Flight Safety Information June 10, 2020 - No. 116 In This Issue Incident: Atlas B744 at Zhengzhou on Jun 9th 2020, hydraulic failure Incident: Hainan B738 near Sanya on Jun 9th 2020, cracked windshield Incident: Martin B744 at Sao Paulo on Jun 1st 2020, flaps problem IndiGo aircraft averted landing on under-construction runway in Male; confusion in cockpit, DGCA say Pilots face career anxiety after coronavirus disruption Kobe Bryant's wrongful death trial shouldn't be held in LA: pilot's lawyer Flight Attendants, Pilots and Lawmakers Once Again Call on the FAA to Enforce Mandatory Mask Wearing Alaska Airlines expands safety measures US flight attendants call for extension of government aid until year-end at minimum Air Safety Experts Deserve A Safe Workplace: Systemic Reform Urgently Needed (New Zealand) Milwaukee man arrested for pointing a laser at FBI, National Guard aircraft flying over protests Lawsuits Filed Over Fatal B-17 Crash at Bradley Airport India's DGCA frets over more loss of control incidents ARSA Seeks Broader Input from Mx Providers in Survey Lufthansa Wants To Operate Empty Flights To India - Here's Why US Air Force delays full-rate production decision for KC-46 aircraft Boeing aircraft cancellations continue to outpace new orders Boeing jet deliveries sink to just four in May Russia's space chief complains about American jokes RTCA's free Aviation Technology Connect Webinar series kicks off Wednesday, June 17 ProSafeT Successfully Implements Innovative Safety & Audit Management System for Sun Country Airlines Ship-based Helicopter Management Aviation Safety Survey GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Atlas B744 at Zhengzhou on Jun 9th 2020, hydraulic failure An Atlas Air Boeing 747-400 freighter, registration N473MC performing flight 5Y-4402 from Zhengzhou (China) to Anchorage,AK (USA), was climbing out of Zhengzhou when the crew stopped the climb at 5700 meters (FL187) due to the loss of the #1 hydraulic system. The crew decided to divert to Seoul (South Korea) maintaining around 390 knots over ground (290 KIAS). On approach to Seoul, now maintaining FL170, the crew advised they had all gear down and locked, however, would not have nose gear steering, they'd stop on the runway and needed to be towed off the runway, and they needed to dump fuel. As a precaution the crew requested emergency services on stand by for the arrival. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 33R about 2:40 hours after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Seoul about 17 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/GTI4402/history/20200608/2345Z/ZHCC/PANC http://avherald.com/h?article=4d877b3e&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Hainan B738 near Sanya on Jun 9th 2020, cracked windshield Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration B-5579 performing flight HU-7380 from Sanya to Beijing (China), was climbing through about 8000 meters (FL260) out of Sanya when the right hand windshield developed cracks prompting the crew to stop the climb at 8100 meters (FL266). The crew decided to return to Sanya where the aircraft landed safely about 40 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration B-5798 reached Beijing with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Sanya about 10 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d8774f5&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Martin B744 at Sao Paulo on Jun 1st 2020, flaps problem Martinair Boeing 747-400, registration PH-CKB performing freight flight MP-7762 from Sao Paulo Viracopos,SP (Brazil) to Lima (Peru) with 3 crew, was climbing out of Viracopos Airport when the crew stopped the climb at FL190 reporting problems with the flaps after they had received indication of a malfunction of the flaps during retraction and recycled the flaps but again received indication of the malfunction. The aircraft entered a hold at FL190 for about one hour and returned to Viracopos declaring emergency due to landing at a higher speed than normal. The aircraft landed on Viracopos' runway 33 at a higher than normal speed (about 190 knots over ground) about 2 hours after departure. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 45 hours, then was able to depart again for and complete the flight to Lima. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d876e28&opt=0 Back to Top IndiGo aircraft averted landing on under-construction runway in Male; confusion in cockpit, DGCA says NEW DELHI: Imagine approaching a two-runway airport to land on and the pilots not being sure which airstrip to touch down on! This is what happened with the crew operating an IndiGo Mumbai-Male flight last February. The pilots saw a cross mark on the runway they were approaching to land on, indicating that the airstrip is under construction. They performed a go-around and safely landed on the correct runway in the second attempt. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation conducted a probe into this incident of February 3, 2019, and on Tuesday made the report available which shows "inadequate flight planning by the operating crew despite (both these pilots) operating for the first time to Male" and "incomplete information given" to the pilots by the airline's dispatch. "The operating crew was aware of the existence of an under-construction runway parallel to the existing active runway. However, there was confusion regarding the actual runway in use during approach and crew made an approach to the under construction runway. At about 12 feet radio height, the PIC (pilot in command) not being convinced that the runway to which they are approaching is the active runway carried out a missed approach. The aircraft later made a normal approach and landed at Male" by 5.36 pm (Indian time), says the DGCA report. The confusion started when the Airbus A320 (VT-INY) operating as 6E-783 with 106 people on board was approaching to land. "After intercepting the final approach course the operating crew sighted the two parallel runways and the runway on the right appeared prominent to them.... Even after reaching 400 radio altitude, the PIC had his inhibitions that the approach was being made to the wrong runway as he observed 'X' cross marks on the runway and he announced the same, but the first officer (F/O) insisted that the runway on the right was the correct runway." "The PIC continued the approach.... The aircraft descended to 12 feet radio altitude above the runway under-construction, by this time the PIC still unable to confirm the active runway performed a go-around," the report said. The flight landed on the correct runway in the second attempt. Based on the cockpit voice recorder transcript, the report shows the confusion in the cockpit at the time of approaching to land in the first attempt."...PIC enquired with the F/O that there are cross marks 'X' on the runway and confirmed whether F/O is sure of the runway. PIC asked the FO: 'just ask'. F/O replied that the runway to the right is the correct one.... The PIC still not being convinced of the runway announced 'this is not the one' and performed a 'go-around'." During the second - and successful - attempt to land "the PIC advised the F/O to confirm with the air traffic control whether the runway on the left is correct or the runway on the right is the correct runway. To which ATC tower controller replied 'affirm you aimed for the wrong runway'," the DGCA report says. "...PIC is observed to be telling the F/O that 'I knew that was not the runway, because it had a cross' and the F/O replied 'but it was written over there.'