Flight Safety Information August 5, 2020 - No. 157 In This Issue Incident: Rossiya A320 at St. Petersburg on Aug 4th 2020, cracked windshield Incident: LOT E195 at Poznan on Aug 4th 2020, takeoff, bird strike, return, takeoff, birdstrike 04-AUG-2020 - Kenya Air Force - KAF Harbin Y-12-II accident Robinson R66 - Accident (Russia) Eurocopter EC 130B4 - Fatal Accident (Tennessee) 3 Hot Air Balloons Crashed Near Jackson Hole, Injuring More Than a Dozen Tourists Police working with Transport Canada to investigate laser interference of aircraft FAA issues Boeing 737 MAX proposed Airworthiness Directive Korean Air launches safety education program Drunk Airplane Passengers Fight Over Face Masks If you see smoke at DFW Airport this month, don't worry: It's a drill Europe air safety regulator gives no firm date for 737 MAX to fly again Pentastar Aviation Vice President of Flight Operations and Director of Operations Robert Rufli Elected Chairman of Air Charter Safety Foundation USAIG & Airbus Helicopters Training Center expand safety collaboration NTSB: helicopter seen wobbling before fatal crash American Airlines Accused of "Offshoring" Flight Attendant Jobs to Cheaper Foreign Labor Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic is seeking Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the US If We Mix Jet Fuel Using Shockwaves, We Can Get to Mars Faster SpaceX successfully flies its Starship prototype to a height of around 500 feet Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) announces new Standardization Board Members ALS Aviation Courses offered during August / September 2020 The USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Will Offer Online and In-Person Classes This Fall Trinity College Dublin and EASA Air Ops Community Survey on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aviation workers Swinburne University Capstone Research Projects 2020 - Airline pax preferences Study Swinburne University Capstone Research Projects 2020 - UAM/RCO Study Graduate Research Survey (1) Graduate Research Survey (2) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (3) Incident: Rossiya A320 at St. Petersburg on Aug 4th 2020, cracked windshield A Rossiya Airbus A320-200 on behalf of Aeroflot, registration VP-BWH performing flight SU-6573 from St. Petersburg to Krasnojarsk (Russia) with 108 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out of St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport when the crew stopped the climb at FL230 due to a cracked windshield and decided to return to St. Petersburg. The aircraft burned off fuel and landed safely back about one hour after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4dad84f1&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: LOT E195 at Poznan on Aug 4th 2020, takeoff, bird strike, return, takeoff, birdstrike, diversion A LOT Polish Airlines Embraer ERJ-195, registration SP-LNL performing flight LO-9825 from Poznan (Poland) to Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain), departed Poznan's runway 28 when the aircraft received a bird strike. The aircraft continued the departure at first, the crew subsequently levelled off at FL240 and decided to return to Poznan, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 28 about 35 minutes after departure. Maintenance checked the aircraft, performed an engine test run and released the aircraft back to service. After about 2:20 hours on the ground the aircraft departed again from runway 28 but suffered another bird strike. The crew stopped the climb at FL190 and diverted to Warsaw (Poland) where the aircraft landed safely about 45 minutes after second departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Warsaw about 2.5 hours after landing. A replacement aircraft is currently estimated to reach Palma Mallorca with a delay of 6:10 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4dad4dee&opt=0 Back to Top 04-AUG-2020 - Kenya Air Force - KAF Harbin Y-12-II accident: Date: Tuesday 4 August 2020 Type: Harbin Y-12-II Operator: Kenya Air Force - KAF Registration: KAF128 C/n / msn: 0097 First flight: 1997 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Dhobley Airstrip ( Somalia) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Military Departure airport: Dhobley Airstrip, Somalia Destination airport: Nairobi-Moi Air Base (HKRE), Kenya Narrative: A Kenya Air Force Harbin Y-12-II suffered an accident at Dhobley Airstrip in Somalia. There were no serious injuries to the 10 people on board but the aircraft was seriously damaged. The landing gear as well as the left-hand wing have collapsed. The accident happened after the aircraft had taken off from Dhobley Airstrip after delivering supplies to U.N. Amisom forces. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20200804-0 Back to Top Robinson R66 - Accident (Russia) Date: 04-AUG-2020 Time: c. 17:00 Type: Robinson R66 Owner/operator: Altai-Avia Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Mt. Belukha, Siberia - Russia Phase: Landing Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: A Robinson R66 suffered an accident during an attempted landing on Mt. Belukha, Siberia, Russia. The pilot and passenger were later rescued. It was not reported at what elevation of the 4500m high mountain the landing was attempted. The R66 Maximum Operating Altitude is reported to be 14000 feet (4267 m). https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/239070 Back to Top Eurocopter EC 130B4 - Fatal Accident (Tennessee) Date: 03-AUG-2020 Time: 19:40 LT Type: Eurocopter EC 130B4 Owner/operator: CFA Holdings Inc Registration: N55GJ C/n / msn: 3745 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Category: Accident Location: Tennessee River, W of Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX/KDKX), TN - United States of America Phase: Unknown Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The helicopter impacted the waters of the Tennessee River west of Knoxville Downtown Island Airport (DKX/KDKX), Knoxville, Tennessee. The helicopter submerged and three of the occupants escaped unreported injuries. A fourth occupant was found dead by divers c2 hours later. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/239057 Back to Top 3 Hot Air Balloons Crashed Near Jackson Hole, Injuring More Than a Dozen Tourists More than a dozen people were injured after three hot air balloons crashed to the ground near Jackson Hole, Wyo., on Monday, the city's fire chief confirmed Travel + Leisure. The hot air balloons carrying 36 people in total were sightseeing near the base of the Teton Mountain Range at about 8:10 a.m. local time on Monday when they were suddenly blown from the sky, Jackson Hole Fire Chief Brady Hansen told T+L. The three hot air balloons were found within a few hundred yards of each other. "They really were just a victim of... an unforecasted weather event with a microburst downdraft wind that really drove all three balloons into the ground at a very high rate of speed," Hansen said. "They all individually crashed at a pretty high rate of speed due to being out of control with this high wind they experienced." Eleven patients were transported by ambulance to a local hospital while one patient was taken by helicopter to a level 1 trauma center, Hansen said. Several other victims who were "banged up" later took themselves to the hospital. Hansen said the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash. "I couldn't believe how beautiful everything was and then we were in hell a few minutes later," Texas resident Clinton Phillips, who was in one of the hot air balloons at the time, told the Jackson Hole News & Guide. "It was crazy." A video of the crash posted by the Jackson Hole News & Guide showed the balloons all flying separate from each other before cutting to them toppled over in the grass with stunned tourists standing nearby crying and buckled over. Hansen told T+L the balloons are a regular sight in the area and "fly pretty consistently every morning." https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/3-hot-air-balloons-crashed-near-jackson-hole-injuring-more-than-a-dozen-tourists/ar-BB17yQdr?li=BBnb7Kz Back to Top Police working with Transport Canada to investigate laser interference of aircraft Source pinpointed to the Saltair area North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP is working with Transport Canada to investigate interference from a laser pointed at an aircraft on July 28. An air traffic controller reported that day a pilot flying at night around 5,000 feet had been "lasered," meaning a beam from a laser pointer was directed at an aircraft. The location was pinpointed to somewhere in a Saltair neighbourhood. The laser strike lasted about 20 seconds and appeared to be from a stationary location. Front-line police officers have done patrols of the zone where the beam was thought to originate, but were unable to establish who was involved due to the large possible area and the lack of specific coordinates. "Laser strikes on aircraft are a serious concern as they can cause temporary blinding of air crew," noted North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Swain. "Especially at night, laser strikes can lead to a possible loss of control of aircraft, posing a danger to people on the aircraft and the general public. These incidents need to stop immediately." Police are urging the public to provide more details about this incident or any similar occurrences. Anyone who has been the subject of a laser pointer while flying is also encouraged to call police and provide details about when and where it happened. People can provide more information by calling the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522. To remain anonymous, contact Cowichan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.cowichancrimestoppers.com According to Transport Canada, no one can possess a hand-held laser pointer over one milliwatt outside of a private dwelling within a 10-kilometre radius of an airport or certified heliports. Lasering any aircraft and intentionally interfering with the performance of flight crew to perform its duties is a criminal offence punishable upon conviction with significant fines, incarceration or both. https://www.vicnews.com/news/police-working-with-transport-canada-to-investigate-laser-interference-of-aircraft/ Back to Top FAA issues Boeing 737 MAX proposed Airworthiness Directive 4 August 2020 The FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for a Boeing 737 MAX airworthiness directive (AD) (PDF) as another step to clear the grounded Boeing 737 MAX jets for flight again. The NPRM proposes mandating a number of design changes. The NPRM is open for public comments with 45 days of publication. To assist with the review of the proposed AD, the FAA also published their Preliminary Summary of the FAA's Review of the Boeing 737 MAX (PDF). In short, the NPRM proposes the following steps to be taken before any 737 MAX will be allowed to operate revenue flights: • Installation/Verification of Flight Control Computer (FCC) Operational Program Software (OPS) Note: Boeing updated the FCC software to eliminate MCAS reliance on a single AOA sensor signal by using both AOA sensor inputs and changing flight control laws to safeguard against MCAS activation due to a failed or erroneous AOA sensor. • Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Revisions • Minimum Equipment List (MEL) Provisions for Inoperative Flight Control System Functions • Installation/Verification of MAX Display System (MDS) Software Note: Boeing has revised the AOA DISAGREE alert message implementation to achieve the original design intent to be standard on all 737 MAX aircraft. • Horizontal Stabilizer Trim Wire Bundle Routing Change • AOA Sensor System Test • Operational Readiness Flight https://news.aviation-safety.net/2020/08/04/faa-issues-boeing-737-max-proposed-airworthiness-directive/ Back to Top Korean Air launches safety education program Korean Air has rolled out a 'CARE FIRST' informational program - emphasizing its multiple layers of protection throughout the passenger journey - to enhance travel safety and awareness with its customers and employees. The airline has established a 'CARE FIRST' page on its website, where customers can check specific measures to ensure safety in all stages of air travel: cabin disinfection, self-check-in options, temperature checks at the gate, social distancing between passengers, boarding and deplaning, and strengthened cleanliness safeguards for inflight catering. The program's informative video is being introduced on Korean Air's in-flight AVOD as well as website and SNS channels. For a minute and a half, Korean Air's chief of safety and security introduces the airline's activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The airline also has a short video on its website and SNS channels demonstrating specific steps that customers go through at the airport to help prevent the spread. Korean Air has created a 'CARE FIRST KIT' consisting of a surgical mask, a hand sanitizer and an information sheet. The kit will be distributed to all passengers at the boarding gates of international flights at Incheon International Airport for a week from August 1 to celebrate the program's first week. Korean Air's joint venture partner, Delta Air Lines also has launched Delta CareStandard to deliver customers a new standard of care through a safer, cleaner and more flexible experience. "Delta and our global partner Korean Air are working closely to align our health and safety measures for every step of the travel process, so that our customers can feel confident about their well-being when traveling with us," said Steve Sear, Delta Air Lines President - International and Executive Vice President - Global Sales. "We have strengthened our health and safety measures through multiple layers of protection. Korean Air and our partner Delta will continue to work together to keep you safe during all stages of your journey with us," said Korean Air's president, Keehong Woo. Meanwhile, Korean Air knows that communication is the essence of understanding and will be sending its customers timely 'CARE FIRST' emails about what they