Flight Safety Information October 6, 2017 - No. 199 In This Issue Air France engine parts that fell off mid-flight found in Greenland Low-fuel 787 had to declare Mayday repeatedly to Indian ATC NTSB Investigating Collision Between Drone, U.S. Army Helicopter Small airplane makes emergency landing in water off Locust Beach near Bellingham U.N. civil aviation body to censure North Korea ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program achieves ISO certification Industry Embraces HeliOffshore's Constructive Safety Approach India expects to triple aviation market in next 15 years Operating Costs Killing Jumbo Jets As Airlines Profit From Smaller Planes THE V-22 OSPREY-INSPIRED ARMY AIRCRAFT IS READY FOR TAKEOFF Ryanair boss offers pilots better pay and conditions to stay Boeing to acquire Aurora Flight Sciences in bet on autonomous flight Supersonic Airlines Are Coming Back While Musk Dreams of Space FAA: Stakeholders' Perspectives on Potentially Moving the Office of Commercial Space Transportation Las Vegas Preps for NBAA BACE Arrival NBAA BACE - 2017 FAA Event:...Lessons Learned from the Crash of Air France 447 Position: Flight Safety Specialist Position: Deputy Director of Safety Air France engine parts that fell off mid-flight found in Greenland * Flight forced to make an emergency landing after incident at 37,000 feet * Engine parts spotted in rural Greenland (CNN)Parts of an engine that were lost by an Air France flight en route from Paris to Los Angeles last month have been spotted in Greenland, investigators say. The double-deck Airbus A380 made an emergency landing at Goose Bay Airport on the eastern tip of Canada on September 30, after the French airline said it suffered "serious damage to one of its four engines." Photos from the flight showed the entire front part of the engine, including the large fan and engine's casing, completely sheared away. The remaining portion of the outermost engine on the right side of the jet was streaked with a brown substance and there were no obvious signs of any external fire. In a statement Thursday, the French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) said flight data was used to track the parts to a remote area of Greenland the agency described as "a wasteland covered with ice," around 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of the city of Paamiut. A helicopter operated by Air Greenland flew over the area and spotted parts from the engine. "The BEA is in contact with its Danish counterpart to organize the recovery of these parts," the statement said. "The analysis of the data contained in the flight recorders will continue at the BEA laboratory. The engine computers will also be analyzed by the component manufacturer in the United States." 'Loud pop' According to data from Flightradar24, the Airbus A380, the largest passenger jet in the world, was flying at 37,000 feet when the incident occurred. Sarah Eamigh, a passenger on the flight, told CNN partner CTV News that passengers sensed something was wrong during the flight. "We heard a loud pop, and we had a quick descent along with some vibration. It definitely was not turbulence so we knew something was wrong," she told the Canadian broadcaster. "The captain was able to recover the plane quite fast, however, we were definitely nervous because the vibrating was probably occurring a good five to eight minutes. And then the captain basically 10 to 15 minutes after provided an announcement stating that we had a small engine explosion." Two additional aircraft had to be sent to recover the 497 passengers who were on the enormous jetliner and take them to Los Angeles. http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/05/americas/air-france-a380-engine-greenland/index.html Back to Top Low-fuel 787 had to declare Mayday repeatedly to Indian ATC Investigators have disclosed that a diverted Air Canada Boeing 787-9's crew had to declare a Mayday four times over a low-fuel situation before being given approach clearance to Hyderabad. The aircraft had originally been bound for Mumbai but was shuttled between alternate airports owing to capacity problems. Transportation Safety Board of Canada states in a bulletin that it is "in contact" with India's accident investigation authority over the 19 September incident. The aircraft (C-FGEI), which departed Toronto on 18 September, had been operating AC46 to Mumbai with 177 passengers and 14 crew members. But Mumbai air traffic controllers cancelled the approach after a runway excursion involving another aircraft. The bulletin does not specifically identify this incident, but a SpiceJet Boeing 737-800 suffered an excursion shortly before the 787's arrival. The Canadian bulletin says the 787 entered a hold for 1h but its crew then opted to divert to their alternate. It does not identify the alternate but states that air traffic control informed the crew that they could not be accommodated owing to reaching maximum capacity. The crew then chose to divert a second time to Hyderabad, after consulting with the carrier's operations centre, only to be informed by air traffic control en route that Hyderabad had already reached maximum capacity and could not handle the flight. According to the bulletin Air Canada informed investigators that air traffic control "continued trying to divert the flight or attempted to place it in another hold", adding that the crew had to declare a Mayday over the aircraft's low-fuel situation four times before being cleared for a straight-in approach to Hyderabad's runway 09L. Flight AC46, which has a scheduled duration of around 14h 30min, had been operating for around 17h at the time of arrival. The aircraft landed safely. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top NTSB Investigating Collision Between Drone, U.S. Army Helicopter The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Sept. 21 collision between a civilian drone and an Army UH-60 helicopter east of Staten Island, New York. At approximately 7:20 p.m. Sept. 21, the drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle, and the helicopter collided. The Army helicopter sustained damage to its main rotor blade, window frame and transmission deck. A motor and arm from a small drone, identified as a DJI Phantom 4, were recovered from the helicopter. The NTSB was notified of the incident Sept. 22 and began its investigation that day. In the following days investigators were able to identify and subsequently interview the drone operator. The drone operator also provided flight data logs for the incident flight. Damaged rotor blades on the Army UH-60 helicopter. (Photo: FAA) The NTSB is investigating the incident because the drone was a civilian aircraft. DJI and the Federal Aviation Administration are participating in the investigation. The Army is conducting a mishap investigation. The NTSB's investigation is ongoing and investigators are reviewing air traffic control radar data, flight data from the helicopter, the flight data logs provided by the drone operator and FAA airspace and temporary flight restriction documents. https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/PR20171005.aspx Back to Top Small airplane makes emergency landing in water off Locust Beach near Bellingham BELLINGHAM A small airplane landed in water off Locust Beach on Thursday after the pilot reported having engine trouble, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. The emergency landing was reported at 4:42 p.m. in an area off Locust Avenue just outside Bellingham city limits. The airplane