Flight Safety Information November 19, 2013 - No. 239 In This Issue Investigators examine video of deadly Russian plane crash for clues on cause Two dead in plane crash at Hooks Airport in Spring NTSB releases cause in plane crash FAA investigating plane crash in Duplin County Ultralight aircraft crash kills 1 in B.C. Passenger injured in small plane crash along Ore. coast Settlements reached in plane crash that killed Minneapolis man, his three son FAA to scrutinize overweight pilots and controllers Horror as pilot accidentally broadcasts Mayday call to cabin as cockpit fills with smoke Pilot's death: NSW rural fire service to investigate claims of intimidation LAX shooting: Bill would ban guns at all U.S. airports ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems Workshop: Register Now For Discount Think ARGUS PROS Four US Airports are Already Rocking Awesome New Automatic Passport Kiosks Folding Wings Will Let Boeing's New 777x Squeeze Into Small Airports TSA expands airport pre-check program to all military personnel, adds locations Investigators examine video of deadly Russian plane crash for clues on cause RAW Russia Plane Crash: Moment When Plane Crash In Russia Kills 50 Tatarstan Airlines 737-500 MOSCOW - The grainy airport video is dark, short and chilling. Within five seconds, a dot of light that Russian authorities say is a Boeing 737 appears in the sky over the tarmac and plunges to the ground in a near-vertical crash. The result is a blinding fireball. The video shown Monday by Russian television stations of Sunday night's horrifying crash at Kazan airport that killed all 50 people onboard raises a host of questions, including why the plane's second attempt to land at night in good weather went so horribly wrong. Russian investigators combed through the incinerated wreckage Monday after fire crews spent hours extinguishing the blaze. Experts from the NTSB, Boeing and the FAA were heading to the scene to help. The Boeing 737 belonging to Tatarstan Airlines was making its second attempt at a landing in Kazan, 520 miles east of Moscow, according to Alexander Poltinin, head of the local branch of Russia's Investigative Committee. The traffic controller at the Kazan airport who contacted the plane before the crash said the crew told him they weren't ready to land as it was approaching but didn't specify the problem. Marat Zaripov, deputy head of the local branch of the Investigative Committee, initially told reporters that his team would look into all theories, including a terrorist attack. But the Investigative Committee said in a statement later Monday that it was now considering three possible causes: a technical fault, a pilot error or adverse weather conditions. Poltinin said it could take weeks to identify the remains. Investigators have found both of the plane's black boxes -- which record the plane's performance and the crew's conversations -- but said they were damaged. The brief video taken by an airport security camera showed the plane going down at high speed at a nearly vertical angle and then hitting the ground and exploding. It was confirmed as authentic to The Associated Press by the emergency press service at Kazan airport and other Russian officials. Magomed Tolboyev, a highly decorated Russian test pilot, said on Rossiya television that it wasn't immediately clear why the crew was unable to land on their first try in good weather. U.S. National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Eric Weiss said Monday that a team of eight U.S. aviation safety experts were heading to Russia to assist: three NTSB crash investigators, a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration investigator and four experts from the plane manufacturer. John Cox, an aviation safety consultant who flew 737s for 15 years for US Airways, said one of the first issues investigators will look at based on the nearly vertical angle of descent in the video will be whether the plane experienced an aerodynamic stall, which usually occurs when a plane slows to the point where its wings lose lift. "Anytime you have an airplane that gets this vertical, the immediate suspicion is that it stalled," Cox said in an interview. "The airplane hit very hard ... it's in a lot of small pieces." Cox, a former accident investigator for the Air Line Pilots Association, said it's unlikely the accident was the result of any design flaw in the 737, a short- to medium-haul jet. The plane was first introduced by Boeing in 1968, although there have been major changes in subsequent generations. "It's a great machine," he said. Friends of the air crash victims gathered on a central square in Kazan on Monday evening to commemorate the victims. "I can only express my condolences and wish strength and endurance to the relatives of those who died," said Elmira Kalimullina, one of the friends. Investigators have started looking through the