Flight Safety Information - July 18, 2023 No. 137 In This Issue : Incident: Lufthansa A321 at Munich on Jul 18th 2023, rejected takeoff due to bird strike : Incident: United B763 at Chicago on Jul 17th 2023, dropped evacuation slide in flight : United Airlines grapples with pilots avoiding the captain's chair : Calling all aspiring pilots: Allegiant launches programs to address U.S. pilot shortage : FAA Offers Funding to Inspire Students to Become Pilots or Maintenance Technicians : Erupting Alaska volcano spews high ash cloud, triggers inflight warnings for pilots : A pilot shortage is aggravating airline delays. Congress has two ideas how to fix it. : Tamarack Plans A320 Active Winglet Upgrades : FAA Taps Loft Dynamics' VR Flight Simulators to Advance Aviation Goals : Unmasking Clear Air Turbulence: Fugaku Supercomputer Simulates Invisible Winds, Enhancing Flight Safety : Second Jet Joins Gulfstream G800 Flight-test Fleet : Spanish Protestors Damage Business Jet at Ibiza Airport Incident: Lufthansa A321 at Munich on Jul 18th 2023, rejected takeoff due to bird strike A Lufthansa Airbus A321-200, registration D-AIRN performing flight LH-1800 from Munich (Germany) to Madrid,SP (Spain) with 194 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Munich's runway 08R when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 100 KIAS) due to a bird strike. The aircraft came to a stop about 1600 meters/5300 feet down the runway. Emergency services responded and cooled the brakes. The aircraft was subsequently able to taxi to the apron on its own power after about 20 minutes on the runway. A replacement A321-200 registration D-AIRL is estimated to reach Madrid with a delay of about 3 hours. https://avherald.com/h?article=50beade3&opt=0 Incident: United B763 at Chicago on Jul 17th 2023, dropped evacuation slide in flight A United Boeing 767-200, registration N666UA performing flight UA-12 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was on final approach to Chicago's runway 28C when an evacuation slide separated from the runway and landed in a backyard of a house underneath the final approach path about 2.3nm short of the runway threshold. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. There were no injuries, the roof of a house impacted by the slide was damaged. The FAA reported maintenance workers noticed the missing slide after landing. The residents in that house heard the impact while inside the house, went outside and found the slide in their backyard. They dragged the slide into the front of their home where police took care of it. Local police confirmed they were responding to an incident at that location. https://avherald.com/h?article=50beab94&opt=0 United Airlines grapples with pilots avoiding the captain's chair CHICAGO, July 18 (Reuters) - United Airlines (UAL.O) first officer Phil Anderson has turned down opportunities to be promoted to captain as he does not want the unpredictable schedule that comes with the bigger paycheck. Anderson is one of many who have passed on that promotion at United, and analysts and union officials said a resulting shortage of captains - who function as head pilots - could cut the number of flights available to travelers by next summer. One industry official dubbed it the "no one wants to be a junior captain syndrome." Some smaller regional carriers have already been forced to reduce their flights by as much as 20% due to staffing constraints, said Robert Mann, a former airline executive who now runs a consulting firm. If pilots refuse to take the captain's seat, Mann warned that airlines like United could face the same problem even as consumers are returning more to travel. "You can't fly with two first officers," he said. "You have to have a captain." Finding pilots willing to take career upgrades is not just a United problem. At American Airlines (AAL.O), more than 7,000 pilots have chosen not to take a captain's job, according to union-supplied data. Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American's pilots union, said the number of pilots declining promotions has at least doubled in the past seven years. A first officer helps navigate and operate flights, but a captain is the pilot in command of the plane and is responsible for its safety. While both are union jobs, they fall in different categories and have different pay rates. At United, bids for 978 captain vacancies, or about 50% of the vacancies posted, have gone unfilled in the past year, United pilot union data shows. In June, 96 of 198 openings went unfilled. Currently, the Chicago-based carrier has about 5,900 captains and 7,500 first officers, according to its union data. Airlines tend to start training captains after the summer travel rush. United, scheduled to report earnings on Wednesday, has sought to encourage pilots to become junior captains with a new pilot deal that includes provisions such as premium pay, more days off, and restrictions on involuntary and some standby assignments. The agreement must still be finalized and ratified. QUALITY OF LIFE Garth Thompson, United's pilot union head, said the deal would "go a long way" toward ensuring United is sufficiently staffed with captains for 2024 and beyond. But some pilots said it was too early to assess its impact even as they called the proposed changes big improvements. United did not comment for this story, but CEO Scott Kirby on LinkedIn previously said the deal would deliver "meaningful" quality-of-life improvements for pilots. Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and American have tried to address work-life complaints with measures such as premium pay and restrictions on four- or five-day trips in new pilot contracts. Mann said increased flight cancellations and delays at U.S. airlines are largely responsible for work-life complaints. "It's not necessarily what's in the agreement, but what happens every day in the real world," Mann said. "The biggest complaints come with the least reliable schedule." Multiple pilots at United told Reuters that senior first officers have been avoiding promotions as they do not want to surrender seniority in their current job category to become a junior captain and risk more disruption to their personal lives. Under current work rules, pilots said they can be forced to involuntarily accept assignments on days off and that trips can be changed or extended "on a whim." Seniority affords pilots some schedule certainty as it lets them choose and trade trips, and plan vacations. But a change in their job category or airline base or the equipment they fly can affect their seniority. A captain's pay is better, but junior pilots, currently, face greater risks of being subjected to unpredictable flying schedules, more on-call duty and assignments on short notice. Taking a captain's job would have boosted Anderson's pay by 40%, but the 48-year-old pilot said it would have been costly. "If I did that, I would've ended up divorced and seeing my kids every other weekend," said the Indiana resident, who has three young children. Top-of-the-scale hourly wages for a 737 United first officer, in the new contract, will range from about $231 to $232, compared with about $311 to $312 for the most junior captain in the same aircraft. A failure to substantially improve work rules was a major reason why United pilots overwhelmingly rejected a deal last year. Greg Sumner was among those who voted against the deal. The 50-year-old pilot has moved back to first officer's chair after spending two years as a junior captain. Sumner said his time in the captain's seat was "rough" as he was often on standby and would receive phone calls from the crew scheduling team at "all hours of the night." "The biggest takeaway from that time was fatigue," Sumner said. "I was tired all the time." https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/united-airlines-grapples-with-pilots-avoiding-captains-chair-2023-07-18/ Calling all aspiring pilots: Allegiant launches programs to address U.S. pilot shortage LAS VEGAS, NV.--Allegiant Travel Company (Allegiant Air) reports the company is working to address the pilot shortage issue through pathway programs designed to help students and veterans overcome obstacles in their effort to become pilots. According to a media release by the company, U.S. airlines are currently short by 17,000 pilots this year, a number which could double by 2032. Tyler Hollingsworth, Allegiant VP of flight crew operations, states the issue has been going on for years but was brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The average age of pilots is typically 50 plus, and mandatory retirement is 65 years old, and then the pipeline or supply has been lacking for many years,” Hollingsworth said. The airline has launched the Accelerate, Altitude and Military Pilot Pathways programs which are aimed at helping accelerate pathways for potential pilots. The airline states "Students who attend aviation programs at partner universities such as Purdue University, Kent State University and Western Michigan University can enroll in the Accelerate Pilot Pathway and receive mentorship, assistance with regulatory credentials and conditional employment as an Allegiant First Officer." New pilots enrolled at Spartan Education Group's Broomfield, CO campus can also apply for the Altitude Pilot Pathway, which relieves up to $50,000 of student pilot training debt after flying for Allegiant for three years. The airline adds they will also help military pilots obtain needed certification to become an Allegiant First Officer. https://fox17.com/news/local/calling-all-aspiring-pilots-allegiant-launches-programs-to-address-us-pilot-shortage-travel-airlines-vacation-flight-track-usa-news-careers FAA Offers Funding to Inspire Students to Become Pilots or Maintenance Technicians WASHINGTON— The FAA is looking to develop the next generation of aviation professionals through two grants aimed at creating a more diverse pool of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians. The Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants fund programs that educate students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or unmanned aircraft systems operators. The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants fund programs that prepare people to be aviation maintenance technicians. Representatives of eligible organizations can submit applications at www.grants.gov through August 16, 2023. Eligible organizations can apply for grants of up to $500,000 for each grant per fiscal year. Last year the FAA awarded $10 million in grants to more than 20 schools and organizations. The Notice of Funding Opportunity for each grant provides detailed information on eligibility, deadlines, evaluation criteria and application procedures. To ensure fair and open competition for the grants, answers to frequently asked questions will be posted on the FAA website. Potential applicants should visit the site to review answers to frequently asked