Flight Safety Information May 28, 2015 - No. 104 In This Issue FAA investigates winter safety concerns at Cleveland airport FAA proposes $58,600 fine against FedEx Electrical failure causes chaos at Belgian airports Vision system provides aircraft passengers with real-time views Two people escape injury after plane crash-lands at Superior airport (Duluth, MN) Pilot arrested after crash at Melbourne International Airport Two planes spotted flying under Kessock Bridge (Scotland) U.S. safety agency urges pilots to avoid distracted flying FAA Will Study Pilots' Mental Health Southwest Airlines flight delayed after smelly bags spark security scare PROS 2015 TRAINING The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award PHILIPPINE AIRLINES EVALUATES THE A350 AIRCRAFT Why 3D Printing a Jet Engine or Car Is Just the Beginning Airbus exec says jet market could absorb over 60 A320s a month Camarillo flight school to train Chinese pilots NASA orders first commercial crew flight GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST GRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECT Position Available: MANAGER SAFETY & COMPLIANCE MAINTENANCE AND...CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS FAA investigates winter safety concerns at Cleveland airport CLEVELAND (AP) - A dozen safety-related concerns at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport during the past two winters have prompted further investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Plain Dealer (http://bit.ly/1LLy49H ) reports the incidents in question included planes diverting for various reasons or reporting poor braking conditions on pavement. The FAA requested details about airfield staffing and procedures as it evaluates whether the airport might have violated federal aviation regulations. The airport responded with information including staffing details and proof of runway surface inspections. Airport Director Ricky Smith says travelers weren't at risk during the incidents in question, and he says staffing levels weren't an issue. After several safety concerns arose two winters ago, the airport agreed to a snow- and ice-control plan that specifies airfield maintenance staffing during snowstorms based on weather conditions. http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/FAA-investigates-winter-safety-concerns-at-6291322.php Back to Top FAA proposes $58,600 fine against FedEx ATLANTA - The Federal Aviation Administration proposed a $58,600 penalty against FedEx for failing to follow Hazardous Materials Regulations. According to reports, in June of 2014 FedEx accepted a container that had 1.7 liters of a flammable liquid inside. The FAA said it "lacked the proper shipping name of the hazardous materials." Two months later, the company accepted another container that incorrectly stated the amount of hazardous material inside. According to the news release, the Hazardous Materials Regulations required shipments must be properly classed, described, labeled, marked, packaged and in good condition. FedEx, the FAA said, failed to adhere to those standards. Also, the pilots were allegedly not told about the amount of hazardous materials on board three other flights in June, July and August 2014. FedEx said they wanted to meet with the FAA to discuss the case. http://wreg.com/2015/05/27/faa-proposes-58600-fine-against-fedex/ Back to Top Electrical failure causes chaos at Belgian airports People wait at the departure hall of Brussels airport on May 27, 2015 Brussels (AFP) - Chaos hit Belgian airports on Wednesday when an electrical failure at air traffic control in Brussels caused Belgium-bound flights to be diverted, with departures delayed and flights cancelled over six hours. No plane was allowed to land or take off from Belgian airports between 0730 GMT and 1200 GMT because of the power outage that paralysed screens and radars at Belgocontrol air traffic control. Officials said 147 flights were cancelled at Brussels international airport, affecting 20,000 people, including 4,000 who had to land at airports in neighbouring France, Germany and Luxembourg. Reports said passengers affected included a Spanish minister and the negotiators in Greece's bailout talks. European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker had to cut short a press conference with UN chief Ban Ki- moon, saying he was forced to travel by land to Luxembourg to take a flight for Japan that he had been due to take off from Brussels. "We're not operational, navigation screens are not working in the tower," Dominique Dehaene, spokesman for Belgium's official Belgocontrol agency told AFP. View galleryThe control tower is seen in the background with airplanes … The control tower is seen in the background with airplanes grounded on the runway of the Brussels ai ... All morning, planes headed to the EU capital were diverted to regional airports, in an effort to clear Belgium's airspace, airport authorities said. Planes overflying Belgium however were not affected, they said. Traffic was suspended at the regional airport of Charleroi, a low-cost airline hub near the French border, as well as Antwerp and Liege, near Germany. Several flights were diverted to Lille airport in northern France, a spokesman there said. About 1,000 passengers were to travel on from Lille to their intended destination by bus. About 600 flights a day arrive or depart from Brussels