... F/O stated that 'so they told that one which looks like the runway is not the one which is the runway'. To which PIC replied that "no but I saw the cross, but you kept telling me this is the thing. Then when I came close then I knew that this is not the runway". The DGCA report says "the inability of operating crew to positively identify the runway to which the aircraft was cleared to land during final approach was the cause of the incident". It lists "inadequate flight planning/review by the operating crew despite operating for the first time to Male; lack of assertiveness of PIC; in-complete information supplied to the flight crew by dispatch (of IndiGo).. and inappropriate scheduling of PIC to operate the flight without factoring for the time allowances required for transport between different terminals (at Mumbai) as contributory factors. In its safety recommendations, the report of DGCA assistant director (air safety) Linju Valayil Philip has said IndiGo should incorporate terminology for under construction runway and minimise use of relative directions left and right. The airline has also been asked to provide sufficient time interval for operating crew between flights when a change of aircraft is involved especially if the flights are from different terminals. "The PIC was on standby duty on the date of incident and was assigned duty to operate flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai (6E-346) followed by 6E-1783 (Mumbai-Male) and 6E-1782 (Male-Kochi). The flight pattern for which the PIC was scheduled was not a standard flight pattern for crew scheduling," the report says. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/indigo-aircraft-averted-landing-on-under-construction-runway-in-male-confusion-in-cockpit-finds-dgca-probe/articleshow/76278862.cms Back to Top Pilots face career anxiety after coronavirus disruption As the US air transport industry begins emerging from the pandemic-induced disruption, airlines are making difficult decisions about how to right-size for the current environment while maintaining their ability to quickly rebuild as demand returns. Many have announced staff reductions across the board, including for pilots, who require a high level of initial and recurrent training in order to pursue those careers. Industry observers expect the sector to contract by about 30% in the short term, and a bounce-back could take up to five years. This is leading to anxiety, frustration and resignation among professional pilots and those who had hoped to pursue a commercial aviation career. The pilot shortage that the industry had long planned for is, for the moment, on hold. "It's no secret that this industry is not stable," says Cameron Lampert, a 27-year-old certified flight instructor in California who wanted to make the jump to being a regional carrier pilot later this year. "Anyone who wants to get to the airlines now will probably need two to three times as long." But the coronavirus, after bringing global aviation to a near standstill, will not stop the thousands of anticipated pilot retirements in the coming years. A mandatory retirement age of 65 will thin the ranks, forcing airlines to walk a tightrope when it comes to furloughing, recruiting and replacing pilots. They need to bring costs down significantly to match their now-smaller operations, but also must ensure they do not completely choke off the pipeline of candidates later. Last year, United Airlines launched its "Aviate" pilot recruiting programme, conceived to train up to 10,000 new pilots in the next ten years. The airline says that plan is still on track, despite the downturn, as it attempts to replace the 400-800 pilots it expects to lose to attrition annually. "We are taking advantage of this pause to not have to run so fast," says Curtis Brunjes, a 787 captain and United's managing director of pilot strategy. "The demand is still there, it's just depressed a bit in the short term because of the Covid crisis. The long-term value proposition for new people coming in remains unchanged. Aviation is still an attractive career." Since March, some airlines have cut back on bringing in pilot candidates, and working pilots in the lower third of airlines' all-important seniority lists are preparing for a day later this year when they may have to find another job. In April, US commercial carriers took US government financial assistance through the CARES Act, designed to help airlines maintain operations even as passenger demand fell to near zero. In return for the aid, airlines promised no furloughs or job cuts until the end of September. Many have already offered employees generous buyout schemes, early retirement options or long-term leaves in order to preserve liquidity and manage cash burn. LONG ROAD TO THE COCKPIT It usually takes about seven to eight years of training and a sizable financial investment to advance to a US commercial airline's cockpit, says Elizabeth Tennyson, executive director of "You Can Fly", an initiative launched by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association (AOPA) to make aviation more accessible to a wider swath of the population. The cost of this training varies, and could be as high as $100,000. The path to becoming an airline pilot in the USA became more rigorous following a 2013 rule that in most cases requires commercial pilots have at least 1,500h of flight time before joining a passenger or cargo carrier, up from 250h. "People who do this have to love it," Tennyson says. So commercial pilots who are nowhere near retirement age worry that the careers they spent so much time, money and effort to build may just disappear if, as expected, furloughs and layoffs kick in later this year. "As major airlines look at ways to salvage or save their own pockets, the pilot group is the first on the cutting block," says a pilot with a major US carrier who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the topic. The ripple effect after September will have long-lasting detrimental effects on careers and livelihoods, even if the industry rebounds more quickly, the pilot adds. Already today - more than three months before the government deadline - airlines are exploring loopholes that could allow them to cut costs while ensuring they do not violate stipulations in the CARES Act. Announced displacements, accelerated aircraft retirements and the folding of regional carriers Trans States Airlines and Compass Airlines are contributing to pilots' general angst about the immediate future. AOPA's Tennyson says the situation can be compared to the downturn after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks almost 20 years ago. "At the time we saw a lot of people move on to other professions," she says. "So it's reasonable to expect that some pilots will return to another aviation career, like teaching, but others will go on to do different things." That uncertainty, however, does have a flip side that could benefit the next generation of aviators, Tennyson says. "What we are hearing from flight schools is that within about a month of going back to work they have about as many students as they had prior to this," she adds. With airlines delaying hiring many flight school instructors who were headed to the airlines, like Lampert in California, are now staying put. "We all know the business is cyclical, but the scale of this thing is unprecedented," Lampert says. "I plan to instruct for the rest of my life, and if I don't get to the airlines, that's okay too." https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/pilots-face-career-anxiety-after-coronavirus-disruption/138759.article Back to Top Kobe Bryant's wrongful death trial shouldn't be held in LA: pilot's lawyer The family of the pilot who flew the helicopter that crashed, killing Kobe Bryant and his daughter in January says the NBA star's wrongful death trial can't be held in Los Angeles because jurors there can't be impartial, according to a report. Widow Vanessa Bryant, who also lost her and Kobe's 13-year-old daughter Gianna in the crash, sued both the helicopter company and pilot Ara Zobayan's estate in February, claiming that Zobayan failed to obtain weather data and didn't cancel the flight despite poor weather conditions before taking off on Jan. 26. Zobayan also perished in the accident in Calabasas, Calif. But while Vanessa - who is seeking hundreds of millions in damages - has demanded a jury trial, lawyers for Zobayan's estate say they intend to ask for the trial be moved outside of LA since locals couldn't be fair jurors given Kobe's status as a