Flight Safety Information November 12, 2013 - No. 233 In This Issue Japan Airlines, or JAL, Reports Possible Battery Glitch On Boeing 787 Reports: Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe's Son Has Died in a Plane Crash New Six-Runway Airport Proposed For London Foreign specialists to study air safety (Nepal) Cash-strapped Air India audit finds 400 ghost staff, including pilots, on rolls Air India's poor pilot scheduling delays two flights Aviation experts: Chances of surviving plane crash are better than past Five Airlines Commit for FAA's Data Comm Initiative Air charter provider Global Aviation files for bankruptcy again FAA 7thTriennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference Think ARGUS PROS Gulf airlines 'dictating' airplane specification Billionaires flip their super jets Aviation insurance to emerge as growing segment in General Insurance sector Embry-Riddle Aviation Symposium - Singapore Japan Airlines, or JAL, Reports Possible Battery Glitch On Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flight To Tokyo From Helsinki Japan Airlines Co Ltd, or JAL (TYO: 9201), said that a Tokyo-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight from Helsinki, Finland, encountered a possible glitch in the battery system that may be similar to the problem that caused Dreamliner fleets worldwide to be grounded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, earlier in the year. JAL Reports Boeing 787 Battery Glitch On Helsinki-Tokyo Flight A Boeing 787 Dreamliner caught t fire at Boston's Logan International Airport after a battery in its auxiliary electric system exploded, officials said. Reuters JAL told the Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) that its pilots reported a warning light linked to the battery during the flight, although engine-monitoring systems did not show any abnormal variations in voltage and electrical current, and the plane arrived in Tokyo without any delay, Agence France-Presse, or AFP, reported on Sunday, citing a JAL spokesman. "After its arrival we changed the auxiliary battery and charger, and the plane is now back in normal operation," the spokesman told AFP. JAL, which operates the second-largest number of Dreamliner aircraft, was one of the first airlines to report burnt batteries on one of its 787 planes, a recurring issue that prompted the FAA to suspend Dreamliner flights worldwide for four months starting on Jan. 16. Boeing redesigned the battery system to prevent heat from spreading and causing electrical fires, before resuming flights in the second quarter of 2013. In October, JAL diverted two of its Dreamliner flights bound to Tokyo from San Diego and Moscow following electrical glitches that led to the failure of a system to prevent ice from accumulating around the engine on one flight and rendered six toilets unusable in the other. Other carriers around the world, such as Japan's All Nippon Airways, Poland's LOT and Air India, have reported a variety of issues with Boeing's pioneering Dreamliner aircraft since the FAA lifted the ban. Also in October, JAL snubbed Boeing, long its exclusive supplier, in favor of its European rival, Airbus, in a deal to buy 31 A350 jets, although the airline maintained that the decision to switch vendors had nothing to do with the Dreamliner's troubles. http://www.ibtimes.com/japan-airlines-or-jal-reports-possible-battery-glitch-boeing-787-dreamliner-flight- tokyo-helsinki Back to Top Reports: Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe's Son Has Died in a Plane Crash Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe's son, Dr. Perry Inhofe, died in a plane crash on Sunday, according to reports from KRMG and KOCO, citing a source close to the family. Earlier local reports noted that Perry's work and home address were connected to the Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 twin turboprop that crashed outside of Tulsa this weekend. He is believed to be the only fatality from the small plane crash. Officials told the Tulsa World earlier on Monday that it would be days or weeks before the pilot was identified. Perry Inhofe was a licensed pilot and instructor and he owned two planes through a Tulsa company called Anasazi Winds, LLC, according to the World. Like his son, Senator Inhofe is an avid flyer. According to a General Aviation News piece published earlier this fall, the Senator himself taught Perry how to fly over 30 years ago. In turn, Perry taught his son Cole how to fly. It's a family tradition. All three members of the family learned to fly on the same 1954 Grumman Tiger. Perry Inhofe, who was 52, worked as an orthopedic surgeon in Tulsa. His plane crashed five miles north of Tulsa International Airport on Sunday, towards the end of a 43-minute flight from Salina, Kansas. Shortly before the crash, Inhofe issued a request for immediate assistance. The Tulsa World notes that a pilot flying in the vicinity of the crash heard air traffic controllers say that Inhofe's plane experienced engine failure. But that, and