Flight Safety Information December 23, 2014 - No. 258 In This Issue FAA, industry groups launch UAS safety campaign FAA investigates New Mexico Airlines CIA lists Ben-Gurion among toughest airports to trick World's first' hybrid aircraft take flight Bad landing damages Daily Air plane PRISM TO HELP PREPARE FOR E-IOSA Navy tests alcohol-based fuel for fighter jet Final Conforming Cirrus Aircraft Vision SF50® Personal Jet Takes Flight to Complete Certification Airbus Will Continue To Build Giant A380 Superjumbo Jet ERAU NextGen 101 Seminar - Washington, D.C. Upcoming Events FAA, industry groups launch UAS safety campaign Know Before You Fly Days before tens of thousands of consumers are expected to unwrap small unmanned aircraft systems on Christmas morning, the Federal Aviation Administration and several UAS and model aircraft organizations have launched a drone safety campaign. "This technology is very accessible and in very high demand, but information about how to fly safely is not that readily available," Michael Toscano, retiring president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), said on a media call with other UAS industry representatives and FAA. "That's why we've created this campaign, to provide prospective users of unmanned aircraft, or drones, with information and guidelines that will help them fly in a safe and responsible way." The campaign, Know Before You Fly, aims to increase awareness of UAS operation rules and regulations. It is centered around a website and complemented by social media and physical educational pamphlets that will be handed out in the new year at the Consumer Electronics Show and the Academy of Model Aeronautics January expo. The founders are also working with manufacturers to get informational literature included in packaging for UAS. In addition to AUVSI, the Small UAV Coalition and the Academy of Model Aeronautics are co- founding organizations in the safety campaign. FAA is a partner. "Our organization exists to advance modeling as a hobby and to do so in the safest possible manner," Bob Brown, president of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, said on the call. "Flying models is an enjoyable and educational hobby. We are ready to help this new community learn how to fly safe." Michael Drobac, the executive director of the Small UAV Coalition, said the coalition's partners, like Amazon, GoPro and Google, recognize that with recreational use, safety is the most important factor. The "facts" section of the website has information about the current regulations for small recreational UAS. (Credit: Know Before You Fly) "The overwhelming majority of UAS and drones are [being operated] safely, but we also know there are rogue actors out there, or there are some that are not aware of the existing laws and rules, so a campaign like this is crucial," Drobac said. Drobac said that as technology continues to evolve, it makes recreational or consumer users' lives more interesting and fun, but safety does remain a concern. "We always say that technology always wins, and so, with that in mind, let's let technology win, but do so under the umbrella of safety and proper education," Drobac said. The safety campaign's launch comes around the same time that many predicted FAA would announce its notice of proposed rule-making for commercial use of small UAS; however, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta continued to emphasize safety as more important than meeting a congressionally mandated integration deadline. "We want consumers to have fun with their unmanned aircraft, but we also want them to follow best practices for safety," Huerta said. Huerta explained the current rules for recreational users, which require that a drone not fly above 400 feet, that it be flown within the line of sight, that it's not operated near people or crowds and that it's not flown within five miles of an airport without notifying air traffic controllers. Huerta would not confirm whether the notice of proposed rule-making would come by the end of 2014. "We're working very closely with our administration colleagues, and we're very focused on getting it out as quickly as we can," Huerta said. "It's a very complicated rule, as you know, and the most important thing is that we want to get it right, but we're very focused on getting it out quickly." The members on the call had varying opinions on how and when FAA should integrate drones into the national airspace, but Huerta said the group did agree on safety. "Everyone on this call is in 100 percent agreement on safety," Huerta said. "We want to make sure everyone understands what the rules are, what the regulations are, and that they know before they fly." http://fedscoop.com/faa-industry-groups-launch-know-fly-uas-safety- campaign/#sthash.cwv2CX6h.dpuf Back to Top FAA investigates New Mexico Airlines Airline CEO plans to get all planes back in the air ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -More than a week after the Federal Aviation Administration said New Mexico Airlines voluntarily grounded its fleet to address mechanical issues, the airline has at least one operating airplane. FAA spokesperson Lynn Lunsford confirmed the update and still won't say what mechanical issues New Mexico Airlines is working on. However, he did confirm the FAA is now investigating New Mexico Airlines. "The airline is under investigation by the FAA in connection with the maintenance problems that prompted the airline to ground its fleet," said Lunsford, when asked why the FAA was investigating the airline. New Mexico