came to rest in shallow water about 200 yards from shore. The pilot, identified only as a former U.S. Navy aviator in his 70s, had hoped to land at nearby Bellingham International Airport - where the airspace had been cleared for him - but couldn't make it. He instead landed safely in roughly 3 to 4 feet of water, during high tide, off Locust Beach. The pilot was the only person in the airplane and was uninjured. "It's a pretty spectacular landing," Sheriff's Lt. Kevin Hester said Thursday. Hester said it was fortunate the pilot landed in the area during high tide. It wasn't immediately known if the pilot owned the aircraft. Authorities believe a person in a boat nearby brought the pilot to shore. The aircraft originated from Bellingham. The pilot took advantage of the nice weather and went for a day flight of the area, Hester said. After getting approval from the National Transportation Safety Board, a Lummi Nation Police boat pulled the airplane into deeper water around 5:55 p.m. Thursday - ahead of the tide going out - and slowly towed the airplane to the Port of Bellingham harbor about a mile away. If Lummi Nation was unable to tow the plane all the way to the harbor, Hester said authorities would try to anchor the plane until a salvage crew could be brought out Friday. The plane had little fuel left, and no leaks were reported, Hester added. Locust Beach, also referred to as Whirlwind, has long been popular with kiteboarders, skimboarders and other beach-goers. Located below the mouth of the Nooksack River, the beach provides access to Bellingham Bay. http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article177327166.html Back to Top U.N. civil aviation body to censure North Korea The International Civil Aviation Organization is set to adopt a Japan-sponsored draft resolution at its council meeting Friday condemning North Korea for repeatedly launching missiles without prior notice, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. Adoption of the resolution will mark a rare event because the ICAO - which sets global rules on aviation - seldom gets involved in political issues. According to Japanese government sources, the government has gained the understanding of member states in light of the current situation in which Pyongyang's missiles are threatening aviation safety. The resolution will not be legally binding, but the government plans to continue piling pressure on North Korea through other similar resolutions. Pyongyang has launched ballistic missiles 14 times so far this year. In July, a missile landed within Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan, while in September another missile fell into the Pacific Ocean after passing over Hokkaido. Some airline companies such as French carrier Air France have taken measures, including changing flight routes from those over the Sea of Japan to those above the Japanese archipelago. Following these developments, the Japanese government hinted at the possibility of circulating a draft resolution condemning the launches, according to the government sources. Among a total of 36 council states, more than 30 countries are said to have shown a positive stance toward the draft resolution. The draft is scheduled to be co-sponsored with at least 10 countries including the United States and South Korea. It will be adopted if it wins support from a majority. The resolution is expected to strongly condemn Pyongyang for repeatedly launching missiles with no advance warning, thereby threatening civil aviation safety. It is also expected to strongly urge North Korea to abide by international aviation rules. ICAO is a U.N. specialized agency established in 1947 to ensure the safety and development of international civil aviation. It has 191 member states including Japan, the United States, China and Russia. North Korea is also a member. The agency's roles include establishing international rules on civil aviation, providing technical cooperation and checking the safety monitoring systems of member states. http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003985196 Back to Top ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program achieves ISO certification ICAO announced on Oct. 5, 2017, that its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP), a key component of global aviation's safety assurance and planning backbone, has achieved the latest ISO 9001:2015 certification standard. ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. ICAO Photo The scope of the recertification will help to further refine the collection, processing and sharing of safety oversight information gathered under the USOAP; the overall conduct and cost-effectiveness of ICAO's continuous monitoring activities; and the provision of safety oversight training and seminars in aid of various global aviation safety objectives. "This new ISO achievement is an excellent example of ICAO's continuing determination to improve the quality and efficiency of the services it provides to our Member States," remarked ICAO secretary general, Dr. Fang Liu. "By adhering to the ISO's certified quality management system, ICAO can best ensure that our monitoring and auditing functions support effective aviation safety oversight worldwide, and that the needs and expectations of all stakeholders are being efficiently addressed," Liu added. Launched in 1999, the ICAO USOAP assesses the safety oversight systems of ICAO Member States on the basis of a continuous monitoring approach. Its overall development, implementation and quality assurance aspects are managed by ICAO's monitoring and oversight (MO) sections, including this latest ISO certification achievement. "The results of the ICAO USOAP are essential to raising the level of effective ICAO compliance in our Member States," stressed ICAO council president, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. "The quality and integrity of this data is essential to how well we can tailor and target our related assistance efforts, which in turn aid governments in establishing a dependable foundation of global connectivity and access to aviation's many socio- economic benefits." https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/icao-universal-safety-oversight-audit- program-achieves-iso-certification/ Back to Top Industry Embraces HeliOffshore's Constructive Safety Approach HeliOffshore has launched a new drive to boost the industry's investment in safety, the association announced at the Helitech show in London yesterday. It recently held meetings with the offshore community, including the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP). Priority projects for HeliOffshore include enhanced obstacle avoidance through helicopter terrain awareness systems (HTAWS) for the offshore fleet; Improved system reliability and resilience to eliminate the main causes of safety-critical system failure; expansion of a major safety intelligence data program that will collect and analyze helicopter flight data monitoring output from operators to identify causes and trends for operational safety performance issues; and collection of operational data to support introducing evidence- based training for helicopter flight crews. IOGP's safety committee has already signed a letter of intent supporting implementation of HTAWS across the offshore helicopter fleet. In addition to the HTAWS program, HeliOffshore is starting work on the second-phase of eye-tracking research, which aims to help pilots make better use of automation in the cockpit. It recently introduced approach path management guidelines and has been working with OEMs such as Airbus and Sikorsky on introducing flight crew operating manuals. HeliOffshore is also working on a global data management system that will be built around GE's Predix big data platform. The association said it is "about to sign a contract with two other companies that will provide expert IT support for the second and third phases of this key project." The system will track and share operators' data to help develop a clearer understanding of adverse safety issues and trends. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-10-05/industry- embraces-helioffshores-constructive-safety-approach Back to Top India expects to triple aviation market in next 15 years New Delhi says that India has doubled the size of its aviation market in the last four years, and will look to triple it in the next 15 years. Speaking in a televised interview, India's minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha, adds that by the end of the current 2018 financial year, the country will hit 200 million passenger trips. The figure is up from 160 million passenger trips made in the 2017 financial year, and double the size from four years ago. Sinha states that while India's growth in aviation is noteworthy, it still lags behind China with an annual figure of 500 million passenger trips, and the United States with 900 million passenger trips a year. He acknowledges that India's airports and airspace still remain congested, and that New Delhi has to plan to accommodate future growth. "We have about 500 aircraft in the air, and over 650 aircraft on order. We have to work towards a safe and secure expansion of the aviation sector, because it is something that people are now finding very attractive as a transportation alternative," says Sinha. "India is at a 'rail-parity'. Today the price of flying is equal to the price of upper-class air- conditioned rail travel. There has been a tremendous amount of traffic that has started to move into aviation." Sinha explains that the number of airline trips has also exceeded the number of upper- class air-conditioned rail travel, which stood at 130 million for the 2017 financial year. In addition, total revenue for the Indian aviation sector stands at around 1.17 trillion rupees ($17.5 billion) - similar to rail travel and telecommunications. "As we move forward, like in the US or Europe or China, there will be two or three large airline groups flying different brands.You can have full-service international carriers, low- cost domestic carriers with different brands. Our airline groups are going to be the size of airline groups around the world like in the US or Europe with the [IAG Group] that owns British Airways and Iberia, or the [SIA Group] that owns Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and SilkAir. It's a very exciting future for our aviation sector going forward" On Air India's impending divestment, Sinha says that New Delhi is about to appoint a 'transaction advisor'. This party "will speak to potential bidders, provide them the data and all the necessary information they need to put bids together". "We are hoping to bring this to a successful conclusion really soon," he adds. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/india-expects-to-triple-aviation-market-in- next-15-y-441885/ Back to Top Operating Costs Killing Jumbo Jets As Airlines Profit From Smaller Planes Michael Goldstein , CONTRIBUTOR I cover the travel biz: airlines, hotels, rental cars and destinations Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Stewardess of Qatar Airways stand on the inside stairs of an Airbus A380 at Le Bourget airport on June 16, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images) Pilot skill helped a packed Air France A380 survive an engine explosion and emergency landing last week. But that may not be enough to ensure the survival of the superjumbo species, as millions of flyers, Millennial and otherwise, have prioritized price over luxury. Meanwhile, even skeptics like Warren Buffett, who called the airlines a "deathtrap" for investors, are buying stock--as long as the carriers stick to their new-found fiscal responsibility. For years, it was thought millions of passengers would travel each year in giant "Queens of the Sky" capable of holding 500 passengers, like the 747 and later the Airbus A380. With over 1500 built, the 747 had a great run, carrying a total of over 3.5 billion passengers as of 2014. But today, only 489 747s are still in service, many in cargo configuration. The current heavyweight champion is the A380, which boasts a maximum takeoff weight of 1.235 million, versus the 747-8's 987,000. The 747-8 can carry 467 passengers, while the A380 holds 500 and can go up to 800 in some configurations. Even more impressive, the A380-800 has a design range of 8,500 nautical miles and currently serves the second- and third-longest non-stop scheduled flights in the world. However, these may ultimately be meaningless distinctions, as the airlines have realized that bigger isn't necessarily better. Since its first flight in 2005, only 215 of the huge planes have been delivered, 97 of them to Emirates Airlines. The A380 has been repeatedly characterized as a money-loser for Airbus Industries. What is KO'ing the current kings of the sky isn't mechanical issues or shifting passenger preferences (who wouldn't prefer a giant comfy plane with a bar) but that age-old culprit, the dismal science of economics. The A380 burns a lot of fuel considering its weight and four-engine configuration, but airlines are dropping the giant plane even in a time of low fuel costs. In 2017, Singapore Airlines retired several of the craft. In 2016, Qantas cancelled an order for 8, and even home team Air France dropped two planes from an order of 12. The A380is essentially on deathwatch, with production set to drop to below one per month if new orders don't arrive. Even the plane's signature sweeping staircase may face the budget-cutters' ax. Why are airlines dropping the A380 even when fuel is cheap? Operating costs. Estimates are that operating A380s costs between $26,000 and $29,000 per hour. By contrast, an average flight on an American Airlines 737-800, which can hold 160-175 passengers and has a range of about 2900 miles, costs $2,180 per hour. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2017/10/05/operating-costs-killing- jumbo-jets-as-airlines-profit-from-smaller-planes/#39c6405d336a Back to Top THE V-22 OSPREY-INSPIRED ARMY AIRCRAFT IS READY FOR TAKEOFF BELL HELICOPTER ON A GRAY concrete ramp lined by neon yellow safety rails, a mean-looking military machine spins up. The twin propeller blades whirl, but the beast isn't going anywhere. It's bolted down, attached to load sensors that measure and quantify its attempt to escape. Even without takeoff, the movement of those propellers marks a milestone for a new kind of aircraft, the technological successor to the famed V-22 Osprey and a leading candidate to replace the US Army's aging workhorse, the Black Hawk helicopter. On that concrete ramp, the V-280 Valor tiltrotor started its engines for its first ground tests, with engineers monitoring every possible parameter to be sure each system in this one-of-a-kind prototype is working properly. When fully operational, the V-280 Valor should offer double the speed and range of the conventional helicopters it's aiming to make redundant. "Wow, it's a real aircraft," I blurt out as I pass through a small door, into the towering, brightly