Flight Safety Information December 8, 2016 - No. 244 In This Issue Pakistan opens investigation into deadly plane crash that killed 47 Global Pilots on the Aircraft Accident of flight PK661 near Havelian, Pakistan Bolivia Detains Chief of Airline in Colombia Crash Pillsbury: Global, Top-Ranked, Non-Stop Service B737-846 Runway Excursion (Japan) Private jet crash that killed Bin Laden's family came in too fast: AAIB report EU bans Iran's Aseman Airlines from flying in Europe Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer offers to sell Trump cheaper plane for new Air Force One Swiss pilots unveil plans for stratospheric solar plane Congress readies smaller pilot bonus hike than James requested Boeing Says China Must Hire More Than 100,000 Pilots Over Next 20 Years NASA starts testing more fuel efficient jet engine tech Emirates Ends A380 Delivery Standoff After Rolls Agrees to Fund Fix. Boeing responds after Trump knocks contract for Air Force One jets Graduate Research Survey Pakistan opens investigation into deadly plane crash that killed 47 Pakistani investigators examine the wreckage of a passenger plane crashed in the village of Gug, Pakistan Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016. GUG, Pakistan - Pakistani military helicopters on Thursday ferried remains of plane crash victims to the capital, Islamabad, as aviation authorities said they opened a probe into the crash that killed 47 passengers and crew the day before in the country's northwest. The small twin-propeller aircraft was travelling from the scenic mountain resort city of Chitral to Islamabad on Wednesday when one of its engines failed shortly after takeoff and crashed in the hillside village of Gug in the district of Abbottabad, according to Pervez George of the Civil Aviation Authority. The plane belonged to the Pakistani national carrier, the Pakistan International Airlines, and had 42 passengers and five crew members on board, PIA spokesman Daniyal Gilani said. Witnesses said they saw the plane suddenly tilting and going down, then bursting into flames upon crashing in Gug. The village is located next to another, Saddha Batolni, from where residents also joined the rescue work. "The plane was swaying ... then I saw it hitting the hill with a loud bang," said Chaudhry Rustam, a villager who rushed to the crash site. Then, thick black smoke was seen billowing from the debris, he added. Dozens of villagers helped retrieve the remains. Zainab Nazakat said she was preparing dinner when she saw the plane coming down, hitting several trees and a water supply tank on an elevated ground. "When we lifted one of its wings, there was a heap of body remains under it," said social worker Jabir bin Khayan. Reporters at the site on Thursday saw the plane's wreckage strewn over a 2 kilometer- (1.2 mile-) radius, with clothes, shoes and passenger bags scattered about. Among those killed in the crash was Junaid Jamshed, a popular pop-singer-turned-Islamic-preacher who went to Chitral along with his wife, his family said. The couple's remains were to be taken to the port city of Karachi after identification. Earlier, Junaid Sarwar, a hospital spokesman in the northwestern city of Abbottabad, said only five bodies had been identified so far. The remains of others were burnt so badly that the National Database and Registration Authority could not identify them at the hospital. "We are sending body parts of all the passengers to Islamabad for DNA tests," Sarwar said. Gug is about 90 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Islamabad. PIA says the plane lost contact with the control tower just before the crash. Azam Sehgal, the PIA chairman, told a news conference at the Islamabad airport on Wednesday that the plane's black box recorder had been found. Sehgal said the pilot had told the control tower an engine developed a technical fault. Moments later he made a "mayday call," shortly before the plane disappeared from radar. In Islamabad, senior government and PIA officials were on hand at a sports complex on Thursday to receive the remains, which were brought by military helicopters from Abbottabad. The remains are to be held in forensic labs at hospitals in Islamabad and in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi until DNA tests are completed - a process that may take up to six days, according to a Cabinet Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Pakistan's air industry has had a mixed record recently. About 150 people were killed in a crash near Islamabad in 2010, and last year, a military helicopter carrying several diplomats also crashed in the country's north, killing eight people. In 2012, a Bhoja Air passenger plane crashed near Islamabad due to bad weather, killing all 127 people on board. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/12/08/pakistan-opens-investigation-into-deadly-plane-crash-that- killed-47.html tatus: Preliminary Date: Wednesday 7 December 2016 Time: ca 16:20 Type: ATR 42-500 Operator: Pakistan International Airlines - PIA Registration: AP-BHO C/n / msn: 663 First flight: 2007-05-03 (9 years 7 months) Total airframe hrs: 18740 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127E Crew: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 Passengers: Fatalities: 42 / Occupants: 42 Total: Fatalities: 48 / Occupants: 48 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: near Havelian ( Pakistan) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Chitral Airport (CJL/OPCH), Pakistan Destination airport: Islamabad-Benazir Bhutto International Airport (ISB/OPRN), Pakistan Flightnumber: PK661 Narrative: Pakistan International Airlines flight PK661, an ATR 42-500, was destroyed after impacting a hillside near Havelian, Pakistan. The aircraft took off from Chitral around 15:30, bound for Islamabad. At 16:09 the flight changed frequencies from Cherat to Islamabad ATC. At 16:14 the flight radioed that they had an engine problem and that they were descending. One minute later a Mayday call was issued. That was the last contact with the aircraft. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20161207-0 Back to Top Global Pilots on the Aircraft Accident of flight PK661 near Havelian, Pakistan MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) expresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the passengers and crew of Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661, who lost loved ones in the accident near Havelian, Pakistan today. Our thoughts are with all who have been touched by this tragedy. In order to learn from such an event and to prevent any repetition, IFALPA stresses the need for a technical investigation into the circumstances of this accident strictly following the provisions laid out in ICAO Annex 13. Its objective should be to determine the accident's contributing factors and make the necessary safety recommendations. IFALPA's accident investigation experts and their operational knowledge of the ATR 42-500 aircraft are at the disposal of the officially involved investigation agencies for advice or consultation during both the investigation process and the drafting of the accident report and related safety recommendations. Note to Editors: The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations represents more than 100,000 pilots in nearly 100 countries around the globe. The mission of IFALPA is to promote the highest level of aviation safety worldwide and to be the global advocate of the piloting profession; providing representation, services and support to both our members and the aviation industry. See the Federation website www.ifalpa.org http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161207006015/en/Global-Pilots-Aircraft-Accident-flight- PK661-Havelian Back to Top Bolivia Detains Chief of Airline in Colombia Crash The Bolivian authorities said Wednesday that they had detained the chief executive of the airline whose plane crashed in the mountains of Colombia last week, killing 71 people, including members of the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense. Gustavo Vargas, the chief executive of the airline, LaMia, was taken into custody on Tuesday, the Bolivian prosecutor's office announced. Two other airline employees were detained but later released, it added. The arrests indicated that the inquiry into the crash, which left only six survivors and stunned the region, was widening. Investigators also said they had seized files from the offices of the airline. Prosecutors from Colombia and Brazil said this week that they were coordinating with their Bolivian counterparts to determine whether LaMia had proper licensing to fly and warned that they might consider criminal charges. Carlos Jaime Taborga, a Colombian prosecutor, said investigators hoped to determine exactly "who is responsible for this tragedy so that they pay the price." The plane, which was carrying 77 people, including journalists and crew members, crashed late on Nov. 28 outside Medellín. The Chapecoense team, from the city of Chapecó, had been flying from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to play the finals match for the Copa Sudamericana, a major championship in South America. Investigators also said they were looking into the role of Celia Castedo, an airline official at the Santa Cruz airport, who has fled to Brazil. In records leaked to Bolivian news media, Ms. Castedo is said to have advised the pilot of the plane against flying to Medellín on the grounds that the distance was too far. The plane was allowed to take off, despite the concerns. Bolivian officials said this week that that they were seeking Ms. Castedo's extradition. Brazilian officials, quoted in local news reports, said Ms. Castedo had been granted temporary asylum after she said she had fled because of threats to her life. Last week, recordings released to Colombian radio appeared to capture the last minutes of the flight, in which a voice identified as the pilot's asked for an emergency landing because the plane had run out of fuel. Rescue workers said they were surprised that there had not been a fiery explosion upon impact, indicating that the jetliner's tanks were empty. According to specifications from the plane's manufacturer, BAE Systems, the Avro RJ85 jet flown by LaMia has a range of about 1,600 nautical miles, close to the distance of the flight. Jetliners, however, rarely travel in straight lines to their destinations. Samuel Montaño, a Bolivian expert on military equipment and aviation, said a flight on that route would ordinarily have made a stop at Cobija, a Bolivian town in the Amazon Basin. The purpose of the stop would not only be to refuel, but also to allow the engines to cool off, another safety precaution, he said. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/world/americas/plane-crash-soccer-chapecoense-brazil-bolivia- colombia.html?_r=0 Back to Top Back to Top B737-846 Runway Excursion (Japan) Date: 07-DEC-2016 Time: 20:20 Type: Boeing 737-846(WL) Owner/operator: Japan Airlines Registration: JA305J C/n / msn: 35334/2289 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: New Chitose Airport (CTS/RJCC) - Japan Phase: Landing Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Narita International Airport (NRT/RJAA) Destination airport: New Chitose Airport (CTS/RJCC) Narrative: Japan Airlines' Boeing 737-800, operating flight JAL/JL3049 from Tokyo/Narita to New Chitose, veered off the runway while landing on the runway 19L at New Chitose. The plane was stuck for 30 minutes. No personal injuries were reported. Seven centimeter of snow depth was observed in Chitose city. Weather reports at the time of the incident (20:20 local: 11:20 UTC): RJCC 071100Z 00000KT 9999 FEW030 M10/M13 Q1016 RMK 1CU030 A3000 RJCC 071130Z VRB02KT 9999 FEW030 SCT060 M11/M13 Q1016 RMK 1CU030 3SC060 A3000 (20:30 local time: 11:30 UTC, wind variable 2 knots, visibility 10km+, 1 okta cumulus 3000 feet, 3 oktas stratocumulus 6000 feet, temperature -11 degree-Celsius, dew-point -13 degree-Celsius, QNH 1016 hPa/3000 INS.) RJCC 071200Z VRB01KT 9999 FEW030 M11/M12 Q1015 RMK 1CU030 A2999 https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=191899 Back to Top Private jet crash that killed Bin Laden's family came in too fast: AAIB report The plane landed too far down the runway and caught fire, killing Bin Laden's step-mother, step-sister and another relative, as well as the pilot. Accident investigators have concluded that the aircraft crash that killed Osama bin Laden's stepmother and stepsister and another relative last year occurred because it was travelling 40% faster than the recommended speed. Though, Bin Laden's family- 75 year old stepmother Raja Bashir Hashem, her 53-year-old daughter Sana bin Laden and 56-year-old relative Zouheir Anuar Hashem survived the impact, they died subsequently from the effects of fire that began due to the wing separation from the fuselage according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The accident occurred on July 31, 2015, when a Phenom 300 jet crashed at the end of the runaway at Blackbushe airport, Camberley, on the border of Hampshire and Surrey. After crashing into an earth bank, the plane became airborne again and then collided with several parked cars. The AAIB's report into the accident concluded that despite the pilots attempt to deploy the jet's "speedbrakes," they remained retracted as the flaps on the wing were deployed. "The excessive speed contributed to a touchdown 710m beyond the threshold, with only 438m of paved surfaced remaining. From touchdown... it was no longer possible for the aircraft to stop within the remaining runway length." the AAIB said according to the Guardian. The report also added that the 58-year old Jordanian pilot- Mazen Salim Alqasim's "mental capacity could have become saturated" after being exposed to 66 audio warnings, instructions and messages during the three minutes and 32 seconds before reaching the start of the runway. The report stated: "It is possible that in these circumstances the pilot ... fixated on his initial strategy - landing - and lacked the mental capacity to recognise that the approach had become unstable and should be discontinued." AAIB also ruled out bad weather or any technical defects with the aircraft and also confirmed that the pilot was free of any substances that may have reduced his performance. http://www.ibtimes.co.in/private-jet-crash-that-killed-bin-ladens-family-came-too-fast-aaib-report- 707513 ****************** Status: PRE Date: Friday 31 July 2015 Time: 15:09 Type: Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 Operator: Salem Aviation Registration: HZ-IBN C/n / msn: 50500040 First flight: 2010 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Passengers: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Total: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Blackbushe Airport (BBS/EGLK) ( United Kingdom) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Milano-Malpensa Airport (MXP/LIMC), Italy Destination airport: Blackbushe Airport (BBS/EGLK), United Kingdom Narrative: An Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 jet was destroyed when it crashed into a car auction next to Blackbushe Airport, U.K., killing all four occupants. The Phenom jet, HZ-IBN, entered the left-hand circuit for runway 25 at Blackbushe via the crosswind leg. Towards the end of the downwind leg, it overtook a microlight aircraft, before climbing slightly to pass ahead of and above that aircraft. Several TCAS Resolution Advisories were issued to the pilot during the manoeuvre. Following this climb, HZ-IBN then descended at up to 3,000 feet per minute towards the threshold of runway 25. When HZ-IBN was 1.1 nm from the runway threshold it flew at 1,200 feet above airfield level at a speed of 146 KIAS, with the landing gear