Flight Safety Information June 19, 2015 - No. 120 In This Issue Boeing to help Garuda Indonesia in FAA Category 1 quest Allegiant Air has second emergency landing this month at St. Pete-Clearwater General Atomics to Launch Training Academy for Drone Pilots in 2016 Couple Fined After Trying to Stop Ryanair Jet at Malta Airport Stowaway Dies, Another Survives Flight From South Africa to London Emergency Crews practice for emergency at Kansas City International Airport FAA and EU agree to extend NextGen partnership FAA proposes $70K penalty against Home Depot for hazardous materials violations FAA proposes $66,000 penalty against Centurion Air Cargo Denver airport controller fired, accused of faking credentials The future: Airplanes that fix themselves? PROS 2015 TRAINING Boeing Gets Cargo Boost for 747 Jumbo Jet at Paris Air Show Why John McCain Thinks the Days of Fighter Pilots Are Over Airbus's aircraft deals exceed Boeing's at Paris air show American Airlines wins the fight for Tokyo Haneda route as Delta concedes New Boeing Video Takes Viewers Inside 787-9 Dreamliner Flight Deck for Thrilling Takeoff Harvard University Pilot Health Study Graduate Research - Pilot Survey Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Boeing to help Garuda Indonesia in FAA Category 1 quest Garuda Indonesia Boeing 777-300ER Boeing has made it a "top priority" to help Garuda Indonesia gain FAA Category 1 status, the company's head of commercial airplanes said this week. Garuda Indonesia is prevented from operating to the US because its home country does not have a Category 1 rating under FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. A Category 1 rating means that the country's civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards. FAA upgraded India from Category 2 to 1 in April, allowing Indian carriers to fly to the US and put their codeshare on US airline flights. But Indonesian flag carrier Garuda is still prevented from flying to the US; it's been 17 years since it last operated a flight to Los Angeles. Speaking at the Paris Air Show during a new aircraft signing ceremony in the Boeing chalet Monday, Garuda president and CEO Arif Wibowo said the airline wanted to return to the US, but needed support to get Category 1. Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner responded, "We will work with FAA and with Garuda on Category 1; that will be a top priority for us." Garuda signed letters of intent with Boeing for 30 Boeing 787-9s and up to 30 737 MAX 8s, and with Airbus for 30 A350 XWBs on the show's opening day. Wibowo said the new aircraft would be part of the carrier's revitalization program. "The 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX are extraordinary airplanes and extremely efficient and they will give us a very competitive product," he said during the Boeing ceremony. "It's about being able to meet growth. There are more than 250 million people in Indonesia and the middle-income society is growing, so one of our strong considerations is to strengthen both our domestic and long-range networks." Wibowo said the airline was serving Japan, Korea, China and Australia and was now considering adding new routes to Europe as well as to the US if Indonesia gets FAA go-ahead. Garuda currently operates 777s to London and Amsterdam. The A350s, Wibowo said, would help Garuda reposition itself as a premium carrier in the long-haul Asia market. http://atwonline.com/manufacturers/boeing-help-garuda-indonesia-faa-category-1-quest Back to Top Allegiant Air has second emergency landing this month at St. Pete-Clearwater Allegiant officials have said the airline has one of the best safety records in the industry. The company flies about 70 aircraft. CLEARWATER - An Allegiant Air flight made an emergency landing at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport on Wednesday after pressurization problems, the second time this month an Allegiant aircraft has been forced to return to the airport. Flight 866 had been heading to Pittsburgh before landing in Clearwater at 5:07 p.m., just under an hour after taking off, according to the airline. The flight made it about as far north as Ocala before reversing course, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.com. Allegiant's maintenance team was evaluating the plane Wednesday evening. In the meantime, the airline rescheduled a flight for 7:10 p.m. All 154 passengers were given $50 vouchers for future travel. "I don't feel safe flying Allegiant," said one displaced passenger, Mary Fagan, who said there were several dozen others who, like herself, chose not to take the rescheduled flight. "You just get that feeling. It's scary." Fagan, who had been flying north for work, fell asleep after takeoff. She was nudged awake by the man next to her, who told her about the turnaround. "I said, 'Am I dreaming or what?' " she recalled. Later, as the rescheduled flight took off, she waited for her niece to pick her up. "It's just very frustrating," she said. "I don't know what my next move is." Earlier in June, another Allegiant flight made an emergency landing after taking off from the St. Pete- Clearwater airport. Smoke appeared in the plane's cabin about eight minutes after takeoff, and passengers disembarked on emergency slides after landing. Three passengers and one flight attendant reported injuries, and the airline gave all passengers $200 and a full refund. Allegiant pilots reported more than three dozen mechanical issues across the country from September to March, including nine incidents involving St. Pete-Clearwater International. An April report detailing those incidents was compiled by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters' Aviation Mechanics Coalition, or TAMC. Chris Moore, a TAMC chairman and veteran aviation mechanic who wrote the report, said in an interview that Wednesday's emergency landing was just the latest evidence that the airline needs to do more to address safety issues. "This supports everything we've been saying," Moore said of the latest incident. "The problem is there. We've been seeing it on almost a daily basis not just in Florida but around the country. The FAA needs to take a much closer look, a much harder look at Allegiant's maintenance program." Of the nine incidents in the report involving St. Pete-Clearwater, three involved flights in which Allegiant planes were forced to return to the airport after takeoff. One involved a Jan. 19 flight bound for Ohio that returned due to the crew reporting smoke in the cockpit. The other two flights involved electrical and pressurization problems, the report said. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said earlier Wednesday, before the emergency landing, that the FAA did not have data that would allow the comparison of Allegiant with other airlines on the number of minor mechanical issues like those noted in the union report. After Moore's report was released in April, the FAA said it was closely monitoring the airline. Allegiant officials could not be reached to comment Wednesday. But they have previously defended the airline, saying it has one of the best safety records in the industry. "The FAA is continuously monitoring, evaluating and providing oversight of Allegiant Air to ensure the carrier is capable of meeting its responsibility for safe operations," the FAA said at the time. "The FAA has increased surveillance while the airline deals with the current labor issues." The average age of Allegiant's fleet of about 70 aircraft is 22.2 years, with most of the fleet having been built in the 1980s, according to the union report. Most airline experts agree safety is not compromised by flying older planes with adequate maintenance. But the pilot's union, which has been involved in a labor dispute with Allegiant, has complained that Allegiant's older fleet is serviced by relatively inexperienced mechanics with 55 percent of the airline's 1,800 mechanics having less than four years of experience. http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/pressurization-problems-force-emergency-landing-for- allegiant-flight/2234102 Back to Top General Atomics to Launch Training Academy for Drone Pilots in 2016 PARIS -- Drone maker General Atomics plans to open a training academy in the U.S. early next year for drone pilots from allied countries, a company official said. The San Diego-based maker of the popular Predator-series unmanned aircraft plans to announce the move in coming weeks. It is designed in part to relieve a training bottleneck in the U.S. Air Force, according to Christopher Ames, director of international strategic development for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. "There's increasing demand for these aircraft and therefore there's increasing demand for training, and so we are starting a training academy in January of 2016 to train pilots," he said during an interview Thursday at the Paris Air Show, held outside the city at the historic Le Bourget airfield. The Air Force, which flies such unmanned systems as the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper made by General Atomics, is struggling to meet surging demand for drone operators both in the U.S. and abroad, as more and more pilots and trainers leave the service due to stress. EXODUS OF OPERATORS Indeed, so many operators are opting to exit that the service plans on cutting the number of so-called combat air patrols by armed surveillance drones to 60 a day by October, down from a recent peak of 65 a day, despite increasing calls for the missions from both combatant commanders and intelligence officials, according to a recent report in The New York Times. The Air Force earlier this year announced it was more than doubling monthly incentive pay from $650 to $1,500 for operators of remotely piloted aircraft who have finished a six-year service commitment. But the bonus -- designed to keep highly trained personnel in service -- only applied to a handful of airmen and apparently wasn't able to stem what has been described as an exodus of crew members. Related Video "Our schedules are rough," one pilot told Military.com at the time. "We fly six-day workweeks. I've had 1,500-, 1,600-, 1,700-hour years the last couple of years." He added, "I can't imagine working this schedule for another few years." Overall, the Air Force has about 1,000 active-duty pilots for Predators and Reapers, though more than 200 additional aviators are needed. The service trains about 180 such pilots a year, but needs about 300 of them and loses about 240 due to attrition. Training units are chronically understaffed because many trainers are pulled from operational units, officials said. EXPANDING FLEETS General Atomics wants to help relieve this pressure in part by offering to train some of the foreign forces that currently cycle through the Air Force programs, Ames said. While the company already trains hundreds of its own pilots, "now we'd be opening the aperture to foreign customers," he said. Its aircraft are operated by such countries as the United Kingdom, France and Italy. Predator-series drones have logged a total of 3.3 million flight hours over the past couple of decades -- with almost a third of that coming in the past year alone, Ames said. "International fleets are growing. Demand for pilots is growing," he said. "The same thing is true with the Air Force. So we're reaching out with a lifeline. We're answering a lifeline and taking matters in our own hands to relieve the congestion that obviously is building. As more and more countries buy this, operate it, you need to train crews." He didn't say where the new training academy will be located. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/06/18/general-atomics-to-launch-training-academy-for-drone- pilots-in.html Back to Top Couple Fined After Trying to Stop Ryanair Jet at Malta Airport VALLETTA, Malta - A couple ran out onto the tarmac of Malta's international airport to stop a jet from leaving for Italy without them, a court heard on Thursday. Matteo Clementi, 26, and Enrica Apollonio, 23, got stuck in traffic on their way to the airport on Wednesday. By the time they arrived, the gate was closed and they were not allowed on board, Times of Malta reported. They went to the next gate, forced open a security door, ran to the apron and began signaling to the pilots to let them on the Ryanair plane. The engines were running and the stairs had been removed. They were not allowed on board and were arrested by security staff. Their defense lawyer said Wednesday was Apollonio's 23rd birthday. She had been looking forward to celebrating it with her family "but instead spent it in a cell." Clementi and Apollonio were fined 2,329 euros ($2,656). http://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/couple-fined-after-trying-stop-ryanair-jet-malta-airport-n377591 Back to Top Stowaway Dies, Another Survives Flight From South Africa to London LONDON - A stowaway was found dead after falling from a jet at the end of an 8,000-mile journey from South Africa to London - but another survived and was being treated in hospital, police said Friday. The victim plunged from the British Airways plane and onto the roof of a clothing business in the Richmond area of southwest London, which is close to Heathrow Airport. The plane had traveled more than 11 hours from Johannesburg and was preparing to land on Thursday morning. The pair are the latest examples of stowaways who travel in the non-pressurized wheel well of passenger jets, many of whom do not survive the brutally cold temperatures and lack of oxygen. A British Airways spokesman told Britain's ITV News: "We are working with the Metropolitan Police and the authorities in Johannesburg to establish the facts surrounding this very rare case." A spokeswoman for London's Metropolitan Police said that officers had responded to reports of a "body discovered." She added: "Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found the body of a dead man on the roof of a business premises. The death is currently being treated as unexplained. A post-mortem examination will be held in due course and inquiries are ongoing to establish the male's identity." The survivor, who is believed to be aged in his late 20s was listed in serious condition at a hospital. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/one-stowaway-dies-one-survives-8-000-mile-south-africa-n378281 Back to Top Emergency Crews practice for emergency at Kansas City International Airport Drills required every 3 years KANSAS CITY, Mo. -Emergency crews had a busy morning at Kansas City International Airport. The airport held a drill to practice its response for an aircraft emergency. The three-hour drill, which is required every three years to keep passengers, the public and airport staff safe, involved agencies from across Kansas City. Airport spokesman Joe McBride said the goal is to make sure the airport and its partners are prepared to deal with just about anything. "Make sure everyone is on the same page if the worst should occur. They can react, communicate and put the situation at hand, because often times minutes and seconds are critical in saving lives," McBride said. The drill took place on a far corner of a runway that's closed for construction. It did not disrupt any flights. McBride said people at the airport have been planning the drill for the last nine months. http://www.kmbc.com/news/crews-practice-for-emergency-at-kansas-city-international-airport/33656646 Back to Top FAA and EU agree to extend NextGen partnership The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union (EU) have announced plans to extend their NextGen agreement that seeks to enhance air traffic services between the US and Europe. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and the EC Mobility and Transport director general Joao Aguiar Machado signed a letter of intent on air traffic management (ATM) modernisation, at a ceremony in France. Huerta said: "Today's signing validates the collaborative work that began three years ago and confirms our commitment to enhance our relationship even further." "Modernising air traffic management is vital for the future of European aviation." The extension and expansion of the current agreement is expected to help provide safer, on-time flying over the Atlantic. EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc said: "Modernising air traffic management is vital for the future of European aviation. "We need to invest in innovation in order to improve ATM performances. "This means cheaper flights, increased safety, a lower impact on the environment, and better capacity to manage traffic." In particular, the two sides would expand on the current memorandum of cooperation, which was originally signed in March 2011, to increase collaboration on the deployment and implementation of NextGen activities. Europe is already working with the FAA on the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), a project focused on modernising the European airspace and its ATM. As part of the understanding, various ongoing aviation-related researches such as the interoperability of avionics, communication protocols and procedures along with operational methods under NextGen and SESAR will also be extended. http://www.airport-technology.com/news/newsfaa-and-eu-agree-to-extend-nextgen-partnership-4605082 Back to Top FAA proposes $70K penalty against Home Depot for hazardous materials violations WASHINGTON, DC - The US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $70,000 civil penalty against Home Depot of Atlanta for allegedly violating Hazardous Materials Regulations. On October 7, 2014, a Home Depot store in Lincoln, Neb., offered a shipment of nine cans of flammable aerosol spray paint to UPS for transportation by air. UPS contacted the Federal Aviation Administration after some of the spray paint was released into the environment. The FAA alleges the shipment was not accompanied by shipping papers to indicate the hazardous nature of its contents and was not marked or labeled in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The FAA also alleges the company failed to provide emergency response information with the shipment. Home Depot has asked to meet with the FAA to discuss the case. http://www.eturbonews.com/60401/faa-proposes-70k-penalty-against-home-depot-hazardous-materials- Back to Top FAA proposes $66,000 penalty against Centurion Air Cargo ATLANTA, GA - The US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $66,000 civil penalty against Centurion Air Cargo, Inc., of Miami, Fla., for allegedly operating an aircraft that was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations. The FAA alleges Centurion operated an MD-11 jet on at least 12 flights between June 5 and 11, 2013 while failing to comply with its minimum equipment list (MEL) procedures after receiving a fuel quantity fault indication during a June 5 flight. An MEL specifies what equipment may be inoperable during a flight pending repair of that equipment. A carrier is prohibited from flying an aircraft with inoperable equipment unless it complies with the MEL. The FAA alleges Centurion did not comply with the MEL for deferring this discrepancy by placarding the fuel quantity indicator as inoperable and verifying the tail and forward auxiliary tanks were empty after refueling. Additionally, the FAA alleges that Centurion operated the aircraft on four of the flights after discovering that the door slide indicator did not light. Centurion did not follow MEL procedures for deferring this discrepancy by placarding the light as inoperative and verifying that the evacuation slide system was adequately charged each day the aircraft flew, the FAA alleges. Centurion has been in communication with the FAA about the case. http://www.eturbonews.com/60344/faa-proposes-66000-penalty-against-centurion-air-cargo Back to Top Denver airport controller fired, accused of faking credentials Laura Trujillo, DIA's accounting controller, was fired May 7 after outside investigator found issues with conduct, qualifications A financial controller at Denver International Airport has been fired for allegedly falsifying her academic credentials and professional standing as a certified public accountant. Laura Trujillo, DIA's accounting controller, was fired May 7 after an investigation "revealed some disturbing issues regarding her conduct and qualifications," the airport confirmed Thursday. "Due to the serious nature of those issues