Flight Safety Information November 4, 2013 - No. 227 In This Issue Hong Kong launches safety probe of airline as pilots ignore orders 8 killed, 10 injured in Bolivia plane crash No one seriously hurt after 2 small planes collide Problems forces U.S. Airways jet back to Charlotte Flights delayed, diverted as British Airways cargo plane gets stuck on Chennai airport runway (India) Bird patrol targets air safety threat (Cayman Islands) Human error cause of aircraft incident: report (Australia) ATSB report sheds light on safety occurrences (Australia) NCAA and double standards in Nigeria's aviation industry Think ARGUS PROS Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar (APASS 2014) The London Private Jet Market Is Going Crazy Thanks To The Huge Influx Of Russian Money The World's First Supersonic Business Jet Will Reach The Market In 2021 Hong Kong launches safety probe of airline as pilots ignore orders HONG KONG - The Civil Aviation Department is investigating a number of incidents in which pilots of Hong Kong Airlines disregarded instructions by traffic controllers. Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said in none of the cases was passenger safety compromised, but that even one incident is one too many. The department yesterday confirmed a report it has asked the airline to submit a report on its safety. This was after its flights were involved in nine incidents. They included pilots taxiing onto the runway at Hong Kong International Airport without permission and failing to follow instructions from traffic controllers between August and September. Seven of the incidents were technical infringements committed by pilots who did not follow instructions on maintaining altitudes and directions. Two incidents were related to pilots deviating from instructions. On August 8, the pilot misunderstood a clearance given to another flight for takeoff. The department said the flight had entered the taxiway and was found out by air traffic controllers. "As there was no other plane on the runway, the flight was allowed to proceed for takeoff for reasons of safety," a spokeswoman said. In another incident on August 20, a flight to Singapore wrongly interpreted an instruction from traffic controllers. The pilots took a right turn when asked not to turn right. Asked about the various incidents, Cheung said: "From my viewpoint, one incident is still one too many. I hope that airlines can strictly abide by guidelines as they involve the safety of flights." Cheung said there are clear requirements stating the distance and altitudes between flights. Between September 2012 and August this year, the department recorded 20 incidents in which pilots did not follow instructions. A spokeswoman for Hong Kong Airlines said last night that they have always put flight safety as top priority, adding that the incidents mentioned were either caused by weather conditions, similar flight numbers and other factors. She stressed the incidents posed no flight safety implication, and that it has already submitted an improvement report to the department. www.thestandard.com.hk Back to Top 8 killed, 10 injured in Bolivia plane crash Bystanders and a soldier try to extinguish the fire on an Aerocon airliner after it crashed near the airport in Riveralta, Beni province, Bolivia, on Sunday. By Daniel Ramos, Reuters LA PAZ - A Bolivian plane carrying 18 people crashed on Sunday while trying to land during bad weather in the north of the Andean country, killing eight passengers and injuring the others on board, the director of a local hospital told Reuters. Heavy rain was falling as the small turboprop plane operated by local airline Aerocon tried to land in Riberalta, in Beni department near the Brazilian border, according to witnesses. The plane took off from Trinidad, Beni's capital, Aerocon said earlier on Sunday, without providing a death toll. Eighteen people were on board, according to the director of the Riberalta hospital, Jose Luis Pereira. "(There were) 16 passengers and the pilot and copilot, of whom 10 survived and eight died," he told Reuters. "The pilot and the copilot are in the gravest situation ... Seven (bodies) are (so) charred, we can't identify them." A photo on the website of local newspaper La Razon showed smoke billowing from a propeller lying on the grass. President Evo Morales said he had ordered "a deep investigation" into the accident and "drastic sanctions on the company." http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/03/21299131-8-killed-10-injured-in- bolivia-plane-crash ************ Status: Preliminary Date: Sunday 3 November 2013 Time: 16:00 Type: Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III Operator: Aerocon Registration: CP-2754 C/n / msn: AC-721B First flight: 1989 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 16 Total: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 18 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Riberalta Airport (RIB) (Bolivia) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Trinidad Airport (TDD/SLTR), Bolivia Destination airport: Riberalta-Gen