Flight Safety Information - October 4, 2022 No.191 In This Issue : Incident: Flydubai B738 at Chittagong on Sep 29th 2022, bird strike : Incident: SATA DH8D at Funchal on Sep 27th 2022, cabin pressure problems : EU’s technical team arriving in Nepal for air safety audit : Nine states earn special ICAO Council President recognition of their aviation safety and security oversight achievements : Turnaround time of flights under DGCA watch to ensure aircraft safety (India) : FAA to announce rule allowing more rest for flight attendants : Two Transavia aircraft divert as passenger slips through Rotterdam Airport security : Record number of firearm detections at Boston Logan International Airport now at 22 : An American Airlines passenger was hit in the head by a food cart that came loose during landing, the FAA says : How Has Aviation Safety Improved Over The Years? : US DOT approves Delta Airlines and LATAM Airline joint venture : KITE GETS FUNDING FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR BASED ON IMPROVED MAGNETIC MATERIAL : Russia plans to build 1,000 aircraft by 2030, using local parts : Marines make 6,100-mile trans-Pacific flight in Ospreys : Alice, the World’s First All-Electric Passenger Plane, Just Aced Her Maiden Flight : SpaceX rolls rocket to pad ahead of Crew-5 astronaut launch : Position Available: Flight Operations Quality Assurance Analyst : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Flydubai B738 at Chittagong on Sep 29th 2022, bird strike A Flydubai Boeing 737-800, registration A6-FGG performing flight FZ-591 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Chittagong (Bangladesh), was on final approach to Chittagong's runway 23 when an engine (CFM56) ingested a bird. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 19 hours, then departed for the return flight and reached Dubai with a delay of about 17 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=4ff043e8&opt=0 Incident: SATA DH8D at Funchal on Sep 27th 2022, cabin pressure problems A SATA Air Acores de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration CS-TRF performing flight S4-161 from Funchal to Ponta Delgada (Portugal), was climbing through FL240 when the crew initiated a rapid descent to FL130 levelling off at FL130 about 4 minutes later and returned to Funchal for a safe landing on runway 05 about 45 minutes after departure. A passenger reported they were told about a pressurization issue causing the return to Funchal. https://avherald.com/h?article=4feed616&opt=0 EU’s technical team arriving in Nepal for air safety audit KATHMANDU, Sept 30: A technical team of the European Union (EU) is all set to arrive in Nepal to audit Nepal’s aviation safety. The visit of the technical team is expected to lift Nepal’s aviation sector from the EU’s Air Safety List for nearly 10 years now. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the team would arrive in Nepal immediately after the Dashain festival and would conduct an air safety audit in the country’s aviation sector. CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula shared that the team is arriving in Nepal in the second week of October. As Nepal has made improvements in air safety rate lately, there are chances of the removal of Nepal from the EU’s air safety list. Earlier, a technical team had arrived in Nepal in 2014. This team will conduct the audit for five days in various eight areas such as legislation, organization, personal licensing, flight operation, accident investigation, aerodrome and ground aids and air navigation service, according to Spokesperson Niraula. According to Niraula, Nepal was above average in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s audit report. After the EU’s team conducts an air safety audit, the Nepali airlines will be allowed to fly in Europe, he said. Earlier in 2013, ICAO had put Nepal's air service in the list of serious security concerns (SSS), citing increasing risk in Nepal's aviation security. Later in 2017, the ICAO removed Nepal from SSS list, saying it made progress in the aviation security sector. The global air security rate of the Asia Pacific Region has now reached 67. The recent safety audit conducted by ICAO mentioned that Nepali sky is now safe. Nepal had got 70.1 per cent in ICAO's safety audit. Although ICAO said that Nepal's aviation sector is safe, the EU has not yet removed Nepal from the blacklist. The CAAN has been demanding time and again to remove Nepal from the blacklist. The European Commission under EU in 2013 had put Nepal on the blacklist showing serious concern over Nepal's aviation sector. The EU had put Nepal in the blacklist showing concern on Nepal's air safety soon after ICAO put Nepal in the SSS list. Basis of removal from security concern list CAAN spokesperson Niraula said EU would remove Nepal from the security list as the security issues raised by EU have been addressed and the status of air safety in Nepal has improved. "Nepal will be removed from the EU's negative security list. We have made significant progress in terms of air security. Many things have been improved," he asserted. Nepal's security rate was lower in the ICAO audit at that time. The EU had put Nepal in the security list based on this audit. Nepal's security rating has climbed according to the ICAO's latest audit and the EU team is coming to Nepal as per the CAAN's request that it was no longer proper to keep Nepal in the security list, Niraula added. "Even the ICAO has confirmed the improvement in Nepal's air safety situation as against the issue which it had raised earlier. The air accident rate has also gone down of late. On this basis, we are hopeful that the EU will remove Nepal from its negative air safety list," Niraula said. The international airlines registered in Nepal have not been able to operate flights over the EU due to the negative air safety list. Nepal Airlines Corporation and Himalaya Airlines cannot operate flights in European skies. However, European airplanes can easily fly in the Nepali sky. https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/eu-s-technical-team-arriving-in-nepal-for-air-safety-audit/?categoryId=81 Nine states earn special ICAO Council President recognition of their aviation safety and security oversight achievements Montréal, 29 September 2022 – During the opening ceremony of the