and the resulting loss of trust, we determined that dismissal was warranted," airport CEO Kim Day said in an e-mailed statement. "We take employee matters such as these seriously, and while they can be difficult, we believe terminating this employee was the right business decision for the airport and the city." Trujillo has filed an administrative appeal of the decision, which is pending, Day said. The airport would not provide further details on which of Trujillo's credentials are in question; however, CBS4 reports that an independent investigation by Mountain States Employers Council concluded "there was no record of Trujillo ever having a CPA license, no record of her ever having applied for such a license, and no record of her ever having applied to take the CPA exam in Colorado." Mountain States, a Denver human resources consulting firm, was hired by the airport after a Feb. 6 altercation between Trujillo and another airport employee, airport spokeswoman Stacey Stegman said. An independent investigation is standard procedure when allegations are made against a high-level manager, Stegman said. The investigation ran from Feb. 19 to March 19, she said. In February, The Denver Post learned Trujillo had been put on administrative leave. At the time, Stegman said there had been an internal employee dispute, adding there was no financial or criminal wrongdoing. In an e-mailed statement Thursday, Trujillo's attorney, Leonard Martinez, called the investigation a "witch hunt" and highlighted Trujillo's employee record. "After 29 years of dedicated service to the city, Ms. Trujillo was placed on investigatory leave so the agency could respond to 'a complaint' made by another employee of DIA with at least 20 years less service than Ms. Trujillo," Martinez said in the statement. "Ms. Trujillo did not, nor has she ever in her 29 years of service to the city, received written or verbal complaints as to job performances and or professional behavior." Martinez also said Trujillo performed all her duties and responsibilities during both her father's battle with cancer and the "decline of her husband's health," and that Trujillo has "faith in the process and feels her side of the story will eventually be told." Trujillo serves as treasurer of Latina Safehouse, a local nonprofit that supports victims of domestic violence. Her biography on the organization's website says she started working for the city of Denver in 1985 as an auditor, has "more than 25 years in finance, auditing and accounting experience" and was certified as a public accountant in 1995. STATEMENT OF LAURA TRUJILLO On February 9, 2015 after 29 years of dedicated service to the City Ms. Trujillo was placed on investigatory leave so the agency could respond to a complaint made by another employee of DIA with at least 20 years less service than Ms. Trujillo. The reason Ms. Trujillo was placed on investigatory leave was so the agency could review and respond to the complaint. The complaint meaning the incident of February 6, 2015 of a dispute with another co- employee. Although Ms. Trujillo had been a stellar employee and after a witch hunt type investigation Ms. Trujillo was terminated from DIA on May 6, 2015. Ms. Trujillo, did not, nor has never in her 29 years of service to the City receive written or verbal complaints as to job performances and or professional behavior. Ms. Trujillo has received outstanding reviews and has had several supervisors and employees working under her that have stated she has been a wonderful employee and supervisor to work with. She has an outstanding work history and an established high level of respect within the City & County of Denver and the outside financial community. Ms. Trujillo s ability to continue to perform her duties at work over the past year while her father was losing his battle with cancer, and at the same time finding out the decline of her husband s health, she continued, to perform her duties and carry out her responsibilities as a City and County of Denver employee. Since the case is in the infant part of the appeal and possible litigation, no further comment will be given. Ms Trujillo has faith in the process and feels her side of the story will eventually be told. Very Truly Yours, LAM/EA cc: Laura Trujillo http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_28337377/denver-airport-financial-controller-fired-falsifying- credentials Back to Top The future: Airplanes that fix themselves? (CNN)It may sound like a line from a sci-fi novel, but scientists believe that in the near future airplane wings will be able to fix themselves on the go. A team from Bristol University in England has developed technology that could repair cracks on an aircraft in a similar way that human skin heals. Their research has focused on carbon fiber reinforced composite materials, which are commonly used to make sports equipment and, increasingly, the modern generation of aircraft. They have created tiny micro- spheres -- hollow capsules so small that several could fit across the width of the human hair -- which are filled with a healing agent and then planted into the composite material. On impact these spheres crack, and when the liquid comes into contact with a catalyst, which is also planted into the material, it causes it to harden and literally glue the crack together. If you cut your finger, eventually it will heal... can we apply that sort of idea to these man-made structures? Professor Duncan Wass, Bristol University "Our approach here is to take the inspiration from the human body in that if we get damaged, we have the mechanisms to repair that damage," says professor Duncan Wass, the lead researcher on the project alongside professor Ian Bond and Dr. Richard Trask. "If you cut your finger, eventually it will heal, so we thought, can we apply that sort of idea to these man- made structures? So that's what we've done," he adds. At the moment, the technology can only help to fix very small cracks, rather than any significant structural damage. However it's precisely those tiny rifts that can often lead to bigger problems, which can endanger an aircraft if undetected. And rather than coat the entire airplane in micro-spheres, scientists say they could use existing knowledge about aircraft structure to target areas deemed to be of higher risk. Self-healing technology is not entirely new. For instance, car paint that can self-repair fine scratches already exists. However, professor Wass warns that in the context of airplanes, it takes a lot more than just restoring the way a surface looks. "We're talking about structural materials here, it's not enough for it just to look the same, it's got to be strong," he says. Scientists also have to find a way to make the technology work equally well across different environments. "The problem we have is that if an