questions, eligibility requirements and guidelines that may assist them in completing their grant application. https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-offers-funding-inspire-students-become-pilots-or-maintenance-technicians Erupting Alaska volcano spews high ash cloud, triggers inflight warnings for pilots The AK ash cloud could cause jet engines to fail An erupting volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands sent a towering cloud of ash into the air Friday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an inflight warning to pilots. The Shishaldin Volcano began erupting July 11, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory. A U.S. Coast Guard overflight confirmed lava erupted the same day within the summit crater. A significant explosion at 1:09 a.m. Friday produced an ash cloud that reached up to 40,000 feet and drifted south over the Pacific Ocean. A second smaller explosion at 7:10 a.m. Friday reached about 15,000 feet. The National Weather Service issued a inflight weather advisory due to the drifting ash cloud. Volcanic ash is angular and sharp and has been used as an industrial abrasive. The powdered rock can cause a jet engine to shut down. The volcano is 679 miles southwest of Anchorage near the center of Unimak Island, the largest island in the Aleutians. False Pass, a village of 40 people, is on the island’s east side. The volcano is a symmetrical cone that is 10 miles in diameter at its base. It rises to 9,373 feet and is the highest peak in the Aleutians. Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc. Most eruptions are small. An event in 1999 spewed an ash column that reached 45,000 feet. The volcano is monitored with seismic and infrasound sensors, satellite data, a web camera and distant infrasound and lightning networks. https://www.foxnews.com/us/erupting-alaska-volcano-spews-high-ash-cloud-triggers-inflight-warnings-pilots A pilot shortage is aggravating airline delays. Congress has two ideas how to fix it. In the middle of another summer likely to be remembered for travel delays, Congress is set to begin debate this week about how to ease a lingering lack of pilots. The industry has struggled with a cockpit shortage since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing issue is a key aggravator for this summer’s travel problems. Experts say both airlines and the FAA simply don't having enough bodies to react as weather increasingly upends flight plans and travel reaches pre-pandemic levels. The delays were most acute in early June when smoky conditions on the eastern seaboard caused delays and ripple effects that reverberated for weeks. This past weekend saw even more delays due to storms. The stage for the coming debate is must-pass legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by this fall. An 841-page bill is set for consideration in the House of Representatives beginning on Wednesday. The sprawling bill includes two ideas for how to get more the pilots in the air in the years ahead alongside a host of other concerns like baggage fees and a closely-watched proposal to expand the number of flights coming into Washington DC’s main airport. How lawmakers end up responding to the pilot shortage could be consequential for flyers across the country, with over 18,000 open positions expected in the years ahead. The House’s aviation subcommittee held a hearing focused on these issues in April as preparation for this week's debate. Faye Malarkey Black of the Regional Airlines Association was among the experts testifying that day about this “devastating” shortage which she noted was most acute among smaller carriers. “This shortage has been growing for decades, driven by the inability to create a sustainable pipeline of new pilots,” she testified. A shortage of pilots Most sides agree that the lack of a pilot pipeline made the system less resilient this year. But there is disagreement about what to do about it. The current rules require a commercial airline pilot to have completed at least 1,500 hours in the air. In April, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) noted that the training process usually provides the first 250 hours, leaving aspiring commercial pilots to make up the difference before they can move passengers. “I’m not convinced that taking kids out of flight school and telling them to tow banners, train students, or bore holes in the sky while racking up debt produces the best pilots,” Graves said. One controversial idea to lessen this problem would change the rules and allow flight simulations - which can be done more quickly and cheaply - to count towards the total. But that idea could be a non-starter in the Senate, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and others worried that it could jeopardize safety. The idea is also opposed by some in the industry. Captain Jason Ambrosi is the president of the largest airline pilot union in the world and told Congress earlier this year that “responding to temporary post-COVID industry problems with permanent changes to pilot training and qualification requirements is ill-considered and dangerous.” An alternative proposal floated by Sens. Schumer and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) would raise the retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67 but that idea also has its detractors who question how effective the idea would be, with international flight regulations still set to mandate that a pilot retire at age 65. The