Flight Safety Information June 16, 2015 - No. 117 In This Issue Top European Air-Safety Official Seeks Regionwide Airline Inspectors Jaguar Fighter Aircraft Crashes Near Allahabad, Pilots Eject Safely (India) Submarine Picks Up Feeble Signals Likely to be From Missing Dornier Aircraft Aviation safety issues: Damocles' sword hangs over DGCA (India) UN Aviation Agency Bans E-Cigarettes in Checked Bags Sick passengers on flight from Fiji to LAX treated, allowed to continue traveling Nigeria: Air Safety - AIB Wants Aviation Professionals to Raise Standards UTC Aerospace Systems offers increased safety, reliability and efficiency capabilities for military SwiftBroadband Safety makes maiden flight PROS 2015 TRAINING Russia Eyes New Wide-Body Jet, Co-Developed With China, By 2025 Textron seeking buyers of built-on-spec jet fighters Demand for aircraft still soaring, as Paris Air Show kicks off Harvard University Pilot Health Study Graduate Research - Pilot Survey Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Top European Air-Safety Official Seeks Regionwide Airline Inspectors Proposal comes amid shortage of regulatory personnel in some countries Travelers wait at the departure zone of the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on June 3. By ANDY PASZTOR BRUSSELS-Facing a shortage of aviation regulatory personnel in some countries, Europe's top air-safety official wants to create a regionwide cadre of airline inspectors to plug those gaps. The concept was outlined on Thursday by Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency, in an interview during an international conference here. The move demonstrates the growing oversight challenges confronting the agency's leadership-along with certain national governments-at a time when new airline business models are spreading across Europe while public dollars to keep track of carriers are shrinking. Some small or financially strapped countries, including those in Scandinavia and elsewhere, can't hire enough qualified inspectors to properly oversee carriers operating under their jurisdictions. As a result, EASA's chief advocates setting up a pan-European group of experts to supplement independent national inspection staffs. No final decisions have been made to move in that direction. But in the interview, Mr. Ky indicated he favors the concept on both policy and budgetary grounds. Normally, each country must have "inspectors who are qualified pilots in each and every aircraft that is flown" by airlines based in that country, according to Mr. Ky. The EASA chief, however, suggested that a regional approach makes more sense. "Can we have European inspectors who can do the job?" he asked. "It's for the benefit of everyone." During a presentation at the annual U.S.-European safety conference under way in Brussels, a Danish air- safety official advocated the same regional solution. Denmark, Sweden and Norway are asking EASA to help establish "a pool of experts" to ensure "an adequate level of flight safety" related to inspections of airline operations. EASA is responsible for establishing safety standards that are followed by manufacturers and national regulators. The discussion of pan-European safety inspectors comes less than three months after a Germanwings airliner presumed to have been brought down by the co-pilot highlighted the issue of scarce national oversight resources. In the wake of that tragedy, it was revealed that European Union officials years earlier worried that Germany's oversight of airlines was lax and in late 2014 formally told Berlin to remedy the long-standing problems. EU officials complained last year that Germany's air-safety regulator suffered from chronic staffing shortfalls that could undermine its ability to run checks of carriers and crew, including medical checks, according to two people familiar with the issue. Separately, Mr. Ky's predecessor years ago proposed setting up a pan-European group of accident investigators. But the idea was rejected by European lawmakers after objections from some countries complaining it would impinge on their sovereignty. At this week's safety conference, some 300 participants from nearly 60 countries also heard presentations about anticipated skyrocketing growth of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in Europe and elsewhere. Some projections envision that by the early part of the next decade, a total of as many as 20 million such vehicles will be flying world-wide for recreational and commercial applications, according to Terry McVenes, a Boeing Co. safety official. Currently, more than a dozen European countries have their own regulations covering operation of small drones. EASA and the European Commission are considering what regional rules may be necessary to cover unmanned aerial systems, with the initial proposals slated to be released by the end of the year. http://www.wsj.com/articles/top-european-air-safety-official-seeks-regionwide-airline-inspectors- 1434048117 Back to Top Jaguar Fighter Aircraft