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☆ Senators press U.S. FAA on recent airplane near miss incidents
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Michael A. McCoyWASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S. senators on Wednesday raised concerns about a string of recent near miss airplane incidents with the acting Federal Aviation Administration head as well as about a FAA computer system outage that snarled thousands of flights last month. They impact Americans confidence in our aviation system," said Senate Commerce chair Maria Cantwell at Wednesday's hearing. "The FAA must have redundancies, and not a single point where a failure can happen in a key system." Cruz asked if new FAA safeguards remove the risk of a similar single point of failure. On Tuesday, Nolen said he was launching a safety review after the recent near miss incidents raised questions about the U.S. aviation system.

☆ Operator warns of 'massive disruptions' in German airports strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

German trade union Verdi on Wednesday called on workers at Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Dortmund, Hanover and Bremen airports to go on a 24-hour strike, saying collective bargaining efforts had made little progress. "On Friday, February 17, 2023, there will therefore be massive disruptions to air traffic," said Fraport (FRAG.DE), the operator of Frankfurt airport, which counted more than 48 million passengers in 2022. The walkout also coincides with the start of the 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC), which brings hundreds of delegates to the Bavarian capital, including several global leaders. The issue would be discussed with the airport on Thursday, the Verdi spokesperson added. The union is currently in negotiations for three groups of workers: ground service staff, public sector officials and aviation security workers.

☆ The FAA Has a Classic Problem: Ancient Tech That’s Failing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Andrew Tangel | Micah Maidenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Federal Aviation Administration halted flights across America in early January, paralyzing air traffic for nearly two hours. It was the first nationwide ground stop since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and shook an industry struggling to cope with a postpandemic surge in travel. The FAA blamed a contractor for unintentionally deleting computer files in an alert system, which tells pilots about restrictions and hazards along their routes.

☆ FAA to conduct sweeping safety review after multiple incidents
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Greg Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Citing a series of recent aviation safety incidents, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a sweeping review of the agency. “We are experiencing the safest period in aviation history, but we cannot take this for granted,” Billy Nolen, the acting FAA administrator, wrote in a memo. One focus of the safety review team will be determining “whether there are other incidents that resemble ones we have seen in recent weeks.” It will also look at ways to better integrate the FAA’s air traffic control arm into the agency’s broader safety efforts. The review will include participants from the industries that are regulated and served by the FAA, Nolen wrote. “We know that our aviation system is changing dramatically.

☆ U.S. FAA says update will prevent 'bad data' from corrupting key database
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last month, the FAA told lawmakers it had revoked access to a pilot messaging database by contractor personnel who unintentionally deleted files in the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) database. The NOTAM system provides pilots, flight crews and other users of U.S. airspace with critical safety notices. "We expect that a significant portion of the modernization work will be complete by mid-2025. Nolen's testimony said on Jan. 10, the NOTAM system became unreliable and technical experts sought to address the issue by switching to a NOTAM backup database. The FAA will need support from Congress to fund FAA "modernization needs," Nolen's testimony says.

WASHINGTON—Biden administration officials on Monday defended their decisions to shoot down three unidentified flying objects over the U.S. and Canada, even as they acknowledged they knew little about what they were destroying. The three unidentified objects were flying at altitudes of 20,000 to 40,000 feet—much lower than the suspected Chinese spy balloon taken out Feb. 4—and posed a hazard to civilian air traffic, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

China widened its dispute with the United States on Monday, claiming that U.S. high-altitude balloons had flown over its airspace without permission more than 10 times since the beginning of 2022. Washington called that a surveillance balloon, while China has insisted it was a weather-monitoring craft blown badly off course. A White House spokeswoman denied it, and accused China of violating the sovereignty of the United States and more than 40 other countries across five continents with surveillance balloons linked to its military. "It has repeatedly and wrongly claimed the surveillance balloon it sent over the United States was a weather balloon and to this day has failed to offer any credible explanations for its intrusion into our airspace and the airspace of others." Reuters GraphicsThe three objects were flying at altitudes that could have posed a risk to air traffic, officials have said.

☆ A United Airlines flight plunged within 800 feet of the Pacific Ocean on the same day severe turbulence injured 25 people, data shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A United Airlines flight plummeted to just 800 feet above the Pacific Ocean late last year, data shows. The incident occurred the same day 25 people were injured from extreme turbulence on a Hawaiian Airlines flight. United Airlines said in a statement that after the pilots landed the plane at San Francisco International Airport, they filed "the appropriate safety report." The incident came on the same day that a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Hawaii experienced extreme turbulence that injured dozens of people. According to the Hawaiian Airlines pilot, a cloud suddenly "shot up," causing severe turbulence.

"There is no, again, no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "We have not yet been able to definitively assess what these most recent objects are," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said at a news briefing. At Friday's White House briefing, Kirby said: "There is no U.S. surveillance aircraft in Chinese airspace. I'm not aware of any other craft that we're flying over into Chinese airspace." "This is the latest example of China scrambling to do damage control," Adrienne Watson, another White House national security spokesperson, said in a statement.

