Flight Safety Information December 12, 2018 - No. 251 In This Issue Incident: Brussels A332 over Algeria on Dec 11th 2018, engine restarted after failure Incident: France B773 near Sao Paulo on Dec 10th 2018, problem with speed indicator, loss of autoflight Incident: Indigo A320N at Kolkata on Dec 10th 2018, smoke on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Accident: UTAir B735 at Surgut on Dec 10th 2018, turbulence injures two cabin crew Incident: Yakutia B738 at Neryungri on Dec 11th 2018, rejected takeoff after tailstrike Cessna 208 - Runway Excursion (Indonesia) Boeing 777-333ER - Tail Strike (Hong Kong) FAA extends conflict zone warning on Syrian airspace Bureaucratic Disputes, Funding Problems Hinder Search for 2nd Lion Air Black Box Chinese air carriers hit 67.37 million hours of safe flying IBAC Highlights Industry Outreach Efforts Twin Otter aircraft upgrade certified by FAA AEI receives Transport Canada approval for CRJ200 SF conversion Aircastle to repossess Avianca Brazil aircraft Is This a Better Method of Shedding Aircraft Ice? Indonesia's Lion Air set to scrap $22bn Boeing jet order Virgin Galactic to attempt flight to space this week It's More Than Angle of Attack...By Captain Shem Malmquist 2019 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Flyer Global Aerospace Aircraft Breakdown Assistance Program Expands to Include Kit and Experimental Aircraft ERAU Expand Aviation Short-Courses for 2019 Incident: Brussels A332 over Algeria on Dec 11th 2018, engine restarted after failure A Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration OO-SFU performing flight SN-358 (dep Dec 10th) from Kinshasa (DR Congo) to Brussels (Belgium), was enroute at FL380 over Algeria when the left hand engine (PW4168) failed prompting the crew to drift the aircraft down to below FL270. The crew was subsequently able to re-start the engine in flight about 140nm eastsoutheast of Oued Irara (Algeria), climbed back to FL380 and continued the flight to Brussels for a safe landing about 3:15 hours after the engine was restarted. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Brussels about 18 hours after landing in Brussels. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c170682&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: France B773 near Sao Paulo on Dec 10th 2018, problem with speed indicator, loss of autoflight An Air France Boeing 777-300, registration F-GSQM performing flight AF-457 from Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was climbing out of Sao Paulo when the crew stopped the climb at FL290 declaring PAN PAN PAN. The crew reported they had a problem with the speed indicators, autopilot and autothrust were unavailable. The aircraft dumped fuel and returned to Sao Paulo for a safe landing on runway 09L about 100 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Sao Paulo 21 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c17028e&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Indigo A320N at Kolkata on Dec 10th 2018, smoke on board An Indigo Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-ITR performing flight 6E-237 from Jaipur to Kolkata (India) with 136 people on board, was descending towards Kolkata about 38nm from Kolkata when smoke developed in cabin and cockpit of the aircraft prompting the crew to declare emergency. The aircraft continued to Kolkata for a safe landing on runway 01R and taxied to a remote stand on the apron. A number of passengers opened the aft exits and slid down the evacuation slides, most of the passengers disembarked normally via stairs. India's DGCA reported the crew declared emergency due to smoke in cockpit and cabin and landed safely. On request by the captain the aircraft proceeded to an isolation bay where the aft slides deployed and some passengers evacuated. Other passengers disembarked via the stairs at the forward door. There were no injuries. The DGCA have opened an investigation. The airline reported there was smoke in cockpit and cabin, the aircraft performed a safe emergency landing into Kolkata. On reaching the bay a few passengers evacuated via the aft slides, most passengers disembarked via the stairs. There had been no technical malfunction of the aircraft prior to the flight. Scenes on board (Video: Rohit Khemka): Smoke inside indigo flight from Jaipur to Kolkata but still I was very calm by ROHIT KHEMKA http://avherald.com/h?article=4c16eec3&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Accident: UTAir B735 at Surgut on Dec 10th 2018, turbulence injures two cabin crew A UTAir Boeing 737-500, registration VP-BVL performing flight UT-245 from Moscow Vnukovo to Surgut (Russia), was descending towards Surgut when the aircraft entered a zone of turbulence causing injuries to two flight attendants. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Surgut. The two injured flight attendants were taken to a hospital. The aircraft was unable to depart for the return flight UT-246, remained on the ground for about three hours then returned to service. Ural's Investigation Department of Transport reported the Boeing 737-500 on the flight from Moscow to Surgut entered a zone of turbulence during the descent causing injuries to two cabin crew. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c16ea33&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Yakutia B738 at Neryungri on Dec 11th 2018, rejected takeoff after tailstrike A Yakutia Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration VP-BVE performing flight R3-4441 from Neryungri to Krasnojarsk (Russia) with 119 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Neryungri's runway 26 when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed (about 60 knots over ground) after the tail of the aircraft contacted the runway surface. The aircraft slowed without further incident and returned to the apron. There were no injuries, the damage is being assessed. The airline reported the crew rejected takeoff in the early stages of the takeoff due to an incorrect takeoff configuration which did not permit the continuation of takeoff. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Neryungri about 13 hours after the rejected takeoff. The tail: http://avherald.com/h?article=4c16e3b7&opt=0 Back to Top Cessna 208 - Runway Excursion (Indonesia) Date: 12-DEC-2018 Time: 20:20 Type: Cessna 208 Caravan I Owner/operator: Alfra Trans Dirgantara Registration: PK-ASE C/n / msn: 20800571 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Kasonaweja Airstrip, Central Mamberamo Regency, Papua - Indonesia Phase: Landing Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Jayapura-Sentani Airport (DJJ/WAJJ) Destination airport: Kasonaweja Airstrip Narrative: Upon landing, the plane veered off the runway and came to a stop on a downslope. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=219361 Back to Top Boeing 777-333ER - Tail Strike (Hong Kong) Date: 11-DEC-2018 Time: 14:54 LT Type: Boeing 777-333ER Owner/operator: Air Canada Registration: C-FITW C/n / msn: 35298/638 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG/VHHH) - Hong Kong Phase: Landing Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Toronto-Pearson International Airport, ON (YYZ/CYYZ) Destination airport: Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG/VHHH) Narrative: Air Canada flight AC15, a Boeing 777-300ER, suffered a tailstrike while landing on runway 07R at Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport. The aircraft was able to taxi to the gate normally. The return flight was cancelled, as the aircraft sustained scrape damage to the underside of the rear fuselage. Weather reported about the incident time (06:54Z) VHHH 110700Z 33016KT 9999 FEW040 18/10 Q1020 NOSIG VHHH 110630Z 33012KT 9999 FEW040 18/10 Q1020 NOSIG https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=219351 Back to Top Back to Top FAA extends conflict zone warning on Syrian airspace 11 December 2018 Damascus FIR (Syrian airspace) The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration extended the Conflict Zone warning on Syrian airspace until December 30, 2020. It remains prohibited to conduct flight operations in the Damascus (OSTT) FIR by all U.S. air carriers. More information * FAA SFAR 114 on Syria https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/12/11/faa-extends-conflict-zone-warning-on- syrian-airspace/ Back to Top Bureaucratic Disputes, Funding Problems Hinder Search for 2nd Lion Air Black Box Bureaucratic wrangling and funding problems have hampered the search for the cockpit voice recorder of a crashed Lion Air jet, prompting investigators to turn to the airline to foot the bill in a rare test of global norms on the probe's independence. Weeks of delays in the search for the second 'black box' may complicate the task of explaining how 189 people died when the Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed into the Java Sea on Oct. 29. Indonesian investigators told Reuters budgetary constraints and the need for approvals had limited efforts to raise the main wreckage and find the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), thought to hold vital clues to Indonesia's second-worst air disaster. "We don't have further funds to rent the ship," a source at Indonesia's transport safety committee (KNKT) said, in reference to specialized equipment needed for the search. "There is no emergency fund for us, because there is no legal basis," the source said on condition of anonymity. "We have already asked the coordinating minister for the economy, but there is no regulation and it would need to be discussed by the parliament," the source added. The clock is ticking in the hunt for acoustic pings coming from the L3 Technologies Inc cockpit voice recorder fitted to the jet. It has a 90-day beacon, according to an online brochure from the manufacturer. Safety experts say it is unusual for one of the parties to help fund an investigation. Under United Nations rules, such probes must be conducted independently