had blood lead level increases on par with those detected during the peak of the Flint Water Crisis. In 2006 Friends of the Earth petitioned EPA to initiate an endangerment finding for leaded aviation gasoline and begin regulating this source of harmful lead emissions. In 2012 the agency said it planned to issue an endangerment finding in 2015, but that plan did not happen. Today, EPA committed to making this endangerment finding by 2023. Lead is widely known to be toxic, particularly to children, as it causes neurodevelopmental damage. QUOTES FROM OUR CLIENTS AND PARTNERS: “Alaska has 400 public airports, many in close proximity to Alaska Native communities and in diverse urban communities where children and other residents may be exposed to dangerous levels of lead,” said Pamela Miller, executive director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics. “We applaud Biden’s EPA for approving this petition and encourage the FAA to help us reach a ban on lead in aviation fuel. Preventing lead exposure is an urgent priority and environmental justice obligation that must be promptly addressed.” “Regulating leaded aircraft gasoline is a necessity to protect children’s health and address ongoing environmental injustices,” said& Dr. Jimena Diaz Leiva, science director of Center for Environmental Health, based in Oakland, California. “We commend Biden’s EPA for responding to this petition and urge FAA to support us in this effort.” “An endangerment finding for leaded avgas was a long time coming,” said Sandra Stahl, executive director, Montgomery-Gibbs Environmental Coalition, an organization from San Diego, California. “We look forward to the FAA and EPA ending the largest remaining source of lead air emissions in the United States.” “For too long the government let the largest source of lead in the air continue unregulated,” said Miki Barnes, Oregon Aviation Watch. “We applaud Biden’s EPA for taking action on leaded avgas and hope FAA helps this effort.” “This is welcome news for the health of airport workers, pilots, passengers, and children who live around airports,” said Marcie Keever, legal director for Friends of the Earth. “EPA has repeatedly concluded that lead is extremely toxic to humans and wildlife even at low doses. Communities have waited long enough for this announcement.” “The County of Santa Clara is encouraged by the steps that the EPA is taking,” said James Williams, County of Santa Clara County Counsel. “We have seen the severe impacts that leaded aviation fuel has in communities of color around Reid-Hillview Airport in Santa Clara County. We are taking immediate local action to respond to those impacts, but it is critical that we also have a long-term national strategy. We are thrilled that the EPA is taking strong action and hope that it results in a long-overdue ban of leaded aviation fuel nationwide.” https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2022/epa-commits-to-regulating-lead-in-aviation-gasoline European carriers are flying thousands of near-empty planes this winter just to keep their airport slots • The airport slot usage requirement, set by the European Commission, has sparked controversy and anger at a time of growing international concern over climate change and the carbon emissions created by the aviation industry. • Airlines have complained that other regions and continents are not imposing such requirements. • Airport bodies and the European Commission have pushed back against the criticism. Airlines in Europe this winter are flying passenger planes that are at times nearly empty in order to hold onto coveted take-off and landing spots at airports during a time of lower travel demand. Recent publicity around this usage requirement has sparked controversy and anger at a time of growing international concern over climate change and the carbon emissions created by the aviation industry. Airport industry representatives, meanwhile, are defending it, arguing for the need to maintain commercial viability, connectivity and competitiveness. Airlines have expressed frustration over so-called “use it or lose it” slot rules established by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, which was suspended in March 2020 as the industry was floored by the Covid-19 pandemic. It has since been brought back incrementally to now require airlines to use 50% of their allocated airport slots. That figure is scheduled to increase to 80% this summer. German carrier Lufthansa is among those airlines, and is already cutting some 33,000 flights over the winter season as the omicron variant hobbles demand. Still, it has to make 18,000 flights over the winter season to meet its slot use requirement, its CEO said. Its subsidiary Brussels Airlines is having to make 3,000 almost-empty flights by the end of March. “Due to the weak demand in January, we would have reduced significantly more flights,” Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr told a German newspaper in late December. “But we have to make 18,000 additional, unnecessary flights in winter just to secure our take-off-and-landing rights.