☆ NTSB subpoenas American Airlines flight crew in JFK runway incursion
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Ross Levitt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating a near miss incident on the JFK runway last month, has issued a subpoena for the testimony of the American Airlines pilots involved. “American Airlines cleared the flight crew’s schedule to ensure their availability; however, the flight crew refused to be interviewed on the basis that their statements would be audio recorded for transcription,” the NTSB preliminary report says. “As a result of the flight crew’s repeated unwillingness to proceed with a recorded interview, subpoenas for their testimony have been issued.”The NTSB report says the American Airlines 777 crossed an active runway without clearance from air traffic control, causing a Delta 737 to abort its takeoff. Investigators have accepted written statements from the Delta crew and determined that they contain “sufficient information.”As CNN has previously reported, the American Airlines flight continued on to London’s Heathrow airport. The NTSB says the American crew, through their union, the Allied Pilots Association, would not consent to the interview.

"We don't know who owns this object," said White House spokesperson John Kirby, adding that it was unclear where it began its flight. President Joe Biden ordered the shootdown, which was announced from the White House. Some lawmakers criticized the president for not shooting down the Chinese balloon sooner. The object was shot down off the coast of northeastern Alaska over frozen U.S. territorial waters near the Canadian border. UNMANNED VESSEL[1/4] White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby takes questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. February 10, 2023.

☆ U.S. safety board subpoenas American Airlines flight crew in NYC near miss
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The NTSB said the London-bound American Airlines flight crossed the runway without clearance from air traffic control, forcing the Delta aircraft to abort its takeoff. The Delta flight, bound for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, aborted takeoff and came to stop about 500 feet short of the taxiway. The NTSB said it has attempted to interview the American Airlines flight crew three different times, but the crew refused to be interviewed on the basis that their statements would be recorded for transcription. The Allied Pilots Association, which represents 15,000 American Airlines pilots, said in a statement it raised concerns over the NTSB's "recent insistence" on electronically recording crew interviews. There were 12 crew and 137 passengers on the American Airlines flight and six crew and 153 passengers on the Delta flight.

☆ Investing in Space: Starship in the D.C. spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. I'm in D.C. for the 25th annual Commercial Space Transportation conference. CSF executive members are a veritable who's-who of U.S. space companies founded in the 21st century. So why does the space industry care so much about Starship's success (or failure) to reach orbit? Notably relevant to this conference's host, SpaceX still needs a license from the FAA to launch Starship.

That number includes both rocket launches and capsule reentries, and has been steadily climbing. A Falcon Heavy rocket launches the USSF-67 mission on January 15, 2023 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. "Air space is going to be a critical, critical issue," Isom said, calling on new industries to contribute to the cost of air traffic control. A graph of FAA-licensed or permitted commercial space launches (excludes launches licensed by other U.S. government agencies, such as NASA or the Department of Defense). Together they create a moving target for space launches and the commercial airlines eyeing the same air space.

☆ Explainer: What we know and don't know about the Chinese balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Here's what we know, and don't know, about the balloon that has triggered a dramatic diplomatic dispute between the two powers:HOW BIG IS IT? WAS IT A WEATHER BALLOON? Other companies that develop stratospheric balloon systems include U.S. space tourism firm World View and French firm CNIM Air Space. AIR is particularly keen on stratospheric balloon technology and has posted several articles on its WeChat account about Aerostar. read moreWhile analysts did not yet know the size of the Chinese balloon fleet, U.S. officials have spoken of dozens of missions since 2018 across five continents, with some targeting Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines.

☆ Southwest CEO Jordan finds himself in eye of storm after airline's holiday debacle
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

CHICAGO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines Co's (LUV.N) CEO, faces the biggest challenge yet in his 35-year career at the airline that has built a customer-friendly reputation. Southwest's struggles reached a notable low on Jan. 28 when comedy sketch TV show "Saturday Night Live" lampooned the Dallas-based airline's technology and service. The carrier will now answer to U.S. Congress on Thursday when Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson testifies before the Senate Commerce Committee. In October, Jordan, who started his career at Southwest in 1988 as a computer programmer, put Watterson in charge of the airline's operations. Last week, Jordan also named a chief information officer who will help manage the airline's technology investments, upgrades and system maintenance.

☆ U.S. lawmakers focus on aviation safety after 2 near-miss crashes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress needs to address serious concerns about the country's aviation system after recent incidents including two near miss crashes and the failure of a key pilot computing system, lawmakers said on Tuesday. "Right now the alarm bells should be going off across the aviation industry -- our system is stretched and stressed," Representative Garret Graves, the Republican chair of a subcommittee on aviation, said at a hearing. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure committee chair Sam Graves, a Republican, said the incidents showed the aviation system is in need of "urgent attention." David Boulter, the Federal Aviation Administration's acting head of aviation safety, said the two recent events were serious. The FAA has hired 200 new aviation safety employees in the last year and about 200 the year before, Boulter said.

