Flight Safety Information February 19, 2018 - No. 036 In This Issue Iran Aseman ATR-72 crashed on Tehran-Yasuj flight with 65 on board Incident: American B763 over Atlantic on Feb 16th 2018, multiple system failures Incident: Rutaca B732 near Barcelona on Feb 14th 2018, engine shut down in flight Incident: Korean B772 at Osaka on Feb 15th 2018, engine trouble Accident: Qeshm F100 at Mashad on Feb 16th 2018, landed without left main gear Beechcraft Baron 55 Fatal Accident (France) 'SERIOUS INCIDENT' Investigation launched after vehicle enters active runway while Aer Lingus jet landing EASA publishes the 2018-2022 European Plan for Aviation Safety Bulgarian airline Bul Air passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Cows overrun Akure Airport runway, prevent Air Peace aircraft from landing 'Red noticed' issued to airlines as volcano eruption shoots ash 16,000ft FAA increases scrutiny of human external cargo operations Air New Zealand warns of flight disruptions as Cyclone Gita bears down 9 Updates on FAA NextGen Deployment Progress Mumbai Starts Work on a New Airport, Two Decades After First Proposing It Boeing's 737 MAX-9 aircraft receives FAA approval Delta Reportedly Eyeing Boeing's New Midsize Aircraft - the 797 Pilot shortage puts LCCs in a bind Medallion Foundation - Providing Assurance In Your Systems Positions Available: Check Airmen Wanted SASS 2018..The Singapore Aviation Safety Seminar (SASS) BASS 2018...The Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS) 2018 MU-2 Pilot's Review of Proficiency Seminar (PROP 2018) - April 19-20, 2018 MU-2 Pilot's Review of Proficiency Seminar (PROP 2018) -Keynote Speaker: Jeff Skiles Position Available: General Manager / Senior Flight Data Analyst Iran Aseman ATR-72 crashed on Tehran-Yasuj flight with 65 on board Status: Preliminary Date: Sunday 18 February 2018 Time: ca 09:26 Type: ATR 72-212 Operator: Iran Aseman Airlines Registration: EP-ATS C/n / msn: 391 First flight: 1993-10-26 (24 years 4 months) Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: 6 Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: 59 Total: Fatalities: / Occupants: 65 Airplane damage: Missing Airplane fate: Presumed damaged beyond repair Location: 22 km (13.8 mls) N of Yasuj Airport (YES) ( Iran) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Tehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR/OIII), Iran Destination airport: Yasuj Airport (YES/OISY), Iran Flightnumber: EP3704 Narrative: Iran Aseman Airlines flight 3704 from Tehran to Yasuj, Iran, crashed into Mount Dena, south of Isfahan, according to a statement by the airline to Iranian Press TV. On board the aircraft were 59 passengers, two flight crew members, two cabin crew members and two security officers. Last radio contact was at at 09:22 local time when the aircraft was over the Isfahan (IFN) VOR. The flight requested premission to descend from FL210 to FL170. This was approved by Tehran ACC. Last contact registered by flight tracking website Flightradar24 was at 09:25:59, when the flight had just reacted FL170. The approach procedure for Yasuj Airport is a circling NDB approach with a 25NM minimum safe altitude circle of 11500 ft - 15500 ft. Flights from Tehran first have to cross Mount Dena, which is an 80 km mountain range with a highest elevation of 4,409 m (14,465 ft). After arriving over the NDB at the airport at 15,000 feet, a teardrop approach has to be flown for landing on runway 13/31. Weather conditions at the crash site include snow and strong winds, hampering search and rescue services. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180218-0 Back to Top Incident: American B763 over Atlantic on Feb 16th 2018, multiple system failures An American Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N397AN performing flight AA-206 from Miami,FL (USA) to Milan Malpensa (Italy), was enroute at FL330 about 450nm northnorthwest of Lajes Azores Islands (Portugal) when the crew declared emergency reporting multiple system failures and decided to divert to Lajes. The aircraft turned onto a southerly heading maintaining FL330, on approach to Lajes the crew advised they would need the full length of the runway for rollout and would stop on the runway. The aircraft landed on Lajes' runway 15 about 70 minutes after the decision to divert and stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services. The crew informed emergency services they didn't expect any real issues just wanted the emergency services to have a look. The crew continued, everything looked normal from the inside, they were ready to proceed to the apron. Emergency vehicles advised following their inspection around the entire aircraft, that they did not notice any leaks or other anomalies, the aircraft taxied to the apron. The crew requested busses to meet the aircraft at the apron, "the aircraft won't be going anywhere." Arriving at the apron the crew requested the wheels to be chocked, the brakes would not hold, the engines were still running, the ground staff should approach the nose gear. A passenger reported he didn't notice anything unusual (no unusual noise, no unuusal odour, no vibrations, ...) until the cabin lights were turned on and the passengers were woken up. The captain announced they were diverting to the Azores Islands due to mechanical trouble. Landing was pretty normal, it appeared reverse thrust was being used. After landing emergency vehicles checked the aircraft. About one hour after landing the passengers disembarked. During the day some other passengers claimed there had been an engine failure with the danger of a fire. A replacement Boeing 767-300 registration N349AN positioned to Lajes landing in Lajes about 12 hours after N397AN touched down. The replacement aircraft continued the flight and reached Milan with a delay of 18 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Lajes for about 32 hours, then departed Lajes to position to New York JFK,NY (USA). http://avherald.com/h?article=4b4ffde7&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Rutaca B732 near Barcelona on Feb 14th 2018, engine shut down in flight A Rutaca Boeing 737-200, registration YV380T performing flight 5R-310 from Puerto Ordaz to Caracas (Venezuela), was enroute near Barcelona when the crew needed to shut one of the engines (JT8D) down, the passenger oxygen masks were released. The aircraft diverted to Barcelona (Venezuela) for a safe landing. The passengers were bussed to Caracas. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b501bf1&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Korean B772 at Osaka on Feb 15th 2018, engine trouble A Korean Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration HL7766 performing flight KE-2728 from Osaka Kansai (Japan) to Seoul Gimpo (South Korea) with 216 people on board, was climbing out of Kansai's runway 06R when the crew stopped the climb at FL120 reporting a problem with the right hand engine (PW4090) and returned to Kansai for a safe landing on runway 06L about 25 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 777-300 registration HL7532 reached Seoul with a delay of 3.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b50164e&opt=256 Back to Top Accident: Qeshm F100 at Mashad on Feb 16th 2018, landed without left main gear A Qeshm Air Fokker 100, registration EP-FQF performing flight QB-1202 from Tehran Mehrabad to Mashad (Iran) with 104 people on board, was on final approach to Mashad's runway 31R in night conditions when the crew did not receive a down and locked indication for the left main gear and went around. The aircraft entered a hold while the crew was working the related checklists and attempted to resolve the problem without success. The aircraft finally needed to perform a partial gear up landing on runway 31R without the left main gear in position about 31 minutes after the go aorund. The aircraft touched down on right main gear and nose gear at 18:30L (15:00Z), kept the left wing up as long as practicable. The aircraft subsequently settled on the left wing releasing a lot of visible sparks before coming to a stop off the runway. The aircraft was evacuated. The airline reported the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction. There were no injuries. Related NOTAM: A0653/18 - RWY 31R/ 13L CLSD DUE TO DISABLE ACFT. 16 FEB 15:53 2018 UNTIL 16 FEB 18:00 2018 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 16 FEB 16:02 2018 Metars: OIMM 161600Z 11012KT 6000 NSC 03/00 Q1030 A3042= OIMM 161530Z 10012KT 8000 NSC 04/00 Q1030 A3042= OIMM 161500Z 10012KT 8000 NSC 05/00 Q1029 A3041= OIMM 161430Z 10012KT 8000 NSC 06/01 Q1029 A3040= OIMM 161400Z 11010KT CAVOK 07/00 Q1029 A3039= OIMM 161330Z 11008KT CAVOK 07/M00 Q1029 A3039= OIMM 161300Z 11012KT CAVOK 08/00 Q1029 A3039= EP-FQF after landing: http://avherald.com/h?article=4b4ff575&opt=256 Back to Top Beechcraft Baron 55 Fatal Accident (France) Date: 17-FEB-2018 Time: 17:00-18:00 Type: Beechcraft Baron 55 Owner/operator: private Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: La Grange En Cey, Saint-Laurent-la Roche, Jura - France Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Toussus-le-Noble airport (LFPN) Destination airport: Annemasse airport (LFLI) Narrative: The twin engine plane went missing and the wreckage was found at 0:15 in the wooded mountain on Saturday 17 February 2018. All three french occupants had died in the crash (a woman, a man and a child [10]). The pilot, managing director of a company in Toussus-le-Noble was an instrument flight rules pilot (IFR) allowing to "fly with the help of aircraft instruments and control guidance without external visual information " BGTA of Bāle-Mulhouse and BEA are investigating. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=206292 Back to Top 'SERIOUS INCIDENT' Investigation launched after vehicle enters active runway while Aer Lingus jet landed at London's Gatwick Airport * There were 164 passengers on board the Airbus A320-200 at the time of the 'serious' incident AN INVESTIGATION has been launched in the UK into a "serious incident" involving a vehicle which entered an active runway while an Aer Lingus jet was landing. It has emerged that the incident - which took place on Saturday February 3 - occurred at Gatwick Airport and involved an Aer Lingus Airbus A320-200 jet that had just arrived from Lyon in France. An Aer Lingus jet was involved in a 'serious incident' The aircraft was undertaking charter flights between the two airports on the day. There were 164 passengers on board at the time of the incident. All the circumstances of the incident are not clear however the flight landed and taxied to the terminal without incident. It's understood the Aer Lingus crew had been cleared to land by air traffic control and had done so safely however it's not yet known how the vehicle came to be on the same runway at the same time. It's also not clear whether the vehicle entered the runway with or without clearance from controllers. The UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched a probe into what has been described as a "serious incident". Air accident investigation authorities in Ireland, where the aircraft is registered, and in France where the jet was manufactured, were also informed of the incident. London's Gatwick Airport The French BEA reported the incident involved an "incursion of a vehicle on the runway during the landing rollout". A rollout is where an aircraft is slowing on the runway after landing. An Aer Lingus spokesman said: "Aer Lingus can confirm that an