Flight Safety Information December 14, 2018 - No. 253 In This Issue Incident: Southwest B737 near Seattle on Dec 9th 2018, heartfelt return Incident: Cathay Pacific B773 at Toronto on Dec 6th 2018, rejected takeoff Incident: Lufthansa A319 enroute on Dec 2nd 2018, odour on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Aeromexico B738 at Tijuana on Dec 12th 2018, radome damage on final approach Boeing 737 Passenger Jet Damaged in Possible Midair Drone Strike Accident: Canada B763 at Ottawa on Dec 2nd 2018, turbulence injures three cabin crew NTSB Cites History of Risky Flights by John Shannon Injured Tampa passengers sue estates of pilot, co-pilot who died in jet crash A new algorithm improves flight safety and reduce delays China lays out plan to become aviation powerhouse IATA and Jordan CARC Sign MoU on Safety Emirates Aviation University wins key EU accreditation Airlines Admit They're Struggling to Deal With Racist Passengers GAO: US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft readiness declined since 2011 AirAsia confirms multiple bidders for aircraft and leasing assets Aer Lingus to recruit 100 pilots as part of growth plan Helicopter Accident Investigation from SCSI Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship 2019 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference Flyer Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers sUAS Trusted Operator Program certification during CES ERAU Expand Aviation Short-Courses for 2019 Incident: Southwest B737 near Seattle on Dec 9th 2018, heartfelt return A Southwest Boeing 737-700, registration N7726A performing flight WN-3606 from Seattle,WA to Dallas Love,TX (USA), was enroute at FL370 about 490nm southeast of Seattle when the crew was informed a human heart intended for a hospital in Seattle had not been unloaded in Seattle. The crew decided to turn around and return to Seattle to deliver the heart to the hospital, although with some delay. The aircraft landed safely back about 2.5 hours after departure. Due to an unrelated technical issue on the ground the aircraft was unable to depart again. The airline reported they made the decision to return to Seattle as it was absolutely necessary to deliver the shipment to its destination. A replacement Boeing 737-700 registration N264LV reached Dallas with a delay of about 8 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 14 hours after landing back. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA3606/history/20181209/2315Z/KSEA/KDAL http://avherald.com/h?article=4c185d1c&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Cathay Pacific B773 at Toronto on Dec 6th 2018, rejected takeoff A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300, registration B-KQB performing flight CX-829 from Toronto,ON (Canada) to Hong Kong (China), was accelerating for takeoff from Toronto's runway 23 when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed reporting they believed a tyre problem. Tower advised he believed something flew away from the left hand side of the aircraft. Another flight crew near runway 23 reported they believed it was a compressor stall (engine GE90) on the left hand side, tower replied he thought something like this too. The Boeing 777 vacated the runway onto runway 15L about 680 meters down runway 23. A runway 23 inspection did not find any debris on the runway. The aircraft returned to the apron. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 41 hours, then departed for the flight CX-829D to Hong Kong. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c185672&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Lufthansa A319 enroute on Dec 2nd 2018, odour on board A Lufthansa Airbus A319-100, registration D-AIBG performing flight LH-2023 from Dusseldorf to Munich (Germany), was enroute when a bad odour occurred in cockpit and cabin. The aircraft continued to Munich for a safe landing about 45 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 47.5 hours while maintenance spotted leaked oil in the APU compartment, the APU oil reservoir was full however. The APU oil had been replenished twice within a day before. Subsequently the odour was found associated with the #1 bleed air, however, no smell was found with APU bleed and #2 bleed air. Several filters were replaced. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c1859a6&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Aeromexico B738 at Tijuana on Dec 12th 2018, radome damage on final approach An Aeromexico Boeing 737-800, registration XA-ADV performing flight AM-770 from Guadalajara to Tijuana (Mexico), was on final approach to Tijuana's runway 09 when the radome received damage. The crew continued for a safe landing. The airline confirmed the incident and said they were investigating what caused the damage. Mexican media are speculation about a drone impact having caused the damage. The nose damage: http://avherald.com/h?article=4c185005&opt=0 Back to Top Boeing 737 Passenger Jet Damaged in Possible Midair Drone Strike By Andrea Navarro and Alan Levin * Aircraft landed without incident in Tijuana after hit to nose * Crew members heard a 'pretty loud bang' shortly before landing The damaged nose of Aeromexico's 737 jet. Source: AFAC