down and flap 3 selected. The target threshold speed for the aircraft was calculated to have been 108 KIAS. The aircraft continued its approach at approximately 150 KIAS. Between 1,200 and 500 feet the rate of descent averaged approximately 3,000 fpm. The aircraft's TAWS generated six 'pull up' warnings on final approach. The aircraft crossed the threshold of runway 25 at approximately 50 feet at 150 KIAS. Tyre marks made by the aircraft at touchdown indicated that it landed approximately 710 m beyond the runway 25 threshold. Runway 25 has a declared Landing Distance Available (LDA) of 1,059 m; therefore the aircraft touched down approximately 349 m before the end of the declared LDA, 438 m before the end of the paved runway surface. The airspeed on touchdown was still 134 KIAS. At this speed the landing ground roll required to stop the aircraft would be at least 616 m. The aircraft departed the paved surface at the end of runway 25 approximately three metres to the left of the extended runway centreline. It then collided with a one metre high earth bank causing the lower section of the nose landing gear and the nose gear doors to detach. The aircraft became airborne again briefly, before colliding with several cars parked at an adjacent business and coming to rest approximately 70 metres beyond the earth bank. The aircraft's wing detached from the fuselage during the impact sequence and an intense fire developed shortly thereafter, consuming the majority of the aircraft. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20150731-0 Back to Top EU bans Iran's Aseman Airlines from flying in Europe The European Union has banned Iran's Aseman Airlines from operating within the EU due to safety concerns, in a blow to Tehran which is buying new jets to renew the country's ageing fleet following the lifting of long-term sanctions. Aseman Airlines was added to the EU's air safety list of airlines which do not meet international safety standards, the European Commission said in a statement on Thursday. The privately owned regional carrier is Iran's third largest by active fleet size, according to the CAPA consultancy. It was previously owned by Iran's civil service pension foundation. Aseman Airlines was reported in August to be buying 20 regional jets from Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for use on domestic routes. The lifting of economic sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities has allowed Iran to strike provisional deals worth around $50 billion with Boeing and Airbus to buy some 200 airliners to renew its ageing fleet. The Commission also removed all Kazakh airlines from the list, meaning they are no longer subject to restrictions on operating in Europe, because of improvements to aviation safety. "After years of work and European technical assistance, we are today able to clear all Kazakh air carriers. This also is a positive signal for all the countries that remain on the list. It shows that work and cooperation pay off," EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc said. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-airlines-safety-idUSKBN13X17H Back to Top Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer offers to sell Trump cheaper plane for new Air Force One Producer of world's largest aircraft tweets offer to PEOTUS after he complained about Boeing's costs. A Ukranian aircraft such as this one was offered for purchase to Trump President-elect #Donald Trump received an unexpected offer from Antonov, the manufacturer of the world's largest aircraft in #Ukraine, in a tweet. Antonov offered to sell Trump one of its large aircrafts to replace #Air Force One (AF1) after Trump tweeted an order to "scrap" plans to purchase a new plane from Boeing for around $4 billion. In that tweet, Trump acknowledged that Boeing was planning to produce the outrageously expensive aircraft; but that the costs were "out of control." Trump then ended the tweet with the order: "Cancel order!" http://us.blastingnews.com/news/2016/12/ukrainian-aircraft-manufacturer-offers-to-sell-trump-cheaper- plane-for-new-air-force-one-001312841.html Back to Top Swiss pilots unveil plans for stratospheric solar plane Solar Impulse 2 pilot Bertrand Piccard (left) and pilot Andre Borschberg celebrate after Borschberg landed at Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii. Photo: Xinhua Solar plane lands in Hawaii after record-breaking flight Just months after two Swiss pilots completed a historic round-the-world trip in a sun-powered plane, another Swiss adventurer has unveiled a solar plane aimed at reaching the stratosphere. The SolarStratos, a sleek, white two-seater aircraft with long wings covered with 237 sq ft of solar panels, is set to become the first manned solar plane to make a stratospheric flight, according to Raphael Domjan, who is behind the project. "Our goal is to demonstrate that current technology offers us the possibility to achieve above and beyond what fossil fuels offer," he said, after unveiling the plane at the Payerne airbase. Our goal is to demonstrate that current technology offers us the possibility to achieve above and beyond what fossil fuels offer-RAPHAEL DOMJAN, PROJECT CHIEF "Electric and solar vehicles are amongst the major challenges of the 21st