Flight Safety Information May 26, 2017 - No. 106 Incident: Shandong B738 at Beijing and Lanzhou on May 22nd 2017, not a solution for crowded overhead Incident: Delta A332 near Amsterdam on May 24th 2017, repeated engine stalls and wing anti ice fault Eurocopter EC 135P2 Crashed Conducting ILS Approaches NTSB: Jet Made Late Approach Maneuver Before Deadly Crash Wreckage of missing Sukhoi-30 fighter jet located near Assam-Arunachal border Canceled North Korea airline route raised safety concerns Jetstar plane starts taxiing to runway with ground worker attached to nose Lion Air captain faces demotion after passengers catch him letting his wife and toddler inside cockpit Gatwick Airport flights depart without luggage TSA PreCheck additions: Singapore, Turkish and Silver among new airlines Former Seattle FAA official gets top aviation safety post, after a stint at industry group Will ATC be Separated From FAA in 2021? China's aviation industry to boost demand for 3D printing Pilots warn of 'overreach' in mental health screening Stratos 714 Single Engine Jet Makes Strides Toward Certification Billionaire Ex-Oilman Plans 1st Nonstop World Solar Flight AIRCRAFT CABIN AIR CONFERENCE Position Available: Human Factors Safety Analyst Position Available: Supervisor, Flight Data Programs Do you want to prevent an aircraft accident? Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited Research Survey - 1 Research Survey - 2 Graduate Research Survey - 3 Incident: Shandong B738 at Beijing and Lanzhou on May 22nd 2017, not a solution for crowded overhead lockers 2Z A Shandong Airlines Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Air China, registration B-5757 performing flight CA-872 from Beijing to Lanzhou (China), performed a seemingly uneventful flight. However, after landing a head set bag was found hanging off the landing gear. Initial investigation determined that the bag and head set belonged to a Beijing ground staff, who secured his head set and bag from heavy rain by hanging it onto the landing gear, then forgot to remove it before departure. The bag therefore travelled well attached to the landing gear to Lanzhou. The bag seen after arrival in Lanzhou: http://avherald.com/h?article=4a9727eb&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Delta A332 near Amsterdam on May 24th 2017, repeated engine stalls and wing anti ice faults A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration N861NW performing flight DL-136 from Detroit,MI (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was just started the descent from FL410 towards Amsterdam, when descending through FL380 the right hand engine (PW4168) stalled for a first time followed by a number of fault messages concerning the right hand wing anti ice systems and followed by two more engine stalls. The crew reduced the engine to idle thrust which stabilized the engine at normal parameters. The aircraft continued to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 27 about 35 minutes later. Emergency services at Amsterdam Airport received a major alert, ATC and Airport prepared for the possibility that the aircraft was unable to vacate the runway. The alert was downgraded after the aircraft landed and vacated the runway. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam about 29 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a971e6c&opt=0 Back to Top Eurocopter EC 135P2 Crashed Conducting ILS Approaches Date: 25-MAY-2017 Time: 11:55LT Type: Eurocopter EC 135P2 Owner/operator: Metro Aviation for PennStar Registration: N62UP C/n / msn: 0475 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: near New Castle Airport, New Castle County, DE - United States of America Phase: Approach Nature: Training Departure airport: Atlantic City, NJ Destination airport: New Castle (ILG/KILG) Narrative: The HEMS helicopter crashed into an industrial estate about 500m short of the threshold of Runway 01 and some 500m to the right of the extended centreline. Post crash fire. Fatality of sole POB reported. Preliminary reports indicate that the helicopter was conducting practice ILS approaches at the airport. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=195664 Back to Top NTSB: Jet Made Late Approach Maneuver Before Deadly Crash Federal investigators say a jet appeared to turn late before banking hard and crashing near New Jersey's Teterboro Airport. TETERBORO, N.J. (AP) - A Learjet approaching New Jersey's Teterboro Airport made a later-than-usual turn toward the runway before it banked hard and crashed into an industrial area, killing the two crewmen aboard, federal investigators said Thursday. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary report into the May 15 crash of the twin-engine Learjet 35, which was headed to Teterboro from Philadelphia International Airport. Radar data indicated the aircraft did not start its right circling turn until it was less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the approach end of the runway, the NTSB said. Controllers said aircraft typically start that turn about four miles (6 kilometers) away, investigators said. A "controller reported that he observed the airplane bank hard to the right and he could see the belly of the airplane with the wings almost perpendicular to the ground," the NTSB said. "The airplane then appeared to level out for just a second or two before the left wing dropped, showing the entire top of the airplane." Other ground witnesses also reported that they observed the airplane in a right turn with the wings in a high angle of bank. The jet crashed among small warehouses and industrial buildings in Carlstadt, a quarter-mile (400 meters) from the runway. There were no passengers aboard and no one on the ground was injured. Surveillance video from a nearby business showed the moment of impact and then a huge fireball. The NTSB said at the time of the crash, the wind speed was 23 mph with gusts to nearly 35 mph. The crash and fire consumed much of the airplane, but all components of the airplane were located amid the wreckage at the accident site, investigators said. The cockpit voice recorder is being examined. The plane did not have, and was not required to have, a flight recorder. https://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/emcf/email/edit?flow=edit&camefrom=view&campaign=f4fed733-d2e8-496b-9f2b- 35ca3fde24a9 Back to Top Wreckage of missing Sukhoi-30 fighter jet located near Assam-Arunachal border The Indian Air Force aircraft was on a routine training mission. Sukhoi-30 Defence spokesperson Lt Col Sombit Ghosh said bad weather is hampering the operation.