company's records, which showed the plane was built 23 years ago and had been used by seven other carriers prior to being picked up by Tatarstan Airlines in 2008. In 2001, it was damaged in a landing accident in Brazil that injured no one. The company insisted that the aircraft was in good condition for the flight. The carrier has had a good safety record but appears to have run into financial problems recently. Its personnel went on strike in September over back wages, and the Kazan airport authority has gone to arbitration to claim what it said was Tatarstan Airlines' debt for servicing its planes. Industry experts have blamed some recent Russian crashes on a cost-cutting mentality that neglects safety in the chase for profits. Insufficient pilot training and lax government controls over the industry also have been cited as factors affecting Russian flight safety. Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Monday the government should tighten its oversight of carriers and subsidize the upgrading of their fleets to improve safety. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/11/17/44-dead-in-russian-airliner-crash-local-news-reports-say/ Back to Top Two dead in plane crash at Hooks Airport in Spring HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A plane crashed Sunday night at an airport in Spring, killing two people aboard, and experts want to know what went wrong. Investigators say the pilot of that plane reported engine trouble moments before the crash. They're still, however, trying to figure out why. As National Transportation Safety Board investigators work to determine what caused the crash, we were able to get a closer look at the wreckage in the daylight. According to the FAA, the single engine Cessna 152 came down Sunday at about 7:15pm. FAA spokesperson Lynn Lunsford says the pilot was trying to return to the runway when the plane crashed into the hangar. Rob Patterson, who spoke with eyewitnesses, said, "It started going straight up in the air. It looked like it got inverted and then came down." Patterson knows people who witnessed the aircraft's final moments. He says they couldn't believe what they were seeing. "It turned around, it looked like to land and it just came straight down," he said. The tail number on that plane N55UF matches that on the website of nearby United Flight Systems. They run a flight school at Hooks Airport. The medical examiner identifies the two on board that plane as a pilot and an instructor. At United on Monday we found a sign on the door reading "closed until further notice." No one from the flight school returned our repeated calls. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the two who died in the crash. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9329461&vid=9329515 Back to Top NTSB releases cause in plane crash CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Federal aviation officials say pilot error is to blame for October's plane crash in Chesapeake that killed four people. The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report Monday on the crash into the Great Dismal Swamp last month. Just after noon on Oct. 10, the Cessna 340A, N4TK, that began its flight in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., crashed into the swamp after "conducting a missed approach" to Hampton Roads Executive Airport in Norfolk. The crash site was about five miles southeast of the airport. The report rules out any mechanical or system failures for the cause of the crash and states that "while maneuvering the pilot lost control of the airplane." According to the report, the plane was registered to the commercial pilot, who along with three other passengers, died during the crash. He was identified as Ted Bradshaw, a retired Florida firefighter, and the three others were his wife, Mary Anne Bradshaw, brother-in-law, Charles Rodd, and sister-in-law, Diane Rodd. The plane was recovered two days after the crash and stored a local impound facility until being moved to an aircraft recovery facility for examination. http://www.wavy.com/news/local/chesapeake/cause-of-dismal-swamp-plane-crash-named Back to Top FAA investigating plane crash in Duplin County JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - The FAA is investigating after an airplane destined for a small island near Detroit crashed outside Jacksonville in Duplin County late Monday night. The preliminary information suggests that the P. 149 aircraft left the Albert J. Ellis Airport in Onslow County on Sunday with the Grosse Ile Airport in Grosse Ile Township, Mich. as the destination, the FAA said. According to the FAA and local officials, the pilot did not file a flight plan or receive air traffic control service. When the family reported that the aircraft never made it to Michigan, an ALNOT (ALert NOTice) was issued. An ALNOT notifies local authorities and search and rescue agencies