century," he said, adding that the SolarStratos "can fly at an altitude of 25,000 metres". SolarStratos is scheduled to begin test flights next February, while medium altitude flights are planned for next summer, and the first stratospheric flights should take place in 2018, the statement said. To keep down the weight, the plane will not be pressurised, and Domjan will wear a spacesuit, also powered by solar energy, which will also mark a world first, it added. The statement also claimed the craft could "reach space". "Travelling to the stratosphere will take approximately five hours: 2.5 hours to reach space, 15 minutes of broad daylight and stars, then three hours to return to Earth," it said. The stratosphere lies above Earth's lowest atmospheric layer, called the troposphere. At middle latitudes, the stratosphere runs from a lower boundary of about 10,000 metres to an upper boundary of about 50,000 metres. Aeronautics engineers use a rough benchmark called the Karman line, located at about 100,000 metres above sea level, for defining the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space. The announcement came after two of Domjan's compatriots, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, completed the first-ever round-the-globe trip in a solar plane last July, in a bid to showcase the possibilities for the future of renewable energy. Solar Impulse 2 circumnavigated the globe in 17 stages, covering a remarkable 43,000km across four continents, two oceans and three seas, in 23 days of flying without using a drop of fuel. Domjan launched his SolarStratos project in 2014, two years after he became the first person to sail around the world in a fully solar-powered boat. He said that the new aircraft's ability to pierce the stratosphere "opens the door to the possibility of electric and solar commercial aviation, close to space". http://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2052964/swiss-pilots-unveil-plans-stratospheric-solar- plane Back to Top Congress readies smaller pilot bonus hike than James requested Although Congress is poised to boost the maximum annual pilot retention bonus to $35,000, that would still fall far short of the $48,000 per year the Air Force says is necessary to keep fighter pilots from leaving to fly for commercial airlines. In conference to iron out differences between the House and Senate versions of the defense authorization bill, lawmakers tentatively agreed to cap the Aviator Retention Pay bonus at $35,000 for each year pilots agree to stay with the Air Force, according to the conference report released Nov. 30. This means they could receive up to $315,000 for a maximum nine-year contract. The bonus for pilots of manned aircraft has been capped at $25,000 since 1999, allowing pilots who continue serving to receive up to $225,000 over nine years. But this summer, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein began sounding the alarm about the exodus of fighter pilots from the service, which Goldfein termed a "quiet crisis." James and Goldfein said that nearly doubling the retention bonus to $48,000 - which would give pilots as much as $432,000 extra - could help stem the losses. When asked whether the reduced amount of the bonus increase would be enough to hold on to pilots, the Air Force said it could not comment on pending legislation Airmen flying remotely piloted aircraft also became eligible this year for a maximum $35,000 annual retention bonus, though they could only sign up for a maximum five-year extension. In keeping with the Air Force's current practice of offering pilots anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 for every year they extend their contracts, not every pilot will get the maximum possible bonus proposed in the defense authorization bill. In the joint explanatory statement accompanying the bill, lawmakers said that Goldfein told them the bonus will be tailored by platform, based on the Air Force's requirements. In an op-ed for Defense One in July, James and Goldfein said the shortage of fighter pilots was expected to grow from 500 to 700 by the end of the year, which would represent a 21 percent shortfall. Maj. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, assistant deputy chief of staff for operations at Air Force headquarters, said in August that the shortage could swell to about 1,000 pilots by 2022 unless the Air Force takes steps to reduce the departure of pilots. James and Goldfein said a major problem contributing to the pilot shortage is that 17 years of inflation has blunted the effectiveness of the pilot retention bonuses, and the "take rates" of pilots accepting them are disappointing. The Air Force usually hopes to have an overall pilot take rate of 65 percent, but in fiscal 2015, that had fallen to 55 percent. At the same time, a generation of Vietnam-era pilots is retiring from flying commercial airliners. Private airlines are eager to recruit experienced, proven military pilots, and are offering hefty salaries to entice them. In addition to boosting monetary bonuses, the Air Force needs to take other steps to improve pilots' quality of life and quality of service, Air Force leaders said. For example, Goldfein said, high operations tempos have strained fighter pilots by keeping them