(ANI file) The wreckage of the Sukhoi-30 jet that went missing with two pilots was located on Friday on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border after a three-day search operation. "Bad weather in the area is hampering the operation. The fate of the two pilots is not known yet," said defence spokesperson Lt Col Sombit Ghosh. Ghosh told HT the wreckage has been located near the coordinates, about 60 km north of Tezpur town in north-central Assam, where the last contact with the fighter aircraft was made. Wreckage of Su-30 MKI jet that went missing with 2 pilots found in forest around 60 Kms from Tezpur, where it lost radar contact with base Ground parties standing by to be airlifted to site as area is inaccessible. Srch for flight data recorder&missing crew to be perused by them pic.twitter.com/1Kt2vVxe8X The Su-30 jet took off from the IAF Tezpur air base, located about 172 km from the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh around 9.30 am on a routine training mission on May 23. It lost radar and radio contact with the controlling station around 11.10 am near Arunachal Pradesh's Doulasang area, an area adjoining China, 60 km north of Tezpur. Tezpur is one of the three IAF air bases in the country that host the Sukhois. Last year, a Sukhoi-30MKI crashed near Nagaon town of Assam during a routine sortie. While the two pilots ejected safely, some locals suffered splinter injuries in the crash. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/wreckage-of-sukhoi-30-jet-that-went-missing-with-two-pilots-located/story- FMkOv8OFWAbU6fXnrqiRTN.html Back to Top Canceled North Korea airline route raised safety concerns An Air Koryo bus waits on the airport tarmac in Pyongyang, North Korea. The North Korean airline has suspended a new route between China and North Korea. File Photo by How Hwee Young/EPA An exclusive report putting perspective on the week's most important developments. May 25 (UPI) -- A fledgling North Korean airline route between Dandong, China, and Pyongyang was canceled because of a lack of demand and worries about safety, according to a source familiar with China-North Korea border affairs. China may have strengthened sanctions following condemnations of North Korea at the United Nations Security Council for Pyongyang's test of the Hwasong-12, a midrange ballistic missile. But the primary reason for the mid-May cancellation was lack of Chinese interest in utilizing the route for North Korea travel, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported Thursday. "The aircraft were outdated and safety onboard was not guaranteed, so passengers spurned the route," Yonhap's source said. "Chinese businesspeople in Dandong and even North Koreans were reluctant to get on board." Air Koryo was operating the route with a 62-seat Antonov AN-148 aircraft, which operated twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays. The route is being suspended less than two months after it was announced on March 28 on the Air Koryo website. The chartered aircraft initially received Chinese authorization to fly between the two countries from November 2016 to the end of May. But the route was delayed by more than four months, and suspended service before the end of the month, around May 16. Air Koryo still operates other cross-border flights, between Beijing and Pyongyang, as well as between Shenyang and Pyongyang, Daily NK reported. The flights were announced before Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Donald Trump for their first summit at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. The launch of the new airline route was officially celebrated in China's northeastern Liaoning Province with placards that read, "Celebration of the opening of Dandong-Pyongyang international air route" near Dandong Station, according to Daily NK. After the Trump-Xi summit China may have taken measures to step up sanctions against North Korea. In April, a rare gasoline shortage was reported in Pyongyang. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/05/25/Report-Canceled-North-Korea-airline-route-raised-safety- concerns/9121495739267/ Back to Top Jetstar plane starts taxiing to runway with ground worker attached to nose A ground worker got an almighty shock when the pilots of a Jetstar plane fired up its engines to taxi to the runway at Newcastle Airport, while the worker remained connected by a cable to the A320's nose. In what air-safety investigators have described as a "serious incident", the dispatcher had been walking beside the aircraft as it was pushed back from in front of the airport's terminal, attached by the cable to a headset to allow communication with the pilots. It was after the pushback that the attention of the Jetstar pilots was diverted to monitoring a plane in a neighbouring bay that had requested clearance to taxi to the runway. The incident involving a Jetstar A320 occurred at Newcastle Airport in January. The Jetstar plane's captain was concerned that there was not enough room for the other aircraft to turn around without hitting the A320 carrying 165 passengers and six crew. A report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau into the incident on January 25 reveals that it was while the Jetstar pilots were monitoring the situation that they mistook another dispatcher, who had disconnected from the neighbouring plane that posed a risk to theirs, for their own. Moments later, the Jetstar pilots requested and received clearance to taxi for departure for the flight to Brisbane, turning their lights on, releasing their brakes and increasing power while their dispatcher was still connected to their plane. Their dispatcher had been waiting below for the pilots to give the OK to disconnect the cable used for communication. The cables are typically 3 to 4 metres in length. "[The dispatcher] observed the taxi lights for [the Jetstar A320] illuminate, then they heard the engine noise increase, and then the aircraft started to taxi," the report said. Shocked at what was happening, the dispatcher immediately disconnected the headset and rushed clear of the jet aircraft towards the airport's terminal as it began taxiing to the runway for a flight to Brisbane. In their report, the investigators said the Jetstar captain "reported their their most important lesson was distraction management". The captain believed that slowing down the check-list procedure the pilots carry out was the most practical