☆ Your next flight might land a lot smoother and quieter than you're used to as new rules that save fuel expand to more airports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An Optimized Profile Descent is a smooth way of landing planes with their engines close to idle. The new, smoother landing approach — "a gracious slide through the clouds," according to one flight reviewer — is called "Optimized Profile Descent" by the Federal Aviation Administration. "So it's a win, win, win and a win," John-Paul Clarke, an aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics professor at the University of Texas, Austin, who has studied continuous descents, told Scientific American. The FAA started using optimized profile descents" in 2014. Other sustainability efforts include increasing the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel — or SAF — a fuel that's similar to conventional jet fuel but can be up to 80% less carbon intensive.

☆ FedEx, Southwest planes believed under 100 feet apart -NTSB
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told Reuters the "near miss" incident could have resulted in "terrible tragedy." Homendy said it appears likely the FedEx plane overflew the Southwest plane during their takeoff role momentarily and then Southwest passed beneath the FedEx plane again as its speed increased on takeoff. The FAA issued a takeoff clearance to Southwest when FedEx was about 3.32 nautical miles from the end of the runway. "When FedEx said Southwest abort, they were 1,195 feet (364 m) down the runway and climbing." The NTSB has investigated 17 runway incursion incidents since 2013, including two from last summer that remain under investigation.

☆ FAA proposes more than $1 million fine on United Airlines over preflight safety checks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

United Airlines Boeing wide body 777-200 aircraft as seen during take off and flying phase, passing in front of the air traffic control tower while the plane is departing from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport AMS towards Houston IAH in the United States of America as flight UA21. The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that it is proposing a more than $1.1 million penalty against United Airlines for allegedly failing to perform required fire-system safety checks on its Boeing 777s. United didn't immediately comment. Removal of the check resulted in United's failure to perform the required check and the operation of aircraft that did not meet airworthiness requirement," the FAA said in a statement. United had 96 Boeing 777s as of the end of 2021, making up about 11% of its total fleet, according to a securities filing.

☆ Cowen names this little-known defense systems stock a top pick, says it can rally 40%
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Aerospace and defense company Moog is Cowen's top small and medium-cap pick for 2023. Analyst Cai von Rumohr reiterated the stock's outperform rating, calling it a transition story with 40% upside from Friday's close. "Given Moog's strong position in attractive niche markets, we think this strategy makes lots of sense. However, von Rumohr believes that much of the company's risks have already abated. "The integrated satellite bus program entails risk; but risk is abating as Moog is 80% through software development.

☆ Republicans criticize Biden for waiting to shoot down Chinese balloon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. Schumer said downing the balloon into the ocean likely enables U.S. intelligence officials to examine its remnants. The Pentagon will brief senators on the balloon and Chinese surveillance on Feb. 15, Schumer said. Trump on Sunday disputed Austin's statement that Chinese government surveillance balloons had transited the continental United States briefly three times during his presidency. Speaking on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" show, Trump's former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe also denied such balloon incidents.

☆ US takes down Chinese spy balloon over Atlantic Ocean, seeking to recover debris
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US has taken down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic, according to The AP. The balloon earlier on Saturday had been detected over South Carolina near the Atlantic Ocean. According to The Associated Press, the balloon had been previously detected over South Carolina as it moved toward the Atlantic Ocean. China's Foreign Ministry on Friday stated that the aircraft "strayed into the United States due to force majeure." "China regrets that the airship strayed into the United States due to force majeure.

☆ U.S. investigates aborted FedEx landing in Texas, two planes cleared for same runway
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The two planes came close to colliding when the FedEx plane was forced to overfly the Southwest plane to avoid a crash, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters. "Shortly before the FedEx aircraft was due to land, the controller cleared Southwest Flight 708 to depart from the same runway," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. The NTSB separately said it was investigating "a possible runway incursion and overflight involving airplanes from Southwest Airlines and FedEx." The Southwest plane had not yet departed when the FedEx plane was nearing the runway. The Cancun, Mexico-bound Southwest flight, a Boeing 737-700, safely departed and landed at 9:47 a.m.

☆ Fact Check-No evidence for claims FAA updated its pilot ECG guidelines due to COVID-19 vaccine injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Very concerned.”“After the vaccine rolled out, the FAA secretly widened the EKG parameter range for pilots so they wouldn’t be grounded. A PR interval between 120 and 200 milliseconds (ms) is considered normal, according to standard medical practice (here ). A PR interval greater than 200ms is considered to be a first degree atrioventricular block (AV block), which means that the signals are delayed (though not blocked), as explained (here). According to the American Heart Association (here), "A first-degree heart block occurs when the electrical impulse moves through the heart’s AV node slower than normal. First-degree heart block rarely causes symptoms and may not require treatment."

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