that an aircraft has gone missing. The FAA will release the aircraft registration number when local authorities confirm the pilot's name and condition. http://www.wncn.com/story/24007717/faa-investigating-plane-crash-in-duplin-county Back to Top Ultralight aircraft crash kills 1 in B.C. A man is dead after the ultralight aircraft he was piloting crashed in northwest Abbotsford, B.C., on Monday afternoon. The aircraft left Abbotsford airport just before 4:30 p.m. PT on its way to Maple Ridge, but disappeared from control tower radar. Abbotsford police said they were alerted to a possible problem when the aircraft started emitting a beacon signal shortly afterwards from somewhere in northwest Abbotsford. Police, two search and rescue teams and a CFB Comox Cormorant helicopter began searching for the aircraft, but were hampered by darkness, heavy rain and forested, rural terrain. Just after 9 p.m. PT, searchers found the plane wreckage and the pilot in an area south of Highway 1 near Ross Road. The circumstances of the crash and the identity of the deceased are not yet known. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ultralight-aircraft-crash-kills-1-in-b-c-1.2431588 Back to Top Passenger injured in small plane crash along Ore. coast COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say the pilot of a small plane that crash-landed in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation area was not injured, but his 73-year-old passenger was airlifted to a hospital in Eugene. The Coos County Sheriff's Office says 53-year-old Ron Schick of North Bend had to put the plane down Sunday afternoon after losing power and couldn't reach the flat stretch he was hoping to land on. Deputies say Rich Smith of Lakeside was admitted to the intensive care unit at River Bend Hospital in Eugene. The World newspaper reports Federal Aviation Administration records show the single-engine two-seater airplane was a home-built aircraft certified as airworthy in 1989. The owner was listed as Raymond T. Hebert of Florence. http://www.katu.com/news/local/Passenger-injured-in-small-plane-crash-along-coast-232374731.html Back to Top Settlements reached in plane crash that killed Minneapolis man, his three sons CHEYENNE, Wyo.-The federal government and a company that provides air traffic control services at the Jackson Hole Airport have entered confidential settlements to end lawsuits brought by estates of a Minnesota man and his three sons who died in a plane crash after taking off from the airport. Luke Bucklin, 41, of Minneapolis, 14-year-old twins Nate and Nick, and 12-year-old Noah all died when they crashed in Wyoming's rugged Wind River Range on Oct. 25, 2010. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded last year that Bucklin's decision to fly his heavily loaded plane over mountains in snowy weather probably caused the accident. But the NTSB also noted that an air traffic controller employed by Serco Inc., a Virginia-based company, instructed Bucklin to fly over the mountains at too low an altitude. Luke Bucklin's estate brought a federal lawsuit against Serco in federal court in Cheyenne last fall. Michelle Bucklin, Luke Bucklin's former wife who is from Arizona, filed a similar lawsuit against Serco in federal court this year in Cheyenne on behalf of the estates of her three sons. U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson earlier this month dismissed the lawsuit of Luke Bucklin's estate after the parties filed notice they had reached a settlement. He dismissed the lawsuit brought by the children's estates last month following a settlement in that case. Kathleen M. Byrne, a Colorado lawyer representing Serco in both lawsuits, declined to comment. Mark Hallberg, a lawyer in St. Paul, Minn., who represents Luke Bucklin's estate, said Monday that the estate had filed notice of legal action against the FAA but hadn't filed a lawsuit against the federal agency. Hallberg said both Serco and the FAA have agreed to confidential settlements. He said the claim against Serco has been resolved while the U.S. Department of Justice is still working to get final approval and payment of the FAA settlement. "I'm confident that that the matter will be settled, and will be finalized the way we have agreed upon," Hallberg said of the FAA claim. "The family has chosen not to disclose the amount of the settlement, but it is a substantial settlement." Allison Price, spokeswoman for the Justice Department, confirmed Monday that the government had settled the administrative claim from Luke Bucklin's estate. She said she couldn't reveal any information about the terms of the settlement or say whether the FAA had changed any policies as a result of the crash. Hallberg said the investigation by Bucklin's legal team uncovered a number of documents that he said showed the air traffic control system had failed Bucklin. "While he was sitting on the runway, they rerouted his flight, changed his flight plan, and routed him over a route that he had not planned to travel," Hallberg said. "And they approved a flight level that was unsafe, in violation of federal regulations." Bucklin was president and co-founder of the Bloomington, Minn.