Buech Airport (RIB/SLRI), Bolivia Narrative: A Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner operated by Aerocon on a flight from the Teniente Jorge Henrich Arauz Airport (SLTR), Trinidad in Beni, caught fire upon landing at the Riberalta Airport (SLRI), Riberalta, Beni department. The aircraft came to rest inverted and was consumed by the fire. Eight of the eighteen occupants onboard the aircraft have been reported to have been fatally injured. Weather about the time of the accident (16:00 LT / 20:00 Z): SLRI 032100Z 19005KT 3000 -RA BKN004 FEW020CB OVC070 24/24 Q1009 SLRI 031900Z 15008KT 5000 VCSH BKN015 FEW020CB BKN200 28/23 Q1010 www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top No one seriously hurt after 2 small planes collide An FAA investigator Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013 examines the wreckage of a plane that crashed in Superior, Wis., Saturday after a midair collision with another plane. Both planes were carrying skydivers. No one was seriously injured in the incident. (AP) Skydiving instructor Mike Robinson was at 12,000 feet, just seconds away from his fourth and final jump of the day, when a second plane carrying other skydivers struck the aircraft he was in, sending them all tumbling toward the ground. None of the nine skydivers or two pilots sustained serious injury when the two planes collided in midair Saturday evening in far northwest Wisconsin near Lake Superior. Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration were in the area Sunday talking to those involved, and the cause of the incident was still being investigated, said FAA spokesman Roland Herwig. Robinson, an instructor and safety adviser for Skydive Superior, said the skydivers had gone up for their last jump of the day - called the "sunset load" - and the two planes were flying in formation. It was supposed to be a routine jump, and a fun one for Robinson, who usually jumps as a trainer. All of the skydivers were instructors or coaches and had hundreds, if not thousands, of jumps under their belts. It was Robinson's 937th jump. "We do this all the time," Robinson said. "We just don't know what happened for sure that caused this." He and three other skydivers were in the lead plane, and all four had climbed out onto the step at the side of the Cessna 182 and were poised to jump. The plane behind theirs had five skydivers on board, three in position to jump and two more inside the plane, at the ready. "We were just a few seconds away from having a normal skydive when the trail plane came over the top of the lead aircraft and came down on top of it," he said. "It turned into a big flash fireball, and the wing separated." "All of us knew we had a crash. ... The wing over our head was gone, so we just left," he added. The three skydivers who were on the step of the second plane got knocked off upon impact, Robinson said, and the two inside were able to jump. The pilot of Robinson's plane ejected himself, and the pilot of the second plane landed the aircraft safely at Richard I. Bong Airport, from where it took off. The plane was damaged. Robinson, 64, who lives north of Duluth, Minn., watched as the plane he'd been in spiraled downward and broke into pieces. "Looking around, we're seeing the wing that came off. We're seeing it's on fire, and there are just parts of the airplane floating in the air with us," he said. "We were falling faster than those parts ... So the concern was we get away from the crash area." Robinson said the skydivers had parachutes that allowed them to steer themselves away from the falling debris and toward the planned landing spot. They opened their parachutes between 3,000 and 5,000 feet and landed safely. The pilot of the lead plane, the one that broke apart, had an emergency parachute that cannot be steered, Robinson said. He landed elsewhere and suffered minor injuries that required medical attention. Robinson said his group was lucky. "It might've been a lot worse," he said. "Everybody, to a person, responded just as they should, including the pilots." He said that as he tracked away from the plane he grew concerned when he saw only one emergency parachute - meaning only one pilot had ejected. He was relieved to learn that the pilot of the second plane was able to stay with the aircraft and land it. Robinson said he suffered no injuries, but a few jumpers had bumps, bruises and muscle soreness. And despite the scare, he said he would not hesitate to jump again. "Whenever the clouds and winds allow us to be up, we'll be jumping," he said, although now the company is without aircraft. Recently, a skydiving accident in Belgium claimed the lives of 11 people. Part of the aircraft's wing broke minutes after the plane took off from an airfield on Oct. 19, sending the plane into a spiraling nosedive. The parachutists, nearly all between the ages of 20 and 40, were celebrating a birthday and weren't able to jump out. The cause of that accident is being investigated. The National Transportation Safety Board did not