Flight Safety Information June 7, 2019 - No. 115 In This Issue Qatar Airways to seek compensation from Boeing for MAX aircraft Incident: Austrian A320 at Catania on Jun 6th 2019, rejected takeoff due to engine indication Incident: Lufthansa Cityline CRJ9 at Munich on Jun 2nd 2019, smoke in cockpit Incident: Carpatair F100 enroute on Jun 6th 2019, smoke in cabin Incident: Canada Rouge A321 enroute on Jun 2nd 2019, collision with an object at FL360 Cracked wing likely caused Queensland crash, ATSB warns NTSB warns about floatplane safety after third Alaska crash Transport Canada bars crews from consuming cannabis for 28 days before flying NTSB Most Wanted List Roundtable : Alaska Part 135 Flight Operations - Charting a Safer Course FAA moves ahead on commercial drones How blockchain can improve the aviation industry Airlines Await Repatriation of $413 Million from African States Hong Kong Airlines Seeks $12 Million Of Damages From Shareholder And Permission To Restructure Largest-ever electric aircraft successfully completes test flight United Airlines turns to NASCAR pit crews for quicker turnover Former Delta exec up for FAA job faces scrutiny over pilot's mental health case Bombardier tells Mitsubishi 'no cherry-picking' in jet talks Spirit AeroSystems CEO says company has plenty of 737 storage space in Wichita GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY CHC and SCSI Partner to Offer Operators a Chance to Earn Spot in Certificate Program Position: Manager Air Investigations Position Available: A & P Mechanic ISASI - DFW Regional Chapter Meeting Qatar Airways to seek compensation from Boeing for MAX aircraft Boeing MAX jets owned by Air Italy, in which Qatar Airways is a shareholder, were grounded after two deadly crashes. Boeing MAX crashes in Indonesia in October and in Ethiopia in March killed hundreds of people [File: Lindsey Wasson/Reuters] Qatar Airways will seek compensation from Boeing over the grounding of three 737 MAX aircraft by Air Italy, in which the Doha-based company is a major shareholder. Boeing MAX jets were grounded worldwide and airlines have cancelled multimillion-dollar contracts following crashes in Indonesia in October and Ethiopia in March that killed nearly 350 people. "At Qatar Airways we do not operate any MAX airplanes - it affected our investment into Air Italy," said Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker on Friday. "Air Italy has three MAX operated in its fleet and they were grounded so it affected us. We had to take extra routing from outside," he told Reuters news agency. In 2017, Qatar purchased 49 percent of Air Italy, Italy's second-largest carrier behind Alitalia, which is partly owned by Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways. "Boeing has to compensate us for grounding," al-Baker said, but did not elaborate on the potential cost. In Russia, meanwhile, Qatar Airways is in talks to buy a 20 percent stake in Vnukovo airport, Moscow's third-largest by passenger traffic. Al-Baker said Qatar Airways was looking to close the deal "sometime before the end of the year". 'Expansion opportunity' Last year, Vnukovo International Airport handled about 21 million passengers compared with 29 million at Domodedovo and almost 46 million at Sheremetyevo, Russia's biggest airport and one of the busiest in Europe. "Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo are already congested and the only airport that has an expansion opportunity is Vnukovo," al-Baker said. "We see a huge potential to grow the airport to bring more traffic, to intensify traffic, to grow there, to increase the duty-free footprint." Asked if Qatar Airways would consider acquiring a stake in Sheremetyevo, 30 percent of which may be on offer by the airport's private shareholders, al-Baker said: "We cannot do more than one airport at the same place." At home, Hamad International Airport in Doha recorded passenger traffic at about 35 million people last year. "This year we hope that we will exceed 42 million passengers, but during the blockade, we did lose nearly 10 percent of the traffic because it was all of a sudden. But we have recovered now," al-Baker said. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed an economic and diplomatic blockade on Qatar in 2017 over allegations that it supports "terrorism" and is aligning itself with regional foe Iran. Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegations. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/qatar-airways-seeks-boeing-compensation-max-aircraft-190607084340597.html Back to Top Incident: Austrian A320 at Catania on Jun 6th 2019, rejected takeoff due to engine indication An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration OE-LBS performing flight OS-9404 from Catania to Palermo (Italy), was accelerating for takeoff from Catania's runway 08 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 130 knots over ground) due to a abnormal engine indication. The aircraft slowed safely and stopped on the runway. Emergency services responded and checked the brakes. The aircraft was subsequently towed to the apron. Catania Airport reported a technical problem triggered emergency procedures, the crew rejected takeoff and stopped the aircraft on the runway. Emergency services were requested, who checked the aircraft and declared the area safe. The aircraft was towed to the apron, where passengers disembarked normally. One arriving flight needed to be diverted due to the occupied runway. The airline reported a warning indication for an engine prompted the crew to reject takeoff. Emergency services responded but did not need to intervene. As a safety precaution the aircraft was towed to the apron. Technicians checked the aircraft and released it back to service later the day. The aircraft was able to depart about 6 hours after the rejected takeoff, skipped the intermediate stop in Palermo and proceeded directly to the ultimate destination Vienna. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8e3acf&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Lufthansa Cityline CRJ9 at Munich on Jun 2nd 2019, smoke in cockpit A Lufthansa Cityline Canadair CRJ-900, registration D-ACNR performing flight LH-1867 from Milan Malpensa (Italy) to Munich (Germany) with 83 people on board, was on final approach to Munich's runway 08R when the crew donned their oxygen masks and advised tower they had smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 08R about 3 minutes later, vacated the runway and stopped on the adjacent taxiway. Emergency services attended to the aircraft but did not find any trace of fire, heat or smoke. The crew advised the smell of smoke had dissipated. The aircraft remained on the ground over night and resumed service the following morning after about 7 hours on the ground. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8e2125&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Carpatair F100 enroute on Jun 6th 2019, smoke in cabin A CarpatAir Fokker 100, registration YR-FKA performing flight V3-2930 from Luxembourg (Luxembourg) to Vilnius (Lithuania) carrying the national soccer team of Luxembourg, was enroute at FL330 about 40nm northeast of Frankfurt/Main (Germany) when a burning odour developed in the passenger cabin and smoke emanated from the floor in the forward cabin. The crew descended the aircraft to FL250. After a short time the smoke dissipated and the odour faded. The aircraft continued to Vilnius for a safe landing about 1:45 hours later. The team subsequently reported the crew identified a problem with one of the aircraft's air conditioning systems. The national team is about to play Lithuania in the qualification for the Euro 2020 on Saturday. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8e1e5c&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Canada Rouge A321 enroute on Jun 2nd 2019, collision with an object at FL360 An Air Canada Rouge Airbus A321-200, registration C-FJOU performing flight RV-1715 from Bridgetown (Barbados) to Toronto,ON (Canada) with 200 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL360 in the vicinity of Scranton,PA (USA) when the flight crew reported a collision with what they believed was a weather balloon. The flight continued to Toronto and landed safely. The Canadian TSB reported maintenance performed a visual external examination of the aircraft and found no damage. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ROU1715/history/20190602/1840Z/TBPB/CYYZ http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8e159f&opt=0 Back to Top Cracked wing likely caused Queensland crash, ATSB warns Australian air safety authorities are warning a fatigue crack appears have caused a Cessna 210's wing to snap off before it crashed in northern Queensland, killing two men. The pilots were about 90 minutes into a low-flying geological survey operation near Mount Isa when they crashed on May 26, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said. Pre-existing fatigue cracking in the Cessna 210's wing spar caused an "overstress" on the plane's right wing during the flight, the bureau said on Friday in an update on their investigation into the crash. The wing broke off about 60 metres (200 feet) above the ground "resulting in a rapid loss of control and subsequent collision", investigators said. They have notified the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the US National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft manufacturer and operator of the initial finding," ATSB executive director Nat Nagy said in a statement. The ATSB is working closely with all of them to ensure that safe operation of Cessna 210 planes continued, he said. The Cessna aircraft was built in 1976 and had flown 6000 hours in the six years since it was modified for geological survey work in Australia six years ago. https://www.9news.com.au/national/plane-wing-snaps-off-killing-two-in-qld/b9e98f95-e2e5-4042-9392-9b871c6dfeb8 Back to Top NTSB warns about floatplane safety after third Alaska crash Los Angeles - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is warning about the safety of floatplanes after three crashed since last week in Alaska, killing nine people. The latest crash happened Tuesday in Prince William Sound. Another happened mid-air near the town of Ketchikan. The preliminary NTSB report details the moments before that deadly mid-air collision. The pilot of the de Havilland Otter floatplane told investigators he was dropping altitude to show tourists a waterfall when he "saw a flash from his left side and experienced a large loud impact." Six people were killed and 10 injured. In the nine days that followed, two more floatplanes crashed, killing three and injuring two. As the NTSB investigates all three accidents, they warned "these kinds of flights" may not be safe. In their so-called "most wanted list" of safety improvements, the NTSB said air taxis like floatplanes are aircraft that currently don't require the same kind of advanced crash prevention technology that the Federal Aviation Administration requires of commercial airlines. Alaska residents rely on planes more than any other state, with nearly 8,000 residents holding a pilot's license, six times as many Alaskans own planes as the the national average. The FAA said it regularly performs unannounced surveillance on floatplanes and will increase oversight of Taquan Air, the company responsible for two of the three crashes. But the NTSB is asking the FAA to require all float planes update their onboard technology. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/floatplane-safety-ntsb-issues-warning-after-third-alaska-crash-2019-05-22/ Back to Top Transport Canada bars crews from consuming cannabis for 28 days before flying Rules would apply to air traffic controllers too The new Transport Canada rules on cannabis use will cover in-flight crew as well as air traffic control workers. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press) Members of the Canadian aviation industry are forbidden from consuming cannabis for at least 28 days before going on duty, according to new rules now in force. Canadian Aviation Regulations require that pilots, cabin crew, and air traffic controllers must have a certain level of "fitness for duty" on the job, Transport Canada said Thursday. That means they cannot use or be "under the influence of any drug that impairs the person's faculties to the extent that aviation safety is affected," the agency said. As such, four weeks is the minimum time required to be free of cannabis before being allowed to work, the aviation regulator said. But the new rules don't preclude airlines or airports from requiring even stricter requirements of their employees. After the government legalized recreational use of cannabis last fall, Transport Canada undertook a review of its policies with regards to impairment. The new rules in keeping with what Department of National Defence and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have come up with for their workers, and "aligned with the best available science," the agency said. The rules are in place "effective immediately," Transport Canada added. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/transport-canada-cannabis-1.5164518 Back to Top NTSB Most Wanted List Roundtable : Alaska Part 135 Flight Operations - Charting a Safer Course Wendy Williamson Auditorium, University of Alaska, Anchorage 9/6/2019 8:30 AM Please note that all times are in AKDT. Date: September 6, 2019 Time: 0830-1600 AKDT Location: Wendy Williamson Auditorium, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK REGISTER HERE This event will be webcast live. You can access the broadcast on the day of the event from this page. Download the flyer The NTSB continues to investigate multiple accidents involving Part 135 flight operations in Alaska each year. Since 2008, we have investigated 182 accidents involving fixed-wing scheduled/non-scheduled Part 135 operations in Alaska, resulting in 74 fatalities. Unique terrain conditions, challenging weather, and congested airspace are factors, but the NTSB believes many of these accidents could have been avoided if operators had implemented safety management systems (SMS), installed flight data monitoring (FDM) devices, and ensured pilots received comprehensive controlled-flight into terrain (CFIT) avoidance training-all the subject of recommendations we have issued in the last few decades. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not require Part 135 flight operators to meet the same safety requirements as airlines. If the FAA and industry do not address these safety gaps, we will undoubtedly see more accidents involving the traveling public in Alaska. "Improve the Safety of Part 135 Flight Operations" is an issue on the NTSB 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements. That's why we are convening a panel of Part 135 operators, safety experts, and government officials to discuss what we can do to address Part 135 safety issues. https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2019-MWL-RT-AK-part135.aspx Back to Top FAA moves ahead on commercial drones Amazon Prime Air's Delivery Drone (Amazon/YouTube) The Federal Aviation Administration has signed off on two approvals for key commercial unmanned aircraft projects. On June 5, the agency granted a "special airworthy certificate" to Amazon for its Prime Air drone-based package delivery service, an FAA spokesperson said in a statement emailed to FCW. The certificate allows Amazon to "operate its MK27 unmanned aircraft for research and development and crew training in authorized flight areas," it said. "Amazon Prime Air plans to use the aircraft to establish a package delivery operation in the United States," according to the statement. The certificate is good for one year and renewable. The same day, Amazon executives unveiled the company's latest design for the Prime Air system at the company's technology conference in Las Vegas. Amazon Worldwide Consumer CEO Jeff Wilke told attendees at the Machine Learning, Automation, Robotics and Space (re:MARS) conference that the company has developed drone aircraft equipped with thermal, visual and ultrasonic sensors that can safely deliver packages under five pounds within a 15 mile radius in less than 30 minutes. He said during the presentation the service would come online "within months." In a separate development, the FAA announced on June 4 that it had issued its first waiver to Colorado-based Hensel Phelps Construction Company to allow a Chinese-made DJI Phantom 4 drone equipped with a safety parachute to operate over people at its job sites. The drone is equipped with automatic engine shut off and a parachute recovery system. The waiver could be a template for the wider use in the commercial unmanned aircraft systems market, it said. According to a statement by the parachute systems' maker ParaZero on the FAA's action, the commercial drone market ''has been limited by the agency's Part 107 rules that prohibit commercial unmanned aircraft from flying over people for safety reasons. ParaZero said its SafeAir on-board drone safety system independently monitors the aircraft's avionics system looking for anomalies and flight patterns. When a failure is detected, the company said its system stops the drone's rotor blades and deploys a parachute that prevents the aircraft from tumbling out of the sky in an uncontrolled decent. The FAA said it worked with industry on the waiver, developing a publicly available standard collaborating on testing and data to meet the waiver requirements. https://fcw.com/articles/2019/06/06/faa-drones.aspx Back to Top How blockchain can improve the aviation industry Aerospace businesses could benefit from sharing data about aircraft history, maintenance, and