ICAO 41st Assembly this week, ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano recognized nine States’ significant progress in improving safety and security oversight systems by awarding them with Council President Certificates. These Certificates are awarded on the basis of the outcomes of ICAO’s Universal Safety and Security Oversight Audit Programmes, which pertain to the effective implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in these areas. At this year’s ceremony, ICAO presented Ethiopia, Fiji, Honduras, Slovenia, and Ukraine with certificates for their safety progress, while Serbia, and Tunisia were recognized for their achievements in regard to aviation security. Côte D’Ivoire received certificates for its progress in both aviation safety and aviation security. The President of the Council also took the opportunity to acknowledge Nigeria’s exceptional level of effective implementation of ICAO safety and security standards, one of the highest in the world, reflecting the organization’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative, with the ICAO support provided to States for the implementation of ICAO policies, global plans and SARPs. The effective implementation of ICAO’s global Standards and Recommended Practices by States is key to the optimization and alignment of the 193 regulatory frameworks that govern international civil aviation. This in turn is critical to the safety and security of global aviation, which underpin its ability to act as a catalyst for sustainable development worldwide. While normally issued annually, the presentation of these certificates was interrupted along with the rest of global aviation due to the pandemic. The 2022 ceremony therefore represented the reinstatement of this important global recognition programme. https://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/Nine-states-earn-special-recognition-of-their-aviation-safety-and-security-oversight-achievements.aspx Turnaround time of flights under DGCA watch to ensure aircraft safety (India) The turnaround process of an aircraft at an airport is important for the overall efficiency of airlines. The move is to ensure there was sufficient time for all engineering checks in line with the global norms NEW DELHI : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is keeping a close watch on the turnaround time at airports for all flights of domestic airlines to prevent technical glitches, two people aware of the development said. “The move is to ensure there was sufficient time for all engineering checks in line with the global norms," an official in the know said, seeking anonymity. The DGCA has also devised a method to calculate the flight time on a route, and the turnaround time required at airports for routine inspections between the arrival and departure of a flight to ensure more efficiency in flight operations and to prevent technical glitches, he added. The turnaround process of an aircraft at an airport is important for the overall efficiency of airlines besides having an impact on revenue generation. The turnaround process is a joint effort of the ground team as well as flight crew. Besides loading and unloading, aircraft checks involve inspection of the exteriors and interiors. A faster turnaround time ensures that a plane is airbound for more time and, thereby, the window for revenue generation is higher. The turnaround time varies between 30 minutes and 90 minutes depending on onboard services and the distance travelled. “The aim is to ensure airlines are not cutting corners and the checks are done as per protocol in a time-bound but disciplined manner," the official said. The regulator had also conducted a special audit of airlines in July-August following a spurt in incidents related to technical glitches. DGCA had said that the primary reason for increased engineering-related incidents was due to insufficient certifying staff who failed to detect faults or defects in aircraft and report it properly. The regulator had then directed the airlines to appoint required type-rated certifying staff at all stations to ensure that any defect in an aircraft is properly rectified before it is certified for operations. In fact, the regulator had also restricted low-cost airline SpiceJet from operating 100% of its capacity, considering that it did not have adequate staff in its technical and engineering teams. The airline is still operating only up to 50% of its capacity. https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/turnaround-time-of-flights-under-dgca-watch-to-ensure-aircraft-safety-11664824683571.html FAA to announce rule allowing more rest for flight attendants QUEENS, NY - MAY 04: Passengers and flight attendants aboard a flight from LaGuardia Airport bound for Kansas City International Airport on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in Queens, NY. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (CNN) — Federal aviation officials plan to announce Tuesday that flight attendants will soon get more mandated rest time between flights, two sources familiar with the announcement tell CNN. Flight crew unions have fought hard for the change, saying that flight attendants are heavily fatigued and overworked after shifts as long as 14 hours. Airlines were told of the coming rule changes by the Federal Aviation Administration last week, a source familiar with the policy said. Current FAA rules mandate that in most cases, an airline provides a flight attendant a nine-hour rest period after being on duty 14 hours or less. Late last year, the FAA opened public comment on a proposed regulatory change that would increase the rest period to 10 hours between shifts. The change was first approved by Congress in 2018 but was not put in place by the Trump Administration. Last week, House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) called seeing the rules completed a priority before his upcoming retirement. The FAA is holding a news conference Tuesday at Reagan National Airport with Acting Administrator Billy Nolen for what it says is a "major announcement." The FAA declined CNN's request for comment. Rough time for flight attendants With a surge in demand as pandemic restrictions eased, 2022 has been hard on flight attendants. Allie Malis, who is also the government affairs representative at the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, a union representing American Airlines air crew, told CNN Travel this past summer about "uncomfortable" situations where crew, delayed on incoming flights, find themselves sprinting through the airport to make their next job. The flight attendants say situations like these, along with unpredictable schedules, wreak havoc on crew mental and physical well-being. It's not just in the United States where flight attendants say they are being run ragged. "Sickness levels have gone through the roof, fatigue levels have gone through the roof, not because [flight attendants are] rejecting or they're protesting in any way. It's just that they can't cope -- they just can't cope with the constant changes," says British flight attendant Kris Major. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/faa-new-rule-flight-attendants-more-rest/index.html Two Transavia aircraft divert as passenger slips through Rotterdam Airport security In the evening of 3 October, a Transavia Boeing 737-700 (registered PH-BGH) operated flight HV5023 between Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and Malaga, Spain, but was forced to divert to Madrid because a passenger boarded the aircraft in Rotterdam without a valid boarding card. Upon landing, Spanish police disembarked the female passenger. This news was confirmed by Transavia and the Royal Dutch Marechaussee to the Dutch newspaper De Gelderland. After landing in Madrid, the captain of the flight explained to passengers that the Russian woman pressed the emergency button at the security checkpoint in Rotterdam, which brought everything to a standstill, and consternation arose. Without being checked, she fled onto the tarmac and boarded the nearest aircraft, without a valid boarding card. As soon as the Marechaussee discovered the breach, they immediately informed the captain of the flight, after which he decided to divert to Madrid, a spokesperson of Transavia explained. The passenger was interrogated by the Spanish police, while the cabin crew performed an additional check for possible items that didn’t go through security at Rotterdam. Later in the evening, the flight continued to Malaga, where the flight landed with a delay of over four hours. Not only the flight to Malaga made an extra stop, flight HV6093 between Rotterdam and Faro, Portugal, made a diversion to Bordeaux, France, as – initially – it was believed that the stowaway passenger was on that flight. When it appeared that she was on another flight, the crew already started the approach towards Bordeaux. Finally, the Boeing 737-700 (registered PH-BGI) landed in Faro with a delay of 1 hour and 20 minutes. https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-france-klm-group/transavia/two-transavia-aircraft-divert-as-passenger-slips-through-rotterdam-airport-security/ Record number of firearm detections at Boston Logan International Airport now at 22 BOSTON – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a male passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane on Sunday at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). During Sunday morning security screening in Terminal C, TSA officers detected a firearm in a passenger’s carry-on bag. Massachusetts State Police (MSP) responded and discovered a loaded .9mm firearm. The firearm also had a round chambered. MSP then took possession of the firearm and informed the New Hampshire man he would receive summons to appear in court. “Our TSA officers were on it once again in preventing a firearm from entering the cabin of an aircraft,” said Bob Allison, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “Carelessly traveling with a loaded firearm is dangerous and a public safety concern, considering it could accidentally be discharged during a search. Gun owners need to ensure they know where their firearm is before traveling to the airport." There have been 31 firearm detections at New England security checkpoints in 2022, 22 at BOS, 3 at PVD, 3 at BDL, 2 at BGR and 1 at MHT. TSA officers have now detected 22 firearms at BOS security checkpoints this year, two more than the previous record of 20 in 2018. Despite its record number of firearms this year, BOS currently ranks 51st in checkpoint firearm detections at U.S. federalized airports. TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. A typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun into a checkpoint is $4,100 and can go as high as $13,669 depending on any mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. If a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges. Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case and declared at the airline check-in counter. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/10/03/record-number-firearm-detections-boston-logan-international-airport An American Airlines passenger was hit in the head by a food cart that came loose during landing, the FAA says • A plane passenger was struck by a food cart that came loose during landing, according to the FAA. • The incident happened aboard an American Airlines Airbus A321 while it was landing in Rhode Island. • The passenger received a minor injury, per the FAA. The flight continued to operate as normal. By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. A passenger was struck in the head by a food cart aboard an American Airlines flight, according to a Federal Aviation Administration incident report. The food cart aboard American Airlines flight AA2566 "came loose" while the plane was landing at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, which serves Providence, on September 28, according to an update on the regulator's Incident Notification board posted early the following day. The passenger, who received a minor injury, was the only person injured in the incident, per the FAA. The Airbus A321, which had the registration N172US landed at 10:30 p.m., after departing Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina just under two hours earlier, per the flight tracking service Flight Aware. The plane and flight have continued to operate as normal since the incident. The FAA did not provide an update on the condition of the passenger, or their identity in the post. Both the FAA and American Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for further comment, made outside normal business hours. A spokesperson for American Airlines told the Independent that two customers were transported to the hospital for further evaluation following the incident, which happened when a food cart "inadvertently came loose." It is not clear if the second passenger mentioned by American Airlines was injured, or merely accompanied the injured passenger mentioned by the FAA to the hospital. "Our team has been in contact with customers who were affected to apologize. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority and we are reviewing this issue," the spokesperson said, per the Independent. Incidents like the one on AA flight 2566 are, thankfully, a rarity, though in August, a Southwest flight attendant suffered a broken back during a landing, which was so hard that she thought it had crashed. https://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-passenger-injured-by-food-cart-during-landing-faa-2022-10 How Has Aviation Safety Improved Over The Years? Flying today is safer than it has ever been for several reasons. Passengers must check if their destination has a face mask requirement. Despite the two fatal accidents involving the Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2019 and 2020, the aviation industry has been the safest it has ever been. For the last 100 years, engineers and safety experts have worked hard to improve aircraft reliability and safety at all levels. New technology, better training, and risk management has also played a big part in making flying safer than ever before. We hear it all the time, and while it does not seem to make sense after, say, the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in which all 157 passengers and flight crew were killed, flying remains the safest form of travel. Despite the fatal and high-profile crashes of the Lion Air and Ethiopian MAXs, air travel is, in fact, safer than ever. Flying is safer than any other form of transport According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), flying fatalities per billion kilometers traveled by plane is 0.003%. By train, the figure jumps to 0.27 and by automobile to a massive 2.57. Statistically speaking, you have a much higher chance of being killed while riding your bicycle than in an airplane. Even dying after being hit by lightning is more likely than being killed in a plane crash. In a nutshell, dying in a plane crash in North America or Europe, where aviation is subject to strict rules, is around 29 million to one. Airport safety has improved significantly Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the safety checks before a passenger is allowed to board an aircraft are much stricter. Long gone is the worry that the plane may be hijacked like they were in the 1970s and 80s. In fact, since 9/11, there has not been a single hijacking of an aircraft in 21 years. Flying is still the safest way to travel. An agreement on safety standardization and government regulations has helped in the following ways: Pilots from aviation authorities and government agencies regularly fly with commercial pilots in the cockpit to ensure they obey the rules. Civil aviation authorities oversee and review airline training procedures, audit maintenance records and ensure airport security is operating at the highest level. Agencies often assign one of their employees to act as a maintenance inspector at an airline to ensure all procedures and record keeping is being done correctly. Agencies send employees to oversee aircraft manufacturing facilities where they can check aircraft designs and ensure no corners are being cut when building aircraft. Because of the safety measures, fatal air crashes have declined every decade since the 1950s. This is an incredible feat if you consider how many people are flying today compared to then. In 1959, a total of 40 fatal planes crashed for every million flights in the United States. Ten years later, this figure had declined to less than two fatal accidents for every million flights. Today the number is down to 0.1 for every million departures. Bad weather and pilot error are the cause of most plane crashes In 2014 the world's airlines carried a record 3.3 billion passengers. Out of all these flights, there were 12 fatal accidents that accounted for 641 deaths, according to information published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Using the above figures, the 2014 fatal accident rate works out to be 0.23, which equates to one accident for every 4.4 million flights. ATC Air traffic control has gotten much better. Other contributing factors that have lowered the number of fatalities are a combination of factors, including the introduction of jet engines. Jets have proven to be so reliable compared to earlier piston engines that engine failures are almost unheard of these days. Modern electronics and navigation devices have also played a significant role, as has the ability to fly-by-wire. Anti-collision and terrain warning sensors and better flight management systems in Air Traffic Control (ATC) have also improved aircraft safety. Human error nearly always a contributing factor If you look back on fatal accidents and their causes, two crucial factors play a vital role: weather conditions and pilot error. Air crashes almost always follow a chain of events that involve human error. To help overcome this, pilots now have the advantage of training in state-of-the-art simulators that can prepare pilots for emergencies and help than brush up on their skills. Advanced simulators help pilots to train better. Data analysis can play a significant role in aviation safety as we move forward. Tapping into a vast pool of information collected from some 27 million flights each year will be vital to improving safety. While airline safety is at an all-time high, moving away from fossil fuels and introducing new propulsion systems is bound to create challenges that will need to be overcome. https://simpleflying.com/how-has-aviation-safety-improved-over-the-years/ US DOT approves Delta Airlines and LATAM Airline joint venture The joint venture gives passengers access to more than 300 destinations between the US, Canada and South America. • US DOT approves Delta Airlines and LATAM Airline joint venture • US DOT approval allows Delta and LATAM Airlines Group to offer new customer and cargo