incident occurred involving an Aer Lingus aircraft on the ground at London Gatwick on the 3rd of February. "The incident had no impact on the operation of the flight or the 164 guests on board. "The matter is being investigated by the AAIB in the United Kingdom and Aer Lingus is co-operating fully with this investigation." The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Department of Transport here is also available to provide assistance to the UK's AAIB which is heading up the probe. An AAIU spokesman confirmed: "The AAIU was made aware of this event, which occurred at a UK airport. "The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch notified the AAIU that it is conducting an investigation into the event. https://www.thesun.ie/news/2198331/investigation-launched-after-vehicle-enters-active-runway- while-aer-lingus-jet-landed-at-londons-gatwick-airport/ Back to Top EASA publishes the 2018-2022 European Plan for Aviation Safety The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published the 2018-2022 European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS) The EPAS, a key component of the European Aviation Safety Programme, provides a framework for safety work at European level, helping the identification of major safety risks and defining the actions to take. It also intends to supports the Member States of the European Union to implement their State Safety Programmes and is meant to facilitate the sharing of best practice and knowledge. Strategic priorities for operational safety of Commercial Air Transport aircraft are: aircraft upset in flight (Loss of Control) and runway excursions and collisions. Additionaly, EASA is planning to address current and future safety risks like Cybersecurity and Conflict Zones. * European Aviation Safety Programme (PDF) https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/02/16/easa-publishes-2018-2022-european-plan-aviation- safety/ Back to Top Bulgarian airline Bul Air passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) The airline was founded in 2015 and operates charter flights with Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The IOSA programme is an evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. IOSA uses internationally recognised quality audit principles and is designed to conduct audits in a standardised and consistent manner. It was created in 2003 by IATA. All IATA members are IOSA registered and must remain registered to maintain IATA membership. More information: * IATA Registry https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/02/16/bul-air-passes-iata-safety-audit/ Back to Top Cows overrun Akure Airport runway, prevent Air Peace aircraft from landing An Air Peace flight from Lagos was on Saturday afternoon prevented from landing at the Akure Airport, as cows took over the runway. Eyewitnesses said it took the efforts of airport security and other aviation staff to clear the runway. The pilot was said to have contemplated returning to Lagos before he was eventually cleared to land. The Corporate Communications Manager of Air Peace, Mr. Chris Iwarah, confirmed the incident to our correspondent. Iwarah said, "At about 12:15pm the control tower advised our pilot to hold because cows were on the runway of the airport. The flight held for about seven minutes. They also called the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria's Aviation Security department to clear the runway which was done. The pilot was asked to land after the runway was cleared. "The aircraft landed safely without any incident and passengers were duly informed about the situation while they were still hovering waiting for instruction to land." He added that when the aircraft was also about to return to Lagos at about 1:02pm, the pilot was advised to hold on to confirm if there were cows on the runway. In a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN also confirmed the incident and apologised to Air Peace and the affected passengers for the runway incursion. The agency said normalcy was quickly restored as officers of the aviation security department quickly dispersed the cows from the runway and cleared the aircraft to land. "The authority will like to assure travellers and the general public that efforts are already ongoing to close the gap that aided the incident," Yakubu said. http://punchng.com/cows-overrun-akure-airport-runway-prevent-air-peace-aircraft-from-landing/ Back to Top 'Red noticed' issued to airlines as volcano eruption shoots ash 16,000ft Mount Sinabung spews volcanic ash as it erupts in Kutarakyat, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Endro Rusharyanto) A warning notice was issued to airlines after a rumbling volcano in Indonesia shot billowing columns of ash more than 16,000 feet into the atmosphere. Mount Sinabung on the island of Sumatra erupted on Monday morning, sending hot clouds down its slopes. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said there were no fatalities or injuries. The volcano, one of three currently erupting in Indonesia, was dormant for four centuries before exploding in 2010, killing two people. Another eruption in 2014 killed 16 people, while seven died in a 2016 eruption. Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said hot ash clouds travelled as far as 16,000 feet southwards. The regional volcanic ash advisory centre in Darwin, Australia, issued a "red notice" to airlines. Some 30,000 people have been forced to leave homes around the mountain in the past few years. https://www.independent.ie/incoming/red-noticed-issued-to-airlines-as-volcano-eruption-shoots- ash-16000ft-36617952.html Back to Top FAA increases scrutiny of human external cargo operations The FAA has recently focused closer attention on civil helicopter operators who conduct human external cargo operations. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is increasing its scrutiny of equipment used by helicopter operators conducting human external cargo (HEC) operations. HEC operations are common in the power utility industry as a method of transporting personnel to transmission lines and towers that would otherwise be difficult to reach. In the U.S., many power utility operators carry personnel at the end of a helicopter's long line as Class B loads under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 133. The FAA has recently focused closer attention on civil helicopter operators who conduct human external cargo operations. Heath Moffatt PhotoThe FAA has recently focused closer attention on civil helicopter operators who conduct human external cargo operations. Heath Moffatt Photo According to a statement provided to Vertical by the FAA, during a recent accident investigation, the agency became aware of non-HEC-certified external cargo hook kits being used to carry people. The agency is reminding operators that attaching means such as cargo hooks that are approved for external occupants require documentation in the supplemental type certificate (STC) and/or rotorcraft flight manual supplement (RFMS) that those attaching means meet 14 CFR part 27 or part 29 certification requirements for HEC. When there is no mention of HEC certification in the STC and/or RFMS, the attaching means may not be used for an external occupant during an operation, unless there is other documentation indicating approval for HEC. "The FAA must ensure that all HEC operations are conducted with properly certified and approved attaching means," the statement reads. "The HEC design requirements were created to ensure that when a person is carried external to a rotorcraft, the attaching means will not inadvertently release the external occupant. This goal is achieved by increasing the reliability of the static strength and fatigue testing. Operators are strongly encouraged not to conduct HEC operations with attaching means not certificated to the part 27/29 HEC requirements." The FAA said that it expects to issue further guidance in the near future that will explain in detail the HEC concern, including paths to compliance. Chris Martino, vice president of operations for Helicopter Association International (HAI), recently told Vertical, "HAI is currently working with the FAA to resolve this issue. As always, our strongest concern is for safe and legal flight operations." He added that the subject will be addressed at the Utilities, Patrol and Construction (UPAC) meeting at the upcoming HAI Heli-Expo 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. That meeting is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in rooms N237-N239 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. https://www.verticalmag.com/news/faa-increases-scrutiny-human-external-cargo-operations/ Back to Top Air New Zealand warns of flight disruptions as Cyclone Gita bears down WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Air New Zealand warned on Monday flights in and out of New Zealand faced major disruptions this week due to Cyclone Gita, set to hit the country on Tuesday, and encouraged passengers to defer traveling. "We are anticipating significant disruption to our domestic network as well as some international services over the coming week," the airline said in a travel alert on its web site. Air New Zealand said it would not reimburse passengers for any costs or penalties like hotels and meals if flight schedules were disrupted. "Any customer who chooses to commence their journey as planned must be advised that they do so at their own risk," the airline said. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government was keeping a close eye on the cyclone and urged people to take local civil defense warnings seriously. New Zealand's MetService issued severe weather warnings for most of the country's South Island, expected to be hit by heavy rain and gale-force winds, while it said western areas of the North Island will face strong northerly winds. Cyclone Gita hit the Pacific island nations of Fiji and Tonga last week, packing winds up to 275 km per hour and causing widespread destruction and flooding. It earlier caused extensive damage in Samoa and American Samoa. Authorities along the country's remote West Coast were meeting on Monday evening to decide whether to declare a state of emergency for the region, parts of which were still reeling from a huge storm that hit at the start of February. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pacific-cyclone-newzealand/air-new-zealand-warns-of-flight- disruptions-as-cyclone-gita-bears-down-idUSKCN1G3087 Back to Top 9 Updates on FAA NextGen Deployment Progress ADS-B, Data Comm, NextGen Image courtesy of Universal Avionics Corp. The release of U.S. President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget includes a 2% reduction in the FAA's budget, including cuts to spending on NextGen and FAA research activities. As the budget awaits lawmaker approval, here are nine of the latest updates on progress the agency has made with the deployment of its NextGen air traffic management modernization program. Data Comm by the Numbers According to L2 Aviation President Mark Lebovitz, as of January 2018, a total of 2,165,422 flights have carried more than 309 million passengers on aircraft using controller-to-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) procedures. Basic equipage requirements for the use of DCIS includes a flight management system and a multi- purpose control display unit that is capable of providing an interface for CPDLC messages. Aircraft also need a communications management unit, a