Flight Safety Information June 23, 2017 - No. 126 Incident: THY A321 at Bucharest on Jun 22nd 2017, overran runway on landing Incident: American A333 at Charlotte on Jun 21st 2017, flaps problems Incident: Delta B772 over Pacific on Jun 22nd 2017, burning odour and smoke in cabin Accident: PSA CRJ7 near Montgomery on Jun 21st 2017, smoke in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protecton KLM B737 Lightning strike (AMS) Pilots switch off healthy engine after bird-hit Congress poised to prohibit airlines from forcibly removing customers Beijing's New Mega Airport Will Challenge Air China's Dominance eviation unveils all-electric 'alice' aircraft with 600 mile range Pilots condemn ditching of proposed tougher UK laws for laser attacks CAE Outlook Says Half of Future Pilots Haven't Yet Begun Training THE F-35 FIGHTER JET QUIETS HATERS WITH A WILD DEMO FLIGHT American Airlines CEO not pleased Qatar Airways wants a big stake in his company Etihad Wants You to Pay For Its Empty Seats 2017 RAVN Air Group Safety Forum IOSA Auditor Training (IAT) Course BOWTIE RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP...July 18 - 19, 2017 Position Available:...Operations Manager Flight Data Connect Graduate Research Survey Request Incident: THY A321 at Bucharest on Jun 22nd 2017, overran runway on landing A THY Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration TC-JMH performing flight TK-1045 from Istanbul (Turkey) to Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) with 176 people on board, landed on Otopeni's runway 26R at 20:58L (17:58Z) but overran the displaced end of the runway by about 50 meters before coming to a stop. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained minor if any damage, one temporary runway end/threshold light was destroyed. The runway was closed for about 4 hours. The last section of runway 26R is currently closed for reconstruction works starting Jun 22nd 2017, see AIP SUP 3/2017 below. There is no direct reference of a shortened runway in the NOTAMs or regular AIRAC cycle, which continue to show the runway length at 3500 meters. The NOTAM only contain a "Trigger NOTAM" to reference AIP SUP 3/2017 indicating work in progress. There is no indication of such work in progress prior to Jun 22nd 2017, no other AIP SUP supplement has been released for Otopeni Airport. However, the Satellite Image of May 18th 2017 already shows the displaced threshold fully painted and the first section of runway 08L/last section of runway 26R crossed out. http://avherald.com/h?article=4aaaebfe&opt=0 ***************** Date: 22-JUN-2017 Time: 17:57 UTC Type: Airbus A321-231 Owner/operator: THY Turkish Airlines Registration: TC-JMH C/n / msn: 3637 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 176 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: None Location: Bucharest-Otopeni International Airport (OTP/LROP) - Romania Phase: Landing Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Istanbul-Atatürk International Airport (IST/LTBA) Destination airport: Bucharest-Otopeni International Airport (OTP/LROP) Narrative: Turkish Airlines TK1045 suffered a runway excursion after landing on runway 26R at Bucharest-Otopeni International Airport in Romania. The aircraft, an Airbus A321-231, landed at 17:57 UTC and crossed the displaced threshold of runway 08L, damaging temporary runway lights. The return flight was delated by 6:30 hours. There was a Notam in effect that referred to Work in Progress, starting June 22: E) TRIGGER NOTAM - AIRAC AIP SUP 03/17 WEF 22 JUN 2017 WORK IN PROGRESS AT BUCURESTI/HENRI COANDA AIRPORT. The AIP Supplement detailed the changes as follows: Effective with the date 22 June 2017, at BUCURETI / Henri Coand Airport repairing works are taking place on runway 08L/26R. THR 08L and RWY 26R END will be displaced by 1250 m. The new Landing Distance Available for runway 26R was 2237 meters. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196274 Back to Top Incident: American A333 at Charlotte on Jun 21st 2017, flaps problems An American Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N277AY performing flight AA-730 from Charlotte,NC (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK) with 258 passengers and 16 crew, was climbing out of Charlotte when the crew stopped the climb at 17,000 feet due to problems with the flaps. The crew requested emergency services on stand by and requested an after landing runway inspection for possible debris. The aircraft subsequently entered a hold at 8000 feet to burn off fuel and returned to Charlotte for a safe landing at a rather normal speed about 4:45 hours after departure. The airline reported the crew returned to Charlotte due to a possible issue with the flaps. The flight was cancelled. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL730/history/20170621/2255Z/KCLT/EGLL http://avherald.com/h?article=4aaadb89&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Delta B772 over Pacific on Jun 22nd 2017, burning odour and smoke in cabin A Delta Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N702DN performing flight DL-26 from Seoul (South Korea) to Atlanta,GA (USA) with 316 people on board, stopped the climb out of Seoul at FL270 and was enroute still at FL270 about 600nm east of Tokyo about 4 hours into the flight when the crew decided to divert to Tokyo's Haneda Airport reporting a burning odour and smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on Haneda's runway 34R about 90 minutes after turning around. The airline reported there was a burning odour in the business class followed by smoke. The inflight entertainment system was shut down and the smoke dissipated with some of the odour remaining. A fault in the electrical system is being suspected, a maintenance engineer travelling on board is investigating. http://avherald.com/h?article=4aaada58&opt=0 ****************** Date: 22-JUN-2017 Time: ca. 21:00 JS Type: Boeing 777-232LR Owner/operator: Delta Air Lines Registration: N702DN C/n / msn: 29741/704 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 316 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: far east of Japan - Pacific Ocean Phase: En route Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Seoul/Incheon International Airport (ICN/RKSI), South Korea Destination airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL/KATL), GA, USA Narrative: A Boeing 777-232LR, operating flight DAL/DL26 from Seoul/Incheon, South Korea to Atlanta, GA, USA, diverted to Tokyo International Airport/Haneda (HND/RJTT), Japan, due to smoke and an odor in the business class. The airplane landed safely at 22:40 LT. No personal injuries were reported. It is reported that the odor subsided after switching off the movie entertainment system. An electric trouble was suspected. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196270 Back to Top Accident: PSA CRJ7 near Montgomery on Jun 21st 2017, smoke in cockpit A PSA Airlines Canadair CRJ-700 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N545PB performing flight AA-5559 from New Orleans,LA to Washington National,DC (USA) with 65 passengers and 4 crew, had just reached cruise level 310 when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and diverted the aircraft to Montgomery,AL (USA) for a safe landing about 25 minutes later. The aircraft was evacuated, one passenger received minor injuries as result of the evacuation. The FAA reported the persons on board were evacuated through the overwing doors, one passenger received minor injuries. The airline reported there was a burning odour in cockpit and cabin. Passengers reported the passenger oxygen masks were released and they were instructed to use them. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/JIA5559/history/20170621/1555Z/KMSY/KDCA http://avherald.com/h?article=4aaab8c8&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top KLM B737 Lightning strike (AMS) Date: 22-JUN-2017 Time: ca 17:00 Type: Boeing 737-8K2 (WL) Owner/operator: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Registration: PH-BXA C/n / msn: 29131/198 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS/EHAM) - Netherlands Phase: Standing Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS/EHAM) Destination airport: Manchester International Airport (MAN/EGCC) Narrative: KLM flight KL1093 to Manchester was parked at the gate at Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport, Netherlands when it was reportedly hit by lightning. Smoke is said to have developed in the cabin and cockpit, forcing passengers already on board, to deplane. Weather at the airport EHAM 221525Z 24010KT 210V270 9999 FEW008 FEW070CB 19/18 Q1009 RETSRA TEMPO BKN012 >> EHAM 221455Z 21014KT 180V250 1700 R18C/1400D R27/1800N R18R/1900N R06/P2000N +TSRA FEW009 BKN070CB 18/18 Q1010 BECMG FM1520 9999 NSW EHAM 221425Z 20006KT 170V230 9999 -SHRA FEW025 FEW070CB 20/18 Q1008 RETSRA TEMPO 26020G30KT 4000 TSRA EHAM 221355Z 27010KT 220V300 9999 -SHRA SCT070CB 21/16 Q1009 TEMPO 26020G30KT 4000 TSRA https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196281 Back to Top Pilots switch off healthy engine after bird-hit * A GoAir flight suffered a bird-hit during takeoff at Delhi's IGI airport * Pilots allegedly turned off the healthy engine which was a wrong decision * Directorate General of Civil Aviation has grounded both pilots, said a source NEW DELHI: Over 160 people on a GoAir flight from Delhi to Mumbai on Wednesday had a narrow escape when the aircraft suffered a bird-hit during takeoff at IGI Airport. One of the Airbus A-320's engines ingested the bird during takeoff roll, but instead of switching this engine off as per procedure, the pilots allegedly turned off the healthy one. "The pilots soon realised their mistake and switched on the healthy engine. The aircraft reached an altitude of about 2,000 feet before it returned to land safely in Delhi. It was a dangerous situation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has grounded both pilots. Luckily, the other engine had not failed after the bird-hit and was still powering the plane even after the pilots reportedly switched off the 'healthy' engine, which had not suffered the bird-hit. Otherwise, it would have been bad," said a source. A GoAir spokesman said: "GoAir flight G8 338 from New Delhi to Mumbai, carrying 155 passengers, suffered a bird- hit on Wednesday. Following standard operating procedure, the aircraft returned to Delhi as a precautionary measure at 11.28am. All passengers were transferred to another aircraft, which was airborne at 1.04pm. The matter is under investigation." The airline did not comment on the allegedly wrong switching-off of the engine and grounding of the pilots. Senior commanders said switching off the wrong engine could lead to a disaster. If an engine is damaged for any reason like a bird-hit and the pilots mistakenly switch off the healthy engine too, the aircraft has no working engine. In February 2015, a Taiwanese airliner (which ceased operations last year) smashed into a highway bridge in Taiwan and then crashed into a river, killing 43 of its 58 passengers, after the pilot turned off the wrong engine. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/pilots-switch-off-healthy-engine-after-bird- hit/articleshow/59276868.cms Back to Top Congress poised to prohibit airlines from forcibly removing customers Congress appears poised to crack down on the airline industry after a passenger was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight earlier this year. Transportation leaders in both chambers unveiled a slew of new consumer protections in must-pass aviation bills this week, including language that would prohibit airlines from involuntarily removing customers from a flight after they have already boarded the plane. Airlines may be able to swallow the policy, which is far less severe than other proposals that have been floated. And companies have not aggressively pushed back against the idea in public, likely realizing that the negative attention from a viral video of the United incident has cast the dye on the issue. It also appears to have changed the political calculus. Republicans have long been reluctant to over-regulate the airline industry, but they have backed the provision - underscoring the powerful impact of the United controversy. "We'd like the airlines to understand what they should be doing on their own, for consumer protections that are reasonable, rational and common sense," Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on aviation, told The Hill on Thursday. "And if they don't do it on their own, we're going to help them out." United sparked a firestorm of controversy when videos emerged on social media of security officers forcibly removing a 69-year-old man from his seat and dragging him down the aisle by his wrists. The passenger, who settled with United after suffering a severe concussion, broken nose and lost several teeth, had refused to give up his seat to make room for United crew members who needed to be on the full flight. United, which has since apologized and instituted a series of policy changes, said that when no one volunteered to be bumped, they were forced to randomly select passengers using an automated system. Airlines are legally allowed to overbook flights and bump passengers against their will. It's a common business practice to help compensate for no-shows, although most issues are typically figured out prior to boarding. There are also federal rules that need to be followed. Anyone bumped against their will may be entitled to compensation and must be given a written statement detailing their rights and explaining how the airline decides who gets on an overbooked flight and who doesn't. But each airline is largely responsible for setting their own boarding policies, which customers agree to whenever they book a flight and enter into a "contract of carriage." Many passengers are unaware of the contracts, which are posted online and can be dozens of pages long. The United incident put a national spotlight on the airline industry's customer service policies, fueling a push in Congress to create new passenger rights. Lawmakers