airport, which serves the headquarters of both the EU and NATO. "Due to air traffic, Brussels Group meeting will be delayed today," said in a tweet Eleni Varvitsiotis, the EU correspondent for Greek newspaper Kathimerini, referring to the negotiations for Greece's bailout. "Greek team arrives via Duesseldorf," she said. The situation at Belgian airports was only expected to return to normal by late Wednesday evening due to the ripple effect from the power outage, which affected flight crews and caused planes to land in neighbouring countries. Ninety minutes after air traffic was allowed to resume, a first flight took off from Brussels international airport, heading for the United States, an AFP journalist said. http://news.yahoo.com/belgian-airports-standstill-air-traffic-failure-092103852.html Back to Top Vision system provides aircraft passengers with real-time views French start-up company Otonomy Aviation has developed a vision system that features externally-mounted cameras on business jets, which provide passengers with a real-time view of the landscape. Developed by Otonomy Aviation, the cameras consist of a number of imaging components that were supplied by FRAMOS, including a 5 MPixel CMOS image sensor, and DSL949 and DSL213 lenses from Sunex. Emmanuel Maridor, Managing Director FRAMOS France, noted that the sensor, which is not named in the press release, is specifically designed for difficult lighting conditions. "The sensor is noted for its high resolution, HD ability and excellent reliability. With Low Light and Low Dark Current features, it is especially designed for applications in difficult lighting conditions and reduces image noise through automatic black level calibration," he said. The cameras in the system capture video from outside of the aircraft and transmit that to monitors inside, which provide the passengers with a scenic view. Regulations prevented the company from using prefabricated cameras in the system, as the hardware development process has to be documented in a stringently specific way in the aviation industry. As a result, Otonomy developed the system using FRAMOS components, including a PC. Guillaume Daudon, founder of Otonomy, said that his company partnered with FRAMOS on the basis of high quality standards and reliability. "The advantage is that we can use off-the-shelf components that did not have to be specially developed for us. Initial results show that customers are very happy with the image quality achieved and that communication between the lens and Ethernet output signal functions excellently," he said. The system is currently being used by owners of private or corporate business jets, but in the next phase of expansion, the system will be used in commercial flights, and will also stream to wireless devices, not just the monitors inside the plane. "Everything is going mobile. That's why the camera images should not be shown only on wired and wireless displays in the aircraft, but also on other mobile devices such as the iPad," says Daudon. The airplane windows permit only a very limited view, and what could be more entertaining on a flight than to have a broader vista of the landscape, virtually as the pilot sees it?" As it currently stands, Otonomy Aviation provides vision systems for a number of aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, Gulfstream, Dassault, and soon, Boeing. In addition to providing scenic views for passengers, the camera system has been used on the ground to increase security during boarding and de- boarding, and to visualise the raising and lowering of the undercarriage. In the future, Otonomy plans to focus more on the area of security. http://www.vision-systems.com/articles/2015/05/vision-system-provides-aircraft-passengers-with-real- time-views.html Back to Top Two people escape injury after plane crash-lands at Superior airport (Duluth, MN) Two people walked away uninjured after their single-engine plane crash-landed at the Richard I. Bong Memorial Airport in Superior on Wednesday afternoon. A small plane crash-landed off the runway at the Bong Airport in Superior on Wednesday afternoon. It came to rest in a field adjacent to the Upper Deck Restaurant. (Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com) The Superior Fire Department responded to the crash at 2:14 p.m., and the first crews on the scene found a small plane in a field behind the Upper Deck Restaurant. The pilot reported having mechanical difficulty before the crash, fire officials said. The red, white and blue plane's tires left tracks in the mud leading from the runway to the plane's resting place in the field. Its right landing gear assembly sat in pieces on the ground nearby, while the left landing gear assembly was dug into the mud, still attached to the plane. The blue tip of the left wing dangled from the rest of the plane. Mud splattered the sides of the plane and the propeller. The names of those on board the plane were not released. According to the plane's FAA registration, it's a Bellanca 8KCAB built in 1978 and owned by a Texas man. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the cause of the crash. Corey Winn was watching planes take off and land while eating lunch at the Upper Deck with a few friends when he saw the Bellanca return to the runway a few minutes after it had taken off. As the plane was going down the runway, it was going side to side and then dipped to the left, Winn said. When he saw the wing dip, he said, he knew the plane was going to crash off the runway. A woman in the restaurant told people that the plane crashed and people went outside to see if the occupants were hurt. Winn said they saw two people walking away from the wrecked plane. http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/superior/3753944-two-people-escape-injury-after-plane-crash- lands-superior-airport Back to Top Pilot arrested after crash at Melbourne International Airport The pilot of a small plane was arrested Wednesday after the aircraft clipped a piece of communication equipment at Melbourne International Airport, officials said. (VIDEO STILL/Sky 13) MELBOURNE -- A pilot was arrested Wednesday after his aircraft clipped a communications equipment building at Melbourne International Airport, officials said. Investigators said Christopher John Hall, 57, and his preteen son were set to take off in a two-engine Cessna Skymaster from the airport around 4:30 p.m. They had communicated with the tower, but did not leave the runway yet. "Twin Cessna 32, turn your engines off," the air traffic control tower told Hall. "Kill your engines." A few minutes later, the 1970 Cessna took off, clipping a piece of communications equipment and a shed. Hall and his son were not injured, Melbourne fire investigators said. Police at Melbourne International Airport arrested Hall, who was charged with reckless operation of a vessel, as well as child abuse, since his son was in the aircraft. Hall was taken from the airport to the Brevard County Jail around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. A bond totaling $4,000 was listed for Hall. An airport official said air traffic was not shut down Wednesday, since the incident did not take place on a main runway. The Federal Aviation Administration was called in to investigate the incident, and was set to return to the airport Thursday to try and determine why the man took off when air traffic controllers told him not to do so. The Cessna was listed as registered to Hall's home address under a company name Wireless Systems Engineering Inc., expiring in 2018. http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/ Back to Top Two planes spotted flying under Kessock Bridge (Scotland) Three aircraft over Inverness Three aircraft were photographed over Inverness on the day of the incident Police are investigating a report that two planes may have flown under a bridge in an incident of "unofficial aeronautical acrobatics". Three aircraft, thought to be seaplanes, were seen flying past the Kessock Bridge to Inverness at about 13:15 on Tuesday. Two of the planes were said to have flown underneath the bridge. They were then reported to have met up with the third aircraft before continuing their flight. Police have launched an investigation and appealed for information about the incident. Pictures of three aircraft, one a seaplane, over Inverness on the day of the incident have emerged. The images, released by a Highlands-based freelance photographer, show the planes in a loose formation over the city but not near the bridge. Some pilots have previously been criticised for risky flying in the Highlands. Bombing range In the summer of 2003, two Spanish pilots received a police warning after they flew light aircraft under Ballachulish Bridge on Loch Leven. The incident came just three weeks after a helicopter was reported to have flown under the Skye Bridge twice on successive days. Police investigated claims in June 2006 that four microlight helicopter pilots flew through the RAF's bombing range near Tain in Easter Ross. The incident, which drew an official complaint from the RAF, came just days after the same pilots were spotted flying under a railway viaduct at Croy, Inverness-shire. It was also alleged that they flew low over Dunrobin Castle, near Golspie. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-32909867 Back to Top U.S. safety agency urges pilots to avoid distracted flying U.S. safety officials on Wednesday reminded pilots to look out for other planes and make their own aircraft known during flights, saying air collisions can occur if pilots are distracted by cell phones, tablets or other wireless devices. After four small-plane collisions that caused eight deaths, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an official "safety alert" advising pilots to maintain fundamental "see and avoid" vigilance by scanning for traffic throughout a flight, using lights and clearly communicating their intentions. "Accidents have occurred in which pilots operating near one another did not maintain adequate visual lookout," the federal safety agency said. "The presence of technology has introduced challenges to the see-and-avoid concept. Aviation applications on portable electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, and handheld GPS units, while useful, can lead to more head-down time." NTSB pointed to four collisions involving Piper or Cessna aircraft that have occurred over the past four years. Three of the mishaps proved fatal. In the deadliest accident, a pilot and three passengers were killed in 2011 near Talkeetna, Alaska, when their Cessna 180 collided with a Cessna 206 about 900 feet (274 meters) above ground. NTSB said the pilots of the two single-engine aircraft were monitoring different radio frequencies and failed to see each other. The airline-rated pilot of the Cessna 206 was not injured. Commercial airline pilots increasingly are using tablet computers in the cockpit in place of paper flight plans and navigation charts. But, under Federal Aviation Administration rules, the devices are not allowed for personal communications or activities. The devices are allowed for general aviation, including small planes, but the pilot is responsible for determining whether a device's electronics will interfere with flight instruments. Software makers have produced a host of pilot applications for phones and tablets that offer radar and navigation services, approach charts, terrain awareness and weather graphics. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/27/us-usa-aviation-safety-idUSKBN0OC2FB20150527 Back to Top FAA Will Study Pilots' Mental Health A committee will provide recommendations within six months The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Wednesday it would study the mental and emotional health of pilots, a move that comes more than two months after investigators say a German pilot flew a commercial jet into the French Alps, killing all 150 people aboard. While pilots are required to undergo medical screenings with agency-approved physicians once or twice a year, the study was recommended in the wake of tragedies like the crash Germanwings Flight 9525 in March and the early 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the Indian Ocean. The FAA said in a statement that the Pilot Fitness Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)-to be comprised of government members and aviation experts, as well as medical professionals whose specialty is aerospace medicine-will look into awareness and reporting practices for emotional and mental issues among pilots. The committee, which will also probe the procedures used to evaluate mental health issues and any barriers to reporting them, will provide the FAA with recommendations within six months. "Based on the group's recommendations," according to the statement, "the FAA may consider changes to medical methods, aircraft design, policies and procedures, pilot training and testing, training for Aerospace Medical Examiners, or potential actions that may be taken by professional, airline, or union groups." http://time.com/3898396/federal-aviation-administration-pilots-mental-health/ Back to Top Southwest Airlines flight delayed after smelly bags spark security scare... but it was just a leaky can of HAIRSPRAY Ramp workers became suspicious as they loaded bags onto the plane They alerted authorities after they came across a bag with a strange smell Firefighters inspected the checked bag but could not confirm the source They returned after workers handled a second bag with the same smell Southwest Airlines passengers were delayed for more than an hour at San Francisco's airport after a leaky can of hairspray sparked a security scare. Baggage handlers alerted authorities after they smelled a strange odour from a checked bag that was being loaded onto the Chicago-bound Boeing 737-800. Just days after the FBI launched an investigation into threats against a number of flights, officials held the plane and called in specialists to determine whether the bag posed any harm to passengers and crew. The Boeing 737-800 was held while officials determined whether the bags posed a threat (file photo) Firefighters in hazmat suits removed and inspected the bag as passengers sat on board, but found nothing suspicious and allowed workers to continue loading bags onto the plane. They stopped and asked firefighters to return after they handled a second bag with the same odour, ABC 7 reported. It was during the second inspection emergency personnel determined the smell was hairspray and did not pose any danger. A passenger who tweeted photos of firefighters wrote on Twitter they found four bags with 'aerosol leakage'. A passenger tweeted photos of firefighters after they were called in to inspect the suspicious bags Once the source was identified flight SWA2346 was cleared for take-off and made its three-and-a-half hour journey to Chicago Midway International Airport. Earlier this week a number of domestic and international flights received threats, including 11 alone on Memorial Day. US law enforcement and security sources told Reuters that Islamic State sympathisers may have been behind more than a dozen threats to flights using US airports or flying in American airspace on Monday and Tuesday. The caller claimed the flights were carrying some form of chemical weapon, Reuters reported. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3100627/Southwest-Airlines-flight-delayed-smelly- bags-spark-security-scare-just-leaky-HAIRSPRAY.html#ixzz3bQxIBAzs Back to Top Back to Top The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award It's time to honor individuals or groups that have made significant contributions to aviation safety-either in the past year or over a longer period of time. Nominations for the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award are being accepted through June 1, 2015. The release contains detailed instructions, but the basics are simple. The award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." To nominate someone or a group, fill out the form available at the following links and provide a 1-2-page narrative. Submit nominations at