Flight Safety Information May 19, 2014 - No. 101 In This Issue NTSB: Air traffic controllers set altitudes of planes that nearly collided off Hawaii Burning bread crumbs force jet to land at Logan Malaysia Airlines MH370: pilot's brother says he was not suicidal Air Crash in Laos Kills Top Officials for Security New Leader At Flight Safety Foundation Pushes For Progress PRISM SMS Dassault Unveils the 8X Falcon, High-End Business Jet A-10 Thunderbolt attack jet lands on German highway Production Progressing as Honda Aircraft Prepares for HondaJet Entry Into Service Chinese Airlines Seek Greater Fuel Efficiency in New Jets ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems Short Course, Seattle Campus Upcoming Events NTSB: Air traffic controllers set altitudes of planes that nearly collided off Hawaii Washington (CNN) -- Two commercial jets that nearly collided north of Hawaii last month were at altitudes assigned to them by air traffic controllers, the National Transportation Safety Board tells CNN. The cause of the near-disaster in the skies east of the Hawaiian Islands on April 25 is still under investigation. But a source with knowledge of the probe said the early focus is finding out why the planes were assigned to altitudes that put them dangerously close. The incident was brought to public attention when a passenger on one of the planes wrote a blog titled: "Two Weeks Ago, I Almost Died in the Deadliest Plane Crash Ever." In the incident, United Airlines Flight 1205, which was headed east to Los Angeles from Kona International Aiport on the Big Island of Hawaii, had to descend quickly to avoid a westbound US Airways jet, approximately 200 miles northeast of Kona. Two planes nearly collide over Pacific The United pilots received an audible warning that the plane was in danger from its traffic collision avoidance system, which monitors airspace around a plane. Both planes were Boeing 757s. Flight-tracking websites show the United plane descended 600 feet in 60 seconds. The passenger who wrote the blog post, Kevin Townsend, described feeling weightless as the United plane suddenly plunged. "I felt my body float upwards and strain against my seatbelt," Townsend wrote. "Passengers around me screamed. There was a loud crash in the back -- a coffeepot clattering to the floor and tumbling down the aisle. Our tray tables began rattling in unison as the 757 strained through the kind of maneuver meant more for a fighter jet." Townsend estimated a total of 590 people were on the two planes -- based on the assumption that the other plane carried the same number of passengers and crew as the 295 people aboard his flight. Thus, according to Townsend, the death toll in a collision would have been the worst air disaster in history, surpassing the 583 who died in the 1977 runway collision of two Boeing 747s on a runway on the Spanish island of Tenerife. However, airlines officials this week declined to say how many people were on the two passenger jets in last month's incident. Townsend said he believes it was his report that led the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate. He said he wants to make sure near collisions are thoroughly investigated. "I don't think there's some epidemic of near accidents that occurring, but it was a jarring experience dodging another plane," he said. An FAA official, speaking on background, said the agency began investigating immediately after the incident, and independent of Townsend's report. On Thursday, a joint FAA-NTSB team arrived at the Honolulu Control Facility to continue the investigation, the NTSB said. Commercial airline pilot Les Abend said the collision avoidance systems worked as designed. "You're going to run into this situation, unfortunately. Nothing is perfect. I know that's not a comforting answer, but indeed the system worked," Abend told CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/16/travel/hawaii-near-collision-ntsb/ Back to Top Burning bread crumbs force jet to land at Logan The smell of burning bread crumbs in a Boeing 737's galley forced the American Airlines jet to turn around and return to Logan International Airport this morning. The Miami-bound flight had 150 passengers and five crew members that all landed safely back at Logan at around 7:10 a.m. after taking off at 6:36 a.m., according to an American Airlines spokesman. The smoke that was smelled in the galley was attributed to bread crumbs touching the "heating element" of one of the plane's ovens, American Airlines said. The oven was cleaned and the plane took off at 8:30 a.m., heading to Miami. http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/05/burning_bread_crumbs_force_jet_to_land_at_logan Back to Top Malaysia Airlines MH370: pilot's brother says he was not suicidal Zaharie Ahmad Shah was doing household chores on day of flight says his brother-in-law, as search for wreckage prepares to resume after technical problems Captain of the Malaysia flight MH370 Zaharie Ahmad Shah A family member of the pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane says he was "not suicidal" and was doing household chores on the day of the flight. Asuad Khan, the brother-in-law of pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah, said the 53-year-old was a sane, generous and happy family man and devout Muslim. "He had a good life," Mr Khan told ABC News. "He had a lot of money, and he loved his daughter very much." Mr Khan said his sister Faizah - who has not spoken publicly - had been questioned three or four times by police since the plane's disappearance. The couple's maid has also been repeatedly questioned as have their three children. "[The police] asked normal questions," Mr Khan said. "How's your husband? Is he depressed? Or is he having problems with anything or if they have any [marriage] problems. All sorts of questions. His mental state. But he was a sane man. I don't think he was a crazy man." Authorities believe the flight disappeared on March 8 as the result of a "deliberate" action but investigations into Zaharie and Fariq Abdul Hamid, the co-pilot, have found nothing suspicious. The Boeing 777 vanished shortly after take-off with 239 passengers aboard. Mr Khan said he understood that Zaharie had been at home in Kuala Lumpur on the day of the flight. "He's a DIY person," he said. "He likes to repair a lot of things by himself at home. On that day, my sister told me he was repairing the door for the bathroom if I'm not mistaken." Authorities have been searching for the plane in the Indian Ocean, west of Australia, but have so far found no wreckage. The underwater search by an unmanned submarine has been suspended because of technical problems which emerged last Tuesday. Spare parts are being sent over and are due to be fitted but the submarine will need to be tested before it can be redeployed. Malaysian, Australian and Chinese authorities met in Western Australia on the weekend to discuss a survey of the ocean floor. A Chinese ship will conduct the survey and is due to sail for the area on Wednesday. Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's 88-year-old former prime minister, said on his blog he believed the search was a waste of time and suggested the CIA had knowledge about the plane's disappearance. He said Boeing and other government agencies had the ability to take control of the plane. "The plane is somewhere, maybe without MAS [Malaysia Airlines] markings," he said. "Someone is hiding something. It is not fair that MAS and Malaysia should take the blame." Families of missing crew members have accused the airline of stopping to provide caregiver services after they consulted lawyers about seeking compensation. "We are not against MAS, but somehow now they are against us," said Lee Khim Fatt, 43, whose wife was a crew member. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/10840145/Malaysia-Airlines-MH370-pilots-brother- says-he-was-not-suicidal.html Back to Top Air Crash in Laos Kills Top Officials for Security Rescue workers searched the site of a plane crash near Nadee village in Xiangkhouang province in Laos on Saturday. BANGKOK - A plane (An 74TK-300) carrying senior Laotian government officials crashed Saturday morning, leaving at least four people dead, Laotian diplomats said Saturday. Two major figures in the security apparatus of the authoritarian Laotian government were killed in the crash: the deputy prime minister, Douangchay Phichit, and Thongbane Sengaphone, the minister of public security, according to two Lao diplomats. For a Communist party that relies on force and intimidation to stay in power, the loss of the two officials who were considered by many to be the most powerful people in the security apparatus was a significant blow. The governor of Vientiane province was also killed in the crash. In addition to serving as deputy prime minister, Mr. Douangchay was also the defense minister and a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Communist party. Mr. Thongbane, the chief of public security, was feared in the country and was said to be one of the officials leading a crackdown against dissent over the past 18 months. The crackdown included the disappearance of the most prominent civic leader in the country, Sombath Somphone, an agriculture specialist who led efforts to liberalize the hermetic Communist leadership. Mr. Sombath was stopped at a police checkpoint in December 2012 and has not been seen again. The Lao News Agency posted photos on its website on Saturday showing the mangled wreckage of the plane, an Antonov AN-74TK300. The news agency, citing a statement from the prime minister's office, said that it was a Laotian Air Force aircraft and that it had crashed in the village of Nadi, west of the Xiangkhouang airport and not far from a major archaeological site of prehistoric carved stone vessels, the Plain of Jars. The authorities were "helping to rescue the survivors," the news agency said, without offering details about the number of people killed. The plane was