can expect during the passenger experience. https://www.eturbonews.com/578356/korean-air-launches-safety-education-program/ Back to Top Drunk Airplane Passengers Fight Over Face Masks The controversy over face masks continues, including in the airline industry. The latest? A brawl, allegedly fueled by alcohol, broke out onboard a KLM flight to the Spanish hot spot of Ibiza last week after two passengers refused to wear face masks during the trip, according to The Independent. Masks are mandatory on KLM, as they are for virtually every airline in the world as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. DESTINATION & TOURISM But the idea of wearing one, whether on an airplane or in a restaurant, has become something of a political battle between those who believe their civil liberties are being taken away and those who believe wearing a mask helps prevent the transmission of the virus. The airline industry has pleaded for a mandate from the federal government on wearing masks during flights and at the airport, but the White House has declined. In the KLM incident, two men, apparently British tourists, were arrested. The flight originally took off from Amsterdam, and KLM said both men were restrained with the help of other passengers and were later arrested by Spanish police on arrival in Ibiza. "Two unruly passengers refused to wear their face masks, and they were bothering their fellow passengers physically and verbally," a spokesperson for KLM told The Independent. "The pilot informed the local authorities and upon arrival, both passengers were arrested. The flight safety was not compromised during the flight." https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/drunk-airplane-passengers-fight-over-face-masks.html Back to Top If you see smoke at DFW Airport this month, don't worry: It's a drill Firefighters are training at the airport throughout August. If you're driving by DFW International Airport this month and see a large plume of black smoke, don't panic. Firefighters are going through specialized airport and aircraft firefighting training, which could result in large smoke clouds being visible to passers-by, according to the airport's website. The rising smoke should, however, dissipate quickly. The training is part of regular set of programs run by the DFW Fire Training Research Center. There, firefighters are taught a special set of skills with the use of airplane-like mock-ups, which are then ignited. The airport says the fires are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and that the fuels and materials used are "environmentally friendly." Seven more training sessions are scheduled for this month. Training takes place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the following dates: Wednesday Aug. 11 Aug. 12 Aug. 13 Aug. 19 Aug. 26 Aug. 28 https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2020/08/04/if-you-see-smoke-at-dfw-airport-this-month-dont-worry-its-a-drill/ Back to Top Europe air safety regulator gives no firm date for 737 MAX to fly again PARIS (Reuters) - Europe's air safety watchdog has no firm date for Boeing's grounded 737 MAX to resume flights, it said on Tuesday, adding that the U.S. planemaker had some more work to do before a 17-month-old safety ban could be lifted in Europe. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Monday issued a proposed directive requiring four design or operating changes in the wake of two fatal 737 MAX crashes, in a move which could lead to the agency lifting a grounding order on the jet later this year. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) declined to comment directly on the FAA documents, but said it was still waiting to conduct its own test flights before the commercial ban could be lifted in Europe. "...we are still working to conduct our test flights, scheduling of which has been hampered by the travel restrictions due to COVID-19," a spokeswoman said by email. "The test flights are a prerequisite for EASA to approve the return to service of the 737 MAX in Europe." EASA reiterated it would only return the aircraft to service once it felt it was safe. "In general, good progress has been made but there is still some work which Boeing needs to complete," the spokeswoman said. "In the light of this position, and in common with the FAA, we cannot yet predict a firm schedule for the return to service and the ungrounding of the aircraft in Europe." EASA scrutiny is one of a number of hurdles to a widespread return to service, including getting Canadian approval and a public comment period of 45 days on the FAA's proposed changes, as well as finalising a new set of pilot-training procedures. Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun told analysts last week he expected MAX deliveries to resume in the fourth quarter, comments that were interpreted as a suggesting that the U.S. return to service could slip into next year. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max/europe-air-safety-regulator-gives-no-firm-date-for-737-max-to-fly-again-idUSKCN2501LC Back to Top Pentastar Aviation Vice President of Flight Operations and Director of Operations Robert Rufli Elected Chairman of Air Charter Safety Foundation WATERFORD, Mich., - Robert Rufli, Vice President of Flight Operations and Director of Operations for Pentastar Aviation, has been elected Chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF). Rufli has served on the ACSF Board of Governors since 2015 and most recently served as Vice Chairman. In his new role as Chairman, Rufli will help the ACSF's mission to lead and support the advancement of the highest safety standards available to allow the business, charter and fractional ownership industry to offer the safest air transportation products in the world and to provide objective information about these standards and services to the public. "I am proud to have been appointed as Chairman of the ACSF," said Rufli. "Pentastar's steadfast dedication to passenger safety and security is supported by a comprehensive and ongoing program of internal review and audits. My position not only reinforces that commitment to safety, but that of the entire charter industry, and I am pleased to share my expertise to support the ACSF." Rufli has served as Vice President of Flight Operations and Director of Operations for Pentastar for over 3 years and has over 35 years of experience in the aviation industry. He is well-versed in FAA operational certification and certificate merger projects. His experience also includes worldwide flight experience, startup and operations of corporate shuttles, 14 CFR Part 121 initial operational certification, FAA authorized A 502 Merger of five Part 135 Certificates and implementation of cloud-based data management tools, among others. ACSF President Bryan Burns stated: "Bob has been an invaluable member of the ACSF Executive Committee and Board of Governors. He brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience as a leader in the aviation industry. His relentless pursuit to improve and enhance the foundation's ongoing risk management programs is