the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award website via http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/ ...or the Flight Safety Foundation website at http://flightsafety.org/aviation-awards/laura-taber-barbour-air-safety-award Remember--this year's nominations are due on or before June 1. Thank you in advance for your nomination! Sincerely, The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Board www.ltbaward.org Back to Top PHILIPPINE AIRLINES EVALUATES THE A350 AIRCRAFT Philippine Airlines will consider the Airbus A350 aircraft as a possible contender when it places an order for more long-haul aircraft. The national flag carrier requires additional aircraft if it plans to expand its operations further in Europe and North America. The Airbus A350 was recently in Manila as part of an Airbus Sales Tour showcasing the aircraft in the region. Executives from both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific were present to tour the aircraft and meet with Airbus officials. According to PAL President Jaime Bautista, the flag carrier is in need of long-haul aircraft after retiring its Boeing 747 fleet. "There will be a need for us to get more long-haul aircraft for expansion to North America and Europe," said Bautista. "Of course, we will study the A350 very carefully." The Airbus A350 is the European aircraft manufacturer's answer to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Both aircraft compete against one another in the medium-sized wide-body aircraft market. Airlines across Asia have been placing orders for both aircraft as they convert their fleets to modern fuel-efficient aircraft. According to Mike Bausor, Airbus Marketing Director for the A350, the aircraft offers operating costs that are 25 percent less than older aircraft in terms of fuel consumption. With Asia expected to account for 36 percent of global passenger traffic by 2035, the A350 is ideally suited for Asian carriers. Airbus currently has 780 firm orders for the A350 aircraft from forty clients. The aircraft ranges in price from US $301 to $350 million per aircraft. No carriers in the Philippines have made any commitments to order the aircraft as of yet. Airbus officials state that one other competitive advantage for the aircraft is that the A350 can be flown by pilots already certified to fly the A330 aircraft. Both Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines currently operate A330 aircraft in their fleet. Cebu Pacific was less enthusiastic about the aircraft, suggesting that it likely did not meet the needs of the budget carrier at this time. "The A350 is very ideal for long-haul," said Lance Gokongwei, CEO of Cebu Pacific. "We don't have any long-haul routes at this point that require this range. I think we are just taking a look at the aircraft now and evaluating it among other aircraft." Gokongwei added that any future aircraft purchase would need to align with the company's network strategy. The company currently operates short-haul and medium-haul flights utilising Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft. Gokongwei also denied any plans in the near future to serve London or the United States mainland. "Everything is under review at this point," said Gokongwei. However, PAL President Jaime Bautista revealed that Rome could be the next destination in Europe for the Philippine flag carrier. http://www.philippineflightnetwork.com/2015/05/philippine-airlines-evaluates-a350.html Back to Top Why 3D Printing a Jet Engine or Car Is Just the Beginning The 3D printing (digital manufacturing) market has had a lot of hype over the past few years. Most recently, it seems this technology arena has entered the "trough of disillusionment," as 3D printing stock prices have taken a hit. But the fact remains: this exponential technology is still in its childhood and its potential for massive disruption (of manufacturing and supply chains) lies before us. This article is about 3D printing's vast potential - our ability to soon 3D print complex systems like jet engines, rocket engines, cars and even houses. But first, a few facts: Today, we can 3D print in some 300 different materials, ranging from titanium to chocolate. We can 3D print in full color. We can 3D print in mixed materials - imagine a single print that combines metals, plastics and rubbers. Best of all, complexity and personalization come for free. What Does It Mean for "Complexity to Be Free"? Think about this: If you 3D print a solid block of titanium, or an equal-sized block with a thousand moving components inside, the time and cost of both 3D printings is almost exactly the same (the solid block is actually more expensive from a materials cost). Complexity and personalization in the 3D printing process come for free - i.e. no additional cost and no additional time. Today, we're finding we can 3D print things that you can't manufacture any other way. Let's take a look at some of the exciting things being 3D printed now. 3D Printing Rocket Engines SpaceX 3D printed main oxidizer valves (MOVs). SpaceX SuperDraco rocket engines. In 2014, SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket with a 3D-printed Main Oxidizer Valve (MOV) body in one of the nine Merlin 1D engines (the print took less than two days -whereas a traditional castings process can take months). Even more impressive, SpaceX is now 3D printing its SuperDraco engine chamber for the Dragon 2 capsule. According to SpaceX, the process "resulted in an order of magnitude reduction in lead-time compared with traditional machining - the path from the initial concept to the first hotfire was just over three months." On a similar note, Planetary Resources Inc. (PRI) is demonstrating the 3D printing of integrated propulsion and structures of its ARKYD series of spacecraft. This technology has the potential to reduce the parts count by 100x, with an equal reduction in cost and labor. 