five-time championship winner for the Lakers, The US Sun reported. "Defendant Zobayan intends to file a motion to transfer venue to a county outside Los Angeles county on the grounds that an impartial jury cannot be empaneled in Los Angeles Superior Court in this matter," the court documents say, according to the outlet. A trial date has not yet been set. Vanessa's lawsuit alleged at the time that company Island Express Helicopters was negligent and that Zobayan did not use "ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft" - which was flying at 180 miles per hour and navigating through fog in the moments before the crash. The families of four other victims who perished in the crash have also filed wrongful death suits against the helicopter company Island Express Helicopters. https://pagesix.com/2020/06/09/kobe-bryants-wrongful-death-trial-shouldnt-be-in-la-pilots-family/ Back to Top Flight Attendants, Pilots and Lawmakers Once Again Call on the FAA to Enforce Mandatory Mask Wearing The Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as leading flight attendants and pilots have once again called on the Trump Administration and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to make the wearing of face masks compulsory on all U.S. planes for both crew and passengers. The FAA has previously resisted calls to create mandatory COVID-19 protection measures for the airline industry because it is "not a public health agency". The Allied Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants have been calling on the FAA to introduce emergency and temporary rules since April but so far the agency has refused to get involved. Instead, the FAA's administrator Stephen Dickson suggested other government agencies might be able to help and insisted that voluntary guidance material it had published was enough. Most airlines have now introduced mandatory face mask requirements for passengers and crew alike but some U.S. carriers, including the likes of American, Delta and United Airlines have faced criticism for telling their flight attendants that they cannot enforce those policies. Instead, they can ask passengers to put on a mask or face covering but cannot compel them or offload them if they refuse. Flight attendant leaders, however, want the refusal to wear a mask to be made a federal crime just like smoking in a lavatory is - at least temporarily while the threat of COVID-19 is still very much present. "Based on my years of experience, I know that a federal mandate to require all passengers and crew to wear a face mask while in the airport and while onboard the aircraft is necessary," explained Susannah Carr, a flight attendant at United Airlines in testimony to the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday. "Creating a unified set of rules for all airlines ensures there is no confusion or personal interpretation of safety guidelines," she continued. "The DOT has taken steps to protect the health of passengers before requiring passengers to refrain from smoking and to wear a seatbelt while seated, in a post-pandemic world, wearing a mask should be no different." But mandatory mask-wearing rules aren't the only protective measure that aviation workers want the federal government to enforce. There are calls to set up passenger health monitoring at airports across the country - which could include temperature checks as well as viral and antibody testing for COVID-19. In-flight social distancing is another measure that the federal government is being asked to draw up rules on. At present, airlines have been left to create their own rules and policies and these can vary greatly between carriers. Delta, Southwest and jetBlue say they will allow for onboard social distancing, while American will sell every available seat if the demand permits. Frontier Airlines, meanwhile, will require passengers to pass a temperature check before they are allowed to board, while the likes of United Airlines only conducts temperature checks on employees as they enter the workplace. It's a complicated mess and passengers are unsurprisingly confused. When demand plummeted in March and April, these confusing policies didn't affect too many people but as passenger numbers very slowly start to pick up, the lack of clear and unified rules could start creating problems. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recently issued guidance for the safe restart of global aviation, which includes mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing, and passenger health screening. Industry trade bodies have urged governments around the world to adopt the guidance as temporary rules as quickly as possible. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2020/06/10/flight-attendants-pilots-and-lawmakers-once-again-call-on-the-faa-to-enforce-mandatory-mask-wearing/ Back to Top Alaska Airlines expands safety measures As the state loosens restrictions for travelers with hopes of salvaging the summer tourism season, airline companies continue to update safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alaska Airlines has announced an expansion of it's Next-Level Care program, featuring safety protocols that the company boasts as being the "culmination of nearly 100 different measures". "COVID-19 has touched all of us in some way and it prompted us to fundamentally change the entire travel experience," said Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden. "Next-Level Care has been informed by medical experts, employees and guests, to ensure our customers are safe, whenever they're ready to fly." The airline company says it consulted with University of Washington School of Medicine infectious disease experts, as well as longtime medical advisers, to update measures with the safety of guests and employees in mind. In a press release, Alaska Airlines highlighted some of the near 100 policies included in the Next-Level Care expansion: • Pre-travel and wellness agreement: Guests are encouraged to use the Alaska mobile app to enjoy a smooth and contactless trip. Starting June 30, flyers will be required to complete a health agreement during check-in and verify that they haven't exhibited COVID-19 symptoms in the past 72 hours, come into contact with someone who is symptomatic and agree to bring and wear a face mask or covering. • Physical distancing onboard: Guests can enjoy extra space on board. Through July 31, middle seats are blocked and flights will be capped at 65% capacity to allow for extra space between guests not traveling together. Families or large groups can request to sit together by calling Reservations. • Guest and employee face masks and hand sanitizer: Face masks are required for all guests 12 and over, and for all airline employees. Customers are expected to bring their own mask and wear it at the airport and during their flight. Additional supplies are available for anyone who forgets a face covering. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the airport including the lobby and gate areas. Personal hand sanitizing wipes will be available onboard starting in July. • HEPA air filters: With one of the newest fleets in the country, Alaska's planes have the latest air filtration technology. Planes are equipped with two hospital-grade HEPA filters that remove 99.95% of airborne contaminants like COVID-19. The air filtration system cycles outside air on board to fully refresh cabin air every three minutes. Studies have shown with frequent air recirculation, cabin air filtration is comparable to the air quality found in hospitals. Guests can enjoy additional filtered air by opening their personal air vent after boarding. • Enhanced cleaning: Alaska Airlines is exceeding CDC cleaning guidelines, using high-grade, EPA-certified disinfectant to clean critical areas throughout the plane. Overnight every plane receives a deep clean and all surfaces, including high-touch areas, are sanitized. • Electrostatic sprayers: In addition to traditional cleaning with high-level disinfectant, planes are sanitized with electrostatic sprayers that disinfect surfaces throughout the cabin. The electrostatic sprayer allows the disinfectant to wrap around and cling to curved and cornered surfaces for an additional level of protection. • Safety measures at airports: Employees clean all surfaces throughout the airport including counters, kiosks and other high-traffic areas several times a day. Social distancing decals have been placed throughout the airport to remind people to "Mind Your Wingspan." The stickers span six feet apart and help minimize crowding and promote distancing at ticketing counters, baggage drops, customer service centers and gate areas. • Boarding changes: At the gate, guests now board by row numbers in smaller groups, from the back to the front, to enable appropriate spacing. • Limited onboard service: To reduce interaction between flight crews and guests, inflight food and beverage service has been temporarily reduced. Flyers may bring their own snacks and water bottles to #FillBeforeYouFly. All seatback content except for the safety card has been removed to limit the spread of germs. Alaska's Beyond Entertainment is still free for guests to enjoy hundreds of movies and TV shows streamed directly to their device. • Peace of mind policies: Change and cancellation fees are waived for travel for tickets purchased before June 30, 2020. Current elite status will be extended through 2021. Elite-qualifying miles earned between January-April 2020 will be rolled into 2021 to give guests a head start on earning status for 2022. Additionally, all active Lounge memberships as of April 1 will be extended by six months. According to the airline, post-flight guest surveys conducted in May showed 82% of travelers experienced a safe and healthy in-flight environment and 95% were satisfied with the cleanliness of their seat area. To learn more about Alaska Airlines' Next-Level Care program, or to book a flight, visit AlaskaAir.com. https://www.ktva.com/story/42228333/travel-tuesday-alaska-airlines-expands-safety-measures Back to Top US flight attendants call for extension of government aid until year-end at minimum The union representing US flight attendants has called on Congress to extend government financial assistance for airlines through the end of the year. The payroll support program, part of the CARES Act passed by Congress in March, designed to help airlines manage through the coronavirus crisis, runs out on 30 September. In return for $25 billion in government support, airlines agreed to maintain a network of skeleton service and pledged no involuntary layoffs or furloughs until that date. But the Association of Flight Attendants says this is not enough time for the airlines to get back on stable financial footing following the pandemic. The union has asked for Congress to extend the programme through the end of 2020 in order to avoid mass layoffs at the end of September if passenger demand does not return. "The programme is set to expire on September 30th and the time to prepare for October 1 is now," Susannah Carr, a United Airlines flight attendant and union representative, tells a hearing of the US House of Representatives' Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on 9 June. "When CARES was written it was expected the industry would be closer to full recovery by the fall. It is clear now, that will not happen. At a minimum, Congress should extend the program through the New Year," Carr says. So far, about 40,000 flight attendants across the US, or 35% of the country's flight attendant workforce have taken voluntary leave offered by their airlines, she adds. Major US airlines are still running significantly reduced operations, though many have said they have seen a small uptick in bookings as lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders across the country are being eased. But United has told employees that it will likely only need about 15% of its flight attendant workforce for the month of June. It is unclear when and how travel demand will return, making it almost impossible for airlines to plan beyond a few weeks out. United received about $5 billion of government payroll aid. Airline trade industry group Airlines for America (A4A) and pilots' union Air Line Pilots' Association, International (ALPA) did not respond to requests for comment on the testimony. SAFETY Safey issues and protection from the virus remain important issues in travelers' decision-making process of whether they will return to the air and if so, when. The flight attendants' union also says airlines are not doing enough to inspire passengers' confidence to return to air travel. Calling the coronavirus pandemic "the biggest crisis aviation has ever faced" Carr says that "a hodge-podge of individual voluntarily-adopted measures" by airlines have put workers and passengers at risk of becoming sick. She encouraged Congress to pass emergency safety and health rules that would mandate airlines abide by "enforceable, mandatory, national standards" including additional cleaning protocols, social distancing measures and requiring all passengers to wear face coverings. "It is clear to anyone working a flight that the current environment of inconsistent and voluntary airline policies is not working as it should," Carr says. "These airline policies and practices are poorly communicated to crew and passengers alike, leaving flight attendants to risk our health and safety while attempting to manage the otherwise avoidable conflicts that result," she adds. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/us-flight-attendants-call-for-extension-of-government-aid-through-year-end-at-minimum/138762.article Back to Top Air Safety Experts Deserve A Safe Workplace: Systemic Reform Urgently Needed (New Zealand) The people who work in our Civil Aviation Authority and our Aviation Security Service are tasked with keeping New Zealanders safe when we fly, but the Ministerial Review released today lays out in disturbing detail how a toxic culture of bullying and harassment made them unsafe in their own workplace. It took sustained pressure from whistle-blowers, media and unions before awareness of this toxic culture reached high enough in government for action to be taken, and a long process of reform lies ahead. The Public Service Association represents workers at CAA and Avsec, and while the union welcomes the Review it says culture change can only be achieved through reforms that go deeper and wider than individual disciplinary procedures. "We welcome the release of the Ministerial Review into CAA's organisational culture. The document makes for tough reading, and we stand in solidarity with all our members who had to endure these conditions for so long," says Glenn Barclay, National Secretary of the Public Service Association. "Progress has only been made thanks to the bravery and determination of workers who chose to stick their necks out and fight not only for themselves, but for others around them. Changing an organisation's culture doesn't happen overnight, and we will continue to support CAA and Avsec workers to the hilt for as long as it takes." While aviation traffic has declined significantly since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, CAA and Avsec staff have continued to work both in our airports and aviation and in other safety related sectors throughout lockdown. While these workers have been busy keeping New Zealanders safe both from home and in the field, they have also faced uncertainty and anxiety about their jobs and look forward to decisive action being taken to improve them. A separate inquiry led by independent QCs into bullying and harassment at Avsec specifically is expected to be conclude next month, and its findings will inform further steps in the reform process. "In the PSA's submission to the Ministerial Review we pointed out that not only have bullying and harassment been long standing problems, whistle-blowers who challenged this were treated badly. We also supported individual members who made their own submissions, and we commend them for doing so," says Mr Barclay. "We welcome the new attitude from management and note their commitment to recognise the report fully, improve working conditions and engage properly with staff and their unions in implementing the change programme. The best outcome for everyone will be if the whole organisation is reformed and improved from top to bottom, rather than select individuals being scapegoated for the problems." https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2005/S00499/air-safety-experts-deserve-a-safe-workplace-systemic-reform-urgently-needed.htm Back to Top Milwaukee man arrested for pointing a laser at FBI, National Guard aircraft flying over protests Photo Courtesy of: FAA Laser pointers are getting steadily more powerful and creating added safety risks for passengers on airliners taking off and landing at airports. A Milwaukee man has been charged in federal court after pointing a laser at an aircraft that was tracking recent Milwaukee protests. 