It's Monday December 17th and here is Redspan Aviation News #20.
In this edition:
1. Will NASA's tunnelbot find life on Europa?
2. Aeromexico Flight Hits Object Before Landing - was it a drone? 3. Stuck for gift ideas
for aviators this Christmas?
4. Aer Lingus Recruiting 100 New Pilots.
Hello, my name is Ben Lovegrove and here is this week's round-up of aviation news from
high altitude to below 400 feet.
Each week I bring you selected stories about aerial activity; from space exploration to
general aviation, from drones to UFOs.
Head over to Redspan.com to find out how I can make marketing videos for your aviation
business.
So chocks away then.
1. If you're familiar with Europa, one of the planet Jupiter's moons, you might know
that NASA Galileo spacecraft flew by it several times between 1995 and 2003. Close examination
of the images it captured lead NASA Scientists to believe that beneath its frozen surface
there may be an ocean.
We know from exploring the seafloor of our own oceans that hydrothermal vents warm the
water around them and that this warming can create the right environment to support diverse
organisms that would not otherwise exist.
So if there is volcanic activity beneath Europa's crust then such vents in its oceans could
be sustaining life.
A group of NASA researchers are now working on designs for a tunnelbot - a probe that
could melt its way through the thick layer of ice on the oceans' surface to explore the
world beneath.
It's a fascinating idea but we'll all have to wait many years to see if this project
can provide any answers.
Having said that, the years fly by fast, and while attention is focused on Mars we may
wake up one day to news that there is life on Europa while Martian scientists are still
looking.
2. An Aeromexico Boeing 737-800, coming in to land at Tijuana International Airport in
Baja, California last week, was in collision with an object that left a huge dent and a
hole in its nose, just to the left of centre.
Many headlines since have said that it struck a drone but this has not yet been confirmed.
When aircraft collide with one or a flock of birds the evidence is usually plain to
see but in this case the damage shows no sign of blood, feather, nor any other clues.
The aircraft landed safely without further incident and there were no injuries to passengers
or crew.
However, if it was a drone then it once again highlights the dangers created by the few
rogue drone pilots who fail to comply with the best practices demonstrated by the vast
majority of drone pilots.
3. Ask any aviator what they want for Christmas and you'll probably get a long list as they
reel off dreams of new or vintage aircraft and the hangars in which to shelter them.
But for most of us our budget doesn't stretch that far so instead why not buy them a book
or DVD that they can read or watch during the winter months?
While they're counting the days until the local grass strip is free of water, ice, or
snow they could be learning from those who have written of their aviation experiences.
Follow the link in the description field below this video to some book and DVD suggestions
to give you some ideas, for your aviator friend or just for yourself.
4. The flag carrier airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus is recruiting 100 new pilots.
Aer Lingus is the second largest airline in Ireland, with Ryanair being the first.
They are looking for pilots for their Airbus A320/321 and A330 aircraft.
They are offering a starting package of approximately €76,500 for Airbus type rated pilots.
Non type rated pilots will be offered €61,500
The recruitment drive is also to ready their air crew from the new Airbus A321neo which
will come online in 2019.
The closing date for entries is 28th December.
Visit www.aerlingus.com/careers/ for more information.
That's all for this edition of Redspan Aviation News. Subscribe to my channel and click the
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