way of reducing the risk of such incidents occurring again. Jetstar said in a statement that it had reminded pilots of the importance of following checklists and procedures, as well as distraction management, in the wake of the incident at Newcastle. "Like all airlines, we have comprehensive checklists which crew are required to follow prior to departure," the airline said. http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/jetstar-plane-starts-taxiing-to-runway-with-ground-worker-attached-to-nose- 20170526-gwdpn8.html Back to Top Lion Air captain faces demotion after passengers catch him letting his wife and toddler inside cockpit Dimas Rio, a senior pilot working for Indonesian airline Lion Air, may face heavy sanctions after he allegedly disobeyed flight safety regulations by letting his wife and toddler inside the plane's cockpit during a flight. The allegation came to light thanks to a Facebook post that went viral on Wednesday. In it, the poster, Citra Rienanti, wrote that she was a passenger on Lion Air flight JT 015 from Denpasar to Jakarta, which was piloted by Dimas on Tuesday. She noticed that a woman and her toddler from row 1 left their seat and walked towards the front end of the cabin in the middle of the flight. At first, she thought that they were going to the lavatory, but eventually became suspicious when they didn't return after around 20 minutes. Citra then brought the matter up to a flight attendant, who told her that the woman had gone to see her husband, who was the captain of the flight, in the cockpit along with their toddler. Citra told the flight attendant to pass along a message of her disapproval to the captain, after which his wife soon left the cockpit and confronted Citra, accusing her of sticking her nose where it didn't belong and saying she was oblivious to flight safety regulations. The argument continued after the plane landed, with Captain Dimas himself trying to reassure Citra and her husband that passengers may enter the cockpit at the discretion of the flight's captain. If that was actually allowed, Citra's post wouldn't have gone insanely viral (close to 100K shares on Facebook at the time of writing), with many netizens accusing Dimas of making up the rule in order to defend himself and his family. After finding out about the allegation, Lion Air has promised to carry out an investigation on Dimas and his crew. The airline might issue heavy sanctions against the captain if it was proven that he violated flight safety regulations. "The pilot (Dimas) will be sanctioned. The sanction could be a demotion, from captain to first officer, or barring him from flying for a period of time. He is a senior pilot," Lion Air Public Relations Officer Andy Saladin told Kompas yesterday. The Transportation Ministry said that the allegation against Dimas constitutes a violation of Civil Aviation Safety Regulation 121.547, which prohibits anyone from entering the cockpit of a plane except certified personnel. "Flight safety is not just the responsibility of flight personnel, but the responsibility of all, including civilians, as human lives are at stake. I appreciate and thank the people who reported this incident," said Agus Santoso, director general of Aviation at the Transportation Ministry, as quoted by Tempo yesterday. Agus added that Lion Air has temporarily barred Dimas from flying while the investigation into his case is ongoing. https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/lion-air-captain-faces-demotion-passengers-catch-letting-wife-toddler-inside-cockpit/ Back to Top Gatwick Airport flights depart without luggage Passengers have been told their bags will be sent on later flights A fault with Gatwick Airport's baggage system meant flights were leaving without passengers' luggage. The airport said the problem had now been resolved and it was working with airlines to get luggage to passengers "as soon as possible". Passengers reported long queues at check-in desks on Friday. Departing flights from the north and south terminals are affected. The system for handling luggage from arriving flights has not been affected. 'Total shambles' A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said: "Arrivals, and those travelling with carry-on baggage only, were unaffected by this issue and all bags and passengers were security screened as normal." He said the problem with the automated baggage system had now been fixed and the airport was now working to remedy the disruption caused by a backlog of luggage. Passengers have taken to social media complaining of a lack of information from airlines at the airport's check-in desks as the airport begins one of its busiest weekends of the year. Charles Duffield tweeted: "Total shambles at Gatwick this morning." Phil Collins also posted on Twitter: "Absolute chaos @Gatwick_Airport multiple gate moves, multiple flights from the same gates and staff ask us for advice and info #BankHoliday." EasyJet said the problem had been caused by a baggage belt failure. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-40056159 Back to Top TSA PreCheck additions: Singapore, Turkish and Silver among new airlines Travelers go through the TSA PreCheck security point The Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program continues to expand to more airlines. The agency announced Thursday that seven airlines have been added. The newly eligible carriers - a mix of big and small, foreign and domestic - are Copa Airlines, Dominican Wings, InterCaribbean Airways, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Swift Air and Turkish Airlines. The additions grow the total number of carriers eligible for PreCheck to 37. PreCheck, which costs $85 for a five-year membership, gives approved passengers access to expedited security lanes at more than 180 U.S. airports. Travelers using those lanes can keep their shoes and light jackets on at airport checkpoints. Laptops and liquids (provided they meet TSA guidelines) can remain in carry-on bags. Travelers can join the program by providing background information and fingerprints for background check. The goal of the program for TSA and airlines is to get travelers who are better known through checkpoints faster so that security can focus on people who are considered to be bigger risks. "Expanding TSA PreCheck allows us to increase overall security effectiveness and make the screening process more efficient," Huban Gowadia, TSA's acting administrator, says in a statement. "We are committed to the expansion of TSA PreCheck