operations. The aerospace industry is vast (in 2018, revenues were US$838 billion), complex, and interconnected - and growing rapidly. Demand for new commercial aircraft may reach approximately 40,000 planes over the next 20 years. As they expand, the companies that manufacture, operate, and service aircraft are seeking out AI, 3D printing, and other capabilities, technologies, and tools that will allow them to optimize performance. There's another cutting-edge technology they should consider: blockchain. What does blockchain, most closely associated in the public mind with cryptocurrencies, have to do with the process of moving 250-ton machines through the air? Simply put, what the aerospace industry doesn't know about its planes is costing it serious money. Having a more accurate view of a plane's configuration and maintenance history could help reduce costs and losses, boost asset availability and increase the value of planes in the secondary market and at the end of leases, and improve worker productivity. And blockchain has some unique attributes that will enable it to serve as a powerful tool for the industry. PwC analysis has found that efficiency gains enabled by blockchain could increase industry revenue by as much as 4 percent annually, or $40 billion, while cutting maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) costs by about 5 percent annually, or $3.5 billion. So it's not surprising that nearly a quarter (24 percent) of aerospace and defense executives who participated in PwC's fall 2018 Digital Trust Insights Survey said blockchain was critical to all of their lines of business, compared with 20 percent for all respondents across sectors. Those who embrace the power of a blockchain-enabled ecosystem stand to gain from its unique benefits. First among this group are the operators - airlines and air cargo carriers - who will reap the revenue associated with increased aircraft availability. But other participants in the ecosystem could also benefit, either through improved parts traceability or the ability to create innovative revenue models. This opportunity will exist for incumbent manufacturers and maintenance companies, as well as startups working on traceability, outsourcing, and air-traffic control solutions. Creating a "digital twin" Depending on its size, a plane can include anywhere from a few hundred thousand parts to several million. But there's no readily available single snapshot that can show an aircraft's condition or history. Maintenance companies often log records by hand. Those records are often shared in stacks of printed PDFs. If data is digitized, it is spread across (and isolated within) multiple parties and systems. Suppliers, vendors, and customers of the same manufacturer, who may also compete against one another, are reluctant to share information. And when there's no provenance or an invoice is missing, a part's airworthiness must be established through investigation, testing, and recertification - all of which take time and money. Blockchain's decentralized, immutable, and consensus-based nature makes it a perfect fit to help overcome these challenges. At the most basic level, every blockchain is a digital ledger of transactions that take place on a peer-to-peer network with the ability to control visibility - who has permission to see which data. Blockchain offers the capacity to create a digital "birth certificate" for every part and update it each time the part moves through the supply chain or is installed on a plane. The part's status gets updated every time the plane is serviced or inspected by a technician. That part's digital record could include the aircraft's tail number and configuration, the part's location in the plane, its manufacturer, the identity of each technician who has touched the part, and the location where the service was performed. These digital records can be aggregated into a "digital twin" of the aircraft to provide a real-time snapshot of its condition from the moment it exits the assembly line to the day 20 years later when it is returned to its lessor or retired from service. And by ensuring that participants have access only to the information they're entitled to, blockchain could simultaneously improve participants' visibility into their own businesses while safeguarding their data from competitors. Potential maintenance use cases for blockchain in aerospace include: Improving routine efficiency. A continually updated ledger of each part's condition and usage could help reduce time spent on routine inspection and maintenance by aircraft operators. And that would boost utilization. A blockchain ledger could also streamline heavy maintenance visits, shaving days off a process that often requires significant labor. And combined with predictive analytics, it could allow aircraft operators to cut spare parts inventories. Digital records can be aggregated into a 'digital twin' of the aircraft to provide a real-time snapshot of its condition from the moment it exits the assembly line to the day 20 years later when it is returned to its lessor or retired from service. Defeating mercenary parts resellers. When an airline or MRO provider needs to procure an uncommon part, it often turns to vendors in the marketplace. Because there's no central clearinghouse of aircraft components, it can be difficult for them to know which vendor has the part they're searching for. And it's not unusual to find that many vendors are offering to sell something they don't yet own. Dealing with resellers in this way adds unnecessary expense in the form of marked-up prices and delays. Participants in a blockchain-powered aerospace ecosystem would be able to compare the serial number of a part being offered against an indelible, real-time record of ownership, location, and utilization. That would allow them to cut out the middle man, reducing the cost to obtain scarce parts. Reinventing aircraft maintenance. Today, much maintenance is reactive, conducted only after a problem surfaces or after an issue with a single component has already created knock-on effects. If technicians could review the configuration and history of every aircraft in a fleet on a blockchain ledger, they would be able to engage in more predictive maintenance, and potentially head problems off before they affect operations. The ability to predict the cost of maintaining each individual plane with confidence could also significantly alter the economics of fixed-price MRO contracts. MRO providers that can offer predictive maintenance services stand to gain a competitive advantage over those without access to real-time, blockchain-enabled data. And blockchain could have important safety implications, too. If aviation regulators or manufacturers require supersession of a part, operators could instantly see which planes have affected parts that require inspection or replacement. Replacing warranties with guarantees. Parts warranties may help aircraft operators control maintenance costs to a degree, but they still require careful inventory management. In the future, blockchain technology could enable the spread of intelligent "power-by-the-hour" service arrangements - in which a supplier guarantees the supply, repair, and overhaul of the components and systems it provides - to every corner of the aircraft. Real-time configuration and maintenance data could allow original equipment manufacturers to predict the condition, usage, and, ultimately, the life span of parts or systems and tailor their production processes to make sure spares are available on a just-in-time basis. That would improve service for their customers while cutting their own inventory costs. Aircraft finance The wealth of information about a plane's makeup, usage, and maintenance that could be stored and updated in real time using blockchain technology stands to have a large impact on how aircraft are valued. Finance use cases include: Building value in the secondary market. Jet engines that are maintained to high standards and that include only verified authentic parts fetch premium prices on the secondary market. With its ability to provide verifiable maintenance records that are updated in real time, blockchain could extend that value to the entire aircraft. If buyers in the secondary market would have greater confidence in their purchases and ability to select from the best-maintained planes, the end-of-service value of aircraft could rise. Transforming leasing. Today, roughly half of the global commercial aircraft fleet of about 23,000 planes is leased. Leasing facilitates growth for airlines and creates balance-sheet flexibility across the industry. But the end-of-lease handoff is often cumbersome, typically requiring the full teardown of the aircraft in order to inventory its parts and assess their condition. However, if the provenance and usage of parts were tracked via a blockchain-enabled