current House proposal takes both approaches, with provisions making changes on both fronts. But what remains unclear is what will survive by the end of the week in what could be a contentious amendment process. An issue at must be resolved by September Like the airlines, the FAA itself has struggled to handle air traffic’s return to pre-pandemic levels. This week's bill also takes aim at those workforce problems with provisions that lawmakers hope will make the agency more efficient and also cut some regulatory red tape. Another closely watched issue that also needs to be resolved in the weeks ahead is a tentative Senate deal to add four additional long-distance flights at Reagan National Airport. Reagan airport is the closest one to Capitol Hill and of keen interest to lawmakers. But opponents of the idea say it could cause additional gridlock and noise pollution. Some carriers who service nearby airports also oppose the idea. This week’s debate vote will to kick off a debate likely to stretch into the fall. Congress faces a deadline of September 30 before the current law that authorizes the Federal Aviation Administration expires. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/a-pilot-shortage-is-aggravating-airline-delays-congress-has-two-ideas-how-to-fix-it-100304073.html Tamarack Plans A320 Active Winglet Upgrades U.S. active winglet specialist Tamarack Aerospace Group, which recently announced its commercial aviation debut on the De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400, is also planning to offer an active winglet upgrade for the Airbus A320. For the past seven years, Tamarack has produced winglets for Cessna Citation business jets, with around 185 sets already installed on Citation 525 variants. However, during the 2023 Paris Air Show, Tamarack detailed plans to develop eco-efficient winglets for commercial passenger aircraft, starting with the Q400 in partnership with Italian regional airline SkyAlps. If this letter of intent (LOI) is firmed, SkyAlps will become a profit-sharing joint venture (JV) partner on the new winglet. Under this JV, SkyAlps will receive discounted launch customer pricing and priority installation. In turn, one of SkyAlps’ Q400s will be seconded to Tamarack to demonstrate and certify the new product. SkyAlps launched in 2021 and now has a fleet of five Q400s, which is set to grow to 14 by next summer. The young carrier, which transitioned to its own air operator’s certificate in January, owns it aircraft outright. SkyAlps was attracted to the Tamarack project because its owner is a green-energy supplier, making sustainability a priority. The Q400 upgrade is expected to cut fuel consumption and emissions by around 7-8%. Tamarack said the modification will also cut noise, improve climb performance and deliver additional range. SkyAlps president and owner Josef Gostner has applied for grants to support the project, paving the way for finalization of the LOI. SkyAlps is also planning to install new cockpit avionics and a lighter-weight cabin on its aircraft. Modification work on the SkyAlps Q400 will begin over the next couple of months. Once equipped, the aircraft will embark on a Tamarack demonstration tour, starting in November 2023, visiting SkyAlps’ northern Italian home base in Bolzano, before flying on to Dubai and Tokyo. Tamarack CEO Nick Guida estimates that the Q400 product, named the Eco-Smartwing, will take around two years to certify and bring to market after the SkyAlps LOI is firmed up. Since SkyAlps is based in Europe, the lead certifying authority is expected to be the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), but Tamarack will also seek FAA validation. Guida says this dual approval may be sought simultaneously, depending on workload at the time. Since the Paris announcement, Guida has been in discussions with “several other airlines” in Europe and North America, with a combined fleet of over 50 aircraft. He adds that one European operator—which will be named in the near future—believes the winglet could make it possible to carry additional passengers on the Q400, strengthening the business case. “I’ve been traveling nonstop,” Guida says. “We are very optimistic about getting the support we need to get this program off the ground.” When asked whether ATR planned to develop a similar product, ATR Senior Vice President of Engineering Daniel Cuchet said the type’s aerodynamics ruled this out. “In ATR, we have ailerons which are not able to cover winglets,” he explains. “Secondly, we are generally in cruise for an average of 20 min., so the gain with winglets—versus the difficulty to put them on—are not worth it. We did the study and there isn’t any advantage.” As a next step from the Q400, Guida tells Aviation Week that Tamarack is in discussions with airlines over an active winglet product for the A320. “That’s coming together. We’ve been working on it for about a year now,” he says. Like the Q400 upgrade, the A320 active winglet will be a profit-sharing JV with a series of airline partners. Guida says two or three airlines globally have already expressed an interest in a forming a JV to develop the A320 modification. The A320 upgrade will take about three years to bring to market. Tamarack’s existing product for the Cessna Citation comprises a light-weight wing extension and composite winglet, which takes 7-10 days to install, because it does not require any structural reinforcement. The upgrade includes a system that automatically controls