Crashes Near Allahabad, Pilots Eject Safely (India) The Jaguar aircraft crashed 13 kilometres from Allahabad NEW DELHI: A Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed this morning near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. Both the pilots managed to eject safely. The plane which had taken off at 7:25 am from the Bamrauli air strip in Allahabad was on a routine training sortie. The pilots reportedly sent signals to the ground staff that there was some major technical glitch with the aircraft. When they could not control the aircraft any longer, the pilots ejected and the plane crashed close to the Food Corporation of India godown near Naini area, about 13 kilometres from Allahabad at 8:47 am. A court of inquiry has been ordered. A fire broke out in the aircraft and fire engines were rushed to the crash site. The area has been cordoned off and there were no casualties on ground, reported news agency Indo-Asian News Service, quoting officials. This is the second Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force to have crashed this year. In March, a Jaguar fighter had crashed near Kurukshetra in Haryana after a technical snag; the pilot had ejected safely. The Jaguar is a twin-engine, single seater deep penetration strike aircraft of Anglo-French origin which has a maximum speed of 1350 kilometres per hour (Mach 1.3). It has two 30 mm guns and can carry two R-350 Magic CCMs (overwing) along with 4750 kg of external stores (bombs/fuel), says the Indian Air Force's website. http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jaguar-fighter-aircraft-crashes-near-allahabad-pilots-eject-safely-772028 Back to Top Submarine Picks Up Feeble Signals Likely to be From Missing Dornier Aircraft CHENNAI: A submarine has picked up feeble intermittent signals from what is likely to be from the missing Dornier aircraft off the Chidambaram coast in Tamil Nadu, where the plane is believed to have crashed. The location of the aircraft, however, has not been identified yet. The Coast Guard aircraft that took off from Chennai on Monday evening on a routine surveillance flight was last tracked 16 kilometres east off Chidambaram coast by radar in Trichy at 9:23 pm. On Saturday, a Navy ship INS Sandhyak, too, had picked up intermittent beacon signals from what was likely to be from the Dornier. "A vessel belonging to the National Institute of Ocean Technology would launch its under-sea probe today," said SP Sharma, Inspector General, Coast Guard. Search operations entered its seventh day today with at least 10 ships, two aircraft and few helicopters deployed to locate the missing aircraft. Tests of oil slick found near the area where the aircraft was last tracked have found no aviation fuel. Lab tests of a second oil slick in the search area failed to locate aviation fuel. The aircraft was being flown by Deputy Commandant Vidyasagar and had on board Deputy Commandant MK Soni, the co-pilot, and Navigator Deputy Commandant Subash Suresh. http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/submarine-picks-up-feeble-signals-likely-to-be-from-missing-dornier- aircraft-771704 Back to Top Aviation safety issues: Damocles' sword hangs over DGCA (India) The upgrading of the Indian Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) by US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to Category I recently brought to an end an ignominious and humiliating period for Indian civil aviation. The downgrade in January 2014 had been the climactic culmination of events dating back to December 2012 when an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit of the DGCA dishonourably placed it amongst 13 worst performing aviation regulatory agencies in the world. This prompted a re-audit by ICAO in August 2013, followed in quick succession by an FAA audit in September 2013 under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme. The DGCA managed to scrape through both these audits, bruised but breathing, and a review five months later brought the entirely forgettable tumble to Category II safety status. These chronological events are iterated only to highlight the fact that somehow, despite adequate warnings and threats, the DGCA could not outrun its bureaucratic, cumbersome style of functioning to get its act together to aggressively and conclusively address the numerous observations in successive audits. The two major shortcomings pointed out during the downgrading by the FAA audit were lack of training of technical staff of the DGCA and a critical shortfall of Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) on the DGCA's payroll. This observation was based on the fact that traditionally, the DGCA has only had FOIs seconded from airlines to work with the DGCA for audits and inspections but drawing salaries from their respective parent airlines. Given the nature of their work which involves airline surveillance, clearing airline pilots as aircraft examiners and instructors, inspection of operational manuals and documentation, the