traveling from the capital, Vientiane, to the mountainous northeastern province of Xiangkhouang, where the officials were planning to attend a military ceremony. State television in Laos showed footage of rescue workers recovering debris from the aircraft, which appeared to have crashed in a jungle-covered area. A news presenter said the crash occurred around 7 a.m. "The cause of the plane crash is still unknown," the presenter said. The crash was the second in Laos in the past year. Last October, 49 people were killed when a Lao Airlines flight crashed in southern Laos. The Foreign Ministry in neighboring Thailand said it had "received reports" about the crash. "There were about 20 passengers on board, of which most were of high stature," said Sek Wannamethee, a spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/asia/crash-in-laos-kills-top-government-officials.html?_r=0 ************** Status: Preliminary Date: Saturday 17 May 2014 Time: 06:15 Type: Antonov 74TK-300 Operator: Laos Government Registration: RDPL-34020 C/n / msn: 36547098982 First flight: 2007 Crew: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 6 Passengers: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 11 Total: Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 17 Airplane damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: 2 km (1.3 mls) from Xieng Khouang Airport (XKH) ( Laos) Phase: Unknown (UNK) Nature: Official state flight Departure airport: Vientiane-Wattay Airport (VTE/VLVT), Laos Destination airport: Xieng Khouang Airport (XKH/VLXK), Laos Narrative: An Antonov An-74 of the the Laos Government was involved in an accident near Xieng Khouang Airport (XKH), Laos. There were fourteen fatalities, amongst others the minister of defense of Laos, Douangchay Phichit, and the governor of Vientiane province. Back to Top New Leader At Flight Safety Foundation Pushes For Progress Flight Safety Foundation president and CEO, Jon Beatty The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) has a new president and CEO, Jon Beatty, who until recently held the same positions with International Aero Engines. He comes to the aviation safety advocate with solid manufacturing industry experience, having begun his career as a quality engineer with Sikorsky. He was confirmed in his post in April and is now heading up FSF's efforts to promote further advances in flight safety. One of the foundation's top concerns is go-arounds, not just the lack of pilots actually performing the maneuver, but also how poorly many of those pilots handle this seldom-used event. The FSF (Booth 1315), in conjunction with 15 other aviation organizations, studied the issue and in June 2013 released findings about the true risks of a lack of pilot proficiency. A recent survey of 2,500 working pilots showed 96 percent of approaches are stable. Of the other 4 percent, however, almost none were terminated with the aircraft performing a go-around, a maneuver the foundation calls a part of normal, everyday flying. "We have a pretty good protocol right now for how we fly approaches," Beatty told AIN. "What is less well documented is when to make a go-around decision. The most recent accidents [Asiana 214 and UPS 1354] have both involved approach and landing [configurations]." Experts agree that, at least in the case of the Asiana Airlines July 2013 crash in San Francisco, a timely go-around would have prevented the accident. The data has not yet been released on last August's UPS crash in Birmingham, Alabama. "There are now more than 40,000 copies of the FSF's approach and landing accident reduction toolkit in use around the world," added Beatty. "We're working on an update to that toolkit right now." The foundation plans to release the findings this year of that additional survey on go-arounds, which was initiated in 2012. Also among the top three concerns for the foundation and its new CEO is enabling data sharing, while also maximizing data protection. The FSF is working with Mitre, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Air Transport Organization to develop the ability to share data and apply analytics to solutions to help improve aviation's already outstanding safety record. The FSF also co-chairs the ICAO task force on safety information protection intended to establish legal guidelines to protect data from punitive use, except in the case of gross negligence of illegal activity. "Data will, of course, set us free," said Beatty. "But up until now there has always been a lot of data that people don't want to share because they're fearful of what might happen to it. Right now ICAO has some of the information and IATA also has some. The world would be a better place [if we could all see the data], but one of the obstacles is that lack of a common database. So many individuals treat this information as proprietary. I think we should be comparing ourselves to the industry, not our competitors." The foundation's goal is to help create a system where the data is cleansed so that only