admirable." Rufli earned his Bachelor of Science in Air Commerce from Florida Institute of Technology and completed flight training in Gulfstream III, Hawker 800XP & 700, McDonnell Douglas MD-80, Airbus A-320, Beechjet 400A and 400, Mitsubishi Diamond, Beech Starship and Merlin VIC and 300 through Flight Safety International. Pentastar Aviation adheres to the highest standards of safety and service excellence. In addition to membership in the Air Charter Safety Foundation and their voluntary Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), Pentastar is also a member of the National Safety Council. They have also obtained the NATA Safety 1st Clean certification, have a robust Safety Management System, a well-documented Emergency Response Plan, and have earned numerous aviation safety designations. https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/business-general-aviation/press-release/21148816/pentastar-aviation-llc-pentastar-aviation-vice-president-of-flight-operations-and-director-of-operations-robert-rufli-elected-chairman-of-air-charter-safety-foundation Back to Top USAIG & Airbus Helicopters Training Center expand safety collaboration, offer free IIMC Pilot Course incentive USAIG and Airbus Helicopters North America (AHNA) have a robust tradition of teaming to encourage helicopter operators to consistently participate in high-quality recurrent training endorsed by the manufacturers of their aircraft. The AHNA Training Center in Grand Prairie, Texas, has long been a USAIG Safety Bucks program participant. That program enables policyholders that operate turbine-powered helicopters to select $2,500 in Safety Bucks to go toward helicopter pilot or maintenance technician training expenses in each year of policy coverage. The IIMC course was designed to combat the increasing number of fatal accidents by providing pilots with effective avoidance and recovery techniques. Airbus Helicopters Photo USAIG started the Safety Bucks program in the 1990s to assist and incentivize policyholders to make recurrent helicopter simulator training standard practice. It was later expanded to include helicopter maintenance technician training and some in-aircraft training activities. In 2015, it was integrated into USAIG's broader Performance Vector safety initiative, which provides a portfolio of safety services from which eligible policyholders can make one annual selection. "Safety Bucks is a great option as the annual safety benefit for many of our helicopter policyholders," said Kevin Kovarik, USAIG Senior Vice President and Lead for Rotary Wing Underwriting. "We are proud to boost the reach and positive impact of our policyholders' safety and training resources, and excited to continue expanding opportunities with Airbus Helicopters." The AHNA Training Center in Texas boasts a wide range of opportunities for operators to apply Safety Bucks. The training center leverages its experienced instructors and modernized fleet of company-owned training aircraft and training devices to deliver world-class initial and recurrent maintenance and flight training courses for the light-through-heavy range of Airbus Helicopters models. The AHNA Training Center looks forward to the upcoming rollout of a new level D H145 full flight simulator by its simulation partner Helisim LLC, which already owns and operates AS350, EC1335, and EC145 simulation devices. These simulators complement Airbus Helicopters' initial, recurrent, and safety courses such as Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC), which was designed to combat the increasing number of fatal IIMC accidents by providing pilots with effective avoidance and recovery techniques. USAIG, Airbus Helicopters, and Helisim recognize that IIMC training addresses a critical safety threat faced by the entire helicopter industry. That triggered a discussion about how USAIG could encourage its policyholders to have pilots attend the IIMC course, and a limited-time opportunity was born. USAIG and the AHNA Training Center will extend the value of a $2,500 USAIG Safety Bucks certificate to fully cover one pilot's full IIMC course tuition (currently a $3,900 value) for courses booked within the remainder of calendar year 2020 and commenced before July 1, 2021. Safety Bucks will retain their standard face value when applied to any other AHNA Training Center courses. "We believe the IIMC course is a must-have for any helicopter pilot," said Lindsay Cunningham, head of customer training for AHNA, "and this limited-time offer is a great way for operators who are USAIG policyholders to benefit from the course while deriving maximum advantage from their Safety Bucks." USAIG continually upgrades its popular Performance Vector suite of safety programs to keep pace with changes and improvements in aviation safety protocols. For additional information about the program, check the Safety tab at www.usaig.com or contact Paul Ratté, USAIG Director of Aviation Safety Programs at: safety@usaig.com. For more information about AHNA Training Programs visit https://www.airbus.com/us/en/helicopters/training.html. https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/usaig-airbus-helicopters-training-center-expand-safety-collaboration-offer-free-iimc-pilot-course-incentive/ Back to Top NTSB: helicopter seen wobbling before fatal crash PHOENIX (AP) - A helicopter that crashed last month while delivering supplies to firefighters in a remote area of the Tonto National Forest was wobbling in mid-air before it went down near Payson, killing the pilot, according to investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board issued its preliminary report Tuesday on the July 7 crash as the agency tries to determine a probable cause. Authorities said 37-year-old Bryan Boatman of Glendale was the only person aboard the Bell/Garlick UH-1H helicopter that went down about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Payson. The helicopter was transporting supplies using a long line for a hotshot firefighting crew on the ground. The pilot transported three supply loads with no problems, using an indirect route to avoid the fire area. But on the fourth load, witnesses told the NTSB the helicopter began to fly erratically with the external payload starting to swing. Witnesses said the helicopter appeared to stabilize for a few seconds before it wobbled and banked erratically and then descended rapidly, catching fire after the crash. The NTSB report said the pilot didn't report any trouble over the helicopter crew's air-to-ground radio frequency or any other assigned frequencies for the wildfire. https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/ntsb-helicopter-seen-wobbling-before-fatal-crash-in-arizona,177607 Back to Top American Airlines Accused of "Offshoring" Flight Attendant Jobs to Cheaper Foreign Labor American Airlines faces accusations of offshoring flight attendant jobs to cheaper labor in Latin America after warning 10,000 crew members based in the United States that they faced being involuntarily furloughed in October when federal payroll support comes to an end. In contrast, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) claims foreign flight attendants who are on lower wages have not been threatened with redundancy and could be used more widely by the Dallas Fort Worth-based airline. At the heart of the dispute are plans by American to slash the number of U.S.