arrangement of secondment was found highly objectionable to ICAO and FAA. However, the DGCA's reluctance to hire FOIs on its payroll results from a reason steeped in the bureaucratic culture that has flourished in the organisation, in a large part owing to the fact that it has been headed (barring one exception) by an IAS officer. The qualifying requirements to be an FOI include a flying pilot's license and substantial experience as an airline pilot. Such a candidate would come with a very high salary tag, much higher than any of the government officials working in the DGCA, including the DG himself. Interestingly, only one FOI had ever been borne on the payroll of the DGCA before these shameful audit findings compelled hiring of 72 FOIs (based on a thumb rule of one inspector per 10 aircraft to be audited). To meet this requirement, a sanction was obtained for hiring 75 FOIs but the maximum strength reached was around two thirds this number. The FOIs that did come on board have been working towards the objectives they were hired for but informal inputs convey the impression that all is not well between them and the core DGCA officialdom. All files from FOIs need to be routed through established administrative levels of officials who do not have deep understanding of flight operations (as a pilot does). Resentment abound Understandably, there are delays and equally understandably there is resentment amongst the FOIs about the need for superfluous routing of files. This antagonism is manifest in other interactions between FOIs and other staff. During the third week of May, the DGCA asked 20 FOIs to move on permanent posting out of Delhi at short notice. Promptly, 13 FOIs tendered applications stating that if their posting orders were not cancelled those applications could be considered as their resignations. In dismay, the DGCA was forced to retract their posting orders and is looking for candidates to fill the posts outside Delhi afresh. The organisation is getting a feel of the high headed attitude of pilots that the airline industry has to live with due to a perennial shortage of qualified pilots in India. It will take a lot of effort and kid glove handling of the FOIs to retain adequate numbers, which are necessary not only for acceptable safety oversight but also to satisfy future audits by the ICAO. Opprobrium by the ICAO leads other safety agencies to raise interrogative glances at the DGCA. Following strictures by ICAO, FAA had audited India and, significantly, even Japan had the temerity to demand an audit of the DGCA in 2013 (a move that was thwarted). The European Aviation Safety Agency has been aggressively demanding briefs from the DGCA on steps taken to remedy ICAO and FAA audit observations. The audit report by FAA that upgraded the DGCA in April this year mentioned imperatives like building up the FOI strength to 72, recertifying all (scheduled and non-scheduled) aircraft operators and training organisations. While the recertification process is on at a feverish pace and may be completed on time, FOI induction and retention remain nebulous. The ICAO intends carrying out a fresh audit of the DGCA in November 2015; the next six months will bear witness, as will an anxious civil aviation community, to what the DGCA achieves in terms of integrating FOIs completely and usefully into its organisational fabric; a failure to do so could lead to the DGCA being besmirched again with a downgrade. One tragic fall out of an ICAO down grade is that although the international body does not audit airlines (its auditee is the DGCA), if the DGCA is found wanting as a responsible custodian of safety performance of civil aviation, the airlines pay the price. During the 14 months that the DGCA suffered the Category II status in safety, no Indian airline was permitted to start a new international route, especially to the US. The impending audit in November hangs over the DGCA (and our airlines) like a Damocles' sword; one hopes that DGCA gets its act together before that. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/483732/aviation-safety-issues-damocles-sword.html Back to Top UN Aviation Agency Bans E-Cigarettes in Checked Bags The International Civil Aviation Organization announced a ban on e-cigarettes in checked baggage. (Representational Image) OTTAWA: The International Civil Aviation Organization announced Monday a ban on e-cigarettes in checked baggage, following reports they have sparked fires in the cargo area of aircrafts. Airline passengers and crew are encouraged instead to carry the devices in the cabin "so that potential incidents could be immediately dealt with," said the UN agency. The ICAO, based in Montreal, works with 191 member states and airlines to develop international standards and safety regulations. The amendment to those regulations regarding e-cigarettes also prohibits recharging of electronic smoking devices in aircraft cabins. "Several incidents have been reported involving e-cigarette heating elements being