Flight Safety Information July 1, 2014 - No. 132 In This Issue Error in Piloting Led to C-130J Hercules Aircraft Crash: Indian Air Force Sources Delta Jet Returns to Jamaica After Fluid Leak Denver-bound jet diverted to Iowa airport Expedited Air Safety Screening Comes to St. Louis Singapore Airlines Bans Shark Fins From Its Cargo Planes Airclaims will now be known as McLarens Aviation FAA dragging its feet on ADS-B equipage fund Bombardier gets firm order for 16 CRJ900s worth US$727M from unnamed customer PRISM TO HELP PREPARE FOR E-IOSA Aircraft Lessors Plan Hong Kong Listings as Demand Rises in Asia UK aerospace firms eye £150bn boost from global backlog in aircraft orders Graduate Research Survey Upcoming Events Employment Error in Piloting Led to C-130J Hercules Aircraft Crash: Indian Air Force Sources New Delhi: Error in piloting is understood to have been found as the reason behind the crash of Air Force's C-130J Super Hercules aircraft in March in which five service personnel, including four officers, were killed near Gwalior. The Court of Inquiry is almost complete and error in piloting is believed to have been the reason behind the crash, highly placed IAF sources said in New Delhi. The aircraft, worth over Rs. 900 crore, had crashed while practicing a tactical operation along with another C-130J Super Hercules aircraft after taking off from Agra on March 28. All the crew on board - four officers and one Warrant Officer - lost their lives in the mishap. The IAF Court of Inquiry under an officer of the rank of Air Commodore (equivalent to a Brigadier in Army) is in the final stages and the report will be soon submitted to the Defence Ministry, IAF spokesperson Group Captain Gerard Galway said. India recently inducted six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft which were bought from the US at a cost of around Rs. 6,000 crore (USD 1 billion) four years ago. The inquiry was held back for some time in the early stages as the black box of the aircraft had suffered damage and had to be sent to the original equipment manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation's facility in the US. The home base of the 77 squadron 'Veiled Vipers' operating the ill-fated aircraft is Hindan in Ghaziabad. The aircraft had recently landed at Ladakh's Daulat Beg Oldie air field near the Sino-India border and have helped in boosting IAF's capability to airlift troops closer to the border in times of emergency. IAF has also placed orders for another six such aircraft, which are planned to be deployed in Panagarh, West Bengal, near the headquarters of Indian Army's 17 Strike Corp being raised to counter the threat along the border with China. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/error-in-piloting-led-to-c-130j-hercules-aircraft-crash-indian-air-force- sources-549988 Back to Top Delta Jet Returns to Jamaica After Fluid Leak KINGSTON, Jamaica - A Delta Airlines jet was forced to return to the airport in Jamaica shortly after takeoff Monday because of an apparent mechanical problem in one of its engines, the company said. The MD-88 experienced a pneumatic leak in its No. 2 engine and returned safely to the airport in Kingston, spokesman Morgan Durrant said. The Atlanta-bound flight had 149 passengers and a crew of five. Jamaica Fire Brigade spokesman Emilio Ebanks told RJR News in Jamaica that the plane was airborne when smoke was seen coming from it. Durrant says there was no fire. Delta planned to re-route a new aircraft to Jamaica for the flight to Atlanta. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/delta-jet-returns-jamaica-fluid-leak-24369050 Back to Top Denver-bound jet diverted to Iowa airport SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - A Denver-bound jetliner has landed in Sioux City after its pilot noticed a power warning light flashing in the cockpit. Southwest Airlines Flight 3809 landed without incident at 2:40 p.m. Sunday after leaving the Minneapolis- St. Paul airport about 90 minutes earlier. The Boeing 737 model carried 143 passengers and five crew members. Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew says the pilot took the cautious route even though the situation wasn't dire. Agnew says the system that was involved powered such features as coffee pots and cabin lights and that backup power sources were available. Sioux City airport operations manager John Backer says the passengers waited in the terminal for about three hours until a replacement plane arrived and they could board and resume their journeys. http://www.news8000.com/news/Denver-bound-jet-diverted-to-Iowa-airport/26723830 Back to Top Expedited Air Safety Screening Comes to St. Louis ST. LOUIS (AP) - The federal Transportation Security Administration has expanded its expedited screening process to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Eligible air travelers who enroll in advance and pay an $85 registration fee can use the Pre-Check program to avoid having to take off their shoes, jackets and belts or unpack laptop computers. The registration is good for five years. Participants must first provide a valid passport or driver's license and birth certificate as well as submit fingerprints for a criminal background check at an airport registration office. Those who qualify receive what the TSA calls a Known Traveler Number that can be submitted when making online flight reservations. Expedited screening has expanded to two dozen U.S. airports and attracted more than 300,000 participants nationwide. Its introduction at Lambert was announced Tuesday. http://www.wsiltv.com/news/three-states/Expedited-Air-Safety-Screening-Comes-to-St-Louis- 263675031.html Back to Top Singapore Airlines Bans Shark Fins From Its Cargo Planes The city-state of Singapore is one of the world's top exporters of shark fins, but it won't be able to rely on its national airline to transport the controversial animal product for much longer. Singapore Airlines announced that its SIA Cargo flights will stop carrying shark fins, effective Aug. 1. SIA Cargo spokesman Nicholas Ionides said in a statement that the company had been "carrying out a thorough review, taking into account the increasing concerns around the world related to shark finning," before deciding to ban the carriage of shark fins altogether. The change comes after a push on social media and pressure from conservationists who amassed thousands of petition signatures urging Singapore Airlines to join other airlines that have stopped transporting shark fins in the last two years. Activists had also announced on Facebook a day of protest for Aug. 10, during which they would meet at Singapore Airlines check-in counters in Singapore, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles and Hong Kong to protest the airline's policy. Alex Hofford, a Hong Kong-based photographer and director of conservation group WildLifeRisk, led the push on social media and considers the announcement a big step toward stamping out shark fin consumption. "We are delighted at Singapore Airline's commendable decision to stop shipping shark fin," he told the South China Morning Post. "It's a really significant victory by taking out one more link in the supply chain to Hong Kong." Cathay Pacific of Hong Kong, a subsidiary of Swire Group was the first to prohibit shark fin carriage in 2012, and 22 other airlines have followed suit in banning or restricting the transport of shark fins. Last week, Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles were the most recent airlines to ban shipments of shark fins. http://www.ibtimes.com/singapore-airlines-bans-shark-fins-its-cargo-planes-1615894 Back to Top Airclaims will now be known as McLarens Aviation Airclaims based at London Heathrow Airport is changing its name and will now trade as McLarens Aviation. The company based at Cardinal Point has been involved for 50 years with commercial, business and general aviation insurance. This name change completes the merger between McLarens and Airclaims. McLarens Aviation will continue to provide services in every aviation market. The company will still provide risk assessments, asset management valuations and process aviation claims for clients. McLarens Aviation has 24 offices in 15 countries around the world. http://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/airclaims-will-now-known-mclarens-aviation-247/ Back to Top FAA dragging its feet on ADS-B equipage fund A June 11 Congressional House hearing on the FAA's "2020 NextGen Mandate: Benefits and Challenges for General Aviation" reviewed the agency's requirement that all U.S. civil aircraft carry ADS-B out units by Jan. 1, 2020, along with the vexing-to the FAA, at least-issue that aircraft owners are not rushing out to install them. The job of marketing ADS-B to pilot-users has been made more difficult by the FAA's unexplained foot- dragging in implementing the Congressionally authorized NextGen GA Fund, a public-private partnership tasked with giving owners a financial leg up to adopting ADS-B. The agency has seemed reluctant to announce details of the fund, causing owners to hesitate and spawning skepticism and speculation. As yet, the fund has made no discernible dent in today's massive installation backlog, estimated at 167,000 aircraft still unequipped. At the hearing, flight school operator and AOPA spokesman Bob Hepp testified that there is no incentive to equip early because the benefits of ADS-B out are unclear, since