3D Printing Jet Engines GE has just demonstrated the 3D printing of a complete, functioning jet engine (the size of a football), able to achieve 33,000 RPM. GE recently engineers recently designed, 3D printed, and fired up this simple jet engine. GE engineers recently designed, 3D printed, and fired up this simple jet engine. 3D printing has been used for decades to prototype parts - but now, with advances in laser technology, modeling and printing technology, GE has actually 3D printed a complete product. Xinhua Wu, a lead researcher at Australia's Monash University, recently explained the allure of 3D printed jet engines. Because of their complexity, she noted, manufacturing jet engine parts requires on the order of 6 to 24 months. But 3D printing reduces manufacturing time to something more like one to two weeks. "Simple or complex, 3D printing doesn't care," she said. "It produces [parts] in the same time." 3D Printing Cars Last year, Jay Rogers from Local Motors built a 3D printed car. Local Motors 3D printed car. It's made of ABS plastic reinforced with carbon fiber. As they describe, "Everything on the car that could be integrated into a single material piece has been printed. This includes the chassis/frame, exterior body, and some interior features. The mechanical components of the vehicle, like battery, motors, wiring, and suspension, are sourced from Renault's Twizy, an electric powered city car." It is called "The Strati," costs $15,000, and gets 80 kilometers range on a single charge. Today, the car takes 44 hours to print, but soon the team at Local Motors plans to cut the print process to less than 24 hours. In the past, producing a new car with a new design was very expensive and time consuming - especially when it comes to actually designing the tooling to handle the production of the newly designed car. With additive manufacturing, once you've designed the vehicle on a computer, you literally press *print*. 3D Printing Houses WinSun 3D printed house. In China, a company called WinSun Decoration Design Engineering 3D printed 10 full-sized houses in a single day last year. They used a quick-drying concrete mixture composed mostly of recycled construction and waste material and pulled it off at a cost of less than $5,000 per house. Instead of using, say, bricks and mortar, the system extrudes a mix of high-grade cement and glass fiber material and prints it, layer by layer. The printers are 105 feet by 33 feet each and can print almost any digital design that the clients request. The process is environmentally friendly, fast and nearly labor-free. Manufacturing Is a $10 Trillion Business Ripe for Disruption We will continue to see advances in additive manufacturing dramatically changing how we produce the core infrastructure and machines that makes modern life possible. http://singularityhub.com/2015/05/26/why-3d-printing-a-jet-engine-or-car-is-just-the-beginning/ Back to Top Airbus exec says jet market could absorb over 60 A320s a month People are silhouetted past a logo of the Airbus Group during the Airbus annual news conference in Colomiers. Photo: Reuters TOULOUSE - Planemaker Airbus hinted at further production increases in its popular A320 series on Thursday, saying market demand would justify a leap to "more than 60 aircraft" a month. Sales chief John Leahy said anticipated demand already exceeded the planemaker's existing production goal of 50 planes a month and that Airbus was studying further increases. Airbus currently produces 42 of the medium-haul planes a month and has already set an output goal of 50 a month by the first quarter of 2017. Rival Boeing is looking at producing 52 of its competing 737 model a month by 2018. Speaking at a media briefing, Leahy said he expected a decision on A320 production before the end of the year, adding the issue being examined was the status of the supply chain. "You have the opinion of John Leahy about what we ought to do going forward, but we aren't committed to anything yet," he said. Fabrice Bregier, head of the planemaking unit of Airbus Group, said in January there was a debate between sales and production staff about how quickly to increase production of the single-aisle A320, which is also in the midst of being upgraded. He also said it may have to reduce production of its wide-body A330 further than previously anticipated, amid waning demand for the current version of the jet which faces competition from Boeing's newer 787 Dreamliner. On Thursday, Leahy said he was confident of avoiding a further reduction below the latest target of 6 A330s a month if current sales prospects in the pipeline came to fruition. He said he expected an order announcement on a recently launched A330 Regional version, which offers a cap on range at a lower price for airlines operating relatively short routes, by the June 15-21 Paris Airshow. But he said Airbus would not produce 'white tails,' or