return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment. http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/No-one-seriously-hurt-after-2-small-planes- collide-4952865.php Back to Top Problems forces U.S. Airways jet back to Charlotte A U.S. Airways jetliner circled Upstate skies for over an hour Sunday before returning to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, officials said. Andrew Christie, spokesman for U.S. Airways, said flight 1899, an Airbus A321, was scheduled for takeoff at 9:30 a.m. from Charlotte to San Francisco. He said upon take-off, the jet's nose gear did not retract "so, out of an abundance of caution, the crew opted to return to Charlotte." The jet, which had 183 passengers and six crew members, circled the region for approximately one hour and 45 minutes to reduce fuel weight, Christie said. It landed without incident at the Charlotte airport, "and taxied to the gate within their own power," he said. The passengers were to be flown to San Francisco in another jet, Christie said. The original aircraft remained at the Charlotte airport, where it was being inspected, he said. http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20131104/NEWS/311040011/Problems-forces- U-S-Airways-jet-back-Charlotte Back to Top Flights delayed, diverted as British Airways cargo plane gets stuck on Chennai airport runway (India) CHENNAI: A Jet Airways flight from Kochi was diverted to Bangalore and two departures were delayed after a British Airways cargo plane got stuck on the main runway of Chennai airport for more than 20 minutes on Monday morning. The cargo flight from London got stuck on the runway soon after it made an emergency landing at 7.48am, forcing the authorities to close the runway. Sources said the aircraft developed a technical snag and made the emergency landing. An airport official said nobody was injured in the incident. The aircraft was towed away to a parking bay. Flight operations resumed after the runway was declared fit at 8.15am. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Flights-delayed-diverted-as-British- Airways-cargo-plane-gets-stuck-on-Chennai-airport-runway/articleshow/25212194.cms Back to Top Bird patrol targets air safety threat (Cayman Islands) A dedicated bird control unit will be established to fight the threat posed by birds and other wildlife to air safety in the Cayman Islands as airport bosses consider more expensive, long-term solutions. The threat of a catastrophic bird strike, like the one that caused a US Airways plane to crash land in the Hudson River in New York, remains a remote possibility in the Cayman Islands. But international aviation regulations require airport managers to do everything in their power to reduce the potential threat posed by wildlife. And 14 "bird strikes" in the past three months in the Cayman Islands have served as a timely reminder to safety chiefs at Owen Roberts International Airport that action must be taken to counter the problem. A meeting of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority Wildlife Hazards Working Group heard on Monday that US aviation experts had issued a list of recommendations for Grand Cayman's airport, including filling in lakes on the property and relocating a neighboring children's park to reduce the attractiveness of the area to birds. Options, including partnering with the Mosquito Research and Control Unit to eradicate flies - a major food source for large egrets at the airport - and reducing the attractiveness of the neighboring landfill site as a nesting spot for birds, were also discussed. John Dick, of the Civil Aviation Authority, warned that several problems and potential solutions had been identified over several years and had "not gone anywhere." He warned there would be liability issues in case of an accident if airport safety staff did not address the situation. He said they needed to document why the recommendations had not been followed and look at alternatives. Andrew McLauglin, senior manager of safety management systems at the airport, pointed out that filling in the lakes and relocating the park were prohibitively expensive. He said the airport, in the last month, had piloted a program of using a dedicated member of staff to scare off wildlife. Alastair Robertson, of the CAA, said the project should continue, with additional manpower, until the funding could be found to carry out the experts' recommendations or identify other long term solutions. "There is a cost that comes with running an airport, because you are concerned with public safety, if nothing else comes out of this there should be a recommendation from this committee that you employ more manpower until you can get some of these things resolved, because they are going to take a long time." Other recommendations from the meeting included a review of the landfill site and setting up a subcommittee to look at relocating the airport park. The minutes to the meeting recorded: "The airport park was pointed out as one of the major concerns for wildlife problems at the airport. Garbage being left around the area by small children and park users as well as the