airplane is flying, it's very cold when you're at high altitude, or it might be on runway in Dubai and it's 40 degrees, and actually getting it to heal the same across those temperatures is the technical challenge that we have," says professor Watts. Ironing out all the technical problems isn't the only requirement for self-fixing planes to enter the market, as it also depends on the airline industry's interest and willingness to bring them on board. Boeing says the company has spent a number of years researching self-healing coating and other related technologies. "However, it is too early to speculate how research in this area may be incorporated into any product or service," says a spokesman. Professor Wass agrees that we won't be jumping on any self-fixing jets just yet. The technology, which is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and UK Catalysis Hub, is still five to 10 years away from being developed enough to be implemented. "We had the concept early on but the devil is in the detail in getting it to work," he says. "For aerospace applications where safety is absolutely critical we're probably a long way off," says Wass. However, other uses could come in the near future, such as in offshore wind turbine blades. "They're out in the sea, very high and difficult to reach, we can imagine applying there sooner," says professor Wass. "Many more consumer items -- sports equipment, bicycle frames, you can imagine in much nearer terms, maybe two years before we can start to see these things happening," he says. What seems certain, however, is that the dawn of the self-healing airplane is upon us. http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/17/travel/self-healing-airplanes/ Back to Top Back to Top Boeing Gets Cargo Boost for 747 Jumbo Jet at Paris Air Show Latest order a sign of improving demand in cargo segment amid long-running passenger-jet boom A Boeing 747 cargo plane being loaded up at an airbase in Switzerland in January. The U.S. plane maker signed a 20-plane deal for the transporter version of its venerable jumbo jet at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday. LE BOURGET, France- Boeing Co. kicked off day three of the Paris Air Show with a big order for 747-8 cargo jumbo jets, providing a much-needed boost to the venerable jumbo jet. The Chicago-based plane maker has signed an agreement with Volga-Dnepr Group to add up to 20 new 747-8 freighters to the Russian cargo operator's fleet. Boeing said the deal could be worth as much as $7.4 billion at list prices, though customers typically receive steep discounts. The commitment is the latest sign of a resurgence in the air-cargo market which was badly buffeted after the financial crisis and global recession. Boeing this week also booked deals with Taiwan's EVA Airways for five twin-engine 777 freighters. Qatar Airways also ordered four of the cargo planes. The International Air Transport Association said this month that "there was a strengthening of the cargo business in 2014 that continued into this year." A record 54.2 million metric tons of cargo are expected to be shipped by air, it said. The industry group warned of pricing pressure, though, and possible slower growth in global trade that could hamper demand for cargo aircraft. Airbus Group SE on Wednesday said it would work with ST Aerospace to develop a passenger-to-freighter conversion of its A320 and A321 single aisle jets. The program takes single-aisle jets no longer used for passenger service and converts them into freight planes. Airbus previously had a partnership with Russian companies, though the relationship faltered. Airbus sees a market for 600 such aircraft, the company said. The first A321 turned into a freighter is due in 2018, the Toulouse-based company said at the Paris Air Show. For Boeing, the order with Volga-Dnepr, once firmed up, will extend the life of the plane maker's most iconic product. Demand for the biggest four-engine jetliners, in both cargo and passenger arrangement, has significantly lagged behind smaller twin-engine jets. Boeing later this year will reduce its 747 output to an average of 1.3 planes a month, or about 15 to 16 each year, down from 1.5 monthly. Boeing last week reduced its 20-year market outlook for the very largest planes. Passenger and cargo airlines will only need 540 of the largest jets, down from the 620 forecast in 2014, it said. Airbus Group SE, which offers the A380 superjumbo in that segment though not as freighter, projects the market at 1,551 very large passenger and cargo planes. At the same time, orders notched up by Boeing and Airbus confirm the still strong demand for smaller passenger jets as airlines take advantage of growth in passenger traffic and low interest rates. The two manufacturers have obtained commitments for more than 200 extra jetliners at the Paris Air Show. Volga-Dnepr already operates six 747-8 cargo planes, as well as 8 older jumbo jet freighters. "These additional 20 airplanes will be acquired through a mix of direct purchases and leasing over the next seven years," Boeing said. In the jetliner segment, Boeing also identified Ethiopian Airlines as the buyer of six 787-8 Dreamliners previously listed as an unidentified customer. For Airbus, orders flowed for its A320 narrowbody jets. Synergy Aerospace signed a deal for 62 of the updated A320neo model for use by its Avianca Brasil airline unit, while an undisclosed Asian carrier took 60 more of those jetliners. Budget airline VietJetAir on Wednesday said it would buy six A321 single-aisle jets, adding to an order for more than 100 narrowbody planes with the European plane maker made a year ago. VietJet chief executive Thi Phuong Thao said the discount carrier also may enter the long-haul market in part because of the large Vietnamese diaspora in the U.S. The carrier is considering buying Airbus A330 jets, either the current model or an upgraded version with new engines expected from 2017. http://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-gets-cargo-boost-for-747-jumbo-jet-at-paris-air-show-1434533040 Back to Top Why John McCain Thinks the Days of Fighter Pilots Are Over The days of the Navy fighter pilot are almost over-or at least they should be. That's the opinion of Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "We think that the Navy should be looking at drones to replace manned aircraft. I believe that the F-35 is the last manned fighter aircraft," he told National Journal. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said the same during a speech in April: "The F-35 should be, and almost certainly will be, the last manned strike-fighter aircraft the Department of the Navy will ever buy or fly." Compared with manned aircraft, drones offer many advantages, but none greater than this: Drone pilots can, for example, fly a mission in Syria from a base in Nevada and be home with their families after. Fighter pilots face far greater hazards, and sometimes don't come home at all. There is, of course, an extensive moral debate raging about how, why, when, or even whether the U.S. should carry out drone strikes, but even if the nation's defense shepherds decide they want drones to replace manned aircraft entirely, there's another hurdle to clear: a massive military-industrial complex that struggles to keep pace with changing technology. Members of the Armed Services Committee have been blunt about their concerns that the Defense Department isn't adapting to new technology fast enough, but it's not simply a recalcitrance to adjust. The decision about where to invest in future military technology is inextricably intertwined with investment decisions made years or even decades ago. The F-35 program was once the latest and greatest idea, too. Decisions about the F-35 were made "under very different strategic circumstances nearly 20 years ago," the committee noted in its report on defense authorization. And just as the prospect of mothballing the F-35 has produced a gridlocked debate on Capitol Hill, some worry that decisions about drone innovations will meet a similar political morass-and stagnate because of it. "We're in a massive period of technological shift, both a civilian shift and on the side of war-drones to cyberelectromagnet rail guns to space, you name it. They're all disruptive. They're all shifts," said Peter Singer, a military strategist at the New America Foundation who specializes in 21st century technology. "I'm a big supporter, clearly from what I'm saying, of updating wherever possible, not just merely the technology but the system and processing that yield that," Singer added. Drones haven't hit this conundrum yet since they represent relatively new technology. DOD is unburdened by past decisions and can venture in a variety of directions, something the committee heartily supports. Remote-controlled planes and sea vessels could offer an alternative for monitoring far-flung areas from the relative safety and comfort of home, committee aides say. Can a sophisticated drone system like that actually be developed? Congress is enthusiastic to find out. Lawmakers are giving the Pentagon the green light in developing military drones for a variety of missions- long-range and short-range, surveillance, strikes, etc. Among the pro-drone perks in the Senate's defense bill: $10 million for 24 MQ-9 drones, the unmanned vehicles that have been used by special operations to combat terrorist organizations; $11 million for submarine-launched aerial drones; and $725 million in additional money for the Navy's unmanned combat air system program. The bill also encourages more coordination with academic labs on the development of cutting-edge unmanned air systems and sensors. McCain and ranking member Jack Reed also are pushing DOD to step up its game on training drone pilots. They said in a recent letter to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter that they believe the Air Force's recent statement that it lacks 400 MQ-9 pilots is understated. The shortages have "placed extreme strain" on the current pilots and sensor operators, the senators said. The letter's notable opening offers a bold statement about where the military is going: "We are all aware that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are an essential element in America's warfighting arsenal." McCain has gone so far as to suggest that the drone operations for spying missions should be moved from the Central Intelligence Agency to the Pentagon. He has met with opposition from Democrats and members of his own party, primarily Sen. Richard Burr, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee that oversees the spy drones. Much of that spy program still lies with the CIA, which isn't what McCain wanted. But the committee report also is peppered with encouragements to the Pentagon to develop drones on its own for many uses. The trajectory of the Defense Department's fledgling drone and robot programs will be a prime indicator of how adaptable to new technology this country's defense system can be. McCain is proposing a dramatic overhaul of the acquisition system that he hopes will bring in more entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley and other nondefense R&D meccas. If his scheme works, the armed forces could look more like Iron Man each year, to the extent that the latest technology is put in use for our soldiers. At least that's the hope. Even so, there are limits to the abilities of remote-controlled combat vehicles. Drone planes work best in sparse areas with few civilians and lots of space. That makes them great for hunting al-Qaida leaders in the desert, but not so great for the rooting out ISIS cells that gather in more populated areas. "ISIS is located in urban areas surrounded by civilian populations. It's much harder to use drones," said Audrey Kurth Cronin, a terrorism specialist and professor at George Mason University. Procurement analysts also worry that the Defense Department's outreach to entrepreneurs will fall short because the profit margin is too low or the combat specifications are too difficult to meet. With some commercial profit margins at 30 percent or higher, it's hard to imagine a nondefense developer that would be willing to engage in a conversation about building a drone that the military says "should cost" X (less than commercial value) but also have Y and Z extra security features. And then there is the worry that these green-lit programs will soon become old baggage. Killing a program is tantamount to publicly throwing taxpayer money in the trash, a political taboo. Keeping it going means there is still hope that it will work. The still-kicking F-35 fighter is a prime example. Once you commit to a major combat vehicle, it's best to see it through. At least that was McCain's explanation for not killing it in this year's NDAA. "First of all, the money was available. And second of all, the aircraft, we are committed to the acquisition of some 2,000 of them. We felt it was appropriate to go ahead and move forward," he told reporters last month. McCain says his proposal for a new acquisition plan should alleviate the likelihood that drone programs will suffer the same fate. "The secretary of the Navy, when there is a new cost overrun, has to sign on the dotted line," he said. "They're going to be responsible." http://www.govexec.com/defense/2015/06/why-john-mccain-thinks-days-fighter-pilots-are-over/115645/ Back to Top Airbus's aircraft deals exceed Boeing's at Paris air show Value of orders at fair falls compared with last year's Farnborough The deal-making finished at the Paris air show on Thursday, veterans of the aerospace industry's biggest