away from their families. To help fix that problem, Vander Hamm said, the Air Force must be smarter about how it schedules training exercises so they do not take pilots away from home once again after they return. The Air Force also needs to give pilots some flexibility to choose their next assignments. Pilots are also disappointed when budget and other shortfalls keep them from flying as much as they'd like to, Goldfein said. Lawmakers signaled they intend to hold the Air Force to those promises. "The conferees also expect the services to continue developing and implementing policies to tackle non- monetary reasons for low aviator retention rates," the joint explanatory statement said. https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/ndaa-aviator-retention-pay Back to Top Boeing Says China Must Hire More Than 100,000 Pilots Over Next 20 Years Boeing says China will have to hire 5,500 new pilots annually over the next 20 years as its aviation market booms. There is a pilot shortage - in China, at least, but that will likely impact pilot hiring by airlines around the world. The shortage over the long term could have a ripple effect down to regional airlines, too. - Dennis Schaal Airlines in China need to hire 5,550 pilots a year for the next two decades as new plane orders and demand for air travel surges, according to Boeing Co. With the nation on course to eclipse North America as the world's largest travel market, China will need 111,000 new aviators through 2035, Boeing said in a forecast released on Monday. That's more than anywhere else in the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for 40 percent of the global pilot requirement, the Chicago-based plane maker said. Aviation is booming in China, where the number of airlines has increased 28 percent to 55 in the past five years. Air traffic over China is set to almost quadruple in the next two decades, making it the world's busiest market, according to rival Airbus Group SE. "We are continuing to see a significant need for new pilots and maintenance technicians in the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe," Sherry Carbary, vice president of Boeing Flight Services, said in a statement. As China endures a pilot shortage, local airlines are dangling lucrative pay packages at foreigners with cockpit experience, according to recruiters. Foreign aviators can earn as much as $26,000 a month in net pay in China. The Asian country also needs 119,000 flight technicians over the next two decades, while Southeast Asia requires 62,000 pilots and 67,000 technicians, Boeing said. In a global forecast in July, the aircraft maker said airlines worldwide will need to recruit and train about 617,000 pilots to fly 39,620 planes, valued at $5.9 trillion, that are expected to be added through 2035. The Asia-Pacific region will need 15,130 new aircraft valued at $2.35 trillion in the next two decades, according to Boeing. https://skift.com/2016/12/07/boeing-says-china-must-hire-more-than-100000-pilots-over-next-20-years/ Back to Top NASA starts testing more fuel efficient jet engine tech It's the first of its kind to ever be tested. NASA/MIT/Aurora Flight Sciences A group of engineers have developed a new jet engine tech that can improve planes' fuel efficiency by four to eight percent, and NASA has begun testing it out. They created a new type of engine propulsor -- composed of the fan and a part called the inlet, which directs air into the engine -- designed to be embedded into a jet plane's body. Jet engines are typically placed away from the aircraft's surface, because of a highly distorted film of air called the boundary layer that envelopes the plane as it zooms through the sky. This new type of jet engine propulsor takes advantage of the boundary layer instead. As NASA Glenn engineer David Arend explained: "Studies backed by more detailed analyses have shown that boundary layer ingesting propulsors have the potential to significantly improve aircraft fuel efficiency. If this new design and its enabling technologies can be made to work, the boundary layer ingesting (BLI) propulsor will produce the required thrust with less propulsive power input. Additional aircraft drag and weight reduction benefits have also been identified." Since the boundary layer's distorted flow can wreck fans, the team from United Technologies Research Center and Virginia Polytechnic and State University had to create much stronger ones. Over at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, the engineers also had to spend years modifying the facility's wind tunnel to be able to fit the system. This is the first propulsor designed to ingest the boundary layer to ever be tested, so Glenn Center's engineers have to put it through a battery of tests to make sure it works. They'll be testing it under different wind speeds and varying boundary layer thickness to see how those factors affect the "propulsor's performance, operability and structure." https://www.engadget.com/2016/12/08/nasa-fuel-efficient-jet-engine-test/ Back to Top Emirates Ends A380 Delivery Standoff After Rolls Agrees to Fund Fix Gulf carrier to take first Trent-engined superjumbo next week Rift had concerned cost of unanticipated wear to fan blades Emirates, the biggest long-haul airline, said