Flight Safety Information October 16, 2013 - No. 213 In This Issue Engine explodes during takeoff of Spirit flight Are Airline Pilots Getting Enough Training? IATSBA 2013 Joseph T. Nall Safety Award Recipient Fuselage panel falls from Boeing 787 Dreamliner in flight Kenya Airways ready to set new aviation standard for African Airlines South Africa: 58 Percent of Aircraft Do Not Have Airworthy Certificates Mountain Aviation awarded NBAA Safety Award and Celebrates 20th Anniversary Jazz Aviation LP successfully completes fifth consecutive IOSA Safety Audit GAMA Hails Brazil-EU Aviation Safety Agreement Medallion Foundation to offer aviation safety audits worldwide IFA Forum in Hong Kong 26-27 Nov 2013 Next GFSC Meeting 06 November 2013, Abu Dhabi Think ARGUS PROS Honda hiring 'in all areas' to prepare for jet production Air India hedges 10,000 barrels of jet fuel for its aircraft GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Engine explodes during takeoff of Spirit flight ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) - Spirit Airlines flight 165 from Dallas en route to Atlanta suffered a mechanical failure when passengers said one of the engines exploded 20 minutes after take-off. Fred Edwards said once he saw the flames outside the plane he texted his wife as fast as he could, "we're on fire, love you." "We heard kind of a thud noise and then the plane started shaking quite a bit, but not real violently and then probably three or four minutes later this huge explosion," Fred Edwards said. "We saw the flames come up the side of the plane which lit up the whole inside of the plane and it looked like the whole inside of the plane was on fire." Edwards and one of his co-workers, sitting next to him, Casey Rogers, said the smoke was so thick they could barely see in the cabin. "Shortly after the big explosion went off and lit up the side of the airplane it (smoke) just poured in all the vents, on the side of the aircraft were pouring smoke full white smoke, and before you know it you couldn't see and that's when everyone got scared." Rogers said he texted his wife to tell her he loved her and their three children. "I figured I would text her and let her know I love her and let the kids know I love them too," Rogers said. "It was pretty traumatic, you know, there for a few minutes I thought it was pretty much over." Rogers and Edwards were flying to Atlanta for a business trip. Once the plane diverted back to Dallas Fort- Worth International Airport they were transferred to another connecting flight to Atlanta. When they landed just after 9 p.m. Tuesday night, both men were exhausted and said they were thankful the plane didn't fall apart, and they survived. A representative with Spirit Airlines sent CBS Atlanta this statement regarding the mechanical issue on the plane. "A representative from the airline said flight 165 returned to Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport immediately after takeoff when the captain received an indication of a possible mechanical issue, along with smoke in the cabin. One engine was shut down, the plane landed safely at DFW and the passengers were put on another aircraft. Following procedure and as a safety precaution, the plane returned to DFW. It was a normal landing and customers safely deplaned. We had another plane taking customers to Atlanta," Misty Pinson said. According to Spirit Airlines' website, flight 165 was scheduled to leave Dallas at 1:26 p.m. Tuesday and arrive in Atlanta at 4:27 p.m. The site list the actual departure at 6:05 p.m. and arrival in Atlanta at 9:11 p.m. http://www.winknews.com/National-World/2013-10-16/Engine-explodes-during-takeoff-of-Spirit- flight#.Ul6I6VCRB8E Back to Top Are Airline Pilots Getting Enough Training? CHICAGO (CBS) - Tougher pilot training standards, expected to be released next week, have fallen victim to the government shutdown. Those fighting for the now-delayed federal rules say the changes could make regional flights safer. Regionals account for about half the daily U.S. flights, but the pilots often are lower paid, with less experience and may have less training compared to major carriers. CBS 2s Dave Savini investigates. Continental Flight 3407 crashed into a Buffalo, New York neighborhood. There were no survivors. This was a regional flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo, New York. Fifty people perished that day in 2009, including Lorin Maurer, Scott Maurer's daughter. "It's tough," said Scott Maurer. "It's very tough." Federal officials say the pilot failed to react to warnings that the plane was going into a stall. "He created the stall because of his inexperience and not totally understanding the sophistication of the aircraft," said Maurer. "We are told that he actually could have recovered from that stall had he had the hands on training and experience." Airline passengers may think all pilots are trained the same, but that is just not true and aviation experts say it could mean trouble in the sky. Bob Sisk, a United Airlines captain and a pilot union safety expert, says hands on stall training in advanced flight simulators is a must. He says it is something pilots for regional airlines may not get to the degree that a major airline pilot gets. He says it is critical