Flight Safety Information SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 - No. 191 In This Issue U.S. FAA head set to explain Boeing 737 MAX progress to divided world regulators Incident: Avianca A320 at Leticia on Sep 22nd 2019, engine problem Incident: Contractors B734 at Shannon on Sep 22nd 2019, cargo door indication Incident: Jetblue A320 near Denver on Sep 20th 2019, crew oxygen problem Incident: TUI B752 at Manchester on Sep 19th 2019, engine shut down in flight Incident: Indigo A21N at Chennai on Sep 21st 2019, cargo smoke indication Cessna 208B Caravan EX - Fatal Accident (Tanzania) Air India flights hit by turbulence Indonesian investigators determine 737 MAX design flaw and oversight lapses in Lion Air crash Tour company Thomas Cook collapses, 150,000 people stranded Emirates diverts Delhi-Dubai flight after 'drone activity' at airport American Airlines flight forced to land because of unruly passenger, who yelled 'you're all screwed' Baines Simmons to offer Aviation Safety Training in Amsterdam Ornge air ambulance stops landing at UH over safety concerns Cargo plane hit trees 0.12 mile before crashing near Toledo Express, NTSB says AirAsia's WiFi upgrade goes live on Inmarsat's GX Aviation What Happened To China's CAAC Airlines? London Heathrow Remains No. 1 in Airport Connectivity for Third Straight Year University of Wyoming gets grant money for aircraft research Dubai Aerospace wins $1.4 bln deal to manage aircraft Girls Take Flight: Local High School Teens Earn Their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate Boeing Is Taking Some Heat. For Once, It's Not About the MAX Jet Russia Says It Will Keep Source of Hole (and Air Leak) on Soyuz Secret- But NASA Wants to Know GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY GET THE FACTS ABOUT IS-BAO Managing Communications During an Aircraft Accident or Incident U.S. FAA head set to explain Boeing 737 MAX progress to divided world regulators MONTREAL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The chief of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is set to detail on Monday progress on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to international air regulators who are divided about returning the grounded jet to flight after two fatal crashes. The closed-door briefing, on the eve of a United Nations aviation assembly in Montreal, will put representatives from about 50 nations in the same room, to swap concerns about Boeing Co's proposed software fixes and new pilot training. New FAA administrator Steve Dickson downplayed the chances of a consensus breakthrough, telling Reuters last week that the meeting was more "to provide regulators with the latest information." The representatives are drawn from countries with airlines that fly that MAX and those that will have flights of the aircraft landing, he said. Boeing's best-selling jet was grounded globally in March, days after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight that followed a similar Lion Air disaster in Indonesia in October. A total of 346 people died in the two crashes. The U.S. manufacturer has spent months working to update critical flight control software at the center of both crashes, in hopes of winning FAA approval for the planes to fly again in the United States between October and December. Airlines have urged regulators to coordinate on the software changes in a bid to avoid damaging splits over safety, but some countries have already vowed to run their own independent validation studies before restoring flights. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is doing its own examination of the 737 MAX design, said recently there was still no appropriate response to issues with the integrity of the aircraft's angle of attack system. In both crashes, erroneous data to one of the angle of attack sensors led to the activation of an automated system that repeatedly pushed down the plane's nose. Paul Njoroge, who lost his wife, three children and mother-in-law in the Ethiopian crash, and Chris Moore, who lost his daughter, plan to hold pictures of victims outside the meeting. The FAA turned down their request to attend the briefing but Dickson agreed to meet the two men beforehand, said Nadia Milleron, whose daughter, Samya Stumo, also died in the Ethiopian crash. The FAA is still reviewing the software update and awaiting a document longer than 500 pages from Boeing detailing the flight control system's architecture and changes, Dickson said last week. The agency also wants input from international regulators EASA, Canada and Brazil before it conducts the certification test flight, a key step before final approval. The 737 MAX grounding is not on the agenda of the assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization, to run from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4, but regulators will be anxious to avoid divisions over actions needed to restore the jet to service. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-faa-head-set-explain-110000017.html Back to Top Incident: Avianca A320 at Leticia on Sep 22nd 2019, engine problem An Avianca Airbus A320-200, registration N939AV performing flight AV-9485 from Leticia to Bogota (Colombia), was climbing out of Leticia when the crew detected a problem with one of the engines and decided to return to Leticia, where the aircraft landed safely. Colombia's Aerocivil confirmed the occurrence. The passengers have been rebooked onto other flights. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd257e3&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Contractors B734 at Shannon on Sep 22nd 2019, cargo door indication An Air Contractors Boeing 737-400 freighter, registration EI-STS performing freight flight AG-2 from Shannon (Ireland) to East Midlands,EN (UK), was climbing out of Shannon's runway 24 when the crew stopped the climb at FL270 due to a cargo door indication, donned their oxygen masks and returned to Shannon. During the descent the crew removed the oxygen masks below FL100, advised there was no immediate issue for them and a normal landing would occur. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 24 about 35 minutes after departure, emergency services remained in stand by until after arrival then were stood down. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 5.5 hours, then departed again. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd246be&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jetblue A320 near Denver on Sep 20th 2019, crew oxygen problem A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N506JB performing flight B6-1089 from New York JFK,NY to San Diego,CA (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 310nm southeast of Denver,CO (USA) when the flight crew detected a problem with their oxygen supply, descended the aircraft to FL200 and diverted to Denver. The aircraft landed in Denver about one hour later. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 80 minutes, then departed again and reache San Diego with a delay of about 2 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU1089/history/20190920/1539Z/KJFK/KSAN http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd1a200&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: TUI B752 at Manchester on Sep 19th 2019, engine shut down in flight A TUI Airways Boeing 757-200, registration G-OOBD performing flight BY-2420 from Manchester,EN (UK) to Thessaloniki (Greece), was climbing out of Manchester's runway 23L when an engine (RB211) emitted a huge bang and streaks of flame prompting the crew to stop the climb at FL070, shut the engine down and return to Manchester for a safe landing on runway 23R about 30 minutes after departure. Observers on the ground reported one of the engines emitted a huge pop and streaks of flame. A replacement Beoing 757-200 registration G-BYAW reached Thessaloniki with a delay of about 4.