jets without customers lined up in advance of delivery, and would adjust production higher or lower as needed to reflect sales. Airbus shares were down 0.2 percent at 0900 GMT, while the CAC index of leading French shares was down 0.4 percent. http://www.todayonline.com/business/airbus-executive-says-jet-market-could-absorb-over-60-a320s- month Back to Top Camarillo flight school to train Chinese pilots CAMARILLO, Calif. - A Camarillo flight school is capitalizing on the strong demand for pilots in China. Channel Islands Aviation says it will train Chinese pilots in Ventura County, then send them back home where the newly minted pilots would train Chinese nationals who want to fly their own small planes. Sarah Oberman Bartush of Channel Islands Aviation said the partnership with Avieye General Aviation of Shanghai is unusual in that some U.S. flight schools have been training commercial airline pilots from China. This arrangement is for general aviation, not commercial. Each year, about 20 Chinese would spend 10 months training at the Camarillo Airport, where Channel Islands Aviation is based. Bartush said the school had a similar program in the 1990s for Japanese nationals. http://www.vcstar.com/business/local/company-news/camarillo-flight-school-to-train-chinese- pilots_22664414 Back to Top NASA orders first commercial crew flight Los Angeles -- Boeing has been awarded the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from NASA, marking a key milestone in the agency's five-year effort to develop an indigenous U.S. capability to launch American astronauts to low earth orbit. NASA says commercial crew program rival SpaceX is "expected to receive its first order later this year," and adds that the decision on which company will actually make the first flight to the station "will be made at a later time." Although the first commercial crew mission to the ISS is scheduled for late 2017 the actual timing depends on whether the agency receives sufficient funding in the fiscal 2016 budget as well as whether Boeing and SpaceX are able to meet NASA's readiness conditions. Both Boeing and SpaceX are completing milestones under the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) phase of the program. NASA, which awards CCtCap contracts two to three years prior to the missions, says if it does not receive the full requested funding for fiscal 2016 and beyond, it "will have to delay future milestones for both partners proportionally and extend sole reliance on Russia for crew access to the station." Boeing has completed the integrated critical design review (CDR) for its CST-100 spacecraft under the fourth phase of the CCtCap program, and says it remains on track to fly by the end of 2017. "We are less than two years away from our first test flight," says Chris Ferguson, director of crew and mission systems for Boeing. "We are beginning to see hardware come together. We are in the initial stages of assembling the initial orbital test article in the former orbiter processing facility 3 (Kennedy Space Center, Florida) that we now call the commercial crew and cargo processing facility." Speaking at the recent Space Tech Expo conference in Long Beach, Ferguson adds that the crewed version of the CST-100 is designed to be reused up to 10 times. "We plan to build three at the moment and see where the future business takes us," Ferguson says. A standard mission to the station will carry four NASA or NASA-sponsored crew members and about 220 lb. of pressurized cargo, according to NASA. The spacecraft will remain at the station for up to 210 days and serve as an emergency lifeboat during that time. The NASA contract will cover a minimum of two and a maximum of six missions. Boeing also plans to "create a cargo variant for the next cargo contract which is due for award later this year," says Ferguson. The CST-100 service module will be jettisoned prior to re-entry and "we will bring back the crew vehicle to any of five landing sites," adds Ferguson. The CST-100 is designed to return to a soft landing on dry ground with the aid of parachutes and air bags. "We are out there right now signing agreements with those places. We have a string of agreements with various organizations such as Edwards AFB, (California), White Sands (New Mexico) and three other areas that work very nicely from an orbital mechanics standpoint. We will bring it back, turn it around and send it back to Kennedy Space Center for launch about six months later," he says. In the immediate future, Boeing's target is the completion of a series of intensive software tests. "We have a key demonstration towards the end of the year in which we will run through an entire launch, orbit and landing sequence using our actual flight software. We have key demonstration in December in which this will work with our ground system software," he adds. SpaceX, which successfully completed a pad abort test of its crew Dragon vehicle from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 6, is preparing for the forthcoming high-altitude abort test of the vehicle from Vandenberg AFB, California. Garrett Reisman, director of crew operations at SpaceX, says "we've been working lately on a lot of hardware milestones. We focused latterly on abort system hardware, and later we intend to do a high-altitude abort, which is the hardest point where you could try to get away from the rocket." The test will