benefits. The US Department of Transportation (DOT ) has approved Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines Group joint venture (JV ), which gives passengers access to more than 300 destinations between the US, Canada, and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). US DOT approval allows Delta and LATAM Airlines Group , LATAM Airlines Brasil, LATAM Airlines Colombia, LATAM Airlines Peru, and LATAM Airlines Paraguay to offer new customer and cargo benefits. The benefits include improved and expanded route offerings that will add to the codeshare routes and reciprocal loyalty benefits currently provided. LATAM Airlines Group CEO Roberto Alvo said: “The approval by the DOT will give rise to the start of work with Delta to deliver more and better benefits to LATAM and Delta customers, such as faster connections and the joint accrual of miles in frequent flyer programs, among many others. “I am sure that, over time, we will be able to offer the best connections while incorporating a sustainable view of the future.” In 2019, Delta and LATAM unveiled their plan to create an airline partnership with an objective to increase travel choices across North and South America. Since then, the two airline companies have achieved various milestones and shared terminals at airports including New York John F Kennedy (JFK), São Paulo, Brazil (GRU), and Santiago, Chile (SCL). Delta CEO Ed Bastian said: “Delta ’s partnership with LATAM will help grow the market between North and South America and provide significant and much-needed benefits for customers, and we applaud the DOT for this final approval. “Now, we’ll get to work with LATAM to transform the travel experience for our collective customers and create new opportunities for our employees.” In January, British airline company Virgin Atlantic reached a codeshare alliance with LATAM Airlines. https://www.airport-technology.com/news/delta-airlines-latam-airline/ KITE GETS FUNDING FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR BASED ON IMPROVED MAGNETIC MATERIAL Kite Magnetics has boosted its plans for an electric motor with a A$1.85 million ($1.2 million) seed funding round. The Australian start-up says the motor will be smaller, lighter, and more efficient than ones based on current technology and will employ a new magnetic material called Aeroperm developed at Monash University by its co-founders, Richard Parsons and Kiyonori Suzuki. The company says it will deploy the new funds to design, build, and test the 65-kilowatt motor for initial use with two-seat electric light aircraft, like Pipistrel’s Velis Electro. Flight testing is expected to start in 2023, following ground testing that is set to begin at the facility it is building in the Melbourne area. In the longer term, Kite plans to scale up the technology to develop and certify a 650-kilowatt electric propulsion unit that could replace turboprop engines on aircraft such as the Cessna Grand Caravan. It also envisages integrating the Aeroperm technology with larger propulsion systems using hydrogen fuel cells intended for regional airliners. “This is where we see we can have the most impact on the industry and the environment in the mid-term,” Parsons told FutureFlight. “Longer term, our ambitions take us well beyond the one-megawatt class electric motors as we plan to grow along with the industry and as future energy storage technology matures and advances.” Aeroperm is a nanocrystalline magnetic soft material composed of nan-scale crystals within an amorphous metal matrix. According to the Kite team, it will lose energy at just one-tenth of the rate of existing magnetic materials used in current electrical devices. Kite Magnetics is using its new Aeroperm magnetic material for electric motors. Kite Magnetics says its Aeroperm magnetic material retains energy 10 times more effectively than current materials used in electric motors. The Investible Climate Tech venture capital group led the oversubscribed seed funding round. It was backed by investors including Breakthrough Victoria, Galileo, and Possible Ventures. The round marked the first investment in early-stage companies by Breakthrough Victoria, which is backed by the state government of Victoria, where Kite Magnetics is based. “Victoria’s track record for innovation positions the state to become a major contributor to the world’s move towards a low-carbon future and secure the state’s future competitiveness and prosperity in the near and the long-term,” said Breakthrough Victoria CEO Grant Dooley. “The aviation sector is in desperate need of decarbonization technology,” commented Patrick Sieb, co-head of Investible’s Climate Tech group. “Richard’s unique blend of entrepreneurial grit and a strong technical background uniquely positions him and the Kite team to transform the industry and produce the world’s highest-performance electric motors.” Kite Magnetics is now recruiting specialists to manage its certification and business development operations. https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-03/kite-gets-funding-electric-motor-based-improved-magnetic-material Russia plans to build 1,000 aircraft by 2030, using local parts Western sanctions mean that Airbus and Boeing will neither deliver new planes nor spares in the future. The Russian aviation industry has decided to work alone and produce 1,000 aircraft before the end of the decade as it aims to end its reliance on foreign aircraft manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing, Reuters has reported. Industry experts see this as an indication that Russia's relations with the West are unlikely to thaw in the near future. In the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Western nations responded by putting in place tough sanctions that were meant to effectively kill the aerospace industry in the former Soviet country. Even though Russia is looked at as a major player in the aerospace industry, its domestic market is dominated by the likes of Airbus and Boeing. The two airplane manufacturers enjoy a 95 percent market share in the country. In March, Interesting Engineering reported that Russia has quickly enacted laws that allowed these planes to fly and obtain airworthiness certificates locally too. However, as the conflict has prolonged, these measures are falling short and Russia needs