Flight Safety Information April 10, 2017 - No. 072 Boeing 737-800 Nose Gear Failure (Malaysia) Balloon Hits High Voltage Wire (Turkey) Autogyro Fatal Accident (New Zealand) OPINION: Polish Tu-154 obsession does nothing for air safety Packing banned electronics in airline cargo sparks safety concerns Armed forces lost 48 aircraft, 21 choppers since 2011 (India) Video shows man forcibly removed from United flight from Chicago to Louisville Pratt asks airlines to perform early engine checks on CSeries FSF Releases Second Aviation Safety Toolkit ATSB report 'may have prevented Essendon plane tragedy' IndiGo makes aviation history in India, hits record 900 daily flights Musician booted off flight after buying extra seat for his cello Norsk Titanium to Deliver the World's First FAA-Approved, 3D-Printed, Structural Titanium Components Shanghai and Moscow universities to start joint Master's program in aviation Technical University of Kenya (TUK) Lands High Tech Aviation Training Devices Air India mulls setting up aviation university IranAir May Receive First Boeing Jet Sooner Than Planned Book Your Hotel Now! -...IATSBA Conference - April 26 - April 29, 2017 Free Embry-Riddle event about aviation safety. Christine Negroni author of The Crash Detectives - Book Signing SAFE Encourages Pilot Input on GA Runway Incursions (Survey) Research Survey Boeing 737-800 Nose Gear Failure (Malaysia) Status: Preliminary Date: Saturday 8 April 2017 Time: 22:17 Type: Boeing 737-8H6 (WL) Operator: Malaysia Airlines Registration: 9M-MXX C/n / msn: 40161/5052 First flight: 2014-08-14 (2 years 8 months) Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-7B26E Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 61 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 67 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Sibu Airport (SBW) ( Malaysia) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL/WMKK), Malaysia Destination airport: Sibu Airport (SBW/WBGS), Malaysia Flightnumber: MH2718 Narrative: A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800, operating flight MH2718, suffered a landing accident at Sibu Airport, Malaysia. All occupants evacuated. Malaysia Airlines confirmed there were no injuries. The flight departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia at 20:08 hours LT. Rainshowers were passing the destination of Sibu Airport as the aircraft attempted to land on runway 13/31. Photos from the scene show the aircraft in a nose down position with the forward escape slides deployed at doors L1 and R1. Runway 13/31 is a 2745 x 45 m asphalt runway. An ILS approach is available for runway 31, runway 13 has VOR/DME approach available. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20170408-0 Back to Top Balloon Hits High Voltage Wire (Turkey) Date: 09-APR-2017 Time: morning Type: Balloon Owner/operator: Private Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 21 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Turkey Phase: Take off Nature: Private Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The balloon hit high voltage wire upon takeoff and crashed. One occupant died in the crash, 20 others were injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=194702 Back to Top Autogyro Fatal Accident (New Zealand) Date: 09-APR-2017 Time: 14:40 Type: Autogyro Owner/operator: Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Te Mapara, Waikato District, NI - New Zealand Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The aircraft impacted the terrain near the Piopio Golf Course in Te Mapara, Waikato District, North Island. The gyrocopter sustained unreported but apparent substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=194697 Back to Top OPINION: Polish Tu-154 obsession does nothing for air safety Poland's government harbours an unhealthy resentment over the presidential Tu-154 crash in Smolensk, now manifesting itself as a delusional farce. Loss of the aircraft, president Lech Kaczynski, and dozens of senior officials in the same forests as the 1940 Katyn massacre was, to crackpot conspiracy theorists, a poisonous selection box of connivance and treachery gift-wrapped by arch-nemesis Russia. But the paranoia is not limited to a select group of harmless loners in tin-foil hats. The reinvestigation into the 2010 accident, and high-profile attendance of government figures at the premiere of a feature film supporting the conspiratorial agenda, shows it extends to the highest ranks of the Polish administration. That the Polish government publicly buys into this codswallop just underlines the observation that it is a government in denial, one which shamefully refuses to acknowledge and accept the plethora of solid evidence pinning the crash firmly on dreadful airmanship from its own personnel. Quite whom it thinks it is fooling, other than itself, is anyone's guess. But its gross attempt to shirk responsibility, no less disgraceful and unconvincing as Russia's own pathetic deflective wittering over the downing of flight MH17, amounts to cowardice on a monumental level which does nothing, in the least, for the cause of air safety. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/opinion-polish-tu-154-obsession-does-nothing-for-ai-435999/ Back to Top Packing banned electronics in airline cargo sparks safety concerns WASHINGTON - Airlines and safety experts continue to raise alarms about shoving more laptops into checked luggage, even as the Trump administration considers expanding a ban on electronics in the cabins of some flights from the Middle East and Africa. As the number of electronics has multiplied, the Flight Safety Foundation, an international research non- profit, urged the industry to study the threat from storing more electronics in cargo that could overheat if unintentionally left turned on. "The increased risk from possibly concentrating hundreds of these devices must be considered, along with the risk from stowing them next to other dangerous goods," the foundation said. Alexandre de Juniac, CEO of the International Air Transport Association, which represents 265 airlines worldwide, said the electronics ban is a measure "that cannot stand up to the scrutiny of public confidence in the long term." "It's intolerable that governments continue to add to the uncertainties facing the air transport industry," he said. Department of Homeland Security officials announced the ban March 21, with airlines given 96 hours to comply. The ban prohibited electronics larger than cell phones in the cabins of non-stop flights of nine airlines from 10 airports in eight countries. FBI testing uncovered vulnerabilities in airport screening that could miss explosives planted in laptops. The risks were discovered in the recovery of fragments of undisclosed materials that highlighted new bomb- making techniques. David Lapan, a department spokesman, said Tuesday the ban could be expanded to more airports and cover more electronics. Those changes aren't imminent, he added. The Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators have long allowed electronics in checked luggage. But spare lithium-ion batteries are prohibited in checked baggage and must be packed individually in carry- on bags because of the risk of jostling against metal or each other and short-circuiting. The concern is that the batteries could spark unseen fires in cargo in rare circumstances, rather than be noticed in the passenger cabin. Fire extinguishers aboard planes use halon, which doesn't work on what are called thermal runaways from batteries that ooze a hot, toxic gel. "When the stuff discharges, it's similar to napalm," Capt. John Cox, a former airline pilot who is now a safety expert at Safety Operating Systems, told USA TODAY. Short-circuited batteries get very hot and smoky, making them difficult to handle. Dousing with too much water could spread the overheated material. "When that stuff discharges, it comes out as a gel and it comes out as molten copper, both of which are over 1,000 degrees and both of which are sticky," Cox said. "If it hits your skin, it's a third-degree burn." The FAA warns crew members not to move overheated batteries in burn-resistant bags because moving the device "may be extremely hazardous," according to a 2011 advisory. But after 33 battery fires on airlines last year, Cox said FAA needs to update its guidance and airlines need to train their crews more on how to deal with the batteries. "The idea is that you want to have it in the cabin so that the cabin staff - if you do get a smoke or fire event - they can deal with it," Cox said. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/04/07/electronics-ban-airline-cargo-sparks-safety- concerns/100172706/ Back to Top Armed forces lost 48 aircraft, 21 choppers since 2011 (India) NEW DELHI: A total of 48 military aircraft and 21 helicopters were lost to crashes since 2011 in which 79 people were killed, the government told Lok Sabha today. Replying to a question, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said all such incidents and accidents are thoroughly investigated and preventive actions taken based on probe reports. "A total of 48 aircraft and 21 helicopters were lost in crashes by the armed forces since 2011. 79 persons were killed in these crashes," he said. To a separate question, Bhamre said it is planned to utilise Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as a flying test bed to design and develop a stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle. He said the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has undertaken a feasibility study to convert Chetak helicopter into an unmanned technology demonstrator. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has also planned to develop a futuristic stealth combat drone. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, replying to another query, said the ADA is also developing MKII version of LCA for the Navy with a higher thrust engine than the one used in MKI version of Tejas. "Final Operational Clearence (FOC) of LCA (Navy) MK II is likely to be obtained by 2023 for induction in Indian Navy and FoC for Air Force MKII is likely to be obtained by December 2025," he said. Replying to a separate query, Bhamre said Indian Navy has decommissioned 11 ships since January 2015. The Minister said no incident of Indian UAV having been shot down by Pakistan has taken place. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/armed-forces-lost-48-aircraft-21-choppers-since- 2011/articleshow/58067925.cms Back to Top Video shows man forcibly removed from United flight from Chicago to Louisville A video posted on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=uninited%20airlines%20videolate) Sunday evening shows a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville being forcibly removed from the plane before takeoff at O'Hare International Airport. The video, posted by Audra D. Bridges at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, is taken from an aisle seat on a commercial airplane that appears to be preparing to take flight. The 31-second clip shows three men wearing radio equipment and security jackets speaking with a man seated on the plane. After a few seconds, one of the men grabs the passenger, who screams, and drags him by his arms toward the front of the plane. The video ends before anything else is shown. A United spokesperson confirmed in an email Sunday night that a passenger had been taken off a flight in Chicago. "Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked," the spokesperson said. "After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate. "We apologize for the overbook situation. Further details on the