Airlines' main hub is at the Albuquerque International Sunport. When their fleet was parked, New Mexico Airlines said they would reimburse passengers whose flights were canceled. At the time passengers told KOAT that New Mexico Airlines gave them little heads up about their upcoming flights being cancelled and were frustrated by customer service which appeared to be hard to come by at the Sunport. New Mexico Airlines CEO Greg Kahlstorf said he expects all planes to be back in the air eventually. http://www.koat.com/news/faa-investigates-new-mexico-airlines/30363698 Back to Top CIA lists Ben-Gurion among toughest airports to trick Passengers stand near a check-in desk at Ben-Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv. (photo credit:REUTERS) WASHINGTON - Security at Israel's international airport challenges US agents seeking entry into the country to maintain false identification, according to a Central Intelligence Agency document released by WikiLeaks this week. The document advises agents to maintain cover "no matter what" as they navigate thorough screenings at Ben-Gurion Airport, where Israeli security "commonly refer military-aged males traveling alone with backpacks to secondary screening, regardless of their nationality or skin color." The US State Department has declined repeated efforts by Jerusalem to include Israel in its visa waiver program, on the basis of its security process at its border crossings. WikiLeaks describes the document as being "produced by the CIA's CHECKPOINT Identity and Travel Intelligence Program to explain and advise CIA operatives on how to deal with secondary screening at airports." The document describes Ben-Gurion as one of the toughest airports for its agents to navigate. "Israel's security personnel focus on frequent travel to Islamic countries," it reads. "Secondary screening - a potentially lengthy and detailed look by airport officials at passengers not passing initial scrutiny - can significantly stress the identities of operational travelers." http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/CIA-trains-agents-to-avoid-security-screening-at-Ben- Gurion-Airport-WikiLeaks-document-shows-385390 Back to Top 'World's first' hybrid aircraft take flight Parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system uses 30 per cent less fuel than conventional planes, researchers say By Will Nichols 23 Dec 2014 More from this author 0 Comments hybrid aircraft Hybrid cars and trucks are now a common sight on UK streets, but researchers are now taking the technology to greater heights than ever before. A team from the University of Cambridge claims to have successfully built and tested the first aircraft powered by a parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system, where an electric motor and petrol engine work together to drive the propeller. The scientists say the single-seater aircraft uses 30 per cent less fuel than a similar plane with a petrol engine and that it can recharge its batteries mid-flight - the first time this has been achieved. During take-off and climb, when maximum power is required, the engine and motor work together to power the plane. But once the plane reaches cruising height, the electric motor can be switched into generator mode to recharge the batteries - a set of 16 large lithium- polymer cells housed in special compartments in the wings - or used in motor assist mode to minimise fuel consumption. The system uses essentially the same principle as that at work in a hybrid car. Dr Paul Robertson of Cambridge's Department of Engineering, who led the project in association with Boeing, said the advent of light-weight batteries has for the first time allowed for the development of hybrid or even fully-electric aircraft. Airlines have been trialling a range of technology such as alternative fuels and energy efficient equipment to reduce the emissions impact of the sector, which is responsible for between two and three per cent of global CO2 emissions, but is expected to contribute a much larger share as global trade increases and other sectors start to decarbonise. EU aviation emissions, which represent a third of the global total, have doubled since 1990 and are predicted to triple by 2050 if unchecked. However, further technological advances will be needed before fuel can be done away with - if all the engines and all the fuel in a modern jetliner were to be replaced by batteries, it would have a total flying time of roughly 10 minutes. Nevertheless, the researchers called the test flight "an important step forward" in developing low carbon aircraft. Marty Bradley, Boeing's principal investigator for the programme, said: "Our mission is to keep our sights on finding innovative solutions and technologies that solve our industry's toughest challenges and continually improve environmental performance. Hybrid electric is one of several important elements of our research efforts, and we are learning more every day about the feasibility of these technologies and how they could be used in the future." http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2387965/worlds-first-hybrid-aircraft-take-flight Back to Top Bad landing damages Daily Air plane TAIPEI -- A Daily Air (????) plane landed on its belly at Taitung Airport during a training session on Sunday after the co-pilot forgot to lower the landing gear during the approach, the Taiwanese carrier said. The Dornier Do 228 aircraft was carrying two pilots when the accident occurred at Taitung Airport in southeastern Taiwan on Sunday afternoon. Both pilots