cockpit voice recorder capable of recording datalink communications and a very high frequency (VHF) transceiver featuring VHF Data Link Mode 2 capability. The Data Comm Integrated Services (DCIS) technology is designed to enable the exchange of digital messaging between pilots and controllers in U.S. domestic airspace. Lebovitz provided the update on Twitter, from the Performance-Based Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee (PARC) Communication Working Group (CWG) event hosted by L2 Feb. 7. A Fix for Erroneous ADS-B? In January, the FAA issued a notice informing airspace users across all segments that it would begin blocking ADS-B codes that have been improperly configured within a given aircraft installation. FAA first started providing public updates about ADS-B-equipped aircraft featuring nonperforming equipment (NPE) in early 2017. Some of the most common incorrect installation codes include 123456, A00000 and 000001. The agency is seeing an average of one flight per day featuring an erroneous code. To check the status of equipment, operators are encouraged to request a public ADS-B performance report. STARS Challenges A recent report by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) notes that the FAA has installed its Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) at 11 large terminal radar approach control (TRACON) air traffic facilities. STARS provides terminal automation with a single operational baseline and is capable of tracking up to 1,350 airborne aircraft simultaneously within a terminal area. However, the FAA is still encountering challenges in transitioning from the legacy Common Automated Radar Terminal Systems (CARTS) to the new technology. Moving forward, OIG is recommending that FAA finalize its timeline for identifying remaining STARS requirements and also provide a redesign of the power supply configuration of STARS rack assemblies. OIG's report noted that it observed STARS implementations at the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Northern California; Potomac, Maryland; and New York TRACONS featuring electrical connections to processor and remote sites reliant upon power strips that are "daisy chained" to the walls of the STARS processor equipment cabinets. 9,0000 PBN Routes There are currently more than 9,000 performance-based navigation (PBN) routes and procedures deployed throughout the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS), and deployment has been completed at four out of seven planned metroplex sites. A New ATC Voice System According to the latest available information from the FAA, Harris Corp. will be testing the new National Voice System (NVS) software at the FAA's Tech Center this year. NVS is designed to replace legacy analog systems with voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology that can help reconfigure ATC voice communications networks during heavy periods of traffic and emergencies. Initial NVS operational testing and evaluation is scheduled for 2019 in Seattle before being deployed throughout the NAS by 2020. Synergy With Europe? In the December 2017/January 2018 issue of Avionics, leadership from Boeing, Eurocontrol and the FAA published an article detailing the ongoing work between the FAA's NextGen program and the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) project to synergies the data communications technologies used by aircraft that fly in both regions. Military ADS-B GAO Report Jan. 18, 2018, a U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) report stated that the U.S. Defense Department has an "urgent need" associated with equipping its aircraft with ADS-B. The new position reporting technology poses operational risk to Defense aircraft by exposing their positions to adversaries. EFBs Evolve In a presentation at Avionics for NextGen in November 2017 on current and future use of EFBs, Biruk Abraham, an operations research analyst at the FAA, the internet of things (IOT) and system- wide information management is driving new usage of EFBs. One of those new uses included the use of tablets by pilots for the SWIM Terminal Data Distribution System (STDDS), which the FAA notes is capable of converting raw surface data collected from Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities into easily accessible information. The information is published and made accessible via the NAS Enterprise Messaging Service (NEMS). A potential use of STDDS is to overlay the status of other aircraft on or moving toward active runways. A New ANSP? The U.S. president's fiscal year 2019 budget proposal includes an initiative to remove air traffic control operations from the current FAA structure. This is the third request the new administration has made to establish a new air navigation service provider (ANSP) for the NAS. General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President Pete Bunce issued a statement in response to the proposal. In the two years since former Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster first introduced similar legislation, the proposal has been strongly supported by commercial airline advocacy groups, while being opposed by the business and general aviation community. "The U.S. has the safest, most efficient, most technically advanced system in the world. Many other countries around the world utilize airspace system modernization technologies and procedures that the FAA designed and implemented. No other country has a nationwide deployed ADS-B ground infrastructure," said Bunce. "Similarly, the U.S. leads the world in deployment of data communication technology. The saying, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,' most definitely applies here." http://www.aviationtoday.com/2018/02/16/9-updates-faa-nextgen-deployment-progress/ Back to Top Mumbai Starts Work on a New Airport, Two Decades After First Proposing It * New airport to come up 22 miles southeast of existing facility * India needs to spend $62 billion to build airports in 15 years Narendra Modi attends a ceremony at the site of the new Navi Mumbai International Airport on Feb. 18. Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg Mumbai finally started work on a new airport more than two decades after first proposing it, as jets ran out of space to operate in one of the busiest aerodromes using a single runway. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Navi Mumbai International Airport, to be built on about 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres) of land about 35 kilometers (22 miles) southeast of the existing facility. The new airport, expected to handle 60 million passengers annually when fully complete, is running behind schedule with problems ranging from approvals to delays in the bidding process. "We are trailing behind in infrastructure given the pace at which the aviation sector is growing," Modi said at the event. "We are trying to press ahead with the speed of execution." India has been lagging behind China, Singapore and Dubai among regional hubs in upgrading airports. In 2019, Beijing is due to open a $12.9 billion facility that will become the city's second mega airport and capable of accommodating more than 75 million passengers with as many as seven runways. In the past two decades, Singapore and Dubai have boosted their capacity, building new terminals and becoming the eastern and western hubs for Indian air travelers. "There are no more slots in Mumbai," said Sanjiv Kapoor, chief operating officer at Vistara, the Indian affiliate of Singapore Airlines Ltd. "All the airlines have a hit a wall. It is not good when the commercial capital is not able to add flights. We certainly want to fly more to Mumbai" The first phase with one runway will be operational by December 2019, handling 10 million passengers a year, according to local officials. India needs to spend as much as 4 trillion rupees ($62 billion) to expand and build new airports over the next decade-and-a-half, but progress has been far slower than what's needed to manage one of the fastest-growing air travel markets in the world. The airport, first proposed in 1997 and approved a decade later by India's cabinet, will be built by a joint venture between a GVK Power & Infrastructure Ltd.-led consortium and state-run former monopoly Airports Authority of India. GVK also operates the current Mumbai airport, which has the capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually. Last year, the Mumbai airport set a world record handling 969 flights in a 24-hour period, the Times of India reported. That's the highest for an airport which operates only one runway at any given point in time, it said. The aerodrome is now aiming to reach 1,000 aircraft movements. Shamefully Late "It's an absolute imperative, a must-have for Mumbai," said Mark Martin, founder and CEO of Dubai-based Martin Consulting LLC. "Mumbai needs a second airport right now, like tomorrow morning, not six to seven years down the line. We have been shamefully late in building a second airport for Mumbai." Congestion at the existing facility means an aircraft spends an average 45 minutes to an hour circling the skies during peak hours before finding a landing slot. That compares with about 25 minutes for Singapore and zero for Doha, according to Martin Consulting. Not a single airline managed to land or take off even two thirds of their flights on time in Mumbai in December, data from the regulator show. Earlier this month, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the country plans to increase its airport capacity more than fivefold to help handle a billion trips as carriers in the surging market await delivery of over 900 aircraft. Under the plan, the government plans to connect 56 unserved airports and 31 unserved helipads. "India needs to significantly increase runway productivity, closer to international benchmarks," said Kapil Kaul, South Asia CEO at CAPA Centre for Aviation. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-18/jets-set-for-new-home-in-mumbai-airport- after-two-decades-wait Back to Top Boeing's 737 MAX-9 aircraft receives FAA approval (Reuters) - The world's largest plane maker Boeing Co (BA.N) said on Friday the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had officially certified its 737 MAX-9 aircraft for commercial service. FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is seen on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane in Long Beach, California March 14, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo The stamp of approval affirms the airplane's handling, systems and overall performance all comply with required aviation regulations, Boeing said. Boeing said it was in the final stages of preparing the aircraft, which is designed for 220 passengers, for its first delivery to Lion Air Group. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737/boeings-737-max-9-aircraft-receives-faa-approval- idUSKCN1G01KN Back to Top Delta Reportedly Eyeing Boeing's New Midsize Aircraft - the 797 According to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg, Delta Air Lines is reportedly interested in being one of Boeing's first customers for the "797" - a new midsize aircraft with an all-composite fuselage. The 797 jet, which made waves at last year's Paris Air Show, could fill a gap between Boeing's single-aisle 737 workhorse and its advanced long-range 787. "You're going to see us participate in Boeing's middle-of-the-market campaign," said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in a message to employees on the company's internal website. "I hope that we're going to be a launch customer on that program as well." For some that sentiment may relieve concerns that Delta's dispute with Boeing in an international trade case would cause the airliner to favor Airbus' competing jets in the long term. Last year, Boeing persuaded the U.S. Commerce Department to put duties of nearly 300 percent on the Bombardier C Series. Boeing alleged Bombardier sold 75 of the new planes to Delta at well below market cost. The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled in January that the sale of the C Series isn't harming American industry and blocked the duties from being imposed. Boeing is currently considering all options for fabricating the carbon fiber composites for the 797, including various new out-of-autoclave and resin infusion methods. Boeing believes there could be a market for more than 4,000 such aircraft over 20 years starting around 2025 when the 797 would first fly with airlines like Delta. http://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com/2018/02/delta-eyes-boeing-midsize-aircraft-797/ Back to Top Pilot shortage puts LCCs in a bind An Air Do airplane is parked at Haneda Airport on Jan. 21. Concern is growing over a looming pilot shortage, amid a sharp increase in the number of routes and flights with the emergence of low-cost carriers. Pilots - who ensure the safety of air travel - require extensive training, and many are scheduled to retire around 2030. The government and airline companies are accelerating efforts to develop countermeasures. Large number of cancellations Air Do, a Sapporo-based airline, has canceled a total of 26 flights for its Haneda-Shin Chitose route this month. The airline could not maintain its original flight schedule following the retirement of two pilots last year. It also canceled 34 flights last November. Despite all-out efforts to secure pilots, Air Do faces a severe personnel shortage. "We are short of pilots. Both time and money are required to train them," an airline official said. The airline will end operations for its Shin Chitose-Okayama route in late March. Two LCCs - Peach Aviation and Vanilla Air - were forced to cancel a large number of flights in 2014 due to pilots taking sick leave and retiring. An airline official based in western Japan said: "We are all on the edge of a serious shortage. The competition to acquire pilots has intensified with the emergence of LCCs." Regional airlines and LCCs, which cannot afford to train pilots on their own, are fretting over whether they can secure personnel. 2030 problem Behind the shortage of pilots are also changes in the aviation industry. Airlines have adopted smaller aircraft to reduce vacancy rates while competing to increase the number of flights and routes, leading to a need for more pilots. Concerns have mounted over the so-called "2030 problem," as a large number of pilots will begin retiring around that year. According to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, about 6,400 pilots are employed by domestic airlines. More than half are experienced pilots aged 45 or older, who were hired during the bubble economy. Pilot recruitment fell after the collapse of the bubble economy, causing an imbalance in the age composition of pilots. The transport ministry anticipates that in order to meet demand for pilots, the recruitment target for 2030 must be raised by about 430, an increase of 40 percent above the current level. Public-private tie-up Prospective pilots must undergo in-house training at airlines or receive training at organizations under the jurisdiction of the transport ministry, such as the Civil Aviation College. Private universities also offer pilot training courses. Trainees at airlines can receive a salary, but such programs are highly competitive, with only one in several hundred applicants earning acceptance. Applicants to the Civil Aviation College, whose graduates enjoy high employment rates at major airlines, also face steep odds. Private universities with pilot training courses have potential to grow. However, high tuition fees totaling „10 million to „20 million for four years of studies are a hurdle for many aspirants. Graduates also face lower employment rates at airlines compared to those trained at the Civil Aviation College. The transport ministry has taken such measures as promoting the employment of retired Self- Defense Forces pilots at private companies and conditionally raising pilots' mandatory retirement age from before 65 to before 68. However, strengthened training regimes are also necessary for any far-reaching solution. The ministry will increase enrollment at the Civil Aviation College from 72 to 108 from fiscal 2018. Six entities, including universities with pilot training courses, will launch an interest-free student loan system during the 2018 academic year. The system is aimed at alleviating enrollees' financial burden, thus increasing opportunities for students to become pilots. The Civil Aviation College supports students through its own scholarship system. Aviation analyst Hiroyuki Kobayashi, a former Japan Airlines pilot, said: "In addition to increasing the number of pilots, it is also important to ensure their quality. Airlines and universities must closely collaborate on a regular basis by sharing information on training, among other means." http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004245906 Back to Top Check Airmen Wanted - $45,000 (Phoenix, AZ) Main Responsibility: * Conducting FAR 141 recurrent training, check out flights on new hire CFIs, spot checks on line CFIs, perform remedial training, and observation flights. Qualifications: * High School Diploma or equivalent required * Must hold at least