to maintain trust in any recommendations made to prevent future accidents. There are also broader concerns about the resources available for such investigations worldwide, coupled with the threat of agencies being dragged into separate legal disputes. Sponsored by: Insurance Journal. You deserve an upgrade. Go Pro! IJPro. It's Insurance Journal on steroids. A rare exception was the costly search for black boxes of an Air France jet in the Atlantic in 2009, parts of which were funded by the airline and Airbus after a failed two- year effort. The Lion Air jet crashed in relatively shallow water of 30-35 meters but only the data recorder has been found as the remaining device lies among oil pipelines requiring an expensive self-positioning vessel without an anchor. A Lion Air spokesman said a chartering contract had been signed and a specialized ship would arrive once all international regulatory approvals were obtained. Even though the airline is helping to fund the search, officials from the KNKT will oversee all operations on board. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said she was not aware of a lack of funding for the CVR search operation. Last Trace The voice recorder could help answer questions over whether the crew responded correctly to potentially faulty sensor data and any role that a newly modified anti-stall system on the 737 MAX may have played. The flight data recorder was recovered three days after the crash, giving insight into aircraft systems and crew inputs, though the cause has yet to be determined. The need for an adequate support ship has been highlighted ever since tests on Nov 12 suggested the CVR's locator beacon was broken, KNKT head Soerjanto Tjahjono told Reuters. The search requires a heavy-duty supply vessel with a large enough deck and crane capacity to help recover the main fuselage wreckage as well as support a remotely operated underwater vehicle, deputy chief Haryo Satmiko said. He estimated the search would cost about 25 billion rupiah ($1.73 million) every 10 days and cited the need to obtain "administrative progress" on funding as the main obstacle over the last month. Potential funding sources had included the finance ministry, the aviation regulator and Lion Air's insurers, he said. A source at Lion Air said its insurers had been reluctant to pay for the search and so the airline had stepped in. The Lion Air spokesman referred questions to insurer Asuransi Tugu Pratama Indonesia, a subsidiary of government-controlled oil company Pertamina. The insurer was not immediately available for comment. ($1 = 14,465.0000 rupiah) (Reporting by Cindy Silviana; additional reporting by Maikel Jefriando; writing by Jamie Freed; editing by Tim Hepher and Darren Schuettler) https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2018/12/11/511570.htm Back to Top Chinese air carriers hit 67.37 million hours of safe flying The ARJ21, China's first commericial regional aircraft, is parked at the Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 29, 2015. (Xinhua/Pei Xin) (ECNS) - Chinese air carriers have flown for 99 months without a major fatal crash, a combined total of 67.37 million hours of safe flights, Bao Yi, chief of the planning department at the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said on Monday. Bao said at a press conference that China has achieved an excellent safety record and ranks among the world's best. China has had the world's second-largest civil aviation industry since 2005 and is now narrowing the gap with the United States, said Bao. By the end of November, there are 60 air transportation companies, 3,549 aircraft, 410 general aviation airlines and 232 transport airports in China. Among the 234 airports in the country, 37 reported annual passenger volumes of more than 10 million while 10 serviced 30 million passengers a year.In 2017, China's civil aviation contributed more than 25 percent to the growth of world civil aviation and over 55 percent in the Asia- Pacific region. According to an administration action plan, China's civil aviation aims to leap from an air transport power to a power on many fronts from 2021 to 2035, such as developing a world-leading airline, a strong international aviation hub and a first-class aviation service system. http://www.ecns.cn/cns-wire/2018-12-11/detail-ifzanuxq9378113.shtml Back to Top IBAC Highlights Industry Outreach Efforts The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) wants to send the message that it is "here to help" business aviation. "We need to do a better job of spreading that word to the industry," IBAC director general Kurt Edwards told AIN. Terry Yeomans, who directs IBAC's International Standards-Business Aviation Handling (IS-BAH) program, added, "Too many people think of us as regulators, but really we try to reach out to industry for ways we can help them. If there is a regulation that is impeding their business, we can work with ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organization] for