38-year-old Jeremiah Belen was charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft after committing the crime on multiple occasions, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators say that Belen targeted FBI and National Guard aircraft's tracking protests throughout Milwaukee County during the week of June 1st as they monitored the area of 1st and Chambers. The complaint said that pointing the laser "illuminated the cockpit," of the aircraft, causing the pilots to be concerned for their safety. Belen faces a hefty fine and up to five years in prison. https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/milwaukee-man-arrested-for-pointing-a-laser-at-fbi-national-guard-aircraft-flying-over-protests Back to Top Lawsuits Filed Over Fatal B-17 Crash at Bradley Airport A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against the operator of a vintage aircraft that crashed at Bradley Aiport on October 2, 2019, killing seven people and injuring seven others. Two lawsuits were filed Tuesday against the operator of a vintage aircraft that crashed at Bradley Aiport on October 2, 2019, killing seven people and injuring seven others. The WWII-era B-17 crashed minutes after taking off from Bradley Airport and trying to return to the runway after the pilot reported experiencing in issue with one of the engines. The plane was at Bradley Airport for the "Wings of Freedom Tour" sponsored by the Collings Foundation. In the first lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim Collings did not have the "resources to monitor and inspect Collings flight operations on a regular ongoing basis and ignored promises the foundation made to the Federal Aviation Administration. The lawsuit claims negligence on the part of the Collings Foundation resulted in the deaths and permanent and emotional injuries to the passengers who survived. The lawsuit alleges that several passengers sat on the floor of the plane's fuselage, rather than in approved seats and that they were never given instructions on how to use the old, military-style seatbelts. One passenger, the suit alleges, had a seatbelt that didn't work and he was completely unrestrained at the time of the crash. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight of the 10 passengers who were on board the flight. Those passengers include 59-year-old Robert Riddell of East Granby, 64-year-old Robert Rubner of Tolland, 48-year-old James Roberts of Ludlow, Mass., who were all killed in the crash. Passengers who survived who are also plaintiffs are Joseph Huber of Tarriffville, Thomas Schmidt, and Linda Schmidt both of Suffield, James Traficante of Simsbury, and Andrew Barrett of South Hadley, Mass. Two passengers who died in the crash, 66-year-old Gary Mazzone of Broad Brook, and 56-year-old David Broderick of West Springfield, Mass., are not listed as part of the first lawsuit. The family of Gary Mazzone filed a second lawsuit with similar claims. The pilot, 75-year-old Ernest McCauley of Long Beach Calif., and 71-year-old Michael Foster of Jacksonville, FL, were also killed in the crash. A third crew member on the plane and an airport worker on the ground were also injured. The Collings Foundation provided the following statement in response to questions for comment about the lawsuit: "In order to obtain technical experience and expertise, the National Transportation Safety Board made The Collings Foundation a party to the pending accident investigation. In that role, the Foundation is prohibited, both by the Certification of Party Representative and by federal regulations, from commenting on this matter and disseminating information that is the subject of this investigation." https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/lawsuit-filed-over-fatal-b-17-crash-at-bradley-airport/2285130/ Back to Top India's DGCA frets over more loss of control incidents India's aviation regulator has identified airprox incidents, runway incursions and unstable approaches among its eight safety priorities, following a spike in cases during 2018. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also flagged in-flight loss of control as a new area of concern, following a two-fold increase in incidents. It notes that while there have been no fatal accidents involving commercial airliners under its jurisdiction, incidents involving the eight areas of concern have exceeded or breached targets. In 2018, there were 1.54 loss of control incidents per 10,000 departures, nearly twice the 0.64 incidents per 10,000 departures recorded the previous year. Courtesy of: DGCA India DGCA data showing the number of loss of control events in 2018. The DGCA classifies loss of control events as including low speed during approach and cruise; bank angle exceeding the maximum permitted; and windshear below 500ft. "Loss of control events have shown an increase and have emerged as an area of focus," the DGCA states, but does not elaborate how it is intending to address the issue. The DGCA data also reveals an increase in the overall number of airprox incidents: during 2018, there were 16.2 cases per 1 million flights. Courtesy of: DGCA India DGCA data showing the number of airprox incidents in 2018. Risk-bearing airprox incidents increased year on year, with number of cases exceeding targets set. In 2018, there were 2.76 such cases per 1 million flights, up from 2017's rate of 1.86 cases and above the DGCA's target of 1.8 incidents per 1 million flights. The agency notes, however, that the number of loss of separation incidents over Indian airspace has decreased. It adds that the main cause for airprox incidents are air traffic control or system failures. In 2018, there were about 14.5 incidents per 1 million flights, a marked increase from 2017's 8.17 cases. To this end, the DGCA has tasked the country's air navigation service provider with reviewing the figures and developing measures to address the rise in incidents. Unstable approaches also rose year on year to 7.79 incidents per 10,000 approaches, up on 2017's figure of 6.28, and above DGCA's target of 6.1 incidents per 10,000 approaches. Courtesy of: DGCA India DGCA data showing the number of unstable approaches in 2018. Nearly all the aircaft involved in unstable approaches continued with their landing, it adds. The DGCA, which states it adopts a "non-punitive policy" towards go-arounds, adds: "All such occurrences are being investigated and corrective actions are being applied." The agency has also flagged the rise in the number of runway incursions, particularly those caused by other aircraft and vehicles. 2018 saw 12.8 runway incursions by aircraft per 1 million aircraft movements, up from 7.95 in 2017. There were also 2.71 runway incursions caused by vehicles, a significant jump from 2017's 0.42 per 1 million aircraft movements. The DGCA identifies the three main causes as a loss of situational awareness by pilots, non-familiarisation with aerodrome layout, as well as complicated airport and/or taxiway design. Moving forward, the DGCA will increase safety training, as well as "performance based oversight which focuses on achieving the desired performance". "This will lead to a more active involvement and interaction of all players in managing the aviation safety system," it adds. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/indias-dgca-frets-over-more-loss-of-control-incidents/138764.article Back to Top ARSA Seeks Broader Input from Mx Providers in Survey The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is seeking a broad response from the aircraft maintenance community-including non-member maintenance providers-to a survey that will help shape its lobbying priorities in Congress and advocate for the industry in general with regulators around the world. Results of the survey also will help illustrate more expansively what is currently happening within the maintenance industry, according to ARSA. With 23 questions, the survey is expected to take 15 minutes and responses are kept confidential. A company name is only required for data-management purposes, the association said. As "Part II" of its annual industry survey of members, it also focuses on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on repair shops, as well as recovery planning for the maintenance industry. ARSA said the original survey for 2020 that closed in early March offered the "image...of a world long since left behind." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-06-09/arsa-seeks-broader-input-mx-providers-survey Back to Top Lufthansa Wants To Operate Empty Flights To India - Here's Why Lufthansa has offered to operate empty flights to India, only carrying passengers on the inbound flight to Germany. The offer comes as demand for international travel has skyrocketed in the last few weeks, with non-residents trying to return to their home countries as coronavirus cases spike in India. Lufthansa has a unique proposition for the Indian government, it will fly the planes empty on the outbound trip and will only carry passengers from India to Germany. This plan is quite similar to a repatriation flight, with the only difference being that these flights can be booked commercially and are open to anyone who meets border control rules. Lufthansa had plans to fly to India soon, hoping restrictions would be eased by then. By not bringing in any passengers, the government does not need to worry about any imported cases of the coronavirus. This means India's medical infrastructure will not be burdened by incoming passengers, while those wishing to leave the country can do so. The government has taken note of this proposal; consideration is ongoing. Lufthansa's offer might seem odd at first; how can an airline make money when one leg of the flight is empty? The answer is because the demand for international travel in India is sky-high right now. India instituted a ban on commercial international flights on March 22nd, effectively leaving some passengers stranded. This ban has been repeatedly extended, most recently until 31st June. This has left hundreds of thousands of non-resident Indians, foreign nationals, and long-term visa holders stranded in India for over three months. Lufthansa is banking on demand from these passengers to allow it to fly profitably even with one leg empty. Lufthansa will likely also have to price these fares higher than usual to account for the empty inbound flight. It is unclear how much more expensive this will make tickets, although low demand and cheaper fuel could help lower costs. However, with demand so high, passengers will likely be willing to pay the higher fares to return home. Borders slowly open As the number of cases of the coronavirus slows in Europe, countries are slowly reopening their borders to travelers. While this does not extend to non-EU residents yet, both Greece and Spain are hoping to welcome foreign travelers soon. As the number of coronavirus rises exponentially in India, many non-resident are looking for a way to return home. India has allowed passengers to fly on the outbound leg of its repatriation flight, although this has been affected by website crashes and hurdles. While India has still restricted the entry of foreign citizens, other countries, such as the UK and the US, have kept their borders largely open during the crisis. Lufthansa is hoping that the surge of demand from travelers will allow its ambitious plan to succeed. The government will announce its decision whether to allow Lufthansa flights in the coming weeks. If the government does allow Lufthansa, we could see more airlines follow in the future. https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-empty-india-flights/ Back to Top US Air Force delays full-rate production decision for KC-46 aircraft WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force will delay a full-rate production milestone for the KC-46 aerial refueling tanker to the end of fiscal 2024 to correspond with a fix for one of the aircraft's key systems, the service announced late Monday. The Pentagon's independent weapons tester - Director of Operational Test and Evaluation Robert Behler - intends to conclude operational testing of the KC-46 only after prime contractor Boeing fixes the tanker's critical deficiencies and has finalized its production configuration. "Accordingly, the Air Force will defer the KC-46 full rate production decision until after the completion of [initial operational test and evaluation], and the receipt of the statutorily-required Beyond Low Rate Initial Production report from [Behler]," the Air Force said in a statement. The KC-46 program has several remaining category 1 deficiencies, the term used by the Pentagon to describe the most serious form of technical problems. Two of the deficiencies involve the aircraft's remote vision system, which is a series of cameras and sensors used by the boom operator to see outside the KC-46 and refuel other aircraft. The Air Force has contended that the RVS does not properly function in all weather and lighting conditions; the service has refused to deploy the KC-46 until the problem is fixed. Boeing in April agreed to completely redesign the system on its own dime, which will take until at least 2023. One other issue involves the KC-46 boom, which was developed to meet NATO-specific requirements but cannot refuel the A-10 aircraft. The Air Force is paying to redesign the boom actuator, as the service signed off on the original design and did not realize until afterward that it did not meet the specifications needed to refuel the A-10. In March, the Air Force announced an additional category 1 deficiency after maintainers found fuel leaking between the tanker's primary and secondary fuel protection barriers. It is unclear whether this is still a problem, as Boeing had already developed a fix and began retrofitting aircraft when the issue was revealed. "Given its confidence in deficiency resolution timelines for both the aerial refueling boom and Remote Vision System, the Air Force is rescheduling the KC-46's Full Rate Production Decision milestone to late Fiscal Year 2024," the service stated. The Air Force notes that delaying the full-rate production decision will not affect the program's cost - which is locked into place courtesy of a firm, fixed-price deal with Boeing that holds the contractor financially responsible for cost overruns;nor will it cause the service to alter its current delivery schedule. Boeing is already producing KC-46s at "full rate," which for the program is 15 tankers per year. It delivered the first KC-46 to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, in January 2019. Since then, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire, have also taken on new KC-46s. Boeing is set to produce 179 KC-46s over the program of record. The company has racked up cost overruns of about $4.6 billion in excess of the $4.9 billion contract it was awarded in 2011. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/06/09/the-air-force-delays-a-full-rate-production-decision-for-the-kc-46/ Back to Top Boeing aircraft cancellations continue to outpace new orders • Boeing's backlog of aircraft shrank to 4,774, the smallest since 2013. • Boeing logged nine orders and 18 cancellations in May, including a switch to a different delivery slot by UPS. • New plane orders were for freight aircraft while most of the cancellations were for the 737 Max. Boeing logged orders for new freighter planes in May, but cancellations continued to outpace new business as the coronavirus roils the air travel industry. The company reported nine orders and twice as many cancellations, which included a switch of a delivery slot for a 747 freighter for UPS, the company said. The scrapped orders included 14 of its 737 Max planes, the beleaguered jet that has been grounded since March 2019 after two fatal crashes killed 346 people. The company delivered four planes in May. Boeing's backlog shrank to 4,744 planes, the lowest since 2013, including orders the company periodically removes from its tally due to financial trouble or other factors at some customers, a practice it didn't have in place seven years ago. Boeing shares fell nearly 6% to close at $216.74. The manufacturer's stock has rallied close to 70% over the past month as signs of passengers returning to air travel lifted the sector, but its shares are still down more than 30% so far this year. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/09/boeing-aircraft-cancellations-continue-to-outpace-new-orders.html Back to Top Boeing jet deliveries sink to just four in May (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) deliveries slowed even further in May from April as the coronavirus pandemic's crushing impact on airlines added to a year of crisis following the grounding of its 737 MAX planes, company data showed on Tuesday. The U.S. planemaker said it handed over just four planes in May, down from the six it delivered in April, its lowest total for the month in six decades and about 87% fewer than it delivered to customers at the same time a year ago. Deliveries are financially important to planemakers because airlines pay most of the purchase price when they actually receive the plane. Customers also canceled orders for another 18 planes last month, including 14 MAX jets that were the company's top-selling plane until a pair of crashes just over a year ago. While Boeing resumed production last week and expects to make deliveries of the MAX in the third quarter, many aircraft leasing companies and airlines, including Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), United Airlines (UAL.O), and Brazil's GOL (GOLL4.SA) have canceled or deferred delivery as the industry faces a collapse in air travel since January. Earlier on Tuesday, Reuters reported Emirates, one of the world's biggest long-haul airlines, laid off hundreds of pilots and thousands of cabin crew. Boeing shares fell more than 3% by the early afternoon. Boeing did score nine new orders for wide body planes and its deliveries included two 777 freighters, one 737 NG (Next Generation)-based aircraft for the U.S. military and one 767 freighter, but no passenger planes. The May cancellations came from a host of aircraft-leasing firms, including three from Aviation Capital Group, one from CIT Aviation, four from General Electric Co's (GE.N) leasing division and six unidentified customers. Leasing firms, which control over 40% of the global fleet, are among the largest MAX customers. After further accounting adjustments representing jets ordered in previous years but now unlikely to be delivered, Boeing's adjusted net orders sank to a negative 602 airplanes. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-deliveries/boeing-jet-deliveries-sink-to-just-four-in-may-idUSKBN23G277 Back to Top Russia's space chief complains about American jokes MOSCOW (Reuters) - Americans should show more respect for Russia's space program after relying on it for nine years as the only way to send U.S. astronauts into orbit, the head of Russia's space agency said. The United States launched the first astronauts from U.S. soil since 2011 last month in a rocket built by SpaceX, the company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. In the intervening years, Americans flying to the International Space Station relied on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. In a column in this week's Russian version of Forbes, Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos, lamented that Americans still do not take the Russian space program as seriously as their own. "When our partners finally managed to conduct a successful test on their spacecraft, there were nothing but jokes and mockery directed at us," Rogozin complained. Instead, the American space industry should have thanked Russia. "Our country was the first to send a man into space," Rogozin wrote. "We remain first to this day." Roscosmos has in recent years suffered a series of setbacks and corruption scandals, including during the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the country's far east. It criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's "hysteria" after he said the SpaceX launch showed the United States had regained its place as the world's leader in space. Trump also said U.S. astronauts would soon land on Mars, and that Washington would soon have "the greatest weapons ever imagined in history." https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-russia-spacex/russias-space-chief-complains-about-american-jokes-idUSKBN23G29F Back to Top RTCA's free Aviation Technology Connect Webinar series kicks off Wednesday, June 17. Featured speakers include: Wayne Monteith, FAA's Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation and Gregg Leone, The MITRE Corporation's VP Director Center for Advanced Aviation System Development. More details: https://www.rtca.org/content/agenda Back to Top Contact: Rene Lopez Phone: 818-912-2904 Email: rene.lopez@prosafet.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ProSafeT Successfully Implements Innovative Safety & Audit Management System for Sun Country Airlines California, June 8th, 2020 - Leading aviation technology company, ProSafeT, successfully implemented its state-of-the-art Safety and Audit Management System at Sun Country Airlines (Sun Country). Sun Country, a US based low cost carrier with the eleventh largest passenger count, will now have access to Modules within ProSafeT's Safety and Audit solution which will allow Sun Country to further enhance its operations, improving employee and passenger safety. By switching to ProSafeT's platform, Sun Country will centralize and significantly upgrade its safety and audit systems. ProSafeT's solution will replace various disparate systems and will provide Sun Country with one intuitive solution that manages its entire safety and audit programs. This consolidation along with the new platform's intuitive design will bring many benefits including streamlining of processes and closing gaps in communication. As Sun Country's mission states "One passion guides every Sun Country employee and every flight - to safely and effectively help people connect with each other, to create memories that matter." With implementation of ProSafeT's Safety and Quality Management System, Sun Country looks to uphold its mission by strengthening its safety and audit operations. ### About ProSafeT ProSafeT is a US based aviation technology company that provides the industry's most advanced safety and audit platform. ProSafeT has created the best-in-class SMS and Audit platform with state-of-the-art software that is creating a paradigm shift in the aviation industry. ProSafeT's leadership has a proven track record of excellence when it comes to aviation safety automation and compliance. With over 100 aviation clients across three continents, ProSafeT has expertise in providing software solutions exclusively for the aviation industry. ProSafeT strives to foster and maintain continuous innovation within the aviation community. About Sun Country Airlines Sun Country Airlines is a privately held company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Sun Country has been in business for over 35 years and has earned a reputation for offering world-class service at an affordable price. Sun Country is a leader in leisure