accidentally activated and resulting in fires in checked baggage," said Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, the president of the ICAO Council. Several airlines have already taken measures against e-cigarettes after concerns were raised late last year, he said. The new rules are effective immediately following their provisional approval by Aliu in late May and final circulation to representatives of the ICAO's governing body and its technical arm. http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/un-aviation-agency-bans-e-cigarettes-in-checked-bags-771987 Back to Top Sick passengers on flight from Fiji to LAX treated, allowed to continue traveling Sick passengers on Fiji Airways A dozen passengers became ill on Fiji Airways flight that arrived at LAX One person who was ill aboard a Fiji Airways flight that arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday was hospitalized, officials said. Medical personnel evaluated 12 people complaining of nausea and vomiting, and one asked to be taken to a hospital, said Margaret Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. The hospitalized passenger was later released and cleared to continue traveling, according to a statement from Fiji Airways. One of them was throwing up before we ever left the ground. They were sick when they got on the plane and should've been escorted off. The 12 passengers had traveled on Flight 810 from Nadi, Fiji, to LAX, and while in Nadi, had stayed in the same hotel, according to a statement from LAX. The Airbus 330 had 261 passengers and 11 crew members and landed about 1:45 p.m., LAX officials said. As a precaution, the airline sent samples of its inflight food for testing, and the hotel in Fiji where affected guests were staying was also notified about the reports of illness, according to Fiji Airways. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Customs and Border protection were called to assess the patients. The passengers had to remain on the plane until they were cleared by medical professionals, airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sick-passangers-lax-20150615-story.html Back to Top Nigeria: Air Safety - AIB Wants Aviation Professionals to Raise Standards The Commissioner/Chief Executive, Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB), Dr Felix Abali, has said that for Nigeria's air safety sustainability, aviation professionals in the country must raise the standard, professionalism and efficiency. He particularly harped on quality Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) as a panacea to avoiding most of the air accidents in Nigeria. Dr Abali spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at an event to mark the World Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) day, a copy of which speech was made available to our correspondent in Lagos, said all over the world, the aviation sector is undergoing rapid transformation and becoming more technical intensive and technologically driven. "I implore the management of NCAA, NCAT and NAMA to train and motivate all AIS staff for effective delivery of the task ahead of them. Capacity development is a vital solution to the growing cases of human factor, which underlies most of the accidents and serious incidents in the aviation industry," he stated. He said: "Aeronautical information management is the way forward, not only in Nigeria but globally for the sector to be able to provide its noble role for the effectiveness and efficiency of air navigation. There is no Nigeria aviation. There is only one global aviation, with the same Standards and Recommended Practice (SARPs), with which you must comply assiduously, being the minimum requirements for safe navigation of flight operation." In another development, there are indications that the AIB, may soon release the full reports of at least four air crashes that have occurred in the country in the recent past. A source at AIB said the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has ordered the release of the findings before May 29, 2015. The impending reports were accidents that occurred between 2006 and 2010. http://allafrica.com/stories/201505201272.html Back to Top UTC Aerospace Systems offers increased safety, reliability and efficiency capabilities for military aircraft PARIS AIR SHOW, Paris, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- UTC Aerospace Systems has a proud history of providing defense customers with safe, reliable and efficient content. The company's latest component and systems upgrades enhance safety and performance and lower operating costs. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). "In choosing our advanced technologies, military customers have the flexibility to improve, modernize and extend the life of their current fighter fleets," said Gail Baker, vice president for Aerospace Customers and Business Development. "Customers also have the option to apply these components and systems to their new investments." Among UTC Aerospace Systems' advanced technologies is the ACES 5™ ejection seat, which offers greater protection to the pilot's head, neck and limbs, and features an upgraded main recovery parachute. The ACES 5 configuration can be realized with its predecessor, the ACES II, through a retrofit kit on a wide range of current military aircraft, and ACES 5 meets the requirements for installation in new platforms. The NP2000 propeller, with its electronic propeller control system, offers customers a 50-year leap in technology. The NP2000 is quieter, more reliable and cost-effective in terms of maintenance. The U.S. Navy, Air National Guard, and most recently, NASA, have chosen to retrofit their aircraft with this modern, eight- bladed propeller. UTC Aerospace Systems also provides customers with the option to upgrade their wheels and brakes. The boltless wheels feature a lock ring design, and the carbon brakes use the industry-leading DURACARB® carbon friction material, which last many times longer than legacy carbon or steel brakes. Another upgrade available, the Cargo On/Off Loading System (COOLS), is designed specifically for the U.S. Army's cargo platform, the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. The COOLS system provides reconfiguration options in- flight or on the ground in less than 15 minutes. This allows the U.S. Army the ability to quickly respond to mission changes without returning to base for conversion and the ability to load and unload cargo and troops in a fast and safe manner. The newly improved system also allows for the transport of pallet cargo systems, including combinations of small and large pallets. Current CH-47s are being retrofitted with the COOLS, and new CH-47s are coming off the production line with the COOLS upgrade. UTC Aerospace Systems provides advanced Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solutions in the form of its advanced G700 SmartDisplay® EFB. Lightweight and compact, the G700 also features a communication, navigation and surveillance enabling platform. UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base, with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC. SOURCE UTC Aerospace Systems http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utc-aerospace-systems-offers-increased-safety-reliability-and- efficiency-capabilities-for-military-aircraft-300099259.html Back to Top SwiftBroadband Safety makes maiden flight Hawaiian Airlines has become the first commercial airline to fly with UK satellite business Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband Safety service on its Boeing 767-300 fleet, after the Supplemental Type Certificate for the service was awarded. The SwiftBroadband-based service also supports flight deck voice services and provides dedicated IP connectivity to the cockpit, enabling access to new applications, which can increase safe and efficient operations in oceanic airspace, such as Electronic Flight Bags and flight data transmission. It can also transmit four-dimensional position reports, enabling airlines to meet the ICAO mandate for sub- 15 minute tracking of all aircraft. SwiftBroadband Safety will provide an enhanced version of Inmarsat's Classic Aero service, enabling Air Navigation Service Providers and Air Traffic Management to receive and transmit data and messages, such as 'Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Contract' (ADS-C) and 'Controller Pilot Datalink Communications' (CPDLC), faster and more efficiently. More than 10,000 commercial aircraft currently use Inmarsat Classic Aero services for secure communications. Captain Mary McMillan, Inmarsat Aviation's vice president for safety and operational services, said: "This first commercial flight of a SwiftBroadband Safety equipped aircraft will be a key milestone in the launch of this exciting new safety service. "We are very proud that the trials have been conducted in collaboration with a leading airline like Hawaiian, and of our successful partnership with aviation technology pioneers Rockwell Collins, Cobham and L2. "The service is part of our long-term commitment to continuous innovation and investment to meet the growing demand for quality broadband to the aircraft and the cockpit, and to improve safety and efficiency in oceanic airspace. This is the first time air navigation service providers are able to experience the performance of the terminal, using our leading satellite communications offering." Kim Gram, vice president of Cobham SATCOM's aeronautical business unit, said: "We are very pleased to announce this significant STC, which allows communication of ACARS data over SwiftBroadband, and means we can continue with the scheduled installation of the Cobham systems on the rest of the HAL fleet and enables us to measure the quality of the communication and present this information to the authorities to attain a formal approval of SBB as a safety service. "SBB has previously only been a service for cabin entertainment, which is why this agreement with HAL is important in