relief." Founded in 1981, non-profit IBAC is one of 46 non-governmental organizations in the UN's ICAO and holds permanent observer status. With 192 member states, ICAO's mission is to coordinate all facets of civil aviation. By far, its largest member organization is the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the international airline representative. Edwards acknowledges that the relationship between IATA and IBAC is not always smooth. "We're there to make sure that if a new rule or policy comes up in discussion, the interests of business and general aviation are represented." Edwards explained that IBAC had "flown under the radar" for too long, and with its IS- BAO (International Standards-Business Aviation Operations) and IS-BAH (for ground handling) programs, it was often viewed as the maker of the rules. Over the past several months, IBAC has committed to reaching out to industry, starting with a series of round tables where industry members are encouraged to voice their concerns over existing or upcoming rulemaking. "The idea is for the round tables to not be IBAC driven," said Yeomans. "We needed more outreach." He explained that nuances in language can sometimes create confusion, and "tiny misunderstood words" can lead to crossed wires. Speaking of the nature of IS-BAO and IS-BAH audits, Yeomans said, "They're really snapshots. The auditors need to be intuitive in their evaluations. Everyone is human, and humans seek out shortcuts. The problem is when shortcuts become the norm. If you make it a habit to do things the right way every time, then it's less likely that shortcuts will work their way into procedures." Asked about handling concerns unique to the Middle East region, Yeomans paused then reflected that without much in the way of small aircraft, handling operations are different. "Of course, unlike airports in Europe and North America, there is lots of room for the large aircraft. But complacency can sometimes be an issue, as a result. And if you bend an aircraft around here, it's a significant bend." He said that there has been great buy-in "since day one" to the IS-BAH program in the region since its launch in 2014. He cited the news released at MEBAA of Jet Aviation's 20 locations attaining IS-BAH Stage 2 status (see yesterday's edition of MEBAA Convention News, page 30), including several of its facilities in the Middle East, including Dubai. "The support has been terrific," Yeomans said. Asked to assess the progress of the IS-BAH program, Yeomans said, "We're getting there. We are further along than we thought we'd be. We currently have 149 locations at Stage 1, which is really the stage where you say what it is you're going to do. Stage 2 is an important step because that's where you have shown that you're actually doing what you said in Stage 1. We have 50 operations at Stage 2. And we recently awarded our first Stage 3 registration to American Aero Fort Worth at Meacham International Airport in Texas. At the award ceremony for American Aero during the National Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in October Yeomans said, "American Aero FTW continues to set the pace for the industry when it comes to safety management and risk mitigation. "By doing so, they demonstrate their leadership in creating a performance-based, risk- averse culture that is centered on excellence." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-12-12/ibac- highlights-industry-outreach-efforts Back to Top Twin Otter aircraft upgrade certified by FAA Aerospace engineering firm Ikhana has received FAA certification to upgrade the DHC-6- 300 Twin Otter to carry up to 14,000 lbs (6350kg). The modification means that a Twin Otter can now take 19 passengers with 2 crew and fly 450-500 nautical miles. The standard commuter category Twin Otter aircraft has a MTOW (Maximum Take Off Weight) of 12,500 lbs (5670kg). The 1500 lbs (680kg), or 12% overall upgrade made possible by Ikhana's modifications represents a 31% increase in payload based on an average empty weight of 7700 lbs (3500kg). The certification allows for operation of the full 750 shaft horsepower of the aircraft's PT6A-34 engines and the more efficient and quieter Raisbeck/Hartzell four blade "Scimitar" propellers. Aerodynamic and structural enhancements are also made to the aircraft as part of the upgrade. John Zublin, CEO of Ikhana said, "The FAA's certification of our DHC-6-300 upgrade adds significant capabilities for operators to expand their mission role, optimize payload and range, add value to their aircraft, and increase revenues.". "This takes the aircraft well beyond its original capability." "Big picture, it offers increased utility with a rapid return on investment. This has been a long term and intensive engineering effort for IKHANA and we are pleased that this long-awaited enhancement is now approved and available on the market." https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/industry-news/twin-otter-aircraft- upgrade-certified-by-faa.html