trade fair were quipping that this had been the quietest event in years. Not because the value of aircraft sold by Airbus and Boeing fell compared with last year's Farnborough air show in the UK and the previous Paris fair in 2013. But rather because the new engines that powered aircraft down the runway at Le Bourget airport were markedly less noisy than their predecessors. FirstFT is our new essential daily email briefing of the best stories from across the web Bombardier's C-Series, the long-awaited narrowbody passenger jet that last year missed an air show debut because of problems with its Pratt & Whitney engines, was one of the stars in Paris. "I was really surprised by the low level of noise," said Christophe Menard, analyst with Kepler Cheuvreux. "The new generation of engines is moving in the right direction in terms of fuel consumption and noise." Despite expectations that the number of aircraft sold at Paris would be less than at Farnborough last year, the combined total for both Airbus and Boeing was slightly ahead of 2014. "We are getting more than I expected," said Tom Enders, Airbus's chief executive. "The depth and breadth of orders we have received has been impressive," said Randy Tinseth, Boeing's vice-president of marketing. He admitted, however, that the orders might have been higher if customers did not have to wait so long for their aircraft. "It creates a special challenge when you are selling aircraft," he said. Boeing has 5,700 jets in its order backlog, and Airbus more than 6,300, pushing deliveries for some of the most popular aircraft out as much as eight, or nine years. Together in Paris, Airbus and Boeing announced orders and commitments by airlines and leasing companies to buy 752 aircraft worth $107.2bn at brochure prices, against deals in Farnborough for 697 jets valued at $115.5bn. The higher than expected number of deals in Paris should quell concerns that the boom of recent years was over, said Mr Tinseth. Airbus emerged victor over Boeing, after unveiling at the last minute the largest deal of the show with a commitment from Hungarian low cost carrier Wizz Air to buy 110 A321 narrowbody aircraft valued at $13bn. The actual cost to Wizz is likely to be substantially less because airlines secure discounts. Over the duration of the show, Airbus had unveiled deals to sell 421 aircraft valued at $57bn. Boeing had sold 331 jets worth $50.2bn. Rob Stallard, analyst with RBC Capital Markets, urged caution on the large number of commitments made by airlines and leasing companies at the show to buy jets. Unlike firm orders, these commitments fall short of binding contracts. "The number of memorandums of understanding and letters of intent at this air show appears to be significantly higher than historically," he said. Some 64 per cent of Airbus' deals and 54 per cent of Boeing's fell into the commitment category - much higher percentages compared with Farnborough last year or Paris in 2013. Special Report The two companies scored some significant wins for their older models, with Saudi Arabian Airlines placing an order for a regional version of Airbus's A330 wide-body jet, and Qatar Airways agreeing to buy freighter versions of Boeing's 777 long-range aircraft. These deals are crucial to keeping production lines running smoothly - and bolstering profits - while Airbus and Boeing transition to new re-engined versions of the aircraft over the next few years. "These are two programmes where success or lack of success will have a greater impact on earnings than any other programme," said Sash Tusa, analyst at Agency Partners. Orders aside, Mr Enders said he was proud of the deal announced by Airbus's defence and space division with OneWeb of the US to build hundreds of satellites. The project would require a new satellite factory in the US. "For our space business this is really transformational," said Mr Enders. Yet the show is primarily a commercial aircraft showcase and was dominated by talk of the next new jet. Many industry insiders are tipping Boeing to launch an aircraft that will slot between its narrow and wide- body models, but John Leahy, Airbus's chief commercial officer, dismissed talk of the so-called middle of the market aircraft as "hot air". Mr Tinseth said the company's focus was going to be on the production of aircraft rather than speculating on new models. "Our focus will be on making sure we deliver on the programmes we are committed to," he added. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/30dea1da-15c3-11e5-be54-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3dVPKDnZ6 Back to Top American Airlines wins the fight for Tokyo Haneda route as Delta concedes American Airlines will take over one of Delta Air Lines' routes to Tokyo Haneda Airport. American Airlines will launch daily service from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Los Angeles International Airport in the fourth quarter. Just months after Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) fought to keep the route, the airline announced it will discontinue service on Sept. 30. Routes into Haneda are rare because U.S.-Japan trade agreements only allow four flights per day. Many business travelers prefer Haneda because of its proximity to downtown Tokyo. But Delta has determined it can't make the Seattle to Haneda route work for daily service. "Delta has determined that its Seattle-Haneda service is not viable under the current regulatory and market conditions, and therefore will suspend service," the airline said in a statement. Delta passengers who have flights booked to Haneda after Sept. 30 will not be accommodated. On Oct. 1, the route reverts back to the U.S. Department of Transportation, who will reallocate the slot pair (takeoff and landing) to Fort Worth-based American (Nasdaq: AAL) American had been granted back-up authority so that if Delta ever gave up the route, American would get first dibs. "We are excited to return to Haneda," American spokesman Matt Miller said. "It's great news for our customers." Delta wanted to fly the route on a seasonal basis rather than every day but American and other airlines complained that the slot wasn't being fully utilized. In March, the DOT ruled that Delta could keep the route if it provided daily, year-round service. If Delta fell below a certain threshold, the DOT would take the route away. On June 17, Delta sent a letter to the DOT saying it was "not commercially feasible" to fly to Haneda route daily year-round. Delta notes that it doesn't have a Japanese airline partner to help with connectivity within the country and region. In the letter, Delta urges the U.S. government to push for a full opening of Haneda to "allow fair and equal access" by U.S. carriers. Every U.S. carrier that serves Japan now has one of the Haneda slots. Though Delta is giving up the