Flight Safety Information January 11, 2017 - No. 009 In This Issue Fedex B752 near Rochester on Jan 10th 2017, cargo smoke indication California Congressman: FAA a 'Shill for Corporations' Chao: Unleash private investors to boost transportation A 100-Drone Swarm, Dropped from Jets, Plans Its Own Moves White House makes it easier for private pilots to complete medical exams Hundreds of aircraft struck by lasers, few prosecutions Alaska Airlines will now let you send free messages at 35,000 feet How to Navigate New Airline Carry-On Rules Southwest Airlines shuffles executives, announces new president WheelTug Receives FAA Go-Ahead for Airplane E-Taxi System Certification Plans ACG orders 35 more A320 family aircraft Pentagon Official Urges Trump To 'Rigorously' Review F-35 Jet Learn About New FAA Regulations for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Free Online Course Call for Abstracts of Technical Papers...ISASI 2017, San Diego CA ESASI SEMINAR 2017 - LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA RESEARCH STUDY SURVEY Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship Fedex B752 near Rochester on Jan 10th 2017, cargo smoke indication A Fedex Federal Express Boeing 757-200, registration N776FD performing freight flight FX-1590 from Memphis,TN to Rochester,MN (USA), was descending towards Rochester when the crew received a cargo smoke indication. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Rochester's runway 13. Attending emergency services found no trace of fire, heat or smoke. Rochester's Fire Department reported there was concern because the aircraft carried a load of Lithium batteries. An extensive inspection of the cargo bay however did not reveal any evidence of fire, heat or smoke. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground 10 hours after landing. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/FDX1590/history/20170110/1059Z/KMEM/KRST http://avherald.com/h?article=4a34e7a3&opt=0 Back to Top California Congressman: FAA a 'Shill for Corporations' by Matt Thurber Santa Monica Airport is facing pressure from California Rep. Ted Lieu, who is urging the FAA to work with the city, instead of fighting its efforts to close the airport. (Photo: Matt Thurber) Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) wants FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to withdraw the FAA's cease and desist order, which was issued December 12. The order requires the city to stop attempting to evict the two Santa Monica Airport (SMO) FBOs- American Flyers and Atlantic Aviation. Lieu supports the city's efforts to close its airport and agrees with the city's position that any obligations it had to keep the airport open due to grant assurances expired in 2014. Airport supporters and the FAA counter that money that the city received in 2003 as an amendment to a 1984 grant extends the requirement to keep the airport open until 2023. In a letter to Huerta, Lieu wrote, "I am highly disturbed by the [FAA's] interim cease and desist order that stops Santa Monica from changing two [FBOs] at the Santa Monica Airport. The FAA's order-which essentially mandates that Santa Monica use two specific private-sector companies for FBO operations-is factually incorrect and appears to contradict FAA practice concerning the operation of small airports." In fact, the FAA order does not require the airport to "use...specific private-sector companies for FBO operations," but instead maintains the status quo, allowing the two FBOs to continue operating until the FAA completes an investigation and issues a final agency decision. The city tried to evict the two FBOs on September 15, issuing 30-day notices to vacate, and also laid plans for eliminating sales of 100LL avgas and petroleum- based jet fuel. On September 26, the FAA issued a notice of investigation to the city regarding the city's failure to enter into leases with legitimate tenants that wish to offer aeronautical services at SMO. Although the city filed unlawful detainer actions against the two FBOs on November 4, both continued to operate, and the city never marshaled the resources to operate its own FBO services. The city did ask Long Beach, California-based aviation property management company Aeroplex Group to develop a business plan for a new FBO at SMO, but that appears not to have been implemented. According to Lieu's letter, "The FAA's mission is not to be a shill for corporations. I call on the FAA to live up to its mission by rescinding its overreaching order and, instead, work with the city of Santa Monica." In explaining its order, an FAA spokesman earlier provided this statement to AIN: "The FAA issued the cease and desist order to the city of Santa Monica to preserve the status quo while it completes its investigation of the issues in the notice of investigation and the complaints filed by American Flyers and Atlantic Aviation. The order blocks the city's attempt to evict long-standing providers of critical aeronautical services at an important airport in the Los Angeles metropolitan area." "Congressman Lieu is a tiny minority voice of one in Congress in urging SMO closure," said Dave Hopkins, vice president of the Santa Monica Airport Association. "Thirty-five congressmen and women have likewise signed a letter to FAA in December 2015 urging the agency to protect our nation's critical aviation infrastructure, specifically SMO. SMO serves our city, region and nation as a critical on-ramp to our nations airways. The city of Santa Monica has a 2016 record six formal complaints to the FAA regarding mismanagement of SMO, generating the current FAA cease and desist order, the only public-use airport in the U.S. ever to receive not one, but two FAA cease and desist orders (2008 and 2016). Santa Monica city council, backed by property developer campaign donations, will stop at nothing to try and close SMO." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-01-10/california- congressman-faa-shill-corporations Back to Top Chao: Unleash private investors to boost transportation Transportation secretary-designate Elaine Chao plans to tell lawmakers that the Trump administration is looking to 'unleash the potential' of private investors to boost the national transportation networks that underpin the U.S. economy FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2016 file photo, Transportation Secretary-designate Elaine Chao arrives at Trump Tower in New York. Chao is facing questions from senators seeking insights into how the Trump administration plans to implement the president-elect's promise to generate $1 trillion in infrastructure spending and to regulate self-driving cars and drones, among other concerns. )AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By JOAN LOWY, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration is looking to "unleash the potential" of private investors to boost the national transportation networks that underpin the U.S. economy, transportation secretary-designate Elaine Chao plans to tell lawmakers Tuesday. Economic gains are being jeopardized by infrastructure "in need of repair, the specter of rising highway fatalities, growing congestion, and by a failure to keep pace with emerging technologies," according to prepared testimony Chao is scheduled to deliver at a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Chao emphasized a significant difference between traditional program funding and "innovative financing tools" that can "take full advantage of the estimated trillions in capital that equity firms, pension funds, and endowments can invest." She added that private investment should be "incentivized with a bold, new vision." While her testimony doesn't detail those incentives, a white paper released by President- elect Donald Trump's campaign shortly after the election proposes the government provide $137 billion in tax credits to infrastructure investors. The paper's authors - billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, whom Trump has picked to be commerce secretary, and economics professor Peter Navarro, Trump's choice to head the National Trade Council - estimate the tax credits will generate an estimated $1 trillion in private sector investment over 10 years. But transportation experts point out that private investors are largely interested only in projects that produce a revenue stream with which to pay them back, like toll roads. There are relatively few large projects like that in the country. What state transportation departments most need, they say, is help with a growing backlog of maintenance and repair projects for aging highways, bridges and transit systems. Providing tax incentives also runs the risk of providing a windfall to investors for projects that would have been built anyway. Trump repeatedly promised during the presidential campaign to generate $1 trillion in spending on the nation's roads, bridges, railways and airports, as well as other types of infrastructure. It's also one of the principal ways he said he would create jobs. But since the election, Trump and his transition team have been relatively quiet on the subject. House and Senate GOP leaders have said they'll wait to see what the new administration proposes before tackling an infrastructure bill. Trump has said he expects to be occupied early in his administration with cutting taxes and repealing one of President Barack Obama's signature accomplishments, the Affordable Health Care Act. Infrastructure isn't expected to be dealt with until late spring. Chao, 63, was labor secretary during George W. Bush's administration, and deputy transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush, making her more of a known quantity than some nominees. She is also the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and many senators have a personal relationship with her. But she hasn't been immune from criticism. Labor unions say that as labor secretary she mostly sided with industry when enforcing labor and safety rules. As transportation secretary, Chao would be responsible for regulating auto, truck, train, transit, pipeline and aviation safety. The department frequently faces pressure from industry to relax safety rules and block new ones. Chao, who has been a fellow at conservative GOP think tanks the Heritage Foundation and the Hudson Institute, is likely to lend a more sympathetic ear to industry pleas for less regulation. ___ Follow Joan Lowy at http://twitter.com/AP_Joan_Lowy. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joan-lowy http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-01-11/senators-seeking-insights-on- trump-infrastructure-plan Back to Top A 100-Drone Swarm, Dropped from Jets, Plans Its Own Moves Once launched, the swarm can decide for itself how best to execute a mission. What's small, fast, and is launched from the bottom of a fighter jet? Not missiles, but a swarm of drones. U.S. military officials have announced that they've carried out their largest ever test of a drone swarm released from fighter jets in flight. In the trials, three F/A-18 Super Hornets released 103 Perdix drones, which then communicated with each other and went about performing a series of formation flying exercises that mimic a surveillance mission. But the swarm doesn't know how, exactly, it will perform the task before it's released. As William Roper of the Department of Defense explained in a statement: Perdix are not pre-programmed synchronized individuals, they are a collective organism, sharing one distributed brain for decision-making and adapting to each other like swarms in nature. Because every Perdix communicates and collaborates with every other Perdix, the swarm has no leader and can gracefully adapt to drones entering or exiting the team. Releasing drones from a fast-moving jet isn't straightforward, as high speeds and turbulence buffet them, causing them damage. But the Perdix drone, originally developed by MIT researchers and named after a Greek mythical character who was turned into a partridge, is now in its sixth iteration and able to withstand speeds of Mach 0.6 and temperatures of -10 °C during release. A Washington Post report last year explained that they had been developed as part of a $20 million Pentagon program to augment the current fleet of military drones. It's hoped that the small aircraft, which weigh around a pound each and are relatively inexpensive because they're made from off-the-shelf components, could be dropped by jets to perform missions that would usually require much larger drones, like the Reaper. Clearly, they're well on the way to being that useful. Now the Pentagon is working with its own Silicon Valley-style innovation organization, the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, to build fleets of the micro-drones. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603337/a-100-drone-swarm-dropped-from-jets- plans-its-own-moves/ Back to Top White House makes it easier for private pilots to complete medical exams The White House finalized a rule on Tuesday that will make it easier for private pilots to complete medical exams that are necessary for flying, delivering a major win for the general aviation industry. The regulation, known as "BasicMed," allows private pilots to fly without holding a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate as long as they have held a medical certificate in the last ten years and have a valid driver's license. Pilots will still be required to undergo a medical examination every four years and complete a medical education course under the new rule. But officials say the process will be easier and cheaper for pilots because they can have their medical form signed by a family physician, instead of having to undergo a physical examination with an FAA-designated aviation medical examiner. "They have a relationship with their regular physicians, see them on a regular basis," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said on a press call with reporters. "So it's essentially providing pilots the flexibility to maintain that relationship with their regular physician without making a special appointment to see another one who may only be seeing them every five years and might not be as familiar with their medical history." Huerta emphasized that the rule is not lowering the medical standards for private pilots, but instead providing an "alternative path" for them to complete necessary medical exams. BasicMed only covers pilots operating aircraft that weigh less than 6,000 pounds and have a maximum of six passengers on board, including the pilot. Congress required the FAA to draft the regulation in a short-term aviation bill last summer. The general aviation industry has been pushing for so-called third-class medical reform for years, despite heavy opposition from the airline pilots union. "BasicMed is the best thing to happen to general aviation in decades," said Mark Baker, president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). "By putting medical decisions in the hands of pilots and their doctors, instead of the FAA, these reforms will improve safety while reducing burdensome and ineffective bureaucracy that has thwarted participation in general aviation." http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/313521-white-house-makes-it-easier-for-private- pilots-to-complete-medical Back to Top Hundreds of aircraft struck by lasers, few prosecutions KUSA - From 2014 to 2015 - incidents of laser pointers hitting aircraft nearly doubled,which federal agencies say puts pilots and passengers in serious peril. 9Wants to Know examined the three cases that have been prosecuted in Denver and have found it's common for those charged with this to avoid prison time. The small point of a laser beam can create a blinding flash in a cockpit Paul Drexler, a photographer who records aerial video for 9NEWS in Sky9, recorded video of a laser striking the news chopper last November. "It was surprisingly bright. I wasn't prepared for how bright it was," said Drexler. "There was this bright blue thing hitting the windscreen -- you were wondering, did something just fly off the plane?" After the initial surprise, the helicopter and Drexler's camera began tracking the laser, and ultimately isolated two men standing in a parking lot. One was holding a laser pointer. "We got a shot of the license plates, which was fortunate because it was dark, and then Denver police came and apprehended him," Drexler said. The investigation in this case is ongoing and federal charges are expected. . Reported incidents of lasers hitting aircraft in the United States increased sharply, from an average of about 3,500 laser strikes every year between 2010 and 2014 to more than 7,000 incidents in 2015. Reports are not yet completed for 2016, but the Federal Aviation Administration data shows that in the first 11 months of 2016, pilots across the country reported 6,700 laser strikes. The 2015 data shows Denver has the eighth highest city for reporting laser strikes against planes and helicopters. The city with the highest reported number of strikes is Phoenix, where pilots reported 263 laser attacks in 2015. "This is a very, very serious event," Greg Feith said, a former air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board and 9NEWS aviation analyst. "We have seen a dramatic escalation in these events over last year, this is a real issue right now." In 2012, President Obama signed an anti-laser measure into federal law, stating that any person caught willfully striking an aircraft with a laser pointer could face 5 years in federal prison. "This is a federal crime," Feith said. "And the FBI will get involved and they will hunt you down." Since 2013, pilots have reported hundreds of laser incidents in Colorado. So far, three men have faced federal charges for their crimes. So far, two have avoided prison time and were sentenced to probation. The third has not yet been sentenced. The Charge: Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft The case against Eric Gow of Colorado Springs began in December 2015. Two helicopter pilots reported, while conducting Christmas light tours, their chopper was struck by a laser pointer. On at least three separate occasions, their cockpit lit up with the diffused flash of a green laser. The pilots zeroed in on the approximate location from which the laser beam originated, and reported it to air traffic control. Eric Gow of Colorado Springs leaves the U.S. District Court in Denver after entering guilty plea. These reports launched a federal investigation. The FBI set up a camera in a residential neighborhood where Eric Gow lives with his mother and grandmother. On Jan. 14, 2016, the camera recorded Gow flashing a laser at a Delta Airlines flight, aiming at the passenger jet 4 separate