Back to Top AEI receives Transport Canada approval for CRJ200 SF conversion Aeronautical Engineers Inc (AEI) has received Transport Canada approval for its CRJ200 SF passenger-to-freighter conversion. The Transport Canada approval (SA18-130) allows for the operation of Canadian registered CRJ200 SF freighters, which have a capacity for up to 6.6 tonnes of cargo. At the end of 2016, AEI received the original supplemental type certificate (STC) for the CRJ200 SF from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and in May of this year received approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Currently, AEI has over 45 firm orders and commitments for the freighter. Since certification, AEI has delivered 10 CRJ200 SFs and will redeliver the 11th overall later this month. "As a Canadian manufactured aircraft, there is of course great regional interest in the AEI converted CRJ200 SF freighter said Robert Convey, AEI senior vice president sales and marketing, adding: "There are many routes in Canada which make for a perfect fit for this freighter." The conversion comes with a large main cargo door and wan ANCRA cargo loading system. https://www.aircargonews.net/news/technology/freighter-conversions/single- view/news/aei-receives-transport-canada-approval-for-crj200-sf-conversion.html Back to Top Aircastle to repossess Avianca Brazil aircraft Aircraft lessor Aircastle has confirmed it will repossess 11 Airbus aircraft on lease to Avianca Brazil. The company has "terminated the leases for, and began exercising remedies to, repossess" one Airbus A330-200 and 10 A320s, Aircastle says in a 10 December filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. "As previously disclosed, Aircastle had been working through a delinquent receivables issue with Avianca Brazil," the filing says. "Aircastle has been in remarketing discussions with several potential customers." Avianca Brazil is owned by Synergy Group, which also owns part of Avianca Holdings, parent of Colombia carrier Avianca. Avianca Brazil is not a subsidiary of Avianca Holdings. As a result of the terminations, Aircastle has revised its fourth quarter lease rental revenue guidance from $187-$191 million to $182-$184 million. It has likewise revised its maintenance revenue guidance from $14-$18 million to $90-$94 million. In recent days, Avianca Brazil told FlightGlobal it would return eight aircraft to lessors. That news followed reports of legal action by lessors seeking the return of up to 13 Airbus aircraft. The carrier said it had planned the fleet reductions since August and did not specify which aircraft were included in the returns. Local reports have suggested BOC Aviation is also looking to take back two A320neos on lease to the carrier. BOC Aviation declined to comment. In 2016, Avolon sued Synergy for failing to make lease payments it guaranteed on behalf of Avianca Brazil. Currently, Avolon has one A330 on lease to the carrier, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aircastle-to-repossess-avianca-brazil- aircraft-454290/ Back to Top Is This a Better Method of Shedding Aircraft Ice? Think of nanotubes as a lighter and more energy-efficient deicing system. When the research is completed, nanotubes could prove to be the lightest and most efficient system of shedding aircraft ice ever designed. Queen's University Belfast Except for the TKS-powered anti-ice technology installed on some small aircraft, the ultimate system to keep wings and tail components free of ice is most certainly the heated leading edges used aboard turbine-powered aircraft. The downside of these near-perfect ice-shedding machines is that they drain valuable bleed air energy from the engine itself, often when the aircraft needs them most. Recently researchers from Queen's University in Belfast said they've developed a new ice-prevention system, one that uses an ultra-light weight heater created from webs of carbon nanotubes (CNT). Professor Brian Falzon, from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, who led the research team said in a news release, "We started by creating a CNT web, where individual CNTs ... stacking 10-40 layers of the webs, at different orientations, to achieve the desired heating characteristics." He added that, "The webs could be attached on the inner surface of a wing leading edge, nacelle lip skin, or could also be incorporated within a composite material." Nearly as important as the power drain of modern leading edge heating systems is the weight of the plumbing needed to operate them. Falzon said, "Each layer of CNT web can be as thin as 1/2000 the thickness of a human hair and the weight of a web large enough to cover a football field would be less than 30 sheets of A4 photocopy paper. When we carried out testing, we discovered that the newly developed CNT heaters achieved rapid heating which shows they could quickly de-ice aircraft and provide effective ice protection in flight." While nanotube heaters will demand more research