are reported to be safe. The pilots were practicing take-offs and landings and were returning to the airport from outlying Green Island for one of their practice runs, according to Daily Air Corp. They were simulating a left engine failure as they approached the airport, and the co-pilot, whom the airline said may have been too focused on the simulated problem, forgot to lower the landing gear. The airplane skidded over 200 meters on its belly before coming to a stop, the airline said, adding that it was still investigating the accident. The Taitung Airport was closed for two hours, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., due to the accident. A farmer who lives nearby said he heard a loud rumbling sound at the airport and when he got there he saw a plane lying flat on the runway and the two pilots getting out of the aircraft. Wang Hsing-chung, managing director of the Aviation Safety Council, said his agency has sent a group to Taitung to investigate the accident and assess the damage. Daily Air mainly operates flights to Taiwan's outlying islands, including Orchid Island and Green Island off the coast of eastern Taiwan and Penghu off Taiwan's west coast. Its Dornier Do 228 aircraft has a capacity of 19 passengers. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taitung/2014/12/22/424622/Bad-landing.htm Back to Top Back to Top Navy tests alcohol-based fuel for fighter jet The U.S. Navy partnered with Gevo to complete a flight test with an F/A-18 Hornet, like the one pictured, carrying renewable alcohol-based fuel. (MAZEN MAHDI, EPA) Navy jet reaches supersonic speed using renewable fuel. The Navy on Monday said it had conducted a test flight of a fighter jet using a renewable alcohol-based fuel as an alternative to petroleum. The Navy, Naval Air Systems Command and Gevo, which says it's the world's only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, said it tested the "alcohol-to-jet" supersonic flight at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, Md. It still takes a lot of energy to produce the alcohol needed for the blend It was the first aviation test program to comprehensively evaluate the performance of a 50-50 alcohol-to-jet blend in supersonic afterburner operations, a critical test to successfully clear use of the fuel blend for the F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet, according to a statement from Gevo. The test was one of many recently with alternative fuels aimed at use in military and commercial applications. Chicago-based Boeing this month completed the first test flight using green diesel, a fuel blend of oils and fats that has been used in trucks and other ground transportation. Boeing officials have said the use of green diesel for jets is a "major breakthrough" in the industry's quest to wean itself off fossil fuels and reduce harmful emissions. Unlike some other alternative fuels, green diesel is already being produced on a relatively large scale, and with current government subsidies approaches the price of traditional jet fuel, called Jet-A, Boeing said. Gevo's alcohol-to-jet fuel is produced at its a biorefinery in Silsbee, Texas, using isobutanol produced at a fermentation facility in Minnesota. "These flights represent an accumulation of over four years of hard work involving innovative testing with multiple players and years of research," Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber said in a statement. "Together, we have proven that (alcohol-to-jet) fuel is a viable alternative for both military and commercial applications." http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-navy-aviation-fuel-1222-biz-20141222- column.html Back to Top Final Conforming Cirrus Aircraft Vision SF50® Personal Jet Takes Flight to Complete Certification Fleet Cirrus Aircraft's Conforming Aircraft C2 of the Vision SF50 jet on its maiden flight at Duluth International Airport, Dec. 20, 2014. DULUTH, Minn., Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cirrus Aircraft announced today the successful maiden flight of the third and final conforming flight test aircraft, 'C-Two' (C2), in their Vision SF50 personal jet program. The initial flight of C2 marks the latest significant milestone for the Vision™ jet program as C2 now joins C0 and C1 in FAA flight testing and certification activities. C2's first flight took place on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 20, at approximately 2 p.m. from Duluth International Airport (KDLH). Upon completion of the scheduled 20 minute flight, Director of Engineering Flight Test, Mike Stevens reported, "Though this first flight was planned to be brief, C2 flew as predicted and initial handling qualities were confirmed. More important, today's flight is a reflection on the dedication and determination of the Vision jet development team. Thanks to each and every one of our team members in Duluth, we are moving forward into 2015 on schedule." "Today's flight marks another milestone for Cirrus Aircraft and for general aviation," said Dale Klapmeier, CEO and Co-founder, Cirrus Aircraft. "What a perfect holiday gift for Cirrus Aircraft employees, owners, operators and partners around the world. Three Vision jets flying is a fleet!" Klapmeier continued, "We are full steam ahead with our plans to revolutionize personal transportation again. The passion and dedication of the entire Cirrus Aircraft team that has brought us to this point is truly inspiring. It's another proud day at Cirrus." Progress has accelerated further for the Vision SF50 personal jet flight test program in