-based flight attendants working out of its Miami (MIA) base due to a "significant overage" of crew. Union leaders fear these jobs will instead be picked up by foreign national crew based in Latin America - the airline currently has crew bases in Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Lima and Bogota. "APFA has long objected to the continued offshoring of American Airlines jobs. Now is the time to end this practice, which negatively impacts only one group of employees: APFA represented Flight Attendants," reads one letter which flight attendants are being urged to send to American's chief executive Doug Parker. "The Pilots at American are not subjected to having their flying sent offshore to cheaper labor. I urge you to address this issue and help save Flight Attendants from unnecessary furloughs," the letter continues. While foreign flight attendants at American's Latin American bases have been offered voluntary options to reduce payroll costs, the airline has allegedly said it would be too expensive to furlough these flight attendants or downsize the overseas bases. Julie Hedrick, president of the flight attendant union claims their own financial analysis proves it would actually cost more to furlough U.S.-based workers on a like for like basis. "It is a matter of fundamental fairness that cutbacks in the operation are spread across the entire operation, including the Latin American operation," Hedrick wrote in a letter to Parker last week. An American Airlines spokesperson, however, said the airline was doing everything possible to avoid furloughs but if they became unavoidable foreign crew bases would see a proportional reduction in staff, subject to local laws. "Our flight attendants based in Latin America are American Airlines team members, and many of these flight attendants have a very long tenure with American," a spokesperson told us. There's also limited scope as to how many foreign flight attendants the airline can hire due to complicated contract agreements. At present, the airline can employ a maximum of 394 foreign flight attendants in its Latin American bases, plus 2.75 per cent of APFA represented flight attendants. If American were to furlough all 10,000 U.S.-based flight attendants that have received WARN notices, the airline would be limited to employing around 900 foreign crew and at present, Latin American crew are also limited to only flying into and out of Miami. The subject of foreign flight attendants has long been a thorny issue for APFA which followed American's acquisition of Eastern Airlines' Central and South American routes in 1989. The deal included foreign-based crews who had been employed by Eastern Airlines, drawing the ire of APFA and which resulted in the union attempting to block the purchase from going ahead. American Airlines has also faced accusations of offshoring American jobs from the Transport Workers Union (TWU) who claimed in 2018 that nearly 50% by value of maintenance work on U.S.-registered aircraft was actually carried out in maintenance facilities outside of the United States. The union branded the airline 'UnAmerican Airlines' as part of a campaign to get jobs moved back to the U.S. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2020/08/04/american-airlines-accused-of-offshoring-flight-attendant-jobs-to-cheaper-foreign-labor/ Back to Top Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic is seeking Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the US while it scrambles to finalize a rescue plan Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic airline filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in New York on Tuesday. The airline, which flies only long-haul international routes, suspended passenger flights in April because of the coronavirus pandemic. It resumed them in July, despite little demand for international travel. The airline, 49% of which is owned by Delta, has cut more than 3,000 jobs, retired some planes, and closed bases to cut costs during the pandemic. Virgin Atlantic filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in New York on Tuesday, part of a process to protect its assets from US creditors as it scrambles to finalize a rescue plan with the aid of the UK court system. Virgin Atlantic not the only one of the Virgin Group's airlines to struggle during the downturn. Virgin Australia filed for voluntary administration - a form of bankruptcy in Australia - in April. London-based Virgin Atlantic, 49% of which is owned by Delta Air Lines, flies exclusively long-haul international routes. It suspended all passenger operations in April when the coronavirus pandemic triggered a crash in travel demand. It began flying passengers again in July. Chapter 15 is a form of bankruptcy designed for cases involving multiple countries, providing a mechanism for foreign-based companies undergoing bankruptcy proceedings in their own country to access the US court system. It effectively protects Virgin's US assets from creditors as the airline works to finalize a private rescue plan, which is being aided by the UK court system. Virgin Atlantic announced a £1.2 billion ($1.57 billion) private rescue package in July but had not finalized the agreement. The airline had also appealed unsuccessfully for a bailout from the British government. Richard Branson, the Virgin Group founder, has offered his private island as collateral for a bailout or loan. The airline said during a court hearing in London on Tuesday that it would effectively run out of cash in September, Bloomberg reported. Tuesday's US filing appeared to be linked to the London hearing, at which a judge gave the go-ahead for a meeting allowing creditors to vote on the restructuring plan. Virgin has not entered administration, a form of bankruptcy in the UK. "One of the most important goals of Chapter 15 is to promote cooperation and communication between US courts and parties of interest with foreign courts and parties of interest in cross-border cases," the US court system says on a website explaining the setup. In May, Virgin Atlantic said it would cut more than 3,000 jobs and close its base at London's Gatwick Airport, consolidating operations at London Heathrow to cut costs. The airline also retired its iconic Boeing 747-400 fleet as a cost-saving measure. US and European airlines saw a modest recovery in domestic travel demand in May and June, though that has since reversed in the US as COVID-19 cases have spiked. For Virgin Atlantic, which operates long-haul flights through its UK hubs, options during the pandemic have been scarce. The airline had planned to build up a domestic network through its acquisition of a regional airline, Flybe, in 2019, but that smaller carrier became the first airline victim of the pandemic, collapsing in early March. Delta CEO Ed