training. "It's a startling event," Sisk says about an airplane stall. "And it is a point where the plane is no longer flying so you must take immediate action." Maurer says it took the Buffalo crash to prompt the FAA to finally move towards making real-life stall training in simulators a requirement for pilots. "The training levels at the regional airlines are substantially lower than what you find at the majors," said Maurer. "Many of them cannot afford the expense of training in simulators." He cites two other crashes involving stalls prior to the Buffalo crash. In 2003, a U.S. Airways Express in North Carolina resulted in 21 deaths. In 2004, there were two deaths when a Northwest Airlink plane stalled in Missouri. "In the end, most crashes do come down to pilot error," said Maurer who wants the Federal Aviation Administration to take action. Sisk says even when new rules pass, airlines can still get around them. "In almost all the regulations the FAA puts out, there's ways for airlines to get waivers," said Fisk. "We don't want you to experience a tragedy like we have," said Maurer. Even when new rules are passed, it will be five more years before they are implemented. There have been some other safety rule changes. In August, there was a major increase in the minimum required flight experience for new pilots. In January, new rules will take effect reducing pilot work hours. Too many reported making mistakes in the cockpit because of being sleep deprived. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/10/15/2-investigators-are-airline-pilots-getting-enough-training/ Back to Top IATSBA 2013 Joseph T. Nall Safety Award Recipient Dear Members and Friends of IATSBA, I am pleased to announce the recipient of the 2013 Joseph T. Nall Safety Award presented annually by the International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association (IATSBA), formerly the NTSB Bar Association. The 2013 recipient will be the Cirrus Aircraft Corporation's SR Safety Design Team. The award presentation will occur the evening of October 31 at the National Flight Academy adjacent to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, in conjunction with this year's annual conference and awards dinner. Conference and registration details can be located at: http://www.iatsba.org/events. Cirrus Aircraft's SR Safety Design Team members have made tremendous strides in general aviation safety over the years by introducing to general aviation aircraft a number of safety enhancements not previously seen in the industry. The safety enhancements have literally driven the industry as other manufacturers in many instances have followed suit. In 1984, brothers Alan and Dale Klapmeier founded Cirrus Design Corporation with a commitment to becoming an industry leader in revitalizing the general aviation market by delivering high-quality, technologically advanced aircraft for all piloting levels. As experienced pilots, the Klapmeier brothers understood the general aviation industry's needs and began to research new technology, design, and safety options. They challenged conventional engineering and industry design standards while exploring ways to build a better, safer airplane. Today, Cirrus builds the only FAA-Certified production airplanes equipped with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS), which in 2002, made aviation history with the first safe landing by a private pilot after deploying the parachute. Presently, Co-founder and CEO, Dale Klapmeier, along with President and COO, Pat Waddick, as well as the entire SR Safety Design Team, continue to lead Cirrus Aircraft through the development of general aviation aircraft with composite, crashworthy construction, including a 3G roll cage, which exemplifies the company's commitment to making personal aviation more accessible by producing safer airplanes that are also easy to operate. The following safety features developed by the Cirrus SR Safety Design Team are "Firsts" for Single Engine aircraft: * Airframe Parachute System on a Part 23-certified aircraft. * Integration of throttle and propeller controls to simplify operation. * Large screen PFD/MFD in a single engine Part 23 certified aircraft. * Cockpit weather providing enhanced situational awareness. * Synthetic vision system in a Part 23 single engine aircraft. * Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin® offering 12" flat panel displays. * Electronic Stability and Protection™ (ESP). * Level Button on a digital autopilot. * Hypoxia Recognition, Automatic Descent Mode. * Autopilot stall protection. * Autopilot coupled go-around capability. * Enhanced Vision System for night vision capability * Under floor structure for energy absorption. * Side yoke to lower the possibility of head and chest impact injury. * Four point front seat seatbelts. * LATCH child safety restraint system. * Airbag seat belts. * Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) available on all aircraft. * Traffic Advisory System (TAS) available on all aircraft. Please join us October 31 to celebrate the contributions this group has made to aviation and transportation safety. You may register through the link provided above. Warm regards, Gary President, IATSBA Gary L. Halbert | Holland & Knight Partner 