successfully proving the benefits of SBB satcom with ACARS data capability to the cockpit, such as increased bandwidth capabilities for air traffic control and operational capabilities to the cockpit. Using SwiftBroadband IP connectivity for all domains of the aircraft will provide safer and more efficient flights." "Rockwell Collins is proud to be involved in enabling another aviation first for flight safety as well as helping our vision of the connected aircraft become a reality," said David Poltorak, vice president, aviation and network services for Rockwell Collins. "Beyond enhancing safety, the growth of broadband connectivity for the flight deck will provide exciting opportunities to bring new flight-enhancing operations and cockpit services to airlines. Many of these services will require significant amounts of data to be delivered to and from the aircraft, which we are well positioned to handle now and in the future." "SwiftBroadband Safety will have a significant impact on our flight operations,"said Ken Rewick, vice president of flight operations for Hawaiian Airlines. "In addition to gaining an upgraded path to FANS (Future Air Navigation System), we're also in a position to implement Electronic Flight Bag and Airline Operational Communication applications such as timely weather updates, reroutes and fuel planning over a broadband channel. As a long time Rockwell Collins customer, we are pleased to be using the ARINC aviation communications network to enable this important evaluation." Mark Lebovitz, president of L2 Consulting Services, said; "We are motivated to support improved aviation safety services, so we developed a Supplemental Type Certification to approve the new high speed Inmarsat datalink and position reporting communication option." The service now begins the phase of in-use monitoring allowing Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) to assess performance against the ICAO 'GOLD' FANS datalink standard. This assessment is made under the auspices of the FAA PARC group and, as further operators become equipped, in other ICAO regional groups. ESA provided essential support to the work programme in its development phase. http://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/2015/06/swiftbroadband-safety-makes-maiden-flight/ Back to Top Back to Top Russia Eyes New Wide-Body Jet, Co-Developed With China, By 2025; New Fighter Jets Expected In Early 2017 Russia's United Aircraft Corporation and China's Commercial Aircraft Corp, have been considering the joint development of a new aircraft that will rival planes like these, manufactured by Western aviation companies. This picture, taken on Dec. 26, 2014, shows an Airbus next-generation long-haul A350 XWB (eXtra Wide Body) (L) and A380 aircrafts in their final construction stages parked outside their production site in the Toulouse-Blagnac airport in Blagnac, southern France. Getty Images/AFP/Remy Gabalda wide-body-aircraft Russia and China are jointly developing a new wide-body aircraft, which the former wants to be ready for delivery by 2025. The ambitious project is considered Russia's latest attempt to challenge Western plane manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing. Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and China's Commercial Aircraft Corp., both state-run companies, have been considering the joint development of the new aircraft since May 2014, Reuters reported Monday, adding that both governments were expected to make a decision on the project after last September. "We would like to develop, certify and produce the first aircraft within ten years, so by 2025 we should begin deliveries," Reuters quoted Yury Slyusar, UAC's president, as saying to reporters at the Paris air show on Monday. "The level of the Chinese industry that we're seeing leads us to believe that it will be a very innovative aircraft." Meanwhile, UAC also announced on Monday that Russian military will receive its first batch of fifth- generation fighter jets by early 2017. Taking On A Duopoly The project is expected to give both Russia and China an opportunity to compete in the wide-body aircraft segment, which is currently dominated by America's Boeing and Europe's Airbus. While the former Soviet Union had already developed wide-body technology decades ago, the upcoming jet would be a completely new design, Slyusar said, adding that the jet's engine is expected to be supplied by either U.S. aero-engine maker GE Aviation or Britain's Rolls-Royce, Reuters reported. New Fighter Jets Slyusar also announced on Monday that the first batch of fifth-generation fighter jets will be delivered to the Russian military in late 2016 or early 2017. UAC's Sukhoi unit has already delivered four prototypes of the T-50 aircraft to the military while three more samples are expected to be delivered later this year, Defense News reported, citing Slyusar. UAC is currently focusing on transport aircraft, with two prototypes of the new IL-112 light transport jet due for delivery