the relevant facts appear, and the person or company sharing that data is unidentified. "We need to give all organizations a vision of how overall industry safety could be improved if we can raised the bar on everyone," stated Beatty. The FSF is also quite proud of its safety audit arm, which is known as the basic aviation risk standards (BARS) program and is based in the organization's regional office in Melbourne, Australia. The foundation created these specialized audits to assist operators in the natural resources sector and other remote operations. The BARS program benefits all companies that contract aircraft operators to carry people, so each can focus on safe operations, not redundant audits. Despite only now getting used to his new desk in the Flight Safety Foundation office in Alexandria, Virginia, AIN asked Beatty if he had a dream for what the foundation could become. "I like a version of the Boy Scout motto for this," he said. "I hope to make the foundation a better organization by the time I leave than the way I found it when I arrived. I think the FSF brings the voice of reason to this industry. We're the only pure safety organization that exists. I think we make a perfect third leg to the three-legged stool of manufacturers and regulators." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ebace-convention-news/2014-05-19/new-leader-flight-safety-foundation- pushes-progress Back to Top Back to Top Dassault Unveils the 8X Falcon, High-End Business Jet An employee works onto a 5X Falcon Dassault business jet at its assembly line in Biarritz, southwestern France, on April 30, 2014 Geneva: Just seven months after presenting its luxury 5X Falcon business jet, Dassault Aviation unveiled on Monday its new 8X, capable of flying non-stop from Los Angeles to Beijing. Known until now under the code name M1000, the new tripple-engine is set to sell for 10 percent more than the French aircraft manufacturer's star 7X model, which it was based on, and will carry a price tag of around $55 million (40 million euros). The 8X, measuring 13 metres (43 feet) and able to carry up to 19 passengers, is already in production. Its inaugural flight is scheduled for the beginning of next year, with the first deliveries set for the end of 2016, Dassault said ahead of the opening of the three-day EBACE business jet show in Geneva. The 8X will compete directly with US firm Gulfstream's G550 and the Global 6000 by Canada's Bombardier. "Launching two planes in less than a year is quite unique," said Dassault chief Eric Trappier. The French aircraft maker, which also builds the Rafale fighter jets, can now offer a family of six business planes "designed to meet the widest possible range of operator needs at the upper end of the business jet spectrum," he added. The high-end business jets weathered the past five years of economic crisis surprisingly well. The appetite for such luxury aircraft, with the capability of carrying their distinguished passengers greater and greater distances without stopping to refuel, has continued to grow as the business world becomes ever more globalised. The ballooning number of multi-millionaires and billionaires around the world, and especially in China, is also driving the demand. The 8X could prove attractive because of its capability of flying for 12,000 kilometres (7,500 miles) without touching down. With eight passengers and three crew members onboard, the new jet can thus zip between Los Angeles and Beijing, Sao Paulo and Los Angeles or New York and Tel Aviv, which is not possible with the other Falcons. With its improved wing design and lighter body, the 8X will be 35-percent more fuel efficient than any other business plane in the ultra-long-haul segment, Dassault said. The French company has pumped about 500 million euros ($685 million) into developing the plane -- only half of what it spent putting together the 5X, which is a first generation jet scheduled to hit the market in 2017. http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/dassault-unveils-the-8x-falcon-high-end-business-jet-526832 Back to Top A-10 Thunderbolt attack jet lands on German highway It's hard to believe that it was less than seven decades ago that German highways were used by Luftwaffe pilots on their Messerschmitt bf109s or Focke-Wulf Fw 190s as improvised airstrips, but it's even harder to believe that A-10 Thunderbolts, F-16s, and even Hercules cargo plane can still do it today. The photo captures the moment in which the A-10 is about to land in an emergency simulation. The following clip shows how these highway segments are used as emergency airstrips-first conceived by the Nazis before World War II-work with portable facilities like radar, control tower, fire and ambulance service, and refueling. AIR FORCE LANDS ON AUTOBAHN ! http://sploid.gizmodo.com/a-10-thunderbolt-lands-in-german-highway-1577970846 Back to Top Production Progressing as Honda Aircraft Prepares for HondaJet Entry Into Service First Production HondaJet Revealed and