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd1a017&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Indigo A21N at Chennai on Sep 21st 2019, cargo smoke indication An Indigo Airbus A321-200N, registration VT-IUA performing flight 6E-1707 from Chennai (India) to Doha (Qatar) with 121 people on board, was climbing out of Chennai when the crew stopped the climb at FL150 due to a cargo smoke indication and returned to Chennai for a safe landing on runway 07 about 35 minutes after departure. The airline reported a post flight inspection revealed no trace of fire, heat or smoke. A replacement Airbus A320-200 registration VT-IFM reached Doha with a delay of 7 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Chennai about 24 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd19e31&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Cessna 208B Caravan EX - Fatal Accident (Tanzania) Date: 23-SEP-2019 Time: Type: Cessna 208B Caravan EX Owner/operator: Auric Air Registration: 5H-AAM C/n / msn: 208B5728 Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: near Seronera Airstrip (SEU/HTSN), Serengati - Tanzania Phase: Initial climb Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Seronera Airport (SEU/HTSN) Destination airport: Arusha Airport (ARK/HTAR) Narrative: A Cessna 208 Caravan EX, registered 5H-AAM, was damaged beyond repair when it crashed shortly after takeoff under unknown circumstances. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The exact number of occupants is unknown. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/229251 Back to Top Air India flights hit by turbulence Suffer minor damages after severe thunderstorms; airline orders probe An Air India plane carrying 172 passengers suffered "minor" damages after it hit air turbulence on Friday on the way to Kochi from Thiruvananthapuram Image Credit: AP Mumbai: An Air India plane carrying 172 passengers suffered "minor" damages after it hit air turbulence on Friday on the way to Kochi from Thiruvananthapuram. The flight landed safely, an official said on Saturday. No injury to any passenger or crew has been reported, he said, adding Air India's safety department has carried out a detailed investigation. "Air India's Delhi-Trivandrum-Kochi flight AI-467 hit air turbulence when it was on the way to Kochi from Trivandrum. Though no injury has been reported, the A321 aircraft suffered minor damages. It was grounded immediately after landing for inspection. Due to this, the return flight was delayed by nearly four hours," the official said, adding an investigation is underway. Meanwhile, sources in the airline said that on September 17, an Air India New Delhi- Vijaywada plane with 174 passengers also hit severe weather. India Today reported Air India has launched an investigation against crew members of flight number AI-467, following an incident in which the plane suffered damages after encountering severe thunderstorm. The plane for flight number AI-467, operating between New Delhi to Vijayawada, was an Airbus 320. The incident occurred on September 17, but the pilot, as well as the crew members on board, did not report the incident to the airline's flight safety department as per the norm, following which an investigation was launched, according to Air India officials. No passengers or crew members were injured in the incident. https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/air-india-flights-hit-by-turbulence-1.66590104 Back to Top Indonesian investigators determine 737 MAX design flaw and oversight lapses in Lion Air crash - WSJ Sept 22 (Reuters) - Indonesian investigators have found that design and oversight lapses played a key role in the fatal crash of a Boeing Co's 737 MAX jet in October, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The draft conclusions, which is expected to be the first formal government finding that the design and U.S. regulatory approval were flawed, also identifies a string of pilot errors and maintenance mistakes as causal factors of the Lion Air crash, killing all 189 aboard, WSJ said. A Boeing spokesman did not comment on the WSJ report but said the plane maker continues to offer support to the investigating authorities as they complete the report. Reuters could not immediately contact Indonesian investigators. U.S. air-crash investigators are preparing to announce a handful of separate safety recommendations, ranging from bolstering the manual flying skills of pilots to enhancing FAA vetting of new aircraft designs, the newspaper added. U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is expected around the end of the month to call for improvements to cockpit training and crew decision making and is expected to focus on potential changes to certification of new airliners, WSJ said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/indonesian-investigators-determine-737-max- 223141023.html Back to Top Tour company Thomas Cook collapses, 150,000 people stranded A Thomas Cook plane on the tarmac at Gatwick Airport in Sussex, England Monday Sept. 23, 2019. British tour company Thomas Cook collapsed early Monday after failing to secure emergency funding, leaving tens of thousands of vacationers stranded abroad. (Steve Parsons/PA via AP) LONDON (AP) - British tour company Thomas Cook collapsed early Monday after failing to secure emergency funding, leaving tens of thousands of vacationers stranded abroad. The British government said the return of the 178-year-old firm's 150,000 British customers now in vacation spots across the globe would be the largest repatriation in its peacetime history. The process began Monday and officials warned that delays are inevitable. The Civil Aviation Authority said Thomas Cook has ceased trading, its four airlines will be grounded, and its 21,000 employees in 16 countries, including 9,000 in the U.K., will lose their jobs. The company several months ago had blamed a slowdown in bookings because of Brexit uncertainty for contributing to its crushing debt burden. The company had said Friday it was seeking 200 million pounds ($250 million) to avoid going bust and was in weekend talks with shareholders and creditors to stave off failure. The firm, whose airliners were a familiar sight in many parts of the world, also operated around 600 U.K. travel stores. The company's chief executive, Peter Fankhauser, said in a statement read outside the company's offices Monday morning that he deeply regrets the shutdown. "Despite huge efforts over a number of months and further intense negotiations in recent days we have not been able to secure a deal to save our business," he said. "I know that this outcome will be devastating to many people and will cause a lot of anxiety, stress and disruption." Britain's CAA said it had arranged an aircraft fleet for the complex British repatriation effort, which is expected to last two weeks. "Due to the significant scale of the situation, some disruption is inevitable, but the Civil Aviation Authority