Flight Safety Information December 28, 2015 - No. 259 In This Issue Malaysia Airlines launches probe as jet flies in wrong direction Over 45,000 drone pilots have registered with the FAA LAX runway construction to cause noticeable aircraft activity change GOVT REJECTS NAMES EVEN AS AIR-SAFETY POSTS REMAIN EMPTY (India) Report that 250 Boeing 777 pilots forced to quit untrue, says MAS Germany plans random drug and alcohol tests for pilots after Germanwings crash CHINA AIRLINES FLIGHT RETURNS TO SFO FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCY Nigeria: Minister Suspends Airport Officials, Orders Investigation Into Turkish Airlines Fiasco United Airlines makes changes to program for children flying alone Jet suffers minor damage at DIA from engine fire Air India aircraft and Jet Airways bus separated after 100 hours Gold Coast plane crash: One dead in Tiger Moth crash (Australia) PROS 2015 TRAINING Air Force Looks Beyond Officers to Boost Drone-Pilot Ranks Need to know, 2016: Aircraft programs to watch Superfast Business Jet Moves Ahead Year's end sees usual rush for aircraft Light Supermetal Yet Super Strong Created In the Labs of University of California Upcoming Events Malaysia Airlines launches probe as jet flies in wrong direction Malaysia Airlines is investigating a flight plan goof-up that took place for an Auckland- KL service on Christmas Eve Malaysia Airlines has launched an investigation after one of its jets apparently flew in the wrong direction after taking off from New Zealand on Christmas Eve. The pilot of flight MH132, which was on the Auckland to Kuala Lumpur route, flew in the wrong direction because air traffic control was given the wrong flight plan. The pilot questioned the A330s path about eight minutes into the flight, which took off at 2.23 am local time, according to the New Zealand Herald. Malaysia Airlines confirmed that there was a problem with the flight plan. "On December 24, our flight MH132 from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur was given the latest flight plan by the airline's Operations Dispatch Centre whilst Auckland's Air Traffic Control (ATC) was inadvertently given an earlier flight plan," the carrier said in a statement. "Both routes were following an approved flight path and the aircraft had enough fuel for both routes," it said, adding that the "safety of both passengers and crew were never compromised at any time." The company is conducting an investigation into the flight plan submission, it said. In March last year, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing with 239 people on board. http://www.ejinsight.com/20151228-malaysia-airlines-launches-probe-as-jet-flies-in-wrong-direction/ Back to Top Over 45,000 drone pilots have registered with the FAA Americans aren't waiting around to sign up their drones. Now that the FAA's mandatory drone registrations are open, how many people are rushing to sign up? Quite a few, actually. The administration reports taking over 45,000 registrations since the program opened up two days ago, on December 21st. In fact, the demand was sufficiently "overwhelming" that the FAA's site has occasionally buckled under the load. It's temporarily shutting down the site overnight (between the 23rd and 24th) to make sure that it can cope with the likely flood of registrations from people getting robotic flyers as gifts. It's too soon to say how effective the registry will be, since it's likely that a lot of early sign-ups came from people who were well-aware of the requirement and eager to get it out of the way before the February 19th deadline. The real challenge is to catch both newcomers as well as existing drone owners who don't yet realize that they need to register -- unless awareness spreads, the FAA could still see a lot of pilots slipping through the cracks. http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/23/faa-drone-registrations-strong/ Back to Top LAX runway construction to cause noticeable aircraft activity change Starting Monday, some airplanes at Los Angeles International Airport will being using a shorter runway thanks to construction activity that will result in more noticeable aircraft activity for residents just north of the airfield. Runway 24L/6R on the north side of the airport will remain shortened until September 2016 while construction crews make improvements to the Runway Safety Area, which is on the end of the runway and is designed to provide an "extra margin of safety" for landing and departing aircraft, according to Los Angeles World Airports. While many planes will be able to operate as usual on the shortened runway, some heavier planes that fly long-distance international flights may need to use a different runway. Each airline will decide whether its planes should use the shortened runway or must be switched based on factors such as the flight's destination, load factor, weather conditions and aircraft performance, airport officials said. The Instrument Landing System on runway 24L/6R will also be deactivated during construction, but since most landings are done on a different runway, it likely won't affect many arriving flights during the day, according to the airport. The only types of flights the system deactivation will affect are those that usually land on runway 24L/6R during the night-time "over-ocean operations." These landings, which take place from midnight to 6:30 a.m., will instead take place on northern runway 24R/6L. Residents living adjacent to the north side of the airport, therefore, may notice more overnight aircraft activity, airport officials said. http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20151227/lax-runway-construction-to-cause-noticeable- aircraft-activity-change Back to Top GOVT REJECTS NAMES EVEN AS AIR-SAFETY POSTS REMAIN EMPTY (India) At a time when India is witnessing an increase in air accidents, the country's aviation safety regulator, the DGCA, is facing uncertainty over who will head it. M Sathiyavathy, the current DGCA head and the first woman to hold this post, had been waiting for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency, to complete its audit of Indian aviation. The inspection ended last week. "Sathiyavathy is going to move on any time now. But there is no clarity on who will succeed her," an official said. Sathiyavathy, a IAS officer, was previously empanelled as Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Chief Secretary in Pondicherry. The DGCA has had seven chiefs in the past eight years. During the ICAO audit, questions were raised about the lack of continuity in this vital agency, which was, only last year, downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) wasn't happy with the