from both parties have introduced a wave of bills targeting airlines' overbooking and bumping policies - including banning the practice altogether. And lawmakers grilled United CEO Oscar Munoz and other air carriers during a high-profile hearing, where they warned the companies to shape up their behavior. A number of airlines have already revamped their customer service policies in the wake of the incident, hoping to keep federal regulators off the industry's back. United and American Airlines both promised not to remove passengers after they are seated on the aircraft. Airlines for America, the trade group representing most of the nation's major airlines, pointed out to The Hill that the group testified to Congress that a number of airlines were already taking that step. But the moves do not appear to have fully assuaged the concerns of Congress, which could translate into long-lasting consequences for the airline industry. The House's aviation bill, which would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for six years, would ensure that passengers aren't removed from a plane to make room for someone else, unless it's a matter of safety or security. Lawmakers say they are hoping to prevent a repeat of the controversial dragging episode. "I believe [the United incident] did play a role" in crafting the FAA bill, Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) told The Hill. The legislation would also clarify that there are no federal limits on the level of compensation that can be provided to bumped passengers and would require air carriers to proactively offer customers compensation instead of waiting for them to request it. "A lot of it is clarifying some of the rules," said Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas). "There was some discussion with United that there was a limit as to what they can pay. This legislation makes it clear that that is not the case." Across the Capitol, the Senate's long-term reauthorization of the FAA also would ban involuntary bumping and ensure there are no limits on compensation. But the Senate version, which draws from legislation authored by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), would require a federal review of airline's overselling policies and require air carriers to clearly specify their boarding and bumping practices on a passenger's flight itinerary, receipt or other direct form of communication. "I knew we had to come together to make sure that this kind of outrageous action can never happen again," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who backed similar legislation. "We worked on a bipartisan, bicameral basis on this issue, and I'm pleased that this common-sense idea is in the proposed FAA bill. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that it is in the final law." http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/339062-congress-poised-to-prohibit-airlines-from-forcibly-removing- customers Back to Top Beijing's New Mega Airport Will Challenge Air China's Dominance * Air China fights rivals awarded base in Beijing's new airport * Beijing counts on surging air travel for success in twin hubs Like ancient warlords, China's three biggest airlines have dominated their regional cities: Air China Ltd. controlling Beijing, China Eastern Airlines Corp. holding sway in the financial center of Shanghai, and China Southern Airlines Co. ruling the roost down in export gateway Guangzhou. Until now. Rising on a plain south of Beijing is a mega airport that is about to change the balance, bringing all three head to head in the capital as it becomes the world's biggest aviation hub. The new airport, due to open in 2019, has been designated by authorities as the hub for members of the SkyTeam alliance, a global group of airlines that includes China Eastern and China Southern. The two Chinese carriers will each be allowed to capture 40 percent of the airport's passengers, gaining coveted time slots to Europe and the U.S. in Air China's backyard. An artist rendition of the Beijing New Airport Terminal building.Source: Methanoia via Zaha Hadid Architects "This is an absolute game-changer for China Eastern and China Southern," said Corrine Png, chief executive officer of Crucial Perspective in Singapore. "Having all the SkyTeam alliance members under one roof will enable seamless flight connections." The invasion of Air China's regional rivals has repercussions beyond China. As well as dominating their home bases, the big three Chinese players have each carved out a position abroad. Air China, through its Star Alliance ties with Deutsche Lufthansa AG and United Continental Holdings Inc., commands many of the routes to Europe and North America. China Eastern is the biggest carrier to Japan and South Korea. And China Southern is strong in Australia and Southeast Asia. With access to more slots in Beijing, China Southern and China Eastern would potentially get more access to lucrative North American routes while their SkyTeam partners would get better access to the Chinese capital. In addition, China Southern, the nation's biggest airline, would be able to draw traffic from its Southeast Asian links to fly via Beijing to the U.S. Until then, they have to fight for slots at the existing airport which is close to capacity. Air China, part of Star Alliance, whose 28 members include United, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, controls 38 percent of the slots at Beijing Capital International Airport, which handled 94 million passengers in 2016-close to the maximum of 96 million. "There are demands to add hundreds of flights in Beijing every day that get refused because we're running out of resources," said Liu Xuesong, general manager of Capital Airports Holding Co., the operator of Beijing's existing airport. "The city is capable of running dual hubs." The new $12.9 billion airport in the southern suburb of Daxing, which was approved in 2014, would accommodate up to 100 million passengers a year with as many as seven runways. Liu estimates that by 2025, the two Beijing airports would share 170 million passengers, including 25 million on international flights. Beijing is joining a select list of major cities with two or even three international airports, including London, New York, Tokyo and Paris. Unlike in Beijing, though, those airports usually take complementary roles, such as one serving international or intercontinental routes and the other focusing on domestic or regional flights. "So far in history we haven't seen any city or city clusters having two hubs of the same scale," said Ma Chongxian, vice president of Air China's parent company, China National Aviation Holding Co., at a conference in Beijing in May. That's because it's usually airlines, rather than the government, who choose which airport to fly to, said Steve Saxon, a Shanghai-based partner at McKinsey & Co. "China is different," Saxon said. "The government has substantial influence over the three largest carriers," which will help Beijing build two connecting hubs where other cities have failed. China Southern