wing bending during turbulence, without pilot intervention. In April and May 2019, EASA and the FAA placed operating restrictions on 91 Tamarack-winglet equipped Cessna Citations, following a fatal accident and several incidents. These groundings forced Tamarack into Chapter 11. However, the restrictions were ultimately removed in July 2019 after Tamarack rolled out a modification program. On March 30, a Cessna 525B operating a positioning flight between Arkansas and Fort Myers, Florida had to perform an emergency landing at Tampa, after one of its Tamarack winglets separated from the aircraft mid-flight. This no-injury incident is currently being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). “We are obviously grateful that nobody was injured in this strange event,” Tamarack President Jacob Klinginsmith said in April. “We’re supporting the NTSB investigation to learn what happened.” Klinginsmith noted that Tamarack tested one-winglet-removed scenarios during its certification process. https://aviationweek.com/mro/aircraft-propulsion/tamarack-plans-a320-active-winglet-upgrades FAA Taps Loft Dynamics' VR Flight Simulators to Advance Aviation Goals Loft Dynamics' EASA-Approved Simulators Chosen for FAA's First Evaluation of VR-powered Pilot Training Technology ZURICH and ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., July 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Loft Dynamics (formerly VRM Switzerland), a leader in virtual reality (VR) flight simulation devices for pilots worldwide, announced an unprecedented partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Loft Dynamics' simulators – the first and only VR flight simulators with regulatory approval in Europe – are now undergoing U.S. evaluation by the FAA. The FAA has selected Loft Dynamics' Airbus H125 and Robinson R22 simulators to explore, for the first time, the use of VR flight simulation technology to train pilots. Both simulators have been installed at the William J. Hughes Technical Center (WHTC), the FAA's innovation hub, where they will be used to advance national aviation safety, efficiency, capacity, and environmental sustainability goals, and to drive the evolution of the National Airspace System (NAS) toward the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). "The adoption of VR flight simulators by international safety agencies like EASA and FAA is crucial given the current landscape. The world needs more than 600,000 new pilots in the next 20 years, and the emergence of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL) will significantly add to that demand. Traditional training options absolutely cannot keep up. We need innovation to solve this quickly, and that's what we're on a mission to do," said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. "To receive approval from EASA and now introduce our technology to the FAA is an exciting and important milestone. We're thrilled to kick off this partnership and collectively forge a safer, more scalable, and sustainable future for U.S. aviation." The unique features and capabilities of Loft Dynamics' simulators allow the FAA to perform the research and development required to enhance vertical flight safety, pursue qualification under 14 CFR part 60, and advance NextGen goals. The newly installed Robinson R22 (EASA-qualified FNPT) and the Airbus H125 (EASA-qualified FTD Level 3) simulators feature: • Full-scale replica cockpit and 360-degree view for precise visual cues inside and outside the aircraft. • Realistic flight model for accurate studies of nominal and off-nominal events and development of safety metrics dependent on rotorcraft aerodynamics. • Six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform replicating haptic sensations, including sling loads, runway texture, and force feedback from flight controls. • Adaptable software for customizable training scenarios that mirror any real-world encounter, terrain, and maneuver—risk-free. • Compact size, 10 times smaller than traditional full-motion simulators. Since its founding, Loft Dynamics has played a key role in modernizing the global aviation industry. Their state-of-the-art simulators have effectively reduced air time training among European operators, improved training safety, bridged the pilot skill gap, and helped reduce in-flight carbon emissions for companies worldwide, including Airbus Helicopters, Air Zermatt, and Mountainflyers. In December 2022, the company received its first institutional round, raising $20 million from U.S. technology investors to accelerate international expansion. Loft Dynamics' Airbus H125 simulator will exhibit at APSCON 2023 in Orlando, FL on July 20 and 21. To experience the FAA-used simulator, attendees may book a demo or visit booth 613 to learn more about Loft Dynamics and its future innovations, including the Airbus H145 simulator. About Loft Dynamics AG: Loft Dynamics AG (formerly VRM Switzerland) is a market-leading company specializing in VR training devices for pilots. Founded in 2016, our mission is to revolutionize global aviation with cutting-edge VR flight simulators. Equipped with a 3D high-resolution panoramic view, dynamic six-degrees-of-motion platform, and full-scale replica cockpit with a unique pose tracking system, our simulators provide an immersive, realistic, customizable, and risk-free training experience. By offering a training solution that is 10 times smaller and 20 times less expensive than traditional simulators, we enhance training accessibility and scalability, empowering highly skilled pilots to meet the global demand. As the world's first and only qualified VR flight simulation training device (FSTD), achieving FTD Level 3 qualification from EASA, we serve leading manufacturers, airlines, operators, schools, and organizations worldwide. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, our team comprises passionate engineers, developers, and aviation experts. Visit us at www.loftdynamics.com. SOURCE Loft Dynamics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/faa-taps-loft-dynamics-vr-flight-simulators-to-advance-aviation-goals-301878220.html Unmasking Clear Air Turbulence: Fugaku Supercomputer Simulates Invisible Winds, Enhancing Flight Safety TOPICS:Fluid DynamicsGeophysicsNagoya University Airplane Air Turbulence Supercomputer Simulation Concept Nagoya University researchers successfully simulated clear-air turbulence around Tokyo using Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer, gaining insights into the causes of turbulence and potentially improving aviation safety. A research group from Nagoya University utilized Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer to simulate clear-air turbulence around Tokyo, improving upon current predictive models. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, identified the collapse of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability wave as a primary cause of turbulence. By validating their simulations against real-world observational data, the researchers hope to enhance the understanding of turbulence generation and its impact on aircraft, potentially improving flight safety. Accurate Simulation of Air Turbulence Using Supercomputers A team of researchers from Nagoya University has successfully used Japan’s fastest supercomputer to accurately simulate clear-air turbulence around Tokyo. They then cross-referenced their findings with actual flight data to enhance the accuracy of their predictive model. The research was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Understanding Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) Although air turbulence is typically associated with bad weather, an airplane cabin can shake violently even on a sunny and cloudless day. Known as clear air turbulence (CAT), these turbulent air movements can occur in the absence of any visible clouds or other atmospheric disturbances. Although the exact mechanisms that cause CAT are not fully understood, it is believed to be primarily driven by wind shear and atmospheric instability. CAT is a significant threat to aviation safety. Unanticipated turbulence on an otherwise tranquil day can lead to injuries among passengers and crew members, damage aircraft, and disrupt flight operations. Pilots use data from other aircraft, weather radar, and atmospheric models to anticipate and avoid turbulence. However, forecasting CAT is particularly challenging since it doesn’t present visible indicators such as clouds or storms. Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) and the Challenge of Computing Power The creation of eddies, or swirling winds that lead to sudden changes in airflow, can shake an aircraft. As such, scientists rely on large-eddy simulation (LES), a computational fluid dynamics technique, to model turbulent flows and better understand CAT. However, one of the main challenges of LES is the substantial computational power required to simulate these intricate interactions. To overcome this hurdle, the Nagoya University research team used an exascale computing system known as the Fugaku supercomputer to elaborately simulate the process of turbulence generation using high-resolution LES. Located at the Riken Center for Computational Science in Kobe, Japan, Fugaku is a high-performance computing system that is currently ranked as the world’s second-fastest supercomputer. Uncovering Turbulence Patterns Over Tokyo Leveraging Fugaku’s tremendous computational power, Dr. Ryoichi Yoshimura of Nagoya University and his colleagues, including Dr. Junshi Ito at Tohoku University, conducted an ultra-high-resolution simulation of winter CAT above Tokyo’s Haneda airport, triggered by low pressure and a nearby mountain range. They discovered that the disturbance in wind speed was due to the collapse of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability wave. This type of instability arises at the interface between two layers of air with differing velocities, creating wave-like effects and several fine vortices that cause turbulence. Validation and Implications of the Research After conducting their calculations, the team validated their simulated vortices against real-world data. “Around Tokyo, there is a lot of observational data available to validate our results,” said Yoshimura. “There are many airplanes flying over the airports, which results in many reports of turbulence and the intensity of shaking. Atmospheric observations by a balloon near Tokyo were also used. The shaking data recorded at that time was used to show that the calculations were valid.” “The results of this research should lead to a deeper understanding of the principle and mechanism of turbulence generation by high-resolution simulation and allow us to investigate the effects of turbulence on airplanes in more detail,” said Yoshimura. “Since significant turbulence has been shown to occur in the limited 3D region, routing without flying in the region is possible by adjusting flight levels if the