Aviacao Grupo Aeromexico SAB is investigating whether a drone slammed into a Boeing Co. 737 jetliner as the aircraft approached its destination in Tijuana, Mexico, on the U.S. border. Images on local media showed considerable damage to the nose of the 737-800, which was operating Wednesday as Flight 773 from Guadalajara. In a cabin recording, crew members can be heard saying they heard a "pretty loud bang" and asking the control tower to check if the nose was damaged. The collision happened shortly before landing. "The exact cause is still being investigated," Aeromexico said in a statement. "The aircraft landed normally and the passengers' safety was never compromised." The potential drone strike stoked fears that the rising use of uncrewed aircraft will endanger planes filled with passengers. While most nations prohibit drones from flying in pathways reserved for airliners, the millions of small consumer devices that have been purchased around the world can't be tracked on radar, making it difficult for authorities to enforce the rules. In addition, many users don't know the rules or don't follow them. The damaged nose of Aeromexico's 737 jet.Source: AFAC Aviacao More Incidents The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has logged a dramatic increase in the number of safety reports involving drones in recent years and air-carrier industry groups earlier this year called on the government to tighten regulations after a video was released purporting to show a drone flying just feet away from an airliner near Las Vegas. There have been about 6,000 drone sightings by pilots -- some of them by airline crews -- through June, according to FAA data. So far, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has investigated one confirmed midair collision involving a drone. An Army helicopter hit the small hobbyist device near Staten Island, New York, in September 2017, causing relatively minor damage. Canada's Transportation Safety Board concluded that a small drone struck a turboprop carrying six passengers near Quebec on Oct. 12, 2017. The drone caused a dent in one wing and the commercial flight was able to land safely, investigators said in a report. A helicopter crash-landed in Charleston, South Carolina, in February after the pilot attempted to evade a drone, according to a police report. In a 2017 study based on computerized models, the FAA concluded that drones would cause more damage than birds of a similar size because they contain metal parts. Significant damage to windshields, wings and tail surfaces of aircraft was possible, the study found. However, the damage a small consumer drone could cause was unlikely to prove catastrophic, the study found. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-13/aeromexico-737-jetliner- damaged-in-possible-midair-drone-strike Back to Top Accident: Canada B763 at Ottawa on Dec 2nd 2018, turbulence injures three cabin crew An Air Canada Boeing 767-300, registration C-FTCA performing flight AC-446 from Toronto,ON to Ottawa,ON (Canada) with 184 people on board, was descending towards Ottawa when ATC advised the crew of moderate turbulence in the area. The flight crew advised cabin crew of the expected turbulence and to return to their seats. The aircraft however experienced moderate to severe turbulence sooner than expected and before the flight attendants had returned to their seats while still stowing galley equipment. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The Canadian TSB reported three flight attendants received minor injuries, there were no injuries amongst the passengers. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA446/history/20181202/1520Z/CYYZ/CYOW http://avherald.com/h?article=4c183f77&opt=0 Back to Top NTSB Cites History of Risky Flights by John Shannon Dec. 13--LAKELAND -- Attorney John Shannon had taken unnecessary risks as a pilot before his fatal flight on Dec. 24, 2017, according to a new National Transportation Safety Board report. So much so that after a local airplane mechanic and business acquaintance flew with him one time he refused to fly with Shannon again. "The acquaintance stated that he was not a safe pilot and took unnecessary risks," the NTSB report stated. With Polk County under a dense fog advisory and visibility about 400 to 600 feet, Shannon, 70, boarded his Cessna 340 in Bartow with three family members and a friend early Christmas Eve. On Wednesday, the NTSB released an 11-page factual report on the crash that killed Shannon, of Lakeland; his two daughters, Olivia Shannon, 24, and Victoria (Tori) Shannon Worthington, 26; Victoria's husband, Peter Worthington, 27; and family friend Krista Clayton, 32. The factual report provides additional details about the weather, Shannon's flying habits, and the 1973 plane. Terry Williams, spokesman with the NTSB, said the factual report is typically released several weeks before the final report. That report, Williams said, will provide a cause for the crash. Shannon attempted to fly in dense fog earlier that year, but his former flight instructor told him that they could not fly because of the weather. Shannon told him that legally they were allowed to fly under Part 91, a section of the Federal Aviation Administration