a long-term plan to keep planes in the air. Russia's ambitious goal of self-reliance Under Vladimir Putin, the Russian aerospace industry has found new vigor after state-owned aerospace corporation, Rostec, which was founded in 2007. Now, Russia's only manufacturer of civil aircraft has decided that it will cater to all of the industry's needs, and the foreign-made aircraft will drop out of the fleet of Russian airlines. In responses sent to Reuters, the corporation said that it does not see Airbus and Boeing planes being delivered to Russia in the future and has embarked on a journey to build new aircraft with locally made parts. Rostec will begin this process by substituting imported parts such as the Pratt & Whitney engines on the medium-haul MS-21 planes. It will also make 20 new aircraft every year of its regional jet Superjet-new from 2024. Between now and 2030, Rostec plans to make 142 Superjet News, 270 MS-21s, 70 turboprop Il-114, 70 medium-haul Tu-214 aircraft as well as 12 wide-body jets, Il-96. https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/russia-build-1000-aircraft-2030-local-parts Marines make 6,100-mile trans-Pacific flight in Ospreys (Tribune News Service) — Hawaii-based Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 recently concluded their deployment to Australia as part of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin with a 6,100-mile, island-hopping flight home. Hawaii-based Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 recently concluded their deployment to Australia as part of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin with a 6, 100-mile, island-hopping flight home. They left Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory on Sept. 13, with two Marine Corps V-22 Osprey tilt-rotors and one KC-130J refueling aircraft departing for Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley in Queensland. Over the next several days, the Marines would land in Fiji, American Samoa and the Republic of Kiribati before completing the final leg to Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay on Sept. 18. The pathway of the multiday flight deliberately evoked the history of the Marine Corps’ Pacific campaigns of World War II at a time when the region is increasingly a focus for the military. “Each stop on the trans-Pacific flight — Australia, Fiji, American Samoa and the Republic of Kiribati — are historically significant in the South Pacific and steeped in Marine Corps lore,“ said Marine spokesperson Capt. Jordan Fox. “The islands served as expeditionary staging bases for the U.S. and its allies in World War II, places that led ultimately, to the lasting peace, prosperity and security present in the region for nearly 80 years.” The Marine Corps is in the process of returning to its roots at sea after decades of fighting in Afghan mountains and Iraqi deserts. The service has begun restructuring its forces as part of Force Design 2030. Marine leaders envision a return to the sort of island and coastal operations that defined World War II in the Pacific, with a 21st century twist. They see a future where Marines rely on anti-ship missiles, drones, cyberwarfare and other new technology as they wreak havoc on enemy naval forces from island and coastal fighting positions. As part of the restructuring of Marine forces, the serv ¬ice removed all of its traditional helicopters in Hawaii and has increasingly put emphasis on tilt-rotor Ospreys, which have the characteristics of both planes and helicopters and can fly much farther distances. The Corps also wants to station more KC-130J refuelers at Kane ¬ohe to support the Osprey flights. “MV-22s, coupled with KC-130s, provide unparalleled mobility at the tactical level,“ said Marine Aircraft Group 24 commander Col. Manlee Herrington in a news release. “With these aircraft, MAG-24 can put Marines and equipment anywhere in the Pacific.” However, plans for new facilities to support the shift have been controversial. The Marine Corps’ current plan calls for the demolition of historic hangers at MCBH that were involved in the Dec. 7th, 1941 attack on Oahu by the Japanese Imperial Navy. The plan has prompted criticism from many historians and preservation groups. The Marine Corps is remaking itself amid a backdrop of simmering tensions in the Pacific as the U.S. and its allies are locked in an uneasy standoff with China. For some Marines, the trans-Pacific journey was personal. In American Samoa, Sgt. Tyrone Travers, a native of the island, saw his sister in person for the first time in six years, according to the Marines’ news release. Herrington met with veterans from the U.S. territory, which has one of the highest rates of military service of anywhere in the United States. In Kiribati, the Marines delivered humanitarian aid, including masks, medicine and water for a local hospital and sports equipment and toys donated to families and children. Kiribati has been dealing with severe drought this year. Hawaii-based Coast Guard cutters have also delivered supplies to the drought-stricken island nation. Kiribati, an island nation of 119, 000 about 2,400 miles south of Hawaii, in recent years has become the site of geopolitical competition as Chinese influence has grown. In 2019, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and signed onto China’s Belt and Road initiative, a network of Beijing-funded infrastructure projects. Among the planned projects is the renovation of a former U.S. military airfield from World War II. Some analysts charge that China’s plans for Kiribati are “dual use“ — supporting both civilian and military endeavors — but Chinese and Kiribati officials insist plans are purely geared toward infrastructure and business. The move proved divisive in Kiribati with members of the political opposition charging that Beijing bought off Maamau with bribes. In January, Japanese media reported that Japan intends to open a new embassy in Kiribati later this year, and in July during a virtual address to the Pacific Islands Forum, Vice President Kamala Harris announced new investments in the Pacific, including a new embassy in Kiribati. This is the second time this year that Ospreys from Marine Aircraft Group 24 transited the Pacific. Earlier this year, Ospreys flew approximately 5,000 miles from Hawaii to the Philippines for Exercise