has said it will deploy more than 200 aircraft at the new airport by 2020-about a fifth of its planned fleet by that time. China Eastern will have "a remarkable advantage" by being a hub carrier both in Shanghai and Beijing as the capital is better positioned geographically as a connecting point for Europe and North America, said Will Horton, a Hong Kong-based analyst at CAPA Centre for Aviation. China Eastern already accounts for 50 percent of the market for the top 10 international flights from the country's financial hub Shanghai. The construction of the new Beijing airport isn't all bad news for Air China. Its airport is closer to downtown, about 25 minutes in smooth traffic to the main business district in the eastern part of the capital, or the same time by train. Planned road and rail links from the new airport would also whisk travelers into Beijing in about half an hour, but to the southwest, a part of the city that's less convenient for most business executives, especially during the capital's notoriously congested peak traffic times. "Air China is likely to win share on key business routes," said McKinsey's Saxon, "similar to how British Airways benefits from the privileged position it has in the more convenient London Heathrow." That could affect the lucrative Beijing-Shanghai route, where China Eastern commands nearly 60 percent of the market, data compiled by Huatai Securities Co. show. An artist rendition of the Beijing New Airport Terminal building.Source: Methanoia via Zaha Hadid Architects The division of Beijing's airports by alliance leaves out the third-biggest group, Oneworld. Members of the group, started in 1999 by Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and four other carriers, are instead relying on individual links with the Chinese airlines. Oneworld member American Airlines Group Inc., announced in March a 2.7 percent stake purchase in China Southern for $200 million, and will deploy some of its flights at the new Beijing airport as part of the deal. The U.S. carrier had to postpone the launch of a Los Angeles-to-Beijing flight earlier this year as it failed to secure a time slot. Delta Air Lines Inc., which has a 3.2 percent stake in China Eastern, should also earn more slots at the new airport. A representative for Cathay didn't respond to an email seeking comments. Chinese authorities have committed to preserving slots at the current and new airports for carriers that already fly to Beijing, Oneworld said in an e-mail. It said 10 Oneworld members serve the city with a total of 163 weekly flights from 16 international destinations. One major effect of all the expansion will be some very congested skies over China, which has some of the most constricted airspace in the world because of priority for military planes. CAPA estimates that only about 20 percent the airspace over China is open to civilian flights-one of the reasons for Chinese airlines' spotty on-time performance record. "There is no point opening another massive airport without addressing the restricted airspace issue," Crucial Perspective's Png said. Travel with us, drive with us, eat with us. One option is a trial in Guangzhou that allows military and civil aircraft to share some airspace. The experiment led to a 7 percent increase in passenger numbers in the Pearl River Delta, said Che Jinjun, director general of the air traffic management bureau at the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The trial will be expanded to Beijing and Shanghai, CAAC administrator Feng Zhenglin said at a recent aviation forum in Beijing. "The good news is that the government seems committed to airspace reform, which should open up enough space for the expansion," Saxon said. "It has to." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-21/-12-9-billion-airport-puts-china-s-biggest-airlines-in-a-battle- for-dominance Back to Top eviation unveils all-electric 'alice' aircraft with 600 mile range eviation unveils all-electric 'alice' aircraft with 600 mile range eviation unveils all-electric 'alice' aircraft with 600 mile range jun 22, 2017 boeing launches brand new 737 MAX 10 plane at paris air show boeing launches brand new 737 MAX 10 plane at paris air show jun 19, 2017 the stratolaunch, world's largest plane, emerges from hangar for first time the stratolaunch, world's largest plane, emerges from hangar for first time jun 01, 2017 piaggio avanti evo P.180 twin turboprop aircraft takes its first flight piaggio avanti evo P.180 twin turboprop aircraft takes its first flight jun 01, 2017 elytron VTOL air-taxi concept fuses an airplane with a helicopter elytron VTOL air-taxi concept fuses an airplane with a helicopter may 30, 2017 eviation unveils all-electric 'alice' aircraft with 600 mile range eviation unveils all-electric 'alice' aircraft with 600 mile range 19k views electric autonomous volocopter to be tested in the skies of dubai electric autonomous volocopter to be tested in the skies of dubai 18k views world's first graphene headphones deliver a groundbreaking sound quality world's first graphene headphones deliver a groundbreaking sound quality 22k views the soelcat 12 solar electric catamaran is like a floating tesla the soelcat 12 solar electric catamaran is like a floating tesla 17k views on the tarmac of the 52nd international salon of aeronautics and space, better known as the paris air show, eviation aircraft took the wraps off their 'alice' aircraft, an all-electric plane with the capacity to travel up to 600 miles. measuring a total length of 5.8m, the nifty little plane carry up to nine people, and gives of no harmful emissions in the process. with the unveiling of 'alice,' eviation looks towards next era of aviation innovation, integrating electrical design right from the start. the 'alice' aircraft focuses on maximizing flight efficiency, and reducing energy consumption. with a philosophy of 'electric from conception' eviation has rethought the design of the plane's airframe, propeller and motor to conserve more energy. made entirely from composites, the whole craft is designed to be ultra light, making it 300 times more energy efficient than other planes of the same size. the aircraft gets its power from a Li-lon - 980 kWh battery. the energy pack fires up one main pusher propeller at the tail and two pusher propellers at the wingtips, reducing both drag and redundancy. the plane has been unveiled at the paris air show 2017 the aircraft uses lithium-aluminum fusion technology, allowing for a delivers a 600 mile range per flight before re- charging is required. it's long range makes the plane the ideal craft for an air-taxi, increasing the convenience of city- hopping whilst reducing the carbon footprint of short-distance flights. the startup has high aspirations, and is already a member of NASA's mobility Program, and the general aviation manufacturers' association (GAMA) committee- responsible for electric propulsion and innovation. eviation has redesigned the plane's airframe to conserve more energy 'as we are more connected than ever before, our mobility options need to be adapted to reflect this new and effective future,' says omer bar-yohay , ceo of eviation aircraft. 