solution, only those parts showing high or unusual wear and those required by regulations to be visually inspected might need to be examined more closely. Thus, a higher level of transparency into the condition of leased aircraft could increase residual values. Workforce Digitizing credentials. Many of those directly involved in operating or maintaining planes must gain and demonstrate numerous credentials and qualifications. Blockchain technology could make it practical to ensure that the identity of every person who interacts with a plane - and the status of their credentials - is recorded and becomes part of the real-time snapshot of its condition. Using a mobile app, workers could verify their identity biometrically (via facial recognition, for example), validate their personal details, and upload proof of credentials. Once validated by the employer and issuing entity, a training certificate or other credential could become part of the worker's profile on the blockchain. Parties with the appropriate permissions would see in an instant the verified identity and qualifications of the person who installed a part or serviced a plane, providing even greater confidence in the overall snapshot of the aircraft's health. Getting started Building a blockchain solution for aerospace that has the power to deliver the solutions outlined above is no small task. Our experience working with aerospace companies as well as blockchain-enabling solutions - including Air Trace, our proprietary solution built for the industry - leads us to conclude that companies can set themselves on a path toward successful execution by focusing on four key steps early in their blockchain efforts. Data for the life of the aircraft Make the business case. Explaining the business value isn't the same as demonstrating it. Indeed, the risk of overpromising is real. That's why a successful blockchain data record for the life of an aircraft will necessarily start small - not with an entire airplane, but perhaps with a single system or process. Demonstrated positive results in a workforce credentials use case could help build buy-in for bigger, more ambitious projects. And taking prudent first steps through intelligently sized pilot programs can prevent digital culture shock. Build an ecosystem. Bringing together stakeholders to agree on standards that will define the business model is perhaps the biggest challenge in blockchain. In some instances, a single, dominant company has enough sway to set standards and rules of its choosing and require others who want to participate to abide by them. This "sponsor-led" model is unlikely to be appropriate for the multipolar aerospace industry, however. Instead, a consortium-based model could prove a better fit. Consortium members must work together to establish governance, oversight, and audit mechanisms and to set rules for participation. Design deliberately. Permissionless blockchains, in which anyone can initiate and view transactions, have many valuable uses. But an aerospace industry-specific blockchain project with the goal of providing data for the life of the aircraft will likely need to have a rigorous array of permissions to assure that sensitive information is available only to the parties that need it. The governing body, likely an industry consortium, would have the power - and responsibility - to set those ground rules. It's important to include cybersecurity, compliance, audit, and legal specialists in design decisions from the beginning. Assembling the right team will help avoid costly missteps and build trust among all members of the ecosystem. Navigate regulatory uncertainty. Although blockchain is a global technology, any solution will have to meet specific jurisdiction requirements. For example, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires that personally identifiable data be erasable. The regulation is regional, but a global blockchain design has to account for it in workforce-related use cases. We expect similar regulations to influence the design and execution of the proposed use cases outlined above. National aviation and transportation safety regulators will likely also need to be satisfied that blockchain meets their requirements for record-keeping and is at least as reliable and auditable as existing systems. As our Global Blockchain Survey has found, the idea here is to develop solutions alongside efforts to gain regulatory comfort - instead of waiting for approval. The goal is to "show, not tell" how transparency works to gain support. Trust is the most important ingredient in successful blockchain implementations. That may seem ironic for a technology designed to be "trustless," but bringing together an ecosystem to realize a shared goal with rules all parties can agree to and abide by is no easy feat. Yet it's essential if blockchain is to deliver on its immense promise. https://www.strategy-business.com/article/How-blockchain-can-improve-the-aviation-industry?gko=9e976 Back to Top Airlines Await Repatriation of $413 Million from African States Five African countries have blocked from repatriation more than $413 million of international airlines' revenues as of March 31, 2019, creating a continued threat of reductions or total loss of air service. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Zimbabwe holds $192 million, Sudan $84 million, Algeria $80 million, Eritrea $73 million, and Angola $7 million. Briefing reporters in Seoul, Muhammad Ali Albakri, IATA's regional vice president Africa and the Middle East, reported that the association has established a special task force consisting of member airlines to address the issue. "We directly engage with governments, central banks, and ministers of finance in those countries," Albakri said. "The director general himself travels to these countries to speak to the highest authority. In July he will travel to Zimbabwe to meet the president and specifically discuss the issue of blocked funds." According to Albakri, last year IATA managed to get more than $500 million dollars released from Angola. Egypt and Nigeria have also cleared a huge sum of blocked funds. However, the issue has emerged in new markets, creating a sort of revolving door. "We put out the fire in some places and it flares up in another place," he said. "It seems a never-ending issue. We will continue working with governments, central banks and ministry of finance and we will continue lobbying. "Cash flow is a lifeline to the airlines," Albakri continued. "If these problems persist airlines will reduce their flight frequencies to these countries and may even pull out. This would eventually impact air connectivity in Africa." Presenting a report to IATA's annual general meeting, director general Alexandre de Juniac said that excluding Venezuela, the backlog of funds awaiting repatriation declined by 11 percent. "Clearing $620 million in Angola and $251 million in Nigeria were major contributors to that achievement," said de Juniac. Worldwide, by the end of 2018 total blocked funds stood at $4.36 billion, $3.8 billion of which remains held by politically unstable Venezuela. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2019-06-06/airlines-await-repatriation-413-million-african-states Back to Top Hong Kong Airlines Seeks $12 Million Of Damages From Shareholder And Permission To Restructure It is unusual for a company to seek damages from its own shareholder, but the ownership dispute at Hong Kong Airlines is anything but ordinary. Management is pushing for a resolution and legal permission to restructure the airline as the conflict amongst HNA Group factions risks exceeding four months in a weakening business environment. Hong Kong Airlines requested an initial HK$95 million (US$12.1m) in damages at Hong Kong's High Court on June 5. The fortification is sought from two of its shareholders that proclaimed a boardroom coup in April and then filed injunctions against management and other parties. "This sum is intended to cover losses or expenses which Hong Kong Airlines Limited may suffer by reason of the injunction," a spokesperson for the airline says. The injunction was replaced by court undertakings, but the airline contends the original injunction has "no valid grounds." A lawyer for the two shareholders balked at the amount, but Justice Jonathan Harris observed the significance of the company at the center of the case: "It's an airline." The $12.1m figure is expected to rise as the proceedings head for a hearing in July about the injunction, and a two-day hearing in August to determine the airline's lawful shareholders. The court may not make a determination right away, potentially stretching the dispute over four months. Executives have been limited to only make ordinary day-to-day decisions rather than restructure the loss-making airline that recently mounted long-haul expansion, including to Los Angeles and San Francisco. A