Flight Safety Information July 1, 2015 - No. 128 In This Issue Indonesian plane crash likely due to engine failure Propeller wasn't working on crashed Indonesian military plane, official says Indonesia Military Plane Crash Puts Focus on Aging Aircraft MILITARY JET MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AT MIDWAY AIRPORT 2 killed in helicopter crash outside Newberg (Oregon) PLANE LANDS AT HAYWARD AIRPORT (CA) WITH NO LANDING GEAR 'Concerted effort' ongoing to improve aviation safety: TransAsia European Parliament Pushes Action on Aircraft Tracking After Multiple Air Disasters US FAA seeks to shore up security of e-enabled aircraft Transport Canada fines Air Transat for safety oversights Pilots say they're contending with lasers pointed at cockpits PROS 2015 TRAINING Navy Spy Jet Takes Final Flight Sundance Helicopters Implements FAA's Aviation and Maintenance Safety Action Programs Boeing Boosts 2015 Jet Prices 2.9% as 777X Jumps to $400 Million AN-132 Light Multipurpose Transport Aircraft, Saudi Arabia U.S. Airlines Face Antitrust Probe Into Possible Price Collusion Flight Safety Foundation to Hold First Focus Groups in July for Global Safety Information Project Controversy Flares Over F-35 Air Combat Report TEEX - Infrastructure And Safety Summits...McAllen, Texas...July 20 - 24, 2015 Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Indonesian plane crash likely due to engine failure: Air force Security forces and rescue teams examine the wreckage of the Indonesian military C- 130 Hercules transport plane crash (Reuters Photo) The Indonesian Air Force said on Thursday that the military plane which crashed on Tuesday into a residential neighbourhood killing 142 people, likely suffered an engine failure. But they denied that the aircraft was overloaded after reports emerged saying that civilians had paid to get onboard. The Hercules C-130 transporter went down on Tuesday in the city of Medan shortly after taking off from a nearby airbase, exploding in a fireball and causing widespread destruction. Air vice marshal Agus Dwi Putranto, an air force operations commander, told reporters that initial findings indicated the 51-year-old plane had failed to gain enough speed after one of its four engines malfunctioned. "There's a likelihood that a propeller had stalled," he said. "Going at a slow speed, the plane swerved to the right and hit an antenna tower." He said the pilot had asked to turn back to base shortly after take-off, adding, "It means there was a problem." Witnesses have said the plane was tilting and giving off black smoke just before it crashed into a massage parlour and hotel in a newly-built residential area. However Putranto denied the plane was overloaded after the air force repeatedly revised up the number of people on the flight, sparking accusations that civilians had payed to get onboard, a clear violation of military rules. "It's unlikely an overcapacity problem," the commander said. He said that the Hercules can carry 12.5 tonnes but the passengers on the flight would have only weighed about eight tonnes. There were 122 people aboard the plane, mostly servicemen, women and their families, with the rest of the fatalities thought to have occurred on the ground. Relatives of some civilians from non-military families have said they paid between 700,000 rupiah ($50) and one million rupiah to travel on the aircraft. The military has denied taking payments and vowed to investigate. The search for bodies officially ended late on Wednesday, and the air force began transporting coffins of those killed across the vast archipelago for burial. There were scenes of horror following the crash, with buildings severely damaged, cars reduced to flaming wrecks and the plane almost completely destroyed, with the tail being the only part still recognisable. It was the sixth fatal crash of an Indonesian Air Force plane in the past decade, according to the Aviation Safety Network, which prompted President Joko Widodo to order an overhaul of the country's ageing military equipment. http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/party-on-to-celebrate-amitabh-bachchan-s- b-day-in-mumbai/article1-1365076.aspx Back to Top Propeller wasn't working on crashed Indonesian military plane, official says Air force chief: The crash may have been caused by a problem with an engine He says the information is just "an initial finding" in the ongoing investigation The crash in the city of Medan killed at least 135 people, including all those aboard Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN)The propeller wasn't working on one of the engines of the Indonesian military transport plane that crashed this week, killing at least 135 people, authorities said Thursday. The "initial finding" suggests the crash may have been caused by problems in the engine, said Air Marshal Agus Supriatna, the chief of the Indonesian air force. The C-130 Hercules smashed into the city of Medan, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, minutes after taking off Tuesday. Authorities say it was carrying 122 people, including military personnel and their family members. Supriatna has said that the pilot asked the control tower for permission to return to base shortly before the four-engine turboprop plane went down. One witness reported that the plane appeared to lose power before it started to descend. The disaster left piles of burning wreckage among broken buildings in Medan. In addition to the those aboard the plane, at least 13 people on the ground were killed, based on the death toll reported by officials. Questions over nation's air fleet The crash, the sixth involving an Indonesian Air Force plane in the past decade, is still being investigated. But it has raised concerns about the condition of the nation's military aircraft. Following the latest disaster, Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for