will endeavor to get people home as close as possible to their planned dates," the aviation authority said in a statement. Describing the repatriation plan, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said dozens of charter planes, from as far afield as Malaysia, had been hired to fly customers home free of charge. He said hundreds of people were staffing call centers and airport operations centers. British travel expert Simon Calder told Sky News that Thomas Cook's problems started in 1994 when the "open skies" agreement allowed upstarts easyJet and Ryanair to flourish. At the same time, he said, the internet became widely used for travel bookings, lessening the demand for Thomas Cook's travel agencies. "There's still of course a place for travel professionals, there's a place for the package already, as companies like Jet2 and TUI are demonstrating, but Thomas Cook was behind the curve and I'm afraid with high costs such as those expensive high street premises they simply couldn't cope," he said. Traveler Lucy Jessop from the eastern city of Hull said she had been scheduled to return from Mexico to Manchester with Thomas Cook on Tuesday and that the government had organized an alternative flight back to England. "It's the employees of Thomas Cook and all those due to go on holiday I feel for," she said. "We were the lucky ones, I suppose." Unions representing the Thomas Cook staff had urged the British government to intervene to prop up Thomas Cook to protect jobs and the traveling public. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, traveling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, said the government was right not to bail out the company, arguing that travel firms should do more to ensure they don't collapse. Johnson said bailing out the company would have established "a moral hazard" because other firms might later expect the same treatment. "We need to look at ways in which tour operators one way or another can protect themselves from such bankruptcies in future," Johnson said. "One is driven to reflect on whether the directors of these companies are properly incentivized to sort such matters out." Most of Thomas Cook's British customers are protected by the government-run travel insurance program, which makes sure vacationers can get home if a British-based tour operator fails while they are abroad. An earlier repatriation exercise following the 2017 collapse of Monarch Airlines cost the government about 60 million pounds. Thomas Cook, which began in 1841 with a one-day train excursion in England and now operates in 16 countries, has been struggling over the past few years. An estimated 1 million future travelers will find their bookings for upcoming holidays canceled. They are likely to receive refunds under the terms of the government's travel insurance plan. The company's troubles were already affecting those traveling under the Thomas Cook banner. A British vacationer told BBC radio on Sunday that the Les Orangers beach resort in the Tunisian town of Hammamet, near Tunis, demanded that guests who were about to leave pay extra money, for fear it wouldn't be paid what it is owed by Thomas Cook. Ryan Farmer said many tourists refused the demand, since they had already paid Thomas Cook, so security guards shut the hotel's gates and "were not allowing anyone to leave." It was like "being held hostage," said Farmer, who is due to leave Tuesday. He said he would also refuse to pay if the hotel asked him. The Associated Press called the hotel, as well as the British Embassy in Tunis, but no officials or managers were available for comment. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/tour-company-thomas-cook-ceases- 013726732.html Back to Top Emirates diverts Delhi-Dubai flight after 'drone activity' at airport * Flight EK 433 from Brisbane and Singapore to Dubai was diverted to Dubai World Centre. Delhi to Dubai Flight EK 511 was diverted to Sharjah International Airport Dubai international airport had faced a similar situation in 2015 and 2016, when unauthorised drones flew on its airspace. Emirates, on Sunday, had to divert many of its flights, including Delhi-Dubai flight at Dubai International airport due to 'drone activity' in the surrounding of its airspace. The unauthorised drone activity led to at least half an hour of shutdown of Dubai International Airport. According to Gulf news, the airport was shut between 12:36 pm to 12:51 pm (2:00pm - 2:21pm IST) on Sunday. Flight EK 433 from Brisbane and Singapore to Dubai was diverted to Dubai World Centre. Delhi to Dubai Flight EK 511 was diverted to Sharjah International Airport (SHJ). Emirates in a statement said, "The drone activity took place despite repeated warnings by concerned authorities that such individual actions are serious violations of regulations that seek to prevent unauthorised aerial activity in the vicinity of airports". However, the airline expressed regret to its passengers over inconvenience and said that it had provided alternative booking options and hotel accommodation to the affected passengers. The diverted flights returned to Dubai after a few hours when the airspace reopened. According to Gulf news, the Dubai international airport had faced a similar situation in 2015 and 2016, when unauthorised drones flew on its airspace. A resolution was passed in 2017 imposing a fine of Dhs 20,000 ($5,445) on flying of unauthorised drones in Dubai. https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/aviation/emirates-diverts-delhi-dubai-flight-after- drone-activity-at-airport/story/380705.html Back to Top American Airlines flight forced to land because of unruly passenger, who yelled 'you're all screwed' An American Airlines flight was forced to land on Friday, September 20, 2019, when a passenger became disruptive. (CNN)An American Airlines flight was forced to make an unscheduled stop after a male passenger became unruly, punching seats, yelling at other passengers and smoking cigarettes. Originating in Phoenix, Flight 2408 was headed to Minneapolis on Friday when the passenger became disruptive about one hour after takeoff. Passenger Jim Dickey, who was traveling for a convention, said the man began yelling and making threats toward the other passengers. "He punched the seat in front of him and the lady screamed," Dickey told CNN. Dickey said the pilot announced the flight was diverting about 20 minutes after the incident began. The flight landed in Denver and the man was removed from the plane by law enforcement. "You could tell by the sound that the plane started descending pretty quickly after the flight attendants started to notice" what was going on, he said. At one point, the man went to the bathroom where he started smoking, Dickey said, adding that while he was in the bathroom he yelled "you're all screwed." Some of the male passengers were prepared to restrain the passenger physically, he added. "The guy right behind me switched seats to the aisle in case things went awry," Dickey said. CNN has reached out to the Denver Police Department for information on the passenger's status and whether he was arrested. American Airlines issued a statement acknowledging that the flight was diverted because of a disruptive passenger. "Law enforcement met the flight, and the aircraft re-departed," said Whitney Zastrow, a spokeswoman for American Airlines. "Thank you to our crew members for taking care of our customers during this