lawyer for the executives told the court the matter needed to be expedited and the injunction discharged. "This needs to be resolved. They have an airline to run," the lawyer said. The executives want to restructure the airline and make decisions currently prohibited under the confines of day-to-day business matters. Hong Kong Airlines could sell its cargo airline, Hong Kong Air Cargo, the court heard in April. Hong Kong Airlines has other investments, including in ground handling and maintenance, that it could off-load. Urgency is mounting. Hong Kong Airlines does not disclose monthly performance, but local rival Cathay Pacific is seeing operating conditions weaken. Cathay said its most recent passenger yields, for April, declined and "such yield pressure is expected to continue in the coming months". Air freight declined in volume and yield, and Cathay warned both metrics are "expected to remain difficult for the foreseeable future." The fortification is sought from two shareholders, Zhong Guosong's Hong Kong Airlines Consultation Services and Frontier Investment Partner. "Frontier and HKA Consultation have been evasive in their provision of an undertaking in damages, have failed to plead any valid claim against the undisputed management of Hong Kong Airlines Limited and have not disclosed to the court their own means/resources," the airline spokesperson said. The fortification is due if the injunction is determined to have been invalid. HKA Consultation claimed Hong Kong Airlines management acted improperly, including by removing and expunging official records. "We dispute those allegations about document destruction," said the lawyer for Hong Kong Airlines chairman Hou Wei and CEO Sun Jianfeng, who were named in one of the injunctions. The court heard Frontier and HKA Consultation did not yet have a statement of claim despite the hearing occurring six weeks after the initial April court session. Justice Harris appeared frustrated at apparent delay tactics and disorganisation with the lawyer for Frontier and HKA Consultation, which requested a long period to file evidence. "I'm not terribly sympathetic. You've had six weeks," Justice Harris said. On a separate occasion when the lawyer sought more time under the auspice of being considerate to other parties, Justice Harris sarcastically remarked, "That's very thoughtful of you. You want time." When giving simple procedural orders, Justice Harris observed that the lawyer appeared "troubled by this". Hong Kong Airlines has postponed delivery of A350 aircraft, shelved new destinations, reduced long-haul flights and has been restricted by the regulator from growing. A spokesperson said the airline needs to be "sustaining our long-term growth with operational stability at all times." A hearing for the injunction is scheduled for July 17. A separate hearing to determine the lawful ownership is scheduled to for August 22-23. Frontier's stake in Hong Kong Airlines was allegedly sold to another party without its knowledge. Hong Kong Airlines Consultation is an uncontested shareholder of Hong Kong Airlines. https://www.forbes.com/sites/willhorton1/2019/06/07/hong-kong-airlines-seeks-12-million-of-damages-from-shareholder-and-permission-to-restructure/#1866ba1d699a Back to Top Largest-ever electric aircraft successfully completes test flight Ampaire's highest-capacity hybrid plane is moving electric aviation firmly from futuristic to attainable. Regular commercial service could launch as soon as 2021 Californian startup Ampaire has made another step towards more sustainable flying. On Thursday, 6 June, the Los Angeles-based firm successfully tested its highest-capacity hybrid aircraft above Camarillo airport in California, United States. The Ampaire's 337 aircraft has made it into history for being the largest hybrid-electric aircraft ever flown. The startup retrofitted the plane based on the six-seat Cessna 337 Skymaster. But in comparison to a regular Cessna, it has a proprietary electric propulsion system. Ampaire Inc. has moved the aviation industry a major step forward with the test flight of the Ampaire 337, the highest-capacity hybrid-electric aircraft ever flown. To make its operations more environment-friendly, the plane's battery-powered electric motor replaces a combustion engine of the aircraft's original two-engine configuration. The resulting system configuration is a parallel hybrid. This means that the internal combustion engine and electric motor work in concert to optimise power output as the plane flies. In the hybrid configuration, the aircraft sees significant greenhouse gas emissions savings and operating cost reductions. "Imagine that in just a few years you will be able to buy a ticket for a flight that is clean, quiet and inexpensive," said Kevin Noertker, CEO of Ampaire. "Ampaire is proud to lead the aviation industry in transportation electrification, and we recognise the importance of electric aviation for climate change and community connectivity." Ampaire claims to have mapped a clear path from the first test flight of a prototype to commercial operations in 2021. Thursday's test flight follows the Federal Aviation Administration's airworthiness approval to begin a flight test programme. The test flights will see the aircraft fly multiple times per week from June through August 2019. Eventually, it will gather data about electric propulsion performance characteristics. Ampaire to launch hybrid-aircraft service in Hawaii First passengers willing to experience hybrid flying should head to Hawaii as Ampaire will begin a pilot project there in late 2019. The manufacturer has teamed up with local airline Mokulele to test the retrofitted Cessnas on a route out of Maui. Ampaire says its focus is on supplying aircraft to regional airlines. In addition to the upcoming pilot project in Maui, Ampaire is also collaborating with Vieques Air Link, a regional airline in Puerto Rico, to establish a pilot project in the region. Alongside Mokulele Airlines and VAL, Ampaire has signed letters of interest with 14 other airlines across the world. https://www.kiwi.com/stories/largest-ever-electric-aircraft-successfully-completes-test-flight/ Back to Top United Airlines turns to NASCAR pit crews for quicker turnover Getting planes back in the air quickly between flights means money for an airline, which is what has United Airlines looking to the breakneck racing pits of NASCAR for tips. NASCAR pit crews usually have just over 10 seconds to change tires, refuel and get their vehicles back on the racetrack. United saw these crews as a resource that could hone their team's efficiency in de-icing, moving baggage and completing all the other time-consuming tasks needed to get a plane ready for flight. So they sent their ramp service agent team leaders, or "ramp leads," to pit crew training in Mooresville, North Carolina. PHOTO: United Airlines employees receive pit crew instruction. ABC News United Airlines employees receive pit crew instruction. "Who wouldn't like this?" asked Cody Turner of Denver. "I'm a ramp lead out there, and I'm just really excited to take these skills that I've learned here back home." Turner and the other ramp leads suited up May 22 to race the clock in six timed tire changes on United-branded race cars. While not exactly their typical workday overseeing luggage handling and aircraft servicing, they found similarities in pit crew workflow and priorities. "This is very analogous work to what we do," said Joni Teragawachi, director of training design for United. "They're all about safety, efficiency, and speed in the box where the car is. Same thing for us." When United first sent employees to pit crew training in 2007, they found the lessons in communication, safety and work-space organization shaved five to seven valuable minutes off ramp employees' turn time. "If you shorten turn time and you get the aircraft in the air flying more, that's dollars in United's pocket," Teragawachi said. "I think last time we did this when we had about a seven minute turn-time shave-off they were saying it was equivalent to four or five additional aircraft in the air, which is huge." The racetrack experience is offered by Performance Instruction and Training (PIT), which specializes in preparing prospective pit crew members for NASCAR. PIT began helping corporations in 2001 after Coca-Cola approached them for help improving their assembly line process, according to Director of Corporate Programming Ben Cook. The training group has since offered its unique brand of team-building to companies from industries as varied as food production, medicine and nuclear energy. "We've done almost every Fortune 500 company in America at one point or another," Cook said. "We hope that it makes sense that the smallest amount of efficiency in your tool organization, the smallest amount of efficiency in how you ergonomically structure your work areas