Seattle-Haneda route, it will continue flying its own LAX to Haneda flight. The daily nonstop flight from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita will continue, too. American previously had a route from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport to Haneda but the timing of the landing in on the East Coast occurred during curfew hours, Miller said. http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2015/06/18/american-airlines-wins-the-fight-for-tokyo- haneda.html Back to Top New Boeing Video Takes Viewers Inside 787-9 Dreamliner Flight Deck for Thrilling Takeoff EVERETT, Wash., June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today released a follow-up to its popular 787-9 Dreamliner demonstration video, bringing the public into the flight deck as Boeing's expert crew rehearsed for the 2015 Paris Air Show. The new video offers the full flight routine and a new experience: Viewers can choose between camera angles to seamlessly see the full airplane and the pilots inside the flight deck. Boeing is among the first to use YouTube's experimental technology, known as Choose Your View, which provides a more immersive and interactive video experience. "Our first 787-9 demonstration video was extremely popular and we're pleased to allow viewers around the globe to experience the exciting performance of the Dreamliner," said Sean McCormack, vice president, Communications, Commercial Airplanes. "Boeing is proud to be among the first companies to partner with YouTube on this innovative new technology." Performed by Boeing test pilots to prepare for the air show, the routine showcases the many capabilities of the 787-9 in Vietnam Airlines' livery and demonstrates maneuvers never seen in typical flight. The first video from the practice sessions, which received well more than 10 million views worldwide in less than a week, included a condensed version of air-to-air footage. Today's release includes the full 7.5-minute routine and answers the questions so many viewers have noted in their comments about what it is like in the flight deck during a demonstration flight. This video is best experienced from a desktop/laptop computer. Mobile users may have limited functionality. "We're thrilled to see what Boeing has created using the multi-angle technology from YouTube. The video gives viewers a unique perspective into a flight demonstration, creating a viewing experience that's incredibly interactive and immersive for fans," said Mike Miller, director, Business & Industrial Markets, Google. The Boeing 787-9 is the second and newest member of the 787 family, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. With the fuselage stretched 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 can fly more passengers and more cargo farther yet with the same exceptional environmental efficiency - 20 percent less fuel use and emissions than the airplanes they replace. Thirty customers from around the world have ordered 509 787-9s, 46 percent of all 787 orders. Contact: Julie O'Donnell 787 Program Communications +1 425-266-2927 julie.o'donnell@boeing.com Choose Your View Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/user/Boeing/ChooseYourView For more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYbM-3E11Qo www.boeing.com/787 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-boeing-video-takes-viewers-inside-787-9-dreamliner- flight-deck-for-thrilling-takeoff-300101573.html Back to Top Harvard University Pilot Health Study Researchers at Harvard University, are conducting the largest anonymous airline pilot health study to date.(www.pilothealthstudy.org) This study is open to current, retired, and airline and corporate pilots. It will be used to research the environmental effects of the unique cockpit environment. Including fatigue, air quality, radiation, noise, and additional areas. To date, the study has pilots from over 23 countries participating. We would like you to participate and pass it on to your fellow pilots. Safety is enhanced through knowledge! Back to Top Graduate Research - Pilot Survey Dear pilot This survey is part of a research for master degree in safety engineering. In this survey we would like to have your opinion on parameters regarding workload during the following flight phases: approach, landing and missed approach. It is important for us to get your perspective on these parameters according to your own professional experience. This survey is appointed to Air Carrier "GLASS COCKPIT" trained pilots. However, Air Carrier Non "GLASS COCKPIT" pilots are welcome to answer this survey as well. Please note that this survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Kind regards Jack Limor https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E24NQIZrPQM7tFOCAFz0y4uQvell44TZ2d0ZfSc4Skw/viewform?c=0&w=1 Back to Top Upcoming Events: 6th Pan American Aviation Safety Summit June 22-26th Medellin, Colombia http://www.alta.aero/safety/2015/home.php Fundamentals of IS-BAO July 7, 2015 Alexandria, VA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659131 IS-BAO Auditing July 8, 2015 Alexandria, VA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659136 EAA AirVenture Schedule July 19-26, 2015 Oshkosh, WI http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-schedule-of-events Fundamentals of IS-BAO July 21, 2015 Orlando, FL USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659145 IS-BAO Auditing July 22, 2015 Orlando, FL USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659149 Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 19, 2015 Madrid, Spain https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659089 IS-BAO Auditing August 20, 2015 Madrid, Spain https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659096 Safety Management Systems Training & Workshop Course offered by ATC Vantage Inc. Tampa, FL August 6-7, 2015 www.atcvantage.com/training Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection & Investigation Course 9-11 Sept. 2015 Hotel Ibis Nanterre La Defense (near Paris) France http://blazetech.com/resources/pro_services/FireCourse-France_2015.pdf Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: NTSB Human Performance Investigator https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/404707900 Head of Quality & Safety AJA (Al Jaber Aviation) Send your CV with a covering letter to aja.hr@ajaprivatejets.com Director of Safety Haverfield Aviation Submit Resume to: hr@haverfield.com NTSB Aviation Accident Investigator (Air Carrier Operations) NTSB https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/392318400 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/398022200 Manager Flight Safety JetBlue APPLY HERE Deputy Director of Flight Operations & Technical Services Helicopter Association International APPLY HERE Curt Lewis