lids of the garbage bins constantly being left open attracts rodents that will eventually attract birds of prey." Mr. McLaughlin said the wildlife issue was a problem for all airports. Iguanas, land crabs and even icatee turtles have caused problems for planes in the past. Airplanes routinely absorb "bird strikes" without major issues. Modern aircraft are tested to withstand 6-pound birds flying into their jet engines during takeoff. Any time a plane "ingests" a bird, the flight has to be reversed and the engines checked before the journey continues. All of the recent bird strikes in the Cayman Islands have involved swallows and have caused no damage to the engines. There are typically one or two incidents involving birds every month at the airport. Mr. McLaughlin said high grass, caused by heavy rainfall, was attracting more birds, leading to a small surge in incidents. The rainfall has effectively turned parts of the airport into wetlands, making the grass almost impossible to cut. Egrets, much larger than swallows, present a greater danger. The US Airways plane that crash landed on the Hudson in 2009 encountered a flock of Canadian geese at 3,000 feet, at least four of which entered the engines and killed the power. In an event that will go down in aviation history, the plane's captain successfully landed on the Hudson River. Since then, officials have organized a statewide cull of the geese to counter the threat. Mr. McLaughlin said people in the Cayman Islands could do their bit to help, particularly by cleaning up after events at the park. "Members of our community who visit or use the park can assist us in mitigating these hazards by doing a proper cleanup of their area before leaving and ensuring that the lids are properly replaced on the garbage bin. In addition, airport neighbors, businesses and residents alike, can also play an important role in keeping our airport safe by not feeding any wildlife, including iguanas, as it encourages them to congregate in the vicinity of the airport and its areas of operations. "These simple acts have been proven to greatly reduce the risks of this type of hazard to aviation. It should also be noted that the abandonment of pets near the airport also poses a hazard as they are then left to search for food and often venture onto the runway areas which unnecessarily causes aircraft delays." http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2013/11/01/Bird-patrol-targets-air- safety-threat/ Back to Top Human error cause of aircraft incident: report (Australia) Human error was behind a Virgin aircraft pitching forward after take off from Launceston Airport a preliminary report has found. On January 4 a Boeing 737 was operating a scheduled passenger service from Launceston to Melbourne. Soon after takeoff the flight crew, ``who were experiencing a relatively high workload at the time'', failed to switch to a different vertical flight mode. As a result the airspeed slowly reduced. The crew did not detect the reducing airspeed until the aircraft was approaching the minimum manoeuvre speed at about 26,000 feet, the investigation found. In response to the low speed, the crew reduced the aircraft pitch until it entered a shallow descent in an attempt to accelerate. Proper acceleration was then established. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said its investigation was focusing on the human factors associated with auto-flight awareness. A bureau spokeswoman said the final report isn't expected until late March. http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1885079/human-error-cause-of-aircraft-incident- report/?cs=12 Back to Top ATSB report sheds light on safety occurrences (Australia) Cessna 210 in a collision with terrain accident during 2012 in the Northern Territory. (ATSB) A report published by the ATSB of safety occurences during the last 10 years shows there were 107 accidents, 195 serious incidents, and more than 7,300 incidents reported to the ATSB involving VH-registered aircraft. There were a further 570 occurrences involving foreign-registered aircraft operating within Australia or its airspace. During 2012 the most common safety incidents reported were animal strikes, non- compliance with publish information or air traffic control instructions, and aircraft system and airframe issues. Most accidents and serious incidents related to reduced aircraft separation and engine malfunction. The report showed general aviation aircraft, such as aircraft conducting flying training, aerial work, or private/pleasure flying, were involved in 38 per cent of occurrences reported to the ATSB in 2012. Airspace incursions, compliance with air traffic control, and birdstrikes were the most common incidents reported, with most accidents and serious incidents involving terrain collisions, engine failures, and a loss of aircraft control. Private/business operations had the highest number of fatal accidents in 2012 out of any year in the last 10 years, with 15 fatal accidents resulting in 22 fatalities. In contrast, commercial aerial work operations recorded the lowest