it struck a deal to accept deliveries of A380 jets powered by Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc engines after the U.K. manufacturer agreed to fund measures to address performance and maintenance concerns. Dubai-based Emirates will take the first double-decker with Trent 900 engines from Rolls-Royce on Dec. 16, two weeks later than planned, in light of an agreement involving both technical and commercial elements, Tim Clark, the airline's president, said Wednesday in London. "There were some issues on performance, but we've come to a satisfactory conclusion," Clark said. "Rolls are taking care of everything, so we are neutral to the repercussions." Emirates, the biggest operator of the A380, is due to take receipt of 50 of the Airbus Group SE planes equipped with Rolls-Royce engines after switching from the competing GP7000 turbine manufactured by an alliance of General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney, which powered its first 90 aircraft. Desert Deployment Clark said the engine malady involved a "higher intervention rate" in maintaining the Rolls engines, understood to involve unanticipated levels of wear to fan blades stemming from their deployment in Dubai's desert climate. London-based Rolls-Royce said in a statement to Bloomberg that it's working with Emirates and Airbus on getting the A380s into service. A Trent 900 jet engine in Dubai.Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg Emirates last year ordered 217 Trent 900s -- sufficient to power the 50 four-engine planes, plus spares -- in a deal that included unspecified "quality improvements." It's due to take 25 aircraft through 2019 and 25 more from 2021. The airline switched supplier on the understanding that Rolls would help develop an upgraded "Neo" engine to help pare the model's operating costs and extend its lifespan. A lack of interest among other carriers has effectively killed off that plan, and Airbus plans to slow production to just one plane per month in 2018. Clark said the planemaker is obligated to supply Emirates with its full backlog of A380s through 2026 and that the model will remain core to the fleet. At the same time the airline could explore converting options for more Boeing Co. 777X planes. 787 vs A350 The Gulf carrier is also continuing to review a requirement for smaller wide-bodies, which is likely to see it order the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, Clark said. The decision has become less urgent given sluggish levels of demand as global economies stutter, he added. A contract is likely to be placed in time for the new jets to enter service in 2021 or 2022, the executive said. Work on the introduction of a new premium-economy class pitched between business and coach is at a "fairly advanced stage," Clark said, and Emirates is likely to introduce the new cabins within a year to 18 months. The carrier has also said that it's working on a response to low-cost, long-haul carriers which might see it unbundle services that are now offered as a package, cutting the prices of a ticket but charging more for extras. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-07/emirates-ends-a380-delivery-standoff-as-rolls- agrees-to-fund-fix Back to Top Boeing responds after Trump knocks contract for Air Force One jets Donald Trump declared Tuesday morning that the Air Force should cancel its contract with Boeing to build two new presidential airplanes, asserting that the agreement had a $4 billion price tag. "Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!" the president-elect tweeted. It's not clear how Trump, who frequently tweets exaggerated or baseless claims, arrived at that number. Reuters, citing budget documents, reported that the "budgeted costs for the Air Force One replacement program are $2.87 billion for the fiscal years 2015 through 2021." The aircraft manufacturing company issued a statement clarifying that it is currently under contract for $170 million to determine the capabilities of the new aircraft. "We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the President of the United States. We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the President at the best value for the American taxpayer." This preliminary process is expected to determine the ultimate cost that the forthcoming Air Force One aircraft will cost taxpayers. "Well, the plane is totally out of control," Trump told reporters in Trump Tower. "It's going to be over $4 billion for the Air Force One program. And I think it's ridiculous. I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money." Jason Miller, Trump's communications director, further told reporters that Trump's tweet "really speaks to the president-elect's focus on keeping costs down across the board with regard to government spending." He continued: "I think people are really frustrated with some of the big price tags that are coming out for programs even in addition to this one. So we're going to look for areas where we can keep costs down and look for ways where we can save money." The full details of the new contract have not yet been released, but some of the costs can be attributed to the high-end security and communications demands of a roaming commander in chief. A president needs the ability