be performed at the point where the Falcon 9 booster will be accelerating through maximum aerodynamic pressure (max Q). "That's the most difficult phase from a controllability and thrust perspective," says Reisman. Although selected alongside Boeing for the commercial crew mission, Reisman says "we think competition is essential for this model, and we'd like to see that continue indefinitely so NASA can enjoy the benefits of a mixed fleet." The company is developing an avionics test bed and will "have an iron bird (test rig) running by the end of year. SpaceX is also working on qualification of the docking system which it aims to complete this year. For 2016 "the big thing is we intend to do a complete mission to the ISS fully autonomously to make sure the crew Dragon is ready for people," says Reisman. http://aviationweek.com/space/nasa-orders-first-commercial-crew-flight Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Dear pilots This survey is part of a research for master degree in safety engineering. In this survey we would like to have your opinion on parameters regarding workload during the following flight phases: approach, landing and missed approach. It is important for us to get your perspective on these parameters according to your own professional experience. This survey is appointed to Air Carrier "GLASS COCKPIT" trained pilots. However, Air Carrier Non "GLASS COCKPIT" pilots are welcome to answer this survey as well. Please note that this survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Kind regards, Jack Limor Ben Gurion University https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E24NQIZrPQM7tFOCAFz0y4uQvell44TZ2d0ZfSc4Skw/viewform?c=0&w=1 Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECT Hello, my name is Andrea Savia and I am an MSc student in Safety and Human Factors in Aviation at Cranfield University. I write this message to look for aircraft operators (airline, cargo and private) that are willing to join my research project. The aim is to study the current practices and processes associated with safety data analyses across the airline industry. This study will explore the sources of safety data, analytical methods and tools as well as the outputs. The collected information from each company will be benchmarked against an industry best practice, defined by regulator bodies and other relevant literature. As a result, the participants will be able to use the results of this research project to evaluate the maturity of their safety data analyses. At the end of the project, all participants will receive a copy of the thesis that will help them to assess their current position within the industry and to identify future improvements. To collect the information I intend to interview a relevant person or two within the safety department (via Skype). All information will be confidential and stored at a password protected computer and the results will be de-identified in the written thesis. If you are willing to cooperate or desire more information, please contact me via e-mail at a.savia@cranfield.ac.uk or by phone at +44 (0)7574 304188. Thank you for your cooperation. Back to Top Upcoming Events: IS-BAO Auditing June 10, 2015 Toluca, Mexico https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1710550 Fundamentals of IS-BAO June 15, 2015 CBAA 2015: St. Hubert, Quebec Canada https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659064 IS-BAO Auditing June 16, 2015 CBAA 2015: St. Hubert, Quebec Canada https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659075 Fundamentals of IS-BAH June 15, 2015 St. Hubert, Quebec Canada https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659069 IS-BAH Auditing June 16, 2015 St. Hubert, Quebec Canada https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659079 6th Pan American Aviation Safety Summit June 22-26th Medellin, Colombia http://www.alta.aero/safety/2015/home.php Safety Management Systems Training & Workshop Course offered by ATC Vantage Inc. Tampa, FL August 6-7, 2015 www.atcvantage.com/training Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection & Investigation Course 9-11 Sept. 2015 Hotel Ibis Nanterre La Defense (near Paris) France http://blazetech.com/resources/pro_services/FireCourse-France_2015.pdf Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Manager Safety & Compliance Maintenance and Continued Airworthiness Air Astana APPLY HERE Director of Safety Haverfield Aviation www.haverfield.com Send CV to: HR@Haverfield.com Back to Top May 2015 Air Astana MANAGER SAFETY & COMPLIANCE MAINTENANCE AND CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS Our vision is to build one of the finest airlines in the world with the highest safety standards. Based in Almaty, Kazakhstan Air Astana, the national airline of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a scheduled airline operating an extensive domestic and international route network, is seeking applicants for the full time position of Manager Safety & Compliance Maintenance and Continued Airworthiness, to be based at their maintenance headquarters in the beautiful city of Almaty, eastern Kazakhstan. General Responsibilities: Managing a team of specialists to implement company strategy related to SMS performance monitoring through effective and efficient programmes, processes and procedures. For further details and to apply please click here Curt Lewis