can really help you save time, and I think corporations get it." (MORE: Delta bets on bigger seats in smaller planes with new A220) United intends to send every one of their roughly 2,000 ramp leads through the training, and is currently sending 30 per week to PIT's North Carolina facility. Airport operations supervisor Kim Papineau was eager to return to Kansas City International to pass on what she had learned. PHOTO: Ramp lead Cody Turner helps replace tire. ABC News Ramp lead Cody Turner helps replace tire. "I love how they set us up with a couple of unexpected surprises, like when our equipment wasn't in the right position -- that's what happens to us all the time," Papineau said. "I'm excited to get home and talk about it." Smooth operation and teamwork were key takeaways for Papineau. "They said, 'slow is fast,' and that makes sense to me," she said. "You just have to be set up and organized and prepared and then you do what you know how to do. And you're always looking out for each other." https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/united-airlines-turns-nascar-pit-crews-quicker-turnover/story?id=63403177 Back to Top Former Delta exec up for FAA job faces scrutiny over pilot's mental health case A former Delta Air Lines executive's bid to lead the Federal Aviation Administration is on hold as a U.S. Senate committee investigates how the Atlanta-based carrier treated a pilot who raised safety concerns. The pilot, Karlene Petitt, filed an Occupational Safety and Health Administration complaint against Delta in 2016. She alleged that after she came forward, the airline grounded her and referred her for a psychiatric examination by a company doctor who then diagnosed her with bipolar disorder. Subsequent medical examinations determined Petitt did not suffer from bipolar disorder, and she has since returned to flying for Delta. But Petitt alleges she was removed from flying for 22 months as a result of Delta's "adverse and retaliatory actions.""From our perspective at Delta, they used psychiatric evaluation as an alternative to discipline," said Petitt's attorney Lee Seham.Delta denies Petitt was referred for a medical assessment in retaliation, and says she was referred for a medical evaluation after her behavior and statements raised questions about her fitness to fly. The Delta executive who oversaw pilots at the time, Steve Dickson, has now been nominated by President Donald Trump to the position of FAA administrator. The Senate commerce committee held a hearing on Dickson's nomination last month. Steve Dickson at a Senate commerce committee hearing for confirmation of his nomination as FAA administrator. But after media reports on Petitt's OSHA case, the committee has hit pause on the process to confirm Dickson's nomination. Dickson said he decided moving forward with a medical review of Petitt "was a sound course of action," according to a deposition in the OSHA case. Dickson is not named as a party to the suit.Committee chairman Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a written statement that since the hearing, "new information has come to the committee's attention that merits further examination." The committee is reviewing the information and asked the White House to also review it, according to Wicker. Dickson has been cooperative with staff requests, according to a committee aide. Sen. Roger Wicker is head of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which is considering Steve Dickson's nomination to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. The White House issued a statement saying it "has complete confidence in [Dickson's] nomination and expects him to be confirmed."OSHA in 2018 found there was insufficient evidence to determine a violation occurred. Petitt appealed, and an administrative law hearing was held earlier this year. A ruling isn't expected until next year.In a report Petitt submitted to Delta, she raised concerns about the management style of Delta's Flight Operations department, saying it had an "Old school military and completely hierarchy mode of operation." Petitt at the time was pursuing a Ph.D. in aviation safety and raised concerns about the company's culture as part of its safety management system - the company's approach to managing safety risk.She also wrote of how she felt she was treated differently than other pilots and retaliated against for posting on her blog about aviation and other activities.According to a Delta executive's testimony, the woman who interviewed her for the internal investigation said Petitt "was quite emotional" and that she was concerned "that something would happen to her, that Flight Operations was out to get her."After the interview, Delta said it referred Petitt for a medical evaluation, and out of an abundance of caution followed its medical review process in its pilot contract. In the end, the process concluded she was fit to fly. The company said Petitt received full pay and benefits for the period she was grounded, and said it stands by its decision.It's not the first time a pilot has claimed Delta has used medical evaluations in such a way.A former pilot, Michael Protack, filed suit against Delta last year for wrongful termination and retaliation. Protack alleges that after he reported safety concerns about airplanes and complained about pay cuts and pension changes, Delta falsely claimed he was medically unfit to fly and required a psychiatric evaluation to fly again. Delta said safety is the "driving force behind everything we do."The 2015 crash of a Germanwings flight put a spotlight on mental health after the plane's co-pilot, who had been treated for suicidal tendencies and had been ruled unfit to work but kept the diagnosis secret, intentionally crashed a plane into a mountainside in the Alps. "Our utmost responsibility is to provide safe and secure travel for our customers and our employees," Delta said, adding "we do not tolerate retaliation against employees who raise concerns." https://www.ajc.com/business/former-delta-exec-for-faa-job-faces-scrutiny-over-pilot-osha-case/Tr2RDntjdIvlK2pABUe9CP/ Back to Top Bombardier tells Mitsubishi 'no cherry-picking' in jet talks Japanese aircraft maker only wants maintenance operations Mitsubishi Aircraft's MRJ regional jet is expected to hit the skies in mid-2020. (Photo by Akira Kodaka) NAGOYA/TOKYO -- An attempt by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to buy only the aircraft maintenance network of Bombardier's CRJ regional jet program has been rebuffed by the Canadian company, which wants to sell both the loss-making production lines as well as the more lucrative services operation. Bombardier has told MHI it will not allow "cherry-picking," said a person with knowledge of the situation on Friday. Another person familiar with the talks said the Canadian company was insisting on selling the unit as a whole, rather than breaking it up. The two companies are in advanced discussions about a possible sale of the CRJ, the last of Bombardier's fully owned commercial jet programs. Although the CRJ program is loss-making a deal could still be worth several hundreds of millions of dollars. Both sides say there is no guarantee of agreement. But MHI is hoping to acquire the CRJ program in a bid to help it overcome challenges with its own long-stalled Mitsubishi Regional Jet project, Japan's first homegrown passenger aircraft. Mitsubishi has so far postponed deliveries five times -- from 2013 to mid-2020 -- and incurred costs of more than 600 billion yen ($5.5 billion). MHI's biggest interest lies in CRJ's maintenance and repair operations, which will be critical if Mitsubishi wants to win orders for its passenger jets. The company is planning to release two types of regional jets, one seating 90 passengers and another seating about 70. Mitsubishi is going to formally unveil the smaller version -- which is set to be the company's core model -- at the Paris Air Show later this month. Whether it can win any purchase commitments from airlines will depend in part on its ability to provide seamless maintenance support for customers, most of whom are likely to be in North America. "Supporting an aircraft throughout its life is a very significant piece of the revenue," said Alex Bellamy, chief development officer of Mitsubishi Aircraft, the subsidiary overseeing the project. He estimated that 20-30% of regional jet program revenues would come from providing maintenance services. "That means, as an OEM, Mitsubishi Aircraft has to focus on building the right product -- that's very important -- but building the right customer support system to support that product is equally as important." Mitsubishi Heavy has partnered with U.S.