removed customer should be directed to authorities." Bridges, a Louisville resident, gave her account of the flight Sunday night. Passengers were told at the gate that the flight was overbooked and United, offering $400 and a hotel stay, was looking for one volunteer to take another flight to Louisville at 3 p.m. Monday. Passengers were allowed to board the flight, Bridges said, and once the flight was filled those on the plane were told that four people needed to give up their seats to stand-by United employees that needed to be in Louisville on Monday for a flight. Passengers were told that the flight would not take off until the United crew had seats, Bridges said, and the offer was increased to $800, but no one volunteered. Then, she said, a manager came aboard the plane and said a computer would select four people to be taken off the flight. One couple was selected first and left the airplane, she said, before the man in the video was confronted. Bridges said the man became "very upset" and said that he was a doctor who needed to see patients at a hospital in the morning. The manager told him that security would be called if he did not leave willingly, Bridges said, and the man said he was calling his lawyer. One security official came and spoke with him, and then another security officer came when he still refused. Then, she said, a third security official came on the plane and threw the passenger against the armrest before dragging him out of the plane. The man was able to get back on the plane after initially being taken off - his face was bloody and he seemed disoriented, Bridges said, and he ran to the back of the plane. Passengers asked to get off the plane as a medical crew came on to deal with the passenger, she said, and passengers were then told to go back to the gate so that officials could "tidy up" the plane before taking off. Bridges said the man shown in the video was the only person who was forcibly removed. "Everyone was shocked and appalled," Bridges said. "There were several children on the flight as well that were very upset." The flight was delayed around two hours before it could fly to Louisville, and it arrived in Kentucky later Sunday night. No update was given to the passengers about the condition of the man forcibly removed, Bridges said. http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2017/04/10/video-shows-man-forcibly-removed-united-flight- chicago-louisville/100274374/ Back to Top Pratt asks airlines to perform early engine checks on CSeries Bombardier's CS300 Aircraft, showing its Pratt & Whitney engine in the foreground, sits in the hangar prior to its test flight in Mirabel February 27, 2015. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/File Photo Pratt & Whitney has asked two airlines to perform early inspections of an engine part used on CSeries planes, a request that comes after a related motor suffered a series of problems that forced some aircraft to make emergency landings. United Technologies Corp division Pratt & Whitney said in a statement that it added a combustor lining inspection to its regularly scheduled maintenance of the PW1500G engine but declined to comment further. Bombardier Inc, whose CSeries planes entered service in 2016, said Pratt & Whitney instructed Swiss International Air Lines and airBaltic to inspect engine combustion liners after 2,000 flight hours, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft spokesman Bryan Tucker said. Bombardier also said Pratt & Whitney were issuing corrected liners that would be on the engine of the first CSeries narrowbody delivered to customer Korean Air Lines Co Ltd this summer, Tucker said. The steel liner fits into the combustion chamber of an engine where fuel is burned. "We expect the lifespan to be greater than this, but the inspections will determine when the liners require replacement," Tucker said. "The corrected liner's lifespan is expected to be around 6,000 hours and these are expected to be delivered (by Pratt) this summer." A spokeswoman for Swiss, launch customer for the CSeries, said on Friday that it strictly follows the manufacturer's inspection plans for the engines. There are no reported performance issues with the PW1500G engine used in the CSeries 110-130 seat jets, unlike a different variant, the PW1100G, which is being used in the A-320NEO. India's aviation regulator said in February it is investigating technical issues with the engine variant used in Airbus Two GoAir A320 NEOs made emergency landings following technical issues last month, and in January an IndiGo flight was aborted after one of its engines developed a fault while accelerating for take-off. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bombardier-cseries-engine-idUSKBN1792Y8 Back to Top FSF Releases Second Aviation Safety Toolkit The Flight Safety Foundation has released its Global Safety Information Project (GSIP) Year Two Report and initial GSIP toolkits, which are intended to help commercial and business aviation organizations develop their safety data-collection, -analysis and -sharing capabilities. The GSIP was launched in October 2014 to study how aviation safety data is used in the Pan America and AsiaPacific regions, and to produce toolkits that can be used by aircraft operators around the world to mitigate risk through more effective safety-data collection, processing and sharing. "Safety management systems are becoming more widespread, and 65 percent of the organizations surveyed as part of the GSIP already are using safety performance indicators linked to ICAO accident categories," said FSF GSIP project leader Mark Millam. "But, at the same time, there are many challenges in ensuring that safety data are used consistently in trying to manage risk." The foundation also believes that certain "underserved aviation industry sectors-for example, business aviation, charter/on-demand carriers and helicopter operators-will benefit from information sharing and that existing practices likely will be translatable/adaptable by the other sectors without reinventing methods or safeguards." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-03-28/fsf-releases-second-aviation-safety- toolkit Back to Top ATSB report 'may have prevented Essendon plane tragedy' The smouldering aftermath of February's plane crash, seen from the tarmac at Essendon airport. Picture: An 18-month-old investigation into the pilot involved in February's Essendon plane crash, which killed five people, will not be made public until June, sparking criticism from a former air safety chief that this year's tragedy may have been avoided had the earlier probe been finalised. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is only now in the process of finalising its investigation into a near mid-air collision in 2015 which involved pilot Max Quartermain, who died with four passengers near Melbourne's Essendon airport in February. Dick Smith, a former chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, said it was "completely inexcusable" that the ATSB had still not completed the report of its investigation of the September 2015 incident at Mount Hotham. He told The Australian that had the ATSB completed its investigation and report within a reasonable timeframe, and concluded that pilot Quartermain had engaged in poor airmanship endangering lives, he might have been grounded. In that case, Mr Smith said, Quartermain would not have piloted February's flight in which he and four American passengers died when the Beechcraft King Air crashed into a shopping centre nine seconds after it took off from Essendon airport. The ATSB, in its initial determination of the Essendon disaster, could find no evidence of catastrophic engine failure in the King Air. Although aviation experts said this did not exclude the possibility of engine problems due to other causes, such as fuel contamination, it has turned further attention to possible pilot error. The ATSB launched its Mount Hotham investigation after a pilot claimed that Quartermain, flying a King Air from Melbourne, had confused other pilots in his radio communications and nearly crashed into his aircraft as they both were preparing to land. Quartermain was flying corporate officials from Audi to an event at the alpine resort when, investigators determined, he came within 1.8km horizontally and 90m vertically of a King Air flying from Sydney, transporting passengers to the same function. At one point, it was alleged, Quartermain radioed to say he was 10 nautical miles west of Mount Hotham, before correcting himself to say he was actually 10 nautical miles east. Some passengers were so unnerved by the experience they refused to fly back to Melbourne with Quartermain, forcing the charter company to send another pilot. In his complaint to the ATSB, the pilot of the other King Air said: "If this event did result in a mid-air collision, two aircraft would have been destroyed and 18 people would have been killed." The ATSB report into the Mount Hotham incident has been repeatedly delayed. An ATSB spokesman said that report was expected to be made public in June, and that the delay reflected a large number of fatal accidents and serious incidents over the past six months, which "required re-priorit- isation of limited investigator resources." The spokesman said the ATSB would always publicly release findings of "critical safety issues" as they were discovered rather than wait for a final report, and added, "it is not a function of the ATSB to apportion blame for transport safety matters". That function fell to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/atsb-report-into-mount-hotham-incident-may-have- prevented-essendon-tragedy/news-story/4559ce16dd98e489242d9e0c4a23f3e8 Back to Top IndiGo makes aviation history in India, hits record 900 daily flights Jet Airways operates 650 flights daily and SpiceJet flies 343 flights daily An IndiGo Airbus A320 aircraft operating as 6E 756 between Bhubaneshwar and Chennai created a record on Friday. This was the airline's 900th daily flight, the most by any Indian airline. IndiGo is the country's largest domestic airline with 40 per cent of the market share. IndiGo's flights are nearly equal to the combined operations of Jet Airways and SpiceJet. Jet Airways operates 650 flights daily and SpiceJet flies 343 flights daily. Air India and its subsidiaries, Alliance Air and Air India Express, operate over 520 daily flights. Having added 24 planes in the financial year 2016-2017, the highest capacity addition among all the airlines, IndiGo has 131 Airbus A320 aircraft now. It flies to 44 destinations, with over 90 per cent of its flights flying to domestic destinations. Its longest route is Delhi-Thiruvananthapuramuram and the shortest route is between Amritsar and Jammu. IndiGo has added over 100 flights in the past ten months. Last June, IndiGo was operating 806 flights with 108 aircraft. In a statement, Aditya Ghosh, president and whole-time director, IndiGo, said, "We at IndiGo are thrilled on having flown 900 daily flights for the first time on Friday. I understand it's some kind of a record for civil aviation in India. Now the team is excited to reach the 1,000-flight milestone." Among the large international airlines, Emirates flies over 500 flights daily, with its network stretching from South America to New Zealand. United Airlines operates five times the number of flights that IndiGo does at over 4,500 flights daily. http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/indigo-makes-aviation-history-in-india-hits-900-daily- flights-mark-117041000509_1.html Back to Top Musician booted off flight after buying extra seat for his cello April 7 (UPI) -- A