Program Update Shared at EBACE 2014 The first production HondaJet is in final assembly at Honda Aircraft Company's world headquarters in Greensboro, N.C. The aircraft features a new paint scheme in a deep pearl green with a gold stripe. HondaJet customers can choose from five signature exterior color options in silver, red, yellow, blue and green. GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Honda Aircraft Company announced today several achievements and milestones in the development of the HondaJet during a press conference at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. The company revealed the first production HondaJet. The aircraft is ready for ground tests and features a new paint scheme, a deep pearl green with a gold stripe. The company also shared its progress in preparation for HondaJet entry into service. "Honda Aircraft Company's most important goals are achieving Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification and delivering the first customer aircraft," said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. "Our total effort is focused on reaching these much anticipated milestones in the first quarter of 2015." First Production HondaJet Debuts With New Color The first production aircraft is in final assembly with the first set of production GE Honda HF120 engines recently delivered to Honda Aircraft. The engines have been installed, and Honda Aircraft will soon begin conducting ground tests on the airplane. Its first flight is anticipated this summer. The aircraft debuts a new exterior paint scheme in a deep pearl green with a gold stripe. With its debut, all five exterior color options are represented in the HondaJet fleet. The deep green finish will be offered in addition to the vibrant silver, red, yellow and blue exterior colors currently available to appeal to a variety of customer preferences. Production Readies for Deliveries HondaJet production continues its steady pace in advance of entry into service with nine aircraft on the final assembly line. Four aircraft have been mated to their wings and empennages, and production is on schedule to have 10 aircraft on the final assembly line in June. This steady build up supports Honda Aircraft Company's objective to have aircraft ready for delivery immediately after type certification is achieved next year. "The HondaJet production line is maturing with efficient and robust processes in place to build high quality aircraft," said Fujino. "From handheld tablets that deliver worker instructions to an automatic guided cart to pick up and deliver parts, we continue to integrate the latest technology into our production process to create an efficient workflow." Certification and Testing Following the FAA's issuance of Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for the HondaJet, the program has begun testing with FAA pilot participation. Several certification tests by FAA pilots were conducted under this final phase. Examples are: Stall speed, stall characteristics and stall warning system: Tests were conducted under various flight conditions. During testing, the stall warning system (stick shaker attached to the yoke) and stall protection system (stick pusher that provides automatic stall recovery) were evaluated. Cockpit indications for airspeed, altitude and ambient temperature were also validated. Wheels, tires and brake control system tests: Normal anti-skid brake control systems were evaluated in both wet and dry runway conditions. Emergency brake system testing also demonstrated aircraft braking capability during degraded system operations. Flap actuation system and speed brake operation throughout the flight envelope: Testing demonstrated aircraft flap and speed brake operation at limit speeds and maximum load factor. Hydraulic system control tests were conducted during normal, abnormal and degraded operations: The hydraulic system was demonstrated at the maximum operating altitude and after extended periods of high-altitude cold soaking. In-flight fire suppression system: This testing was conducted at critical flight conditions for both speed and temperature. FAA Full-Scale Fatigue Testing: The ground structural test program has completed more than 2,000 cycles so far in advance of entry into service. This is equivalent to more than five years of use for typical business jet operators. Testing examined the airframe's fatigue strength under simulated in-flight operations derived from theoretical load spectra and mission profiles. The tests evaluated the effects of vertical and lateral maneuvers; vertical and lateral gust; landing; taxi; Ground-Air-Ground (GAG) and fuselage pressure cycle on the aircraft. This testing was conducted at Honda Aircraft Company's R&D facility in Greensboro, N.C., using a sophisticated structural test system that can simultaneously operate 73 hydraulic actuators and cabin pressurization in a closed loop digital control system using force, pressure or displacement as the feedback parameters. Major Industry