travel, offering scheduled passenger service on more than 85 routes to more than 50 popular destinations in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Back to Top Back to Top New Insomnia Treatment Developed for Pilots Set To Shake Up The Billion Dollar Sleep Industry Blenheim, New Zealand-May 25th, 2020 For Immediate Release Today, Allan Baker, well known aviation psychologist, has announced the release of his new book, "BLIS™ For Insomniacs", which provides details on the new treatment he has developed which helps insomniacs and others with sleep problems to actively bring on sleep when they need it, rather than waiting passively for sleep to 'happen to them'. This is a breakthrough How-To-Get-To-Sleep technique and guide for anyone who doesn't get enough sleep. Working with long haul airline pilots over the past 15 years, Allan has had to help them cope with the effects of too little sleep due to the nature of their work-changing time zones, flying at night, frequent layovers in new cities and hotels. Finding that existing insomnia treatments simply did not provide adequate results, and knowing that pilots could not resort to using sleeping pills and other medications which would impair their performance, he set about trying to find a better solution. "The problem is," he says, "most sleep therapies are simply rehashes of things that sleep professionals have been expounding for years, with limited success-until now there's been no significant breakthrough technique that addresses all the body's prerequisite conditions for sleep to occur, as a whole." Extensive research through the relevant scientific literature, particularly that around the effective treatment of PTSD, and an ability to think outside the box, has meant that Allan has been able to join-the-dots and make a discovery that appears to have eluded other sleep researchers. Simply put, the two main existing treatment paradigms, 'sleep hygiene' and cognitive behavioural treatment, as just two legs of the sleep stool, deal only with some of the conditions that must be met for sleep to occur. Allan's new technique, coined BLIS - for bilateral induced sleep - completes what he refers to as the third leg of the Sleep Stool, by providing an easy to learn and use method which helps the brain make the shift from emitting the high frequency Alpha waves of wakefulness, to the lower frequency Delta waves seen when we sleep. "I've discovered from knowledge of other areas of therapy, that it's possible to easily train your brain to shift from emitting alpha waves to delta waves, and when the brain emits delta waves, it basically brings on sleep." Allan notes that the sleep industry worldwide is worth tens of billions of dollars, primarily because so many people struggle to get the sleep they need. "The downstream effects of disturbed sleep on health are massive," he says. "If you're getting a couple of hours less sleep a night than you should, on average you're shortening your life by seven and a half years. Sleep is very important in keeping your immune system working well." "The breakthrough came from treating getting to sleep as a skill that can be trained. My new technique has been very effective with many of the pilots I've worked with, and I'm hoping that by releasing this book, I'll now be in a position to help many other sleep deprived people get the rest that they need and crave." BLIS™ For Insomniacs (ISBN: 978-0-473-52117-2) is available as a downloadable PDF eBook for US$14.99 from the mySleepSwitch website at: www.mysleepswitch.com. A sample chapter of the book is available for free download. About Allan Baker Trained as a military pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and is a registered psychologist. Allan has had a psychology career spanning over 45 years, and for the past fifteen years has worked exclusively in the field of Aviation Psychology. This has led to his deep understanding and interest in the area of sleep, which is so critical for commercial pilots and air crew. He is the current holder of the Jim Collins Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Aviation Safety. Allan was presented with this award in 2017 for his significant contribution to the development of the New Zealand Air Line Pilots Association (NZALPA) Peer Assistance Program, and in particular his furthering of a better industry understanding in the specialist area of pilots' mental health. Press Contact: Golden Micro Solutions Ltd, Box 590, Blenheim, New Zealand, publisher of the book. For more information: E: admin@mysleepswitch.com T: +64 21 900 461 TO ALL PROFESSIONAL PILOTS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, members of their Management, Regulators and related organizations (airplane, helicopter, civil or military) WE REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR A JOINT AVIATION SAFETY SURVEY (JASS) ON: "AERONAUTICAL DECISION-MAKING, INCL. MONITORING & INTERVENTION IN PRACTICE" Dear aviation colleague, you are invited to participate in a research project conducted by the department of Psychology at City, University of London, which aims to elicit your views and thoughts on Aeronautical Decision-Making, including Monitoring and Intervention in normal operation,by which we mean routine line flights without any incidents or technical malfunctions. The questions deal with teamwork and decision-making issues in various Pilot-roles, e.g. the role of the Pilot Monitoring (PM), Pilot Flying (PF), Pilot in Command (PIC) and Co-Pilot, and respectively in the Air Traffic Controller (ATCO)-roles of the coordinating and radioing/radar ATCO as well as pilot's and controller's training and occupational picture. This survey is completely anonymous - no identifying information will be requested or collected - and all responses will be treated as strictly confidential. The survey is approved by City's research and ethics committee (Approval Code: ETH 1920-1414). The introductory section of the survey will provide you with further information and the informed consent. Please click here to access the survey or copy the survey-link below into your browser. https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6n7cxeunMyfy0fz By completing the questionnaire, you can - in addition to supporting aviation safety research - even do more good as we will donate a minimum of €2 for the first 1000 fully completed responses to the UNICEF COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund which helps to care for vulnerable children and communities all over the world. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email: aviationsafety@city.ac.uk or tom.becker.1@city.ac.uk or via phone: +49 172 7178780. We thank you very much in advance. Your support is truly appreciated. Best regards, Capt. Tom Becker Prof. Peter Ayton Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your opinions and attitudes about stress and mental health. This research started almost two years ago. The purpose of this study is to examine mental health issues in aviation, specifically Part 121 airline pilots. During this study, you will be asked to complete a brief online survey about your opinions on various life circumstances, stress, and mental health topics. This study is expected to take approximately 15 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must possess an FAA issued Airline Transport Certificate (ATP) and you must also be currently working as a pilot for a Part 121 air carrier that is headquartered within the United States. Participation in this study is voluntary and data will be collected anonymously, stored confidentially, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. We sincerely appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study, as it is another small but important step towards increasing safety in aviation. Please click on the link below to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZG6M6L For more information, please contact: Tanya Gatlin - Student Researcher Gatlint1@my.erau.edu 281-924-1336 Dr. Scott Winter - Faculty Advisor winte25e@erau.edu 386-226-6491 Curt Lewis