even the identity of the pilot, have not yet been confirmed by officials. http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/11/reports-senator-inhofes-son-died-plane-crash- weekend/71471/ *************** Date: 10-NOV-2013 Time: 15:45+ LT Type: Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Owner/operator: Intermountain Powersports Inc Registration: N856JT C/n / msn: 306 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: WNW of Owasso, OK - United States of America Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Salina Reg'l (KSLN) Destination airport: Tulsa Int'l (KTUL) Narrative: The aircraft, a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B-25, impacted heavily wooded terrain west northwest of Owasso, Oklahoma, shortly after being observed maneuvering with an engine out. The aircraft was consumed by a post-impact fire and the reported sole pilot onboard was fatally injured. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top New Six-Runway Airport Proposed For London A new six-runway hub airport on the Thames estuary to the east of London could be built within seven years at a cost of GBP£47.3 billion, said a consortium formed by London Mayor Boris Johnson to address the capital's air capacity shortage. The British government and business groups want to expand flights to fast-growing economies to ensure the UK can tap into billions of pounds of trade opportunities. With Heathrow, London's biggest airport, operating at 99 percent capacity, more runways are needed. The proposed new airport would sit on a purpose-built island off the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, some 50 miles east of central London, and would be known as London Britannia Airport, said the Thames Estuary Research and Development (Testrad) consortium formed by Johnson to study options for estuary airports. The plan, to be launched on Monday at the House of Lords, the upper house of parliament, comes two years after architect Norman Foster unveiled proposals for a four-runway hub in the Thames Estuary, backed by Johnson and dubbed "Boris Island". Testrad said the new hub would have six runways and could be built within seven years at a cost of GBP£47.3 billion (USD$76 billion), without having to demolish houses or industrial infrastructure. "This project avoids flying over densely populated areas of London and the south east, removing completely the noise contours and impact which have bedeviled millions of people throughout and around London over the past 40 years," a Testrad spokeswoman said, adding that Heathrow airport would likely have to close to accommodate its plans. Britain's Conservative-led government last year set up the UK Airports Commission, chaired by Howard Davies, to look into airport capacity in southern England. It is due to publish a list of potential schemes by the end of this year with the final report due after the 2015 general election. Earlier this year bosses at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports urged the government to let them build additional runways to solve the capacity shortage, plans vigorously opposed by Johnson. Johnson previously proposed a new four-runway hub should be built either east of central London on the Isle of Grain or further out in the Thames Estuary on an artificial island. (Reuters) Back to Top Foreign specialists to study air safety (Nepal) KATHMANDU, NOV 12 - The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal ( CAAN ) will hire foreign specialists to study flight operations of domestic airlines and airworthiness of aircraft, among others, in a bid to improve air safety. The aviation sector regulator has allocated Rs 62.5 million for the initiative, which will be implemented from this fiscal year. CAAN made this statement during its meeting with the head of the EU delegation to Nepal on Monday. The discussion comes ahead of a meeting between CAAN and domestic airlines and the European Commission (EC) in Brussels, Belgium, on November 19. The commission has summoned Nepali officials to its headquarters for the second time in a year as a blacklisting of domestic airlines looms large amid a high number of accidents. A 10-member Nepali delegation comprising representatives from CAAN and Nepali airlines will depart for Brussels on Nov 17. "There were two major concerns raised by the EU at Monday's discussion that lasted for 40 minutes," said CAAN Director General Ratish Chandra Lal Suman. "First was the status or the corrective measures that Nepal adopted after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Missions (ICVM) audit in 2009." And second, the implementation of the recommendations made by reports on different air crashes, he added. Results of an ICAO audit in May 2009 had found Nepal not effectively complying with the majority of international safety standards. CAAN had invited ICAO's coordination and validation mission to Nepal this July to validate the corrective measures Nepal has adopted to address and resolve deficiencies the ICAO had pointed out in 2009. The