situation either. The FAA and EASA are headed by technical experts. The last technocrat to have headed the DGCA was Kanu Gohain, who retired in 2008. "The Director General had to assure the international team that the government would find a suitable replacement," an official said, adding that the ICAO would always prefer a technocrat over a bureaucrat. The DGCA has several joint director-generals who have a technical background. In the last few months, the government has rejected several of the names proposed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for various posts, including Asok Kumar, a senior IAS officer and former Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Kumar was proposed as India's representative to the ICAO, but another senior IAS officer, Alok Shekhar, was chosen for the position by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister's Office also turned down the Ministry of Civil Aviation's recommendation to appoint AP Maheshwari, an IPS officer, as the head of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The post has been lying vacant for years. "The government will ensure that aviation safety will be accorded the highest priority. The DGCA will be run by the best," said Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation. http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Govt-rejects-names-even-as-air-safety-posts-remain- empty/articleshow/50348797.cms Back to Top Report that 250 Boeing 777 pilots forced to quit untrue, says MAS Malaysia Airlines admits that its rationalisation exercise will have an impact on pilot numbers but denies they are forced to quit. - The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 28, 2015. Malaysia Airlines has denied a report that its pilots are forced to leave the national carrier, after Malay- language tabloid Kosmo published an article saying 250 of its Boeing 777-ER pilots will lose their jobs next year. Malaysia Airlines confirmed that its rationalisation exercise would have an impact on its pilots, but said they have been offered options, which did not include sacking. "Malaysia Airlines' network rationalisation exercise, which saw a reduction in capacity and suspension of flights to selected destinations, will have an impact on pilot requirements. "The pilots will have a choice of career options, including voluntary secondment to other airlines in Asia or the Middle East, voluntary no-pay long-term leave to pursue other careers or to remain at Malaysia Airlines and await possible long-term vacancies on other aircraft types. "The opportunities for secondment to another airline are entirely voluntary for the individual pilot and no 777 pilot has been requested to leave the airline," the national carrier said in a statement to The Malaysian Insider. Kosmo reported that the pilots would lose their jobs in the wake of Malaysia Airlines Bhd's decision to stop flying from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam, Holland, and Paris, France, beginning January 27. It said some of the affected pilots have been offered voluntary no-pay leave for two years. The tabloid reported that MAS ended the loss-making flights to the two destinations after inking a deal with Dubai-based Emirates, the world's biggest international carrier on December 2. The deal allowed it to sell tickets to more long-haul destinations while scrapping unprofitable routes, Bloomberg reported. The accord covers more than 90 locations in the United Statets, Europe, the Middle East and Africa served via Emirates's Gulf hub. The deal gives the Malaysia Airlines access to Europe without incurring "monumental losses," chief executive officer Christoph Mueller told Bloomberg. - December 28, 2015. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/report-that-250-boeing-777-pilots-forced-to-quit- untrue-says-mas#sthash.gGecyqZ2.dpuf Back to Top Germany plans random drug and alcohol tests for pilots after Germanwings crash Germany will implement random drug and alcohol tests for pilots if planned legislation is passed, the country's transport minister says. The proposal comes after a Germanwings pilot deliberately crashed a plane in March. Germany's Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt was quoted as saying Sunday that lawmakers are planning legislation to allowing for random drug and alcohol testing of pilots. "Experts across the world are seeing the positive effects of strengthening health and safety in the aviation industry," Dobrindt told Germany's "Bild am Sonntag" newspaper. "I think it's sensible that pilots are checked on a random basis for the consumption of alcohol, drugs and medicines," Dobrindt added. The planned legislation follows recommendations made by a taskforce established by the Transport Ministry after Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked himself inside his plane's cockpit and deliberately crashed the Airbus A320 into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board earlier this year. Prosecutors later said they found torn-up sick notes from doctors in Lubitz's home. Authorities also assert the 27-year-old had suffered severe depression and may have been fearful of losing his job. They say he had researched ways to commit suicide and concealed his illness from his employer. Investigations into Germanwings flight 4U9525 found Lubitz should not have been allowed to fly on the grounds he was mentally unstable. 'Completely wrong' Airlines, Dobrindt added, would be responsible for carrying out the tests. The Sunday paper added that Dobrindt plans to present the proposed legislation to cabinet in the new year. "The control system in this form is already established in the US and Australia - Europe should follow suit," he was quoted as saying. But Markus Wahl, a spokesperson for the German pilots' union Cockpit, was critical of the plan. "From our point of view the planned random tests are completely wrong. They have nothing to do with the Germanwings disaster and will put an entire professional group under general suspicion," Wahl told "Bild am Sonntag." The proposed legislation comes after an expert panel led by Europe's aviation safety regulator recommended improved psychological screening for new pilots in July, as well as the establishment of a European database with details of medical visits plus better support networks to reduce the risks of a similar tragedy. It further recommended the introduction of random drug and alcohol testing of pilots and better oversight of doctors responsible for their regular medical check-ups. Earlier this year, Germanwings' parent company Lufthansa raised the possibility of medical spot check for pilots. http://www.dw.com/en/germany-plans-random-drug-and-alcohol-tests-for-pilots-after-germanwings- crash/a-18944102 