'whether it's a zero-emission, low-cost trip between silicon valley and san diego, or from seoul to beijing, our fully electric airplane is a chance for those who want to get around quickly and have the impact that our globalized economy demands today.' the 'alice' plane can carry up to nine people the plane is driven by one main pusher propeller at the tail and two pusher propellers at the wingtips the 'alice' craft is built from composites the plane weights 300 times less than others of the same size http://www.designboom.com/technology/eviation-alice-electric-aircraft-06-22-2017/ Back to Top Pilots condemn ditching of proposed tougher UK laws for laser attacks Decision puts 'lives of passengers and crew at risk', says union Laser attacks on aircraft using Heathrow rose by a quarter to 151 incidents last year, according to the CAA. Airline pilots have expressed anger after a planned crackdown on people who shine lasers at aircraft was dropped by the government. In February the Department for Transport announced its intention to introduce legislation meaning people who did so could face tougher penalties including jail. It is already an offence to endanger aircraft by shining lasers at pilots, and offenders can be fined. But police have to prove a person endangered the aircraft when committing the offence of shining a laser. Under the proposed plans to bolster the law, police would have had to prove only the offence of shining the laser. Last year 1,258 laser attacks were reported on aircraft in the UK, down from 1,439 in 2015, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. Brian Strutton, general secretary of Balpa, said it was infuriating to see the changes that the airline pilots' union had hoped for be ditched. "Not having this legislation is dangerous and puts the lives of passengers and crew at risk," he said. "The proposed tougher laws received cross-party support so it's baffling that they have been dropped. "When a laser pen is pointed at an aircraft it can dazzle and distract the pilot, and has the potential to cause a crash. "Last year's incident figures remain dangerously high, with the equivalent of more than three laser attacks a day across the UK." A government spokeswoman said: "Safety is our top priority. Shining a laser at an aircraft in flight could pose a serious safety risk and it is already a criminal offence to do so. "Anyone found guilty could be liable to a fine, up to a maximum of £2,500." Laser attacks on aircraft using Heathrow rose by a quarter last year, according to the CAA. There were 151 incidents in 2016, more than any other UK airport. The number of laser attacks at Glasgow almost doubled to 83, making it the second most targeted airport. Birmingham was third at 73, followed by Manchester (72), London City (62) and Gatwick (55). In November 2015 a British Airways pilot was left with significant damage to his eyesight after a "military strength" laser was shone into the cockpit of his plane while he was landing at Heathrow. The pilot suffered a burned retina in his right eye. At the time, Balpa claimed that 50% pilots targeted with lasers while flying in the previous 12 months. One high-rise building in Glasgow was now known as "laser block" to pilots and police because of the number of planes targeted from there. In October 2015, 28-year-old Liam Chadwick, from Cardiff, was jailed for six months after shining a laser at three passenger planes and a police helicopter. He pleaded guilty to four counts of recklessly acting in a manner likely to endanger aircraft. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/22/pilots-condemn-ditching-of-tougher-uk-laws-for-laser-attacks-on- aircraft Back to Top CAE Outlook Says Half of Future Pilots Haven't Yet Begun Training Some training issues still unresolved. If ever there were a time in history to look closely at an airline flying career, it's now. CAE yesterday announced in Paris the industry will need more than a quarter of a million cockpit crewmembers over the next 10 years. The Canadian training company said 255,000 airline pilots will be needed to support the growth of commercial aviation, as well as industry retirements. Put another way, "The airline industry will need 70 new type-rated pilots per day for the next 10 years to meet global demand," said Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions. Beating out previous decades, captain upgrades will be fueled by the 180,000 first officers needed over the next decade. Remarkably, for those men and women still sitting on the sidelines wondering if a flying career is more than a pipe dream, CAE said, "Fifty percent of the new pilots flying by 2027 have not yet begun their flight training." Reinforcing their forecast, CAE believes airline passenger trips will climb by 1.6 billion in the next 10 years as the number of active commercial aircraft increases by about 1,200 each year. CAE said large training companies are expected to see an uptick in the numbers of students entering the workforce through schools like theirs, as the number of pilots making their way to the cockpit from universities, the military and local flight schools continues to decline. The CAE Outlook says 85,000 of the quarter million prediction will be needed in the Americas, 50,000 in Europe, 30,000 in the Middle East and Africa and 90,000 in the Asia-Pacific region. Demand numbers like CAE's seem almost too good to believe and do require adding a grain of salt or two into any pilot's future plans. What the CAE study did not address is how the tens of thousands of pilots around the world will pay for the flight training needed to reach an airline cockpit. A financing shortage is expected to exacerbate the pilot shortage. The CAE Airline Pilot Demand Outlook also doesn't consider major disruptions to key drivers, such as regulatory changes in retirement age or global health pandemics, or the possibility of pilotless aircraft, a direction Boeing announced at Paris that it's looking at seriously. Louis Smith, president of Future & Active Pilot Advisors and a retired DC-10 captain says, "If the shortage gets bad enough in certain sectors, companies will need to merge or liquidate which could lead to significant pilot layoffs. It's time for pilots to choose wisely their future employer." http://www.flyingmag.com/cae-outlook-says-half-future-pilots-havent-yet-begun-training Back to Top THE F-35 FIGHTER JET QUIETS HATERS WITH A WILD DEMO FLIGHT THE MOST EXPENSIVE weapons project in American history has missed deadlines, smashed budgets, and faced questions regarding its technical abilities. So when it showed up in France this week, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet had plenty to prove. Which explains at least some of the ferocity of the demonstration flight it put on Monday afternoon at the Paris Air Show, one of the aviation world's largest gatherings. With the six-minute flight packed with a full power takeoff, steep climbs, and the tightest possible