to strengthen aviation security and improve the passenger experience." https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/05/25/tsa-precheck-additions-singapore-turkish-and-silver- among-new-airlines/102158950/ Back to Top Former Seattle FAA official gets top aviation safety post, after a stint at industry group Ali Bahrami has been appointed chief of the Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation Safety division, after a stint at the industry group Aerospace Industries Association of America. (Jonathan Ernst/Bloomberg) The FAA appointed Ali Bahrami to head its Aviation Safety division. Formerly a senior air safety manager with a 24-year career at the government agency, he was more recently a vice president at the major lobbying organization for the biggest aerospace companies. Airplanes don't have revolving doors, but the Federal Aviation Administration evidently does. A former agency veteran, more recently a point man for the aerospace industry, is now the top FAA safety regulator. Ali Bahrami headed the FAA's important Seattle office before ending a 24-year FAA career to work as a vice president at the lobbying organization for the biggest aerospace companies. Now he's moving back to the FAA as chief of its Aviation Safety division. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, hired Bahrami this week for the Washington, D.C.-based position. The agency said in a statement that Bahrami's "depth of experience and collaborative work with industry supports our mission to advance aviation safety. ... We are fortunate to have a person of his caliber back at the FAA." During his previous time at the FAA, Bahrami led efforts to delegate more safety oversight to the airplane and systems manufacturers themselves, a push necessitated by the agency's lack of manpower to police a global supply chain. In his Seattle-based role managing the FAA division responsible for operational safety of airliners in the U.S., Bahrami oversaw both the certification of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and the 2013 grounding of the jet, just a year after it entered service, following the severe overheating of batteries on two flights. Bahrami's office had 20 to 25 staffers working full time on the 787's certification and so it had to rely in large part on 950 engineers who are paid by Boeing but work as FAA "authorized representatives" to oversee and approve the certification of Boeing jets. Some inside the FAA are critical of this trend toward increased delegation of oversight and aren't happy about Bahrami's new appointment. One FAA safety engineer, who asked not to be identified, to preserve his job, said Bahrami was "very pro industry" when implementing the FAA's push for more safety inspections to be handled by the manufacturers. He predicted that giving Bahrami the top safety position will lead to "more industry control" of safety regulation. Less than three months after the 787 was allowed back in the air in April 2013, Bahrami moved to Washington, D.C., as vice president of the Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA), which represents some 300 aerospace and defense companies. Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg is the AIA's current board chairman. Testifying before Congress that year, Bahrami made the case that in an era of restricted FAA budgets and manpower, the agency needed to collaborate more with industry in the process of certifying airplanes. More recently, Bahrami voiced the aerospace industry's concern over President Donald Trump's executive order freezing new regulations for 60 days and requiring the elimination of two regulations for every new one. That blanket decree briefly halted the FAA's ability to issue airworthiness directives. "While we strongly support President Trump's push to trim excessive, unnecessary and costly regulations, a balanced approach ... is needed," Bahrami said in February. "The requirement that each government agency independently comply with the executive order could severely hamper the FAA's ability to maintain the safety of the air transportation system." Kenneth Quinn, former chief counsel at the FAA and now chair of the aviation practice at influential law firm Baker & McKenzie, representing major airlines and aerospace companies, said, "To be in a top safety position, you have to have extensive industry experience." "Bahrami knows safety. He knows certification. He's eminently well qualified," Quinn said. Mary Schiavo, former inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and now a lawyer and an aviation safety analyst with CNN, said U.S. airlines' safety record in the past 10 years has greatly improved from previous decades, for which Bahrami can take some credit given his previous long tenure at the FAA. "On the revolving door, it's been going since the creation of the FAA and the DOT so it is not unusual. AIA has tremendous clout at the FAA, so I am not surprised," Schiavo said. "I just hope Mr. Bahrami does a good job to continue the good trends of the carriers in the U.S." http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/former-seattle-faa-official-gets-top-aviation-safety-post-after-a-stint- at-industry-group/ Back to Top Will ATC be Separated From FAA in 2021? Central Terminal at Sea-Tac Airport. Photo: Port of Seattle image by Don Wilson. Under a budget proposal released May 23 by President Donald Trump, the FAA's current operational structure would see its management of the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system separated from its role as the nation's aviation safety regulator by 2021. According to the 47-page budget proposal released by the White House, if the president's budget is approved, the ATC system would be managed by an independent non-governmental organization. Transportation lawmakers have proposed a similar separation of ATC from the FAA in recent years, only to see those proposals failing to amount to become reality, with Congress instead passing consecutive short-term funding bills for the FAA. However, now, with support from the White House, the U.S. could see its aviation governing structure become similar to other nations such as Canada, most European nations and Australia among others that use private companies as their individual air navigation service providers (ANSP). The newly released budget proposal notes that separation is necessary to accommodate for growth in air traffic volume and to "meet the demands of aviation users." Separating management of air traffic