Bastian has said that Delta would not offer a cash injection to save Virgin from a bankruptcy restructuring. UK foreign-ownership laws would prevent Delta or any other foreign investor from increasing its stake. Delta deferred comment to Virgin Atlantic. In a statement, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said that the airline had made the filing as part of its recapitalization and restructuring process. "Following the UK hearing held earlier today, ancillary proceedings in support of the solvent recapitalisation were also filed in the US under their Chapter 15 process," the spokesperson said. "These ancillary US proceedings have been commenced under provisions that allow US courts to recognise foreign restructuring processes." https://www.yahoo.com/news/richard-bransons-virgin-atlantic-second-192546110.html Back to Top If We Mix Jet Fuel Using Shockwaves, We Can Get to Mars Faster • New research suggests shockwaves could mix fuel for a hypersonic Mars rocket. • Hypersonic is Mach 5 or more, which would greatly shorten travel within our solar system. • Shockwaves rapidly mix fluid streams, which is a requirement for a supersonic-air ramjet. Could astronauts surf to Mars assisted by a hypersonic shockwave? A new paper in the Journal of Fluid Dynamics suggests it's a more likely scenario than we think, combining traditional propulsion with a shockwave method for mixing fuel ratios to reach their full explosive potential. In the new paper, researchers from the University of Southern California investigate the way applying a shockwave helps or hinders how the "scalars," or different fluids, can mix effectively. Take a leisurely swirl of oxygen and fuel and you might only reach regular supersonic speeds. But add the Nutribullet impact of a shockwave and the oxygen-fuel smoothie could carry you at five times or more the speed of sound, reaching the hypersonic range. Pushing the airflow past the speed of sound helps enable a kind of transport called a scramjet-shortened from supersonic combustion ramjet, an air-fed rocket that burns continuously as long as it has fuel. "Imagine instead of a rocket you have something lighter and smaller that could take us all the way to Mars," participating researcher Ivan Bermejo-Moreno said in a statement. "The combination of scramjets and rotating detonation engines, both based on shock waves and turbulence, may one day do just that." To test their ideas about mixing fuel within supersonic airflows using shockwaves, the researchers made a friction-free container and pushed fluids like air through it. (Air is a fluid, and fluid dynamics include everything from most liquids to flows of sand to certain groups of animals that move in groups.) Imagine someone blowing a smoke ring: they use their mouth as an empty chamber and selectively push air through in a wave, informally speaking. What results is a swirling toroidal vortex that traps smoke inside. The air is pushed, pulled, and eventually dissipated. In the no-friction shockwave Nutribullet, a similar thing is happening, but the goal is to scatter the air and make it as turbulent as possible. Researchers believe using a shockwave might be the most effective way to do just that, more uniformly, quickly, and consistently than with any other reaction we can make in this context. From the paper: "Interaction with the shock increases alignment of the scalar gradient with the most extensive eigenvector, decreasing it with the most compressive, which is still dominant. The barycentric map of the passive scalar gradient also reveals that, across the shock, the most probable alignment between scalar gradient and strain eigendirections converges towards the alignment that provides the most dissipation. This also leads to an enhancement of scalar dissipation immediately downstream of the shock." This means the shockwave strikes the flow and both blasts it completely apart and drastically slows it down, which is critical in an engine where airflow passes through faster than the speed of sound. Capturing energy at its most effective point is vital, unless we want a scramjet that's a mile long. "In this way, we isolated the interaction between turbulent flows and shockwaves," Bermejo-Moreno said. Next, the researchers want to study factors like chamber shape as they continue to search for the best way to reach hypersonic speeds. https://www.yahoo.com/news/mix-jet-fuel-using-shockwaves-185100582.html Back to Top SpaceX successfully flies its Starship prototype to a height of around 500 feet SpaceX has been developing Starship, its next-generation spacecraft, at its site in Boca Chica, Texas. The company has built a number of different Starship prototypes to date, include one prior version called the Starhopper that was essentially just the bottom portion of the rocket. Today, the company flew its first full-scale prototype (minus the domed cap that will appear on the final version, and without the control fins that will appear lower down on its sides), achieving an initial flight of around 150 m (just under 500 feet). This is the furthest along one of these prototypes has come in the testing process. It's designated Starship SN5, which is the fifth serialized test article. SpaceX actually built a first full-scale demonstration craft called the Starship Mk1 prior to switching to this new naming scheme, so that makes this the sixth one this size they've built -- with the prior versions suffering failures at various points during preparations, including pressure testing and following a static engine test fire. SN5 is now the first of these larger test vehicles to actually take off and fly. This prototype underwent a successful static test fire earlier this week, paving the way for this short flight test today. It's equipped with just one Raptor engine, whereas the final Starship will have six Raptors on board for much greater thrust. It managed to fly and land upright, which means that by all external indications everything went to plan. Starhopper previously completed a similar hop in August of 2019. SpaceX has an aggressive prototype development program to attempt to get Starship in working order, with the ambitious goal of flying payloads using the functional orbital vehicle as early as next year. Ultimately, Starship is designed to pair with a future Falcon Heavy booster to carry large payloads to orbit around Earth, as well as to the moon and eventually to Mars. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spacex-successfully-flies-starship-prototype-000125938.html Back to Top posted on August 4, 2020 08:00 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) announces new Standardization Board Members Four industry leading professionals accept leadership roles in fast growing organization! The election for one Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) Standardization Board seat and two supernumerary positions ended at the close of business on July 31, 2020. As in previous elections, it was a tight race and the supernumerary candidates actually tied in votes. Fifty percent of BASC members participated. The election process highlights one of the founding premises of BASC, where Board members are current operational experts in their field. It was determined where similar Boards appoint figure heads, vendors, and dignitaries, that succumb to outside pressures and special interests, are generally not very successful in serving and responding to the needs of the end user. The end user was the primary focus of BASC since inception, and the resulting growth and success is attributed to that philosophy. The BASC nation thanked Chris Keaney, of IBM Flight Operations, and Amanda Zeigler, of Quality Resources, for their contributions to the Board and BASC. Chris (a retired USMC veteran) was credited with keeping the Board focused on real world applications. Amanda served in a Quality Assurance role, and insured all checklists, documentation, and regulatory compliance updates remained accurate, timely, and effective from the BASC internal and external audit program's inception. Both will transition to "Past (Board) Member" status and continue to help guide the Standardization Board and BASC. Andrew DeLaTorre of Blue City Holdings, and Ken Giuffre of IAC/Expedia Global, were elected to supernumerary positions. The first Board seat was filled by the Safety Manager of Jackson National Life, Mary Poirier. Poirier was serving as a BASC Standardization Board supernumerary. She is an experienced and accomplished aviation and safety professional who was previously recognized as a NBAA "Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40". The Director of Aviation of MB Aviation, Ed White, was elected to the second Board seat. White has earned a well-deserved reputation in business aviation, and has actively served in many high level industry positions. He has also been recognized as a client-focused IS-BAO auditor for over twelve years. All positions are effective August 31, 2020. The BASC Standardization Board will now consist of Poirier and White, as well as, Greg Burris, Safety Manager of Masco; Sean Cannon, Safety Team Member of Richardson Aviation; Mark Chaffinch, Director of Aviation of Norfolk Southern Corporation; Aaron Hempel, Safety Manager of Koch Industries; and Rick Malczynski, Founder and President of BASC. ### About the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (AviationConsortium.com, LLC or BASC): Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BASC serves as a logical partner for SMS, regulatory, and operational excellence verification for high performing business aviation organizations. BASC was founded in 2016 and accepted the first member in January of 2017. For more information, visit http://www.aviationconsortium.com Back to Top TheUSC Aviation Safety & Security ProgramWill Offer Online Classes This Fall The following upcoming courses, including NEW Safety Performance Indicators course, will take place in our virtual Webex classrooms. Software Safety Philosophies and methods of developing software, analyzing software, and managing a software safety program. Online Course August 17-20, 2020 4 Days Tuition: $2250 SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems Managing and implementing aviation security measures at medium to small size aircraft operators, all airports, and Indirect Air Carriers, with emphasis on risk assessment and cyber security. Online Course August 17-21, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2650 Accident/Incident Response Preparedness This course is designed for individuals who are involved in either preparing emergency response plans or responding to incidents and accidents as a representative of their organization. This updated course has been extended to four full days to integrate communications in the digital age. Online Course August 24-27, 2020 4 Days Tuition: $2250 Human Factors in Aviation Safety This course presents human factors in a manner that can be readily understood and applied by aviation practitioners in all phases of aviation operations. Emphasis is placed on identifying the causes of human error, predicting how human error can affect performance, and applying countermeasures to reduce or eliminate its effects. Online Course August 24-28, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2650 Aviation Law & Aviation Dispute Resolution This course provides information on the legal risks inherent in aviation operations and an overview of the legal system as it relates to aviation safety. The course also provides an understanding of the various legal processes relating to aviation and discusses ways to engage aviation authorities in a responsible and successful manner. The judicial process, current litigation trends, legal definitions, and procedures are also covered. Online Course August 31-September 3, 2020 4 Days Tuition: $2250 Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance This course provides supervisors with aviation safety principles and practices needed to manage the problems associated with aircraft maintenance operations. In addition, it prepares attendees to assume safety responsibilities in their areas of operation. Online Course August 31-September 4, 2020 4.5 Days Tuition: $2650 Threat and Error Managment This course provides students with sufficient knowledge to develop a TEM program and a LOSA program within their organizations. Online Course September 9-11, 2020 2.5 Days Tuition: $1375 Aviation Safety Management Systems Providing the skills and practical methods to plan, manage, and maintain an effective Aviation Safety Management System. Special emphasis for safety managers, training, flight department and maintenance managers and supervisors, pilots, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, and schedulers. Online Course September 14-25, 2020 9.5 Days Tuition: $3750 Hazard Effects and Control Strategies This course focuses on underlying physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and effects, and hazard control strategies. The following hazards are specifically addressed: electrical hazards, electrostatic discharge, toxicity, kinetic hazards, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, thermal hazards, noise, fire and explosion, high pressure, etc. Online Course September 14-15, 2020 2 Days Tuition: $1200 Damage Assessment for System Safety Sophisticated mathematical models and methods have been developed to estimate the level of impact of a hazardous condition. This course provides an overall understanding of these methods to help managers and system safety analysis reviewers understand the analysis conducted and results obtained by the experts in the field. Specifically, methods for modeling the impact of fire and explosion, debris distribution from an explosion, and toxic gas dispersion are discussed. Online Course September 16-18, 2020 3 Days Tuition: $1625 Safety Management Systems for Ground Operation Safety This course provides airport, air carrier and ground service company supervisors and managers with practices that will reduce ground operation mishaps to personnel and equipment. It provides an understanding of how ground operations safety management is an essential