Flight Safety Information July 12, 2017 - No. 139 In This Issue Incident: Germanwings A319 near Barcelona on Jul 8th 2017, fumes on board Accident: Eurowings A320 near Cologne on Jul 7th 2017, fumes injure three cabin crew Incident: Jetblue E190 near New York on Jul 11th 2017, fumes in cockpit Incident: Mistral AT72 at Ancona on Jul 7th 2017, smoke detector indication EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Norwegian B738 at Helsinki on Jul 11th 2017, runway excursion on landing 737 almost strikes tail on takeoff, stalls (Video) Disaster averted at SFO after jet lines up to land on taxiway rather than runway Light plane reportedly collides with drone near Parafield Airport in Adelaide's north Six Overseas Airlines Now Free of U.S. Laptop Ban Thune Amendment Generates Emotional, Not Factual Responses Flight from Austin to Chicago back on track after delay due to fight, officials say A Spanish Airline's Unusual Job Requirement: A Pregnancy Test. American Airlines Calls Qatar Air CEO's Remarks About Flight Attendants 'Offensive'. King Cobras, lizards seized in express mail package at JFK Airport Road Warriors Rejoice: Wi-Fi Is Coming to More Airplanes EasyJet Graduates First Group of Aviators With Professional Aviation Pilot Practice Degree Dozens of American Airlines pilots face demotion, pay cut after losing contract dispute Embraer's light-jet deliveries slip 30 percent in second quarter Iran appoints female CEO to lead national airline The nastiest feud in the airline industry continues as Delta's rivals go on the attack The billionaire battle for space tourists heats up as Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin CHC Helicopter and Sikorsky Provide Awards for Aviation Students to Attend CHC Safety & Quality Summit GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST (SURVEY) Incident: Germanwings A319 near Barcelona on Jul 8th 2017, fumes on board A Germanwings Airbus A319-100, registration D-AKNH performing flight 4U-8526 from Berlin Tegel (Germany) to Barcelona,SP (Spain) with 143 passengers, was descending towards Barcelona when a nasty odour developed on board of the aircraft. The crew continued for a safe landing on Barcelona's runway 07L. The entire crew went to a hospital for medical checks. The return flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 29.5 hours, then positioned to Berlin Tegel. The aircraft remained on the ground at Tegel Airport for another 40 hours before returning to service. Germany's BFU reported on Jul 11th 2017, that the occurrence was reported to the BFU, the BFU is currently collecting further information to rate the occurrences. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab7e6b3&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Eurowings A320 near Cologne on Jul 7th 2017, fumes injure three cabin crew A Eurowings Airbus A320-200, registration D-ABDQ performing flight EW-593 from Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain) to Cologne (Germany) with 173 passengers and 6 crew, was descending towards Cologne when an odour of wet socks and wet carpets developed in cockpit and cabin prompting the captain to don his oxygen mask. A number of passengers complained about the odour and even held their noses. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Cologne's runway 32R. After landing three flight attendants complained about headache and being dizzy. They were taken to a hospital. Germany's BFU reported on Jul 11th 2017, that the occurrence was reported to the BFU, the BFU collects further information to decide about the classification of the occurrence. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 12 hours, then returned to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab7e3ac&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jetblue E190 near New York on Jul 11th 2017, fumes in cockpit A Jetblue Embraer ERJ-190, registration N203JB performing flight B6-2802 from New York JFK,NY to Buffalo,NY (USA), was climbing out of New York when the crew stopped the climb at 17,000 feet reporting fumes in the cockpit. The aircraft returned to New York's JFK Airport for a safe landing on runway 22L about 30 minutes after departure. The FAA reported the crew declared emergency reporting fumes in the cockpit. The airline reported the aircraft returned to JFK following reports of an odour in the cabin. A replacement Embraer ERJ-190 registration N192JB reached Buffalo with a delay of 3:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service after about 8 hours on the ground. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU2802/history/20170711/1010Z/KJFK/KBUF http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab7daf0&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Mistral AT72 at Ancona on Jul 7th 2017, smoke detector indication An Air Mistral Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A on behalf of Blu Panorama, registration I-ADLK performing flight M4-242/BV-3196 from Ancona (Italy) to Tirana (Albania) with 68 passengers and 4 crew, was climbing out of Ancona when a smoke detector triggered and a burning odour developed in the cabin prompting the crew to stop the climb at about 9000 feet and return to Ancona for a safe landing about 25 minutes after departure. The airline reported a smoke detector warning activated as result of an electrical short circuit. An odour of burnt plastics developed as result, too. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 24 hours before returning to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab7dd89&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Norwegian B738 at Helsinki on Jul 11th 2017, runway excursion on landing A Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800, registration LN-NHF performing flight DY-4287 from Stockholm (Sweden) to Helsinki (Finland) with 166 people on board, landed on Helsinki's runway 04L in heavy rain at about 19:06L (16:06Z) but overran the end of the runway and while attempting to steer the aircraft onto the last high speed turn off skidded right off the paved surface of the runway end safety area and came to a stop on soft ground. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained minor if any damage. The airport reported the aircraft was pulled off the soft ground by a tug, the passengers subsequently disembarked normally. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab7d55e&opt=0 Back to Top 737 almost strikes tail on takeoff, stalls (Video) Hopefully you never end up flying on this airline. The pilot made a series of bad choices, lead to the plane's tail nearly striking the ground just before the plane stalled out. https://holykaw.alltop.com/737-almost-strikes-tail-takeoff-stalls Back to Top Disaster averted at SFO after jet lines up to land on taxiway rather than runway Date: 07-JUL-2017 Time: 23:57 Type: Airbus A320-211 Owner/operator: Air Canada Registration: C-FKCK C/n / msn: 0265 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: None Location: San Fransisco International Airport, CA (SFO/KSFO) - United States of America Phase: Approach Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: YYZ Destination airport: SFO Narrative: Air Canada flight AC759 was instructed to go around at San Fransisco International Airport after being aligned on taxiway C instead of runway 28R during a night time approach. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, was on final approach to runway 28R when the flight crew queried the controller if they were indeed cleared to land since they observed aircraft lights on the runway. These were in fact the lights of four aircraft lined up on parallel taxiway C in preparation for departure. At 23:57 hours local time a go around was performed. The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) reported that it was estimated that AC759 overflew the first two aircraft by 100 feet, the third one by 200 feet and the fourth one by 300 feet. The closest lateral distance was 29 feet. After circling the aircraft landed normally at 00:10 hours. The aircraft lined up on taxiway C were: 1. UA1 SFO-SIN, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, N29961 2. PR115 SFO-MNL Airbus A340-313, RP-C3441 3. UA863 SFO-SYD, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, N13954 4. UA1118 SFO-MCO, Boeing 737-924ER N62895 Weather reported at the time of the incident (23:57 LT July 7 / 05:56Z, July 8): KSFO 080556Z 29012KT 10SM CLR 17/09 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP135 T01720094 10244 20172 51010 https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196616 Back to Top Light plane reportedly collides with drone near Parafield Airport in Adelaide's north THE Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into a reported midair collision between a light aircraft and a drone in Adelaide's north. It came as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) warned of the dangers of flying drones near airports, saying they could bring down planes, and urged users to follow the rules. Police were called to Parafield Airport just after 7pm on Tuesday after a pilot reported that he believed a drone had hit the plane he was flying. If the ATSB finds a drone - or Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) - struck the aircraft, it will be the first confirmed collision of its kind in Australia. Under CASA rules, drones are not permitted to fly within 5.5km of a controlled aerodrome. Drones are also not allowed to be flown at night. Australian Transport Safety Bureau officers inspect the wing of the light aircraft. The Socata TB-10 Tobago landed safely at the airport but the ATSB is investigating the incident. The aircraft was being flown by an instructor from the Parafield Airport-based Flight Training Adelaide aviation school. Flight Training Adelaide chief executive officer Johan Pienaar told The Advertiser the collision occurred "in the vicinity of the airport" and the ATSB's investigation would confirm whether it was a drone that struck the plane. "It's something that hit the aircraft's wing - we don't know whether it's a bird or a drone," he said. How the rise of drones is posing a major security nightmare "When he landed he couldn't see any blood where it hit. Usually that's an indication if it has been a bird. "The instructor was a young guy who has been with us for a long time and he made an assumption (it was a drone) when he didn't see any bird DNA." Mr Pienaar said the aircraft's wing sustained a small dent during the incident. The ATSB confirmed on its website that it would examine the aircraft and interview the pilot as part of its investigation. "The pilot advised air traffic control that, during final approach to runway 03L at Parafield Airport at about 1830 Central Standard Time, the aircraft struck an object, which was potentially a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)," it wrote. "The aircraft sustained minor damage to the right wing. "Initial search of the area under the flight path did not locate the object." CASA spokesman Peter Gibson told The Advertiser drones posed a serious danger to planes and could even cause an aircraft to crash. "(Drones) vary from tiny to very, very large," he said. "The average one ... weighs less than 2kgs ... that's a fair weight (and) they're made of metal and carbon fibre, they've got a lithium ion battery. "It could go through a windscreen, (hit) a propeller (or) a control surface ... and that would give the pilot great difficulties in controlling the aircraft so there's real, genuine safety risks." Mr Gibson said people who flew drones illegally faced fines of up to $9000. "It's your responsibility as a drone flyer not to fly your drone near an aircraft," he said. "They can put aircraft at risk and therefore they've got to follow the rules. "There's no excuse for not knowing (them)." Adelaide University drone expert Adam Kilpatrick said that drones flown illegally could put lives at risk. "There's absolutely potential that they could bring down a plane," he said. "If a plane hits it at 130 knots, it will penetrate a windscreen ... and if it hit a pilot it will kill them. "It's the kind of thing that scares pilots." One pilot, who wished to remain anonymous, said drones were a "real concern". "Especially as they are becoming more and more popular and would be extremely hard to see in the air," he said. "It is hard enough to see other full-size planes and especially gliders, let alone a small drone. "But like birds you have to keep an eye out for them and do you best to avoid them. "There probably isn't an easy fix but they need to get the message out there, get the public to be vigilant and report incidents they believe may breach the rules." Worldwide, there have been five known collisions between planes and drones, however there are yet to be any confirmed cases in Australia. In Germany in 1997, a drone broke a wing on a light plane, causing it to crash and kill two people on board. In 2010, a sport biplane in the US was forced to make an emergency landing when a drone crushed its wing. No one was injured during the incident. In the three other instances, the planes sustained only scratches. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/light-plane-and-drone-collide-near- parafield-airport-in-adelaides-north/news-story/efd0a4a189273bdecd3d1f94eff01323 Back to Top Six Overseas Airlines Now Free of U.S. Laptop Ban Six airlines that operate direct flights to the U.S. from the Middle East and North Africa are now free of the laptop carry-on ban imposed in the spring, the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday. In March, DHS ordered nine airlines at 10 overseas airports to ban portable electronic devices larger than a cell phone from carry-on bags. The devices had to be placed in checked baggage. Since then, DHS Secretary John Kelly said airlines could be released from the ban if they comply with newly imposed security directives calling for more extensive passenger screening, increased use of bomb-sniffing dogs, and improved security measures. Kelly also said the electronics ban would not be expanded to airports in Europe and elsewhere, as long as the new security measures are observed. But he said if any airline fails to comply with the new directives, the U.S. could levy fines, limit the carrier's ability to fly to the U.S., or completely ban electronic devices from an airline's inbound planes in both carry-on and checked baggage. The six airlines deemed to be following the new directive, and therefore no longer subject to the electronics ban, are Qatar airlines operating from Doha, Emirates Air from Dubai, Turkish Airlines from Istanbul, Kuwait Airways from Kuwait City, Royal Jordanian from Amman, and Ethiad Airways from Abu Dhabi. EgyptAir said it expected to be added to the cleared list on Wednesday, a statement that U.S. officials did not dispute. The other two carriers, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Royal Air Moroc, have indicated they also intend to comply, according to DHS spokesman David Lapan. Teams of inspectors from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration must verify that the airlines are complying with the new American security directives before the electronics restrictions are lifted. Lapan said no further restrictions are planned on taking portable electronics into the passenger cabin on overseas flights from the U.S. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/six-overseas-airlines-now-free-u-s-laptop-ban-n781936 Back to Top Thune Amendment Generates Emotional, Not Factual Responses Industry could miss opportunity for a practical solution to the pilot shortage. John Thune Critics of Sen. John Thune's (R-SD) amendment to the Airline Safety Enhancement Act want it to die a quick death in the name of aviation safety. When Sen. John Thune (R-SD) suggested an amendment to the Airline Safety Enhancement Act, he thought creating a better qualifier for new airline pilots rather than "checking the box" because that aviator had reached 1,500 hours of logged flying time was a good idea. Critics, however, want Thune's proposal to die a quick death, all in the name of aviation safety. The 1,500-hour rule ignited a firestorm of criticism long before it became law following the 2009 Colgan crash in Buffalo. It was called a solution in search of a problem, primarily because the two pilots aboard the Colgan Q400 turboprop already possessed much more than 1,500 hours. Fatal accidents also occurred prior to Buffalo in which both pilots also held significantly more flight time than 1,500 hours, confirming the 1,500-hour rule would have changed nothing had it been in place prior to the 2009 accident. The law was created from the anguish of dozens of family members of Buffalo victims lobbying Congress for action. But fixing one problem, especially when Congress is the fixer, often creates a fresh one. For the regional airline industry, the result was an ever-decreasing supply of pilots, a problem Senator Thune hoped to possibly remedy. Thune's amendment called for inserting this text into the Airline Safety Enhancement Act: "Section 217 (d) of the airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 is amended, in the second sentence, by striking "training course" and all that follows and inserting "training courses, or other structured and disciplined training courses, will enhance safety more than requiring the pilot to fully comply with the flight hours requirement." The Senator's office confirmed to Flying last week no other documents were created to explain precisely how the "other structured and disciplined training courses," would or could be created, only a requirement that any suggestions pass FAA muster about their safety enhancing properties. Over the past 10 days, voices from all sides of the aviation industry and Congress have chewed on those 50-odd words of the Senator's proposal and spit out a variety of conclusions, none based in fact. On its website, ALPA said, "The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l is extremely disappointed with today's passage of an amendment in the Senate Commerce Committee that will weaken airline pilot training, qualification, and experience requirements put in place by Congress in 2010 to make flying safer in the wake of more than 30 airline accidents. Those who supported this amendment will be responsible for endangering the flying public, should it become law ... This amendment is being promoted by companies that are attempting an end run around the safety regulations in order to lower workforce costs and line their own pockets. The traveling public should consider what these Senators have done to jeopardize safety." There was no explanation from ALPA on how suggesting a system based on quality, not simply quantity of hours would weaken airline pilot training. In an editorial, the Buffalo News said the airlines should, "Compete in the free market by incentivizing workers, not by cutting corners and settling on acceptable risk." No explanation there on the risk being created by the Senator's quality versus quantity idea. The Chicago Tribune's Robert Reed said, "I doubt the flying public would agree to deeply discount their own safety by letting the government hack away at an essential industry standard designed to protect flyers from inexperienced pilots." Reed never explained where the hacking might occur, although he did later add that "... it doesn't make sense to offer pilots a shortcut at the beginning of a career, when professional seasoning is arguably needed the most." Experts would call Reed's seasoning comment out as one reason to support Thune's call to at least consider alternative possibilities. Reed said Thune's proposal should not be allowed to get off the ground, the kind of black and white thinking that might be expected under a Congressional mandate. Even Capt. Sully jumped into the debate. The Tribune also published one of his tweets: "Regional airline lobbyists argue for weaker standards, making flying less safe for passengers and all of us." No explanation of how. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said, "there's a range of possibilities, including looking at training videos in hotel ballrooms. If we vote for this, we will be writing future regulations in blood." http://www.flyingmag.com/thune-amendment-generates-emotional-not-factual-responses Back to Top Flight from Austin to Chicago back on track after delay due to fight, officials say Austin-Bergstrom International Airport 6:45 p.m. update: Southwest Flight 3590 from Austin to Chicago has departed once again, airport officials said Tuesday. The plane took off on time at 4 p.m. but had to return to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after a fight between two passengers broke out mid-flight. The plane was back in the air at 6:28 p.m., airport spokesman Jim Halbrook said. 6 p.m. update: Two passengers were removed from Southwest Flight 3590, heading from Austin- Bergstrom International Airport to Chicago, after a fight between the pair broke inside the plane's cabin, airport officials said Tuesday. The plane, which took off at 4 p.m., turned around and returned to its gate at 4:45 p.m., airport spokesman Jim Halbrook said. It was still waiting to depart again as of 6 p.m., Halbrook said. The two passengers were removed from the plane after Austin police responded to the disturbance, Halbrook said. It is still unclear how the incident started. Earlier: A Southwest airline plane departing from Austin and heading to Chicago returned to the airport after a fight broke out between two passengers, Austin police said Tuesday. Austin police received the call at 4:14 p.m., officials said. The plane, Flight 3590, returned and landed safely shortly before 5 p.m. Austin-Travis County EMS was not called and it does not appear anyone was seriously injured, police said. It is currently unknown how the incident started, but charges will possibly be filed against some of the people involved, police officials said. Some passengers tweeted about the incident Tuesday afternoon: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/updated-flight-from-austin-chicago-back-track-after-delay- due-fight-officials-say/zvTZ7mj6M0PEPFKFOlqFUN/ Back to Top A Spanish Airline's Unusual Job Requirement: A Pregnancy Test Iberia airplanes at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Spain. The airline said this week that it would stop requiring women to take pregnancy tests before they were hired. Credit Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images Expectant mothers are typically advised to avoid flying in their final trimester. But job candidates at one Spanish airline were required to take a pregnancy test before they were even hired. The airline, Iberia, defended the test in the name of safety. Government and union officials decried the practice as sexist. Iberia said this week that it would drop the practice after being fined for discrimination. The