situation." Dickey said the rest of the flight was the quietest one he'd ever been on. "When we got back on the plane in Denver and continued on to Minneapolis, I don't think anybody said a word," he said. https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/22/us/flight-diverted-unruly-passenger-trnd/index.html Back to Top Baines Simmons to offer Aviation Safety Training in Amsterdam Baines Simmons, the Consulting & Training division of global aviation services group Air Partner, is offering aviation safety training courses in Amsterdam for the first time as it looks to extend this service beyond the UK. Courtesy Baines Simmons From Tuesday 26th November to Friday 6th December, Baines Simmons will be offering five of its most popular courses, which are aimed at a range of roles, including Safety Managers and Form 4 Holders: * 26th-27th November: EASA Part M - Understanding the Management of Continuing Airworthiness * 28th-29th November: EASA Part 145 - Understanding the Requirements for Maintenance * 2nd December: EASA Part 21 Subpart G - Production Organisation Approval Essentials * 3rd-4th December: EASA Part 21 Subpart J - Understanding and Optimising Your Design Organisation Approval * 5th-6th December: Implementing a Fatigue Risk Management System At present, Baines Simmons runs courses out of its UK-based Aviation Safety Academy at Fairoaks Airport, as well as in-company but is looking to grow its geographical reach for its informative and engaging aviation safety training. The Academy continues to go from strength to strength, and has seen bookings increase by 30% year-on-year. Baines Simmons offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of professional aviation training courses in the aviation industry. The consultants are safety practitioners with enormous breadth and depth of experience, and each course is written by one of the team's subject matter leaders, ensuring their specialist expertise is captured and developed in the learning outcomes. Baines Simmons has consistently scored very strongly in customer feedback scores and that continues to this day, with more than 98% of customers rating its services as "very good" or "excellent". Independently ranked by Feefo, the Aviation Safety Academy itself has consistently achieved 100% client satisfaction for its high standards of customer service and deep product knowledge. As a result, this year it received Feefo's Gold Trusted Service Award for the fifth year running. Ian Holder, Managing Director at Baines Simmons, commented: "We have been delighted by the ongoing success of our Aviation Safety Academy and it is a natural progression for us to extend our expertise and experience in aviation safety to a wider audience in different locations. Our courses are designed to deliver real results in the workplace by shaping attitudes, changing minds and effecting a positive change at both a personal and organisational level. We very much look forward to welcoming our new attendees in Amsterdam to build their practical skills and knowledge." https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/baines-simmons-to-offer-aviation-safety-training-in- amsterdam.html Back to Top Ornge air ambulance stops landing at UH over safety concerns Ontario's air ambulance agency has suspended service to a London hospital over safety concerns about its helicopter landing space. Ornge air ambulance service has suspended landings at London's University Hospital over safety concerns. (HEATHER RIVERS, The London Free Press) Ontario's air ambulance agency has suspended service to a London hospital over safety concerns about its helicopter landing space. Patients destined for University Hospital in northwest London are now being taken by Ornge to London International Airport, where they are driven 13 kilometres in ambulance for treatment. Ornge, a non-profit that provides medical air transport to critically ill or injured patients in Ontario, will no longer be landing air ambulances at University Hospital after safety complaints from its crew, the agency says. "This decision followed an aviation safety concern raised internally with respect to obstacle clearance in the vicinity of the helipad and along the published departure routes," Ornge said in a statement. "Ornge takes such concerns seriously and made this decision in the interest of patient and crew safety." The agency notified London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) that it was suspending air ambulance service at University Hospital Sept. 12, the hospital said. "We are awaiting specific details from them," LHSC said in a statement. "Ornge is currently landing at London International Airport and using ground transportation to University Hospital." Ornge air ambulance service has suspended landings at London's University Hospital over safety concerns. (HEATHER RIVERS, The London Free Press)) The street-level helicopter pad is directly north of the hospital's front entrance, next to Perth Drive and two multi-level parking garages. It's about 60 metres long and 60 metres wide and bordered by walkways. Vehicle traffic on Perth Drive is temporarily stopped when the medical helicopters land and take off from the site. Last year, Ornge landed at University Hospital 90 times. The air ambulance service has touched down at the hospital 71 times so far this year, LHSC said in a statement. Ornge completes about 20,000 patient transports each year and has 12 bases across Ontario, including one at London's airport. An exact reopening date for University Hospital's helipad, and what can be done to rectify Ornge's safety concerns, are unclear. "We are in the process of gathering further information and intend to meet with hospital representatives in the near term to discuss next steps," Ornge said in an emailed statement. A spokesperson for Transport Canada - which regulates civil aviation nationwide, including airports and helipads - said the federal agency has not directed the closure of the University Hospital site and directed questions about the service suspension to LHSC. London's second helipad at Victoria Hospital - the site of London's critical-care trauma centre - is still operational, LHSC said in a statement. A spokesperson for Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province was recently informed of the air ambulance disruption at University Hospital. "We're confident that the hospital and Ornge are working together to find a solution that both protects patients and ensures timely access to care," Hayley Chazan said in a statement. University Hospital is the site of LHSC's transplant unit and one of the city's two emergency rooms. Heli-pads are located at several other Southwestern Ontario hospitals, including the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance's locations in Wallaceburg and Chatham, Woodstock General Hospital and hospitals in Palmerston, Meaford, Kincardine and Hanover. https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/ornge-air-ambulance-stops-landing-at-uh-over- safety-concerns Back to Top Cargo plane hit trees 0.12 mile before crashing near Toledo Express, NTSB says A cargo plane that crashed Sept. 11 on approach to Toledo Express Airport initially struck trees about 630 feet east of where it hit the ground and vehicles in a commercial parking lot in Springfield Township, a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board states. Initial tree damage was identified