lit, V-280 assembly hangar at Bell Helicopter in Amarillo, Texas. The look of a tilt- rotor aircraft is so alien, it's easy to forget this isn't something dreamt up by the Battlestar Galactica prop department. "It is a real aircraft," agrees Shannon Massey, Bell's VP of assembly operations, with a smile. It's a reaction she's used to. The V-280 is truly something different. It's smaller, simpler, and cheaper than the massively complex V-22, which dates to the late '80s. Bell designed and built the V-280 from scratch, always with an eye on making it easy to assemble and maintain, with lessons learned from building the V-22, a joint project with Boeing. As I duck under the wing and walk up to the cockpit, I'm struck by the expanse of glass. The V-280's pilots will get a wrap-around view of the sky-or battlefield-around them. They'll also have a comfy flight. The flight control avionics come from Lockheed Martin's C-130K plane setup, with large, flat, screens built into the dash. With the speed and range that Bell is claiming for this thing, pilot fatigue could become an issue, so designers replaced a conventional central cyclic control (the stick between a helicopter pilot's legs) with a joystick that falls under the pilot's right hand. BELL HELICOPTER As a tiltrotor, the V-280 is a hybrid between a plane and a helicopter. Instead of one central rotor, it has two, mounted at the end of two stubby wings. For takeoff and landing, the blades are parallel to the ground, so the machine can get airborne without a runway and hover. Once in the air, the rotors swivel forward, the way a plane's propellers sit, to allow high speed forward flight. The V-22 may have proven the concept, but also showed how complicated and expensive a transforming machine can be. Bell simplified the V-280 with a setup that swings the propellers but keeps the engines stationary. That takes out a bunch of moving parts, avoids scorching the ground during takeoff and landing, and allows for a side-loading door, which the Army likes. Back a few yards from the prototype, beyond the yellow rope, sits a row of tall metal workstations. "We've gone old-school in some ways and pulled people out of offices," says Jeff Josselyn, manager of the V-280 build team. He says it makes communication easier, and keeps everyone focused on the goal. "I don't care what kind of day you're having, when you look up and see that beautiful aircraft, it just makes you want to keep leaning into the wind." These ground tests are a long-awaited achievement for Josselyn and his team. They started engineering work on the aircraft in 2012, and began building the thing in June 2015. But true success will take yet more work. There's more testing, yes, but the main trick will be convincing the US Army to actually buy the thing. Bell built the V-280 to compete for the Pentagon's joint multirole technology demonstrator program. It faces competition from Boeing and Sikorsky, which are jointly building the SB-1 Defiant, a high speed helicopter. Observers like Bell's chances. "This could be a great leap forward for Army aviation," says Jerry Kidrick, a retired Army colonel who flew helicopters in Iraq and now teaches aviation and flight training at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. One day, tiltrotors could filter down to civilian transport, eliminating runways. The technological and materials advances that made this aircraft possible could also benefit the designers of flying cars, which promise similar vertical takeoff abilities. Bell is confident that the advantages of a new type of flying machine outweigh the risks. The next step in proving its point should come by the end of the year, when Bell unhooks the V-280 for the first flight. https://www.wired.com/story/bell-v280-valor-tiltrotor-test/ Back to Top Ryanair boss offers pilots better pay and conditions to stay Ryanair CEO, Michael O'Leary * Ryanair's boss has made an unprecedented apology to pilots Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has written to the airline's pilots to offer them better pay and conditions. The improved conditions came after the airline was forced to cancel thousands of flights in recent weeks. In a letter to pilots, Mr O'Leary also apologised for changes that caused disruptions to their rotas and urges them not to leave the airline. The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association was sceptical, saying the letter gave no details of the cost of the promises. "Our members have experienced Ryanair promises before and therefore we will need to carefully consider each point before we decide on a response," it added. The letter also received a lukewarm response from pilots who contacted the BBC. One, who didn't want to be named, said: "It's the standard. It's a, How nice we are, followed by a carrot and then a threat." Mr O'Leary's apology came after he accused the pilots of being "full of their own self- importance". But in the letter he urges pilots to stay with Ryanair "for a brighter future". Ryanair has been in crisis after the rota changes - brought about to comply with new aviation rules - led to a shortage of pilots because the airline failed to plan for enough leave. Many of the airline's 4,200 pilots had joined unions over the past two weeks over discontent with the disruptions caused by the rota changes. Mr O'Leary's letter implored the pilot team not to leave the airline and offered them improved terms and working conditions. 'Secure employer' Ryanair's sweeteners included pay increases, loyalty bonus payments, improved rotas and better compensation for pilots forced to work away from their home base. Mr O'Leary stressed that Ryanair was a "very secure employer in a very insecure industry" and he emphasised that the airline's pilots "are the best in the business". And he asked them not to allow competitor pilots or their unions "to demean or disparage our collective success". The Ryanair boss also urged the airline's pilots not to join "one of these less financially secure or Brexit-challenged airlines". Mr O'Leary's letter asked the pilots to take note of "the recent bankruptcies of Air Berlin, Alitalia and Monarch", as well as the difficulties faced by another budget airline, Norwegian Air, which has been under pressure to boost its finances. Ryanair has cancelled thousands of flights since September Ryanair announced its first wave of 2,100 cancellations in the middle of September, after it rearranged pilots' rosters to comply with new aviation rules requiring a change in how their flying hours are logged. Towards the end of September it announced 18,000 further flights would be cancelled over the winter season. These moves affect more than 700,000 passengers. The airline blamed the flight fiasco on its own mistaken decision to force its pilots to take their remaining annual leave before the end of this year, rather than by the end of the financial year next March. That left Ryanair without enough pilots to fly all its scheduled flights in September and October. But passengers have complained about the short notice of the cancellations and the consumer group Which? said Ryanair's compensation information was "woefully short". http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41520970 Back to Top Boeing to acquire Aurora Flight Sciences in bet on autonomous flight Boeing is acquiring Aurora Flight Sciences, a company that focuses on autonomous flight systems designed to make robot aircraft and vehicles a reality. Boeing says that its acquisition of Aurora will help it push forward its efforts around self-flying vehicle development, for both military and commercial use. Aurora Flight Sciences has been developing its LightningStrike XV-24A vertical take-off and landing craft, an autonomous military aircraft that is being funded by DARPA and the USAF. Earlier this year, Aurora ran a successful test flight program for its XV-24A Demonstrator, a sbuscale version of the eventual production vehicle. Once the acquisition goes through, Aurora will continue to operate as its own independent subsidiary of Boeing, and will continue its work on designing and producing autonomous aircraft. In addition to the XV-24A, Aurora has designed and flown over 30 pilot-free vehicles during its nearly 20 years in operation. Boeing isn't the only major aerospace company making big bets on VTOLs - Airbus revealed this week that it's still on track to start testing its first electric flying cars beginning next year, on a path to what it hopes will eventually be deploying of autonomous aerial taxi vehicles. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-acquire-aurora-flight-sciences- 132120359.html Back to Top Supersonic Airlines Are Coming Back While Musk Dreams of Space * Air travel in the future will be divided among legacy carriers, supersonic startups, and maybe even Elon's rockets. But how much for a ticket? Elon Musk speaks at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide on Sept. 29, 2017. Photographer: Photographer: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images For years, Elon Musk has used the analogy of destroying a commercial jet after just one flight to explain his view that rockets must be reusable if humans are ever to afford space exploration. Now, the founder of SpaceX has discovered a way he might profit off that dream. He's forming an airline of sorts, one that pledges to transport people anywhere on Earth in minutes by launching them on a rocket at speeds up to 17,000 mph. This audacious, hypersonic goal currently lies somewhere between science fiction and sound physics, although nothing in SpaceX's rudimentary plans appears to be technically impossible. Long before Wall Street bigwigs get vaulted from New York to Asia in less than an hour, however, the significantly slower supersonic jet travel first popularized by the Concorde may return, sharply reducing flying times on many routes popular with business travelers. Several companies are working to develop new supersonic aircraft technologies, as is NASA. But it will still take you a few hours to get to New York from Paris. The bigger hurdle for both hypersonic and supersonic may well be the financial underpinnings of these ventures-determining how to make the technology profitable and not just the tiniest of niche transport options for the 1 percent, according to several experts in the aerospace industry. The challenges "won't be around whether it's technologically feasible, it will be around what the economics will need to be to make it a reasonable endeavor," said Luigi Peluso, a managing director in the aerospace, defense, and airlines practice at consulting firm AlixPartners LLP. Hypersonic speed would obviously revolutionize long-haul air travel, but could anyone but billionaires afford to fly above the atmosphere, zipping anywhere on the planet like an intercontinental ballistic missile with free peanuts? Musk says yes-for about the price of a full-fare economy ticket today. That's certainly aspirational, said Peluso, and only possible after the technology is mature. SpaceX declined to comment beyond Elon Musk's announcement of his plans last week. "Hypersonic is going to be pretty incredible and I think that's something that everybody is working for," said Vik Kachoria, chief executive of Spike Aerospace Inc., a Boston startup that's developing a supersonic business jet. Spike plans to fly its first SX-1.2 demonstrator aircraft this week, albeit at subsonic speeds. Supersonic test flights are set for 2019, with customer deliveries in 2023. "A pretty major difference between supersonic flight and suborbital transportation is that the former can be done without major engineering leaps" With currently available data, it's impossible to draw conclusions about operating costs or ticket prices for hypersonic flight. And with the arrival of supersonic options, Musk's bright, affordable skies may be more crowded and competitive. One way an airline can set prices is to collect all of its costs to fly a route-expenses such as jet fuel, employee compensation, landing fees, airport charges and sometimes aircraft maintenance and depreciation-and then add the profit margin it wants. That's the approach of many ultra low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines Inc. Another is to use what Peluso called "a value-based model" of what the market would bear for a particular service. In the case of a supersonic London-New York flight-a route with plenty of price- insensitive corporate demand-the market is likely to bear quite a bit. Source: Boom Supersonic For example, an airline could decide that a 50 percent margin is appropriate for a three- hour supersonic trip, given that it cuts the flight time by more than half. Colorado-based Boom Supersonic, which says it has almost 80 orders from airlines for its 55-seat jet, has projected a one-way fare from New York to London of $2,500. That includes "healthy profitability for the operator" of the 3 hour, 15-minute flight, Boom spokesman Eli Dourado wrote in an email, declining to offer more specific cost details. "A pretty major difference between supersonic flight and suborbital transportation is that the former can be done without major engineering leaps," he said. In the case of SpaceX, the company's planned "BFR" rocket would be fully reusable. That would help cut launch costs. The question is how much can they fall? SpaceX has a list price of $90 million for launches with Falcon Heavy, its largest rocket, which is expected to fly for the first time by year's end. Currently, SpaceX charges $62 million to launch Falcon 9, its workhorse rocket. "If that cost continues to come down as they scale, can they get it to $30 million to launch?" Peluso asked. Flying humans, however, adds extra cost in terms of safety equipment, redundancies, regulatory oversight, and other protocols. All of those factors will add to the math problem. This is where one of the unknowns that Musk and others are racing to test comes into play: How cheaply can you launch a large rocket? Reusability is essential and SpaceX has made leaps in terms of landing the first stage of its Falcon vehicle 16 times, most of them on a drone barge floating at sea. "Seven years ago it was still considered technically impossible to recover a first stage rocket," Peluso said. Lower a launch cost to $5 million, fly 50 people, sell the flight at cost and suddenly you have a fare that could be around $100,000. But that scenario involves relying heavily on numerous optimistic assumptions around cost savings, and a willingness to break even on the flights as a way to promote a nascent industry. "Never say never, but that's a heavy lift," Peluso said of the financial path toward affordable hypersonic fares. Hypersonic will face other questions, too. Can a rocket work like an airplane? And can passengers handle it? Flying in a commercial aircraft is nothing like the physical forces a rocket's acceleration exerts on the human body. Notes Peluso: "That is much more complicated than launching a satellite into orbit." Source: Spike Aerospace In the case of supersonic flight, airlines will need to grapple with the issue of how to integrate a premium product into their existing, slow-poke fleets. A smaller supersonic aircraft probably can't replace the premium cabins on long-haul jets because economy fares won't cover costs, said Kachoria of Spike Aerospace. Spike expects that its costs will be higher than a comparably sized business jet such as the Gulfstream G650, owing to greater engine maintenance, but not considerably higher, he said. Because of its speed, "you get to fly the aircraft twice as often as the Gulfstream" and reduce crew costs, Kachoria said. Spike's sales pitches have gotten "a very, very positive response" from airlines, although none has yet ordered the $100 million aircraft, Kachoria said. "The airlines know this is the future, they know there's a demand from a certain segment of the population," he said. "Now the question is how large is that market?" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-06/supersonic-airlines-are-almost- here-while-musk-dreams-of-space Back to Top FAA: Stakeholders' Perspectives on Potentially Moving the Office of Commercial Space Transportation Status Report From: Government Accountability Office Full report http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/687588.pdf What GAO Found Representatives from commercial space launch companies and spaceports GAO interviewed described advantages and disadvantages of moving the Office of Commercial Space Transportation to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, but most of them favored moving the office. Conversely, most Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials GAO interviewed did not favor the idea. A senior official in the Office of Commercial Space Transportation said that there are advantages and disadvantages to moving the office and that whether such an action would be beneficial depends on the implementation details and the administration's preferences. Officials from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation said they currently do not have plans to move the office. Stakeholders' and officials' perspectives are based on what they perceive could occur as a result of a move, for example: Communication and coordination: Department of Transportation (DOT) officials said that a possible advantage of moving the office would be having a unified point of contact for the industry in communicating about commercial space launch issues, while FAA officials said that moving the office could make it more difficult for FAA offices to coordinate on commercial space activities. Regulations: Some stakeholders said that moving the office could help accelerate the pace of commercial space regulatory reform, but DOT officials said that moving the office would not necessarily do so. Resources: According to some stakeholders and a senior official in the Office of Commercial Space Transportation, moving the office out of FAA could give commercial space launch issues a higher profile and more resources because FAA is focused on aviation as opposed to commercial space. However, officials from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation said that it is uncertain whether the office would receive more resources if it were moved to the Secretary's office. The Secretary of Transportation could move all or part of the office through a delegation of responsibilities for commercial space, as was the case in the prior move in 1995. If the office were moved, other necessary steps would include addressing the differences in pay scales between FAA and the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, obtaining support services and office space, and establishing new coordination and communication processes and procedures. GAO's prior work has identified key practices and questions for consideration when evaluating proposals for or implementing organizational changes such as a consolidation or merger. These key practices include: (1) focusing on a key set of principles and priorities at the outset of the transformation, (2) setting implementation goals and a timeline to build momentum and show progress, and (3) establishing a communication plan. Questions to consider when evaluating consolidation proposals include (1) What are the goals of the consolidation? and (2) What will be the likely costs and benefits of the consolidation? Why GAO Did This Study The Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which regulates and promotes the U.S. commercial space launch industry, was established in 1984 within the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and transferred to FAA in 1995. In 2015, GAO reported that the Office of Commercial Space Transportation faced challenges associated with the growth of the commercial space launch industry such as licensing more launches. To help meet these and other challenges such as updating regulations, some industry stakeholders and others suggested that the Office of Commercial Space Transportation should be moved back to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. GAO was asked to review issues regarding transferring the Office of Commercial Space Transportation from FAA to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. This report addresses: (1) selected stakeholders' and officials' perspectives on transferring the Office of Commercial Space Transportation from FAA to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, (2) what steps would be required to make this transfer, and (3) key practices and considerations GAO has previously identified for organizational changes that could be instructive for such a transfer. GAO interviewed industry stakeholders and FAA and DOT officials, reviewed the steps taken during the office's 1995 transfer, and reviewed prior reports on key practices and questions to consider regarding organizational changes. GAO is making no recommendations in this report. For more information, contact Gerald L. Dillingham, Ph.D. at (202) 512-2834 or dillinghamg@gao.gov. http://spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=50621 Back to Top Las Vegas Preps for NBAA BACE Arrival NBAA Convention show floor Visitors to this year's NBAA Convention will be offered a cornucopia of business aviation opportunities to sample, from 1,100 exhibitors and a static display inside the Las Vegas Convention Center to the outdoor static display at Henderson Executive Airport, with nearly 100 aircraft expected. (Photo: David McIntosh) As is typical when the annual NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition is scheduled in Las Vegas (October 10-12), a likely record numbers of attendees-at least 27,000-are expected to show up. And they will be offered a cornucopia of business aviation opportunities to sample, from 1,100 exhibitors and a static display inside the Las Vegas Convention Center to the outdoor static display at Henderson Executive Airport, with nearly 100 aircraft expected. While this show is primarily about business aviation, there is room for the lighter side of general aviation, and a variety of companies are displaying some interesting airplanes. These include Aerometal with a DC-3, an American Champion Super Decathlon, Aviat's Husky and Rare Aircraft with a Stinson SR-9F and Waco UPF-7. OEMs typically wait until the last minute to announce their biggest news for the NBAA Convention, but the rumor mill this year isn't exactly full of speculation about new model plans. Some OEMs are going to unveil new interiors for upcoming business jets, and it is