times. Then, four nights later, the FBI surveillance footage showed Gow aiming his laser at a private aircraft. On Jan. 21, 2016 the camera recorded green flashes from a laser pointer shining out of Gow's bedroom window, aimed at a SkyWest plane. The pilot reported a laser incident at approximately 9:44 pm. The camera recorded flashes from Gow's window three separate times, starting at 9:44 pm. By February, the FBI had a warrant to search Gow's home, and Gow admitted to hitting aircrafts with a laser pointer. Eric Gow declined an interview, but after pleading guilty to federal charges, Gow said to 9Wants to Know, "I live my life with no regrets." draft Paul Drexler used video camera to identify laser pointer suspect, report to police (Photo: SKY9) His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April. The other two men who have been convicted in Colorado were both caught shining lasers at the Denver Police helicopter. On March 18, 2015, the Denver police air support unit, Air-1, was conducting routine patrol when a green laser pointer struck the cockpit. The pilots changed direction to discover where the laser attack originated. Court documents show that the helicopter began to follow the suspected vehicle. "While following the vehicle, the vehicle's driver aimed the laser pointer at Air-1 and struck the helicopter and the cockpit a second time," court documents said. The report continues to say that one pilot "suffered temporary blindness and pain." The driver was identified as Saher Suleiman. Suleiman plead guilty to federal charges and was sentenced to one year of probation. He could not be reached for comment. Nathan Finneman, a sort of pilot himself, was also caught striking the police chopper with a laser in 2013. After pleading guilty, Finneman was sentenced to 6 months probation. Finneman did not respond to 9Wants to Know requests for comment. Nathan Finneman was featured on 9News for piloting a paraglider over Boulder floods. For pilots and investigators, the crime isn't worth the risk or worth the punishment. "They think it's funny," said former safety investigator Greg Feith. "That's just because they are ignorant to the fact that they are creating a hazard not only to the flight crew but to the passengers and people on the ground." "Really, what is the point?" asked photographer Paul Drexler. "There is no payoff, there is just no point to do it." 9Wants to Know did not find evidence of a crash due to a laser pointer, though many federal agents believe this is possible, and the data provided by the FAA does show numerous injuries associated with the laser incidents. In 2015 alone, more than 50 reported laser incidents resulted in an injury, most often related to temporary blindness of a pilot or crewmember. http://www.9news.com/news/local/next/hundreds-of-aircraft-struck-by-lasers-few- prosecutions/383859141 Back to Top Alaska Airlines will now let you send free messages at 35,000 feet Sending messages in-flight is now free on Alaska Airlines. (Alaska Airlines) Thanks to Alaska Airlines (ALK), the days of frantically sending one last message before putting your phone on airplane mode for takeoff might be a thing of the past. On Friday, the Seattle-based carrier introduced the launch of Free Chat, a complimentary service that will allow passengers to send messages from the air. Free Chat is currently available on flights equipped with Gogo wireless (only five 737s in the airline's fleet are not equipped), and will be limited to services that operate over wi-fi, like WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook Messenger. Text messaging (SMS and MMS) requires cell service to operate and will not work with Free Chat. "We know that staying in touch while on the go is essential to our guests, many of whom don't need full Internet access," said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president. "Free Chat is a great way to keep that connection alive without breaking the bank. And yes, it's fully emoji-compatible." Free Chat is currently available in beta and will launch on Alaska Air flights with full functionality on Jan. 24. Virgin America, which was acquired by Alaska Airlines in Dec.is not currently a part of the rollout. While Alaska Air one-upped the competition by making the connection free, they aren't the first ones to offer in-flight messaging. Delta offers a wi-fi moblie pass for as low as $2, which allows passengers to send and receive messages on iMessage, What'sApp, Google Hangouts, and Facebook Messenger during all flights. United and American Airlines both require passengers to purchase full wi-fi plans, which costs $5 to $20, to send and receive messages. Many airlines partner with Gogo to provide inflight wi-fi, but at the end of 2015, the wireless carrier also launched its own messaging pass that allows fliers to access apps like Skype, Viber, iMessage and WhatsApp on their smartphones for just $3. With new entertainment options and services like Free Chat, the rules are changing and flying has become more digital and phone-friendly. For years, the Federal Aviation Administration had strict rules about how passengers could use their smartphones on planes. That all changed in 2015, when the the FAA approved the use of phones and small electronic devices during takeoff and landing. Since then, travel authorities have continued to push the envelope on what forms of communication should be permitted in the air. The Federal Communications Commission still bans cellular use on planes, however, voice calls over wi-fi networks with apps like Skype, Facetime and Google Hangouts do not fall into this category. That means we could soon live in a world where people could have phone conversations at 35,000 feet. To keep passengers from taking advantage of this loophole, the Department of Transportation announced a proposal on Dec. 8 that would require airlines to announce in advance if wireless calls are allowed during flights. In the case of Alaska Airlines, wireless voice calls will not be enabled with Free Chat. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/alaska-airlines-will-now-let-you-send-free-messages- 35000-feet-193048365.html Back to Top How to Navigate New Airline Carry-On Rules It's the first year that United Airlines will be offering "basic economy" fares - the lowest prices on a particular flight, but with notable restrictions such as: You don't receive a seat assignment until check-in (and sitting next to your traveling companions is not guaranteed); you're the last to board; and you're not allowed to bring on a full-size carry- on bag (which means no use of the overhead bins). On the list of things travelers care about, overhead storage is second only to legroom, according to interviews conducted in December by Morning Consult, a media and technology company. Even so, 45 percent of fliers said they would buy a "basic economy" fare. And those travelers aren't necessarily strapped for cash: Some 39 percent of fliers earning $100,000 or more told Morning Consult that they were likely to purchase a basic economy ticket. Are there loopholes to get around those restrictive carry-on baggage and boarding rules? Will more major airlines begin restricting access to their overhead bin space? And while we're talking about space, which carry-on size will actually make it past the gate agent and onto the plane? Let's begin with United's new fares. How to Skirt the Rules If you buy one of United's "basic economy" fares, you can bring along a personal item like a laptop bag or backpack that is 9 inches by 10 inches by 17 inches or less, but not carry- on luggage (hence why you're not given access to the overhead bins). But there are ways around those rules. In fact, there are three ways to bring on carry-on luggage and use the overhead bins even if you purchase a "basic economy" fare: 1. If you're a Premier member of the airline's MileagePlus loyalty program. 2. If you're the primary card member of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card. 3. If you're a Star Alliance Gold member (a frequent flier in the Star Alliance network of nearly 30 airlines). Any of the above will also prevent you from having to board last as well. While United is the first major airline based in the United States to essentially start charging for its overhead bin space, charging for carry-on bags is old hat on low-cost airlines. Frontier charges about $30 to $60 for a carry-on bag. Allegiant charges about $15 to $50 per carry-on bag. Spirit Airlines and Wizz Air also charge for carry-on luggage. There are ways to pay less though. Take Frontier. It charges for carry-on bags, but the airline also offers packages like "the Works" and "the Perks" that include a carry-on bag as well as extras (albeit they're givens on many major airlines) such as seat selection and priority boarding. Remember, too, that it's generally cheaper to pay for your carry-on bag online rather than at the airport. On Frontier, a bag costs up to 50 percent less if you pay online instead of at the ticket counter or the gate. Whether other major United States carriers join United and introduce new rules for their overhead bin space remains to be seen, but it will not be surprising if they eventually do, given that the airlines tend to copy one another if a new practice is successful. Indeed, the latest segmentation of economy fares into no-frills seats and premium seats began with Delta Air Lines and has since been adopted by American Airlines and United. If travelers take to United's basic economy fares, expect the practice to become more widespread. Why You Should Measure Your Bag There is no universal carry-on bag size. Each airline has its own rules. And baggage allowances may vary across routes and cabin classes. In 2015, the International Air Transport Association, an industry group that represents about 260 airlines, created guidelines for optimum-size carry-on bags: 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches. But following a media hullabaloo, the guidelines were not widely adopted. Major airlines - American, Delta, United, JetBlue Airways, Cathay Pacific - have set their maximum carry-on size for economy passengers at 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Some airlines have stricter rules or slightly different measurements (or a maximum of linear inches). For example, the maximum carry-on size for economy passengers on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is 21.5 x 13.5 x 10 inches and Qatar Airways is 20 x 15 x 10 inches. Other airlines allow larger bags, most likely to the dismay of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which has advocated for fewer and smaller bags "to reduce risks of injury and conflict onboard the aircraft." For instance, British Airways allows carry-on bags up to 22 x 18 x 10 inches. Southwest Airlines allows carry-on bags up to 24 x 16 x 10 inches. If you fly multiple airlines and want to travel the world with only one carry-on bag, you'll want to buy one that's as small as possible. Soft bags that can squish into the overhead are easier to get on board. If you are loyal to an airline with a generous baggage policy, you can get away with a hard, larger bag. Ryanair passengers who want to be assured that their bag will make it on board can buy one of the airline's carry-on approved bags sold on its website (wheelies are $69 or $99). Shopping for a new bag? There are two things to keep in mind. First, an airline can change its carry-on policy so if you're buying a bigger bag you might not want to spend a mint. (For example, beginning April 4, the maximum dimensions of the personal item travelers on Spirit Airlines are allowed to bring on board will be 18 x 14 x 8 inches - a change from the current maximum size of 16 x 14 x 12 inches.) Second, Consumer Reports, a nonprofit, independent organization, gives some good advice: Measure a carry-on bag before buying it. Why? Many bags sold as "carry-on compliant" are not necessarily so. In 2015, Consumer Reports said it was made aware of this by customer reviews on Amazon and eBags.com that said that the carry-on bags they bought were larger than the manufacturers advertised. To see just how common that was, Consumer Reports bought 11 pieces of luggage from 11 brands that were marketed as carry-on luggage and then measured them using a laser level. The results? Nine out of the 11 bags were larger than the manufacturer claimed. So invest in a tape measure. And when you measure a bag, be sure to include the wheels and handle in your measurements. Be ruthless. After all, the airlines will be. The Sweethome, a product recommendation website owned by The New York Times Company, has additional information on the best travel backpacks and the best full-size, carry-on luggage. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/09/travel/airlines-carry-on-baggage-rules.html?_r=0 Back to Top Southwest Airlines shuffles executives, announces new president Southwest Airlines shuffled its executive ranks Tuesday with an eye toward succession planning, promoting Thomas Nealon to president and adding new responsibilities for chief operating officer Mike Van de Ven. "Southwest is doing extraordinarily well. It is a great time to contemplate a change in our executive leadership like this," CEO Gary Kelly said. "The board is adamant, as am I, that we don't have an heir apparent. This is not a desire to set up a horse race by any means. ... The only way to adequately prepare for succession is to give people opportunities." Kelly, who will turn 62 in March, has served as CEO since 2004 and added the title of president in 2008 after Colleen Barrett left the role. Having separate roles for the CEO and president is a common U.S. airline industry model used by American, Delta and United airlines. Kelly said he has no plans to retire in the near future and Southwest does not have a mandatory retirement age for executives. "I'm looking forward to serving Southwest for many years to come," he said. "The bottom line ... is my role is essentially unchanged." Southwest Airlines Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly (center) has named Thomas Nealon (right) president and given Mike Van de Ven, the carrier's chief operating officer, added responsibilities. (Ashlee Duncan/Southwest Airlines) Nealon, 55, rejoined Southwest Airlines in 2015 as an executive vice president helping develop the carrier's long-term strategy. He previously served on Southwest's board of directors from 2010 to 2015 and as chief information officer from 2002 to 2006. Outside of Southwest, Nealon has worked in a variety of roles for Frito-Lay, J.C. Penney and The Feld Group. In his new role, Nealon will report directly to Kelly and oversee the commercial side of the Dallas-based airline, including network planning, revenue management, technology, finance and corporate strategy. Van de Ven, 55, is a 23-year veteran of Southwest who most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/southwest-airlines/2017/01/10/southwest-airlines- names-new-president Back to Top WheelTug Receives FAA Go-Ahead for Airplane E-Taxi System Certification Plans NORTH PLAINS, OR--(Marketwired - January 10, 2017) - WheelTug Limited announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted the certification plans for the innovative WheelTug® aircraft electric drive system for Boeing 737NG aircraft. The WheelTug system enables an airplane to taxi forward and backward, using small electric motors in its nosewheels rather than jet engines or a tow tug. It will benefit airlines by well over $1 million per airplane per year, reduce fuel consumption and emissions at airports, and save up to 20 minutes in ground time between flights. Additionally, WheelTug will enable airplanes to parallel park at terminal gates; using two doors for narrowbody boarding and deplaning will allow for even more expedited travel. Videos of WheelTug tests can be found at http://media.wheeltug.com/ The WheelTug system represents the most significant improvement in aircraft ground handling in decades. It will allow airlines to reduce overall time on the ground. This greater time certainty will permit airlines to improve schedule reliability as well as fleet productivity. WheelTug will also reduce noise, emissions, and safety risks. The FAA Seattle Aircraft Certification Office has approved the Project Specific Certification Plans for the WheelTug system. These plans detail how WheelTug will comply with all relevant regulations in order to be granted a Supplemental Type Certificate. The STC is a key document for aircraft operation, and once granted, WheelTug can be installed on aircraft. WheelTug will first be available for the Boeing 737NG family of aircraft; entry into service is expected in late 2018. Versions for other aircraft types are also planned. WheelTug's order book already totals almost 1,000 systems for aircraft from 22 airlines worldwide. To learn more about how WheelTug works and how it will benefit flyers, airlines, airports, and the environment, visit http://www.wheeltug.com. Forward-looking statement: http://www.wheeltug.com/fls.shtml For more information contact: Jan Vana WheelTug Limited +420 724 276 506 +1 410 419 0082 exec@wheeltug.com www.wheeltug.com http://www.militaryaerospace.com/press-releases/2017/01/10/wheeltug-receives-faa-go- ahead-for-airplane-e-taxi-system-certification-plans.html Back to Top ACG orders 35 more A320 family aircraft Aviation Capital Group has ordered 35 Airbus A320 family aircraft, bringing its total firm commitments for the type to 158. The follow-on order includes 30 A320neo family aircraft, two A320s and three A321s, the California-based lessor says in a statement. The deal also includes options for another 10 A320neo family aircraft. The firm orders and options are worth at least $4.83 billion at 2016 list prices. "The A320 family is one of the prime building blocks of our portfolio growth strategy," says Khanh Tran, chief executive of ACG, in the statement. "We look forward to placing these highly fuel efficient aircraft with our airline customers around the world." The lessor does not specify an engine choice for the A320 family aircraft. ACG has 66 outstanding firm orders for the A320 family. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/acg-orders-35-more-a320-family-aircraft- 433017/ Back to Top Pentagon Official Urges Trump To 'Rigorously' Review F-35 Jet The F-35 program should be "rigorously" reviewed by incoming President Donald Trump, says a Pentagon official. (Lockheed Martin) The Trump administration should "rigorously and comprehensively review" Lockheed Martin's (LMT) F-35 jet, the Pentagon's costliest program, the Defense Department's director of combat testing said Tuesday. Michael Gilmore, who will leave the post as testing director when Donald Trump takes office as president next week, cited the fighter's "significant, well-documented deficiencies in critical combat capabilities" in a letter Monday to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry of Texas, who's a strong supporter of the F-35. Thornberry's district neighbors Fort Worth, where the F-35 factory is located. While Trump has tweeted that "the F-35 program and cost is out of control," Pentagon officials say the plane is now essentially on schedule and close to its budget after earlier problems. But Gilmore focused on unresolved performance issues in the current $55 billion development phase. These must be resolved before the aircraft can enter intense combat testing and the eventual deployment later this decade of fully capable combat jets. The Defense Department's F-35 program office "has no plan to adequately fix and verify hundreds of these deficiencies using flight testing within its currently planned schedule and resources," Gilmore wrote. Deploying F-35s "with capable mission systems is critical to our national security," but the program now "is at high risk of sacrificing essential combat performance," he added. The Pentagon's office of independent cost analysis estimates that extending the development phase from its planned test flight completion in September 2017 to as late as into 2020 could cost as much as $1.12 billion more. The number is contained in the testing director's new annual report delivered to Pentagon leaders and lawmakers late Monday. The program office has said completing the phase will require about $530 million extra and acknowledges that it may slip to May 2018. Gilmore's annual report contains a 62-page assessment of the program that's a detailed primer for the incoming administration on deficiencies that include software, weapons accuracy, aircraft-carrier launching, the diagnostic system and reliability. http://www.investors.com/news/pentagon-official-urges-trump-to-rigorously-review-f-35- jet/ Back to Top Learn About New FAA Regulations for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Free Online Course from Embry-Riddle Register for Massive Open Online Course for sUAS Operators, which begins Feb. 6 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - If you received a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS), or drone, as a gift this holiday season, or if you want to stay updated on the latest FAA regulations for these aircraft, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is providing a free, two-week online course-Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) - Key Concepts for New Users. Registration for the course is now open. The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) runs Feb. 6 to 19 and introduces novice sUAS users and seasoned aeronauts to numerous aspects of unmanned systems, as well as current and future applications. The MOOC also offers guidance on responsibly piloting aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS). This course is taught by a team of UAS experts, led by Dr. Scott Burgess, Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle Worldwide's College of Aeronautics. Dr. Burgess has over 30 years of aviation expertise in both military and civilian aircraft, including helicopters and unmanned aircraft systems. "This post-FAA Part 107 course will focus participants toward regulations, safety of flight and flight planning considerations," said Burgess. "We have an outstanding team of faculty with private, commercial and government sector experts teaching on topics such as UAS integration, regulation, international operations, safety and systems. We will also harness the power of social media so participants can interface directly with each other and faculty." Students will learn the basic elements of safety, and airspace definitions and regulations so those individuals using the NAS understand and use best practices for reducing the risk of collisions between aircraft when operating a sUAS. This popular course, previously offered in 2016, has been updated to include the FAA's new 2016 regulations (FAA Part 107) for sUAS operators. For more information and to register go to Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) - Key Concepts for New Users. You may also download Embry-Riddle's free sUAS Consumer Guide, designed to assists a wide variety of users, especially novices, to evaluate options for purchase, appropriate to their skill and experience levels, while introducing key metrics for future consumer sUAS comparison. For additional information on this and other specialized industry training online courses, please contact Gary Burke, Worldwide Director of the Office of Professional Education, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114.Email: training@erau.edu; Phone (386) 226-7232. About UAS at Embry-Riddle Embry-Riddle was one of the first schools in the nation to offer a degree in UAS and today has the nation's largest UAS degree program. The University offers: a Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science at the Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona Campuses; a Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Systems Applications through the Worldwide Campus; a Master of Science in Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Engineering at the Daytona Beach Campus; and a fully online Master of Science in Unmanned Systems through its Worldwide Campus. Embry-Riddle is also a co-founder of the ASSURE Coalition (Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence), a Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. MEDIA CONTACT: James Roddey, Director of Communications, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.; (386) 226-6198; james.roddey@erau.edu. ABOUT EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 80 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 125 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv. Back to Top Call for Abstracts of Technical Papers ISASI 2017, San Diego CA August 22 - 24. 