800 17th Street, NW Suite 1100 | Washington DC 20006 Phone 202.469.5150 | Fax 202.955.5564|Mobile 703.470.3943 gary.halbert@hklaw.com | www.hklaw.com Back to Top Fuselage panel falls from Boeing 787 Dreamliner in flight Boeing Co. said a body panel fell off of a 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India while the plane was in flight on Saturday, a new problem for the high-tech jet that has suffered a string of mishaps since its introduction two years ago. Boeing said the missing panel fell from the underside of the plane on the right side. A photo on The Times of India website showed a large opening with components and aircraft structure visible inside. Boeing said the loss of the fuselage panel posed no safety risk to passengers. It was not immediately known where the panel landed. The jet was carrying 148 people, including crew, on a flight from Delhi to Bangalore, The Times of India newspaper reported. The pilots did not realize the eight-by-four-foot panel was missing until after the flight landed, the newspaper said, adding that India's aviation authorities are investigating. "It was the mid-underwing-to-body fairing located on the belly of the airplane on the right side," Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said. The part "provides a more aerodynamic surface in flight." He said Boeing is working to understand what caused the panel to fall and declined to say whether the plane was made at Boeing's South Carolina factory. A number of Air India jets have come from that assembly line. The Times of India said the panel was replaced with one taken from a just-delivered 787 Dreamliner that was not yet ready for service. That plane is now awaiting a spare part, the paper said. Problems that have afflicted the 787 include battery overheating that prompted regulators to ground the entire fleet in January. Flights resumed in April. Despite the problems, Boeing's stock has stayed near record levels. It closed Tuesday at $118.18, down $1.28. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-dreamliner-fuselage-panel-falls- 20131016,0,6643248.story Back to Top Kenya Airways ready to set new aviation standard for African Airlines When Kenya Airways' (KQ) latest addition to their growing fleet, a Boeing B777-300ER arrives in just about three weeks from now, it will bring with it a range of new features and innovations hitherto unheard of in Africa. A sneak preview allowed some insight into the new features, ready to share them before passengers will actually be able to enjoy them once the aircraft will enter commercial service. First and foremost and a top priority for many frequent travelers, will be inflight connectivity as KQ is launching with the new bird a new age with "Sky Surf." The system is set to come on line once the aircraft reaches 10.000 feet altitude and switches off prior to landing once the descent takes the bird below that flight level. All portable devices, lap tops, tablets, iPads and smart phones can capture the signal and USB charging ports are available at every seat in the new aircraft to ensure that those who have to be on line will not run out of battery time during a long haul flight for instance to China. Both business class and economy class will get a completely new line of seats installed, in economy giving a double recline with back rest and seat moving in opposite directions to create the feeling of more space while a passengers rest. In business class though KQ has outdone itself and managed to better an already award winning cabin layout by introducing the latest technology flat-bed seats, wider and longer than the present generation in use across the long haul fleet. Storage spaces are available for shoes, magazines and even laptops, each seat features a universal power port besides the USB port, and a 15.4 inch high resolution TV touch screen to watch the latest in films, series and sports while on board. The 400 passengers this bird will carry, 372 in economy and 28 in business, are for sure in for the ride of their lives when they take to the air from Nairobi come mid-November. This is no doubt a harbinger of things to come when from March next year the airline will begin to take delivery of the B787 Dreamliner, an aircraft which for a while had bad press but has since gotten out of the headlines and started to deliver on up to 20+ percent fuel savings and very much better passenger comfort. Kenya Airways, the Pride of Africa. http://www.eturbonews.com/38873/kenya-airways-ready-set-new-aviation-standard-african-airlines Back to Top South Africa: 58 Percent of Aircraft Do Not Have Airworthy Certificates Of the 12 500 aircraft registered in the South African Civil Aviation Authority register, only 42.4% (5 300) have been issued with a Certificate of Airworthiness, according to a reply to a DA parliamentary question. According to the Civil Aviation Act, no aircraft may be legally operated without a Certificate of Airworthiness. The issuing of Airworthiness Certificates has been a source of great contention between the Civil Aviation Authority and the airline industry over the last eight years. The airline industry has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the renewal process of Airworthiness Certificates is managed by the Civil