mission carried out an on-site audit from July 10-16. However, ICAO has said due to some operational reasons, the ICVM audit report will be handed over in mid- November. "After sending our comments on the draft report, ICAO will publish its final report on Nepal in February," Suman said. "We assured them at the Monday's meeting that the report will be constructive in line with the compliances the ICAO audit had recommended in 2009." An EC statement issued in mid-July had said it would wait for the results of the ICAO audit before completing its assessment of Nepal's safety situation. In a report published recently, the EC said if the results of the ICAO audit or any other relevant safety information indicate that air safety risks in Nepal are not adequately contained, the commission would be forced to take action against Nepal in accordance with the regulation (EC) No 2111/2005. However, some aviation experts said, summoning Nepali officials for the second time within six months could be for permitting Chinese-made MA60 aircraft to fly in the Nepali skies. The EC, assisted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), had held technical consultations with CAAN in Brussels on May 30, 2013. During the consultations, CAAN explained the situation in detail and provided information related to the control of safety risks. CAAN issued type certificate to the MA60 recently after its technical team, in a report, stated the 58-seater turboprop is designed in line with the specifications of the Chinese Civil Aviation Regulations 25 (CCAR-25) of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and is compatible with the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 25. However, questions have been raised over the plane's airworthiness as it has not yet been certified by the FAA. http://www.ekantipur.com/2013/11/12/business/foreign-specialists-to-study-air-safety/380672.html Back to Top Cash-strapped Air India audit finds 400 ghost staff, including pilots, on rolls Some 400 employees of Air India (AI) have been "missing" from work, some of them for as long as seven years. The missing employees include around 50 pilots and 200 cabin crew; the rest belong to the engineering and other departments. Top human resources officials at AI made the baffling discovery during an internal check last month. The missing employees have not drawn salaries for the time they have been absent - some of them since 2006 - but they have not been struck off the rolls either. This has happened despite AI's HR rules stipulating clearly that a notice is to be sent to an employeewho fails to report to work for longer than 30 days. Notice have now been sent to the missing "No one has any clue about these employees. They may have joined another airline, or may be doing something else. We have sent notices, and will wait for their response," said a top AI official who did not want to be identified. The official stressed that the cash-strapped carrier had not paid salaries to the ghost employees, but conceded that, oddly, "their absence was not even noticed" at the airline. Pilots and cabin crew are key to the operation of any airline. AI currently has 3,006 cabin crew and 1,487 pilots on its rolls. This does not include the 400-odd employees now discovered to be missing. The HR audit also found that 17 employees who are office-bearers of various unions at the airline, had not been reporting for duty but continued to draw salaries. "We have to provide office space, telephone connections and a little bit of freedom in terms of office timings to office-bearers of employee unions. However, we have found that 17 employees, who are also union members, do not report to duty but get their salaries," the official said. AI's over 13,000 employees are represented by 15 recognised unions. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cashstrapped-air-india-audit-discovers-400-ghost-staff-including-pilots- on-rolls/1193879/ Back to Top Air India's poor pilot scheduling delays two flights Two Air India flights bound for Birmingham and Sydney, the newest international destinations on the airline's network, were delayed by close to three hours at the Delhi airport on Monday on account of poor scheduling of pilots' duties. The Birmingham flight failed to take off on schedule because the flying licence of one of the pilots, captain Gopal Bhalla, was lying with the aviation safety regulator pending renewal. An AI official collected the license on Monday morning but moments before the scheduled take-off time of 1:50pm, the airline staff realised that it was neither signed nor stamped. This resulted in a last minute hunt for another pilot while hundreds of passengers, who arrived at the airport three hours before the take-off time, were forced to wait. The flight took off finally at 4.06pm. AI chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan blamed the safety regulator's office for the goof-up. "The regulator endorsed the pilot's licence without renewing it. There was no mistake on part of the crew scheduling department," said Nandan. But airline sources said that with several Boeing 787 pilots available there was no need to roster captain Bhalla for this flight. In the case of the Sydney-bound flight, two pilots had reported sick on Sunday. However, the crew scheduling department didn't look for an alternative cockpit crew before Monday morning. As a result, the flight missed its scheduled take-off time of 1:30pm. It left Delhi more than two hours later. Nandan did not comment on the Sydney flight delay. Airlines sources said that the airline has consistently faced problems with regards to pilots on the Dreamliner fleet on account of a rivalry between the erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India pilots. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Air-India-s-poor-pilot-scheduling-delays-two- flights/Article1-1150098.aspx Back to Top Aviation experts: Chances of surviving plane crash are better than past Surviving a plane crash impact CLEVELAND - Statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration found that 40 percent of airplane fatalities happened in crashes that were survivable. Close to half of all airplane crash fatalities might have been prevented had passengers taken proper action. Aviation experts say the larger the aircraft, the safer you'll be. Sit as close to the rear of the plane as possible. Seats in the rear of the plane are safer, as are aisle seats. "You need to be aware of your surroundings. Where are you sitting? How far is the closest exit? How many rows back are you from the exit? So, you should be counting it," said Joe Teixeira, Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Coordinator at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Mich. There's a good chance you won't have much assistance from the flight crew. One study found that nearly half of the flight attendants in survivable crashes are incapacitated in some way. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/special_reports/Aviation-experts-Chances-of-surviving- plane-crash-are-better-than-past#ixzz2kQvLa3jr Back to Top Five Airlines Commit for FAA's Data Comm Initiative A representative control display unit for data communications is shown. Five U.S. airlines have signed on to participate in the Federal Aviation Administration's Data Comm equipment initiative, bringing the effort to 80 percent of its targeted number of airframes, according to contractor Harris. The company revealed the first airline to commit-United-at the Air Traffic Control Association conference last month. Non-disclosure agreements prevented it from immediately identifying the others. Harris is administering the equipment initiative as part of the Data Comm Integrated Services (DCIS) contract the FAA awarded the company in September last year to build a nationwide data communications network for ATC messaging. The program originally specified that $80 million would be made available in seed funding to equip early-adopting airlines. Participating carriers have agreed to equip their aircraft over six years with Future Air Navigation System (Fans) datalink communications, now used mainly in oceanic airspace, using VHF digital link mode 2 (VDL Mode 2) as the communications medium. The system relies on the ground station networks Arinc and SITA use to provide airline communications. "The incentive is in the form of a rebate, when [airlines demonstrate] that they've appropriately equipped their aircraft for the Data Comm program," explained John O'Sullivan, Harris vice president of NextGen initiatives. "That includes two major components: the Fans component and the VDL Mode 2 digital radio component. So we're [offering incentives to adopt] Fans over VDL Mode 2." Harris executives said the FAA's target is to outfit approximately 2,000 aircraft for ATC data communications under the equipment initiative; 80 percent of that target would be about 1,600 aircraft. United plans to equip up to 397 aircraft, more than half of its mainline fleet. Separate from the DCIS program, United is among airlines participating in the FAA's data comm departure clearance (DCL) trial at Newark Liberty International Airport, one of two airports, with Memphis International, at which the FAA has installed the needed ground infrastructure for the demonstration. The FAA plans to deploy data communications at 57 ATC towers to send departure clearances to pilots starting in 2016, and at air route traffic control centers for en route communications starting in 2019. The next milestone for the DCIS program will be the start of integration testing with the associated tower datalink services (TDLS) and en route automation modernization (Eram) automation platforms early next year. Harris will conduct laboratory testing at the FAA Technical Center near Atlantic City, N.J., at its headquarters in Melbourne, Fla., and at other sites. "This is essentially a message string service, so it relies on portions of application programs like Eram and TDLS," O'Sullivan said. "You're testing the message string over the applications program through the networking elements and the security gateway elements and up to the aircraft." With the completion of testing and integration, the FAA will roll out the tower-based data comm service to three "key" sites: Salt Lake City International Airport and Houston's Hobby and Bush Intercontinental airports in the third quarter of 2015. The remaining tower sites will follow. "I think the program is proceeding quite well," O'Sullivan said. "I'm just thrilled [about] how excited the airlines seem to be about it, relative to their commitment. For these airlines to equip for Data Comm is a discretionary investment on their part and the success so far has been encouraging." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-air-transport-perspective/2013-11-11/five-airlines-commit-faas- data-comm-initiative Back to Top Air charter provider Global Aviation files for bankruptcy again Nov 12 (Reuters) - Global Aviation Holdings Inc, the largest commercial provider of charter air transportation for the U.S. military, filed for bankruptcy protection early on Tuesday, just months after emerging out of its prior reorganization process. Global Aviation previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2012 to achieve "industry competitiveness" by cutting costs and debt load. It emerged from the bankruptcy in February this year. As part of the current Chapter 11 process, the company said it is taking "steps to align its cost structure with the realities of market demand." Global Aviation said that the continued worldwide downturn in commercial freight markets along with the U.S. military's decision to curtail its cargo expansion flying has made it necessary for it file for court supervised reorganization process. In a court filing, Global Aviation said the military's decision would reduce the charter provider's planned revenue for 2014 by about $54 million and will create "significant over-capacity in the military charter cargo business." Global Aviation said it expects to cut about 16 percent of jobs over the next 90 days. "We intend to use the reorganization process to help implement our plan to lower costs, stabilize our businesses, grow revenue and diversify our product lines," Chief Executive John Graber said in a statement. Global Aviation said it has obtained debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from its first lien lenders. The new financing, upon court approval, and cash generated from the company's ongoing operations will be used to support the business during the reorganization process. The company has listed out estimated liabilities and assets in the range of $500 million to $1 billion, the filing showed. Global, through its subsidiaries World Airways and North American Airlines, is the largest provider of military transport services. World Airways was founded in 1948. The case is Global Aviation Holdings, Case No. 13-12945, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware. Back to Top FAA 7thTriennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference Dr. Albert Moussa of BlazeTech Corp. www.blazetech.com will present a talk on Wednesday Dec. 4, 2013, at the FAA 7thTriennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference in Philadelphia, PA, USA. The talk is entitled: "Structural Composite Burning -- Identifying Key Material Parameters". Here is a summary of the presentation: Composite structures are increasingly used in aircraft to replace aluminum because of their favorable strength to weight ratios. The behavior of composites in fire is complex given that they are composed of resin and fiber with significant differences in their thermal and flammability properties. Test data on the after flame time of composites subjected to an external radiant heat flux has recently been collected in the Cone Calorimeter and in a new lab-scale fire test under development at the FAA. For carbon fiber epoxy resin composites, these data show that as the number of plies increases from say four to sixteen plies, the after flame time increases continuously for one material while it increases initially then decreases for another. Dr. Moussa will present a model of composite heating, thermal degradation and burning developed at BlazeTech. The model predicts this surprising behavior, relating it to the thickness and the % resin content of the composites. Back to Top Back to Top Gulf airlines 'dictating' airplane specification First, it was price competition from Gulf carriers which rankled with the Europeans. Now it's the fact that the big airplane manufacturers are giving them the cold shoulder in favour of their Gulf rivals. The reason is not hard to find. Between them the big three Gulf carriers - Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad - not only control more and more of world aviation, but they also have ambitious expansion plans. The size of their long-haul fleets easily dwarfs anything seen in Europe. Emirates, for example, has ordered a total of 90 A380 superjumbos, it operates a fleet