in 2017, while three of 39 upgraded Il-76 aircraft will be delivered to the Russian military later this year. UAC, which produced 159 aircraft in 2014, is also working on upgrading plans for Russia's An-124 aircraft, according to Defense News. Meanwhile, Russia is expected to showcase its newest airplane, called "Yakovlev Yak-130," at the Army- 2015 expo on Wednesday. The fighter jet can fly at a maximum speed of about 652 miles an hour, while carrying both guided air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles. http://www.ibtimes.com/russia-eyes-new-wide-body-jet-co-developed-china-2025-new-fighter-jets- expected-early-1968631 Back to Top Textron seeking buyers of built-on-spec jet fighters Paris * Textron Inc. is working to drum up buyers for its self-funded, $20 million Scorpion military jet, betting the plane may one day generate thousands of sales. After two years of pitches, Chief Executive Officer Scott Donnelly is still trying to prove the case for the light-attack fighter, created with off-the-shelf commercial systems and outside of the military acquisition process. "We're closer every day, but not there yet," Donnelly said Monday at the Paris Air Show, where the first Scorpion is parked on display for customers. "There is evaluation work going on, there are a lot of people looking at it. It is government business, so you have to go through budgetary cycles." Textron's new jet and the pull-out-the-stops sales effort exemplify the kind of business done the aerospace industry's largest and oldest event. About 139,000 trade visitors and 2,260 exhibitors from 47 countries are gathering this week to strike deals and find markets for innovations. Donnelly's days are a blur of back-to-back meetings with government delegations, suppliers and customers of Providence, Rhode Island-based Textron, whose product portfolio includes Bell helicopters, Cessna jets and even the riding lawn mowers that tailor golf course fairways. To reach the show, the Scorpion completed its second trans- Atlantic flight and reached 400 hours of flight- testing. It will travel around Europe for several weeks after the event for trial runs by interested companies. "It's kind of where we expect it to be," Donnelly said in an interview. "We have more and more people paying interest, people who want to fly it." Two retractable pods attached to the model's belly this year give pilots cameras, light and heat sensors and multi- purpose radar. Textron plans other changes for next year including static testing, the first flight of a production aircraft and assessing live weapons systems. Textron's target markets for the Scorpion are countries that need search-and-rescue aircraft, trainers for military pilots and light attack fighters for border patrol but can't afford separate aircraft fleets for each function or state-of- the-art weapons systems such as Lockheed Martin's F-35. "The Scorpion is a little bit risky," Brian Foley, an aviation market analyst, said in an interview before the show. "Traditionally a company that builds an aircraft on spec without an RFP is taking a tremendous gamble." Textron is anticipating demand that may never emerge, said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace and defense analyst with Teal Group, a Fairfax, Va.-based consultant. Countries looking to replace Northrop Grumman Corp.'s F-5 jets, also developed on spec, trainers and military and Russian aircraft will probably look to supersonic models like South Korea's KAI T-50s rather than planes powered by business-jet engines, Aboulafia said. "Somebody investing in a new aircraft? That's commendable," Aboulafia said. "It's even pretty neat-looking, too. The only problem is a lack of a market." http://www.sltrib.com/home/2627234-155/textron-seeking-buyers-of-built-on-spec-jet Back to Top Demand for aircraft still soaring, as Paris Air Show kicks off PARIS (AP) - Airbus is betting on big jets as the future of aviation, while rival Boeing is gambling on smaller ones - but both sold scores of planes of all sizes at the Paris Air Show on Monday, defying predictions of slowing demand. As industry heavyweights gathered in force at the Le Bourget airfield outside the French capital on the opening day of the 51st edition of the world's oldest air show, the informal race between the European and American plane makers produced promises or firm orders for more than 200 aircraft. The event, which alternates annually between Paris and Farnborough in southern England, kicked off with a firm order for 60 single-aisle Airbus jets - worth $6.6 billion at list prices - and ambitious promises from Indonesia's flagship airline Garuda to buy 90 jets from both major plane makers in the years to come. French President Francois Hollande inaugurated the event with hopes for big contracts for home team Airbus, which is based in the southern French city of Toulouse, and an appeal for fuel savings - his country prepares to host a major U.N. climate conference later this year. "The aviation sector