airline required potential employees to pass a series of tests before being hired, including a medical examination, which for women meant a pregnancy test. Iberia described it as a routine step used to ensure the safety of employees. The practice was widely criticized in Spain, which has laws prohibiting gender discrimination. The company was fined 25,000 euros, or $28,000, by officials in the Balearic Islands, which include Mallorca and Ibiza. Iberia said in a statement that it would not appeal the fine and would stop administering the tests. "There is no reason to justify it," the Unión General de Trabajadores, one of Spain's two main labor unions, said in a statement. It added that if a company did ask for it, "we would evidently be faced with a clear case of discrimination." Spain's minister for health, social services and equality, Dolors Montserrat, did not directly address the Iberia fine, but in an emailed statement, she said the authorities would "continue to be extremely vigilant against any form of work discrimination based on sex or for any other reason." The carrier, which is part of the International Airlines Group - one of the world's largest air travel businesses and the parent company of British Airways and Aer Lingus - said the test was among multiple examinations that were administered after candidates had been selected to be hired but before a formal job offer was tendered. "Given the controversy, arising from the current protocol in place to protect pregnant women, we will no longer include a pregnancy test in the medical examination for new hires," said Maria Teresa Garcia Menéndez, the company's health and safety officer. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Other airlines have been criticized over their hiring practices, particularly when it comes to dealing with female job candidates and employees. Two female flight attendants at Aeroflot, the Russian flag carrier, sued the airline for age and sex discrimination after it began enforcing weight guidelines for cabin crews last year. The women said they were barred from international flights because their clothing sizes were larger than the rules allowed. Aeroflot has denied the claims. And in May, two flight attendants working for Frontier Airlines, a no-frills carrier based in Denver, sued the company, asserting that they were discriminated against when they were not allowed to pump breast milk while on duty. Iberia said it had not rejected any qualified candidates for being pregnant, insisting that it had strict rules for protecting pregnant employees. Female cabin workers are moved away from flying duties as soon as they notify the company of their pregnancies; this month, more than 32 female cabin attendants have been assigned to different jobs because they were pregnant, according to the airline. In the last year, it said in its statement, six pregnant women applied for jobs in its handling division, and five were hired. The sixth was rejected after failing an airport driving test. It did not provide details for other departments. An airline spokeswoman said she did not know how long the medical exam and pregnancy test had been part of the application process. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/business/spain-iberia-women-pregnancy.html Back to Top American Airlines Calls Qatar Air CEO's Remarks About Flight Attendants 'Offensive' * Unions join in denouncing comments made by Gulf carrier's boss * Qatar's Al Baker says 'grandmothers' work at U.S. competitors American Airlines stepped up a verbal battle with Qatar Airways Ltd., assailing what the U.S. company said were "sexist and ageist" comments by the Mideast carrier's chief executive officer. The rebuke was triggered after Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said at a Dublin event that the average age of his cabin crews is 26 and that "you are always being served by grandmothers" on U.S. carriers. The remarks were "incredibly offensive," Jill Surdek, vice president of flight service for American Airlines Group Inc., said in a message to employees Tuesday. "It was both sexist and ageist at the same time." The exchange fueled a spat between the two carriers, which have been trading barbs since American disclosed last month that Qatar Airways had expressed interest in buying about 10 percent of the U.S. carrier. American CEO Doug Parker has called Qatar Airways' intention "puzzling at best and concerning at worst." Al Baker last week responded that his counterpart was "frightened" by the proposed investment. Parker and the CEOs at Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. have called for diplomatic talks on whether state-owned Qatar Airways and fellow Persian Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways PJSC have used government aid to expand unfairly in the U.S. 'New Low' The Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, a coalition of the three U.S. airlines, on Tuesday called Al Baker's latest remarks "misogynistic and demeaning." Labor groups weighed in as well, with the Air Line Pilots Association saying he had "sunk to a new low." Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association at American, called the comments "insulting, disrespectful and childish." "Qatar's actions and words exhibit a scorched-Earth business mentality," Tajer said. Bob Ross, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, also criticized Al Baker's remarks and defended members at American Airlines as "well-seasoned and highly trained professionals." The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association said the comments were "reflective of a pattern of discrimination and deceit" by Qatar Airways. "It is time for our government to stand up to these discriminatory actions and stand up for U.S. aviation," the Southwest union said in a statement. Qatar Airways didn't respond to requests for comment. The Mideast carrier would have to gain approval from American's directors to exceed a 4.75 percent stake in the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline. Al Baker has said he doesn't plan to seek more than 10 percent, nor will he attempt to gain a board seat. Qatar Airways and American are partners in the Oneworld global alliance. Qatar owns 25 percent of British Airways parent IAG SA, which also operates a joint venture with American. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-11/american-air-assails-offensive-remarks-by- ceo-of-suitor-qatar Back to Top King Cobras, lizards seized in express mail package at JFK Airport BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. - Live King Cobras and lizards shipped express from Hong Kong were intercepted at John F. Kennedy Airport by customs agents. The five slithering juvenile cobras, which are poisonous, and three geckos were found in a Styrofoam package that was labelled as containing a "plastic tray,'' by U.S. Customs and Border Protection workers doing a mail inspection. The snakes and lizards were discovered during an X-ray of the mail package, officials said on Tuesday. King Cobras are venomous, and can reach 18 feet in length, making them the longest of all poisonous snakes. CBP officers, working in the airport's International Mail Facility, seized the package and turned it over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for further investigation, according to the statement. "Our CBP officers perform numerous daily tasks to protect the United States from potential dangers. This seizure demonstrates our wide-ranging responsibility in protecting our borders and our partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said Leon Hayward, acting director of CBP's