possible that certification announcements could be timed for the show, such as for the Pilatus PC-24 and Gulfstream G500, but we will have to wait and see. Upgrades for the existing fleet will probably garner a lot more attention this year, with airborne connectivity the predominant subject, although ADS-B Out and FANS will also be strong areas of focus. For ADS-B Out, deadlines are rapidly approaching. Approximately 40,000 aircraft in the U.S. have compliant systems installed thus far, with more than 100,000 to be upgraded by the Dec. 31, 2019 deadline in the U.S. and June 7, 2020 deadline in Europe. The NBAA show is not just all about products, but also offers plenty of safety, operational and maintenance seminars. Before the show opens, NBAA is holding its annual Single Pilot Safety Standdown (October 9), and on the final day the National Safety Forum (October 12). Both events are free. The standdown "will focus on building a safety culture in a small or single-pilot organization," according to NBAA, "while the third annual NBAA National Safety Forum begins with keynote addresses from FAA and NTSB representatives, and also will focus on three of the 2017 NBAA Top Safety Focus Areas: fitness for duty, airport and ground handling safety and loss of control inflight." On the evening of October 11, the annual fundraising event to benefit the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) transitions to its new format. For this year's event, the Fund an Angel Cocktail Reception at the Wynn Las Vegas (formerly the NBAA/CAN Soiree), will feature live and silent auctions, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and networking with industry leaders and colleagues. Funds from the event will help CAN continue its work to arrange flights for cancer patients to and from treatment. CAN coordinates more than 225 flights each month and has arranged more than 53,000 patient flights since 1981. Spanky Assiter of Barrett-Jackson fame will once again be conducting a live auction of approximately six high-value lots at the event. Donations for both the live and silent auctions are still being accepted. The Opening General Session on the first day of the show (October 10) will feature FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, Apollo 13 Captain Jim Lovell, Senator Jerry Moran (R- Kansas), NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt and Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev). Two keynote speakers will share the podium during the second Opening General Session on the morning of October 11, astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly. "They are truly remarkable figures in America's aviation and aerospace industry," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, "and we know attendees will appreciate hearing the lessons they've taken from their distinguished military service, participation in the space program and their experiences in leadership and overcoming obstacles." NBAA will also honor MedAire founder Joan Sullivan Garrett and former Gulfstream Aerospace executive Preston Henne, with its most prestigious awards. Garrett will receive the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award, which recognizes "extraordinary lifelong contributions to aviation." Henne will be honored with the John P. (Jack) Doswell Award, which recognizes "lifelong individual achievement on behalf of and in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation." On the final day of the NBAA Convention (October 12), students, faculty and chaperones are invited for the free Careers in Business Aviation Day. "The association dedicates the final day of NBAA-BACE to students because we are invested in business aviation's future," said Peter Korns, NBAA's manager, operations. NBAA is welcoming a number of new exhibitors this year, including XTI Aircraft, which is designing a radical vertical takeoff and landing and fast horizontal flying personal and executive aircraft, the TriFan 600. Capable of carrying six occupants, the TriFan 600 is expected to fly at 300 knots, above 30,000 feet and with a range of 1,100 nm. Although not business aviation-related, Gavin de Becker & Associates will be touting its Private Suite at Los Angeles International Airport, which offers customers a more comfortable and private experience when traveling at LAX. The company describes the facility as similar to an FBO but for airline customers, where travelers can be screened by the TSA, wait for their flight in a private area with its own bathroom, pantry and daybed, then be driven directly to their airline's airplane without having to go through the terminal. Other interesting new exhibitors include Scott International Procedures, which offers training and information for business aircraft operators flying outside the U.S; and a new company called Hangar Tonight, designed to facilitate last-minute overnight storage via an iOS app, much like the Hotel Tonight app for short-term accommodations. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-10-05/las-vegas- preps-nbaa-bace-arrival Back to Top Back to Top FAA Event: Lessons Learned from the Crash of Air France 447 Topic: An overview of the tragic crash of Air France 447 and the Lessons Learned Date and Time: Thursday, October 12, 2017, starting at 19:00 Eastern Daylight Time Download Calendar File Speaker(s): Captain Shem Malmquist Brief Description: This seminar will mainly focus on the understanding of the human role in accidents, weather and system training with particular emphasis on Air France 447. Your presenter, Shem Malmquist, is currently a B-777 Captain operating international routes. He has a broad experience ranging from teaching aerobatics and instructing in a wide variety of both GA and transport aircraft in addition to academic research and safety investigations. He holds a Masters Degree in Human Factors in Aeronautics through Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in addition to degress from other universities. Mr. Malmquist recently co-authored a book titled 'Angle Of Attack:Air France 447 and the Future of Aviation Safety'. This is sure to be an extremely informative seminar! Door Prizes and Refreshments! Select Number: SO1578776 Location of Seminar: FIT Aviation - Melbourne International Airport 801 Harry Goode Way Melbourne, FL 32901 Directions to Venue: I-95 to (Exit 180) US-192 East, left on Evans, right on NASA Blvd, left on Grumman Place, right on Tower Access Road to Harry Goode Way to FIT Aviation Seating: 80 seats at the facility, 15 remaining for online registration. Registration Information: Click here to register online now! Sponsoring Division: Orlando FSDO FAASTeam Contact Information: RICHARD FUNCHEON Phone: (772) 713-1526 funcheon@yahoo.com Additional Event Information & Acknowledgement of Industry Sponsor(s): Special Thanks to our sponsors: FIT Aviation (for the use of facilities) Space Coast FAASTeam Orlando FAA FSDO Melbourne Area Pilots Association (MAPA) - (Door Prizes & Refreshments) Fallon Aviation (Door Prizes) King Schools (Door Prize) Richard Funcheon, Ceritified Aircraft Appraiser (Door Prize) Equal Access Information: The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) is committed to providing equal access to this meeting/event for all participants. If you need alternative formats or services because of a disability, please communicate your request as soon as possible with the person in the "Contact Information" area of the meeting/event notice. Note that two weeks is usually required to arrange