before they can be brought to market, Dr Xudan Yao, a PhD student from China, who worked on the project under the supervision of Professor Falzon and Professor Stephen Hawkins said, "Compared with state-of-the-art heating systems currently used on aircraft, the CNT heater that we have created at Queen's is lighter, provides rapid and more uniform heating and is more energy efficient." https://www.flyingmag.com/is-this-better-method-shedding-aircraft-ice Back to Top Indonesia's Lion Air set to scrap $22bn Boeing jet order The carrier is angry at the aircraft manufacturer's response to October air crash The closely held, fast-growing carrier has 368 undelivered aircraft on order from Boeing and Airbus, more than triple the fleet of 117 jetliners that it operates. EPA Lion Air Mentari's owner is sketching out plans to become one of the world's largest budget carriers, while also preparing to scrap $22 billion in Boeing jet orders out of anger at the manufacturer's response to an October air disaster. Rusdi Kirana, the co-founder of Lion Air, Indonesia's biggest airline, mapped out the seemingly contradictory goals in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday. The crash that killed all 189 people aboard a Boeing 737 Max won't derail his ambition to expand the budget carrier to an eventual fleet of 1,000 aircraft, he said. Lion Air may also list its Indonesian unit in 2019, he added. But it's not clear if Boeing, the airline's long-time trade partner, would play a role in that growth given tensions following the crash of a two-month-old aircraft. The budget operator is firming up a formal document to press ahead with canceling its remaining 737 orders, Mr Kirana said, claiming the US planemaker unfairly implicated Lion Air in the deadly crash. He has also sent a letter to the Chicago-based company outlining his objections to the way the aircraft maker handled the fallout from the first fatal crash of a 737 Max jet, Mr Kirana said in Jakarta. "It was very cunning and very inappropriate, which I think is without any ethics," Mr Kirana said, explaining his plan to scrap the orders. "They did it to one of their biggest customers. They created an opinion that we did not maintain our aircraft properly." A preliminary report last month from Indonesia's transportation safety commission detailed maintenance issues with the doomed Max, contrasted how pilots handled confusing anti-stall warnings on the final two flights and recommended that Lion Air improve its safety culture. Boeing responded with a lengthy statement that, like the report, alluded to but didn't mention by name a new system on the 737 Max that was activated by erroneous data from a sensor. The software repeatedly tilted the plane's nose downward as pilots battled for control amid a cacophony of alarms. "This is a tough situation and understandable that there's some challenges around that, but this is a highly respected customer. We're in constant communication with Lion Air," Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg said in a December 6 interview on CNBC. "We're going to work our way through this. Of course, all of these contracts are long-term arrangements. These are not things that can be exclusively canceled by either side." The closely held, fast-growing carrier has 368 undelivered aircraft on order from Boeing and Airbus, more than triple the fleet of 117 jetliners that it operates. Mr Kirana said Tuesday Boeing has yet to deliver about 250 jets to Lion; the manufacturer's orders and deliveries website shows 190 unfilled orders. MR Kirana sounded bullish on Lion's growth prospects, despite the bruising publicity from the October 29 crash. The group's subsidiary in Thailand, Thai LionAir, is working on getting permits to fly to Dubai and London next year, using Airbus's A330neo jet, which they will receive in May. He also said the group plans to fly to more countries and to open another base in Asia, without providing details. Still, tripling Lion's order book might be difficult at a time when Airbus and Boeing narrow-body production is effectively sold out into the early 2020s. And some analysts are skeptical Lion needs all the aircraft it currently has on order amid the brutally competitive southeast Asian travel market. What Lion eventually "does or does not do" with its Max order, isn't likely to temper other operators' enthusiasm for the jet, said John Plueger, CEO of Air Lease, a Los Angeles-based lessor and a 737 Max customer. Order cancellations tend to be "driven by business models and forward outlook, as opposed to aircraft types," Mr Plueger said in an email. "If an airline orders too many aircraft it will end up canceling or deferring those orders. Overall demand for the Max remains strong and I am sure that there are a number of airlines and lessors that would love to have access to those positions." https://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/indonesia-s-lion-air-set-to-scrap-22bn- boeing-jet-order-1.801748 Back to Top