2017 The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 48th annual seminar at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina from August 22 - 24, 2017. This year's theme is: "Investigations - Do They Really Make a Difference?" Abstracts of Technical papers are invited to address the theme in conjunction with other contemporary matters on aviation safety investigation, including recent case studies, new investigation methods and aviation safety trends or developments. For those interested in presenting a paper, submissions of abstracts are due by March 15, 2017. Abstracts should include a title and up to 300-word summary of the main points of the proposed paper. Please also include your name(s), affiliation, position, and a brief resume. Submissions, or any inquiries regarding submissions, are to be sent to: isasi2017abstracts@gmail.com The panel reviewing the submitted abstracts will consider criteria such as the quality of the paper for relevance to the seminar theme and air safety investigation. They will also endeavour to ensure that a broad range of topics are covered during the seminar. Decisions on the selected abstracts will be made by the April 15, 2017 and details on the required format of the final presentations will be issued at that time. Presenters will be required to submit their papers by July 15, 2017. Up to date information on ISASI 2017 can be found at www.isasi.org Back to Top ESASI SEMINAR 2017 - LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA The European Society of Air Safety Investigators (ESASI) will hold their annual seminar in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on the 19 and 20 April 2017. Further details, and previous seminar programmes, can be found at www.esasi.eu . ESASI would welcome proposals for presentations to be given during the 2017 seminar, which should last a maximum of 25 minutes with a further 5 minutes for questions. Presentations should address issues relating to air safety investigations; particular areas of interest are: * challenges faced by air safety investigators, * the environment, and culture, that air safety investigators operate in, * practical experience of applying investigation techniques, * new techniques to aid the investigation, * topical case studies. Details of proposed presentations should be sent to Brian McDermid, by 31 January 2017, at presentations@esasi.eu. The ESASI committee will select the presentations in early February 2017. Back to Top RESEARCH STUDY SURVEY Hello, I'm Dr. Tim Holt and I'm currently the Program Chair for Aeronautics and an Associate Professor with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. In this position I'm responsible for faculty, curriculum, course updates, course alignment, etc... Furthermore, I teach undergraduate courses in aeronautics, safety, unmanned systems, and airport management for the Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics program. To this day, there are no reported statistics of general aviation pilots that have survived hypoxia during normal flight operations. More often than not there are tales of pilots getting themselves into a hypoxic situation and not surviving; rarely do people hear of those that survive. This leaves the aviation community unsure of the common circumstances that these pilots find themselves that create a hypoxic state, as well as whether or not that reported the occurrence to the proper establishments. The data collected from this survey issued to general aviation pilots, will hopefully give insight as to how best to prevent these occurrences from happening, as well as promote a healthy safety culture to report these events. It is with this in mind that we decided to embark on this research study. This survey is completely anonymous and individual responses will not be recorded. It should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. The link to the survey will provide you the Informed Consent and contact information of the researchers involved in the study. Thank you in advance, it's truly appreciated. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GAHYPOXIA Back to Top Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship The Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship was established by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to shape the next generation of aviation researchers, honoring the late Najeeb Elias Halaby, an eminent aviator and administrator, for his vision and more than five decades of extraordinary contributions to aviation (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/halabyfellowship.pdf). The Fellowship The recipient of a Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship will spend three months (in 2017 or early 2018) in residence with NCAR's Aviation Weather Research Program, which Mr. Halaby was instrumental in establishing in the 1980s. As the nation's leader in addressing aviation weather research, NCAR plays a unique role in meeting user needs by transferring research results to operations through its Research Application Laboratory (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/). The Fellow will conduct research broadly aimed at improving the integration of weather into decision support tools for enhanced mitigation of weather sensitivities (e.g., weather impact avoidance) and management of air traffic. The Fellowship will provide: * a monthly stipend for three months, including temporary living expenses * round-trip travel expenses to and from Boulder, CO * travel to a conference to present results * page charges for one publication of key results Eligibility and Application The Halaby Fellowship targets graduate students (late Masters or early PhD level) enrolled in an aviation-relevant department or program of a domestic or international university. Interested candidates should have advanced research skills, far-reaching vision, and dedication to get things accomplished. Consideration for this Fellowship will be given to candidates based on the following submitted material: * Curriculum vitae * Proposal (maximum five pages) presenting the research to be conducted at NCAR, the anticipated outcome of that, and how the proposed effort ties into the candidate's ongoing graduate research project(s) * Contact information for three references (one of which should be the student's primary advisor) NCAR will accept applications for the Halaby Fellowship each year. Email Applications by February 28, 2017 to halabyfellowship@ucar.edu Curt Lewis