New York Field Operations in the statement. Anthony Bucci, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New York, declined to say where the package was headed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/07/12/king-cobras-lizards-seized- express-mail-package-jfk-airport/470944001/ Back to Top Road Warriors Rejoice: Wi-Fi Is Coming to More Airplanes The number of commercial airplanes offering in-flight Wi-Fi service will soar over the next five years. By 2022, some 14,419 planes will be equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, up a whopping 175% from 5,243 this year, according to projections from Juniper Research, a Hampshire, U.K. market researcher. That would mean that in five years, half of the world's passenger fleet will be connected where less than a quarter of commercial planes are now, Juniper said. Related: These Airlines have the Best Wi-Fi Demand for airplane Wi-Fi is driven by the continuing bring-your-own-device, or BYOD, boom. People want to use their personal tablets or smartphones nearly everywhere to work, play games, or surf the web. That's not something they can do in non-connected airplane mode. So airplane Wi- Fi is becoming table stakes for airlines. It's also a profit center, given the current rates charged by providers like Gogo (GOGO, +0.27%), which is used by Alaska Airlines (ALK, -1.47%) and United Airlines (UAL, -1.71%), Gogo charges $7 an hour or $19 per day for access. Frequent fliers can purchase monthly or annual passes. American Airlines is transitioning from Gogo to ViaSat (VSAT, +0.86%) satellite services over time. Juniper Research also noted an increase in the number of airlines offering in-flight wireless streaming services as an option to the usual seat-back entertainment systems. The researcher expects that monthly revenue from such streaming services will rise 30%. There's one very sticky issue on the horizon however. Security concerns that caused the U.S. government to propose (then back off from) a laptop ban in the passenger cabin of some flights, which clearly could be a factor.Another issue: Just having Wi-Fi does not mean that the connectivity experience aboard a plane is great. It often isn't. Here's hoping that quality will improve along with quantity. http://fortune.com/2017/07/11/airplane-wifi-juniper-research/ Back to Top EasyJet Graduates First Group of Aviators With Professional Aviation Pilot Practice Degree EasyJet's operations at London Gatwick Airport (Photo: Tim Anderson) As of July 11, 2017, easyJet announced that the first group of pilots with a BSc (Hons) in Professional Aviation Pilot Practice Degree had graduated. Tuesday marks the completion of the first airline-sponsored PAPP degree. Seven pilots graduated from the program on Tuesday, the first of over 130 currently enrolled through Middlesex University. "I am thrilled to be graduating alongside my colleagues today on the BSc (Hons) in Professional Aviation Pilot Practice. This course has given me the opportunity to undertake a degree alongside my commercial pilot training," said easyJet pilot Anna Grady. "The degree is designed in a way that fits very well into the flight training schedule, with no degree modules required at key pressure points - for example, during the 14 ATPL exams that all pilots undertake. I consider the degree has taught me to be a reflective practitioner, continually assessing how I can improve my performance," Grady continued. Launched in 2013, the special program came to be as the result of a joint effort between Middlesex University, L3 Commercial Training Solutions, which is an airline pilot training and simulation organization, and easyJet, and is run through the Institute of Work-based Learning. Ultimately, the first two years are completed at L3's Airline Academy, while the final two years are completed while the pilots fly as a first officer for easyJet. "L3's Airline Academy graduates join easyJet as co-pilots and once they have completed their first year with us they can then join easyJet as permanent employees. After flying for a further two years and reaching 2500 hours with easyJet they then become Senior First Officers. From that stage the aim is to achieve their Command and become Captains," explained Brian Tyrrell, Head of Flight Operations, easyJet. "With easyJet's continued planned growth the time taken from First Officer to Captain is likely to be quicker than at other airlines. Beyond that there are further opportunities for pilots to develop their career whether that is into a training or management role." Additionally, the degree course provides access to student loans and other resources to financially assist students. http://airlinegeeks.com/2017/07/11/easyjet-graduates-first-group-of-pilots-with-professional- aviation-pilot-practice-degree/ Back to Top Dozens of American Airlines pilots face demotion, pay cut after losing contract dispute Dozens of American Airlines pilots are facing a demotion from captain to first officer and a corresponding pay cut after losing a contract dispute that traces to the company's 2001 acquisition of Trans World Airlines. An arbitrator ruled last week that protections guaranteeing a limited number of captain positions to former TWA pilots, now employees at American, had expired. The decision means 85 or more former TWA pilots could be demoted from captain to first officer, with a corresponding number of American pilots making the move up from first officer to captain. The difference in pay between the two ranks can be as wide as $75 an hour, according to a lawsuit relating to the case. American and the Allied Pilots Association have avoided taking a side in the dispute, which pits two groups of employees against one another. But they'll have to sort through the fallout of the arbitrator's decision, which will alter the bidding priorities for a subset of American's more than 15,000 pilots and could force some to change their base of operations. "Arbitration matters like this are decisions we have to respect. We'll work with (the Allied Pilots Association) to support anyone who is impacted by the decision," American spokesman Matt Miller said. A matter of seniority In the airline industry, seniority rules. For pilots, it affects what aircraft they fly, what schedules they work and how much they earn. The issue of seniority becomes particularly tricky when integrating groups of pilots during the merger of separate carriers, an issue American tried to navigate with special protections for TWA pilots following its 2001 acquisition of the St. Louis-based airline. The protections guaranteed a limited number of captain positions for those former TWA pilots outside of the normal seniority structure. Following American's 2011 bankruptcy, the agreement was revised to guarantee 260 captain positions on narrow-body aircraft and 86 captain positions on small wide-body aircraft for the TWA group. Dispute pits pilots versus pilots The recently-decided arbitration dispute dealt with when those protections should expire. The agreements set a trigger for expiration when a single TWA pilot hired in 1997, Magnus Alehult, accrued enough seniority to become a captain on any aircraft in American's fleet. Alehult reached that threshold in October, but only had enough seniority to captain a smaller regional aircraft acquired through the US Airways merger, a plane type that wasn't part of American's fleet when the initial agreements with the TWA pilots were struck. Former TWA pilots argued that the protections shouldn't expire until Alehult had enough seniority to captain a larger narrowbody aircraft. But a separate group of American pilots filed a complaint to have the protected positions returned to the general pool, where they'd be available for bidding under the normal seniority system. The arbitrator ultimately sided with the latter group, finding that "any aircraft" described in the expiration clause truly meant any aircraft, even if the type wasn't a part of American's fleet when the deal was reached. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/american-airlines/2017/07/11/dozens-american-airlines- pilots-face-demotion-pay-cutafter-losing-contract-dispute Back to Top Embraer's light-jet deliveries slip 30 percent in second quarter Cessna Citation business jet competitor Embraer said Tuesday it delivered 24 jets in the second quarter of 2017 and 39 for the first half of the year. That compares with 26 jets in the same quarter last year and 49 in the first half of 2016. The Brazilian planemaker noted gains in second-quarter business jet deliveries were highest for its large aircraft - Legacy 450 through Lineage 1000, which totaled eight for the 2017 quarter compared with three in the same period last year. But for its light jets, including the Phenom 100 and 300, deliveries fell 30 percent between the second quarters of 2017 and 2016: 16 compared with 23, respectively. For the first half of the year, the company delivered 27 light jets and 12 large jets. That compares with 35 light jets and 14 large jets in the first half of 2016. Textron Aviation, which manufactures Citation jets, will report its second-quarter 2017 deliveries next week. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/air-capital-insider/article160702884.html Back to Top Iran appoints female CEO to lead national airline TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has appointed a female CEO to lead its national airline for the first time since it was established in the 1940s. The state-owned IRAN daily reported Wednesday that the transport minister appointed Farzaneh Sharafbani, 44, who holds a PhD in aerospace engineering and previously served on the board of Iran Air. Iran is in the process of revamping its aging passenger fleet following the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which lifted international sanctions. It has struck billion-dollar deals with Boeing and Airbus to buy scores of passenger planes. The administration of President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate who was re-elected earlier this year, has appointed women to a number of management posts, breaking with tradition in the Islamic republic. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/07/12/iran-appoints-female-ceo-to-lead-national-airline.html Back to Top The nastiest feud in the airline industry continues as Delta's rivals go on the attack Delta Boeing 757 (Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200.Flickr/Tomas Del Coro) Late last month, Delta Air Lines posted a video on its public relations website attacking Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. Now, the airline's rivals have hit back at Delta with an economic impact study and an attack ad of their own. The long-running feud between America's three legacy carriers and their Middle Eastern rivals continues to be most the volatile and heated business dispute in recent memory. Here's the shorthand version of the feud: Since 2015, American, Delta, and United Airlines (the US3) have been complaining about competition from three huge and fast-growing Middle East- based rivals - Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways (the ME3). The US3's position, which is succinctly explained in Delta's 15-minute-long video, argues that the ME3's growth has been fueled by more than $50 billion in subsidies over the past decade. As a result, they believe this allows the ME3 to flood the international market with un-sustainably low prices designed to drive out competitors and threaten the job security of US aviation workers. "They're taking our jobs, they're taking our markets, and over time, they want to take over international flying," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said of the ME3 in the video. Delta and its allies believe the playing field is inherently unbalanced and that it is unfair to expect a private company to compete against the resources of a national government. As a result, they also say the ME3 are in violation of the Open Skies agreements that govern air travel between the US and 120 nations including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The US3 has asked the Trump Administration to re-examine the Open Skies agreements with the UAE and Qatar while prohibiting any further expansion into the US by the ME3. ME3 and Co. Responds Infographic Emirates_ Economic Impact in the US (Emirates) In reaction, Emirates released a study on Monday claiming the airline's activities generated $21.3 billion worth of economic impact in the US during 2015. The report by Virginia-based consulting firm Campbell-Hill Aviation Group posits that Emirates' activities, directly and indirectly, supported more than 104,000 jobs in the US that year. Emirates, while closely associated with the government of the Dubai, has always maintained that it is an independent profit driven enterprise. In an interview with the Business Insider earlier this year, the airline's president, Sir Tim Clark, called the US3's unrelenting campaign against his company as "infantile". Delta Air Lines declined to comment on the matter and instead referred Business Insider to the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, the lobbying organization representing the US3 in the dispute. "Emirates' new study is based on fundamentally flawed assumptions and is simply meant to distract from their trade cheating behavior," the Partnership's chief spokesperson, Jill Zuckman, said in an emailed statement. "Economists have already empirically demonstrated that the presence of Gulf carriers fails to meaningfully stimulate new demand in U.S. markets." Also on Monday, US Airlines for Open Skies (USAOS) released a new 30-second attack ad calling for the Trump Administration to ignore the US3's demands which they characterize as merely an attempt to limit competition. The group whose members include JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, FedEx, and Atlas Air believe the US3's actions put US airlines operating in the UAE and Qatar at risk for retaliatory actions. In fact, the USAOS believes the US3's campaign will destabilize the whole network of more than 100 Open Skies agreements that support hundreds of thousands of US jobs while saving consumers $4 billion annually in airfares. The presence of USAOS represents a faction of the US aviation industry that operates in an environment very different from the nation's three remaining legacy carriers. FedEx and Atlas Air are two of the world's largest international freight carriers with major operations in the Middle East and around the world. Although they do depend Open Skies agreements to do business around the world, they are not in direct route competition with the ME3. While most major US airlines, including American and Delta, benefit from direct business dealings with the ME3 and their subsidiaries, JetBlue is the most open about it. The New York-based boutique airline is a major partner for Emirates and takes on much of the airline's connecting traffic within the US. In 2016, JetBlue was awarded a Fly America Act contract for all US government travel to Dubai as well as between New York and Milan, Italy. Since JetBlue does not operate any long haul international routes outside of the Americas, all of its Fly America passengers will actually travel on Emirates planes. In response to USAOS, Zuckman told Business Insider: "Our opponents have chosen to stand with foreign airlines that want to kill U.S. jobs and undermine international trade agreements. It's outrageous and offensive that any American business would defend these foreign trade cheaters over the livelihoods of over 1.2 million American workers. We hope that President Trump and his administration will see through this misleading campaign and enforce our trade deals to protect American jobs." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/deltas-rivals-strike-back-airline-140439567.html Back to Top The billionaire battle for space tourists heats up as Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin set to reveal trip simulation at Oshkosh airshow * Exhibit will feature a 1:1 mockup of New Shepard's astronaut crew capsule * Has seating for six people, and giant windows * Guest will recline in flight-ready seats and experience a simulated flight to space * Windows will show real mission footage from New Shepard's on board cameras Jeff Bezos is set to give the public a rare chance to step inside his space firm Blue Origin's capsule to experience a virtual ride into orbit and the battle of the space billionaires heats up. Bezos backed Blue Origin is in a battle with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Elon Musk's SpaceX to offer tourist flights to orbit. Blue Origin's first public exhibit will feature a 1:1 mockup of New Shepard's astronaut crew capsule, which has seating for six people, and guests will be able to climb inside, recline in flight-ready seats and experience a simulated flight to space created with real mission footage from New Shepard's on board cameras. The 'New Shepard' capsule's roomy interior includes seats for six travellers, who will be treated to views from the 'largest windows in space'. The capsule offers 530 cubic feet (15 cubic metres) of space - large enough for passengers to float freely and turn weightless somersaults. BLUE ORIGIN MISSION Blue Origin's suborbital New Shepard launch system consists of a rocket and capsule designed to fly payloads and passengers to about 100 kilometres (62 miles) above the planet. The two vehicles launch together, accelerating for approximately two and a half minutes, before the engine cuts off. The capsule then separates from the booster to coast quietly into space. After a few minutes of free fall, the booster performs an autonomous rocket-powered vertical landing, while the capsule lands softly under parachutes, both ready to be used again. The company has not yet set a price for rides The crew capsule features the largest windows in spaceflight history, which take up more than one- third of the capsule's surface area offering every astronaut stellar views during flight. 'We are very excited to come to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 and showcase our reusable New Shepard rocket and crew capsule so everyone can experience what it's like to be an astronaut,' said Rob Meyerson, president of Blue Origin. 'We hope to inspire the explorers of tomorrow, the ones who will help us achieve Blue Origin's goal of millions of people living and working in space.' The exhibit will be over the week of July 24-30 during the Experimental Aircraft Association's 65th annual fly-in convention at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. 'EAA AirVenture Oshkosh has always showcased innovation, imagination, and achievement in flight, which makes Blue Origin's presence at Oshkosh an excellent fit,' said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman. 'As we salute the accomplishments of the Apollo program this year at AirVenture, it is also fitting that we welcome an organization that is developing the next step in the future of manned spaceflight.' Earlier this month the private spaceflight company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to build a powerful new rocket engine in Alabama for space flight, the company and state officials announced Monday. Blue Origin President Robert Meyerson said his company is seeking a production contract with United Launch Alliance, a private company that provides satellite launches for the U.S. government and others. He said the company will locate a production factory for the BE-4 rocket engine in Huntsville upon a contract being signed. Jeff Bezos rocket firm Blur Origin plans to build a powerful new rocket engine in Alabama for space flight, the company and state officials have announced. Blue Origin To Bring Its Historic, Flown New Shepard Reusable Rocket And Crew Capsule To EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2017 According to the company's website, the powerful BE-4 engine is designed to end dependence on Russian-built engines for launching payloads into space. 'Alabama is a proven leader in aerospace manufacturing with the highest-skilled workforce, business climate and leadership that we need to produce low-cost rocket engines that we need to protect the nation, (and) explore the universe,' Meyerson said at a news conference in Huntsville. Blue Origin is considered a leading contender for the contract after it and ULA entered into a partnership last year with the U.S. Air Force to develop a new rocket propulsion system to power Vulcan, ULA's new rocket designed to carry heavy payloads into space. A spokeswoman for ULA declined by email to discuss the status of the project, saying it is an ongoing procurement. In making the announcement, Blue Origin said it would invest $200 million in the Huntsville facility and expects to employ up to 350 people producing as many as 30 engines a year. THE BATTLE OF THE BILLIONAIRES Blue Origin will go up against space firms from Elon Musk and Richard Branson with its plans to launch cargo and people into space. Musk's SpaceX is the most advanced of the firms, and already has several satellite launches - and failures - under its belt. Its Dragon capsule was due to begin ferrying astronauts to the International Space station in 2018, although a delayed date has not been confirmed. The three billionaires - (from left) Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson and all hoping to send tourists into space Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic will focus on both tourist trips and launching cargo, and recently unveiled an upgraded booster to launch satellites. Richard Branson has confirmed plans to launch people into space in 2018, with the first test flights beginning this year. Already 500 potential customers have reserved a spot on one of his trips at a cost of $250,000 (£200,000) each. Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic will focus on both tourist trips and launching cargo, and recently unveiled an upgraded booster to launch satellites. In a new interview, Branson said that Virgin Galactic will start performing powered tests of its SpaceShipTwo craft every three weeks, with plans to extend them into space by November or December. And after his own flight, full commercial passenger operations will start by the end of 2018, he said. Currently, Blue origins and Virgin Galactic plan on entering space close to the boundary with Earth at approximately 329,839 feet (101km). But Space X's re-useable rockets have loftier plans to stay in orbit, which requires more fuel and power. 'Blue Origin, welcome to Alabama,' Gov. Kay Ivey said in an announcement Monday. 