Supplier to Participate in the HondaJet Program Honda Aircraft Company also announced at EBACE that Fokker Aerostructures will supply the empennage structure for the HondaJet. Fokker was selected based on its expertise in the manufacturing of tail sections for business jets with a global supply chain network. Headquartered in Papendrecht, the Netherlands, Fokker Technologies operates facilities in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Romania, Turkey, Singapore and China. The company provides a range of integrated aerospace systems and services to top commercial and business aviation manufacturers worldwide. The HondaJet Ownership Experience: Flight and Maintenance Training Honda Aircraft is putting significant effort and investment into pilot and maintenance training for customers. Working with FlightSafety International, Honda Aircraft is currently developing flight and maintenance training curriculums with maintenance training classes scheduled to begin later this year in Greensboro, N.C. The first flight simulator for flight training is complete and software integration is underway. Flight training with this simulator will include type rating and recurrent pilot training programs for both single and multi-crew operations. Training will be provided at Honda Aircraft Company's world headquarters and will start before entry into service. Continued Company Growth - More Than 1,000 People Working at Honda Aircraft Honda Aircraft marked a significant milestone earlier this year with its 1,000th team member joining the company. The company's growing workforce represents more than 43 countries and reflects the aviation industry's top talent in engineering, manufacturing, sales and service. "Honda Aircraft Company, along with our worldwide network of dealers and suppliers, are working together to support a seamless transition to customers," said Fujino. "Our goal is to have everything ready before the first delivery. We are committed through our network to deliver the best ownership experience from day one." For more information about the HondaJet, the world's most advanced light jet, visit www.HondaJet.com. About HondaJet The HondaJet is the world's most advanced light business jet aircraft, with best-in-class advantages in performance, comfort, quality and efficiency. The HondaJet is the fastest, highest-flying, quietest, and most fuel-efficient jet in its class. The HondaJet incorporates many technological innovations in aviation design, including the unique Over-The- Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration that dramatically improves performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag. The OTWEM design also reduces cabin sound, minimizes ground-detected noise, and allows for the roomiest cabin in its class, the largest baggage capacity, and a fully serviceable private aft lavatory. The HondaJet is powered by two highly fuel-efficient GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines, and is equipped with the most sophisticated glass flight deck available in any light business jet, a Honda-customized GarminŽ G3000 next- generation, all-glass avionics system composed of three 14-inch landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers. The HondaJet is Honda's first commercial aircraft and lives up to the company's reputation for superior performance, efficiency, quality and value. Honda Aircraft Company Honda Aircraft Company, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft has its heritage in more than 20 years of groundbreaking aeronautical research and development. At Honda Aircraft's world headquarters in North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation, the company's associates work in more than 600,000 square feet of state-of-the-art R&D, production, administration and customer service facilities to develop, produce, market and support the HondaJet with HondaJet dealers. The challenging spirit upon which Mr. Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfills one of Honda's longstanding dreams to advance human mobility skyward. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/production-progressing-honda-aircraft-prepares-093000026.html Back to Top Chinese Airlines Seek Greater Fuel Efficiency in New Jets Planes of Chinese domestic airlines, including China Southern Airlines, front left, at an airport in Hefei, Anhui province, last year. Reuters The rising tally in jetliner orders from China may point to optimism about the outlook for demand, but it also reflects a pressing need for more fuel-efficient planes to help shave operating costs as cutthroat domestic competition threatens profits. On Friday, China Southern Airlines Co., the nation's biggest by fleet size, said it inked a deal to buy 80 passenger jets, the bulk of which are the more advanced Airbus A320neo series aircraft. China Southern's orders, worth a combined $9.33 billion at list prices, came just days after upstart discount rival 9 Air placed an order for 50 Boeing 737 jets, including the re-engined 737. 