regulations that provides flight rules for civil aircraft. Since that canceled flight, the two had not talked. Shannon, then president of the Republican Club of Lakeland and the Kiwanis Club, planned to fly south for about 45 minutes to the Keys, eat lunch and spend some time in the Keys before flying back later that day. As Shannon took off about 7:15 a.m., a fixed-based operator shot a 46-second video of the plane heading down the runway. The airplane's engine can be heard but the plane itself isn't visible because of the dense fog. At 26 and 28 seconds, two distinct chirps are heard, then the video ends while the engines can still be heard, according to records. A second video was shot by a helicopter pilot based at Bartow Municipal Airport. During the takeoff, he heard a "pop" sound, then three seconds later an explosion was heard at the end of a runway. Although two people said Shannon could be risky, his current mechanic said the pilot "never flew dangerously or recklessly." Shannon's personal assistant said everyone she talked with described him as a "good pilot and diligent with his pilot duties," according to the report. The mechanic mentioned to the NTSB that the airplane had a known autopilot issue while it was grounded. Shannon was aware of the issue, the report stated. The report pointed out other issues with the flight: --Logbooks revealed that the most recent instrument flight rules certification for the transponder and pilot static system was completed June 20, 2014. To fly in instrument flight rules conditions, the system must be inspected and certified every 24 calendar months, the NTSB reported. https://www.aviationpros.com/news/12438992/new-report-ntsb-cites-history-of-risky- flights-by-john-shannon Back to Top Back to Top Injured Tampa passengers sue estates of pilot, co-pilot who died in jet crash Marci Wilhelm and Steven Rose say Air America Flight Services and sister company Clearwater Aviation failed to ensure the operators were properly trained and certified. Marci Wilhelm and Steve Rose of Tampa, injured when this Dassault Falcon 50 ran off the runway of the Greenville Downtown Airport in Greenville, S.C. on Sept 27, have filed a lawsuit against the charter company and the estates of the pilot and co-pilot. [Greenville Police Department] TAMPA - A Tampa couple injured in a September private jet crash in Greeneville, S.C., is suing the charter company they hired for the flight and the estates of the pilot and co-pilot, both of whom were killed. Marci Wilhelm and husband Steven Rose claim Air America Flight Services failed to ensure that pilot John Christian Caswell and co-pilot Stephen George Fox were properly trained and certified to fly a Dassault Falcon 50 that ran off a runway after touching down at Greenville Downtown Airport on Sept. 27. The jet plunged down a grassy embankment and came to rest on a road, splitting into two pieces behind the cockpit. The suit filed Nov. 30 in Hillsborough County claims Caswell and Fox were negligent in the operation of the jet, resulting in "severe, permanent injuries" for Wilhelm and Rose. The two were the only passengers on board. Fox, who was 66 at the time of the crash and lived in Indian Rocks Beach, owned Air America Flight Services and a sister company named as a defendant in the suit, Account Management Group Inc., or AMG. The suit lists AMG as "formerly known as" Clearwater Aviation, Inc., which is based at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. AMG is apparently still doing business as Clearwater Aviation. Someone who answered a phone number listed for the company on Monday used the name, declined to comment and hung up. Authorities identified Caswell, 49, of Port St. Lucie, as the pilot, but he had "second-in- command privileges only" for a Dassault Falcon 50 jet, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. That means Caswell could only fly the Falcon 50 as a co-pilot with someone who has a pilot-in-command rating. Fox did not have a pilot-in-command or second-in-command rating for the Falcon 50, according to the report. Fox was certified only for visual flight and didn't have the rating required to fly an aircraft like the Falcon 50 under instrument flight rules. The safety board report says the Sept. 27 flight originated from St. Pete-Clearwater International and was a "personal flight" operating under federal regulations governing such trips, and not a charter flight. Wilhelm and Rose were hospitalized after the crash. Attorneys listed for the couple were not immediately available for comment Monday. A public photo posted on Wilhelm's Facebook page Oct. 19 shows her sitting on a hospital bed wearing braces on her leg and torso. Two other public photos posted last month show her scarred legs and face. "My scars are closing up, the swelling is going down, my arms and core are getting stronger to compensate for the loss of the legs," Wilhelm wrote in a Nov. 16 post. She wrote that she hopes to run a 10 kilometer race across the Sunshine Skyway in March. "I've never done 10k before I had bionic legs and a bullet proof back, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to do this race," she wrote. https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/injured-tampa-passengers-sue-estates- of-pilot-co-pilot-who-died-in-jet-crash-20181210/ Back to Top A new algorithm improves flight safety and reduce delays Credit: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has taken part in the European research project TBO-Met, which has developed an algorithm that maximises the predictability of flights and reduces the risk of running into potentially dangerous storms. Thanks to this, safety can be improved, air traffic can be increased and delays can be reduced. Even with the help of the latest advances in weather forecasting technology, the weather can be difficult to predict. This poses a problem for the management of flights, which requires efficient forecasting in order to be able to guarantee a smooth flow of traffic. The scientists on the TBO-Met project (Meteorological Uncertainty Management for Trajectory Based Operations) have developed an algorithm that is applied to the flight plan and allows air traffic to be predicted and improved by taking into account the uncertainties of the weather forecast. This advance increases the system's ability, to handle a greater number of planes at one time. "The impact of the weather forecast and the uncertainty associated with aviation is very high. It is estimated that between approximately 20 and 30 per cent of delays in Europe are related to the weather, with estimated losses of around 180-200 million euros a year," explains lecturer Manuel Soler Arnedo, head of the TBO-Met project at the UC3M. In fact, in just 2017, losses of 215 million euros were estimated for the 2.1 million minutes of delay time caused by extreme weather conditions. TBO-Met's aim is to optimise the trajectories of aircraft in order to avoid problems with flight safety and delays. For this, meteorological uncertainty has been studied-weather conditions that are difficult to predict, such as hail, severe ice build-up and lightning, which can cause considerable damage to aircrafts. The project is focused on understanding, characterising and reducing uncertainty. For this, the researchers focused on the analysis of sector demand in terms of the number of planes that should be operating, and trajectory planning, taking into account the uncertainties of the weather forecast and storm activity. TBO-Met: Un nuevo algoritmo mejora la seguridad de los vuelos y reduce los retrasos | UC3M https://phys.org/news/2018-12-algorithm-flight-safety.html#jCp Back to Top China lays out plan to become aviation powerhouse China's aviation regulator has put out an action plan targeted at building the country into an aviation powerhouse. These include building competitive airlines with extensive networks, expansive international hubs and domestic airports, a safe and efficient air traffic management system, as well as being able to lead the development of the international civil aviation industry. Up to 2020, the focus will be on meeting the needs of the rapidly developing industry, and meeting shortfalls in areas such as infrastructure and airspace capacity, as well as personnel training. Thereafter, Beijing wants to become a global leader in air transport. The Civil Aviation Administration of China adds that to build internationally competitive airlines, it will encourage the re-organisation of carriers, global mergers and acquisitions, as well as strategic co-operation. It will also support the development of low-cost carriers, as well as regional and cargo airlines. By 2035, China is targeting to have 450 airports, almost double the number of Chinese gateways at present. While doing so, it will focus on raising the competitiveness of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai as international hubs, and hasten the development of airports in Chengdu, Kunming, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Xian, Urumqi and Harbin. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/china-lays-out-plan-to-become-aviation- powerhouse-454421/ Back to Top IATA and Jordan CARC Sign MoU on Safety December 13 2018 (Amman) - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Jordan Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (Jordan CARC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner for the improvement of aviation safety. The MoU focuses on the exchange of information, expertise, best practices and capabilities in a number of areas of safety. Under the terms of the MoU CARC will also recognize ISAGO (IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations) as an acceptable means of compliance with CARC regulations to complement their safety oversight function. ISAGO is the global benchmark for ground handling operating standards. CARC is the second regulator in the Middle East, after the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority to do so. "Jordan CARC is committed to improving aviation safety in Jordan and beyond. Our partnership with IATA will help us to do that by taking greater advantage of ISAGO in our safety oversight program," said Capt. Haitham Misto, Chief Commissioner of Jordan CARC. "Jordan CARC and IATA have a long history of cooperation helping the aviation industry reach its full potential in Jordan. This MoU will improve our collaborative efforts towards an even safer aviation sector in Jordan and help promote a single set of global safety standards in the region. We hope that other regulators in the Middle East take similar actions," Muhammad Albakri, IATA's Regional Vice President for Africa and Middle East. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12439031/iata-and-jordan-carc-sign- mou-on-safety Back to Top Emirates Aviation University wins key EU accreditation Emirates Aviation University (EAU), a leading institution in the Middle East for aeronautical engineering, aviation management,d business management and aviation safety and security studies, has been accredited from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as a Maintenance Training Organisation. The university is the academic wing of the Emirates Group; a global travel and tourism conglomerate known worldwide for their commitment to the highest standards of quality in every aspect of business. This official certification provides the university with significant recognition on the national and international level as the first educational institution in the UAE to have its Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Programme approved by EASA, in addition to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority. Dr Ahmad Al Ali, vice-chancellor, described the EASA's accreditation as a significant milestone for the Emirates Aviation University. "This will be warmly welcomed by our students and graduates who can now continue their education knowing that they will be awarded two certificates," he stated. "The accreditation will also allow us to expand our national reach and meet the changing needs of the aviation and education industries at a time when the demand for both is expanding globally," he added. Emirates Aviation University is GCAA CAR 147 Approved Maintenance Training organization that allows its students to apply for the GCAA Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License. Receiving accreditation from EASA will pave the way for students to apply for a European Aircraft Engineer License provided that they fulfil the regulatory authority requirements. The European Aviation Safety Agency is the centrepiece of the European Union's strategy for aviation safety. Its mission is to promote the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. The agency develops common safety and environmental rules at the European level. It monitors the implementation of standards through inspections in the Member States and provides the necessary technical expertise, training and research. It works hand in hand with the national authorities which continue to carry out many operational tasks, such as certification of individual aircraft or licensing of pilots.- TradeArabia News Service http://tradearabia.com/news/EDU_348700.html Back to Top Airlines Admit They're Struggling to Deal With Racist Passengers Airlines are finding it hard to clamp down on instances of racism and sexual harassment, with just one in 20 leading to offenders being removed from planes, according to data from the industry's own trade group. Last year saw 350 reported cases of "inappropriate touching" and racial, homophobic and ageist abuse on flights, the provisional International Air Transport Association figures show. Police or security officers became involved in only 178 of the incidents, with 141 resulting in nothing more than a warning. And just 17 passengers were taken off the aircraft. Several well-publicized incidents in the past year have led to criticism of airlines, which at times have appeared more concerned with keeping flights on schedule than addressing miscreants. A video showing a white man abusing a black woman sitting close to him on a Ryanair Holdings Plc flight went viral in October, for example, while policies toward harassment have come under increased scrutiny with the rise of the #MeToo campaign. The IATA figures obtained by Bloomberg, the first collated on so-called hate crimes on aircraft, come after it has previously focused more on highlighting a jump in drunkenness and violence. The group, which represents close to 300 airlines, says there are some obstacles to the industry improving its record. "There should be zero tolerance to this," said Tim Colehan, assistant director of external affairs at IATA. "However, it requires people to be willing to report to crew and sometimes for there to be witnesses. And if a country doesn't have the jurisdiction to intervene the accused will just be released." Airline cabin crew are trained in monitoring passenger alcohol consumption, which can be a trigger for a variety of antisocial behavior, according to Colehan, as well as in the use of deescalation techniques when incidents occur. According to data compiled by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority, reported incidents of unruly behavior have more than quadrupled since 2013, with intoxication identified as a main trigger. The law regarding inflight offenses was tightened by the International Civil Aviation Organization's Montreal Protocol of 2014, which seeks to encourage enforcement action and close jurisdictional loopholes. The accord has so far been ratified by only 15 of the 22 countries required, with the U.S., China and U.K. -- the three biggest aviation markets -- yet to do so, Colehan said. In some cases, domestic laws need to be altered to comply with treaty obligations. IATA says that instances of physical violence, verbal aggression and non-compliance with safety rules actually declined in 2017, though cases of life-threatening behavior and the attempted or actual breach of flight-deck security increased by a "significant" 3 percent. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-13/airlines-admit-they-re- struggling-to-deal-with-racist-passengers Back to Top GAO: US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft readiness declined since 2011 US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft availability has continued to suffer and decline since 2011 due to old age, poor depot maintenance and parts shortages, among other issues. That's according to the Government Accountability Office, which said the USN and USMC generally did not meet aircraft availability goals in fiscal years 2011 - 2018 for the seven aircraft it reviewed. Those aircraft include the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, Grumman C-2A Greyhound, Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, Boeing EA-18G Growler, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 (A-D), and Boeing F/A- 18(E and F). Specific aircraft availability data wasn't published publicly because the services consider it sensitive information, says the GAO. Old age has played a large role in the decline of available aircraft in the USN and USMC fleet. For example, depot maintenance on aging aircraft has become less predictable as structural fatigue occurs and parts that were not expected to be replaced start to wear out, says the GAO. Unexpected maintenance has made it difficult to anticipate the services' needs for parts and led to shortages. In fact, the average age of an F/A-18 Hornet is 26 years old; AV-8B Harrier is 21 years old; the C-2A Greyhound is 29 years old. "Both services expect these aircraft will continue to be used for the foreseeable future and in some cases into the 2030s," says the GAO. "The Navy and the Marine Corps face delays in the arrival of the F-35 to replace their legacy F/A-18A-D Hornets and AV-8B Harriers." Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet What's more, the USN has had difficulty attracting and retaining skilled maintainers, such as sheet metal workers and machinists at its aviation depots, which has made it more difficult for the service to keep up with its aircraft's planned maintenance. "For example, 41% of the skilled workers at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest have two years or fewer of experience," says GAO. "Workforce inexperience and attrition of skilled personnel were some of the reasons cited for machining defects detected in the landing gear for F/A-18, E-2, and C-2A aircraft by a recent Navy report." All of the USN's aviation depots are trying to keep their maintainers on the job with incentives, bonuses and awards, the GAO report adds. This recent report comes after Secretary of Defense James Mattis in 2018, as part of the National Defense Strategy, issued a service-wide memorandum establishing a minimum of 80% mission capable rates for various critical aircraft, including for the F/A-18, by the end of fiscal year 2019, while also reducing operating and maintenance costs. Summarising the services' progress to that goal the GAO stated: "Office of the Secretary of Defense and Navy programme officials told us, and based on our prior work we agree, that this goal will be challenging to achieve by the end of fiscal year 2019." https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gao-us-navy-and-marine-corps-aircraft- readiness-dec-454412/ Back to Top AirAsia confirms multiple bidders for aircraft and leasing assets AirAsia has confirmed that it has been approached by 13 potential purchasers for some of its aircraft and its aircraft leasing business, including US fund Castlelake. The carrier issued a stock exchange statement on 13 December, noting that the expressions of interest were from buyers interested in its leasing unit, Asia Aviation Capital, "and/or a number of our remaining aircraft assets." "However, the company has not entered into any legally binding contract with any of the parties involving the sale of the leasing unit or a significant number of aircraft with values over and above the prescribed thresholds [for regulatory disclosure]," it adds. None of the other parties were identified, but it is likely to include major Chinese leasing firms such as China Everbright, Minsheng Financial Leasing and Ping-An Leasing. Korea Transport Asset Management, which previously bid for Asia Aviation Capital, is also likely to be involved. AirAsia Group chief executive Tony Fernandes told FlightGlobal in September that there were around 40 Airbus A320ceos in its fleet that it would seek to sell as it transitions to the re-engines A320neo family. In March, the budget carrier group sealed a deal to sell 84 Airbus A320s and 14 engines to BBAM, FLY Leasing and Incline B. That $1.18 billion deal also covered 48 aircraft from the carrier's forward orderbook and options on a further 50. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airasia-confirms-multiple-bidders-for- aircraft-and-l-454414/ Back to Top Aer Lingus to recruit 100 pilots as part of growth plan Airline also wants to increase number of female pilots Aer Lingus' new pilots will be part of the airline's expansion strategy under which it intends to grow its North Atlantic fleet from 17 aircraft to 30 by 2023 and to introduce new routes. Aer Lingus is aiming to recruit 100 pilots as part of its expansion plans. The airline, which flies to over 80 destinations, said that it intends to use the recruitment drive to increase the number of female pilots it employs, which currently stands at 10 per cent. "Aer Lingus has a strong track record of supporting female pilots, employing twice as many compared with the international airline industry average," the company said in a statement. Aer Lingus is not targeting a specific number of female recruits as part of the current hiring programme, said a spokesperson for the airline. A challenge for the airline is not the quality of female applicants but that relatively few women apply to become pilots at the airline, added the spokesperson. Aer Lingus' parent company IAG has published an objective that at least 33 per cent of its board should be women by the end of 2020. The new pilots will be part of the airline's expansion strategy under which it intends to grow its North Atlantic fleet from 17 aircraft to 30 by 2023 and to introduce new routes. Aer Lingus also plans to add the new Airbus A321neo long-range aircraft to its fleet in summer 2019. The aircraft will be the world's longest range single aisle aircraft when it is introduced. Candidates for the pilot recruitment programme who pass an initial online application process will be invited to complete psychometric tests, followed by an assessment and medical checks. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-to-recruit-100- pilots-as-part-of-growth-plan-1.3730062 Back to Top Back to Top Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship The Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship was established by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to shape the next generation of aviation researchers, honoring the late Najeeb Elias Halaby, an eminent aviator and administrator, for his vision and more than five decades of extraordinary contributions to aviation (https://ral.ucar.edu/opportunity/halaby-fellowship). The Fellowship The recipient of a Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship will spend three months (in 2019 or early 2020) in residence with NCAR's Aviation Weather Research Program, which Mr. Halaby was instrumental in establishing in the 1980s. As the nation's leader in addressing aviation weather research, NCAR plays a unique role in meeting user needs by transferring research results to operations through its Research Application Laboratory (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/). The Fellow will conduct research broadly aimed at mitigation of weather sensitivities (e.g., weather impact avoidance) on aviation. We particularly encourage applicants interested in weather impacts on emerging modes of transportation, like unmanned aerial system operations and urban air mobility. The Fellowship will provide: * a monthly stipend for three months, including temporary living expenses * round-trip travel expenses to and from Boulder, CO * travel to a conference to present results * page charges (if necessary) for one publication of key results Eligibility and Application The Halaby Fellowship targets graduate students (late Masters or early PhD level) enrolled in an aviation-relevant department or program of a domestic or international university. Interested candidates should have advanced research skills, far-reaching vision, and dedication to get things accomplished. Consideration for this Fellowship will be given to candidates based on the following submitted material: * Curriculum vitae * Proposal (maximum five pages) presenting the research to be conducted at NCAR, the anticipated outcome of that, and how the proposed effort ties into the candidate's ongoing graduate research project(s) * Contact information for three references (one of which should be the student's primary advisor) NCAR will accept applications for the Halaby Fellowship each year. Email Applications by February 28, 2019 to halabyfellowship@ucar.edu Brochure: https://ral.ucar.edu/sites/default/files/public/opportunity/halaby- fellowship/docs/halabyfellowship_0.pdf Back to Top Back to Top Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers sUAS Trusted Operator Program certification during CES. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the first AUVSI TOP Certified Training Organization, is offering a TOP Level-3 Operator course in Las Vegas Jan 10-12, 2019. The course timing is aligned with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The course consists of two days of classroom instruction followed by a 1.0 hour practical flight assessment on the third day. The course is only for experienced users who already possess flight knowledge and skill. More information is available on the ERAU Professional Education website https://proed.erau.edu/courses/uas-certification/ Curt Lewis