of over 150 B777s and it has ordered 70 of the yet to be delivered A350s. The sheer clout of the Gulf carriers, plus the fact they are ordering larger and more profitable aircraft, means that the likes of Airbus and Boeing must dance to their tune. Nowhere is this fact clearer than in the specification for the future B777X (the next variant of the B777, specifically designed for 10-abreast in economy) which according to a report in the industry magazine Aviation Week is being designed more for the needs of the Gulf carriers. This is happening because the latter have different operational needs to the Europeans. They need a plane which can tackle 14 to 17-hour non-stop missions from the Gulf whereas, for the Europeans, long-haul flight lengths of between six and 13 hours are more normal. Why should this matter? Because it means that Airbus and Boeing are likely to over-engineer their planes which in turn will push up the development and production costs. And this in turn will make planes more expensive to buy which in turn would reflect on operational costs to the detriment of the Europeans. Quoted in Aviation Week, John Wojick, Boeing's global sales senior VP said, "They [the Gulf airlines] clearly had tremendous market success and we continue to work very closely with them as their business model continues to develop. They created a [business] model that's all about long-haul capacity and connecting long-distance routes around the world - it certainly has our interest." What it means in the final analysis, says Aviation Week, is that the fortunes of the next generation of wide- bodied planes from Airbus and Boeing could be won or lost in the Middle East. The Dubai airshow, at which the Gulf airlines are expected to place huge orders for new planes, next week will provide a pointer to the future. dubaiairshow.aero http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/gulf-airlines-now-dictating-airplane-specification Back to Top Billionaires flip their super jets Flipping a $64.5 million jet CNBC's Robert Frank reports how billionaires are flipping the new G650 private jet for profit. The age of house flipping may have faded. But the super rich have found a new path to instant profits: flipping their megajets. Demand for the biggest, most expensive Gulfstream jet-the G650-is so strong that owners have started flipping them to other buyers. In some deals, the sellers are pulling in profits of between $5 million and $7 million per flip. Billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One tycoon, recently flipped his G650 to an Asian businessman for $72 million-at least $6 million more than his purchase price, according to people familiar with the deal. The transaction, first reported by BizjetBlogger, came just weeks after Ecclestone received the plane from Gulfstream. (Ecclestone couldn't be reached for comment, but BizjetBlogger said the plane was too large for some of Ecclestone's favorite airports). Jet brokers and consultants said at least two other buyers have flipped their G650s recently for more than $70 million. At least two other deals are in the works, they said. One of these is an American billionaire negotiating with a buyer in Asia. The other deals involved billionaires in Russia, Latin America and the Middle East. The flips highlight the strong demand for large-cabin planes-the biggest, most expensive private jets-at a time when the rest of the private jet market is still languishing. Business jet deliveries are still down more than 30 percent from their peak in 2008, and prices for some planes have fallen by more than half, brokers say. But large-cabin planes are a hot commodity among billionaires and global companies. With their long range and ample cabins, they can carry more passengers over longer distances and in greater comfort. The G650, with a base price of $64.5 million, is the king of the large-cabin private jets, with a range of well over 7,000 miles and a maximum speed of Mach 0.925. The G650 also is very scarce. Only around 30 to 35 have been delivered since its launch last year, according to brokers. Still, the jet has become the must have plane for the world's billionaires, with Ralph Lauren and Oprah Winfrey both lining up for one. Demand is so strong that a buyer signing a contract today won't get their G650 until the third quarter of 2017. That's why many buyers are willing to pay more than $70 million to get their planes today. (Read more: Just your average Joe billionaire) "These are billionaires who are willing to pay a premium to avoid the wait," said Philip Rushton, founder of Aviatrade, an aviation consulting and brokerage firm. The deals are a double-edged sword for Gulfstream. While they highlight the strong demand and value of its aircraft, they also show that customers are now making millions off of its product. The company said that it is "not privy to the details" of any flips, "if customers are, in fact, getting a premium for the aircraft, it's a testament to the amazing capabilities of the G650." The real problem