recent months. Since its first flight on March 24, 2014, C0 has performed a wide range of aerodynamic performance and handling tests and will continue to expand its flight test regime in the near future, including in-flight parachute testing. C1 first flew on Nov. 25, 2014 with its primary focus on Flight into Known Icing (FIKI) certification. C2 now enters the program with the goals of performing reliability and optional equipment testing, as well as serving as a catalyst for flight standards and training evaluations. All three aircraft combined have logged more than 250 flight hours over 177 flights. The next aircraft set to join the Vision SF50 jet program will be the first production aircraft, known as 'P-One" (P1). P1 is scheduled to roll off the production line in the second half of 2015. The Vision SF50 is a revolutionary personal jet designed to fill the significant gap between high- performance piston singles and light jets. Simple to fly and easy to own and operate, the Vision SF50 jet is designed, in conjunction with a planned world-class training program and experience, to be a straightforward transition for pilots of high-performance aircraft, such as the Cirrus SR22T. It features a high-end cruise speed of 300 KTAS, advanced avionics, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) and an all-carbon fiber structure. With over 500 position holders, a current list price of $1.96 million and seating up to five adults and two smaller passengers in an expansive cabin, the Vision SF50 sets a new standard in luxury and flexibility for pilots and passengers. First customer deliveries of the aircraft are currently planned for the fourth quarter of 2015. For more information, please visit cirrusaircraft.com. ABOUT CIRRUS AIRCRAFT Cirrus Aircraft is a recognized leader in general aviation. Its all-composite line of personal aircraft - the SR20, SR22 and the turbocharged SR22T - incorporate innovative and advanced performance, electronic and safety technologies, including Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin® avionics and the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). To date, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed six million flight hours with 103 lives saved as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The Cirrus Vision SF50 jet, with over 500 production positions reserved, will provide a new personal and regional business transportation solution: the personal jet. All Cirrus aircraft are made in the U.S. with a direct sales force in North America and authorized sales centers covering export markets in 60 countries around the world. Cirrus Aircraft is wholly owned by China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA). For additional information on Cirrus and its products please visit cirrusaircraft.com. Cirrus is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141222/165895 SOURCE Cirrus Aircraft http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/final-conforming-cirrus-aircraft-vision-sf50- personal-jet-takes-flight-to-complete-certification-fleet-300013404.html Back to Top Airbus Will Continue To Build Giant A380 Superjumbo Jet TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus delivered its first new A350 jetliner to Qatar Airways on Monday and ruled out cancelling its A380 superjumbo program. Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier said the A380 superjumbo needed a boost in sales but that it was "just crazy" to think Airbus would cancel it as the jet was about to break even. Airbus Group Finance Director Harald Wilhelm triggered speculation over the future of the project earlier this month when he said it would break even through 2018, whether Airbus decided to upgrade or "discontinue" it. Airbus said on Monday it was confident of reaching its production goals for the A350, a mid- sized jet designed to compete with the twin-engined Boeing 787 and 777 models. http://www.businessinsider.com/r-airbus-delivers-first-a350-rules-out-cancelling-a380- project-2014-12#ixzz3MjcaBYpK Back to Top ERAU NextGen 101 Seminar - Washington, D.C. "The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Office of Professional Education is pleased to announce a two-day seminar entitled NextGen 101. The course is designed to identify the key concepts, attributes, and challenges of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Government and industry employees with an interest in NextGen, aviation stakeholders and members of the military transitioning to a career in civilian education should attend. The course will take place in Washington D.C. on April 21-22, 2015. Course fee is $750 per person or $675 per person with five or more people registering from the same group. For more information and to register, please visit us online at http://proed.erau.edu/programs/specialized-industry-training/nextgen-101- seminar/index.html" Back to Top Upcoming Events: IS-BAO Workshop Information and Registration 13 - 14 Jan. 2015 Baltimore, MD USA https://www.regonline.com/CalendarNET/EventCalendar.aspx?EventID=1592658&view=Month A3IR CON 2015 January 16-17, 2015 Phoenix, AZ http://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2015/ Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA March 10-11, 2015 www.acsf.aero/symposium ERAU NextGen 101 Seminar April 21-22, 2015. Washington D.C. http://proed.erau.edu/programs/specialized-industry-training/nextgen-101- seminar/index.html FAA Helicopter Safety Effort three-day safety forum April 21-23, 2015 Hurst, Texas eugene.trainor@faa.gov www.faahelisafety.org Curt Lewis