turns, Lockheed Martin tried to silence its doubters and convince the world that the F-35 really is the ultimate aerial fighting machine. The F35 seemed like such a good idea in 1996. Build just one military jet that could serve the Air Force, Marines, and Navy, the thinking went, and you can ditch the expense of creating and maintaining specialized aircraft for each. More than two decades later, things haven't worked out so neatly. The costs of modifying one design for differing requirements, like taking off from aircraft carriers, have spiraled. The jet boasts some amazing tech-like the head-up display built into the $400,000 helmet-but engineers are still grappling with mountains of problems with the computers, sensors, and electrical systems. The overpriced, overcomplicated F-35 program may seem ill-conceived, particularly when today's drones and satellites can do much of the work of a '90s-era fighter jet. But it's too big and too far along to be abandoned now. Plus, the jet has finally started to prove itself in the skies. For the first public demonstration of combat-style flight in Paris, a Lockheed pilot put an F-35A (the US Air Force variant) through an aggressive display of capabilities and maneuverability, all designed to showcase the abilities of the airframe and the Pratt and Whitney engine that puts out 40,000 pounds of thrust. The flashy display alone (which you can watch above) won't influence military buyers, but they are getting onboard. Lockheed is reportedly close to closing a $37 billion deal to sell the F-35 to 11 nations. And so, nearly 20 years on, the F-35 is finally poised to revolutionize airborne warfare. It's about time. https://www.wired.com/story/f-35-fighter-jet-paris-air-show-flight-video/ Back to Top American Airlines CEO not pleased Qatar Airways wants a big stake in his company Qatar Airways wants to buy 10% of American Airlines American Airlines is not thrilled about Qatar Airways' desire to acquire a 10% stake in the U.S. airline. CEO Doug Parker sent a letter to American Airlines employees after news hit Thursday that Qatar Airways wants to buy at least $808 million worth of stock in American (AAL), the world's largest airline. In the letter, Parker said American executives "aren't particularly excited" about Qatar's interest in acquiring a big stake in the company, but admitted that there's nothing they can do about it. Powered by SmartAsset.com "We cannot control who sells or purchases" our stock, Parker said. American and other airlines, including Delta (DAL) and United (UAL), have accused state-run Qatar Airways -- along with United Arab Emirates airlines Emirates and Etihad -- of getting unfair financial backing from their respective governments. They claim that violates existing aviation agreements with the U.S. known as Open Skies. The U.S. carriers say those subsidies have allowed the Gulf airlines to rapidly expand in the U.S., giving them an unfair advantage and hurting jobs. The Gulf airlines deny those claims. The U.S. airlines are pressing President Trump's administration to review the Open Skies agreements that give Gulf carriers the unfettered ability to fly to American destinations and across U.S. airspace. The agreements extend reciprocal access to U.S. carriers. Parker said in his letter that American Airlines "will not be discouraged or dissuaded from our full court press in Washington, D.C., to stand up to companies that are illegally subsidized by their governments." "If anything, this development strengthens our resolve to ensure the U.S. government enforces its trade agreements regarding fair competition with Gulf carriers," Parker wrote. Parker also told employees there's a limit to how many American Airlines shares -- and thus how much influence -- Qatar Airways can hold. Under federal law, a foreign entity cannot own more than 25% of a U.S. airline, he wrote. American Airlines shares climbed 3% after reports of the unsolicited approach from Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Parker's letter. The move by Qatar could be part of an effort to expand its investments in other members of the OneWorld alliance. Both Qatar Airways and American Airlines are members of the group -- which promotes coordination among its members to ease travel pains for international fliers. Managing director at aviation consultancy firm Aerotask, Rob Watts, said Qatar's investment in American could serve to help block increased coordination between American and other Gulf carriers. Qatar already owns stakes in International Consolidated Airlines Group (BABWF) (parent of British Airways and Spain's Iberia), and LATAM Airlines (LTM). Qatar is one of the richest county in the world, per capita. Its state-run airway has been under economic pressure as its neighbors have sought to implement an embargo against the country over a political dispute. Qatar Airways can no longer fly to more than a dozen locations in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. An estimated 50 flights per day have been grounded. The State Department this week criticized the move, saying Qatar's rivals have yet to detail proof that the small nation is a state sponsor of terrorism. Qatar has denied the accusation. http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/22/news/companies/american-airlines-qatar-ceo-letter/index.html Back to Top Etihad Wants You to Pay For Its Empty Seats Economy passengers can bid online for 'neighbor-free' seats Etihad is in the middle of a strategic review that includes an evaluation of its investments in struggling affiliates Alitalia and Air Berlin. Photographer: Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images Etihad Airways will let economy passengers coveting more elbow room bid online for adjacent seats as the Abu Dhabi-based carrier explores new ways to generate revenue in a tough market. The long-haul airline is offering a "neighbor-free seat" option for economy-class passengers allowing them to bid for as many as three seats next to their own, Etihad said Thursday in an emailed statement. Economy passengers can also pay up to $250 for access to business-class lounges at the carrier's Abu Dhabi hub and as much as $75 at airports in Europe, the U.S. and Australia, the company said. "With all the difficulties Etihad is facing with its equity partners, Etihad is looking at lessons from low-cost models to charge for extra services," John Strickland, director of JLS Consulting, said by phone from London. The seat-bidding system "is a neat way to gain a bit of revenue. It's opportunistic: If they see in their booking trends that they can honor this, then why not?" Etihad is in the middle of a strategic review that includes an evaluation of its investments in struggling affiliates Alitalia SpA and Air Berlin Plc. The government-run carrier faces intensified competition on routes to Europe and North America, and low oil prices have crimped demand for premium bookings in the Gulf. Etihad cut as many as 3,000 jobs last year to reduce costs, people with knowledge of the matter said at the time. Following Emirates By