'We thank you for investing in our people.' The Alabama Development office said in a release that the state offered an incentive package of more than $50 million, including a $30 million tax credit for investment and up to $10 million in reimbursements for eligible capital costs. Blue Origin is currently developing a BE-4 engine for its New Glenn rockets (pictured) that the firm plans to test in just three years. Jeff Bezos said: 'That vehicle will fly in in 2020 for the first time' Ivey said the project would build on the historic role that Huntsville and Alabama have played in the development of the American space program. SPACEX'S PRIVATE MOON MISSION Elon Musk's SpaceX will launch a crewed mission beyond the moon for two private paying customers in 2018, it has been revealed. It will be the first time in 45 years humans have been in deep space, said the company, promising its mission will go 'faster and further' than any humans before them. Elon Musk's SpaceX will launch a crewed mission beyond the moon for two private paying customers in 2018, it has been revealed. The week-long mission will take place some time in late 2018 and will 'skim the surface of the moon' then venture into deep space before returning to Earth, Musk revealed. SpaceX will launch the private mission on a journey to circumnavigate the moon and return to Earth. Lift-off will be from Kennedy Space Center's historic Pad 39A near Cape Canaveral - the same launch pad used by the Apollo program for its lunar missions. SpaceX puts Dragon passenger spaceship through test run The mission will use one of SpaceX's Dragon capsules, which will be modified to allow communications in deep space. The Dragon will be capable of operating autonomously throughout the whole flight, but the passengers will be trained in emergency procedures. The mission would 'do a long loop around the moon' and would take about a week. Musk says it will 'skim the surface of the moon, go quite a bit further out into deep space' and then return to Earth. The total flight would go about 300,000 to 400,000 miles into space. The BE-4 is fueled by liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas to produce 550,000 pounds (250,000 kilograms) of thrust and is intended to be used in both government and commercial missions. The engine is designed for both the Vulcan rocket being developed by ULA and Blue Origin's New Glenn orbital rocket and capsule, which is under development. One political leader praised the project as a way to give space flight in the U.S. independence from Russian-made rocket engines. 'You are going to do well here, and we're going to replace that Russian engine,' Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama told Blue Origin officials at the event in Huntsville. BLUE ORIGIN ROCKETS Blue Origin and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos unveiled a new rocket in October last year that will launch payloads and people into orbit. Called 'New Glenn', this launcher comes in two stages that make it larger than SpaceX's future Heavy rocket. 'New Glenn 3-stage' is 23 feet in diameter and stands 313 feet tall. Blue Origin has various rockets, raning from its smallest Antares rocket, all the way up to its huge Saturn V rocket And 'New Glenn 2-stage' is also 23 feet in diameter, but measures 270 feet tall. Each stage lifts off with 3.85 million pounds of thrust from seven BE-4 engines. A single vacuum-optimized BE-3 engine, burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, will power New Glenn's third stage. However, the booster and the second stage are identical in both variants. Blue Origin plans to fly New Glen by the end of the decade from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4686732/Jeff-Bezos-Blue-Origin-reveal-space- tourist-simulation.html#ixzz4mc7reDwR Back to Top CHC Helicopter and Sikorsky Provide Awards for Aviation Students to Attend CHC Safety & Quality Summit DALLAS, TEXAS, July 5, 2017 - Today, CHC Helicopter and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, announced two winners have been selected to receive funding to attend the 2017 CHC Safety & Quality Summit. The winning students were selected for the Peter Gardiner Grant and the Sikorsky Safety Scholarship, and will join delegates and professionals from around the world as they gather near Dallas, Texas this September to learn about how to advance safety in the aviation industry. Students studying for careers in aviation were invited to submit applications with a 500-word essay related to the Summit theme for this year: "Can we truly manage all the risk? What if the barriers aren't as robust as they seem?" The Peter Gardiner Grant is named for Dr. Peter Gardiner of the Southern California Safety Institute, who played an instrumental role in shaping the CHC Safety & Quality Summit through his contributions as both a speaker and session leader in its early years. The grant is co-sponsored by both CHC and Dr. Scott Shappell of HFACS, Inc. The winner for this years' Peter Gardiner Grant is Matt Lum, a current student at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, a partner and platinum-level sponsor of this event, created the first Sikorsky Safety Scholarship to help a second deserving student attend the event. The first ever winner of the award is Nikola Randjelovic, a recent graduate of Seneca College in Ontario, Canada. The Peter Gardiner Grant and the Sikorsky Safety Scholarship will both provide for the students' transport and hotel and their full entry as delegates to the Summit to attend sessions, see speakers and participate in all opportunities available, including attending a Human Factors course with Dr. Scott Shappell. The 2017 CHC Safety and Quality Summit will take place Sept. 27-29 at the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel & Convention Center. To learn more about the summit, including how to register, visit www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com. About CHC For 70 years, CHC Helicopter has provided safe, reliable, cost-effective helicopter service in some of the most remote and challenging environments around the world. With extensive experience transporting customers in the oil and gas industry, supporting search-and-rescue and EMS contracts, and providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services, our dedication to safety and reputation for quality and innovation help our customers reach beyond what they thought possible. Visit www.chcheli.com for information. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Contact Information MEDIA Cameron Meyer Communications Specialist +1.214.262.7391 Cameron.Meyer@chcheli.com SUMMIT Irina Sakgaev Safety & Quality Applications Specialist +1.604.232.7302 summit@chcheli.com Sikorsky Media Contact Callie Ferrari, APR +1 203.360.4819 Callie.d.ferrari@lmco.com Our Purpose: Providing unmatched helicopter services that enable our customers to reach beyond - often in remote and challenging destinations that limit others - and come home safely. We are dedicated to getting our customers where they need to be, when they need to be there, anywhere in the world - safely and reliably. SMS Element of the Month: Reporting Systems Every CHC employee has a voice in managing safety by reporting through our world-wide Safety & Quality Integrated Database, 'SQID'. Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST (SURVEY) Pavement Management Research Request Hello, my name is Mary Popko and I am a student as San Diego State University currently working towards a B.S. in Statistics. I would like to request your participation in my survey regarding pavement management through the use of advanced technology. The survey is less than ten questions long. Thank you so much for your assistance. Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WJ8T9M6 Mary Popko San Diego State University Department of Mathematics and Statistics Curt Lewis