-based Boeing to provide customer support for the MRJ, but it is keen to have its own in-house customer service capabilities. A sale of the CRJ, which seats 50 to 100 passengers, would mark Bombardier's exit from commercial aircraft after more than 30 years. It follows the sale last year of a majority stake in its troubled, 100-150 seater C Series program to European aircraft maker Airbus. Along with Brazil's Embraer, Bombardier is a key player in the world's small and mid-size passenger aircraft market, with a 30% to 40% share of global demand for regional jets. About 1,300 CRJ aircraft are currently in operation across the world. The anticipated exit of Bombardier from regional aircraft is good news for Mitsubishi, which is facing growing uncertainty about its future as carriers cancel orders due to the delays. Bellamy said the program was now on track to finally deliver. "We know that the development at MRJ has been slower than we wanted, but this now really is the turning point between the history and the future of us being able to capture significant global demand," Bellamy emphasized. "With the market as it is growing today, with a competitor moving out and (another) competitor focusing on other things, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation is really well positioned -- probably the best positioned in our history -- to go and capture the regional aircraft business," he said in a briefing on the program. Aircraft testing was progressing and is expected to complete next year, Mitsubishi said. But the 90-seater aircraft is unlikely to find buyers in the U.S. because it exceeds the 76 seat limit for regional aircraft agreed between airlines and pilot unions. Mitsubishi aims to release a smaller 70-seat model in the Paris Air show later this month. Mitsubishi Aircraft President Hisakazu Mizutani also raised the prospect that the MRJ could eventually be produced in the U.S., the world's biggest regional jet market. U.S. production was "a possibility in the future" if there was more demand than the company could meet in Japan. Mizutani noted that the company could miss opportunities if it had to wait for the Japanese to build sufficient skills to produce the aircraft, he said. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/Bombardier-tells-Mitsubishi-no-cherry-picking-in-jet-talks Back to Top Spirit AeroSystems CEO says company has plenty of 737 storage space in Wichita Spirit AeroSystems CEO Tom Gentile said Thursday that company has the space to store up to 150 737 fuselages in Wichita as its works with Boeing amid the grounding of the 737 MAX. Spirit AeroSystems Inc. CEO Tom Gentile says the company has plenty of room to store 737 MAX fuselages in Wichita as it works on a staggered production schedule with the Boeing Co. Gentile offered new detail at a UBS industrial conference in New York on how Spirit (NYSE: SPR) is storing the excess fuselages, saying it has space for up to 150 after the plane was grounded in March following two crashes that killed 346 people. Smaller components the company builds on the 737 are being stored indoors, but the fuselages are being kept outdoors on the ramp of the adjacent Air Capital Flight Line and McConnell Air Force Base. While such a high level of inventory capacity isn't expected to be needed, Gentile's comments underscored that the supplier has the ability to meet virtually any need Boeing (NYSE: BA) has as the grounding continues. Gentile said Spirit is storing around 20 of the fuselages and holding most for only four to 10 days before they are shipped to Boeing. "It's really a buffering system," Gentile said. The CEO also said that each of the fuselages are being stored under three layers of protective covering tested to withstand hail "to a significant degree." Spirit earlier this year announced that it would continue to build the 737 at the rate of 52 per month after Boeing reduced its own rate to 42. Boeing isn't delivering the MAX to customers during the grounding - the MAX was expected to account for 90 percent of 737 deliveries this year - and is itself holding completed aircraft in storage until the model returns to service. Spirit is still paid for the excess portions it builds and then shipping them as requested. As part of that agreement, Boeing also takes on the financial risk for any damage to the components not directly attributable to Spirit. Boeing continues to work with regulators on the software and training upgrades it hopes can return the MAX to service. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said earlier this week that it will be timing of that safe return to service once it is known that will dictate when the company will begin to ramp back up its own production rate on the 737. Prior to the grounding, Boeing had planned to push the rate this summer from 52 to 57 per month - a number Gentile said Thursday that Spirit was ready to meet before the MAX variant was taken out of service. When Boeing begins to go back up in rate, Spirit will remain at 52 per month until it burns through the excess inventory. Gentile said that if the company had 30 fuselages in inventory when Boeing decided to go to 57, that would give Spirit a "more than adequate" six months of lead time to prepare again to hit 57 per month itself. But he also said the company has run scenarios to be ready in the event that the grounding continues to the point that Boeing instead needs it to step back down in production. Spirit is Wichita's largest employer with around 12,500 local workers. The company builds around 70 percent of the structure on the 737, a program that represents around half of its annual sales. https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2019/06/06/spirit-aerosystems-ceo-says-company-has-plenty-of.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study to develop a trust in air traffic controllers scale. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be a resident of the United States, at least 18 years old, and a certified pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://forms.gle/DmMB9fXSupVa5oTGA For more information, please contact: Brad Baugh, Ph.D. in Aviation Student baughfd0@my.erau.edu Back to Top CHC and SCSI Partner to Offer Operators a Chance to Earn Spot in Certificate Program CHC Helicopter has continued its long-standing partnership with the Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI) as part of CHC's 15th annual Safety & Quality Summit, which will be held October 1-3, 2019 at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Operators in attendance will have the opportunity to register to win a random drawing that will allow them to send one representative through SCSI's renowned safety program and earn their certificate upon completion of six courses covering a range of crucial safety topics and training. The program provides an excellent mix of classroom and networking experience, exposing participants to the latest expertise in safety and safety-related topics. The coursework is led by experienced instructors with unique qualifications with both strong expertise and demonstrated safety leadership positions. They have real world experience conducting safety assessments as well as developing operational risk management strategies, training plans, communications procedures and training for tens of thousands of professionals. Previous winners have included representatives of Ornge and Universal Helicopters. The value of the complete course program, which consists of 6 weeks of courses, is valued at up to $15,000 USD. "We're thankful for our partnership with SCSI, and we greatly appreciate their support of the Safety & Quality Summit," said Duncan Trapp, CHC's VP of Safety & Quality. "We welcome the opportunity to again help send an operator to earn a safety certificate from SCSI. SCSI's world-class safety programs offer participants the opportunity to further enhance and build upon their safety knowledge, providing new insight and perspective. Thank you to SCSI for their ongoing commitment to furthering safety in our industry." To participate and be considered for the drawing, interested parties must be registered delegates at this year's CHC Safety & Quality Summit. Once onsite, participants can submit a name or business card at the registration desk to enter the drawing. For additional information on the Summit and to register, please visit www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com Back to Top Manager Air Investigations • Utilise your leadership, investigation, communication and interpersonal skills • Demonstrate credibility with your air transport experience • Medically and physically fit, current passport and drivers' licence essential The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigates significant aviation, rail and marine accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding future similar occurrences. The Commission has set a visionary goal of "No Repeat Accidents - Ever!" The Manager Air Investigations provides strong leadership and thorough management of the air investigation team, supporting the Chief Investigator of Accidents. Following a recent internal promotion, we seek a Manager to continue providing high quality and timely transport accident investigation services. The successful applicant will have: • relevant air transport experience • strong leadership and investigative skills • professional or technical aviation qualifications eg pilot,engineering (mechanical, aeronautical or avionics). As the Manager, you will effectively lead those who provide high quality and timely air transport accident investigation services. Key competencies and experience include: • Leadership and business skills and experience • Investigative and QA experience and skills • Strong analysis and reasoning skills • Ability to anticipate and identify risks/issues and identify possible solutions • Communication skills - written, verbal and interpersonal • Understanding of quasi-judicial processes, particularly the rules and requirements applicable to a Commission of Inquiry • Emotional and psychological maturity to handle stressful and emotionally difficult situations • Medically and physically fit with a valid passport and current driver's licence. I look forward to hearing from those interested in progressing their career within this pivotal organisation based in central Wellington, New Zealand. Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday, 19 June 2019 or sooner if a suitable applicant is identified. If you are interested in the position please visit our website www.peopleandco.nz and search on the keyword 19042 under the Jobs tab. All applications will be acknowledged electronically. For further information contact Jacaleen Williams on 0064 4 931 9450 quoting job number 19042. Only people with the right to work in New Zealand may apply for this position. For advice on obtaining a New Zealand work or residence visa visit www.immigration.govt.nz Back to Top POSITION: A & P Mechanic Maintenance APMEC01149 • Denver, CO, USA Job Details Description Frontier Airlines is committed to offering 'Low Fares Done Right' to more than 60 destinations in the United States, Dominican Republic, and Mexico on more than 270 daily flights. Headquartered in Denver, Frontier's hard-working aviation professionals pride themselves in delivering the company's signature Rocky Mountain hospitality to customers. Frontier Airlines is the proud recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration's 2015 Diamond Award for maintenance excellence and was recently named the industry's most fuel-efficient airline by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) as a result of superior technology and operational efficiencies. The Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic ("A&P Mechanic") is a working member of the maintenance organization and is tasked with completing required maintenance on aircraft in a timely manner and in accordance with policy and procedure. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to: • Perform and assist approved work by their leads within the scheduled shift • Ensure completeness of all assigned work documents and records • Coordinate all activities with lead mechanic in charge or station supervisor • Research all pertinent information and material for work scheduled on aircraft and carefully follow processes as outlined • Assist in the clean up of the maintenance work area • Maintain cleanliness of maintenance areas at all times • Ensure that all tools (both personal and company owned) are removed from the aircraft, aircraft engines, appliances, and components • Always maintain positive tool control accountability • Immediately report lost and/or found tools to management • Enter completed work into maintenance tracking software systems • Comply with and implement the necessary procedures in the MEL/CDL/NEF Program • Make FMIS entries as required • Maintain currency in training requirements This is a bargaining unit position with schedule, shift and pay determined by seniority. All A&P Mechanics may be required to participate in AOG field trips as outlined in the labor contract. Job Requirements: Qualifications • FAA-certified mechanic with Airframe and Powerplant ratings • 2 years of experience performing heavy aircraft maintenance to include: maintenance checks, engine changes, landing gear replacement, structural repairs, flight control rigging, etc. or Airbus 319/320/321 aircraft or similar heavy aircraft Knowledge, Skills and Abilities • Must complete differences training as necessary • Must obtain Taxi and Run-up qualification within 6 months of start • Must be able to perform strenuous work requiring lifting, pushing, and/or pulling of objects in excess of 100lbs. occasionally and objects in excess of 50lbs. regularly • Demonstrated safety-consciousness • Ability to work well as part of a team • Strong interpersonal communication skills - both verbally and in writing • Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities • Demonstrated timeliness and dependability APPLY HERE Back to Top Investigator/Senior Investigator, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Date: May 16, 2019 Location: Ft Worth, TX, US Req ID: 29714 Location: Flight Training Academy (DFW-FTRN) Additional Locations: None Requisition ID: 29714 Overview Join us for a career with endless possibilities. Looking for a job where a passion for innovation, a culture of teamwork, and opportunities for growth are valued and rewarded? You've come to the right place. You don't have to be an airline aficionado to join American Airlines. It takes more than cool planes to keep us ahead of the curve, and thanks to our team of behind the scenes professionals, we do just that. As the largest airline in the world, American Airlines is in the business of serving the global travel needs of our customers. At the core of the Company is our commitment to each customer and each employee. We are dedicated to developing and delivering what our customers value and are willing to pay for. Customer-centric planning, innovative marketing, and an exceptional customer experience are supported by a cadre of talented people. What does it take to join us? We're glad you asked! We expect exceptional skills in your discipline and a dedication to being the best as we relentlessly pursue our goal of being not just the largest airline in the world, but also the best airline in the world. Fortunately, we're building on almost a century of innovation and firsts in our industry - and we plan to continue that tradition of excellence. About this job This job is a member of the Investigating team within the Integrated Operations Division. This position will be responsible for providing analysis of operational flight data as well as producing reports and presentations for the Flight Operation Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program. Specifically, you'll do the following: • Conducts daily work flow processes for the FOQA program • Assesses events and trends, identifies operational hazards, and validates corrective actions • Develops new data analysis products and methodologies for data mining • Coordinates with the Flight Department for data analysis needs • Coordinates regularly with Allied Pilot Association (APA) FOQA gatekeepers • Coordinates with Tech Ops Department regarding support of the FOQA program About the Job (Continued) • Creates flight animations of actual events for use in operational departments • Assists with accident and incident investigations • Participates in FOQA Monitoring Team meetings • Participates and contributes to the American Airlines SMS process • Develops, prepares and presents analysis of flight data • Represents American Airlines at industry FOQA related meetings Qualifications Required Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience/training • 3 years related job experience • Experience working with data mining tools such as Tableau, Business Objects, Access, etc. • Experience performing data analysis and building various related reports in MS Office products • Knowledge of aeronautical theory and aviation operations as applied to commercial aircraft • Proficient using MS Office software • Must fulfill background checks to qualify for unescorted access privileges to airport security identification display areas (SIDA), if applicable • Must be able to secure appropriate airport authority and/or US Customs security badges, if applicable • Must be able to handle multiple projects with changing deadlines Qualifications (Continued) Preferred Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Mathematics, Engineering, or Statistics • Basic Programming knowledge/experience • Master's degree in related field • Previous experience within a FOQA program • Familiarity with GE Aviation flight data software (previously Austin Digital) • Experience using CEFA animation software • Private pilot license or higher • Experience at an air carrier Curt Lewis