“ He added: “While climate-friendly exemptions were found in almost all other parts of the world during the time of the pandemic, the EU does not allow this in the same way. That harms the climate and is exactly the opposite of what the EU Commission wants to achieve with its ‘Fit for 55’ program.” The “Fit for 55” program was adopted by Commission in July of 2021 to meet the new EU goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 55% by 2030. In the face of criticism from airlines and environmentalists, airport industry representatives are pushing back, saying there is “no reason” why the thousands of near-empty flights should be reality. Airports Council defends ‘vital air connectivity’ Airport industry body Airports Council International (ACI) expressed support for the European Commission’s position, arguing that its lowering of the airport slot use threshold to 50% was “designed to reflect the uncertainties of a badly hit market and fragile recovery for aviation.” “A few airlines are claiming they are forced to run high volumes of empty flights in order to retain airport slot usage rights. There is absolutely no reason why this should be the reality,” Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe, said in a statement in early January. He rejected the notion of completely empty “ghost flights” being flown, as have the airlines themselves, who say that rather than being completely empty, the flights often have very few passengers and would otherwise be canceled if it weren’t for the slot use requirement. “Low load factors have of course been a reality throughout the pandemic,” Jankovec said, “but the retention of vital air connectivity for both economic and societal imperatives is well documented ... Balancing commercial viability alongside the need to retain essential connectivity and protect against anti-competitive consequences is a delicate task.” Contradicting carbon reduction goals? Environmental activists are not impressed. ”‘Brussels Airlines makes 3,000 unnecessary flights to maintain airport slots’,” Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg wrote on Twitter last week, citing a headline of a Belgian newspaper. “The EU surely is in a climate emergency mode…” The aviation sector creates about 14% of the carbon emissions from overall transport, making it the second-biggest source of transport greenhouse gas emissions after road travel, according to the commission, which also says that if global aviation were a country, it would rank in the top 10 emitters. The European Commission says on its own website that “aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions” and that it “is taking action to reduce aviation emissions in Europe.” Belgian mobility minister Georges Gilkinet described the institution’s flight requirements as “environmental, economic and social nonsense.” He wrote to the European Commission this month to demand more flexibility for airlines to keep insufficiently booked planes on the ground. But a Commission spokesman said that the current 50% threshold is a sufficient reduction that reflects consumer demand and offers “much needed continued air connectivity to citizens.” Airlines seeking exemptions Lufthansa spokesman Boris Ogursky told CNBC on Wednesday that he believed the commission’s slot rule of 80% use for summer 2022 is “appropriate.” However, he noted, “air traffic has however still not normalized yet. Due to the development of new virus variants and the resulting travel restrictions, the situation remains volatile, so exemptions are still necessary.” “Not only next summer 2022, but also now in the current winter flight schedule 21/22, more flexibility would be needed in a timely manner,” Ogursky said. “Without these crisis-related flexibilities, airlines are forced to fly with almost empty planes just to secure their slots.” He added that this practice is not in place in regions outside of Europe. “Other regions of the world are taking a more pragmatic approach here, for example by temporarily suspending slot rules due to the current pandemic situation. That benefits the climate and the airlines.” ACI’s Jankovec highlighted a provision called “Justified Non-Use of Slots”, which allows airlines to present the case to their slot-coordinators, “allowing them to effectively use their allocated airport slots for less than 50% of the time,” he said. For Lufthansa, this provision isn’t very helpful, as it only allows airlines to exempt single flight connections, according to Ogursky: “This option cannot be applied to the majority of our weekly booked flights, resulting in the end to 18,000 unnecessary flights during the current winter schedule (Nov 21 – Mar 22),” he said. Brussels Airlines media relations manager Maaike Andries also clarified that the flights taking off to meet the airport slot use threshold are not empty; rather, for the coming winter season, some of the airline’s flights “are insufficiently filled to be profitable.” “These flights would normally be cancelled by us to make sure we don’t operate unnecessary flights from both an ecological and an economical point of view,” Maaike added. “However if we would cancel all those flights, this would mean we pass under the minimum limit to keep our slots. The same issue is