Boeing launches business jet capable of world's longest flight Boeing has unveiled its newest line of business jets, which the company says will allow VIP travelers to fly non-stop between "any two cities on earth." The BBJ 777X planes will have a range of 11,645 nautical miles (21,570 km), enabling them to offer the longest commercial flight in the world. Depending on which routes the jets are used on, the new models mean Boeing could wrestle the crown for farthest nonstop travel away from Airbus. Earlier this year, Singapore Airlines resumed its 17-hour flights between London and Singapore on Airbus A350-900 ULR (Ultra-Long Range) jets. But the distance traveled on the record-breaking flights is a mere 9,000 nautical miles (16,700 kilometers), putting it below the range Boeing's new jets are capable of. The planes "can fly more than halfway around the world without stopping, farther than any business jet ever built," the company said in a statement. "Our most exclusive customers want to travel with the best space and comfort and fly directly to their destination. The new BBJ 777X will be able to do this like no other airplane before it, redefining ultra-long range VIP travel," Greg Laxton, head of Boeing Business Jets, added at the Middle East Business Aviation Association Show (MEBAA). The jets could be used to connect New York City with Perth in Western Australia, a journey which currently requires a connection and takes more than a day to make. Two versions of the jets have been made, the BBJ 777-8 and 777-9, with the latter offering a slightly shorter range of 11,000 nautical miles (20,370 kilometers) but boasting a larger cabin. The company has released renderings of the plane's interior, although it has not sold any of the planes yet. Other business jets produced by Boeing include the BBJ MAX and high-performance versions of its 787 Dreamliner. Since forming in 1996, Boeing Business Jets has delivered 234 jets on 261 orders. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/national/boeing-launches-business-jet-capable- of-worlds-longest-flight Back to Top Virgin Galactic to attempt flight to space this week SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity, Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo, near the apogee of its third powered flight July 26. Credit: Virgin Galactic WASHINGTON - Virgin Galactic plans to perform the next test flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane as soon as Dec. 13, a flight that could be the first by the vehicle to reach at least one definition of space. In a Dec. 11 statement, the company said the next powered test flight of VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo, is planned for a window that opens Dec. 13 from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. The flight would be the fourth powered flight for this vehicle and the first since July. The statement came shortly after the publication of airspace restrictions in the vicinity of the airport "for rocket launch and recovery" for Dec. 13 through 15. "At a basic level, this flight will aim to fly higher and faster," the company said in its statement. "We plan to burn the rocket motor for longer than we ever have in flight before, but not to its full duration." The flight will collect "new and important data points" about the vehicle at higher altitudes and speeds, including supersonic handling qualities and thermal dynamics. How well the vehicle is doing will determine how long they burn the rocket motor, the company stated. On the previous flight, SpaceShipTwo's hybrid rocket motor burned for 42 seconds, while a full-duration burn would run about one minute. On that previous flight, SpaceShipTwo reached a peak altitude of 52 kilometers, and the company suggested the vehicle could go much higher on the upcoming flight. "At the end stages of the rocket burn in the thin air of the mesosphere and with the speeds that we expect to achieve, additional altitude is added rapidly," it stated. That could be enough for the vehicle to fly high enough to reach space, depending on the definition used. "We also plan to burn the rocket motor for durations which will see our pilots and spaceship reach a space altitude for the first time," Virgin Galactic stated, but noted that, depending on the outcome of this flight, "it may take us a little longer to get to that milestone." The statement didn't specify what it meant by "space altitude," but company officials have previously said they were using the altitude of 50 miles, or approximately 80 kilometers, used by NASA and the U.S. Air Force for awarding astronaut wings. "For Virgin Galactic, the major milestone that we perceive is the altitude at which NASA and Air Force folks get their astronaut wings, which is 50 miles," George Whitesides, chief executive of Virgin Galactic, said last month. "For us and our customers, I think we'll be focused on 50 miles, at least at the start." That is below the 100-kilometer Karman Line commonly used as the boundary