services. Credit Applicability: Basic WINGS 1 Credit for Basic Knowledge Topic 3 Advanced WINGS ˝ Credit for Advanced Knowledge Topic 2 Master WINGS ˝ Credit for Master Knowledge Topic 2 FAASTeam Project Information: National Project: Other Additional Event Documents: SO1578776F.pdf Back to Top Flight Safety Specialist The Safety Specialist position assists the Director, Aviation Safety in the execution of the comprehensive NetJets Safety Program. This includes reviewing, evaluating and processing safety reports, analyzing data, assessing risks and making recommendations on how to minimize the risks involved in NetJets flight and maintenance operations. Assist the Director, Aviation Safety in development and execution of the NJA safety programs through: 50% - Evaluate, analyze and process safety reports submitted to any of the NJA administered Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) including but not limited to: (i) Investigating the issues raised in each safety report (ii) Make recommendations to management regarding changes to policy, procedures and practices to enhance safety (iii) Collection and analysis of policy, maintenance records, and fatigue assessments to determine if safety enhancements are available or warranted. (iv) Provide opinion and interpretation of collected materials to the ASAP ERC. (v) Act and speak on behalf of NJA as the ASAP Event Review Committee (ERC) representative on a rotating basis. (vi) Administer corrective actions in response to ASAP ERC findings. 20% -Participate in, or conduct research into irregular events occurring during NJA flight operations 10% - Research and analyze trend data in the NetJets Safety Program and other industry data. 10% - Track ASAP related safety recommendations and corrective actions to ensure that follow-up actions have been taken that are effective. Determine if the actions have been effective and if not, make recommendations for additional changes or corrective action. 5% -Contribute to the production of the NetJets Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) quarterly newsletters. 5 % - Acts as an information conduit to bring safety of flight issues to the attention of management and to deliver safety information to NJA employees. QUALIFICATIONS: Associate's Degree Course of Study/Major: Safety Management, Aviation Management, Business Management or related degree Type of Credentials/Licenses: Commercial Instrument / ATP with 750 hours minimum flight time Related Work Experience: 2 years or equivalent experience * Must be able to work independently and use independent discretion and judgment * Exposure to responding to irregular events as well as identifying, evaluating and writing risk assessments for said events. * Familiarity with safety analysis, trending and risk assessment. * Ability to use sound judgment in analyzing reports, assessing risks and making recommendations * Must possess a demonstrated high degree of personal and professional integrity with the ability to maintain confidentiality. * Detail oriented characteristics with an ability to prioritize multiple objectives in a dynamic environment with constantly shifting priorities. * Strong verbal and written communication with the ability to write effective reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. * Technical computer expertise and proficient knowledge in commercial off-the-shelf applications, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). * Must be effective working both individually as well as in a team environment with the ability to interact in a tactful manner. * Able to read and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations with a working knowledge of applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. * Demonstrated ability to interact with people at varying levels of authority. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree Course of Study/Major: Safety Management, Aviation related degree or equivalent Type of Credentials/Licenses: Two pilot cockpit experience or training in scheduled or unscheduled operations Work Experience:4 or more years * Operational Experience within Aviation Safety, Flight Operations, or equivalent transportation industry. * Professional training and/or education in safety or investigation fundamentals. * Experience or training in Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) * Professional experience and/or education in aviation safety investigations with particular experience or training in Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). * Professional experience and/or education in aviation safety. * Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to effectively present on both the individual level and to large audiences, including NJA employees, industry professionals and federal agencies. **TO APPLY: https://www.netjets.com/careers, requisition #1755** Back to Top Deputy Director of Safety Overview: The Deputy Director of Safety is responsible for supporting the association's existing aviation safety programs, and developing new safety initiatives to benefit HAI's membership. Essential Functions of the Position Include, but Are Not Limited To: * Providing auxiliary support to the Director of Safety * Serving as the HAI safety representative on various industry, government, and international boards, task forces, and meetings * Providing feedback for the association's response to proposed safety-related regulations and legislative initiatives * Collecting, researching, and analyzing safety and accident data for subsequent statistical reporting * Developing and implementing new HAI industry safety initiatives * Routinely interacting with aviation related agencies and organizations in support of the rotorcraft industry * Supporting all aspects of HAI's voluntary accreditation programs (IS-BAO & HAI APS) that assist helicopter operators in reducing incidents and accidents, while improving industry safety culture * Providing safety supervision for flight activities at the association's annual trade show and exposition, HAI HELI-EXPOŽ * Responding to requests for rotorcraft safety assistance from HAI members and the general public * Serving as staff liaison for assigned HAI committees * Contributing content for use in HAI's printed and electronic publications * Making safety presentations on behalf of HAI as necessary * Other duties as assigned The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Desired Qualifications for the Position Include: * College or advanced degree related to aviation safety and/or management * Five or more years of related helicopter safety background, training, and experience * Certificated helicopter pilot and/or maintenance technician * Previous experience with helicopter or other aviation-related organization * Prior international experience preferred * Familiarization with auditing protocols and accreditation programs * A passionate commitment to the promotion of helicopter safety * Highly motivated, able to work independently and in a team environment * Excellent written and verbal communication skills with prior experience in creating and delivering written proposals and public presentations * Research, data analysis, and report writing experience * Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite * Detail oriented, self-starter, with strong organizational and time management skills * Ability to travel The above qualifications are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position. APPLY HERE https://www.rotor.org/portals/1/eblast/deuty_d.html Curt Lewis