about 55 feet above ground level, the safety board said, with multiple tree breaks then observed along a flight path through a wooded area east of the crash site in the parking lot at Bubba's Diesel & Auto Repair, 10101 Garden Road. The Convair 440 airplane then left a ground-impact scar west of the wooded area that "led to the accident site," according to the report. The initial tree strike was about 0.65 mile northeast of the approach threshold for Runway 25 at Toledo Express, while the crash occurred about 0.12 mile closer to the airport and "near the extended centerline of the runway," the safety board said. The impact path, it said, "was oriented on a westerly heading." Douglas Taylor, 72, and Donald Peterson, Sr., 69, both of Laredo, Texas, were killed in the fiery 2:39 a.m. crash involving an unscheduled cargo flight that had originated in Laredo but made a stop at an airport in Millington, Tenn., outside Memphis. The flight had been cleared to land about 2:35 a.m. when it was about 5 miles southeast of the airport, and its pilot's acknowledgement of that clearance was the last communication air traffic controllers at the airport received from the plane. "No problems or anomalies were reported during the flight," the safety board said. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the plane was loaded with automotive parts, was owned by Barker Aeromotive, Inc., and was registered in Mr. Taylor's name. The NTSB report identified its operator as Ferreteria e Implementos San Francisco, which in 2004 was fined $20,000 - half of it suspended - by the U.S. Department of Transportation for operating as an air common carrier without required licensing. As is typical for such documents, the NTSB preliminary report contained no investigative details about the aircraft, its pilots, or the flight, which was operated under nighttime visual flight conditions but with a instrument flight rules flight plan on file. Such operations are normal for chartered cargo flights. Safety board investigations of such accidents often take a year or more to complete, although statements may be issued before completion if an investigation reveals details that, if publicized, could alert aviators to factors that could prevent other accidents. Earlier this month, the NTSB issued its final report for a Jan. 15, 2018, helicopter crash in Wood County's Troy Township that killed a pilot and a power line inspector. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2019/09/21/cargo-plane-hit-trees-0-12- mile-before-crashing-near-toledo-express-ntsb-says/stories/20190921119 Back to Top AirAsia's WiFi upgrade goes live on Inmarsat's GX Aviation AirAsia's inflight wifi upgrade is finally underway. First announced in April 2017, the first planes are now equipped with the GX Aviation solution from Inmarsat, with integration provided by ROKKI, a partner company of the airline group. The companies expect to deliver the high-speed inflight connectivity solution to the the carrier's full fleet of A320 and A330 family planes in the coming year. As part of the new product launch passengers on the GX-equipped planes can connect for free until the end of the month. The service integrates with the airline's entertainment and e-commerce platform, allowing passengers to access a variety of free entertainment, music, games, news and shopping using their personal mobile devices, in addition to a paid internet solution. The carrier previously installed the slower SwiftBroadband solution on a number of aircraft. As part of the contract those planes are expected to be upgraded, in addition to new planes fitted with the Ka-band GX solution. As the pioneer of LCC inflight Wi-Fi in the region, we are always looking for ways to redefine the inflight digital experience for our guests. Introducing Ka-band, powered by ROKKI, is the next logical step in this process, with the enhanced inflight connectivity allowing our guests to stay connected throughout their journey and perform data- intensive activities such as live-streaming. This also enables better real-time analytics, allowing us to offer more personalised services to AirAsia's 100 million guests annually. - Aireen Omar, AirAsia Group President (RedBeat Ventures) While the company is highlighting the ability of the solution to support "data-intensive activities such as streaming" the pricing packages are likely to discourage passengers from such. The company is sticking with megabyte-based packages for the service, though it does provide some hints on what the different packages can be reasonably used for. Given the relatively short stage lengths of the A320 family fleet the numbers might hold up, though sending or receiving just a couple photos in a chat app will likely blow the 10MB allowance. Initial pricing plans for the new AirAsia Wifi+ solution, though it is free to passengers through the end of the month (1 MYR = ~USD$0.24) AirAsia's launch of GX Aviation services is a significant milestone, as it brings to life the airline's bold and innovative new digital offering for passengers. We are confident that their upgrade from basic connectivity to the industry's gold standard inflight broadband will be warmly embraced by passengers. Our teams continue to work closely together to install GX Aviation on the rest of AirAsia's fleet of Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft, making it available to millions of new passengers each month. - Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation AirAsia is the latest airline to launch commercial service with GX Aviation, joining ANA, Aircalin, Ethiopian Airlines and Vietnam Airlines in activating the service in recent weeks, plus SAS announcing its A350 fleet will carry the kit. Between the new activations and the several recent announcements of new satellite payloads the company appears to be strongly positioned to continue its growth in the inflight connectivity space, even with the recently collapsed Garuda/Citilink deal. https://paxex.aero/2019/09/airasia-wifi-upgrade-live-inmarsat-gx-aviation/ Back to Top What Happened To China's CAAC Airlines? In the space of a generation, Chinese airlines have transformed from exotic oddities in the aviation world into sleek mainstream operations. Like a lot of things in China, it has happened fast. But readers with long memories will remember one of the forefathers of Chinese aviation, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and their state-owned monopoly airline, CAAC. A CAAC 747SP. Photo: FotoNoir via Wikimedia Commons. It's all China Southern, Hainan, Air China and China Eastern these days. It has been a while since a CAAC Tupolev careened into an airport. What happened to China's CAAC Airlines? CAAC in the early days CAAC began flying around China in 1949. While under military control, CAAC (the airline regulatory authority) operated CAAC (the airline) as a scheduled non-military passenger service. There is not a great deal of information publicly available about CAAC's early history. In 1962, CAAC began flying internationally, primarily to communist countries in Eastern Europe and Asia. It had a chequered safety history and looking at the aircraft involved in incidents in the 1960s and 1970s, you can see CAAC was flying Ilyushins, Lisunovs, and Antonovs. In the 1980s, CAAC was spreading its wings. China invested in some Boeings and set course for destinations in Europe, the Middle East, the United States and Australia. In 