from the FAA is also projected to produce a "cap reduction in discretionary spending of $72.8 billion, and reduction in aviation excise taxes of $115.6 billion," the budget says. More detail on the proposed FAA structural changes emerged during a House transportation committee hearing May 17, where lawmakers listened to expert testimony from the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. (NATCA) among others. In recent years, the most support for the proposed change has come from organizations, such as Airlines for America (A4A), that represent U.S. commercial airlines. In contrast, most opposition has been voiced by organizations representing the business and general aviation communities, such as the National Business Aviation Assn. (NBAA). House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, who originally proposed separating ATC from FAA control February 2016, provided the hearing's biggest critique of the FAA, including its ongoing air transportation modernization project, NextGen. "Congress has provided more than $7.4 billion dollars for NextGen since 2004. Results are the problem. According to the FAA's own calculations, the return on the taxpayers' $7.4 billion investment has only been about $2 billion in benefits. And we've still got a long way to go," Shuster said. Shuster also noted that the lawmakers haven't helped much in terms of providing steady, long-term funding for the FAA, as there has been no Transportation Appropriations bill since 2006. Since then, Congress has passed 42 continuing resolutions, and 23 short-term extensions for the FAA over a five-year period prior to passing a long-term FAA authorization bill in 2012. Joseph W. Brown, president of Hartzell Propeller, general aviation pilot and board member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. (GAMA), provided the hearing's strongest opposition to the proposal to separate ATC from FAA control. He cited a 2015 Dept. of Transportation Inspector General report that was critical of one of the biggest reasons that Shuster has provided in support of creating a new ANSP in the U.S. In support of the separation, Shuster and others have noted that Canada's ANSP, Nav Canada, provides an example of how separation has been successfully accomplished by other countries in the past. However, the report cited by Brown notes that ANSPs examined by DOT IG in Germany, France, Canada and the U.K. do not embark on large modernization efforts. Nav Canada, for example, has an annual budget of approximately $120 million, and considers a "large" acquisition to be $10 million. Comparatively, in February 2016, the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) issued a $15.83 billion budget request for fiscal year 2016, including $9.9 billion for operations; $2.85 billion for facilities and equipment (F&E); $166 million for research, engineering and development (RE&D); and $2.9 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. This included proposed NextGen funding totaling $956 million, distributed among F&E programs ($845 million), RE&D ($61 million) and operations activities ($51 million). "Proponents of transitioning the U.S. [air traffic organization] ATO to a co-op system also argue that the entity will facilitate the pace of modernization because it can borrow on its assets turned over by taxpayers in order to invest in new or emerging technology. It is hard to imagine something more economically hazardous to the American people than an ANSP acting as a venture capitalist, potentially competing with private companies and exposing its healthy balance sheet of (our) $20B in assets to high risk tech investments," said Brown. The FAA's current funding bill expires September 30, 2017, and the House transportation committee expects to hold one additional hearing on this issue before then. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the legislation within the next few months. http://www.aviationtoday.com/2017/05/24/will-atc-separated-faa-2021/ Back to Top China's aviation industry to boost demand for 3D printing The maiden flight undertaken by the China-made C919 commercial airliner marks the start of growing demand for 3D printing in the country The launch of China's first commercial airliner built using 3D printed components will pave the way for greater adoption of 3D printing technologies in the sprawling country, according to IDC. The C919, built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, took its maiden flight on 5 May 2017, marking a historic moment in China's aviation industry. The aircraft has a range of up to 5,555km and can carry up to 168 passengers. 3D printed titanium parts were installed on C919 to reduce the aircraft's weight and increase its safety. Twenty-eight cabin door parts and two fan inlet structural parts were also installed on the aircraft. Under the country's Made in China 2025 masterplan, the Chinese government has earmarked the development of aerospace equipment and 3D printing as key growth drivers of China's manufacturing industries. "We will see more use cases on the adoption of 3D printing technologies in the aerospace industry," said Wendy Mok, IDC's research manager for imaging printing and document solutions. Mok said the suppliers of the C919's parts have proven the value of adopting 3D printing in the manufacturing process. "The success of C919's maiden flight implies the use of 3D printed parts on airliners has been recognised by the aviation industry in China," she said, noting that the demand for 3D printers and metal powders will grow accordingly. Besides China's booming aviation market, which is expected to become the world's largest by 2024, the transformation of its rail and automotive industries is also fuelling the demand for advanced 3D printing technology and diversity of materials. According to the IDC worldwide semi-annual 3D printer tracker, China's metal-based 3D printer market size in 2016 was 181 units, a figure that will grow fourfold over the next three years. However, imported 3D printers, which are more reliable and have been proven in related industries, will still hold a significant competitive advantage over domestic ones in China's high-end manufacturing sectors. "Market players such as 3D printer suppliers, material suppliers and service bureaus should have a comprehensive understanding on the market segments and their related development trends," said Mok. "With the right market positioning and entry point, these market players will be able to gain more returns on the