-based Web development company Sierra Bravo Corp. He had flown his single-engine, 1977 Mooney propeller plane to Jackson to attend a family event. On his return flight, Bucklin took off with his three sons in a snowstorm and soon ran into trouble as he tried to cross the Wind River Range, an extremely rugged group of mountains that includes Wyoming's highest peak, Mount Gannett, which reaches just over 13,800 feet. Hallberg said he didn't believe that Bucklin would have flown over the mountain range if he had known it was dangerous. Hallberg said he believes the NTSB report pointed the finger at Bucklin and minimized the role of the FAA. "I think our investigation and the settlement make it pretty clear that the FAA bears a significant responsibility for this crash," he said. Frederick Harrison, a lawyer in Rock Springs, represented Michelle Bucklin and the estates of the three boys. "It's a tragedy any time you have three sons and a father die," Harrison said Friday. "They died needlessly. They didn't have to die, if the FAA and the Serco people at the tower had been doing their job and directed the aircraft to fly at the proper altitude in a snowstorm. This wouldn't have happened if they had been doing their job." http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_24547731/faa-company-agree-settlements-over-wyo-crash Back to Top FAA to scrutinize overweight pilots and controllers Overweight pilots and air traffic controllers can expect fresh scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration. That's addressed in a bulletin from Federal Air Surgeon Fred Tilton, who says that all pilots and controllers with a body mass index of 40 or more, or a neck circumference of 17 inches or more, will have to be evaluated by doctors to retain their medical certification. The issue, Tilton says, is obstructive sleep apnea, which "is almost universal in obese individuals." Anyone who suffers from sleep apnea will undergo evaluation by a "board certified sleep specialist." Tilton writes that apnea "has significant safety implications because it can cause excessive daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment, cardiac dysrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, personality disturbances, and hypertension, to cite just a few." http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2013/11/19/faa-to-scrutinize-overweight-pilots-and-controllers/ Back to Top Horror as pilot accidentally broadcasts Mayday call to cabin as cockpit fills with smoke TERRIFIED passengers heard a worried pilot make a Mayday distress call after the public address system was accidentally switched on 36,000ft above the Atlantic. The captain radioed for help when smoke began filling the cockpit of the British Airways Boeing 777 on a flight from Heathrow to New York. The plane landed safely and the cause of the suspected electrical fault is still being investigated, but 15 years ago 229 people died when a Swiss Air jet ditched in the Atlantic with a similar problem. British Airways flight BA177 with 220 people on board had taken off Normally at 1.05pm last Saturday. Just before 2pm, however, the crew spotted smoke filling the cockpit. After donning oxygen masks they immediately contacted air traffic controllers and told them they were trying to locate the source of the possible fire and demanded urgent assistance. In the rush to act, the cabin address system had been switched on and the start of their call was also broadcast to all the passengers aboard. Realising their error, the pilots then switched their conversation back onto a private VHF frequency and requested immediate clearance to land at Shannon Airport in the west of Ireland about 120 miles away. They then told the passengers there had been an electrical fault but they were in control. The plane made a rapid descent and landed at Shannon surrounded by emergency vehicles 25 minutes later. Passengers said the experience had been "frightening" but praised the Airline and its pilots for the way they handled the emergency, despite having to wait seven hours for a replacement jet to New York's JFK airport. Rob Waite, who was on board with with his new wife, wrote on the Aviation Herald website: "It was pretty frightening hearing the Mayday call but the flight crew said the PA was accidentally turned on. "The descent was controlled and landing heavy but again controlled. The pilot attributed the smoke to an electrical fault but as soon as the source was found and electrical supply cut, the fire was stopped. "I was absolutely amazed at the calmness of all of the passengers and crew. "Whilst it