1987, according to Wikipedia, CAAC flew to 85 cities in a respectable 25 countries. The breakup of CAAC The Chinese Government decided to end the state-owned monopoly and break the airline up into six smaller state-owned airlines. No longer a monopoly per se, but all the money still flowed back to Daddy in Beijing. CAAC was spun off into six new airlines; Air China, China Southern, China Southwest, China Eastern, China Northwest, and China Northern. Each airline would focus on the region they were named after. Unimaginative but it makes sense. Aircraft Showdown: The Boeing 737 vs Airbus A320 - What Plane Is Best? Since then some consolidation has taken place. China Southwest was absorbed into Beijing based Air China in 2003. China Northwest was absorbed into China Eastern in 2002, and China Northern went to China Southern in 2003. North went south ... This effectively left the CAAC legacy as Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern. And these three airlines have shaken off their parentage with their exotic but accident- prone Ilyushins, Lisunovs, and Antonovs and have gone on to a fly around the globe. From little things, big things grow. Air China is still based in Beijing and how has 50,000 plus employees. It has 429 aircraft and flies to 201 cities on six continents. Air China has 68 international destinations. According to Routes Online, it operates 443 routes, offering over 1.8 million seats on 8900 flights each week. Air China's sister, China Southern, has also gone onto big things. Based in Beijing and Guangzhou, 615 aircraft jet around to 216 cities around the globe. China Southern has 100,000+ employees. The airline flies to 193 international destinations in 35 countries. Despite being a bigger airline than Air China, it does not fly to Africa or South America. The third surviving child of CAAC is China Eastern which is based in Shanghai. China Eastern has some 80,000 employees who help support 552 aircraft that fly to 248 destinations, including 40 international destinations across the Northern Hemisphere and down to Australia. These airlines are fully integrated players in global aviation. China Eastern is in the SkyTeam alliance and Air China hangs out in Star Alliance. China Southern seems to be going its own way with alliances at the moment. While the CAAC logo has disappeared from airports around the world, CAAC is unusual in the airline world in that it has spawned offshoots that have survived and grown - kind of like having kids. Next time you are crashed out on a nice lie flatbed on a China Southern A380, racking up your status credits and throwing back a couple of nice Napa Valley wines, take a moment to consider the impeccable communist CAAC genetics in the airline's DNA. https://simpleflying.com/china-caac-airlines/ Back to Top London Heathrow Remains No. 1 in Airport Connectivity for Third Straight Year Kuala Lumpur ranks first in low-cost connectivity as Asia Pacific LCCs continue rapid growth Key Findings: * Munich (MUC)landed among the Top 5 Global Megahubs. * Ranked second, Frankfurt International Airport (FRA), closely followed reigning Megahub London Heathrow (LHR). * Singapore (SIN) remained the most connected airport in the Asia Pacific region. * 14 North American airports made the Top 50, led by Chicago O'Hare (ORD). Today, OAG, the world's leading provider of travel data and insight, released its Megahubs Index 2019. The analysis reveals the Top 50 most internationally connected airports in the world and the Top 25 most domestically connected airports in the U.S. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190923005016/en/ London Heathrow (LHR; International Connectivity Index: 317) is the world's most internationally connected airport for the third straight year. On the busiest day in aviation this year, over 65,000 international connections were possible within a six-hour window. Frankfurt International Airport (FRA; ICI:309) moved up one spot in this year's global rankings, giving Europe the top-two spots in the world. Chicago O'Hare (ORD; ICI:290), Amsterdam (AMS; ICI:279), and Munich (MUC; ICI:259) followed closely behind. "Munich's 22-point increase in connectivity catapulted the airport from 11th in 2018 to this year's Top 5. Given the ongoing share battle between Lufthansa and Ryanair for the German market, Munich's investment to broaden its international network is paying off," said John Grant, senior analyst with OAG. The most connected international hubs in the Asia Pacific include Singapore in ninth (SIN; ICI: 240), Hong Kong in 10th (HKG; ICI:234), Incheon in 11th (ICN; ICI:233), and Bangkok in 14th (BKK; ICI:214). Kuala Lumpur (KUL; ICI:150) is the most connected Megahub in the world for low-cost carriers (LCCs). For more insights from the Megahubs Index 2019 and the full methodology, view the full analysis here. About OAG OAG is a leading global travel data provider, that has been powering the growth and innovation of the air travel ecosystem since 1929. We partner with some of the biggest global brands, airports, airlines, travel operators and fast-growing start-ups to design the best services available today, and the finest innovations of tomorrow. Headquartered in the UK, OAG has global operations in the USA, Singapore, Japan, Lithuania and China. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/london-heathrow-remains-no-1-080000140.html Back to Top University of Wyoming gets grant money for aircraft research LARAMIE, Wyoming (AP) - The University of Wyoming has received a $15.8 million National Science Foundation grant that will provide weather instrumentation and other equipment for a new research aircraft the university plans to purchase. UW is the only academic institution in the United States that provides a research aircraft facility to the atmospheric science community. The UW Board of Trustees is asking the State Loan and Investment Board for a loan for up to $4.7 million for the purchase of the aircraft. The university's current King Air twin-engine turboprop is 42 years old. https://www.localnews8.com/news/university-of-wyoming-gets-grant-money-for- aircraft-research/1124034997 Back to Top Dubai Aerospace wins $1.4 bln deal to manage aircraft DUBAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) said on Monday it won a $1.4 billion deal to source and manage aircraft from one of the world's largest fund managers. DAE's Aircraft Investor Services (AIS) platform will manage the assets on behalf of the investor, DAE said in a statement, without disclosing the investor. The multi-year mandate will also involve assisting the investor with the capital structure for the acquired aircraft and will target used narrow-body and wide-body aircraft sourced through secondary market trading and sale leaseback channels. The deal takes DAE's managed portfolio to more than $2.7 billion in assets under management, it said, adding that it expects its portfolio to grow to its $5 billion target. "We are off to a flying start and have already sourced 25% of the portfolio," said Firoz Tarapore, chief executive of DAE. DAE owns over 300 aircraft and will manage more than 100 aircraft, he said as it continues talks with 250 airline customers. DAE made a first-half 2019 profit of $197.1 million compared with $195.2 million a year-ago (Reporting by Stanley Carvalho, editing by Louise Heavens) https://www.reuters.com/article/dubai-aerospace-aircraft/dubai-aerospace-wins-14- bln-deal-to-manage-aircraft-idUSL5N26E1RZ Back to Top Girls Take Flight: Local High School Teens Earn Their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate "Girls Take Flight" is a 32-week course where local high school students earn their Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot Certification. The program trains high school girls as commercial drone pilots. NBC 7's Lauren Coronado has the story. Some of them aren't even allowed to drive a car yet, but that's not stopping a group of local high school students from working hard to become commercial drone pilots. It's part of an internship program to help careers take flight for girl's pursuing careers in science, math, technology, and engineering (STEM). "These young ladies have been amazing. They work very hard. This is not something easy to go through," said Desi Ekstein, a drone instructor for Elementary Institute of Science. The program is called, "Girls Take Flight" a 32-week course where local high school students earn their Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot Certification. "They're very dedicated, and they've passed their test and worked really hard to be where they are," said Ekstein. The girl's started training in April, and seven of them are already licensed, like Araceli Muñoz, a student at Morse High School. The girls are beating the odds as in only six percent of pilots are women, according to Women in Aviation International. "It definitely was a bit challenging because it's a lot of studying and a lot of rules you need to learn," said Muñoz . The executive director of the program says the course finishes next month. By then, each pilot will have put in 150 hours of training, and a few more students will have earned their license. "We got to go on a lot of projects and met a lot of inspirational females in the STEM industry. I love hearing their stories and how they got to where they are," Muñoz explained. The girls will also receive about $1,500 to purchase their own drone. "I was thinking maybe even starting my own business in videography using drones and getting other females in that, " said Muñoz . https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Girls-Take-Flight-Local-High-School-Teens- Earn-FAA-Remote-Pilot-Certificate-561055871.html Back to Top Boeing Is Taking Some Heat. For Once, It's Not About the MAX Jet. Boeing 's stock performance has been all about the grounded 737 MAX jet for six months, but other things are going on. The aerospace company is nearing a critical decision to go ahead with a new medium-size aircraft. The plane, referred to among aerospace people as an NMA, ranks between a 757 and a 767 in size, and is likely to be branded as a 797. "We do see a market for 4,000 to 5,000 airplanes that's between our current 737 and 787 families," said Boeing (ticker: BA) CEO Dennis Muilenburg at an investor conference in February. "It's an airplane that's 220 to 270 passengers, about 5,000 nautical mile airplane. That market can't really be served efficiently by derivatives of current airplanes, ours or our competitors." But Melius Research analyst Carter Copeland isn't sure the NMA is a good idea. "The problem with the NMA is it's almost guaranteed to be a money loser," wrote Copeland in a Friday research report. He believes, interestingly, that aircraft weight is a great predictor of long-term profitability and that given competition from other jets, Boeing will struggle to get the price required to make the relatively large NMA a winner. The back story. A market the size of the one Muilenburg suggested is a huge opportunity in commercial aerospace terms. There are, very roughly, 25,000 commercial aircraft flying in the world, so 4,000 to 5,000 is a big number. But there is risk along with opportunity. The cost of new aircraft design is huge, more than $10 billion, according to Copeland. If Boeing gets the specifications or market size wrong, it could hurt its margins for years. What's new. "We're not going to rush to a particular time line on that decision. We're going to make a good disciplined business decision. But we're also going to continue investing in innovation," said Muilenburg at another investor conference on Sept 11. "NMA is helping us create the production system of the future, and that's going to be valuable for the long run." Boeing seems to be relying on the NMA to usher in new automation technologies that will lower production costs for the entire organization. "This isn't the first time that we've heard this, and we believe that big gains can be had from digitization and factory-of-the-future concepts," wrote Copeland in his research report. "What we don't fully understand is why you have to build a new plane to have a new production system." Looking ahead. It's a fair point. Boeing wasn't immediately available to respond. The answer is likely that Boeing can do both, and that its interest in the NMA is mostly based on the market gap Muilenburg identified, between single-aisle and twin-aisle jets in terms of cost- effective range. Boeing needs to make a decision by next year, hoping to introduce the plane around 2025. Of course, the NMA is down the list of things investors are thinking about now. Boeing believes it can bring the MAX jet back into service in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter, of course, starts in about a week. Boeing shares are down about 9% since early March, when the second crash of a MAX jet in a matter of months prompted regulators world-wide to ground the jet. That is far worse than the return over the same span of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and other aerospace suppliers Barron's tracks. https://www.barrons.com/articles/boeing-nma-797--proposed-new-jet-51568982798 Back to Top Russia Says It Will Keep Source of Hole (and Air Leak) on Soyuz Secret- But NASA Wants to Know: Report But NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine wants answers. Russia's Soyuz MS-09 crew spacecraft is is shown docked to the International Space Station (ISS). The MS-09 carried NASA astronaut Serena M. Auñón-Chancellor, the European Space Agency's Alexander Gerst and cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev to the ISS in June 2018.Russia's Soyuz MS-09 crew spacecraft is is shown docked to the International Space Station (ISS). The MS-09 carried NASA astronaut Serena M. Auñón- Chancellor, the European Space Agency's Alexander Gerst and cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev to the ISS in June 2018.