Aviation Authority. The DA has it on good authority that the Civil Aviation Authority has been operating without a General Manager for Air Safety Operations for quite some time now. The DA will submit follow-up questions to the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, to establish whether aircrafts without certificates are still in operation, why they are not being issued with certificates of airworthiness and what steps have been taken to assist them in obtaining certificates of airworthiness. We will also, as a matter of urgency, request that the Acting Director of Civil Aviation, Poppy Khoza, together with the representatives of the airline industry meet with the Portfolio Committee of Transport to seek a solution to this problem. Parliament needs to be reassured that the renewal process is not to blame for this poor record in issuing airworthiness certificates and it is not being used as a revenue-generating exercise. The Civil Aviation Authority and the airline industry need to get both our aircraft and economy flying once more. Parliament must assist in ensuring that this happens. http://allafrica.com/stories/201310151162.html Back to Top Mountain Aviation awarded NBAA Safety Award and Celebrates 20th Anniversary Mountain Aviation awarded NBAA Safety Award and Celebrates 20th Anniversary DENVER, Oct. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Aviation celebrated 20 years of service to the Denver and Rocky Mountain region community. Along the way it has picked up a trophy cabinet of awards for safety and best practices. From small beginnings it has grown to become a mature, ARGUS Platinum safety-certified air charter and aircraft management business, with a managed fleet of 19 airplanes, over 100 employees and 43,000 hours of safe flying logged in its books. Small Beginnings Mountain Aviation is the creature of Rich Bjelkevig, its present CEO. In 1993, Bjelkevig, a pilot, was unemployed, along with a distressing number of his fellow Americans. But Bjelkevig saw opportunity in the failures of others. "I had worked for several operators that failed," he says. "I was confident enough to think I could see why they were failing, and to think I could do better. So I set up an office in our spare bedroom, got hold of a good King Air, and gave it a go." Mountain Aviation has come a long way since then, as has the industry it serves. In the 90s, ownership plans were pretty simple. Commercial fleets were owned by those who operated them, and private owners had little opportunity to market their airplanes for charter to defray their costs. Fractional ownership existed, but was in its infancy. As a result, commercial operators tended to maintain aging airplanes, and ownership of private airplanes was confined either to the very rich, or to those whose need for private transport was so great that they could bare the entire cost of ownership. The outcome was a bunch of aging fleets providing third-tier lift, and a tiny fleet of private airplanes, with no commercial connection between them. Bjelkevig saw that private owners' needs could be reconciled with those of ad hoc charterers, given a carefully crafted management plan. He set about building the Mountain Aviation value proposition that a bridge could be built between the private owner and the charter user, to the benefit of both. The King Air was soon joined by a jet, a Citation II. Others followed, culminating in a Gulfstream G400 which brought stand-up trans-continental capability. The spare bedroom was replaced by an office, at first in rented premises. Then in 2008 MA built its own hangar and office facility. Each milestone required extensive collaboration with the FAA, and the rewriting of operations manuals, a cathartic process Bjelkevig believes help MA maintain its core ethic - "safety, hard work, integrity, and more safety." About Mountain Aviation Mountain Aviation, founded in 1993, is the largest aircraft management and charter company based in the Rocky Mountain Region. With bases in Denver, Eagle, Aspen, Fort Collins as well as Boise, Idaho, Mountain Aviation offers exceptional aircraft charter, management and maintenance along with sales and acquisition services to discerning clients looking for unrivalled safety, service and value. Mountain Aviation operates a young fleet of Gulfstream, Hawker, King Air, Piaggio, Pilatus, Citation Jet and turbo-prop aircraft all available for charter. About NBAA Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 9,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition; the world's largest civil aviation trade show to be held in Las Vegas October 22-24, 2013. Media Contact: Julian Tonsmeire 303-466-3506 Video with caption: "Mountain Aviation celebrated 20 years of service to the Denver and Rocky Mountain region community. Along the way it has picked up a trophy cabinet of awards for safety and best-practice. From small beginnings it has grown to become a mature, ARGUS Platinum safety-certified air charter and aircraft management business, with a managed fleet of 19 airplanes, over 100 employees and 43,000 hours of safe flying logged in its books." Video available at: http://youtu.be/El61fZKbJzM SOURCE Mountain Aviation http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1523470#ixzz2ht0q6ekh Back to Top Jazz Aviation LP successfully completes fifth consecutive IOSA Safety Audit HALIFAX, Oct. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - As a leader in aviation safety in Canada, Jazz Aviation LP (Jazz) is pleased to announce that it has once again successfully completed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), the benchmark for global safety management in airlines. Jazz was one of the first airlines in Canada to achieve IOSA registration in April of 2005. Jazz has completed the process every two years as required, and the 2013 audit marks the fifth successful audit. "Safety is our top priority at Jazz and is one of the reasons our operational performance is industry leading," said David Deveau, Vice President of Safety, Quality and Environment. "The IOSA audit is an important recognition of the safety culture and the dedication to proactively managing risk at every level of the organization." The IOSA audit is designed to assess operational management and control systems of an airline, using over 900 internationally harmonized standards and recommended practices. These IOSA standards were developed by more than 100 highly experienced airline professionals with assistance from Transport Canada, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, all under the guidance and direction of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines that have been audited to full conformity with IOSA standards make a clear, positive statement about the integrity of their operations and their ability to manage the associated risks. Jazz was also awarded top prize at the European Safety management Symposium in London, UK in 2012 - winning the first Innovation in Aviation Safety Management Award. Jazz's selection for this award resulted from their progressive integration of several existing systems into one holistic safety program that continues to enhance its safety culture and produce tangible results. About Jazz Aviation LP Jazz Aviation LP has a strong history in Canadian aviation with its roots going back to the 1930s. Jazz is wholly owned by Chorus Aviation Inc. and continues to generate some of the strongest operational and financial results in the North American aviation industry. There are two airline divisions operated by Jazz Aviation LP: Air Canada Express and Jazz. Air Canada Express: Under a capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada, Jazz provides service to and from lower-density markets as well as higher-density markets at off-peak times throughout Canada and to and from certain destinations in the United States. In October 2013, Jazz is operating scheduled passenger service on behalf of Air Canada with approximately 757 departures per weekday to 78 destinations in Canada and in the United States with a fleet of Canadian-made Bombardier aircraft. Jazz: Under the Jazz brand, the airline offers charters throughout North America with a dedicated fleet of five Bombardier aircraft for corporate clients, governments, special interest groups and individuals seeking more convenience. Jazz also has the ability to offer airline operators services such as ground handling, dispatching, flight load planning, training and consulting. For more information, visit www.flyjazz.ca SOURCE Chorus Aviation Inc. Back to Top GAMA Hails Brazil-EU Aviation Safety Agreement The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) welcomed the entry into force of the Brazil-European Union (EU) aviation safety agreement. While it was enacted on August 27 following an exchange of diplomatic notes between Brazil and the European Union, the two parties held their first certification meeting under terms of the agreement just this past Thursday. "The completion of this agreement is another positive step forward for our manufacturers and the broader aviation industry," said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. "Streamlining certification, continued airworthiness and maintenance efforts between EU member states and Brazil will reduce redundant regulatory oversight." The streamlining process also means both authorities and the industry will benefit from greater efficiencies in delivering new aircraft, parts and maintenance services, while simultaneously strengthening international aviation safety cooperation, Bunce added. And with the agreement in place, signatories will also be able to negotiate future expansion of the text to cover other areas of safety not yet covered in the agreement. http://ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2013-10-15/gama-hails-brazil-eu-aviation-safety-agreement Back to Top Medallion Foundation to offer aviation safety audits worldwide Long recognized as a leader in aviation safety Alaska's Medallion Foundation is now expanding its services and offerings worldwide. The organization provides aviation safety audits, safety training and programs tailored to individual companies' needs. The Medallion Foundation was developed to reduce aviation accidents in Alaska by fostering a new safety culture using and promoting elevated safety standards. "Our expertise begins by working with carriers to develop strong aviation safety programs designed to mitigate the day-to-day risks they experience. We follow this up