was a huge interruption to the journey and quite frightening I cannot commend BA and their staff highly enough, hugely professional and helpful at all times, and grateful to make it to JFK in one piece and only eight hours behind schedule." Another passenger named only as Nick added: "Not sure it was typical for the first few words of the Mayday request to be broadcast in the cabin but I'm sure the pilots had important things to think about. "The pilots kept regular updates going even if sounding like Darth Vader behind the masks. Thank you BA." The airline is still investigating the incident but the source of the smoke is believed to have been an overheating cockpit circulation fan. A similar fault caused Swiss Air flight SR111 to ditch in the Atlantic killing 229 people in 1998 partly because pilots took so long to recognise how quickly such fires can spread. Last Thursday another BA Boeing 777 en route to New York had to land at Shannon when a burning smell was detected in the cabin. No one was hurt and the source of the smell turned out to be an oven in the galley. A day earlier passengers on an Air France flight from Brazil to Paris were horrified by the scale of damage to their Boeing 747 after it was forced to return to Rio in a violent hailstorm. The force of the hailstones was so intense they smashed the jet's reinforced windscreen, damaged the nose, broke windows and made large dents in the side of the fuselage. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/443787/Horror-as-pilot-accidentally-broadcasts-Mayday-call-to-cabin-as-cockpit-fills-with-smoke Back to Top Pilot's death: NSW rural fire service to investigate claims of intimidation The NSW rural fire service (RFS) has launched an immediate investigation into allegations made by senator Bill Heffernan that a pilot was taunted for being apprehensive about flying shortly before his plane crashed. David Black was waterbombing a fire on the NSW south coast on 24 October when the fixed-wing aircraft he was flying crashed. The 43-year-old pilot, who was not an RFS contractor but was contracted to assist in the firefighting, was killed. Witnesses reported seeing a wing fall off the plane shortly before it plunged to the ground. The crash sparked another blaze - one of many burning during what was the state's worst fire crisis in decades. Heffernan told a Senate hearing into operations of the civil aviation safety authority (Casa) that he'd been informed Black was taunted by RFS firefighters for expressing concern about the dangerous flying conditions. "I'm disgusted as I'm informed that on that day it was pretty rugged weather and ... [pilots] were taunted by the rural fire service because these guys didn't particularly want to fly," said Heffernan. Casa head John McCormick said pilots were contracted by the bushfire service during waterbombing. "We do rely on the expertise of the people who are involved with the firefighting ... I think it's terrible if they gave him intimidation to fly," McCormick said. The NSW rural fire service told Guardian Australia in a statement that it had no information related to the allegations. However "given the serious nature of the allegations the NSW RFS has launched an immediate investigation into the matter and will be in a position to make a statement once we are in possession of all the facts". Black was the director and chief pilot of an agricultural company. He left a wife and three children. His family was presented with the RFS commissioner's commendation for service. "While David was not a member of the NSW RFS he was a part of the NSW RFS family," Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said shortly after Black's death. "David's death was tragic and has affected the RFS family deeply. "David will forever be remembered by the NSW rural fire service not only as a successful businessman and an accomplished pilot, but also as a well respected member of the firefighting community who lost his life while serving and protecting others." The Australian transport safety bureau is investigating the crash. Senator Heffernan has been contacted for comment. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/19/pilots-death-fire-service-to-investigate-claims-of-intimidation Back to Top LAX shooting: Bill would ban guns at all U.S. airports Suspected LAX shooter Paul Ciancia was breaking the law when he brought a loaded gun to the airport, even before he allegedly killed Transportation Security Administration agent Gerardo Hernandez and wounded several others. Federal law prohibits passengers from bringing guns onto planes or past the security checkpoint. But California law prohibits people from carrying loaded firearms in public places. That's not the case in many other states. Now, a Democrat from Georgia, Congressman Hank Johnson, wants to make it illegal to bring a gun to airports nationwide. Johnson has introduced HR3484, the