(Image: © NASA) Amid reports that the Russians will keep the cause of an air leak discovered at the International Space Station in 2018 secret, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has promised to speak personally with the head of the Russian space agency. "They have not told me anything," Bridenstine said during a Houston energy conference question session Thursday (Sept. 19), according to the Houston Chronicle. But he emphasized that he wants to keep good relations with the Russians, one of the two chief partners on the orbiting complex. "I don't want to let one item set [the relationship] back, but it is clearly not acceptable that there are holes in the International Space Station," he said, referring to the 2- millimeter (0.08 inches) hole that the Expedition 56 crew found in the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, a crew vehicle that was docked to the station. Bridenstine's comments came in the wake of a report by Russia's state-run international news agency RIA Novosti, in which Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos (the Russian space agency), suggested his agency found what created the hole last year, but would not disclose the results outside of Roscosmos. "What happened is clear to us, but we won't tell you anything," Rogozin said at a meeting with participants at a science conference, according to a computer-translated page from RIA Novosti's Russian-language report on Wednesday (Sept. 18). After NASA reported a slow drop in cabin pressure at the station on Aug. 29, 2018, the crew of Expedition 56 located the cause of the air leak in the orbital compartment of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, nearly three months after the vessel arrived at the International Space Station with three new crewmembers on board. The astronauts plugged the hole using epoxy, gauze and heavy-duty tape, and the Russians launched an investigation. In the first few weeks, Roscosmos director Dmitry Rogozin first speculated that a micrometeoroid might have punched the hole, then suggested the hole could have been drilled by a human either accidentally or deliberately. Space station astronauts patched a small hole in the upper orbital module of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft (left) on Aug. 30, 2018. NASA and Roscosmos, however, issued a joint statement in mid-September 2018 after the two agency chiefs spoke by phone. The agencies "agreed on deferring any preliminary conclusions and providing any explanations until the final investigation has been completed," Roscosmos and NASA said in their statement. Roscosmos is currently the only agency capable of launching crew members to space since NASA retired the space shuttle in 2011. NASA is readying American commercial crew vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX and expects to start running crewed test flights as early as this year. But for now, the Soyuz is the only way astronauts can fly to and from the International Space Station. The two agencies are the chief partners on the space station, and have been working together to build and maintain the 21-year-old orbiting complex since the early 1990s. Bridenstine and other NASA officials have thus repeatedly emphasized the level of trust between their agency and Roscosmos, which includes several missions before ISS. NASA and the Soviet Union ran a joint mission in 1975 called Apollo-Soyuz, and the new Russian nation partnered with NASA for shuttle flights to the space station Mir between 1994 and 1998. https://www.space.com/russian-soyuz-hole-air-leak-source-secret-nasa-chief.html Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Fellow Aviators, I kindly invite you to take part in a short online survey concerning the Psychological Assessment of Pilots in Commercial Airline Operations. This is part of my dissertation towards the award of a master's degree in Air Safety Management from the City University of London, U.K. I am currently an Instructor and Training Captain for a leading international airline, flying the Boeing 777 and 787. The survey is specifically meant for Commercial Airline or Business/ Corporate pilots. The survey is an important element of the project as it ascertains Airline Pilot views and opinions about Mental Health. It has been four years since the Germanwings crash and there has been very little done in terms of testing and support of mental health issues of aviators. The survey is available at the following link and will take less than 20 minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous and no data including IP addresses are collected. https://forms.gle/jWBYaV5AGArhEVtC7 More information on the survey is included in the Introduction section. Thank you in advance for your invaluable time and insights. I can be contacted on sanjay.rao@city.ac.uk for any further clarifications. Blue skies and safe flights, Capt. Sanjay Sakaram Rao Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Title Managing Communications During an Aircraft Accident or Incident Co-sponsor Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) Description The course will teach participants what to expect in the days immediately following an aviation accident or incident and how they can prepare for their role with the media. ID Code PA302 Dates and Tuition October 24-25, 2019 $1034 early registration, by September 24, 2019 $1134 late registration, between September 25 and October 20, 2019 We are no longer accepting offline payments. Note: payment must be made at time of registration. Times Day 1: 8:30am - 5pm Day 2: 8:30am - 12:15 pm (Optional accident scenario workshop from 1:00 - 3:00 pm) Location NTSB Training Center * 45065 Bles Park Drive * Ashburn, Virginia 20147 Status OPEN. Applications are now being accepted. Apply to Attend SIGN UP FOR THIS COURSE HERE CEUs 1.3 Overview * How the National Transportation Safety Board organizes an accident site and what can be expected in the days after an aviation disaster from the NTSB, FAA, other federal agencies, airline, airport, media and local community * Strategies for airline and airport staff to proactively manage the communication process throughout the on-scene phase of the investigation * How the NTSB public affairs officers coordinate press conferences and release of accident information and what information the spokespersons from the airport and airline will be responsible to provide to the media * Making provisions for and communicating with family members of those involved in the accident * Questions and requests likely encountered from the airlines, airport staff, family members, disaster relief agencies, local officials and others Comments from course participants See the 235 organizations from more than 30 countries that have sent staff to attend this course Performance Results Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to: * Be better prepared to respond to a major aviation disaster involving a flight departing from or destined for participant's airport * Demonstrate greater confidence in fielding on-scene questions about the many aspects of the investigation and its participants, including what types of specific information may be requested * Identify the appropriate Public Affairs roles for the various organizations involved in an accident investigation * Be more productive in the first few hours after an aviation disaster by understanding which tasks are most important and why * Perform job responsibilities more professionally and with greater confidence given the knowledge and tools to manage the airport communications aspect of a major aviation disaster Who May Attend * Investigators from the NTSB and other accident investigation authorities/commissions worldwide * Potential participants in an NTSB investigation: Investigative and safety personnel employed by airframe, engine or component manufacturers, airlines, civilian and military agencies, and related labor unions * Members of the academic community attending for research purposes (on a space-available basis) Accommodations Area hotels and restaurants Airports Washington Dulles International (IAD): 10 miles Washington Ronald Reagan National (DCA): 30 miles Baltimore/Washington International (BWI): 60 miles More Information Email StudentServices@ntsb.gov or call (571) 223-3939 https://www.ntsb.gov/Training_Center/Pages/2019/PA302.aspx Curt Lewis