for Gulfstream is clients trying to sell their planes before they are delivered. Gulfstream said that "Customers cannot sell the aircraft before they've physically taken delivery of it. This prevents speculation, which isn't good for the market." The company has a "non-assignability" clause in its contracts, meaning the ownership can't be reassigned after a contract is signed. Some customers tried to get around the clause by buying the plane under the name of a newly created aviation company. They would then sell the company to a new buyer, essentially transferring ownership of the plane through the company sale. Brokers said Gulfstream caught on to the game and is now requiring the signer of the contract to be involved in the final delivery. "They're really doing their best to deter this," said Jay Duckson of Central Business Jets. http://www.cnbc.com/id/101186850 Back to Top Aviation insurance to emerge as growing segment in General Insurance sector MUMBAI: Aviation insurance is likely to emerge as a key growth area in the coming years with new airlines starting operations and existing players expanding fleet size, industry officials said. Though the current market size of aviation insurance stands at around Rs 500 crore, growth of airlines industry will push the premium growth in the near future, they said. "Aviation insurance is an emerging segment in the general insurance industry. We expect much growth coming from addition of new aviation players in the market and expansion of fleet by existing players," Manik Nehra, Senior Manager - Aviation Insurance, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, told PTI. According to the general insurer, domestic aviation industry is growing at an average growth rate of around 15 per cent per annum and is likely to add around 450 aircraft in the next five years. Even the number of corporate jets are growing in domestic skies as more and more business houses are acquiring own aircraft for business travel needs, industry experts said. "Currently, around 30 jets belonging to various corporates are insured by us. We are also the lead insurer of the recently launched regional carrier Air Costa. We aim to be a significant player in this segment," Nehra said. He added the company is working with re-insurers like Allianz, which is one of the leaders in this segment, and GIC Re to provide re-insurance cover to aviation assets as it is a highly reinsurance driven business. "Claims are not much from the aviation insurance segment. The portfolio is profitable," a public sector insurer said. Country's largest insurer New India Assurance is a major player in this segment. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance General Insurance Rakesh Jain said the aviation insurance is largely reinsurance driven and a niche product. "Currently, the segment contributes less than one per cent of the total industry. But, the pie is growing," Jain said. Fleet expansion apart, among the new players Tata SIA Airlines is expected to be the first major companies to start operations next year. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-11-10/news/43885856_1_aviation-insurance-domestic- aviation-industry-airlines-industry Back to Top Embry-Riddle Aviation Symposium Sunday 9th February 2014 Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA) Singapore Aircraft Financing and Leasing in Asia SYMPOSIUM CHAIRMAN Professor Graham J. F. Hunt, Head of Asia, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Asia CONFIRMED EXPERT-SPEAKERS - George Arnokouros, Vice President Legal, AerCap - Christophe Chicandard, Senior Vice President Marketing Asia Pacific, Aircastle Singapore - Bill Cumberlidge, Executive Director, KV Aviation - Lorenzo Di Loreto, Associate Director, Aviation, Samsung C&T - Peter Huijbers, Regional Head of Commercial - Asia Pacific, Hong Kong Aviation Capital - Roland H. Moore Esq., Aviation Attorney - Tomoo Nakayama, President and CEO, ITC Aerospace & Chairman and Director, ITC-Leasing - Dr. Malick Sy, Professor of Finance, RMIT Australia and ERAU - Senior Representative of CIT - Senior Representative of ICF SH&E HIGHLIGHTS - Aircraft financing in the secondary market - Aviation boom in Asia: Do the numbers tell the truth? - Airworthiness and delivery conditions from the airline perspective: A case study and its impact on the industry - Structuring operating leases and benefits for regional airlines - Leasing options for regional operators - Airline jet fuel price volatility - Dynamic hedging and alternative solutions Explore the latest developments in commercial aircraft financing and leasing in Asia! Learn about financing structures in the region! Discuss the leasing options for regional operators! Debate the future of commercial aviation in Asia! Network with the experts! Mark your 2014 Diary! Do not miss this major networking event in Asia! Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities available! Early-Bird Registration: US$190 For more information, please visit www.aeropodium.com/afla.html Curt Lewis