with regular aviation audits to ensure each carrier retains the highest safety standards," said Jerry Rock, Executive Director for Medallion Foundation. To meet the demand for auditing services Medallion's team of auditors have over 100-years of combined aviation safety experience. Audits are carefully developed through a needs assessment to deliver a targeted, unbiased product to the client. Medallion specializes in providing aviation auditing using a combination of ISO 9001 procedures and industry best practices to compare an operator's actual performance to policies, procedures and safety practices. "Our clients are increasingly aware of the need to be assured that the contracted air carriers are not only maintaining regulatory safety requirements, but exceeding them," said Rock. Medallion's aviation audit services include industry specific aviation safety programs, transportation security, third party safety compliance audits and gap analysis assessments. Proof of the Medallion team's success is firmly rooted in the extreme challenges of operations in Alaska. Medallion expertise also works well for international companies facing their own operational and environmental challenges. The Medallion Foundation was formed in 2001 by the Alaska Air Carriers Association to meet a goal of reducing commercial aviation accident rates and to save lives. Meeting that goal Medallion is credited with improving fatal controlled flight into terrain accidents among Alaskan Part 135 (air taxi) carriers. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Alaska Pacific Regional Office, Anchorage, Alaska found that during the period of 2000-2010 that the rate for CFIT fatal accidents declined by 57 percent. Credit was given to Medallion's CFIT-Avoidance program for this dramatic improvement. Medallion operates the Five Star/Shield® Program which audits member carrier's safety programs focusing on culture changing programs developed by each carrier. The culture change is supported by the guidelines of the Five Star/Shield® Program that exceeds federal regulations. Specific programs such as the Controlled Flight Into Terrain Avoidance, Safety, Operational Control, Maintenance and Ground, and Internal Evaluation are audited yearly not only for maintenance but improvements within each program. "Any company that has a flight department can and should be audited for its safety procedures and guidelines," said Rock. Industries Medallion is targeting include oil & gas, mining and natural resource development, police departments, hospitals, air medical, cruise ship businesses using aviation tours as part of their programs. Additional entities such as state aviation departments can benefit from our audits for example, Fish and Game, U.S, Federal aviation services with National Park Service, BLM, or companies contracting for firefighting, school athletic team transportation, aerial application businesses or any aviation service provider operating that has a flight department. "We can audit air carriers from single pilot operators to large company organizations, using audit and training classes to implement positive change in aviation safety culture," according to Rock. For more information contact:Jerry Rock, Executive Director 907-258-1060 1520 Post Rd. Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 743-8050 www.medallionfoundation.org Back to Top Back to Top Subject: NOTICE - Next GFSC Meeting 06 November 2013 To: "GFSC Membership" Dear GFSC Members, The GFSC Executive Committee is please to announce the details of the next Gulf Flight Safety Council meeting. The details are as follows: Date: Wednesday 06 November 2013 Venue: Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies, Al Bateen Airport, Abu Dhabi Time: 0830 - 1600 We would like to once again thank GCAS for their generous support in sponsoring the venue for this meeting. Thanks and kind regards, Mark Captain Mark Trotter Secretary - Gulf Flight Safety Council membership@gfsc.aero www.gfsc.aero Mobile: +971 50 120 9503 Back to Top Back to Top Honda hiring 'in all areas' to prepare for jet production, delivery Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft Co.'s president and CEO. The company is opening a new customer service facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport on Thursday. As Honda Aircraft Co. prepares to celebrate the opening Thursday of its $20 million customer service facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport, the company's president and CEO says it is continuing to hire as it prepares for full production and eventual delivery of its $4.5 million small business jet to customers. Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft's president and CEO, told The Business Journal this week that the company now employs more than 850 workers at the airport, where initial production of the HondaJet has begun. After a delay, Honda Aircraft is now targeting the end of 2014 for obtaining full certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for the HondaJet and plans to begin delivering it to customers thereafter. Greensboro-based Honda Aircraft, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC), expects to increase its work force to about 1,200 employees within a few years once full production is underway. "We are hiring in all areas," said Fujino, including in such divisions as engineering, administration and finance. "We try to hire talented people for all positions available here." Fujino said that in November a product support team of between 20 and 30 existing employees will move into the 90,000-square-foot customer service facility. In addition to providing heavy maintenance, major repair and overhaul services, the facility will be a corporate base for the company's customer service organization. It will administer customer and warranty programs, 24/7 technical support, technical publications and training. The plan is to more than double the number of people at the facility to 70 in a few years. "We want to provide the best service to the customer from Day 1," Fujino said. The customer service facility adds to several other Honda Aircraft buildings at PTI, where the company houses its world headquarters, a research-and-development facility and a manufacturing building. http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/blog/2013/10/honda-ramps-up-with-customer-service.html?page=2 Back to Top Air India hedges 10,000 barrels of jet fuel for its aircraft In a bid to slash costs, Air India has hedged 10,000 barrels of jet fuel for its aircraft this month, four weeks after its Board gave a nod to the move. NEW DELHI: In a bid to slash costs, Air India has hedged 10,000 barrels of jet fuel for its aircraft this month, four weeks after its Board gave a nod to the move. "We have started fuel hedging and have hedged 10,000 barrels for delivery this month. We are closely following the Brent trading and plan to hedge at USD 110 a barrel," airline sources said here today. Fuel hedging is a contractual tool large fuel-consuming companies like airlines use to reduce their exposure to volatile and potentially rising fuel costs. A fuel hedge contract allows such a company to establish a fixed or capped cost through a commodity swap or option. This was the first time hedging was undertaken by the national carrier in several years. In view of about Rs 100 crore being added to monthly expenses due to the volatile oil prices, Air India Board had last month cleared a proposal to enter into hedging of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) its airplanes lift overseas. It was then decided that a maximum of 5,00,000 barrels of jet fuel, lifted abroad, would be hedged each quarter at a price of up to USD 110 per barrel. A small committee was set up to take the process forward, with the airline identifying organisations like J P Morgan, Citibank and GDF Suez to carry out hedging, the sources said. Maintaining that the jet fuel budget of Air India was close to Rs 9,000 crore for 2013-14, they said it amounted to 45 per cent of the total cost and almost 60 per cent of total revenue. The airline also pays about Rs 600 crore as sales and other taxes on ATF to state governments per year. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india- hedges-10000-barrels-of-jet-fuel-for-its-aircraft/articleshow/24256542.cms Back to Top Lufthansa Aircraft Makes Its Final Landing At Tulsa International Airport The Lufthansa B747-400 will be disassembled and sold. TULSA, Oklahoma - A Lufthansa B747-400 made its final flight Tuesday, landing at Tulsa International Airport in the early afternoon. The airliner will be disassembled at the Tulsa facility of Lufthansa Technik Component Services. The airliner, tail number D-ABVE, did a flyby before touching down in Tulsa. This particular 747 made its first flight on April 19, 1990. On its last flight, it flew non-stop from Frankfurt, Germany to Tulsa in about 10 hours. Lufthansa used it to fly passengers all over the world, including to New York, Moscow, Shanghai, Singapore, Buenos Aires and Johannesburg. Lufthansa Technik Component Services has tripled in Tulsa workforce in the last year and a half. It's added new services as well including taking apart aircraft and selling the parts and engines. This 747 is the 25th Lufthansa aircraft sent to the Tulsa facility for disassembly. LTCS specializes in repairing and overhauling aircraft parts, a capability the airline uses when it withdraws jets from service. The first 24 aircraft sent to the Tulsa facility were narrow body aircraft -- mostly Boeing 737s --this is the first wide body aircraft the company has brought in for disassembly. LTCS calls the program "2nd Life." It removes and recertifies engines and other components then sells them to third parties, a much more cost effective way of removing outdated aircraft from service. "Project 2nd Life is an important contribution to further improve Lufthansa Technik's cost position and to provide first class component services for our customers" said Dirk Ripa, President and CEO of LTCS. http://www.newson6.com/story/23698474/lufthansa-aircraft-makes-final-landing-at-tulsa-international- airport Back to Top Single-Engine Airplane Manufacturer, Mooney, Restarts Kerrville, Texas, Production Facility After a five-year hiatus from manufacturing single-engine airplanes, Mooney plans to restart manufacturing at its Kerrville, Texas, production facility at the beginning of the year. The firm said funding from Soaring America Corporation, a California-based Company, will provide