professional musician said he was kicked off of an American Airlines flight out of Washington, D.C., after purchasing an extra seat for his cello. John Kaboff, 46, said he was sitting in his seat on the American Airlines flight from Reagan National Airport to Chicago when a flight attendant and the pilot told him he would not be allowed to fly with his cello in the seat next to him. Kaboff explained the incident in a Facebook post. "I am at Reagan national airport I've just been kicked off an American Airlines 737 airplane for buying a seat for my cello. I need to go to Chicago today for work. Unfortunately a flight attendant who makes the decision for the safety of an entire airplane has decided that the Cello touching the floor in the bulkhead is on safe. This is where the Cello is supposed to sit. According to the American Airlines flight manual [a] Cello is allowed on a 737 aircraft. This is flight 153 to Chicago. Can anybody with any knowledge help out here?" He said the flight crew refused to hear his objections. "Either I could voluntarily leave, or I could be removed from the airplane," he told WJLA-TV. "They said it was just not an approved musical instrument for flight travel," Kaboff said. "Since it would actually touch the floor a little bit, since it wasn't strapped in, it would pose a safety risk." He said the crew incorrectly identified the instrument as a "bass fiddle," an instrument not allowed in the passenger cabin during flights, and would not listen when he told them it was a cello. "The ground personnel and the gate agent said that someone's making an error with this and apologized on behalf of the airline," Kaboff said. He said he has frequently flown with his cello and only ever had one other issue, about 12 years ago. American Airlines booked Kaboff and his cello on the next flight to Chicago, which was also a 737. The airline released a statement apologizing for the incident. "We're reviewing the issue internally and apologize to Mr. Kaboff for any inconvenience he experienced today. Mr. Kaboff and his musical instrument were accommodated on the next flight to Chicago, and our customer relations team will be reaching out to him directly," the statement said. The airline said it refunded Kaboff for the $150 ticket he purchased for his instrument. http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2017/04/07/Musician-booted-off-flight-after-buying-extra-seat-for-his- cello/8481491572215/ Back to Top Norsk Titanium to Deliver the World's First FAA-Approved, 3D-Printed, Structural Titanium Components to Boeing Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be First Commercial Airplane to Fly with Certified Additive-Manufactured Titanium Parts in Structural Applications Norsk Titanium's Patented MERKE IV Rapid Plasma Deposition Machine Producing the World's First FAA- Approved, 3D-Printed, Structural Titanium Components for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Photo: Business Wire) OSLO, Norway--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Norsk Titanium AS, the world's pioneering supplier of additive- manufactured, structural titanium components today announced it has received a production purchase order for 3D-printed structural titanium components from Boeing (NYSE: BA) that are being produced by Norsk's proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) process. "We are proud to take this historical step with a great aerospace innovator like Boeing," said Norsk Titanium President & Chief Executive Officer Warren M. Boley, Jr. "The Norsk Titanium team will continue to expand the portfolio of components supplied to Boeing meeting stringent certification requirements. It is an honor to earn FAA approval for these structural parts." Boeing designed the components and collaborated closely with Norsk Titanium throughout the development process. To certify these initial structural components on the Dreamliner, Boeing and Norsk Titanium undertook a rigorous testing program with FAA certification deliverables completed in February 2017. Norsk Titanium, with their wire-based RPD™ process, is the first supplier for Boeing's high deposition rate material specification. "From the outset, the 787 has been the hallmark of innovation and efficiency," said John Byrne, vice president, Airplane Materials and Structures, Supplier Management, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are always looking at the latest technologies to drive cost reduction, performance and value to our customers and Norsk Titanium's RPD™ capability fits the bill in a new and creative way." The Dreamliner RPD™ components will be on display at the International Paris Airshow, Le Bourget June 19- 25, 2017 at Norsk Titanium's booth in Hall 1, Space H299, along with a full-scale mock-up of the company's patented MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ machine that produced the pioneering structural parts. About Norsk Titanium AS Norsk Titanium AS is the world's pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components. The company is distinguished in the aviation industry by its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) process that transforms titanium wire into complex components suitable for structural and safety-critical applications. Norsk Titanium is a tier-1 supplier to Boeing and is committed to cost- reducing aerostructures and jet engines for the world's premier aerospace manufacturers. RPD™ is the world's first FAA-approved, 3D-printed, structural titanium, delivering substantial lead-time and cost savings for aerospace, defense, and commercial customers. www.norsktitanium.com Contacts Norsk Titanium AS Chip Yates, +1 949-735-9463 VP of Marketing media@norsktitanium.com http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170410005330/en/Norsk-Titanium-Deliver- World%E2%80%99s-FAA-Approved-3D-Printed-Structural