complying with the mandate simply allows pilots to continue flying in the NAS as they do today. To equip his flight schools' aircraft would cost more than $300,000, for no obvious benefit. Tim Taylor of avionics producer FreeFlight Systems disagreed, pointing out that ADS-B out will enhance safety and NAS capacity by equipping ATC to deploy much more accurate separation standards, in today's increasingly busy airspace. Taylor conceded that the backlog is serious, but so far manageable. The backlog is not insuperable, Paula Derks, president of the Aircraft Electronics Association, told the hearing. Her association represents more than 900 certified avionics shops across the U.S., where, she stated, the NextGen Fund would allow rapid expansion of individual shops' facilities to handle the backlog and, in so doing, enhance their long-term capabilities to the benefit of the industry at large. But there is an urgent need for clarity from the FAA on the NextGen Fund, she said, so that shops can move ahead. From these and other comments outside the hearing, it is clear that until FAA clarifies its standing toward the GA Fund, sets out its terms and conditions and announces its implementation date, the backlog will continue to grow. Absent any deadline extension, many aircraft appear likely to be grounded on Jan. 1, 2020. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2014-07-01/faa-dragging-its-feet- ads-b-equipage-fund Back to Top Bombardier gets firm order for 16 CRJ900s worth US$727M from unnamed customer MONTREAL - Bombardier Aerospace announced Monday that it has received a firm order for 16 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets, with an option on eight others. Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) says the value of the firm order is about US$727 million, although the contract could increase to US$1.12 billion if all options are exercised by the customer, who asked not to be identified at this time. Including this latest order, Montreal-based Bombardier said it has received firm orders for 1,833 CRJ Series aircraft, including 359 CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 airlines and more than 30 customers operate corporate variants of the aircraft. http://www.canadianbusiness.com/business-news/bombardier-gets-firm-order-for-16-crj900s-worth- us727m-from-unnamed-customer/ Back to Top Back to Top Aircraft Lessors Plan Hong Kong Listings as Demand Rises in Asia China Aircraft Leasing Aims to Raise as Much as $133 million With Its IPO HONG KONG-Two aircraft lessors are planning initial public offerings in Hong Kong, the first such IPOs in the city, as the companies try to capitalize on rising demand in Asia. Chinese state-owned China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Ltd. and a Bermuda-registered aircraft-leasing firm hope to take advantage of Asian airlines' growing interest in new, more eco-friendly aircraft, and surging demand from China. China Aircraft Leasing, seeking to raise as much as US$133 million with its IPO, would be the first of the two to list. It began taking orders from investors on Friday, and is set to price its IPO on July 4 and list on July 11. The company, which is based in Hong Kong, plans to double its fleet to 64 by the end of 2016. The Bermuda-registered lessor has hired Citigroup Inc. to handle its Hong Kong listing plan. The formal name of the company planning the listing wasn't immediately available, but it has submitted its listing application and hopes to list by the end of the year, a person familiar with the situation said. The plans by the aircraft lessors to go public in Hong Kong follow the high-profile collapse last year of a Chinese consortium's attempt to buy 90% of International Lease Finance Corp., the world's second-largest aircraft lessor by fleet size, from American International Group Inc. AIG -0.05% The US$4.75 billion deal failed partly because the group of buyers, which included Hong Kong private-equity firm P3 and two Chinese state-backed companies, moved forward before they got support from Beijing. In December, AIG sold ILFC to Dutch jet-leasing firm AerCap Holdings for US$5.4 billion in cash and stock. http://online.wsj.com/articles/aircraft-lessors-plan-hong-kong-listings-as-demand-rises-in-asia- 1404125363 Back to Top UK aerospace firms eye £150bn boost from global backlog in aircraft orders The global backlog in aircraft orders in May reached 11,392, equating to nine years' work for the UK aerospace industry Airbus, which manufactures aircraft wings at a plant in north Wales, could be in line for a boost in orders for the UK aerospace industry. Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images Two-thirds of UK aerospace companies expect to grow by more than 10% over the next year as they stand to gain £150bn of work from a rising global backlog of aircraft orders. In a report highlighting the industry's contribution to the British economy, the aerospace trade body ADS said the sector had grown 10 times faster than the rest of the economy over the past three years - up 9.4% in 2013, with a turnover of £27.8bn. Growth is expected to accelerate this year as a worldwide backlog boosts export opportunities. The global industry had a record order backlog of more than 11,392 aircraft in May, equating to nine years' work for the UK industry, or £150bn. The business secretary, Vince Cable, said the figures showed the UK aerospace sector was "driving the current economic recovery". The aerospace industry in the UK includes the European manufacturer Airbus, which makes its wings in Broughton, in north Wales, and has a design and testing facility in Filton, near Bristol. Other big employers in the UK include the helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland and the engine maker Rolls-Royce. About 110,000 people are directly employed in the UK aerospace industry, with an average salary of £41,000. It is estimated that more than 29,000 new large civil airliners, 24,000 business jets, 5,800 regional aircraft and 40,000 helicopters will be required globally by 2032. ADS said this amounts to a potential market share of around $600bn (£352bn) for the UK. However, UK companies have identified shrinking client budgets, problems with accessing finance, an uncertain global economic backdrop, and lack of skilled workers as potential barriers to growth. In a boost to the government's ambitions to rebalance the economy away from debt fuelled spending and financial services and towards manufacturing exports, one in four aerospace companies said they are returning work to the UK, citing better quality and lower logistics costs. Companies are bringing back activity from Europe, the US, China and Latin America. Exports to Europe and the US account for more than 70% of all exports for UK aerospace companies, or almost £8bn. Exports to China remain at around £200m, but growth was 23% in 2013. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/30/uk-aerospace-industry-150bn-boost-orders Back to Top Graduate Research Survey Dear Transport Pilots, My name is Joe Florek, and I am currently working on my Graduate Capstone Project in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Aeronautical Science, with a specialization in Aviation Aerospace Safety Systems from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Campus. My Capstone Project will explore the impact automation in transport aircraft has on situational awareness in flight. I am seeking your assistance by completing an anonymous online survey. Based on your responses to the questionnaire, you will help me determine if automation decreases or increases overall pilot situational awareness in transport aircraft. Please note that this survey should be filled out by air transport pilots. The anonymous online surevey can be accessed via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/875LDZQ Automation and Its Affects on Human Flight Survey You have been invited to participate in a research study. This anonymous survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Back to Top Upcoming Events: Managing Safety for High Performance Jul 14-15, 2014 London-Stansted Airport, UK http://www.universalweather.com/aviation-sms/education/managing-safety-for-high- performance/?utm_source=externalemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DBTKP007 International System Safety Society Annual Symposium 04-08AUG2014 - St. Louis, MO http://issc2014.system-safety.org ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition Atlanta, GA September 7 - 10, 2014 http://annual.aci-na.org/ IFA - Maintaining Airworthiness Standards and Investing in the Most Important Asset 'The Human Element' 17 - 18 September, 2014 Emirates Eng Facility, Dubai www.ifairworthy.com Public Safety and Security Fall Conference Arlington, VA October 6 - 9, 2014 http://aci-na.org/event/4309 Back to Top Employment: Position Available: Assistant Chief Flight Instructor LeTourneau University www.letu.edu/jobs Position Available: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor Allegiant Airlines https://rn22.ultipro.com/ALL1015/jobboard/NewCandidateExt.aspx?__JobID=2207 Position Available: Safety Specialist NetJets Inc. www.netjets.com/careers Position Available: Human Performance Investigator NTSB https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/373245800 Positions Available: Abu Dhabi University Aviation Department Senior Faculty Abu Dhabi University laurie.earl@adu.ac.ae Curt Lewis