necessary capital to re-launch and sustain the legendary brand. While details of the financial arrangements remain confidential, the company said it will continue to manufacture the Acclaim Type S, and the Ovation series. "It's a new day for Mooney. And with a new investment group that is committed to the future, we're expecting to make a strong move in the industry," noted Barry Hodkin, Chief Financial Officer for the company. It's been a long time coming and we couldn't be more excited about our return to manufacturing one of the finest and most trusted airplane fleets in the industry." Given more positive economic indicators and the unique market niche for Mooney airplanes, the company feels confident about a sustaining future in the industry. Mooney said its first order of business will be to hire and train a new workforce and reestablish the supply chain. The company is projected to recruit up to 100 people within the first year of operation. The company plans to hire technicians, engineers, line workers, accounting and sales people. Within two years, the company is anticipating employing significantly more people depending on the demand for its products. "While we expect to be reunited with some of our previous employees, we are confident we'll attract new talent as we re-enter this aviation space. We're looking for the best and brightest people to help meet our vision for the future," said Hodkin. The Acclaim Type S is recognized as the world's fastest single engine airplane. The turbo-normalized airplane is home to over 130 speed records with a normal cruise speed of 230 ktas and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet. The Ovation series has cruising speeds up to 190 ktas and a service ceiling of up to 20,000 feet. "It's too early to provide the details, but we'll have some very exciting announcements in the near future about the technological advances that will accompany the Acclaim Type S and Ovation series," Hodkin added. http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/10-15-2013/mooney-restarts-manufacturing-kerrville- texas3478934.shtml Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY: Dear Colleagues, Hello - I am currently a Senior Researcher at Saint Louis University and have graciously been offered the opportunity by your moderator to post a web link for the remainder of Oct 2013 to my web-based, dissertation research survey. My career has spanned 33 years in four flavors of aviation. My first job was spent hunting submarines with the US Navy on active duty for eight years and then an additional 12 1/2 years in the US Navy Reserves. My corporate career was spent in aerospace at McDonnell Douglas / Boeing where I spent all of my 23 years on advanced development projects, things that are not in the mainstream, yet. A very influential assignment was with Boeing's Air Traffic Management group. We were way ahead of the state-of-the art in 2001 and were advocating a space-based infrastructure with significant automation for both the airplanes and how they would be managed (not controlled as they are today). The essential guts of these ideas exist today in the FAA's NextGen program. Now, I am pursing a final career chapter in academia. Concurrent through these three career phases has been my continual General Aviation participation, since 1978, as a Private, Commercial and Certified Flight Instructor pilot. It is a very expensive hobby, but there is no better way to travel than to fly yourself, if you can swing it. My dissertation research is exploring the factors which may be essential for passenger travel on unmanned, autonomous airliners. Current public policy concerns with unmanned systems are focused more on privacy. A longer-range view envisions unmanned systems continuing to make inroads into all segments of aviation. The likely last adaptation of unmanned technology would be passenger airlines. Thus, my dissertation is focused on the trust, safety and cost factors that may make you (1) more comfortable traveling on such an airliner, (2) factors that would make you less comfortable traveling on such an airliner and, (3) factors that do not matter in this decision. For this research I have chosen to use a fractional factorial survey. It is factorial because multiple factors (8), at two opposite levels each, are embedded in a short, one-page, story which you read. And, it is fractional because while there are 256 possible combinations of these factors in the story, you will randomly be presented with one of 16 versions of the story (a ?16 fraction of 256). The survey link leads to one lead-in question, the 1-page vignette, five follow-up questions and four demographic questions. Total completion time takes about 5-7 min, unless you would choose to comment, which you are most welcome to do. Will you please consider having your voice counted in the evaluation of a potential future of commercial aviation? Here is the link to the survey: this: https://slu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1Mrk8KmQOjMbblr Thank you !! Sincerely, Matt Vance Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology Saint Louis University 3450 Lindell Boulevard McDonnell Douglas Hall, Room 1036 St. Louis, MO 63103 office: 314-977-8244 svance1@slu.edu Curt Lewis