Back to Top Shanghai and Moscow universities to start joint Master's program in aviation SHANGHAI Jiao Tong University signed an agreement with the Moscow Aviation Institute over the weekend to jointly enroll and cultivate full-time Master's degree program to serve the demand for top talents of aviation technologies both in China and Russia. "With China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative and the programs of wide-body jets in both countries, exploring new international mode of education in alliance with the industry is very important," said Cheng Jiaojie, Party chief of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The joint program will not copy the existing curriculum of the two schools, according to Jing Zhongliang, executive dean of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics of Jiao Tong. The two parities have worked out new education plans and decided that Chinese and Russian students will be taught in English and take internships together. Mainly based on programs of wide-body jets in China and Russia, each student will receive complete instruction on engineering research and training from teachers from the two schools and engineers from aviation companies. The program has won support from the United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation in Russia, as well as the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China and the AVIC Commercial Aircraft Engine Co. The first batch of 60 students will start the program at Jiao Tong in September. Shanghai Jiao Tong University also set up a new scholarship over the week end to sponsor elite students in international activities, such as internships in the United Nations and the World Health Organization, as well as international innovative competitions. With 1 million yuan donated by Longey Real Estate Group Co, eight to 10 students will receive the scholarship each year. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/metro/Shanghai-and-Moscow-universities-to-start-joint-Masters-program-in- aviation/shdaily.shtml Back to Top Technical University of Kenya (TUK) Lands High Tech Aviation Training Devices A CF6-80A2 engine manufactured by General Electric (GE) was donated by Kenya Airways, GE and Boeing to the Aerospace and Aviation Engineering programme at Technical University of Kenya (TUK) on April 10 2017. NAIROBI, Kenya, April 10, 2017/APO/ - Donation from KQ, GE and Boeing to boost aviation training in the region Aerospace and Aviation Engineering programme students at Technical University of Kenya (TUK) can now afford hands-on training on a high-tech CF6-80A2 aircraft engine that powers Airbus A310 and Boeing 767. The CF6-80A2 engine manufactured by General Electric (GE) along with aviation maintenance training books, training aids, reading materials, used aircraft parts and aircraft manuals were donated today by Kenya Airways, GE and Boeing as a joint initiative to enable capacity building in aviation training schools in the region. The donated CF6 engine will enable aeronautical engineering students to experience hands-on learning with one of the most popular wide body aircraft engine in service today Speaking during the handover ceremony held at the Technical University of Kenya, Kenya Airways, Strategy and Performance Management Director Thomas Omondi said, "Our donation today further strengthens our commitment to ensure a stronger foundation of aeronautical knowledge, skills and more experience to aviation technicians and engineers even as they prepare for job market either with us or elsewhere. We are extremely happy to support the next generation of aircraft maintenance engineers". On his part, Regional Sales Director for GE Aviation in Africa Dr. Rajiv Bissessur said, "As Africa's aviation industry continues to grow, the need for skilled aviation professionals in the region is also on the rise, and GE Aviation is proud to play a role in the skill development efforts underway at the Technical University of Kenya." "The donated CF6 engine will enable aeronautical engineering students to experience hands-on learning with one of the most popular wide body aircraft engine in service today and increase the pool of talented aviation experts that will be needed to service the needs of the airlines in Africa and around the world." Rajiv added. Receiving the training equipment's, Vice Chancellor Technical University of Kenya Prof. F.W.O Aduol hailed the partnership and said, "This donation will provide the much needed practical and research orientation to our technician and engineering students and thus increase their competitiveness. This will make us the University of Choice for aspiring aviation professionals in the region". TU-K is one of the three universities in sub-Saharan Africa that offers Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering. About Kenya Airways: Kenya Airways (Kenya-Airways.com), a member of the Sky Team Alliance, is a leading African airline flying to 52 destinations worldwide, 42 of which are in Africa and carries over three million passengers annually. It continues to modernize its fleet with its 41 aircraft being some of the youngest in Africa. This includes its flagship B787 Dreamliner aircrafts. The on-board service is renowned and the lie-flat business class seat on the wide-body aircraft is consistently voted among the world's top 10. Kenya Airways takes pride for being in the forefront of connecting Africa to the World and the World to Africa through its hub at the new ultra- modern Terminal 1A at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Kenya Airways celebrated 40 years of operations in January 2017 while KQ Cargo was named African Cargo Airline of the year 2017. For more information, please visit Kenya-Airways.com. About GE: GE (NYSE: GE) (GE.com) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software- defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. http://allafrica.com/stories/201704100576.html Back to Top Air India mulls setting up aviation university NEW DELHI: Air India is mulling establishing an aviation university for providing various programmes that can also be an additional revenue stream for it in the long term. The national carrier, which is working on ways to improve its financial position, has already started exploring various options for having a university, airline officials said. The idea is to have an institution that offers a range of aviation training programmes for pilots, cabin crew, operations and engineering staff, among others, they said. "We want to create a world class university and make it heavily commercial," Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani said. The national carrier has also approached Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL) to look at the possibility to convert its Central Training Establishment (CTE) in Hyderabad into a deemedtobeuniversity. EdCIL would be studying the viability aspects and is expected to submit a report in "2 to 3 months", Air India Executive Director (Training) Capt Amitabh Singh said. After taking into consideration the suggestions in the report, a final decision would be taken. According to Singh, it would take "2 to 5 years" to turn the Hyderabad training centre into a deemed university depending on the viability. "Any airline can utilise our resources (once the university is set up). They can also send their pilots for type rating (training for specific aircraft type)," Lohani said. As per the initial plans, the university would offer diploma and certificate courses. In due course, degree programmes could also be offered, Singh said. The CTE has three A320 simulators for pilot training and an ATR 72600 simulator would be inducted in September. For the last few years, CTE has been giving training to pilots from outside of Air India also. "We have been able to train a lot of outside pilots who get an endorsement on our A320 simulators. Later, they get jobs either with us or with other airlines," Singh said, adding such a trend can be capitalised upon to generate additional revenues. Presently, the CTE offers courses for pilots, flight despatchers, engineers, commercial, cargo, management, cabin crew, aviation security, aviation medicine, ramp handling. In 201617, the CTE is estimated to have reported a turnover of Rs 26 crore. This is an increase of nearly 74 per cent compared to Rs 15 crore turnover in 201516. Air India is staying afloat on a bailout package from the central government and expects an operational profit of Rs 300 crore in 201617 fiscal. https://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/emcf/email/edit?flow=edit&camefrom=view&campaign=0201e8b1- 323f-49af-8d4a-983fe1e8a55c Back to Top IranAir May Receive First Boeing Jet Sooner Than Planned FILE PHOTO: The logo of IranAir is pictured as the company IranAir takes delivery of the first new Western jet under an international sanctions deal in Colomiers, near Toulouse, France, January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau REUTERS PARIS/DUBAI (Reuters) - IranAir may get its first new Boeing jetliner a year earlier than expected under a deal to take jets originally bought by cash-strapped Turkish Airlines, Iranian media and industry sources said. Iran had been expected to receive the first of 80 aircraft ordered from the U.S. planemaker in April 2018, but at least one brand-new aircraft is reported to be sitting unused because it is no longer needed by the Turkish carrier. Industry sources said Boeing was in negotiations to release at least one 777-300ER originally built for Turkish Airlines, which is deferring deliveries due to weaker traffic following last year's failed coup attempt in Turkey. Boeing said it never comments on talks with customers. The airlines involved were not immediately available for comment. Iran's Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister Asghar Fakhrieh-Kashan told the semi-official Mehr news agency the first Boeing 777 aircraft would reach Tehran within a month. It would be the first new U.S.-built jet delivered to Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The long-haul 777 is worth $347 million at list prices but is likely to have been sold for less than half that, according to industry estimates. IranAir has also ordered 100 aircraft from Europe's Airbus under a deal to lift most sanctions in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. Its return to the aviation market after decades of sanctions comes at a time when airlines elsewhere are having second thoughts about purchases due to concerns about the economy and looming over-capacity among wide-body jets. That trend has made a number of unused jets available for quick delivery at competitive prices, including three Airbus jets recently delivered to Iran, and has allowed IranAir to jump the usual waiting list of several years. The government of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani is seen as keen to showcase results from the sanctions deal ahead of a May election at which challengers include hardline Shi'ite cleric Ebrahim Raisi. Aviation sources say the first aircraft were paid directly from Iranian funds, but doubts remain over credit financing needed to secure almost 180 jets still on order. Western banks continue to shy away from financing deals between IranAir and Western companies, fearing U.S. banking sanctions that remain in force or a new chill in relations between Tehran and the West under U.S. President Donald Trump. Boeing has stressed the benefits to U.S. jobs of the plane deals. Fakhrieh-Kashan was meanwhile quoted on Monday as saying IranAir had reached a long-awaited agreement to buy 20 European turboprops from ATR. Talks over maintenance with engine maker Pratt & Whitney Canada had delayed a final deal. It was not immediately clear whether the official was referring to an earlier deal for the planes or the final contract including engine overhaul. ATR said on Sunday it was still in talks with IranAir. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-04-10/iranair-may-receive-first-boeing-jet-sooner- than-planned Back to Top Book Your Hotel Now! - IATSBA Conference - April 26 - April 29, 2017 April 10, 2017 Dear Current and Past IATSBA Members, Regular registration rates for this year's conference expire after this Wednesday, April 12th. After that, late registration fees will apply and the price of attending the conference will rise by $25-50. So be sure to check out the full agenda and register today if you have not done so already. I look forward to seeing you in Seattle. If you have any questions or difficulties with registering or booking your room, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Vincent C. Lesch Membership Director International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association www.iatsba.org IATSBA P.O. Box 3035 Fredrick, MD 21705-3035 Back to Top Free Embry-Riddle event about aviation safety 'Human or Hazard, the Role of the Pilot in Aviation Safety' Christine Negroni, author of The Crash Detectives. A free and public presentation titled "Human or Hazard, the Role of the Pilot in Aviation Safety" is taking place inside Haas Chapel at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott campus on Tuesday, April 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. The speaker will be Christine Negroni. She writes about aviation safety for The New York Times, Air & Space, Airways and other publications. She is also a consultant to ABC News and worked with the network in Kuala Lumpur during its coverage of the disappearance of Malaysia 370. Her book, The Crash Detectives, is about the accident. The first 20 attendees of the ERAU event will receive a free copy of the book. Haas Chapel is located on the south side of the ERAU campus, 3700 Willow Creek Road, in Prescott off Hunt Drive. For more information, call the campus's general number, 928-777-6600. https://www.dcourier.com/news/2017/apr/09/free-embry-riddle-event-about-aviation-safety/ Back to Top Christine Negroni author of The Crash Detectives Investigating the World's Most Mysterious Air Disasters Published by Penguin Books ================================================ 203 637-8441 landline 203 952-8441 mobile christine.negroni - skype Back to Top SAFE Encourages Pilot Input on GA Runway Incursions (Survey) Active general aviation (GA) pilots are being asked to help an ongoing study of GA runway incursions by completing a new online questionnaire. The FAA has said that runway incursions - a vehicle or aircraft on the ground endangering aircraft landing or taking off - average three per day and are a "serious safety concern." GA pilots are involved in about 80 percent of runway incursions. "The question is, what are GA pilots doing, or not doing, that results in so many runway incursions?" said Professor Donna F. Wilt of the Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics. "By analyzing such occurrences we can help mitigate those dangerous situations." The study is being conducted by the FIT College of Aeronautics, Hampton University Department of Aviation and Purdue University Department of Aviation Technology. It is funded through the Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability (PEGASAS), and the FAA Center of Excellence for GA. SAFE is a partner of PEGASAS. The questionnaire will be available from April 1 through April 30, 2017. To take the new questionnaire, click here or click on or copy and past the URL below. The questionnaire is also available on the SAFE web site at www.SAFEPilots.org and will be available at the SAFE booth at Sun 'n Fun. SAFE is encouraging its members to participate in the project. Direct Link URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiJFFh52kh_afnEN7qoBRoliQvqLSUhksMQAGDGbO- EcDweg/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, contact the project's Principal Investigator, Dr. Scott Winter. SAFE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting aviation education at all levels of learning. SAFE is a recognized leader in pilot training reform, safety education, and the mentoring of aviation educators. For information on free resource materials and membership, go to www.safepilots.org. Scott Winter Assistant Professor of Aviation Science College of Aeronautics, Florida Institute of Technology 321-674-7639 (Office) 218-269-9376 (Cell) Back to Top Research Survey Dear Aviation Colleague, my name is Arjun Rao. I am research associate at the Center for Aviation Studies at the Ohio State University. My colleagues and I would greatly appreciate your response to a short survey to better understand pilots's use of weather information products during flight. Participation in this survey is voluntary. All answers reported in the analysis will not bear any connection to you or any response that you might provide. Thank you very much in advance for your participation on this survey. Your responses are greatly appreciated and will help our efforts to improve GA safety. The link to the survey is : https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3yJ3oNLMYh4lO17 Please let me know if you have any questions/would like me to provide additional information. Once again, we appreciate your help. Regards, Arjun ************************************************** Arjun H. Rao, Ph.D. Research Specialist The Ohio State University Center for Aviation Studies Room 125, 140 West 19th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 614-688-2634 rao.119@osu.edu https://aviation.osu.edu/ Curt Lewis