fast-growing 3D printing market." http://www.computerweekly.com/news/450419631/Chinas-aviation-industry-to-boost-demand-for-3D-printing Back to Top Pilots warn of 'overreach' in mental health screening The aviation safety watchdog is being cautioned by unions against "overreach" in assessing the mental health of pilots, as Europe toughens rules governing mental fitness in the wake of the Germanwings disaster. As the Civil Aviation Safety Authority considers changing the medical certification regime, the Australian Airline Pilots Association has said it fears more extensive testing could prove expensive and counter-productive. The group has told CASA that the fate of Germanwings flight 9525 - flown by its co-pilot into the French Alps, killing 144 passengers and six crew - illustrates that reactive safety management is inferior to a proactive approach. The association, which represents more than 5000 pilots, says that moving to more extensive psychological or psychiatric testing could pose problems. Debate over Australia's approach to medical certification has been reignited by the release of scores of submissions to a CASA discussion paper on medical certification. Yesterday CASA's acting chief executive Shane Carmody said an independent party would be engaged to develop a report on the submissions. In the wake of the Germanwings disaster, the European Aviation Safety Agency has proposed new rules mandating airlines do a comprehensive mental health assessment of pilots before they start work and more follow-up where there is a medical history of psychiatric conditions. The European Commission is expected to propose new laws this year. Australian Federation of Air Pilots president David Booth said that while the Germanwings disaster was "horrific", the European approach "runs the risk of over-swinging". "Driving behaviour underground is really the risk they run," Captain Booth said. He said pilots were "much more likely" to engage in programs run by their peer group "with good health professionals in support of that as opposed to a mandated bureaucratic response, which is seen as the big stick or heavy handed approach". He said he supported the approach that had been taken so far. The pilots union has told CASA in its submission that the idea of a comprehensive mental health assessment, which is proposed in the European reforms, needs more discussion "on what this means and what it should not include to (avoid) unnecessary overreach of the regulatory process". A spokesman for CASA said nothing would change until the safety watchdog had digested the submissions. Options include maintaining the status quo. In Australia, CASA gets psychiatric reports from specialists when pilots want class 1 certificates that are required for commercial pilots and class 3 certificates required by air traffic controllers and flight service officers. There is follow-up for at least three years after recovery. For those getting class 2 certificates, they can be monitored by their GP or psychiatrist. CASA says that high-risk conditions where judgment is impaired usually result in certification being refused, but cases are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. In the discussion paper, CASA says it has had feedback suggesting pilots are "very wary" of declaring depressive illness or other mental conditions. Designated aviation medical examiner Chris Andrews has told CASA that restrictive practices can get proposed without a demonstrated indication they are needed. "While the consequences of some psychiatric conditions have been severe, the number of occurrences is extremely small, even though they excite public imagination," associate professor Andrews has told CASA in his submission. "I do agree that the most risk- prone conditions are those where insight is lost - the psychotic conditions - and I tend to agree that these conditions should preclude flying. Depression is not in this category." CASA has specifically asked its stakeholders for feedback on how psychiatric conditions should be dealt with if there is any shift to more self-certification. CASA has flagged that future consultations might consider the option of developing a new medical certificate for the sport and recreational sectors that has elements of self-certification. Airservices Australia has told CASA that where self-certification is allowed, online personality questionnaires could be used to raise flags that somebody should be reviewed. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/pilots-warn-of-overreach-in-mental-health-screening/news- story/93ba0e924ce2866edf7c50c3bd00e8d8 Back to Top Stratos 714 Single Engine Jet Makes Strides Toward Certification Test pilots complete first flight test phase with positive results. Stratos Aircraft 714 Stratos Aircraft has completed the first flight test phase for its Stratos 714 single-engine jet. Cirrus Aircraft is soon going to have some competition for its recently certified SF50 Vision Jet as Stratos Aircraft announced it has completed the first flight test phase for its Stratos 714 single-engine jet. Since the first flight in November of last year, the test pilots have logged 52 hours during 33 flights, topping out at 320 KTAS and 17,000 feet. The Stratos 714 performed as expected, being tested to a max weight of 8,300 pounds at various CG positions. "We are extremely pleased with the progress we've made up to this point," said Michael Lemaire, CEO of Stratos Aircraft. "We haven't encountered anything that would require a major change in the design." The targeted max cruise speed for the Stratos 714, which is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5 engine, is 400 KTAS with a range of 1,500 nm. Pilots will enjoy lots of legroom as the airplane is controlled with a sidestick. The 714 is configured for four, but multiple seating configurations are planned with as many as six seats. Based on the results of the first phase of flight testing, the FAA has approved more rigorous flight testing profiles as well as marketing survey flights. The airplane is now going in for paint and upholstery and is expected to be on display at the Boeing Plaza during EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from July 24 through 30. Phase two of the flight test program is scheduled to begin after AirVenture. http://www.flyingmag.com/stratos-714-single-engine-jet-makes-strides-toward-certification Back to Top Billionaire Ex-Oilman Plans 1st Nonstop World Solar Flight * Russian seeks place in record books with trailblazing project * Businesses, spies among those interested in such technologies After building up a $15 billion fortune pumping oil, Viktor Vekselberg is turning to solar for his attempt to win a place in history. The Russian tycoon and his Renova Group plan a record-breaking effort to send a plane around the world nonstop using only the power of the sun. If all goes well, a single pilot will fly for five days straight at altitudes of up to 10 miles, about a third higher than commercial airliners. Viktor VekselbergPhotographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg The project isn't just a stunt. The glider-style airplane with a 36-meter (120-foot) wingspan will be a test of technologies that are set to be used to build new generations of autonomous craft for the military and business, say aerospace experts. They will fly continuously, have far greater reach and control than satellites and expand broadcast, communication and spying capabilities around the globe. Previous attempts have used multiple flights. Switzerland's Solar Impulse, with partners including Google, Dassault Aviation SA and ABB Ltd., made 17 stops to complete its globetrotting trip last year. "Our flight should prove that it's possible to make long-distance flights using solar energy," said Mikhail Lifshitz, Renova's director of high-tech asset development and a qualified pilot-instructor. A "flying laboratory" test-plane will be ready by year- end, Lifshitz said in an interview. That gives his team two years before the record flight, which will be piloted by Fyodor Konyukhov, 65, an adventurer and ex- special forces soldier known in Russia for sailing around the globe multiple times, traveling to the North and South Poles and twice scaling Everest. In April, Vekselberg vowed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to get the job done. Renova's plane will use so-called supercapacitors, effectively extremely efficient batteries, to drive its propellers and store power generated from solar panels mounted on the top and underside of the craft. The panels will draw on both direct and diffuse light, allowing them to suck in energy straight from the sun and from rays reflected back up from the clouds. Supercapacitor base cells at Renova's Khimki lab.Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg At night, the airplane will conserve power by gliding down from high altitudes before climbing again when the sun is up. "This particular proposal is very timely because the technology is there," said David Baker, a 25-year veteran of NASA who now edits the British Interplanetary Society's Spaceflight magazine. "It just needs the investment and money to put it all together." Zeal for aerospace is growing among investors like Richard Branson, with his Virgin Galactica Ltd., and fellow billionaire Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. as scientific advances turn flights of fancy into commercial propositions. Branson is himself famous for well-publicized stunts including attempts to span the globe in a balloon. Vekselberg, who became Russia's fourth-richest man though oil and metals, has expanded into tech since selling out of crude in 2012, with investments including a joint venture solar maker and power producer. He's invested in OC Oerlikon Corp., which is involved in making solar-equipment products. He's also the president of the Skolkovo Foundation, which is overseeing the creation of a tech hub near Moscow. Self-powered and unmanned craft that can stay airborne for long periods are of great interest for business, allowing mobile communications to go far beyond the reach of satellites at a lower cost, BIS's Baker said. "The military of course are interested in this for long-duration eavesdropping and telecommunications," he said. "There's a lot of Hollywood myth about what satellites can do. You can't immediately grab a satellite and steer it in to focus down for about six days to listen in to potential terrorists." Spies Like Us While Renova isn't disclosing its investment in the flight, its Hevel Solar joint venture spent about 20 billion rubles ($355 million) on panel production, with an upgrade at the end of 2016 adding 3.8 billion rubles. It has invested about $30 million in its Khimki supercapacitor plant to make an annual 200,000 cells used to store power for diverse purposes, Lifshitz said. It aims to expand to 6 million cells with a new plant. Renova's supercapacitor lab.Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg The effort to send a pilot around the world by 2019 will provide a test bed for such technologies and a target to encourage further innovation, as well as developing enthusiasm from the public and potential investors. "People are interested in things involving people," Baker said. "If this was some weird gizmo that was unmanned, it wouldn't quite attract the attention. It's the Branson factor." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-25/billionaire-ex-oilman-plans-1st-nonstop-round-world-solar-flight Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Supervisor, Flight Data Programs Job no: 495756 Work type: Full time Location: Hong Kong Department: Quality, Safety & Security Role and Responsibilities: * Manage the flow of FOQA data (including processing by the analysis system), screening the data for accuracy and integrity, and support of the FOQA gatekeepers in the event validation; * Conduct investigations as and when directed by MSMS into accidents, incidents and/or irregularities affecting the safety of operations and produce reports; * Maintain the QAR data mapping and configuration via the Teledyne base station and Application Generation Station (AGS); * Assist the MSMS in the administration of the airlines FOQA program; * With the use of QAR data, develop algorithms for studies of aircraft performance, FOQA triggers, operation efficiency and aircraft maintenance troubleshooting; * Conduct Gap Analysis; Risk Assessment; Change Management as and when directed by MSMS specific to flight data programs; * Produce ad hoc reporting and analysis of flight data trends to include flight safety and operation efficiency initiatives; * Work closely with the Flight Operations department in developing and monitoring the programs FOQA triggers in relation to the flight operation SOPs; * Manage the FOQA system's organization, security, data storage, report retrieval, trending and event databases; * Prepare periodic safety articles to promote safety awareness amongst employees and services providers specific to FOQA trends; * Work with Maintenance & Engineering in the modification of QAR parameter mapping; * Provide MSMS with recommended solutions to identified deficiencies in the flight data programs monitoring effectiveness; * Serve as the QSS representative at Flight Operations Safety Action Groups; * Present FOQA data to various internal and external groups to include senior management, pilots, and external agencies. Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree required. A Degree in Engineering, Statistics, or related field is desired; * At least 5 years' relevant aviation work experience in flight data and flight operation; * Formally trained in aviation accident/incident investigation from a recognized institute a plus; * Experience in the use of Teledyne Application Generation Station (AGS) desired; * Knowledge in statistics, algorithm development and computer programming; * Experience with using Google Earth to generate visual analytics a plus; * Experience with business intelligence tools like PowerBI a plus; * Well versed with practical experience in flight data management and a strong understanding of CAD 712, 739 Requirements; * Good command of both spoken and written English; * Good computer literacy. Desirable Qualities: * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; * Good Writing ability and organizational skills; * Strong analytical, time-management and problem-solving skills. APPLY HERE Do you want to prevent an aircraft accident? There is a mobile app for everything these days, so why not for preventing an aircraft accident? The Erring Human® presents PFRAT - The Mobile App to Prevent Aircraft Accidents An analysis of most human error accidents shows that they were avoidable if only the risks involved had been adequately evaluated. Most humans understand individual risks, but very few are able to understand the cumulative effect when several risk factors are present simultaneously. While there are several Risk Assessment tools available, they are all based on MS Excel or similar applications and require a computer to complete them. However, there are very few pilots and aviation sector workers, who can use their computers in the field, on airport platforms or heliports, especially in general aviation, airport operations and helicopter operations. Even if they have a laptop, they are often limited by space, Internet connectivity or other such limitations. The Erring Human® now presents an innovative solution: This application, called PFRAT (Personal Flight Risk Assessment Tool) will allow any aviation worker to carry out a risk assessment (RA), without an internet connection, on their mobile phone, in less than 10 minutes, and receive an evaluation of how the cumulative effect of risk factors is likely to impact the flight. The RA will be saved locally and emailed to the registered user when the device connects to a Wi-Fi network or other mobile network. The fixed wing risk assessment used in this application is as recommended by the FAA in AC 120-92 and InFO 07015. For helicopters, RA is as recommended by the Helicopter Association International (HAI). Each RA has 34 questions in 5 categories. The application has additional features to publish the RA in the social network, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google Plus and also send a copy by email to other company officials, such as Director of Operations, etc. This is a fully user customizable app. The users have the option to hide any, or all, of the pre-loaded questions and to replace them with their own questions specific to their type of operation or company hazard/risk register. Even the trigger values at which the users are displayed a Green, Amber or Red light, and the messages associated with it, can be user customized. After all, ICAO defines safety as '... a continuous process of Hazard Identification and Risk Mitigation'. I hope that you will try this app and also leave us a review and rating on the Play/App store. Best Regards, Captain Samir (Sam) Kohli CEO The Erring Human® Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) are accepting nominations for the 2017 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award. Presented since 1956, the honor recognizes notable achievement in method, design, invention, study or other improvement in aviation safety. The award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." www.ltbaward.com Nominations, which should include a one- to two-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website. Nominations will be accepted through June 14. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-05-11/laura-taber-barbour-air-safety-award-nominations- invited Back to Top Research Survey - 1 Dear Participants, You are being requested to participate in a research study of your opinions on the implementation of controlled rest in position to combat fatigue. This study is expected to take approximately 8 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and currently employed as a professional pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJLP5j2hu6WNBxMnrsWEFvJwc2Aqp1EHZXduM1dPwS5IezXQ/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, please contact: Dr. Scott R. Winter scott.winter@mac.com We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top Research Survey - 2 Dear Participants, You are being requested to participate in a research study on risk. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and a pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out before study completion, your data will be destroyed immediately. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYQv1wQ7ti8p8uE6rjWsAsoTvRe23hvVCR4LSvJheUNMt72Q/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, please contact: Dr. Stephen Rice Stephen.rice2@erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Dr. Stephen Rice, Associate Professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Back to Top Graduate Research Survey - 3 I am a pilot who is working on my master's degree at Embry-Riddle. To complete it I need to finish my research project. If you are a FAA Part 121 air carrier pilot will you please take five minutes to complete this survey. It only has six questions and you will be helping a fellow pilot. The survey asks four very basic questions about fatigue and sleep. This survey has no relationship with any airline or with this group. I will not know who took it, it is completely anonymous. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FXRXFZ7 Thank You Kevin Kilpatrick Curt Lewis