a review of military equipment, suggesting older planes should be modernized. The C-130 that crashed Tuesday was 50 years old, according to the air force. One squadron of Hercules aircraft has been temporarily banned from flying pending the result of the crash investigation, said Indonesian Air Force spokesman Dwi Badarminto. He said he was unable to specify exactly how many planes were affected. Remains of the dead recovered from the crash site are still being identified in Medan. Some bodies have been flown to Jakarta, the national capital, to be turned over to next of kin. The plane was carrying people and logistical supplies bound for bases on other Indonesian islands. It began its multistop journey Tuesday in Jakarta and had made two stops along the way to Medan, in Pekanbaru and Dumai. http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/02/asia/indonesia-military-plane-crash/index.html Back to Top Indonesia Military Plane Crash Puts Focus on Aging Aircraft The loss of at least 150 lives in the crash of an Indonesian cargo plane raises fresh questions about the military's reliance on old aircraft and on spending that has prioritized the army over the air force. The 51-year-old Lockheed C-130 Hercules smashed into a hotel Tuesday in a residential area of Medan, the nation's fourth-largest city, two minutes after takeoff. The air force, with two squadrons of the workhorse aircraft, has grounded some of its Hercules and de Havilland planes while it investigates the cause, including potential engine failure. The accident shows the challenge facing President Joko Widodo in modernizing the military and replacing outdated equipment at a time of weaker government revenue and a slowing economy. Widodo, known as Jokowi, has pledged an increased focus on the navy to preserve security in the world's largest archipelago. "The air force has traditionally been seen as the poor cousin in the Indonesian military," said Neil James, executive director of the Australia Defence Association, a non-partisan security watchdog. "That's a cultural hangover from the 1965 coup, which was mounted by the air force." Former dictator Suharto then took power in 1967 while an army general and ruled until 1998, using army posts to maintain control of the country, which is the world's fourth- largest by people and has the biggest Muslim population. "All through the '60s, '70s and '80s the air force was starved of funds," James said. "They have pumped a fair bit of money into the air force in the past decade or so but it's hard to get over those legacies." Hercules Disasters The Medan crash is the latest air force disaster. A Hercules plane carrying military personnel and their families crashed on Java island in 2009, killing around 100 people, and another went down shortly after takeoff in Jakarta in 1991, leading to over 130 deaths. It's common for military planes to ferry personnel and families around the country. Jokowi ordered the defense minister and military chief to review management of the country's defense systems. "We must change the way we procure our defense equipment, this is now the moment," he told reporters near Jakarta on Wednesday. "We must not only buy weapons, but also begin to modernize our weapons systems. Our defense industry needs to be involved from the design process, through production, operation and training, so we can remove outdated systems." New Jets The air force is underfunded and is focusing more on buying new Russian Sukhoi jets than on maintenance of its existing fleet, said Paul Rowland, an independent Jakarta- based political consultant. Russia will supply 15 Sukhoi Superjet 100 planes to Indonesia over three years, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade said in October, days after Widodo was inaugurated. The president has not laid out a clear plan for military equipment purchases. Indonesia's defense budget will rise at the fastest pace in the Asia-Pacific region over the next five years, according to a May report by IHS Inc. Spending will increase 17 percent this year to 97.4 trillion rupiah ($7.3 billion), it said. Attack Planes Indonesia has shortlisted Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Saab AB's JAS 39 Gripen and Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-16 Block 52- plus, and is considering replacing its Northrop Grumman Corp. F-5 E/F Tiger II light attack planes, Xinhua reported in November, citing Indonesian military commander Moeldoko. Indonesia aims to remodel its naval forces after the U.S. Pacific Fleet, yet about 40 percent of navy assets are between 25 and 50 years old, Chief-of-Staff Admiral Ade Supandi said in an interview in March. Indonesia bought 10 Hercules C-130s from the U.S. in 1960 after saying the planes were needed to improve the welfare of remote communities so they wouldn't fall under the influence of communism, according to the air force's website. By 2014 it had at least 30 of the aircraft, according to its website. U.S. sanctions on Indonesia's military - put in place after violence following East Timor's vote for independence - were lifted in 2005, allowing the resumption of arm sales. The U.S. in 2005 sent technicians and parts to Indonesia to help repair C-130s. "Those sanctions are long gone but it seems that some trouble persists," said Rowland. "If they have written off four airframes on a single aircraft type in a decade and a half, something is amiss." Army Power The army continues to have people at the center of power in Jakarta. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a general under Suharto, was president for a decade from 2004. Jokowi only narrowly beat another Suharto-era army man, Prabowo Subianto, to win office last year. Since then, facing criticism from his own political party and a dispute with the police, Jokowi has turned to army figures for support, picking another ex-general Luhut Panjaitan as his chief of staff. Air force chief Agus Supriyatna was due to become head of the military under a post- Suharto system of rotation, yet Jokowi nominated an army general instead. http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2015/07/01/373617.htm Back to Top MILITARY JET MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AT MIDWAY AIRPORT, OFFICIALS SAY CHICAGO (WLS) -- A military F-18 jet made an emergency landing at Midway Airport, officials said. The U.S. Navy jet, which is used for air shows, was on its way home to Virginia Beach, Va., from a show in Minnesota when one of its two engines malfunctioned, officials said. The pilot then requested an emergency landing, and Midway Airport shut down its operations to accommodate the jet on one of its runways just after noon Wednesday. The plane completed its landing safely, officials said, and the pilot and passenger - a Navy weapons system officer - are OK. The Navy says they are investigating the cause of the engine failure and have crews working to fix it. http://abc7chicago.com/news/military-jet-makes-emergency-landing-at-midway- officials-say/821710/ Back to Top 2 killed in helicopter crash outside Newberg (Oregon) NEWBERG, Ore. - A helicopter crashed in a remote area outside Newberg Wednesday night, killing the two people onboard and starting a fire in a field, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office. Emergency responders were called to the scene at about 10:15 p.m. The scene is near the intersection of Northeast Valley Road and Dopp Road, which is very close to Chehalem Airpark and Precision Helicopters. Late Wednesday night Precision confirmed to KATU it had a helicopter go down. Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said his agency and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. Sgt. Chris Ray, with the sheriff's office, said the helicopter was a 2004 Schweizer. He said the cause of the crash is unknown. Ray said the FAA and NTSB are expected to start their investigation when it is daylight. He said the firefighters put out the blaze started by the crash. The names of those killed have not been released. We have a crew at the scene. Check back for updates and watch KATU News starting at 4:30 a.m. for live reports. http://www.katu.com/news/local/Helicopter-crashes-starts-fire-outside-Newberg- 311380561.html ******************* Date: 01-JUL-2015 Time: 11:00 p.m. Type: Schweizer 269C Owner/operator: Private Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 17 miles south of Newberg, Oregon - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances. Both occupants died in the crash. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top PLANE LANDS AT HAYWARD AIRPORT WITH NO LANDING GEAR A private plane landed at Hayward airport with no landing gear, Wednesday, July 1, 2015. HAYWARD, Calif. -- A small plane landed without landing gear at the Hayward Executive Airport this morning but no one was injured, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said. The twin-engine Aero Commander plane came down on the runway without its landing gear deployed at about 10:30 a.m., FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. The pilot was the only person on board the plane and was not injured. Gregor did not immediately know the extent of damage to the plane. The FAA is investigating the incident. http://abc7news.com/news/plane-lands-at-hayward-airport-with-no-landing- gear/821458/ **************** Date: 01-JUL-2015 Time: 10:10 Type: Aero Commander 680-F Commander Owner/operator: Private Registration: N6253X C/n / msn: 680F-1089-67 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD), Hayward, CA - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Unknown Departure airport: San Luis Co Rgnl (KSBP) Destination airport: Hayward Exec (KHWD) Narrative: The aircraft experienced a gear-up landing at Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD), Hayward, California. The airplane sustained unreported but apparent minor damage and the sole pilot onboard was not injured. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top 'Concerted effort' ongoing to improve aviation safety: TransAsia TransAsia Airways executives. Taipei, July 2 (CNA) The head of TransAsia Airways (????) said Thursday that the company has been making "a concerted effort" to enhance its aviation safety, including a six-month safety overhaul to be launched in mid-July, about five months after a deadly crash involving one of its planes. TransAsia President Fred Wu (???) said the airline has been asking aviation experts, as well as the manufacturers of the ATR and the Airbus, to carry out safety checks on all its fleet and to train its personnel since Feb. 4, when flight GE235 crashed in Taipei en route to the outlying county of Kinmen. A full-scale improvement plan for flight safety is being drafted by Yannick Malinge, chief product safety officer of Airbus, who is conducting on-site inspections, Wu said during a press conference that was held right after the Aviation Safety Council (ASC) disclosed factual data relating to the air crash. In addition, Wu stressed that all 61 of its ATR captains have passed the appropriate inspections by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, adding that a new flight crew training center will be inaugurated in mid-August. New ATR72 and A320 simulation aircraft have also been purchased for use in the company's training programs, which will be available by the end of 2016, Wu said. The company has also increased its personnel by nearly 20 percent and gave pay raises of between 4-6 percent in March in an effort to retain talent, he said. However, in response to whether the ill-fated flight should have been given clearance to take off after the crew reported a system abnormality during taxiing, as shown by the ASC earlier in the day, Wu said: "I