Balikatan 22. https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2022-10-02/marines-trans-pacific-flight-osprey-7546398.html Alice, the World’s First All-Electric Passenger Plane, Just Aced Her Maiden Flight The battery-powered plane can carry nine passengers up to 250 miles. • A new battery-powered commercial aircraft can carry nine passengers up to 250 miles. • Eviation is selling quieter battery-powered flight as something that can help communities. • Flight length is highly contextual, and electric planes are uniquely suited for short jumps. Startup Eviation flew its medium-range electric airplane, Alice, for the first time last week, zipping over Grant County International Airport in rural eastern Washington. The airport is a retired military facility with a very long runway, making it uniquely suited for testing aircraft of all sizes. That has special value in the Pacific Northwest, which is a major hub for aircraft design. “Alice lifted off at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet,” the company says in a statement. Physicist Omer Bar-Yohay and his business partner Aviv Tzidon founded Eviation in 2015 in Israel, and the company is now based in Washington. It joins others like British Columbia’s Harbour Air in making strides toward electrifying commercial aircraft. It’s not clear yet that this transition will be possible for much larger passenger jetliners, but short- and medium-range planes could make the switch with much less pain. Alice is designed for flights of up to 250 miles. The electric plane has a “maximum useful load” of up to 2,600 pounds, which Eviation says is enough to carry up to nine passengers at a time over these shorter distances. The company combined resources from more than half a dozen suppliers in order to build the sleek, futuristic airplane and its powertrain. And the sales pitch goes beyond the usual arguments for electrifying commercial air travel: because its planes are extremely quiet, Eviation believes it can introduce commercial air travel in locations where it was previously banned due to noise ordinances. The Wind Tunnel Perfecting the Art of Quiet EVs On its website, Eviation points out something interesting about the aviation industry: today, carbon emissions from commercial aviation make up just 2.5 percent of total global carbon emissions, but as other industries work to decarbonize, that number will grow at an increasing rate to reach 27 percent of total global carbon emissions by 2050. This is one reason why reducing carbon emissions to any extent can make a big difference; industries around the world are trying to trim back on emissions, and even modest improvements over time will be significant. But aviation also faces special obstacles. On the category level, aircraft are split into two very broad groups. Some, like hot air balloons, work by being lighter than air. That means heated air, for example, has a lower density than the surrounding air and that makes it far lighter. But airplanes are heavier than air. They rely on powerful engines to propel them in order to generate lift, and those engines are heavy enough as it is. Electrifying them requires even heavier supplies of batteries. The traditional fossil fuel BMW 5-series ranges from about 3,500 to 4,400 pounds; the electric Tesla Model S ranges from 4,300 to 5,000 pounds for a car about the same size. On the ground, that’s one thing; but in the sky, the difference can be critical to whether or not a plane can even take off. This is where companies like Eviation enter. Flight length designations like short- and long-haul vary significantly by country—in the United States, the diagonal length of the continent falls right on one typical boundary of 3,000 miles. Many, many people make short- and medium-range jumps around the U.S. everyday for business. The culture around air travel of this kind may need to change in the future, but those changes will take time. https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a41453056/eviation-electric-aircraft/ SpaceX rolls rocket to pad ahead of Crew-5 astronaut launch (photos) Crew-5 is scheduled to lift off on Wednesday (Oct. 5) at noon EDT. The hardware that will fly SpaceX's next astronaut mission for NASA is poised and ready for liftoff. The Crew-5 mission is scheduled to launch at noon EDT (1600 GMT) on Wednesday (Oct. 5) from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, and team members have been checking off boxes in the leadup. On Saturday (Oct. 1), for example, the four Crew-5 astronauts — NASA's Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina — arrived at KSC from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. That same day, the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly Crew-5 were rolled out to Pad 39A from SpaceX's processing facility at KSC. The Falcon 9 is jarringly white and clean by SpaceX standards; Elon Musk's company is famous for landing and reflying boosters, which get soot-blackened during their trips back to Earth. But Crew-5 will be the first mission for this particular Falcon 9 first stage. On Sunday (Oct. 2), SpaceX performed a "static fire" test of the Falcon 9, lighting up the first stage's nine Merlin engines briefly in a standard preflight trial. SpaceX, NASA and the Crew-5 astronauts also "completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities" on Sunday, SpaceX said via Twitter(opens in new tab). Crew-5 will send Mann, Cassada, Wakata and Kikina to the International Space Station for a five-month stay. The mission will make history in multiple ways. For instance, Kikina will become the first cosmonaut ever to fly on a SpaceX mission to orbit. And Mann will become the first Native American woman to reach the final frontier. Crew-5 is scheduled to launch on Oct. 5, 2022. It will send NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata and cosmonaut Anna Kikina to the International Space Station for about five months. Crew-5 is scheduled to launch on Oct. 5, 2022. It will send NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata and cosmonaut Anna Kikina to the International Space Station for about five months. NASA and SpaceX had been targeting today (Oct. 3) for Crew-5's liftoff, but Hurricane Ian pushed things back by two days. The storm's impact on the timeline for NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission was much more dramatic. NASA had been targeting Sept. 27 for the launch of Artemis 1, which will lift off from KSC's Pad 39B. But the Artemis 1 team rolled Artemis 1 off the pad last week to protect it from Ian and is now eyeing a launch in mid-November. https://www.space.com/spacex-rolls-crew-5-rocket-launch-pad-photos Position Available: Flight Operations Quality Assurance Analyst Indianapolis, IN US ID JR-003892 Category Flight Operations Quality Assurance Analyst Schedule Full time POSITION PURPOSE Processes day-to-day raw data using Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) and program Ground Data Replay Analysis System (GDRAS). Creates weekly and monthly deliverables in addition to working with Gatekeepers and other members of FOQA and FOQA Management Team (FMT). ESSENTIAL DUTIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. · Supports the FOQA Program Manager with daily administration of the FOQA efforts to ensure analysis of flight data for improved flight safety. · Oversees data collection process of aircraft fleet in conjunction with Maintenance and Engineering. · Performs data analysis, root cause analysis, and determines corrective actions of digital flight data to determine adverse events for trends in flight and maintenance operations. · Coordinates, develops, verifies and validates aircraft specific event definitions. · Prepares flight operations trending analysis charts and reports. · Compiles and presents FOQA data summaries for use by senior management, regulators, pilots, and union officials. · Performs specialized studies and fulfills special data requests. · Creates safety and FOQA department publications. · Prepares reports, presentations, and statistical data required to keep the FOQA community informed. · Reviews corrective action responses to inspections and internal evaluations findings for adequacy. · Maintains FOQA database, write database queries, program new FOQA events, and manages documentation supporting these functions. · Communicates with other airlines FOQA departments, governmental and academic institutions regarding FOQA. · Performs other duties as assigned. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE. · Bachelor’s degree in aviation, flight technology, engineering, or related area or a combination of education and experience. · Holds Commercial Pilot Certificate · Basic understanding of aircraft systems and/or Part 121 aviation operations. · Previous work experience in quality control, maintenance, operations, safety or a combination of these areas (preferably in 14CFR Part 121 air carrier operations). · Previous experience maintaining and enhancing corporate safety standards and safe operation practices. · Extensive working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs, including spreadsheet and database applications. · Strong work ethic, ability to work in a fast-paced environment and a positive attitude toward teamwork. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE · At least 3 years related experience. · Additional certifications: Dispatch, Airframe and Powerplant and/or ATP license. · Basic computer programming and statistical methods experience preferred. · Prior experience with Sagem AGS or equivalent GDRAS platforms is preferred. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Proven project management and analytical skills. Ability to handle numerous projects at one time and meet deadlines. Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision in support of the Safety Department. DECISION MAKING Makes day to day decisions used to support strategic direction. Decisions often require some thought and are somewhat structured. Decisions tend to be short term and usually moderate cost. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move about the work environment. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Travel up to 10% of the time, including overnight stays. APPLY HERE GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Pilots and Flight Attendants, Did you know that the difference between a 14-hour flight time and an 18-hour flight time is 28%, which means 28% more exposure by occupants to the cabin environment and other aircraft influences. Keeping this in mind, I am working on a new research study that aims to review current Health & Safety International and National Regulations and best practices for operating Ultra-Long-Range Routes (ULR). ULR operations refer to "An operation involving any sector between a specific city pair (A-B-A) in which the planned flight time exceeds 16 hours, taking into account mean wind conditions and seasonal changes. The scope of this study is to identify different health-related factors affecting Aircrew (Pilots & Flight Attendants) who operate these routes. Based on this review, a gap analysis will be conducted, and recommendations will be presented to mitigate health and safety-related impact factors on Aircrew. As a part of this study, a survey is designed for Aircrew (Pilots and Flight Attendants) who operate on ULR flights. This survey aims to learn about their experience and the different health and safety impact factors that Aircrew experience while operating these routes. Aircrew sought to participate in this study needs to meet the following criteria: - Employed (in the last 24 months) by an air carrier operating scheduled ULR flights (>16hrs); - Qualified as an aircrew member to operate ULR flights. During this study, you will be asked to complete a brief online survey about your opinions concerning health-related issues while operating ULR routes. You will answer several questions about different health-related factors and how it affects your lifestyle, including any prominent experiences you have encountered. The completion of the survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes. If you meet the criteria and are interested in helping, sign up for the study by clicking the link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SV2D9KT You can also sign up by scanning the QR code below. Please let me know if you have any questions I can answer. Thank you for your participation Kind Regards, Aditya Rathi ISASI Robertson Fellow M.S. Safety Science '22 (Aviation Safety) Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott rathia@my.erau.edu | (928)-632-2707 Curt Lewis