presence of active turbulence is known in advance. LES would provide a smart way of flying by providing more accurate turbulence forecasts and real-time prediction.” Reference: “Clear Air Turbulence Resolved by Numerical Weather Prediction Model Validated by Onboard and Virtual Flight Data” by R. Yoshimura, J. Ito, P. A. Schittenhelm, K. Suzuki, A. Yakeno and S. Obayashi, 21 June 2023, Geophysical Research Letters. DOI: 10.1029/2022GL101286 https://scitechdaily.com/unmasking-clear-air-turbulence-fugaku-supercomputer-simulates-invisible-winds-enhancing-flight-safety/ Second Jet Joins Gulfstream G800 Flight-test Fleet The second flight-test G800, which flew for the first time on July 15, will focus on evaluating environmental control systems, avionics, and flight controls. G800 certification is expected by June 2024. Gulfstream Aerospace’s second flight-test G800 took to the skies for the first time on Saturday morning, the company announced today. The ultra-long-range twinjet took off at 9:27 a.m. from Gulfstream’s headquarters at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV) in Georgia and flew for 3 hours and 26 minutes using a 30 percent sustainable aviation fuel blend. It reached a top speed of Mach 0.935 during the flight. “Gulfstream’s flight-test team continues to make advanced strides forward for our company,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. Able to fly 8,000 nm nonstop, “the G800 will bring the industry’s longest range to customers around the world, and we are seeing strong demand for this capability,” he added. This second G800 will be dedicated to environmental control systems, avionics, and flight controls evaluation and builds on the more than 1,600 test points already accomplished by the first flight-test G800, according to Gulfstream. “Thanks to the design philosophy behind our next-generation fleet, the G800 is also benefiting from the excellent progress we continue to make in the G700 flight-test program,” Burns said. “This commonality helps us enhance efficiency and reliability for our customers, who are already seeing firsthand how well these aircraft perform.” FAA and EASA certification of the G700 is expected in the fourth quarter, with G800 approval to follow in about six months, Gulfstream said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-07-17/second-jet-joins-gulfstream-g800-flight-test-fleet Spanish Protestors Damage Business Jet at Ibiza Airport Protestors from Futura Vegetal and Extinction Rebellion damaged an Embraer Phenom 300 jet at Ibiza Airport. Spanish police arrested four people who vandalized a business jet parked at Ibiza Airport on Friday. Three eco-protesters from the Spain-based Futuro Vegetal (Vegetable Future) and one from Extinction Rebellion daubed a German-registered Embraer Phenom 300E with yellow and black paint before gluing themselves to the fuselage. Ibiza Airport, which is part of the Aena group, did not respond to a request for further details from AIN. Local police said the protesters have been released but have not confirmed what further legal action they may face. Two days after the incident, another group from Futuro Vegetal claimed responsibility for damaging a super-yacht owned by Walmart heir Nancy Walton Laurie that was docked in Ibiza. According to photos posted by the group, at least one of the protesters was involved in both attacks. Statements from the protesters emphasized their intention to target individuals in the world’s top 1 percent financial bracket, claiming that they are responsible for as much carbon dioxide output as the poorest 50 percent of the global population. The attacks occurred about a week before Spain's general election, with Futura Vegetal declaring that its action was provoked by what it regards as the failure of the country's political parties to propose an adequate response to climate change. In June, another group, Letze Generation (Last Generation), caused serious damage to a Cessna Citation CJ1+ parked at Sylt Airport in northern Germany. In May, Extinction Rebellion and several other allied groups invaded the static display at the EBACE 2023 in Geneva, causing damage to at least one aircraft. These attacks are the continuation of a trend that started at several European airports last fall, when protesters broke into business aviation enclaves at sites including Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, London Luton and Farnborough airports, and Milan Linate. A group of Greenpeace protesters who were arrested when they chained themselves to aircraft at Schiphol in the November 2022 incident are due to face criminal charges. However, eight months after the incident, no date has been set for court proceedings. In late June, German public prosecutors confirmed that they have put Letze Generation under surveillance. At the time of the Sylt incident, police indicated that the protesters would face federal criminal charges, but AIN has not been able to confirm the current status of these cases. Two days after the EBACE protest, Swiss prosecutors dealing with 102 people arrested by Geneva police said all were guilty of “trespassing, property damage, and coercion.” One person was also charged with injuring a police officer. However, all the protesters who had no prior criminal convictions were reportedly given suspended fines that would be payable only if they reoffended. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-07-17/spanish-protestors-damage-business-jet-ibiza-airport Curt Lewis