to travel anywhere on the planet quickly and with little notice. The aircraft has unlimited range because it is capable of refueling while airborne. The jet can function as a mobile command center if the U.S. is under attack. It contains sophisticated, secure communications equipment and onboard electronics that can protect against electromagnetic pulses. The term "Air Force One" can be used to describe any aircraft carrying the president, but since the mid- 20th century, it became associated with jets specifically equipped for the president. Now the term refers to one of two modified Boeing 747-200B series aircraft. "We have many decades of productive relationships with presidential administrations from both political parties and I would expect that we will reach the same point with the Trump administration," Todd Blecher, a spokesman for Boeing, told Yahoo News. Aboard Air Force One, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said there are unique technical requirements for the project to ensure that future presidents have upgraded capabilities while representing the United States abroad. As for Trump's tweet, Earnest said, "I'd refer to my colleagues at the Department of Defense for the particulars of the procurement contract. Some on the statistics that have been, uh, cited, shall we say, don't appear to reflect the nature of the financial agreement between Boeing and the Department of Defense," according to a pool report. He said that the current Air Force One is "nearing the end of its projected life" and that future presidents should have a "modern presidential aircraft." A profile on the White House's website says Air Force One is operated by the Presidential Airlift Group, founded during the administration of Franklin Roosevelt in 1944. The group is part of the White House Military Office. "Air Force One is one of the most recognizable symbols of the presidency, spawning countless references not just in American culture but across the world," the website reads. "Emblazoned with the words 'United States of America,' the American flag, and the Seal of the President of the United States, it is an undeniable presence wherever it flies." Kevin W. Buckley, an executive officer at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson in Ohio, told the Dayton Daily News that it's become harder to keep Air Force One airborne now that the aircraft are reaching to end of their 30-year life expectancies. "The real challenge, and the challenge that is forcing us to buy newer aircraft for the president, is to overcome the fact that there are heroics going on every day to keep the current aircraft flying and it's becoming way too expensive and way too difficult to do that," he said to the paper. According to the Associated Press, the new Air Force One planes would go into use around 2024, so Trump would not use them to travel around the world unless he won a second term. Trump does have plenty of familiarity with Boeing's products. While campaigning, he crisscrossed the country in a private Boeing 757 with his last name emblazoned on the sides. As with all things bearing his name, Trump has praised his private jet as being the best of its kind. The Trump Organization released a video gushing about the plane's Rolls Royce engine, 24-carat gold- plated seat belts and luxury amenities. Back in January 2013, Trump tweeted that he was buying stock in Boeing after it had gone "way down." At the time, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's lithium batteries were a widely reported problem. "@Boeing stock went way down because of 787 - so I just bought stock in @Boeing - great company!" he wrote. His comments Tuesday seemed to have knocked that stock price down some, but his net worth apparently won't be affected. "The president-elect sold all of his stock back in June," Miller, Trump's spokesman, told Yahoo News on a conference call with reporters. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-responds-after-trump-knocks-contract-for-air-force-one-jets- 174029191.html Back to Top Graduate Research Survey HI! My name is Amber L. Hulsey, A.B.D. and I am currently working on my dissertation for my Ph.D. entitled, "Human Trafficking: Flying Under the Radar." My dissertation examines the extent to which human trafficking occurs by air as a mode of transportation compared to land and sea. Additionally, the study examines the actions that can be taken to combat human trafficking into and within the United States. The theoretical lens to which this study uses is Human Security Theory. This survey is completely anonymous, has undergone Institutional Review Board and has been approved. If you have any questions or would like to contact me for any reason, please email me at amber.hulsey@usm.edu. The survey will be open from December 7- December 21st. Please share this on all social media accounts, with your friends, family, and with your colleagues. Upon completion of this study, I will share the findings with various government and NGO's to aid in eradicating human trafficking. Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HTinUSA Thank you so much for taking the time to complete this survey and more importantly, for helping aid in the research to combat human trafficking by air. Curt Lewis