number of accidents in the past 10 years. Over the past 10 years, aerial agriculture had the most accidents and fatal accidents per hour flown, followed by private/business operations. Aerial survey and aerial mustering had the next highest accident and fatal accident rates In most operation types, helicopters had a higher rate of accidents and fatal accidents than fixed-wing aircraft. A new addition to the ATSB's aviation statistics is data on recreational (non-VH) aircraft safety. In 2012, the majority of the 274 occurrences reported were controlled airspace incursions, engine malfunctions, aircraft control problems, and runway events such as veer-offs. In addition to the analysis of safety occurrences, the ATSB report also shows interesting trends in departure rates by aircraft category over the 10 years. Departure rates (thousands) in 2003 and then 2012 were: High capacity VH-reg 327 - 561 Low capacity VH-reg 204 - 134 Charter VH-reg (Est.) 616 - 650 Foreign registered 35 - 54 General aviation 2,124 - 1,861 The full report can be found at here. http://australianaviation.com.au/2013/10/atsb-report-sheds-light-on-safety-occurrences/ Back to Top NCAA and double standards in Nigeria's aviation industry Civil aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world. Every single technical personnel, equipment and airport must be certified and monitored by competent regulatory agencies known as Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs). In Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the apex regulatory body, overseeing the activities of all airlines and their pilots, engineers and cabin staff, airports, airstrips and heliports, navigation aids, all service providers including the airport authority and the air traffic service provider, aviation training institutions etc. In short, the NCAA is the 'police' of Nigeria's aviation industry. As stated on the NCAA website, "The Authority sets safety standards, issues licenses and operating certificates to personnel and service providers, and monitors their compliance through a range of surveillance activities. Where safety rules are breached, the NCAA takes strong corrective actions to enforce compliance which may include sanctions." Perhaps it was a 'breach' in 'safety rules' that the NCAA was trying to address when it grounded the operations of Dana Air, IRS and Chachangi, shortly after the crash of an Associated Airlines jet on October 3, 2013? If that was truly the case, then the agency deserves to be commended for enforcing strict compliance with laid down guidelines and safety regulation. But really, was the recent grounding of Dana Air operations due safety reasons? Wouldn't this be the second time the airline is being grounded by the authorities for 'safety issues' since recommencing flight operations this year? If, as the NCAA told the media a few weeks back, there is going to be an operational audit of all local airlines, how come Dana is the only one grounded for 'audit purposes'? My take is either Dana Air is an 'exceptional' defaulter to warrant such selective action or the NCAA isn't telling Nigerians the full gist of the matter. Or could there be a deliberate witch-hunt on the airline by the 'ogas at the top'? Perhaps the NCAA is just following instructions from 'higher' quarters to keep the airline grounded for reasons unknown? Maybe a look at the circumstances surrounding the suspension of the airline in both instances will help us answer these questions: On March 16, 2013, the carrier was handed a suspension order due to what the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation would later refer to as 'safety issues'. On ground Abuja, a Lagos-bound Dana aircraft developed a snag. The Captain, during his pre-start checks, noticed that the airplane battery was under charging. He humbly explained the situation to his passengers and called for a replacement aircraft from Lagos which eventually ferried the passengers to Lagos safely. The airline's operations were suspended by the NCAA later that evening on the orders of the Minister. Apparently, a friend of hers who was onboard placed a call to her that the aircraft's engine was faulty and could not start. The Dana scenario described above brings to mind the October 23, 2013 Lagos-bound Arik Air flight which was aborted in Abuja when the aircraft developed technical issues and refused to start. According to one of the intending travelers, Dominic, who spoke to Channels Television, "the passengers had checked in and were about boarding the aircraft when some people noticed the pilot was having issues in his seat. After a few minutes, a member of the Arik team announced to us in front of the airplane that there was a technical issue" and so they would have to wait for another aircraft from Lagos to ferry them to their destination. " Of course, the Dana and Arik incidents are similar and, in both cases, the pilots acted in line with standard international aviation practice by aborting the flight and calling for a replacement aircraft. The only difference for both airlines was in the outcome: one airline (Dana) had the misfortune of having a Minister's friend on board, and so got grounded by the NCAA; the other (Arik) did not incur the wrath of the NCAA. Perhaps, they were lucky enough not to have a 'Minister's friend' onboard? Or maybe the NCAA's yardstick for regulating operations of airlines is simply different from one airline to another? The recent grounding of Dana Air, as widely reported in the media, came on the heels of an air return the airline had on October 6, 2013. I still find it hard to believe that this is the reason being adduced to the airline's suspension, as most operators, local and international, have had cases of air return(s) in their history, due technical or non- technical causes. Otherwise, Medview should have been grounded after its January 27,, 2013 air return? Or how would Arik have escaped suspension following its September 26, 2013 air return on a Calabar-bound flight, or the October 4, 2013 air return on a Benin- bound flight? Many such cases of air return abound, involving other local as well as international airlines, and the NCAA has all the records. As has been emphasized by several aviation experts, air returns are not uncommon in the global aviation industry. The decision by a pilot to return an aircraft to base after take-off is a precautionary safety measure, and it is in line with international best practices. Or would the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation rather pilots continued on a trip after noticing a snag that could affect their safe continuation, thereby risking their lives and the lives of their passengers? Obviously not! They should rather be commended for taking such initiatives. Of course, as per standard practice, the snag(s) on the aircraft must be duly reported and rectified, and the aircraft recertified by the NCAA before its return to service. So, back to the question of the planned operational and financial audit of all local airlines which, by the way, is a welcome development for the industry: does the NCAA need to ground the entire operations of an airline to be able to conduct an audit? Why the selective grounding of Dana Air? Would the operations of Aero, Arik, First Nation, Medview, Kabo, Overland and other small airlines currently flying be grounded for audit purposes too? If, indeed, the NCAA is unbiased in its oversight functions, why then did it allow IRS and Chachangi to carry on with their operations with just one aircraft for such a long time (until the October 13, 2013 incident involving IRS), even when the law states that operators must have a minimum of 2 serviceable aircraft? And why wasn't Kabo Air's operation suspended following the near mishap in Sokoto on October 4, 2013 involving one of its aircraft? On the agency's website, its Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu states, "At the NCAA, great emphasis is placed on workers' integrity and professionalism. NCAA provides services in the most efficient, effective, quality and technology driven manner to stakeholders." Clearly, going by the inconsistencies highlighted so far, this doesn't seem to be the case in the agency at present. The onus is now on Capt. Akinkuotu and the leadership of the NCAA to put their house in order and prove to Nigerians that the agency is capable of performing its statutory functions efficiently, and without fear or favour. Aviation business is too serious for vital decisions to be made on a whim, and undue political interference must be firmly resisted. We must begin to do things right, and as per global aviation standards. Nigerians are watching! The world is watching!! Edet Akpan, an Engineer, writes from Lagos http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/opinion/ncaa-and-double-standards- nigeria%E2%80%99s-aviation-industry Back to Top Back to Top Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar (APASS 2014) 21-22 May 2014, Bangkok, Thailand As part of our ongoing efforts to establish continuous enhancement in aviation safety in the Asia Pacific region, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) plans to hold the next Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar (APASS) on 21-22 May 2014 in Bangkok. The seminar, hosted by THAI Airways International, is organised by the AAPA Flight Operations & Safety Working Group. This seminar is designed to create a common meeting place for all airlines from the Asia Pacific region, airports, aircraft manufacturers, regolators, insurers, ground handlers, MROs, service providers and suppliers to discuss and to be updated on the latest developments in aviation safety. This seminar will provide excellent networking opportunities for all safety stakeholders to exchange ideas on the important fundamentals and applications of aviation safety best practices, in-service experience and lessons-learned with like-minded aviation safety experts from within and outside the region. As in past seminars, topic-specific workshops will be organised to create a more focused environment for participants to exchange views and debate on the practical approaches