9 Air plans to launch services from the southern city of Guangzhou in the second half, and will compete head-to- head with China Southern in its home market. 9 Air joins other new airlines seeking to launch services, after Beijing's recent move to liberalize domestic aviation and promote the growth of budget airlines. More competition means more pressure on the nation's big state carriers, which already suffer from persistently high fuel costs and the defection of some passengers to the nation's high-speed rail lines. The state airlines are seeking more ways to reduce operating costs, including added efforts to renew their fleets with less fuel-thirsty planes. Airbus estimates fuel burn savings of around 15% for the A320neo from earlier twinjets, while Boeing says its 737 Max will be 14% more fuel efficient. That's in addition to other cost advantages, the aircraft manufacturers claim. "Replacement of older jets with more modern and fuel-efficient aircraft is an ongoing process for airlines to reduce their operating costs," said Kelvin Lau, an analyst at Daiwa Securities. He noted that fuel costs account for around 40% of an airline's operating costs. Other Chinese aircraft orders from this year include 50 Boeing 737 series jets by Shandong Airlines, a unit of flag carrier Air China Ltd, as well as 70 Airbus A320neo planes ordered by China Eastern Airlines Corp. Fierce domestic competition has already been felt by Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern, which posted a combined 28% decline in 2013 net profit. The three carriers' core profits for the first quarter rose significantly, but only on the back of strong growth in outbound leisure air travel. http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/05/19/chinese-airlines-seek-greater-fuel-efficiency-in-new-jets/ Back to Top View this email in a web page TWO-DAY CONTINUING EDUCATION UNIT (CEU) COURSE UAS Applications, Operations and Support: Key Topics of Industry This two-day, continuing education unit (CEU) course is specifically designed for professionals and specialists seeking to expand their understanding of the application, operation and support of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Discussions will focus on the considerations, regulations, policies, business opportunities and challenges of the industry. This course is developed and taught by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide faculty with UAS operations and research experience. Who Should Attend: ? Business Developers ? Executive Leadership ? Small Business Owner/Entrepreneur ? Engineers (including aerospace, communications, electrical, GNC, hardware, logistics, software, systems, quality assurance and test) ? UAS Operators, Pilots, Sensor Operators ? Analysts (system, data management, manufacturing, operations, procurement, research and quality) ? Managers (account, contracts, program, project and operations) ? Training Developers/Coordinators ? Administrators (government, contracts, IT and property) ? Planners (mission, facilities, schedule and strategic) ? Technicians (avionics, electronics, manufacturing and radio frequency) ? Writers (technical, grant and proposal) Key Topics: ? Introduction and Impact of UAS ? UAS Designs ? Legislation, Certification and Regulation ? Industry Concerns ? Applications ? Operational Profiles ? Business Opportunities ? Future of UAS When: Where: Course Fee: Thursday, June 5 to Friday, June 6 Embry-Riddle Worldwide Seattle Campus 1000 Oakesdale Avenue SW Suite 110 Renton, WA 98057 USD $700 Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with an hour lunch For more information: Al Astbury, Office of Professional Programs Tel: (866) 574-9125 * email: training@erau.edu CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 600 S Clyde Morris Boulevard Daytona Beach, FL 32114 USA If you wish to be removed from this group's mailing list, click here Upcoming Events: Embry-Riddle to offer Aviation SMS Workshop Daytona Beach, FL May 20-22, 2014 www.erau.edu/case ICAO Loss of Control In-Flight Symposium 20-22 May 2014 - Montreal www.icao.int/meetings/loci Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 21-22 May 2014, Bangkok, Thailand http://bit.ly/APASS2014 SMS & Risk Management Training Tampa, FL June 4-5, 2014 http://atcvantage.com ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems Short Course Seattle, WA June 5-6, 2014 http://proed.erau.edu/programs/specialized-industry-training/unmanned-aircraft-systems-workshop-nv/index.html 6th Annual Aviation Human Factors & SMS Seminar June 24th & 25th 2014 Dallas, TX www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1384474 21st Century Pilot Reliability Certification Workshop June 30th and July 1st, 2014 Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07605 Please contact Kacy Schwartz kacy@convergentperformance.com 719-481-0530 International System Safety Society Annual Symposium 04-08AUG2014 - St. Louis, MO http://issc2014.system-safety.org Curt Lewis