created 10,000 jobs last year; we have hopes to create nearly as many in 2015," Hollande said, with bomber jets screaming overhead. The memory of recent plane crashes remained fresh for some participants. Airbus Defense and Space made a point of flying its A400M military plane overhead - and landing it safely - to show confidence in the European jet program after a deadly crash last month near Seville, Spain. Airbus says three of the four engines on that plane failed before it crashed, killing four people. Four of the five countries that have A400Ms grounded the plane after the incident. In the commercial aviation industry, Airbus raised its 20-year forecast for plane demand in the commercial aviation industry, including hopes of long-term demand for the superjumbo A380, the biggest jet on the market. Airbus projects that 32,600 new planes worth a total of $4.9 trillion will be needed by 2034. John Leahy, Airbus' chief operating officer for customers, projected that the very large aircraft segment would grow to about 1,500 planes over that span - mostly passenger planes. He said travelers and airlines would be better off if larger aircraft were used instead of smaller planes flying more often, noting how he flew an Airbus jet from Toulouse to Paris for the air show and another one was leaving about a half-hour later. Boeing argues the opposite, and is betting on smaller wide-bodies such as the 787. Boeing's overall forecast for the next 20 years is for 36,770 aircraft worth $5.2 trillion, with single-aisle planes the fastest-growing, largest overall segment. "What we have seen is travelers want more frequency, more often," Boeing spokesman Doug Alder told the Associated Press. "We have actually revised downward the very large airplane market." Both Airbus and Boeing are seeing sustained high demand for single-aisle planes at the air show, driven by demand in developing countries and by low-cost airlines. Fuel-efficient planes are expected to remain popular among airlines despite lower oil prices this year. Analysts expect about 300 to 400 plane sales overall, lower than previous years in part because no major new jets are on the market. Leading U.S., Russian, European and Mideast military officials are also attending the show, which expects some 300,000 visitors from the public and the $700 billion aerospace and defense industry. It opens to the public Friday and runs through June 21. http://www.omaha.com/money/demand-for-aircraft-still-soaring-as-paris-air-show-kicks/article_150a7db5- 4c7f-5b6e-b0ec-d792fc36181e.html Back to Top Harvard University Pilot Health Study Researchers at Harvard University, are conducting the largest anonymous airline pilot health study to date.(www.pilothealthstudy.org) This study is open to current, retired, and airline and corporate pilots. It will be used to research the environmental effects of the unique cockpit environment. Including fatigue, air quality, radiation, noise, and additional areas. To date, the study has pilots from over 23 countries participating. We would like you to participate and pass it on to your fellow pilots. Safety is enhanced through knowledge! Back to Top Graduate Research - Pilot Survey Dear pilot 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 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E24NQIZrPQM7tFOCAFz0y4uQvell44TZ2d0ZfSc4Skw/viewform?c=0&w=1 Back to Top Upcoming Events: 6th Pan American Aviation Safety Summit June 22-26th Medellin, Colombia http://www.alta.aero/safety/2015/home.php Fundamentals of IS-BAO July 7, 2015 Alexandria, VA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659131 IS-BAO Auditing July 8, 2015 Alexandria, VA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659136 EAA AirVenture Schedule July 19-26, 2015 Oshkosh, WI http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-schedule-of-events Fundamentals of IS-BAO July 21, 2015 Orlando, FL USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659145 IS-BAO Auditing July 22, 2015 Orlando, FL USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659149 Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 19, 2015 Madrid, Spain https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659089 IS-BAO Auditing August 20, 2015 Madrid, Spain https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659096 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: NTSB Human Performance Investigator https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/404707900 Head of Quality & Safety AJA (Al Jaber Aviation) Send your CV with a covering letter to aja.hr@ajaprivatejets.com Director of Safety Haverfield Aviation Submit Resume to: hr@haverfield.com NTSB Aviation Accident Investigator (Air Carrier Operations) NTSB https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/392318400 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/398022200 Manager Flight Safety JetBlue APPLY HERE Deputy Director of Flight Operations & Technical Services Helicopter Association International APPLY HERE Curt Lewis