an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating * Must have CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates * 6 months experience as a CFI required * Demonstrated success as a CFI with commensurate pass rate SKILLS AND ABILITIES * Ability to pass a Part 141 stage check pilot proficiency check for both single and multi-engine airplanes * Proficient on Microsoft Office (word, power point, excel) * Excellent oral and written communication skills * Excellent interpersonal skills, professional demeanor * Dependable, reliable and pays extreme attention to detail Benefits AeroGuard offers a variety of benefits: Paid PTO, medical, dental, vision and 401K with company match!!! SUBMIT RESUME TO: recruiter@flyaeroguard.com OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 623-580-7913 Back to Top SASS 2018 Building on the success of previous years, the Singapore Aviation Safety Seminar (SASS) will be held March 26-29, 2018, and will feature presentations from local and international speakers. The theme for SASS 2018 is "Stepping Up Safety: Enabling Growth, Embracing New Technologies." The program focuses on topics relating to recent safety challenges, human factors issues, organizational safety issues, lessons learned from recent accidents and the latest technological improvements for safety. Registration and program agenda can be found on the SASS event website. Back to Top BASS 2018 The Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS) is a forum for the industry to meet in a collaborative environment to identify safety concerns, devise approaches to reduce risk and implement initiatives to improve safety. The summit, in its 63rd year, is organized by Flight Safety Foundation in partnership with the National Business Aviation Association. Content covers safety, training, practical solutions, management, human factors and other issues for every segment of the business aviation industry. The program agenda and registration information can be found on our event website. Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Job Title: General Manager / Senior Flight Data Analyst This position is open to all aviation safety professionals keen to manage a business at the forefront of safety technology. Desirable qualifications include: * flight deck experience * an aviation or business-related degree * experience in voluntary safety programs * commercial experience Job Description This position combines the freedom to run and develop a business in the US with potential to make a real impact on aviation safety. It will suit a pilot who is keen on aviation but tired of hotels. The office is based in Phoenix, Arizona and customers are based from Canada to Venezuela. You will also be supporting operators around the world as a part of the Flight Data Services group of companies. Location: The job holder must be based Monday to Friday on site at our Phoenix office. Supervision: 4 current staff members (3 in office, 1 remote) Salary: The range for this role is $50,000 to $70,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience. There is also a comprehensive benefits package. IMPORTANT NOTES: * Resume and Cover Letter must be received by midnight March 31st 2018 at hr@flightdataservices.com * Successful candidates will be required to complete testing prior to scheduling for interview. * Interviews will be scheduled April 9th thru 11th and must be attended IN PERSON at the Phoenix, Arizona office. Main Purpose of Job: As General Manager you will have overall charge of the business of Flight Data Services Inc, including: 1. Management of the Company's affairs and administration. 2. Management of the staff of FDS Inc. 3. Management of customer interfaces, including annual visits, monthly reports and ad hoc communications. 4. Promotion of the Company within the continents of North and South America. 5. Responsible for Company compliance with state and federal law. As Senior Flight Data Analyst you will promote aviation safety through: 1. Providing leadership for US analysts by: a. Providing training and guidance as needed. b. Task distribution & workload management. 2. Routine analysis of downloaded data. a. Review of abnormal operations and determine the cause. b. Report on findings to airlines. c. Compilation of monthly customer reports. d. Occasional emergency customer support and call-out on a roster basis. e. Responding to ad hoc requests for analysis or supply of data. 3. Contributing to the Safety Seminar and Training Courses a. Preparation and delivery of presentations. b. Attendance at the seminar. c. Ad hoc training of attendees. 4. Depending upon specialization, one or more of the following: a. Preparation of new Analysis Specifications. b. Amending analysis procedures to change thresholds etc. in consultation with the customer and Analysis Manager c. Customer training d. Support to Marketing 5. Liaise with IT Support on software maintenance. 6. Liaise with Software Development team on the POLARIS project. The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organization and the overall business objectives of the organization. ************** About Flight Data Services Flight Data Services is an industry-leader in flight safety innovation. Our expert knowledge of flight data, aviation safety, and information technology is delivered to aircraft operators globally. We are the largest dedicated provider of flight data analysis services and our qualified and experienced flight safety specialists include the highest ratio of analysts to aircraft in the aviation industry. Flight Data Services are proud to be a global, independent and private company. In 2015 we were accredited with the 'Investors in People' award and in 2017 we earned ISO 9001:2015 accreditation. Curt Lewis