Back to Top CHINA AIRLINES FLIGHT RETURNS TO SFO FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCY SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A China Airlines flight from San Francisco to Taipei had to return to SFO for a medical emergency. Officials say a passenger became sick on the flight shortly after takeoff at 12:30 a.m. Monday. China Flight 3 returned to SFO, where the passenger was removed and taken to the hospital. The rest of the passengers stayed on board. The flight just took off for a second time, and should arrive in Taiwan about four hours late. http://abc7news.com/news/china-airlines-flight-returns-to-sfo-for-medical-emergency/1137912/ Back to Top Nigeria: Minister Suspends Airport Officials, Orders Investigation Into Turkish Airlines Fiasco Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has ordered the suspension of three top officials of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, over the recent incident involving Turkish Airlines at the airport. Sirika disclosed this while briefing newsmen after listening to explanations by the airport officials on the incident on Sunday in Abuja. He added that the ministry had also ordered thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the breach, as well as why the airline brought in passengers without their luggage. The suspended officials, according to him, are the Airport Manager, Terminal Manager and Head of Airport Security, who were ordered to handover to their next in rank pending the conclusion of the investigation. The minister said the explanation by the officials of the airport that the security personnel on duty were overpowered was not acceptable, ordering for thorough investigation into the incident. He stated that the actions of the passengers by forcing their ways into the tarmac and blocked the aircraft from taking off was a security breach which must not be condoned. "There has been an unfortunate incident where some agitated passengers of the Turkish Airlines arrived without their luggage making them to force their way into the tarmac which is a breach of security. "The explanation given is not satisfactory because the primary purpose of the government is to ensure safety of lives and property of its citizens. "The cardinal objective of this administration is to secure the country and manage it and we cannot fail in aviation and we cannot fail in this important assignment at a very important point. "We have ordered for the investigation into the matter immediately and all the people that are manning the various places; Airport Manager, Terminal Manager and Head of Security, should handover to the next man in rank pending the outcome of the investigation. "As to the airline also, the Consumer Protection Unit of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been ordered to find out what happened, how compliant they are and deal with it accordingly," he said. Sirika said the ministry was yet to get the flight manifest to be able to ascertain the number of passengers involved, which he added were many in number. According to him, they got agitated and apparently they got access into the prohibited area because there was security lapse. The minister stated that the nation's aviation sector had the capacity to grow, adding that it was already showing signal that it could tremendously contribute to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to him, aviation is carrying by value, 31 per cent of the world cargo which make it a very important industry as the fastest means of transportation more efficiently. "With specific to Nigeria, you could see how we grew from Kano Airport where the first plane landed in the country to about 22 Federal Government owned airports plus several other private owned airports. "On the whole, aviation I can say has grown to an appreciable level in the country and it has the capacity to grow more which is important to the economy of the country," he said. Sirika added that the country also had good manpower such as pilots and engineers to move the industry forward. He disclosed that the government was determined to deliver a more vibrant and efficient aviation sector in 2016 by making safety, security and efficiency its watch word with regards to transportation. According to the minister, once you are safe and secured in the industry, you have nearly achieved 100 per cent of what you are meant to achieve. "It is not about the beauty of the airports or planting flowers or other vanities, it is about safety, security and efficiency as far as aviation is concerned," he said. Earlier, Mr Bashir Hausawa, Acting Head of Security, explained to the minister that the security personnel were overpowered by the angry passengers over the non-arrival of their luggage. Hausawa added that the shortage of manpower was responsible for the incident, adding that there was only one man manning luggage area of the airport during the incident. He said they were 192 security men manning the whole of the airport resulting in the shortage of manpower distribution to various units of the airport. (NAN) http://allafrica.com/stories/201512280341.html Back to Top United Airlines makes changes to program for children flying alone United Airlines jets sit at gates at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. The carrier has changed its program for unaccompanied minors. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) With little public notice, United Airlines has expanded the age range of children who must use a $150 service when flying without an accompanying adult. For tickets sold after Dec. 14, any child ages 5 to 15 flying solo must pay for the "unaccompanied minor service." Under the service, airline employees chaperone children to their seats and ensure they are united with designated adults upon landing. For tickets sold before Dec. 14, the "unaccompanied minor service" was required only for ages 5 to 12. Why the change? "We made a thoughtful review of the policy and decided that this change will provide the best possible care for these travelers," United spokesman Charles Hobart said. There is a better way to pull off such a change without angering travelers, said Jay Sorensen, a consultant on airline revenue and president of Wisconsin-based IdeaWorksCo. Because the change will mean more parents must pay the $150 fee, Sorensen suggests that United offer an upgrade to the service to ease the pain of the extra cost. For example, he noted, Air New Zealand recently announced that it plans to give unaccompanied minors wrist bands embedded with computer chips to send text messages to let parents know where the children are throughout the flight. "Obviously, they are going to generate more revenue from this," he said. "They should make an attempt to improve the product." Delta and American Airlines charge $150 for unaccompanied minor service for children ages 5 to 14. Southwest Airlines requires the service for children 5 to 11, with a $50 fee. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-united-airlines-children-flying-alone-20151227-story.html Back to Top Jet suffers minor damage at DIA from engine fire No one injured in DIA plane incident DENVER (AP) - A United Airlines passenger jet suffered minor damage at Denver International Airport on Saturday when an engine backfired at a gate while it was being moved by mechanics, causing a small fire. DIA spokeswoman Mindy Crane says there were no passengers on board and the fire was quickly put out by the Denver Fire Department. No injuries were reported. Denver Fire Department Lt. Mike Pylar says the small fire did not damage any other parts of the Boeing 757 aircraft. United said the plane was being readied for a trip to Orlando, and passengers were rebooked on other flights. http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/Jet-suffers-minor-damage-at-DIA-from-engine-fire- 363613311.html Back to Top Air India aircraft and Jet Airways bus separated after 100 hours Air India's recovery team from the Mumbai Engineering division and the Engineering team of Kolkata used a balloon type equipment to pull the bus from the aircraft engine it had rammed into. What happens when a bus rams into a stationary Aircraft ? Well, believe it or not it has been almost 100 hours and the damaged aircraft at Kolkata Airport is yet to be brought to a movable condition. Nearly five days after a Jet Airways bus rammed into an Air India ATR aircraft at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Air India's recovery team finally managed to separate the two on Sunday morning. Bus-Aircraft collision, Kolkata Damaged right landing gear of the aircraft. (Photo courtesy: Arindam Bhattacharya) In a joint operation which was initiated on Saturday evening, Air India's recovery team from the Mumbai Engineering division and the Engineering team of Kolkata used a balloon type equipment to pull the bus from the aircraft engine it had rammed into. The operation lasted overnight and was completed this morning. The development came after a major disaster was averted at the Kolkata airport last week, when the shuttle bus rammed into the Air India ATR aircraft. According to airport officials, the aircraft was parked at Bay no. 32 in the airport and was preparing to leave for Silchar. It was then that the driver of the Jet Airways lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the aircraft close to its left wing, causing crores of rupees worth of damage to the National Carrier. Bus-Aircraft collision, Kolkata The aircraft sustained extensive damage on the right engine, right landing gear and also some other parts. (Photo courtesy: Arindam Bhattacharya) "The aircraft sustained extensive damage on the right engine, right landing gear and also some other parts because of which the flight operations to Silchar and Shillong had to be cancelled. AAI, Police, CISF and other authorities have taken serious note of this gross act of negligence and are investigating the incident," Air India official said. Though no casualties were reported in the collision, the aircraft's engine suffered severe damage due to the impact. The collision could have led to a major blast had the plane's engine been active. The Air India spokesperson said that the plane is approximately worth Rs 400 crore. Bus-Aircraft collision, Kolkata Engineers used a balloon type equipment to pull the bus from the aircraft engine it had rammed into. (Photo courtesy: Arindam Bhattacharya) Following the incident, Air India cancelled two subsequent flights to the North East. "A coach transporting Jet Airways cabin crew at the Kolkata airport accidentally collided with a stationary aircraft of another airline. No one was injured in the collision. Jet Airways has started investigations into the incident," a Jet Airways spokesperson said. While the shuttle bus has been shifted to another place, the aircraft remains on the same spot. Kolkata airport authorities are investigating the matter. It would however be interesting to wait and watch on how many days do the Airport administration take to deal with a crisis. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/air-india-aircraft-and-jet-airways-bus-separated-after-100- hours/1/556688.html Back to Top Gold Coast plane crash: One dead in Tiger Moth crash (Australia) Emergency services work to free a person trapped in the wreckage of a light plane crash on the Gold Coast. The pilot of a vintage light plane that crashed on the Gold Coast survived the impact that killed his 58- year-old passenger on Monday morning. The 21-year-old man has been taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition after being trapped by the legs in the wreckage of the bi-plane. The male passenger died at the scene. His daughter is believed to have watched on from the airport hangar as the tragedy unfolded. Senior Sergeant Greg Brakes told ABC News at the airfield the plane was believed to have crashed shortly after it took off from an airstrip at Norwell, near Pimpama on the Gold Coast just before 9.30am. "I know that the plane does some joy flights - I'm not sure if this was a paid-for joy flight or something else," he told the broadcaster. He said the pilot is believed to have alerted emergency services to the crash. "As a result, a short search was conducted before we located the plane," he said. "Police, fire officers and [Queensland Ambulance Service] attended and located one male person deceased in the plane, and an injured person." He said the pilot was semi-conscious when authorities arrived. EARLIER One person has died and another is trapped after a vintage light plane crashed on the Gold Coast on Monday morning. The Tiger Moth came down just before 9.30am at an airstrip at Norwell, near Pimpama on the northern Gold Coast. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed one person had died and another was trapped in the wreckage. The airstrip is home to Tiger Moth Joy Rides. It is not the first time tragedy has befallen the Pimpama company. In December 2013, a vintage wooden plane belonging to the company plunged into the ocean near Couran Cove Resort on South Stradbroke Island, killing French national Taissia Umenc, 21, and pilot Alexander "Jimmy" Rae, 26. Ms Umenc had been taking a joyflight while holidaying on the Gold Coast. The pair were killed minutes after take-off when the left wings of the two-seat de Havilland DH82A failed, causing the plane to plummet into the waters 300 metres off the coast. An investigation by the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau found the Tiger Moth's lateral tie rods - metal pieces which connect the lower wings to the fuselage - had cracks near the join of the left wing. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/gold-coast-plane-crash-one-dead-in-tiger-moth-crash- 20151228-glvnc3.html#ixzz3vcdKkTZx ************* Date: 28-DEC-2015 Time: 09:30 Type: deHavilland DH-82A Tiger Moth Owner/operator: Bennet Aviation Pty Ltd Registration: VH-UZB C/n / msn: 291 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Near Heck Field Airport (YHEC), Norwell, QLD - Australia Phase: Take off Nature: Survey Departure airport: Heck Field (YHEC) Destination airport: Narrative: The aircraft impacted rural terrain south of Heck Field Airport (YHEC), Norwell, Queensland. The biplane sustained substantial damage and one of the two occupants onboard received fatal injuries. One occupant onboard the airplane was seriously injured. http://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=182847 Back to Top Back to Top Air Force Looks Beyond Officers to Boost Drone-Pilot Ranks Enlisted personnel will be allowed to operate RQ-4 Global Hawk, possibly other platforms in the future A U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk drone at a base in Qatar. The U.S. military's increasing demand for drones has forced changes in the Air Force's "flyboy" culture over the years, plucking pilots out of the cockpit and sending some to high-tech desert trailers to operate remotely piloted aircraft, leaving their proverbial white scarves at home. As the need keeps rising for drones and their valuable ISR-intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance- due to the rise of Islamic State and other threats, the Air Force is embarking on yet another cultural shift. For the first time, it is allowing enlisted personnel, not just officers, to pilot some drones. The Air Force historically has required drone pilots to be officers. But this month, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced a series of moves to alleviate some of the stress on the drone crews that operate craft such as the MQ-1 Predator and its advanced cousin, the MQ-9 Reaper. A decision to open the career field by allowing enlisted personnel to operate drones has been much anticipated. Ms. James took a baby step, announcing that by next year, enlisted airmen could fly the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone, a $130 million, 50-foot, unarmed and remotely piloted aircraft that plays a critical role in providing ISR around the world. The move might pave the way for enlisted airmen to play a larger role in other drone platforms, officials said. "As far as I'm concerned, the enlisted force can do anything, as long as they get the proper training to do it," Ms. James said in a recent interview in her Pentagon E-Ring office. The Air Force faced retention, morale and training issues as its limited force of drone operators-all officers- attempted to fulfill the demand for more operations. Ms. James said the Air Force needed to be creative. "We need more people infused into the system," she said. The change comes as the U.S. military overall contends with budget and personnel cuts. The Air Force move is a significant shift for a service that has appeared to resist it. Some in the ranks still worry that allowing enlisted airmen to fly drones could diminish the prestige of a job for which the Air Force was already struggling to create an allure. Many officers arrive with dreams of flying F-15s, F-16s and other, newer fighters, in the spirit of the World War I-era officer considered the father of the Air Force, Army Gen. Billy Mitchell. But the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and operations in North Africa and even as far away as Southeast Asia, have created a huge demand for the work of drone operators. With few, if any, troops on the ground in those places, the need for drones has only heightened. Now, virtually every military commander says that more drone capability is essential. Over the years, the Air Force pushed pilots who already had become certified on conventional airframes like F-16 fighters into dark metal buildings in places like Creech Air Force Base, 50 miles from Las Vegas, to operate the remotely controlled aircraft over countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. "If there isn't going to be a decrease in demand, and if there's going to be continued pressure to cap the size of the force, then we have to look at options," said Col. Tadd Sholtis, a spokesman for Air Combat Command, in Langley, Va. "This step to allow enlisted pilots to fly Global Hawks does that for us." The Air Force has about 970 pilots operating MQ-1 and MQ-9 drones and about 200 RQ-4 pilots. Drone operations are conducted according to what the military calls "combat air patrols," measured by the number of flights in a 24-hour period. The Air Force had been flying about 65 CAPs a day. But to address the stress on the force, officials requested a reduction to 60 CAPs a day. At the same time, the Pentagon adopted a plan, now under way, to expand the number of CAPs to 90 a day by 2018. But that plan relies not just on the Air Force, but also on civilian contractors, Army drone operators and Special Operations Command personnel. The Air Force will determine pay scales and review other issues in the next six months, a critical aspect of the implementation of a policy that touches on careers and culture. "The Air Force will continue to assess the proper compensation to maintain sustainable career fields," an Air Force spokesman said in an emailed statement. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, who headed the ISR directorate before stepping down in 2010, welcomes the decision to open the drone career field to enlisted personnel as long as operators get sufficient training. It follows a similar path as that of battlefield ground spotters known as joint tactical air controllers, he said. Once, so-called JTACs were seasoned officers, before the Air Force allowed junior officers to perform those duties. Ultimately, enlisted personnel were allowed to serve. While he was on active duty, Gen. Deptula oversaw a 650% increase in demand for high- and medium- altitude drone operations, he said. "There's not a bigger [drone] fan than me," said the former F-15 pilot. Officials moved carefully to make sure they could effectively train enlisted personnel to fly drones, taking a deliberative approach that reinforced notions that the Air Force was resistant, even though other military branches have allowed enlisted personnel to fly them. But there's a difference, Gen. Deptula said. The Army, for example, has long allowed soldiers to fly drone platforms such as the Raven. But "a Raven is 4 pounds and doesn't drop anything," he said. Gen. Deptula also panned the idea that allowing enlisted personnel to operate drones is just a way to let the Air Force officer corps return to flying manned aircraft and the appeal of the fighter-pilot image and all it entails. "No self-respecting pilot would ever wear a white silk scarf," he joked. http://www.wsj.com/articles/air-force-looks-beyond-officers-to-boost-drone-pilot-ranks-1451257323 Back to Top Need to know, 2016: Aircraft programs to watch It's likely to be a banner year for aircraft, as the service takes big steps forward for several of its newest planes: The Air Force is aiming for Aug. 1 as the date for initial operating capability for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. Developing the plane has long caused a headache for the Air Force, which saw the aircraft wind up more than $150 billion over budget and between three and seven years behind schedule, depending how you count. But problems continue as the Air Force has had to stop pilots who weigh under 135 pounds from flying the plane due to potentially fatal problems with the ejection seat. Contractor Martin Baker is working on a fix, but officials say it's unlikely to be deployed before IOC. The F-35 will also face another challenge as it goes up against the popular A-10 Thunderbolt II in a test to determine which plane is better at close-air support. The tests won't occur until 2018, but it's a move congressional leaders have been pushing for. "The F-35 is going to replace the A-10. We need to identify whether we're going to have a decrease in the unique capabilities in that mission set," Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., a former A-10 pilot and retired colonel, said Oct. 21. The Air Force wants to retire the Warthog, saying it could save $3.5 billion over five years. But lawmakers specifically put language in the 2016 defense funding bill that would prevent the service from mothballing the plane. Meanwhile, F-22 Raptors are increasingly taking part in missions in the Middle East against the Islamic State group. In 2015, however, operators reported problems with the fifth-generation aircraft being able to share data and information with older planes. The Air Force said it's looking at ways to improve communication between the F-22 and fighters like the F-16 and F-15. But some leaders are worried that the service doesn't have enough of the aircraft, which saw its purchase orders fall victim to budget cuts. "Hindsight's always 20/20," Gen. Hawk Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, said Nov. 10. "I think in retrospect we stopped the buy too soon. We could use more F-22s certainly in the world we face today." As for larger aircraft, the Air Force is awaiting the decision in a bid protest for the Long Range Strike- Bomber. On Oct. 27, the Pentagon awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman, maker of the B-2 stealth bomber. But the losing competitors - a joint effort by Lockheed Martin and Boeing - immediately filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, Congress' watchdog office. GAO has 100 days to issue a ruling - which means a decision is likely in late January. Rejecting the protest would mean Northrop can start work on the plane; but if the complaint is upheld, it could send the Air Force back to the drawing board for a new bomber contract competition. The Air Force's other big plane set to take off soon: the Boeing-built KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tanker. The service said it expects the first tanker-to-receiver contact to occur sometime in the first quarter of 2016, and for the tankers to officially begin flying missions in 2017. Also in 2016, the Air Force is expected to announce the basing decision for the Air Force Reserve-led KC- 46 main operating base. http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/12/25/need-know-2016-aircraft-programs- watch/77758590/ Back to Top Superfast Business Jet Moves Ahead Aerion lining up customers for $120 million plane that can cross the Atlantic in 4½ hours A mock-up of the Aerion AS2 jet interior shown to prospective customers. Just how valuable is two hours and change to hurried corporate executives or the ultrarich? Aerospace executive Doug Nichols reckons the answer could be pushing $120 million. The former Boeing Co. executive spent seven years developing a supersonic business jet that aims to fill the void created when the Concorde quit flying in 2003. He is targeting those who absolutely need to fly from London to New York in 4½ hours rather than seven. Aerion Corp., where Mr. Nichols is chief executive, has the most advanced of several similar projects. It recently secured orders for its planned 12-passenger AS2 jet. For the $120 million price, a buyer can go 4,750 nautical miles at up to 1.5 times the speed of sound. Before it can achieve its goals of first flight in 2021 and service two years later, Aerion needs to overcome long-held skepticism among business-jet financiers and plane makers about the viability of supersonic jets and convince prospective buyers and regulators of their merits. Aerion estimates the AS2 will cost $4 billion to develop, produce and certify, requiring new financing after it dropped a plan to license its technology to another plane maker. Its timeline to first service also is so aggressive, it would challenge even more experienced manufacturers. The biggest hurdle remains a ban on commercial jets flying at supersonic speeds over the continental U.S. Other countries also require ultrafast planes to spend as much time as possible over the ocean to avoid the distinctive boom when they exceed the speed of sound. "The straightest route is not necessarily the fastest route," said Mr. Nichols of the flight plans the AS2 would have to take to skirt the U.S. and Canadian coasts and link London and New York while shaving 2½ hours over a conventional business jet flying a more direct route at close to the speed of sound. Aerion has followed a similar, deviated path. The closely held company was created in 2002 by private- equity billionaire Robert Bass, an aerospace enthusiast who plowed funds from his Oak Hill investment firm into the venture. Its first concept plane was launched in 2007 and claimed 50 orders, but was canceled two years later as the financial crisis crushed sales of new business jets, a downturn the industry is still trying to escape. Dassault Aviation SA and the Gulfstream unit of General Dynamics