valid for all carriers in Europe, as this is a European law.” “In other continents there have been made appropriate exceptions to the normal regulations, avoiding these unnecessary flights, but in Europe we are still in need of more flexibility.” https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/13/european-carriers-are-flying-near-empty-planes-this-winter-to-keep-airport-slots.html Air Force Awards Boom Supersonic $60 Million Contract For Aircraft Development Three-year deal establishes a partnership between the U.S. Air Force and the company aiming to build the fastest supersonic airliner. Overture, Boom’s supersonic commercial airliner concept, is set to enter production in 2023. The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boom Supersonic a three-year contract valued up to $60 million, establishing a strategic partnership that furthers development of the company’s commercial supersonic aircraft program that is also a potential platform for the service, according to the company. The Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract was awarded by the Air Force’s innovation arm, AFWERX, and will accelerate critical design and development work on Overture, Boom’s supersonic commercial airliner concept set to enter production in 2023, the company said Tuesday. The Denver, Colorado-based startup, which launched in 2014, aims to build the fastest supersonic airliner. Boom is currently developing its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator, which was formally revealed in October 2020, and Overture, a 65-88 passenger, Mach 1.7 supersonic airliner. Both the XB-1 and Overture share key technologies, such as advanced carbon fiber composites and a refined delta wing. Overture is slated to roll out in 2025. It’s expected to carry passengers by 2029, according to the company. The aircraft is designed to run on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuels and will cost about $200 million per copy. “[A] derivative of Overture could offer the Air Force a future strategic capability in rapid global transport and logistics,” the company said. “Potential users and applications include executive transport; intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance; special operations forces; and the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).” The partnership between the Air Force and the supersonic aircraft manufacturer is “mutually beneficial,” Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said in a statement. “With STRATFI, we’re able to collaborate with the Air Force on the unique requirements and needs for global military missions, ultimately allowing Boom to better satisfy the needs of the Air Force where it uses commercially-derived aircraft,” Scholl said. “As a potential future platform for the Air Force, Overture would offer the valuable advantage of time, an unmatched option domestically and internationally.” The contract is the second awarded by the service to Boom in little more than a year. In September 2020, the Air Force awarded a contract to Boom to explore use of the Overture aircraft for DOD executive transport of top military and government leadership. “The United States Air Force is constantly looking for technological opportunities to disrupt the balance of our adversaries,” Brig. Gen. Ryan Britton, program executive officer for Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate, said at the time. “Boom is an example of the American ingenuity that drives the economy forward through technological advances. We are extremely excited to team with them as we work to shrink the world and transform the future of executive airlift.” https://www.flyingmag.com/air-force-awards-boom-supersonic-60-million-contract-for-aircraft-development/ US expected to be short 12,000 pilots by next year (NewsNation Now) — Airlines across the country have been met with staffing shortages and flight cancellations since the start of the pandemic. Now, the U.S. is projected to be short 12,000 pilots by 2023, according to an Oliver Wyman study. Early retirement is to blame for the expected shortfall. Last year, roughly 18,000 Delta employees accepted buyouts and early retirement packages. The International Air Transport Association estimates that in 2020 over 1.9 million employees worldwide lost their jobs in the airline industry. In an effort to combat the shortage, Delta Air Lines announced last week a change to its pilot hiring requirements. The company has decided to make its four-year college degree “preferred” rather than “required” for first officer candidates, effective immediately. While we feel as strongly as ever about the importance of education, there are highly qualified candidates – people who we would want to welcome to our Delta family – who have gained more than the equivalent of a college education through years of life and leadership experience. Making the four-year degree requirement preferred removes unintentional barriers to our Delta flight decks. Staffing shortages and COVID outbreaks have riddled the airline industry and continue to impact flights daily. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said this week that 3,000 employees currently have tested positive for COVID-19. He has credited the company’s vaccine requirement for saving lives and keeping employees on the job. https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/coronavirus/us-expected-to-be-short-12000-pilots-by-next-year/ Gulfstream’s Fastest, Longest-Range Luxury Jet Boasts Next-Gen Sustainable Aerostructures Gulfstream’s G800 is turning out to be a real show-stopper. Not only is it the fastest business jet in the company’s history and the one with the longest range, but it will also be built with innovative sustainable aerostructures that make it lightweight and contribute to reduced carbon emissions. The G800 will feature the latest lightweight thermoplastic technology that reduces emissions It was in October 2021 when the world-renown business and private jet builder unveiled the new G800, an outstanding ultra-long-haul aircraft featuring the latest technology. In addition to reaching nine-tenth of the speed of sound, the new jet is capable of flying for over 8,000 nautical miles (9,206 miles/14,816 km). Although it’s equipped with the same high-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 turbofan engines as the previous G700, it offers greater fuel efficiency. In terms of design, this highly-performant jet will benefit from cutting-edge thermoplastic technology, thanks to a recent agreement between Gulfstream and the renowned GKN Aerospace. GKN is now the official supplier for the new G800 and G400 business jets, which will feature sustainable lightweight aerostructures. GKN will be in charge of the G800’s empennage (the aircraft’s tail section), including the rudder and elevators, plus its floorboards, as well as the G400’s wing skins. According to GKN, the sustainable thermoplastics used for these components will save a minimum of 10% of the overall weight compared to traditional materials, which helps reduce carbon emissions. GKN experts will work together with the Gulfstream engineering team in order to integrate these materials into the manufacturing process. The next-generation business jets will be produced at the Papendrecht and Hoogeveen in the Netherlands, the Chihuahua facility in Mexico, and at Wellington, in the U.S. In addition to its impressive performance and luxurious interiors, the new G800 will also be an example of sustainable technology – one of the latest trends in the aviation sector. The ultra-long-range jet is expected to start being delivered to customers by 2023. https://www.autoevolution.com/news/gulfstreams-fastest-longest-range-luxury-jet-boasts-next-gen-sustainable-aerostructures-179016.html James Webb Space Telescope begins lining up its golden mirrors The procedure will take about three months all told. Just weeks after the excitement of launch, the James Webb Space Telescope is already seeking focus in space. Engineers are beginning alignment procedures for the recently unfolded 18-segment massive golden mirror. The work will eventually get these individual reflectors working as a single focusing device, NASA officials wrote in a blog update posted on Wednesday (Jan. 12). The procedure began with engineers commanding 132 actuators that will move and position the primary mirror segments and the secondary mirror, just to make sure everything was responded as expected. The team also ensured the actuators are working to guide Webb's fine steering mirror, which will be used during the image stabilization process. The observatory team will spend about 10 days working to move the mirror segments out of their launch alignments, with more precise work continuing beyond that time. The goal is to get all of Webb's pieces working as a single observatory in space, which will be essential for the telescope's ambitious agenda of telling us more about the early universe and the life history of various objects that are a part of it. NASA estimates that all told, the alignment will take about three months, which should bring this work into mid-April as long as everything runs to schedule. Webb launched on Dec. 25 and may have enough fuel for 20 years of science thanks to the precision of the launch, but that all depends on the mirrors working properly. "Ground teams have now begun instructing the primary mirror segments and secondary mirror to move from their stowed-for-launch configuration, off of snubbers that kept them snug and safe from rattling from vibration," NASA said. "These movements will take at least ten days, after which engineers can begin the three-month process of aligning the segments to perform as a single mirror." Webb is still en route to a "parking spot" called Earth-sun Lagrange Point 2 (L2) about 930,000 miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from our planet. It will make an engine firing on Jan. 23 to glide toward that zone. The next-generation telescope must complete about six months of commissioning activities, then will embark on a suite of early science programs this summer, spanning everything from studying exoplanets to probing the beginning of the universe. https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-begins-mirror-alignment 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