of space, including in the Ansari X Prize competition won by SpaceShipOne in 2004. However, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world air sports federation that maintains records for both aviation and spaceflight, announced Nov. 30 it would reconsider that definition with an eye towards lowering it. The company added that, on this test flight, it is carrying four unnamed payloads through NASA's Flight Opportunities program, which provides suborbital and related flights of research payloads. Those experiments, the company said, are part of an effort by the company "to start simulating the commercial weight distribution in the spaceship represented by our future passengers." https://spacenews.com/virgin-galactic-to-attempt-flight-to-space-this-week/ Back to Top Back to Top December 13, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Suzanne Keneally VP, Group Head of Communications skeneally@global-aero.com 973-490-8588 Global Aerospace Aircraft Breakdown Assistance Program Expands to Include Kit and Experimental Aircraft Providing Light Aircraft Policyholders with Automatic Program Renewal in 2019 Parsippany, New Jersey - Global Aerospace, Inc., a leading provider of aerospace insurance, is pleased to announce two enhancements to its exclusive Aircraft Breakdown Assistance program. The program, launched in January 2018 to its U.S. light aircraft policyholders, will now also be available to Global Aerospace policyholders with kit, experimental, antique, rare and unique aircraft. In addition, upon renewing their policy in 2019, qualified Global clients who signed up for the Savvy program in 2018 will be automatically registered for another year of protection, at no additional cost. New policyholders in 2019 will also be eligible to sign up for the Aircraft Breakdown Assistance program at no additional cost. Marilena Sharpell, senior vice president and underwriting and operations executive at Global Aerospace comments, "We are pleased to be able to expand upon this valuable program to include our kit and experimental aircraft clients." Ms. Sharpell adds, "Providing automatic renewals seamlessly to clients that have already enrolled in the Aircraft Breakdown Assistance program, further demonstrates the importance we place on bringing this valuable protection to our clients." The Aircraft Breakdown Assistance program supported by Savvy Aviation is available at no additional cost and provides professional maintenance management, consulting and breakdown assistance for owner-flown general aviation airplanes. A mechanical problem with an aircraft while away from home can be an owner's worst nightmare. The Aircraft Breakdown Assistance program provides Global policyholders with 24/7 access to a dedicated toll-free assistance hotline and experienced Savvy Airframe and Powerplant and Inspection Authorization (A&P/IA) technicians. Savvy technicians will troubleshoot mechanical problems and help owners determine whether an aircraft is safe to fly home. If repairs are needed, they will help find a local, trustworthy maintenance provider and work with them to get pilots safely, and quickly, back in the air. As a specialist aviation insurance provider, Global Aerospace is continuously developing customized, exclusive solutions to deliver products and services to benefit our clients and their brokers. The Aircraft Breakdown Assistance program is available at no additional cost to Global Aerospace, Inc. policyholders if their policy begins or renews on or after January 1, 2018. To activate your exclusive Aircraft Breakdown Assistance membership today, please visit savvyaviation.com/global. ### About Global Aerospace Global Aerospace is a leading provider of aerospace insurance with a worldwide portfolio of clients who are engaged in every aspect of the aviation and space industries. Headquartered in London, we have offices in Canada, Bonn, Paris, Zurich and throughout the United States. Across the world, we employ over 300 people. With experience dating back to the 1920s, the company's underwriting is backed by a pool of high quality insurance companies representing some of the most respected names in the business. For additional information about Global Aerospace, please visit www.global-aero.com. To learn more about the company's SM4 safety program, please visit sm4.global-aero.com. About Savvy Aviation For more than a decade, Savvy Aviation's extraordinary team of veteran maintenance experts has been serving as a trusted maintenance advisor to more than 10,000 owners of general aviation aircraft. Savvy provides a broad palette of maintenance-related services that includes comprehensive maintenance management, maintenance consulting, a national prebuy program, analysis of engine monitor data, and 24/7 fast-response breakdown assistance. Savvy was founded in 2008 by Mike Busch, arguably the best- known A&P/IA in general aviation, honored by the FAA as 2008 National Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year. Curt Lewis