part or an airport's or air carrier's SMS. Online Course September 21-23, 2020 2.5 Days Tuition: $1375 Safety Performance Indicators This course teaches how SPI's are developed, monitored, analyzed and modified in order for an organization to correctly know its safety performance. The course utilizes guidance provided in ICAO Annex 19 and the ICAO Safety Management Manual Doc. 9859. Online Course September 24-25, 2020 2 Days Tuition: $1200 Earn Credit for FlightSafety International Master Technician-Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn elective credits towards FlightSafety International's Master Technician-Management Program • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Gas Turbine Accident Investigation • Helicopter Accident Investigation • Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance • Safety Management for Ground Operations Safety • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness Earn Credit for National Business Aviation Association Certified Aviation Manager Exam Students taking the following USC courses will earn two points toward completing the application for the National Business Aviation Association Certified Aviation Manager Exam. • Aviation Safety Management Systems • Accident/Incident Response Preparedness • Human Factors in Aviation Safety • Aircraft Accident Investigation • SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems For further details, please visit our website or use the contact information below. Email: aviation@usc.edu Telephone: +1 (310) 342-1345 Photo Credit: PFC Brendan King, USMC Swinburne University Capstone Research Projects 2020 - Airline pax preferences Study Airline Passenger Carrier Preference Research Project 2020 The Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) business model has disrupted the aviation industry. It has generated new passenger demand, provided passengers with more choice and created many competitive challenges for the traditional Full-Service Carriers (FSC). As the global airline market continues to change and adapt to new challenges, airline passenger preferences and intent to travel may also change. As part of our undergraduate research project at Swinburne University of Technology we are conducting a survey on passenger preferences regarding the decision to fly between LCC and FSC airlines. This survey asks for your views on various issues associated with airline choice and seeks to better understand passenger risk perceptions and the perceived value offered by each airline model. You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire, which also includes an explanatory statement. The study takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. To access the survey, please go to the following link: https://swinuw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3wwfJDvc7chU3Cl Participants who complete the study will be eligible to enter a draw to win an iPad. This research project is being supervised by Peter Renshaw at the Department of Aviation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. If you have any questions, please contact Peter at prenshaw@swin.edu.au *** Image from: Uphues, J. (2019). Full service carrier vs. low cost carrier - What's future-proof? Retrieved from https://www.inform-software.com/blog/post/full-service-carrier-vs-low-cost-carrier-whats-future-proof Back to Top As part of our Swinburne Bachelor of Aviation undergraduate research project, we have constructed a survey for members of the aviation industry and those who have not worked in aviation to provide feedback on their attitudes and opinions about Urban Air Mobility and single-pilot and/or autonomous airline operations. If you are an active participant in the aviation industry as a passenger or through employment, we invite you to take part in this survey to help give the industry a better understanding of the general sentiment towards these emerging technologies and operational concepts. To participate please follow the link below to our online survey: https://swinuw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zRhPPbCfnsHH3T It should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Participants who complete the survey will be eligible to enter the draw to WIN AN iPad. Thank you very much for your time. This research project is being supervised by Peter Renshaw at the Department of Aviation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. If you have any questions, please contact Peter at prenshaw@swin.edu.au Back to Top Graduate Research Survey (1) Stress and Wellbeing for Global Aviation Professionals Dear colleagues, I am inviting you to participate in a research project on wellbeing in the aviation industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation has affected aviation professionals around the world, and this research seeks to identify wellbeing strategies that work across professions, employers, families, and nations. All responses to this survey are anonymous. The findings of this research will inform future work by the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program and the Flight Safety Foundation to improve wellbeing for aviation professionals during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please click or copy the link below to access the survey, and please share it with any interested colleagues. https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cC2nlWEAazl22TX This research will support a treatise towards a Master of Science in Applied Psychology degree at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. The researcher is also on the staff of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program. Thank you, and please contact us with any questions, Daniel Scalese - Researcher scalese@usc.edu Michael Nguyen - Faculty Advisor nguyenmv@usc.edu Back to Top Graduate Research Survey (2) Critical Evaluation of the Gaps in SMS Debriefing Tools and Development of Potential Solutions I am inviting you to take part in a study of Feedback within Aviation Safety Management Systems. An airline/organisation Safety Management System (SMS) relies on pilot safety reports (ASAP or ASR) or data (FOQA, FDM) to discover hazards and threats in the operation. In return, the pilots depend on up to date information from the airline's safety department to make sound decisions regarding safety. The safety department can accomplish that by debriefing or giving feedback on the safety reports or data. A literature review of safety report feedback/debrief within Safety Management Systems showed that safety reports are not fully debriefed. This survey aims to gather data regarding pilots' perspective of safety report/safety data debriefing. In addition, the survey also aims to find out the opinions of a potential solution. This study is undertaken as part of a thesis for an Air Safety Management Master of Science degree at City, University of London. https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8eadW14UUZYaurj Bengt Jansson Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (3) 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