Airport Security Act, which prohibits anyone visiting terminals, parking in airport lots or waiting at shuttle bus stops from carrying a firearm. Police are allowed to carry firearms, as are those passing through the airport on a bus. Unloaded guns, carried in hard-sided, locked luggage are allowed as long as a passenger has the key or combination to the lock and has a ticket. Congressman Johnson said the recent shooting at LAX prompted the legislation. "It defies logic that we would allow anyone other than law enforcement officials to carry a loaded gun within an airport," he said. The union representing TSA agents switched its position on carrying guns and now says some agents should be armed. U.S. Attorney Eric Holder says "given what happened in Los Angeles," the issue should be examined. Johnson's measure has nearly a dozen co-sponsors, all of them House Democrats, including Henry Waxman of Los Angeles. The bill's been sent to the Homeland Security Committee. A similar bill was introduced in the Democratic-led Senate three years ago. The measure died before ever getting a committee hearing. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/politics/2013/11/18/15216/lax-shooting-bill-would-ban-guns-at-airports/ Back to Top ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems Workshop: Register Now For Discount Unmanned Aircraft Workshop The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) course is designed to identify the key concepts, attributes, and challenges of UAS operations. The UAS sector is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic segments within aviation industry. Currently the majority of UAS growth has been in support of military and security operations however, recent congressional mandates have unlocked a bourgeoning civilian market with interest in a broad range of uses such as aerial photography, precision agriculture, mapping, monitoring climate and environmental conditions, and public safety. Attendees will gain knowledge of: * UAS System Components and Classification * UAS Design and limitations * Regulatory Environment for UAS * Issues Associated with UAS Airspace Integration * Future and Current Trends affecting the UAS Industry Course Topics: * The UAS Market * UAS Systems Design and Development * UAS Sensors Packages * UAS Navigation Systems * National Airspace System Integration Who Should Attend: This Course is designed for UAS Engineers, Transitioning Military UAS Operators, Mission Coordinators, Entrepreneurs, Field Service Representatives, UAS Technicians, UAS Program Managers or others wishing to obtain further knowledge of UAS operations. Course Dates: Course Location: Course Fee: April 1-3, 2014 ERAU Daytona Beach Campus, FL Standard Course Fee: US $1,450 Early Bird Fee (prior to January 31, 2014): US $1,300 For more information, Please contact Sarah Ochs, Director of Professional Programs Tel: 386.226.6928 * email: case@erau.edu daytonabeach.erau.edu/usa Back to Top Back to Top Four US Airports are Already Rocking Awesome New Automatic Passport Kiosks Word to the wise: automated immigration kiosks are the new hotness. These machines process the passports of US & Canadian citizens in a matter of seconds (minutes, if there's a line), and we foresee it one day pushing the Global Entry program to the curb. Oh, and it's free. How to use the kiosks: Simply roll up to one, scan your passport page, confirm that the screen has your ID and arriving flight info correct, tap to answer "no" to the usual "are you bringing anything weird into our country?" questions, and a camera snaps your photo and prints a receipt of the transaction. Show that receipt to a man in a booth (no waiting!), he'll stamp your passport, and you're free to enter baggage claim. You'll finally yield that receipt to the customs inspection officers after baggage claim, with minimal bother and no queuing. Who's got them: As far as we know, there are four US airports with immigration kiosks up and running for holders of US passports. They are: Chicago-O'Hare International Airport (ORD) The first US airport to receive the machines, they spent around $200,00 on 32 of the gadgets and saw payoff nearly right away, with the average wait time for arriving passengers chopped form 50 minutes to around 34 minutes (at busiest!). Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Similar the Chicago, DFW forked over the funds to install 32 kiosks this autumn. New York-JFK International Airport (JFK) If you're arriving off an international flight at JFK's Terminal 4, then 40 of these kiosks will be awaiting you at immigration. We got through faster than those using Global Entry, and our experience here made us smitten with the entire program. Miami International Airport (MIA) The newest US airport to debut the machines, MIA just announced the delivery of 36 machines last week to the north terminal, for arrivals from concourses D, E and F. Outside the US, you'll also find these magic machines at Vancouver International (YVR), Toronto-Pearson (YYZ), and Montreal-Trudeau (YUL). Other airports currently considering purchasing them include Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and...likely every other major international airport on US and Canadian soil (or they should be!). http://www.jaunted.com/story/2013/11/15/6393/6246/travel/Four+US+Airports+are+Already+Rocking+Awesome+New+Automatic+Passport+Kiosks Back to Top Folding Wings Will Let Boeing's New 777x Squeeze Into Small Airports Commercial planes have gotten bigger and bigger over the past few decades, but the size of the gate at most airports have stayed the same. To circumvent this little infrastructural disconnect, Boeing's future 777x jet will have a massive wingspan that folds up upon landing. The 777x is already in the news this week, after three Middle Eastern airlines put in orders for almost 300 of the massive jets on Sunday. Though the planes aren't due to arrive for another seven years, design details are already emerging (Boeing calls it "The Future of Flight Unfolding"). The new model is all about efficiency, hinging in large part on a super-efficient new engine made by GE. Another major point of focus? The wings. For a number of complex engineering reasons, a wider wingspan makes for a more efficient plane-in short, the drag created at the wing tips is reduced by increasing the aspect ratio between the tip and the rest of the wing. That's why wingspans have been increasing at a rapid pace-and why Boeing starting making much lighter wings using carbon fiber-reinforced plastic back in the 00s. But the ever-increasing wingspans of jumbo jets create a problem for airports, which were built to accomodate much smaller planes. According to The Seattle Times, most airports in the world can only host planes with 213-foot wingspans (while a few mega-airports can host 262-foot wingspans). The proposed 777x would have a wingspan of 233 feet, but Boeing wants to sell a lot of these planes-which means they have to fit in the average airport. That's why the company is considering wings that "fold up" at the tips upon landing. That would shave as much as 18 feet off of the wingspan, according to the MIT Technology Review (which describes them as "winglets"). It turns out that this isn't a new idea: Boeing patented it back in 1995- and even built a prototype that never went anywhere. The company did go on to integrate vertical winglets in its 737, but those are stationary in flight, unlike the hinged version proposed for the 777x. We'll be hearing much more about the design of the 777x over the next year or two, but for now, the focus seems to be squarely on who is going to build it rather than how: According to The New York Times, Boeing is considering building the jet in South Carolina, Alabama, California or Utah after workers at their Washington state plant rejected a labor deal last week. http://gizmodo.com/folding-wings-will-let-boeings-new-777x-squeeze-into-s-1466679208 Back to Top TSA expands airport pre-check program to all military personnel, adds locations Military personnel, including members of the Reserves and National Guard, will soon find it easier to travel through more of the nation's airports. The Department of Defense and Transportation Security Administration have partnered to expand TSA's pre-check program to allow for expedited security processing for military personnel on official or leisure travel. The program, previously offered at 10 airports, has been expanded to more than 100 locations. In Alabama, the service is currently offered at Birmingham's Shuttlesworth International Airport. It's available at the central terminal main checkpoints for American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines and U.S. Airways from 4 a.m.-7:15 p.m. each day. The addition of new airports (you can see the complete list here) is overdue, according to TSA officials. "TSA joins with the American people in showing its appreciation for the service and sacrifices of our men and women in the Armed Forces," said TSA Deputy Administrator John W. Halinski, a 25-year Marine Corps veteran. "Providing expedited screening while on travel is the least we can do for these courageous men and women." Currently, members of the armed forces can use TSA Precheck lanes by presenting their common access cards. Service members showing their cards can keep on their shoes, jackets, belts and caps and leave their laptops inside cases while going through security screening. The change goes into effect Dec. 20 and will apply to all active duty, U.S. Coast Guard, Reserve and National Guard service members. Since launches in 2011, more than 18 million passengers have used the TSA pre-check program. http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/11/tsa_expands_airport_pre-check.html Curt Lewis