in managing some of the leading safety issues facing the region. Registration will be opening very soon so mark this key regional event on your calendar! APASS 2014 will focus on solutions to safety challenges that will have a positive impact on aviation operations. Interested parties can submit their papers via the call for papers form below. Abstracts selected will be for individual presentation or for participation in panel discussions. Papers are encouraged to have regional applicability and address current industry and regulatory issues. On behalf of THAI Airways International, the AAPA would like to offer sponsorship opportunities to interested organisations enabling sponsors to present their corporate messages and showcase their company brands to some of the leading airlines in the world based in Asia Pacific. To submit a paper or for sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://www.aapairlines.org For further enquiries, kindly contact CV Thian at cvthian@aapa.org.my or tel: +603 2162 1888 Back to Top The London Private Jet Market Is Going Crazy Thanks To The Huge Influx Of Russian Money Dassault Falcon 5X private jet A new generation of the super rich buying expensive properties in London are providing a spin-off for the corporate and private jet market. Hangar8, the Aim-listed charter, leasing and aircraft management business, says the influx has increased demand for large private jets in the UK and contributed to fleet expansion. Hire rates range from about £3,000 to £10,000 an hour. The company has added another six Bombardier Global 5000 long-distance business jets to its fleet this year to meet demand stimulated by the increase in what are described as "ultra-high net worth individuals" living in London and the growth in traffic from major companies in the oil, gas and mining industries. Dustin Dryden, the chief executive, said: "We're now seeing the second or third generation of moneyed people from Russia, west Africa, Kazakhstan and elsewhere moving into London and we have to expand to cater for them. "The children have been to London schools and they're bringing their own children over now, but they fly all over the world. To illustrate what's been happening, probably less than 10pc are British." Hangar8, formed in 2002 and based in Oxford, now manages 50 aircraft after doubling the size of its long-distance fleet. The acquisition of International Jet Club has provided a boost for the group and Mr Dryden wants to complete another deal for a company with a market capitalisation of around £10m in the current financial year. Figures for the year to the of end June, to be released on Nov 14 will show Hangar8 had an "exceptionally good year", said Mr Dryden. He sees more opportunities for acquisitions "because the desire to travel at the moment is not as great as expected" and feels the market has recovered from the era of the "bucket and spade and skiing brigade" charter holidays. http://www.businessinsider.com/london-private-jet-market-2013-11#ixzz2jgFkf4ZP Back to Top The World's First Supersonic Business Jet Will Reach The Market In 2021 Aerion Corporation's Supersonic Jet ConceptThis year's National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention in Las Vegas was full of droll announcements on charter services and meager sales reports. It was a refreshing surprise, then, to see Aerion Corporation out in full regale, pitching a whole new evolutionary step in the private aviation market: supersonic travel. Hearkening back to the design of the late Concorde commercial supersonic jet, Aerion Corporation's concept is more compact and efficient, squeezing less than a dozen seats into a cozy cabin. With a range and efficiency typical of many conventional business aircraft, Aerion's design will be able to return a significant cost savings as a function of travel time. A flight between Chicago and London, for example, would have four hours shaved off the journey and should yield similar costs to a conventionally operated mission. Aerion's Supersonic Private Concorde Jet Aerion's vehicle, which is still in the conceptual stages, will travel at maximum speeds of around Mach 1.6 (or 1.6 times the speed of sound) taking advantage of ultra laminar flow through the engines for propulsion. Facets of the design, including the sleek cabin and the pointed nose are directly reminiscent of the Concorde, while the short wingspan and engine layout are more unique in nature. The technology shows great promise, but when will we actually see this on the market? According to Jason Matisheck, Business Manager and Test Manager, the company is deep in the development of the aircraft with significant funding and plans for flight testing in 2019. If all goes well, he expects the aircraft to enter the market in 2021. There is no estimate in cost yet, but you can bet it will cost a pretty penny. And if everything works out, business travelers may once more be able to look forward to supersonic travel. http://www.forbes.com/sites/grantmartin/2013/10/31/the-worlds-first-supersonic- business-jet-will-fly-in-2021/ Curt Lewis