charging fees for additional services, Etihad can keep ticket prices "as low and as competitive as possible," Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad's executive vice president commercial, said in the statement. Emirates, Etihad's Dubai-based rival, introduced fees for seat-selection last September and access to its premium lounges in February, amid slowing growth for airlines in the Gulf region. "Especially in the Middle East, with major carriers facing a challenging business environment and falling yields, the focus on ancillary revenue streams is now a priority," Diogenis Papiomytis, director of aerospace and defense at consultant Frost & Sullivan Inc., said by email from Dubai. Etihad is also introducing fees to upgrade services on the ground, it said. Business-class passengers can pay to use first-class lounges and a spa when flying from or transiting through Abu Dhabi. Starting July 3, premium customers in other cities will have the option of paying for chauffeur service at discounted rates. Passengers on the Residence, Etihad's opulent cabins on Airbus A380s, will continue to get chauffeured for free, according to the statement. Economy-class passengers can pay for access to business lounges in London, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Washington, New York, Sydney and Melbourne for fees ranging from 45 pounds ($57) at London's Heathrow to $75 at New York's JFK. In Abu Dhabi, the fees reach 920 dirhams ($250) for an eight-hour stay, the airline said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-22/etihad-air-levies-fees-to-squeeze-more-revenue-from-tough- market Back to Top The 2017 Safety Forum is fast-approaching and we are excited to share this community engagement event with all of you. The Forum will focus on Safety, Just Culture, Human Factors, and Professional Development in Aviation and allow for interaction with industry-leading experts. We hope you'll join us and take advantage of this unique opportunity. The Forum will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 14 and end 2:00 p.m. The location of event: 4700 Old International Airport Rd. Anchorage, Alaska 99502 On-site registration opens at 9:00 a.m., Friday, July 14 at the entrance of the Ravn Alaska Headquarters building Lunch and door prizes will be given following the presentations. Guest Speakers Dave Prewitt is President of Dave Prewitt Consulting, LLC in Melbourne, Florida specializing in safety management system development, improving safety culture, auditing and accident investigation. Dave served as Vice-President Flight Operations at AAR Airlift in Palm Bay, Florida. AAR operates both fixed and rotary wing aircraft on contract around the world. Tony Kern, Ed.D., (CEO, Convergent Performance) is one of the world's leading authorities on human performance in time-constrained, error- intolerant environments, and has written and lectured on the subject around the globe for nearly two decades. George H. Snyder, (CEO, GHS Aviation Group, LLC.) has been recognized for his contributions to global aviation safety by the Associate Administer of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Minister of Construction and Transportation (KMOCT) for the Republic of Korea, and the IATA Senior Vice President of Safety and Flight Operations. Concurrently with his position as President and CEO of GHS Aviation Group, Captain Snyder has held executive level advisory roles for several major international Flag Carriers as well as serving on Board- level Aviation Safety and Security sub-Committees. FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVENT, CONTACT US AT SAFETY@FLYRAVN.COM Ravn Alaska 4700 Old International Airport Road Anchorage, AK 99502 © 2017 Ravn Alaska. All rights reserved. Back to Top IOSA Auditor Training (IAT) Course Our accredited IATA Operational Safety Audit ("IOSA") Auditor Training ("IAT") Course is designed to familiarize aviation professionals with the standards, methodology, and documentation of the IOSA. Course curriculum will introduce you to the IOSA terminology and the process of the audit. The course is a prerequisite for becoming a qualified IOSA Auditor. You will also receive: ? An introduction to IOSA's Electronic Audit System (Q5); ? IOSA manuals and IOSA Standards and Recommended Practices ("ISARPs"); ? An interpretation of standards; and ? Post audit documentation requirements. Where: Arlington, Virginia 22201 When: August 21, 2017 - August 25, 2017 Contact: Ashley Orasin IOSA Administrative Assistant Morten Beyer & Agnew tel: 1 703 276 3200 ext. 400 email: aorasin@mba.aero www.mba.aero Back to Top BOWTIE RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP July 18 - 19, 2017 American Airlines Training & Conference Center 4501 Highway 360 South, MD 929, Fort Worth, TX 76155 This hands-on workshop will introduce a high-level view at ways your organization can enhance safety and efficiency immediately. It will then quickly move to provide the foundation to build risk models and culminate with experience creating and managing your own risk models. The workshop will introduce event reconstruction analysis using the IncidentXP software tool and incorporating the learnings into your BowTie risk models. DAY 1 - MACRO VIEW OF METHODOLOGY & CONSTRUCTING BOWTIES: Begins with benefits of BowTie Risk Methodology including the foundational concepts behind the methodology and methods to quantify safety/risk data to create measurable tracking systems. Hands-on training will enable participants to gain full experience in designing and creating BowTie models including an introduction to BTXP software. DAY 2 - FUNCTIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT: INCIDENT ANALYSIS AND BOWTIE SOFTWARE: The seminar continues the training on the industry-leading tool - BTXP software, with more advanced capabilities. This course is not intended for "IT software experts," rather, the focus is on the safety/risk management professional responsible to execute the organization's safety/risk management requirements. Training will include incident analysis and review of the functionality of IncidentXP software. The program covers: * How BowTie techniques work and why they are effective * Quantitative methods to assess safety performance * Identification of hazards, threats, consequences and barrier management * Constructing a BowTie within your own industry utilizing your own subject matter experts * Basic overview of BTXP software - a demo in simplicity supporting your risk management efforts * Incident analysis & IncidentXP functionality and relationship to BT models Cost: $975.00 per person includes course materials, 30-day trial licenses of BowTieXP software, lunches and breaks. A 5% additional credit card fee will be applied. For more information: terry.eisenbart@thealoftgroup.com 505.306.5326 The Aloft Group, LLC, is a U.S. firm based near Washington D.C., We are a consulting team whose principals and expert associates offer extensive experience in general risk management using BowTie methodology, airport and airline operational risk management, airport