Corp. are researching the supersonic market, but neither is expected to try to introduce models for years. Aerion's rivals remain skeptical of the supersonic market, which they said was limited to trans-Atlantic crossing. "A business jet in that space doesn't make sense," said an executive at one plane maker. Still, the Aerion AS2 last month secured its first orders, with fractional jet specialist Flexjet LLC signing up for 20 of the planes, albeit with refundable deposits. "The aircraft is very mission specific," said Kenn Ricci, who as chairman of Flexjet has ordered dozens of conventional business jets from Gulfstream, Bombardier Inc. and Embraer SA. Mr. Ricci said Flexjet spent a year studying the AS2 as an add-on to its evolving fleet, eyeing well-heeled and time-poor passengers on popular business-jet routes such as from London to New York or Dubai, or between the Persian Gulf city and Chinese cities. While the AS2 would cost 35% more to operate than a conventional jet, potential clients aren't price sensitive. Aerodynamic laws require that supersonic planes be long and thin, and the existing AS2 is 170-feet long and has a maximum takeoff weight of 121,000 pounds, limiting its use at popular close-in airports such as Teterboro in New Jersey, a favorite gateway for Wall Street's highfliers. Aerion said the AS2 would be able to cross the Atlantic from Teterboro, albeit with a smaller fuel load that would restrict how many passengers it could carry. 'We are not pursuing any relaxation of sonic boom regulations in the U.S. ' -Doug Nichols, Aerion CEO Mr. Nichols said that despite such limitations and the challenge of sonic booms, it would be a viable addition for customers even for transcontinental U.S. travel by maximizing flying at high subsonic speeds. "We are not pursuing any relaxation of sonic boom regulations in the U.S.," he said, though in other countries with less onerous rules, the company hopes to be able to fly at supersonic speeds over land. Its technology would ensure the boom doesn't reach the ground and contravene regulations, he said. Aerion isn't alone. Boston-based Spike Aerospace Inc. has been touting its proposed S-512 jet at trade shows. The $100 million jet could be ready by 2022, said Chief Executive Vik Kachoria, with a top cruising speed of 1.6 times the speed of sound and a range of around 5,580 nautical miles. Mr. Kachoria said the key to unlocking the market is to minimize noise. The company, which initially designed the S-512 to fly at top speeds only over water, refined the concept to permit overland flights with only minimal noise impact. The plane's noise should be limited to around 65 decibels, about the same as a normal conversation, he said. Broadening the customer base by opening more markets would help. The market for supersonic business jets is likely between 300 and 350 aircraft over between 15 and 20 years, estimates Michel Merluzeau, vice president for aerospace strategy at researcher Frost & Sullivan. Mr. Nichols, who forecast a market of 600 planes over two decades, is scouting for a production site in the U.S. For now, he is relying on Mr. Bass for funds, much as a new generation of space rockets have been funded by Elon Musk at Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. "[Bass] funding may have been a godsend in getting the program going," said Richard Aboulafia at aerospace consultant Teal Group, but building, testing and certifying the jet will cost much more. "That's many billions that have to come from someone else," he said. http://www.wsj.com/articles/super-fast-business-jet-moves-ahead-1451261137 Back to Top Year's end sees usual rush for aircraft An employee works on a Rolls-Royce V2500 aircraft engine, which power Airbus 320s, in a factory in Dahlewitz, Germany. The aerospace and defence industry is one of the few sectors to consistently throw up end-of-year surprises as companies look to meet or exceed previous commitments, and 2015 is no exception. The tussle between Airbus and Boeing has a history of throwing up last-minute aircraft orders, with the European planemaker last year pulling out deals for more than 450 jets in December alone to overtake its rival, an unprecedented haul seldom seen even at air shows. Overseas defence deals also often come down to the wire, and landmark contracts signed in the final days of the year can count for more than just bragging rights. Some countries' defence budgets also reset at year's end, and the lack of a final signature can push back closing by another 12 months. Big-spending Middle East nations have become increasingly important for US contractors in countering flat or declining Pentagon investment spending, and overseas deals tend to be concentrated in the fourth quarter. Last year, Raytheon finally landed a $US2.4 billion order from Qatar for its Patriot missile defence system on December 22. In 2011, the US signed a $US29.4bn deal on December 24 in Riyadh to sell 84 new Boeing-made F-15 fighters to Saudi Arabia, announcing it five days later. Within 24 hours, Lockheed Martin secured a $US2bn deal from the United Arab Emirates for its THAAD missile defence system. The focus is again on Lockheed this year, and the world's largest defence contractor remains optimistic of securing big deals from Saudi Arabia and the Pentagon. Saudi Arabia plans to spend $US11.25bn ($15.5bn) - spread out over a number of contracts - buying four of Lockheed's littoral combat ships to replace its eastern fleet in what would be one of the largest ever overseas defence orders. The sale would help counter the Pentagon's plan to reduce its own planned purchase of a version of the vessel to 40, from 52. "I think that's more imminent today as we sit here than it's been at any point up to this point in time," Lockheed chief financial officer Bruce Tanner said at an investor conference early this month. The planned sale is being brokered by the Pentagon, and Lockheed said last week it remained hopeful the two sides could reach an agreement. The company is also close to finalising a multi-year deal that could be worth almost $US6bn to supply another 83 of its C-130J military transport aircraft to the US Air Force. A planned deal for the next batch of F-35 combat jets had also been expected to close this year, but the company now expects it to slip into early 2016, though last week it did close a $US1.2bn contract to buy titanium and other long-lead parts for a later batch of the planes. Commercial aerospace investors are also looking for a boost in sentiment after months of concerns about aircraft oversupply and weak emerging markets denting record order backlogs. For Airbus and Boeing, the annual battle to secure the most orders is already over, with the European planemaker comfortably ahead after garnering more than 1000. However, Boeing on Christmas Eve said it booked orders for 166 commercial jets in the past week. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/years-end-sees-usual-rush-for- aircraft/news-story/db2115f9e67ff90fee5cce4d33a72e23 Back to Top Light Supermetal Yet Super Strong Created In the Labs of University of California IMAGE_ AT LEFT_ A DEFORMED SAMPLE OF PURE METAL_ AT RIGHT_ THE STRONG NEW METAL MADE OF MAGNESIUM WITH SILICON CARBIDE NANOPARTICLES. EACH CENTRAL MICROPILLAR IS ABOUT 4 MICROMETERS ACROSS. A team led by researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has created a super-strong yet light structural metal with extremely high specific strength and modulus, or stiffness-to-weight ratio. The new metal is composed of magnesium infused with a dense and even dispersal of ceramic silicon carbide nanoparticles. It could be used to make lighter airplanes, spacecraft, and cars, helping to improve fuel efficiency, as well as in mobile electronics and biomedical devices. To create the super-strong but lightweight metal, the team found a new way to disperse and stabilize nanoparticles in molten metals. They also developed a scalable manufacturing method that could pave the way for more high-performance lightweight metals. The research was published today in Nature. "It's been proposed that nanoparticles could really enhance the strength of metals without damaging their plasticity, especially light metals like magnesium, but no groups have been able to disperse ceramic nanoparticles in molten metals until now," said Xiaochun Li, the principal investigator on the research and Raytheon Chair in Manufacturing Engineering at UCLA. "With an infusion of physics and materials processing, our method paves a new way to enhance the performance of many different kinds of metals by evenly infusing dense nanoparticles to enhance the performance of metals to meet energy and sustainability challenges in today's society." Structural metals are load-bearing metals; they are used in buildings and vehicles. Magnesium, at just two-thirds the density of aluminum, is the lightest structural metal. Silicon carbide is an ultra-hard ceramic commonly used in industrial cutting blades. The researchers' technique of infusing a large number of silicon carbide particles smaller than 100 nanometers into magnesium added significant strength, stiffness, plasticity and durability under high temperatures. The researchers' new silicon carbide-infused magnesium demonstrated record levels of specific strength-how much weight a material can withstand before breaking-and specific modulus-the material's stiffness-to- weight ratio. It also showed superior stability at high temperatures. Ceramic particles have long been considered as a potential way to make metals stronger. However, with microscale ceramic particles, the infusion process results in a loss of plasticity. Nanoscale particles, by contrast, can enhance strength while maintaining or even improving metals' plasticity. But nanoscale ceramic particles tend to clump together rather than dispersing evenly, due to the tendency of small particles to attract one other. To counteract this issue, researchers dispersed the particles into a molten magnesium zinc alloy. The newly discovered nanoparticle dispersion relies on the kinetic energy in the particles' movement. This stabilizes the particles' dispersion and prevents clumping. To further enhance the new metal's strength, the researchers used a technique called high-pressure torsion to compress it. Researchers have created silicon carbide nanoparticles-infused magnesium metal that is not only exceptionally strong, but lightweight as well. Nanoparticles have been pegged as the key to strengthening materials including metals, but there have been no progress on the practical front as researchers haven't been able to determine how to disperse and stabilize nanoparticles in molten metals. That's what a team of researchers led by those at UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science achieved and eventually created the new metal. "The results we obtained so far are just scratching the surface of the hidden treasure for a new class of metals with revolutionary properties and functionalities," Li said. The new metal (more accurately called a metal nanocomposite) is about 14 percent silicon carbide nanoparticles and 86 percent magnesium. The researchers noted that magnesium is an abundant resource and that scaling up its use would not cause environmental damage. Said to be great for aerospace industry, cars and similar applications, the new metal has been made by even dispersal of ceramic silicon carbide nanoparticles in magnesium. It has extremely high specific strength and modulus, or stiffness-to-weight ratio. The team involved with the invention have also developed a scalable manufacturing method that could pave the way for more high-performance lightweight metals. The research is published in journal Nature. Xiaochun Li, the principal investigator on the research and Raytheon Chair in Manufacturing Engineering at UCLA, said that their team combined the principles of physics and materials processing and created a new method using which they can enhance the performance of many different kinds of metals by evenly infusing dense nanoparticles. Researchers infused a large number of silicon carbide particles smaller than 100 nanometers into magnesium to increase its strength, stiffness, plasticity and durability under high temperatures. The team demonstrated that their new silicon carbide-infused magnesium has record levels of specific strength - the amount of weight a material can withstand before breaking - and specific modulus - the material's stiffness-to-weight ratio. It also showed superior stability at high temperatures. http://www.globalviralnews.com/2015-12-26-light-supermetal-yet-super-strong-created-in-the-labs-of- university-of-california Back to Top Upcoming Events: 2016 DTI SMS/QA Symposium January 3, 4, & 5 2016 Disney World, FL 1-866-870-5490 www.dtiatlanta.com 6th European Business Aviation Safety Conference 2016 February 23-24, 2016 Frankfurt, Germany www.ebascon.eu 2016 Air Charter Safety Symposium | Safety: A Small Investment for a Rich Future March 8-9, 2016 | NTSB Training Center | Ashburn, VA http://www.acsf.aero/events/acsf-symposium/ CHC Safety & Quality Summit | Back to Basics: Prioritizing Safety in a Challenging Economy April 4-6, 2016 Vancouver, BC www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com BARS Auditor Training Washington, DC Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training Curt Lewis