Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson's astronaut wings

Passengers lend their airplane a hand after its tire ruptures on the runway, American Airlines is cutting flights after Boeing missed a major 787 delivery deadline Dec 13, 2021 [View on browser]( Welcome to a new week and a new world where billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson get to add “astronauts” to their extensive list of titles, thanks to the FAA’s change of heart and subsequent decision to grant them “wings” for making it to the edge of space. On the total opposite end of the spectrum (and far closer to the ground), American Airlines said that Boeing’s failure to deliver more than a dozen 787 Dreamliners forced it to cancel flights, while passengers of a Nepal-based airline had to lend their airplane a hand after its tire ruptured on the runway. Nothing lasts forever. This is The Blueprint. Happy reading. TRANSPORTATION [American Airlines Is Cutting Flights After Boeing Missed a Major 787 Delivery Deadline]( [Boeing.]( American Airlines [announced that Boeing’s failure to deliver]( more than a dozen 787 Dreamliners forced it to cancel flights scheduled for summer 2022. - The announcement follows a fitful year for the 787 program, including mistakes by suppliers and the discovery of serious defects that prompted an investigation by the FAA. The problem. In November, an internal FAA memo listed several serious manufacturing defects, many of which are the result of the 787’s size. Later, in October, the company reported problems with titanium components from an Italian supplier. - The flaws — which apparently went undetected for at least three years — affected spacers, brackets, and clips used in the manufacture of the 787 airframe. Though the issue affected some planes that had already been delivered, a company spokesperson said it was not “an immediate safety of flight concern for the active, in-service fleet.” Going forward, the company is inspecting jetliners that haven’t been delivered because of the defective parts, while also repairing two aircraft that were sent to customers, but haven’t begun commercial flights. But this adds another level of complexity to [Boeing’s ongoing efforts to resolve quality concerns]( surrounding its flagship wide-body aircraft. [Read More]( CULTURE [The FAA Will Award Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson with Astronauts Wings]( [Bezos (left) and Branson (right).]( The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) [has decided to grant]( Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson the Commercial Space Astronaut Wings for their journeys to space aboard their respective commercial spacecraft earlier this year. - Volte-face. Earlier, the FAA was adamant that the duo [could not be classified as astronauts]( since they did not conduct activities that "contributed to human space flight safety." Now, the FAA has changed its mind and decided to include the two and others aboard their flights on the list of individuals with FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings. Their names are featured in the list of 24 people who’ve achieved this feat since the inception of the program in 2004. - Kicking the ladder down. Notably, the FAA also decided to end the program after this move, but will continue to recognize anyone on an FAA-licensed spaceflight that reaches 50 miles above the Earth's surface on its website. So, if you are looking to inject your celebrity lifestyle with a cosmic joy ride (or simply have a lot of money to throw around), don't expect free memorabilia from the FAA anymore. That is, unless you manage to pull off [an FAA-licensed spaceflight in the next fortnight](. [Read More]( TRANSPORTATION [Passengers Lend Their Airplane a Hand After Its Tire Ruptures on the Runway]( [The airplane.]( In a technique typically reserved for cars, passengers of a Nepal-based airline [had to push their airplane]( after a blown tire left a jet stranded on the tarmac. - The bizarre scenario happened when a wheel on a Tara Air plane that had just landed at Bajura Airport from Simkot, Humla, burst, and thwarted other planes from continuing their journeys. Teamwork. The airport lacked the tools to move the plane, so passengers and security personnel had to take matters into their own hands (literally), and physically push the plane. - The flip-side. While doubtlessly a pain in the neck, this created a 20-minute video of a brave bunch of strangers banding together to safely push the jet away from the danger posed by other incoming and departing flights. The plane was eventually moved out of harm's way, and the day was officially saved once another plane from Nepalganj arrived with spare tires and engineers. After outfitting the plane with [a fresh tire]( both planes flew back to Nepalganj. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS It's not every day we're asked to perform an act of heroism, but when the wheel of the Tara Air vehicle burst, common people rushed into action. If you were there, would you join in and lend a hand? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Absolutely! We're all in this together.]( [No way. I can't risk my life right now.]( [This is terrifying. I want out!]( [I'm Superman. I'll do it alone.]( Yesterday’s Results We asked who you think will reap the benefits of advancements in chip design first, the casual user or the power users. According to 42% of you, this is a typical example of Jevon's paradox, and it will benefit power users first, while 21% think the companies in control of such tech will make sure casual users get to enjoy it as well. This is a classic example of Jevon's paradox, power users first. 42% The companies in control of such tech will make sure casual users get to enjoy this. 21% Why can't we live in harmony and give everyone the tech? 19% Such advancements will bring about the AI apocalypse, see you in the Matrix. 18% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. ” Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement address. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [This Is the World's Strongest Explosive-Powered Nut Cracker]( Do not try to build this 200 cal nutcracker one at home! [This Is the World's Strongest Explosive-Powered Nut Cracker]( AND ANOTHER THING... - A revolutionary plant experiment aboard the International Space Station [broke the record for feeding the most astronauts]( from a crop grown in microgravity. - Politicians [are sending mixed signals about private car ownership]( National leaders are promoting it, while local ones want to curb driving. (The Economist) - Microsoft's attempts to steer Windows users toward the Edge browser are attracting notice. [Is the Third Browser War around the corner]( - Amazon’s server outage last week [took down a “decentralized” crypto exchange](. How decentralized is decentralized finance? (Vice) - In 1968, the nerve agent VX [escaped from the U.S. Army's Dugway Proving Ground]( in Utah and killed more than 6,000 sheep, but luckily, no humans. - More than 30 years ago, Andreas Floer changed geometry. Now, two mathematicians [have finally figured out how to extend]( his revolutionary perspective. (Quanta Magazine) - Researchers have bolstered a body of ideas that proposes to do the unthinkable: [Grant Pluto back its planet-hood]( since the criteria that canceled its planetary status may not be based on scientific grounds. [Share to Win]SHARE TO WIN [All products]( Share The Blueprint! Give your friends deeper insights into engineering and tech, and win exclusive IE swag for free. [Read Details]( Share your link Copy & share your referral link with others. [ [Referral Program Terms and Conditions]( Prepared by Derya Ozdemir and Brad Bergan Enjoy reading? Don't forget to forward to a friend! Was this email forwarded to you? 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