and airline field safety services, and safety performance management. For more information: www.thealoftgroup.com. Back to Top Position Available: Operations Manager Flight Data Connect Description Reporting to the Head of Global Aviation Data Management (GADM), the incumbent will manage Flight Data Connect (FDC), a commercial flight data analysis service developed by IATA for airlines to outsource their analysis activity. The incumbant will lead a small team dealing with the flight data analysis for customer airlines and providing a full FOQA/FDM service including in depth analysis and the construction of detailed flight animations. The incumbant will also develop and maintain excellent relationships with key stakeholders, suppliers and customers. Responsibilities * Accountable for the discovery of parameters that exceed agreed criteria and for communicating them to customer airlines; * Delivery of a flight data monitoring service that achieves compliance for customer airlines with ICAO FDM regulations and objectives including identification and validation of parameter 'events'; * Protecting the confidentiality of the data in the custody of FDC; * Oversee, and perform as necessary, day to day flight data analysis duties including event validation and data processing using the software tools provided by Flight Data Services (FDS); * Provide in depth analysis for any significant event(s) identified or notified by the airline, detailed flight animations and the creation of monthly trend reports, with identified trends for customer airlines; * Liaise between the customer airlines and FDS to ensure the delivery of the highest standards of customer service, system management, updates, costs and data analysis; * Develop tools and enhancements for data analysis in coordination with FDS, on behalf of customers; * Promote the IATA Flight Data Connect product at every opportunity; * Work closely with the IATA commercial team to recruit additional airline customers; * Represent IATA at international industry meetings and conferences; * Support the development of business plans; * Manage projects to ensure timely delivery of customer services and commercial products; * Manage the departmental budget, invoices, interim budget forecasts and annual budget submission. * Experience of managing customers and suppliers is an advantage; * Support the implementation of Quality Assurance Procedures; * Additional tasks as assigned by Head Global Aviation Data Management. Note: Providing FDM support for customer airlines, may include phone calls outside office hours and during weekends. Qualifications and Skills * University graduate; * Minimum of 5 years of experience in FOQA/FDM management; * Strong interpersonal skills and rapport builder; * Strong analytical and problem solving skills; * Understanding of airline flying operations, pilot's license and operational experience is an asset; * Ability to work toward tight deadlines; * Highly organized and able to work on multiple tasks simultaneously; * Excellent PC skills particularly with MS Office programs, SharePoint and business intelligence tools, with a sound knowledge of computer hardware. Programming experience an asset; * Operational knowledge and experience in the safety management functions of an airline or similar organization; * Excellent problem solving, organizational and time management skills and the ability to work autonomously; * Knowledge of ICAO and IATA IOSA standards; * Effective oral and written communication skills in English including report writing and presentation skills, with knowledge of an additional language being an asset; * Leadership experience in a culturally diverse environment and proficiency to motivate and encourage people in a positive manner is an asset; Candidates must possess and exhibit the following core IATA values: Be people and team oriented, focused on results, embrace innovation and change, and demonstrate leadership and personal integrity. At the heart of IATA are our Values and Behaviors. We all have different personalities, styles and areas of expertise, but you'll recognize us by the consistent way we act and behave in line with our Values and Behaviors. We are looking for people who bring them to life in everything they do - they are: * Act with integrity and uphold our standards * Think strategically in support of the global big picture * Partner and manage to create high performing teams * Putting people first by acting with a simple human touch Here at IATA we are proud of being a Diverse & Inclusive Organization - we have people from all over the world working in our offices, and we extend this to our recruiting practices. We are a meritocratic organization and an equal opportunity employer. APPLY HERE Back to Top Graduate Research Survey Request Dear Participants, I am writing to you in connection with my final thesis that is part of a masters degree Air Transport Management at City University London (School of Engineering and Mathematical Studies). The topic of the thesis is "Flight Crew Engagement". I am asking pilots to take part in a survey (10 minutes only). The general definition of engagement taken into account for this study evolves around the state of mind we have in our jobs as pilots; in other words, the amount of energy we feel we can put into, how dedicated we are to it and finally how much capacity we have to absorb and take into account all the different facets and frustrations of our day to day job. The way a company deals with staff in general (company DNA) and the pilot population in particular, influences (positive and negative) this engagement level and thus our daily lives and the company performance. The main aim of the study is to define engagement in the context of our job as pilots. The key results of this definition should clearly specify what drives pilots to be engaged. Where I understand that FRMS has to focus on sleep and work patterns; the energy that we as pilots can bring to the job, does not just depend on how much we sleep but also very much on our state of mind. Finally, the airline industry has been sub-marginal for the last 25 years and will remain so for the coming decades. The airlines that can ultimately survive will be the ones that can pull all of the business levers, instead of only one, such as only cost side improvements, only government subsidies or only cheap fuel. Flight Crew Engagement is something I am exploring in this thesis, which I hope will be of benefit to us all and give airlines another tool to holistically optimise the business model. For this study I am soliciting your help: validating assumptions and conclusions are an integral part of an academic study. This validation is done by means of a survey, determining exactly what the perceptions and engagement levels are of Pilots. This survey is completely anonymous (has been approved by the ethics commission of City University London) and confidential. Following is the link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/pilotsengagementS Best regards, Hendrik van Griethuysen Curt Lewis