can't answer that." He declined to reveal the company's standard operating procedure under such circumstances, although flight instructors told the ASC during the investigation that the flight should not have been allowed to take off. The system glitch led to the auto-feathering of the plane's No. 2 engine, which triggered a power loss. Instead of shutting down the non-functioning engine, however, both pilots mistakenly pulled back the throttle for the other engine, which was working normally at the time, causing the crash, according to the black boxes. Flight GE235 crashed three minutes and 23 seconds after getting clearance at 10:51:13 to take off from Songshan Airport in northern Taipei en route to the outlying county of Kinmen. Fifteen of the 58 people on board survived the accident while 43 were killed. The aircraft was less than a year old but had experienced engine problems before. The plane swerved over tall buildings in Taipei's Nangang District shortly after taking off before careening toward the Keelung river, clipping an overpass and a taxi before crashing upside down into the river. http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201507020026.aspx Back to Top European Parliament Pushes Action on Aircraft Tracking After Multiple Air Disasters Royal Australian Air Force Loadmasters Sgt. Adam Roberts, left, and Flight Sgt. John Mancey, launch a Self Locating Data Marker Buoy from a C-130J Hercules aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean as part of the Australian Defence Force's assistance to the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Justin Brown / Australian Defence Department At issue is the guarantee to aviation of set radio spectrum availability on satellites which would allow the industry to adequately expand its aircraft tracking and NextGen air traffic control initiatives. Radio spectrum allocations are reviewed periodically by the ITU to address demand from diverse civil, governmental, and commercial applications. "Given the limitations of aircraft tracking today, this technology is simply indispensable," said Eamonn Brennan, Chief Executive of the Irish Aviation Authority, which has wide responsibility for air traffic management in the North Atlantic at a European Parliament symposium entitled 'Disappeared Aircraft in a Connected World: An Urgent Call to Action,' which took place in Brussels on July 30. "Satellite ADS-B will greatly assist airlines, aviation authorities, air navigation service providers and search-and-rescue agencies during emergency situations," said Brennan. "The ability to provide the location of aircraft with tremendous accuracy is precisely the kind of service being sought by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association, airlines and other aviation bodies." MEPs had the support from European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), EUROCONTROL, and air navigation service providers all joining in the call to action to advance aircraft tracking. Advancement, they argued is "imperative" and satellite communication technologies play a "critical role" in making global aviation safer. In a modern world, the MEPs argue, there is sufficient technological maturity to support the communications needs of governments, utilities, and corporations, while ensuring passenger safety. During the last ITU Meeting in Geneva, in 2012, IATA argued that secure radio spectrum allocation is essential to safety in an increasingly crowded airspace. "[T]he airspace is becoming more complex and the demand for frequency assignments and hence spectrum allocations is increasing. Whilst some of this demand can be met through the improved spectral efficiency of new radio systems, it is inevitable that existing allocations may need to be broadened or additional aviation spectrum allocations sought to meet this demand," IATA stated in a 2012 position paper. Global allocations of the radio spectrum are agreed by the 191 States of the ITU as resolutions, ultimately becoming radio regulations which, once signed, become international treaties and affect the management of airspace around the world. http://skift.com/2015/07/01/european-parliament-pushes-action-on-aircraft-tracking- after-multiple-air-disasters/ Back to Top US FAA seeks to shore up security of e-enabled aircraft When Boeing was developing its 787 twinjet and 747-8 jumbo the US airframer had to demonstrate to the FAA that certain flight critical domains could not be tampered with by hackers. Special Conditions issued by the agency in 2008 and 2010 for the 787 and 747- 8, respectively, noted that the airliners have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and connectivity capabilities of their computer systems and networks, "which may allow access to external computer systems and networks". NDAs surround these and other aircraft with Special Conditions, which is why industry stakeholders are loathe to say definitely whether new design jets can be hacked via inflight entertainment and connectivity systems, even while hitting back at hacking claims concerning legacy aircraft. But after a hacking attack of Polish airline LOT's ground-based systems, and in the face of recent high-profile IFE hacking claims, the FAA has proposed guidelines for operators to create an Aircraft Network Security Program (ANSP) for all truly e-enabled aircraft to ensure appropriate defenses are in place to address the threat of intentional unauthorized electronic interaction to aircraft safety. The Advisory Circular (AC), now in draft form and open for comments, "is essential due to technologies in modern aircraft that may be vulnerable to threats common to IT platforms", says the FAA. Previously, aircraft designers used ARINC 429/629 or MIL-STD (Military Standard) data buses to interconnect flight-critical avionics. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP) were used only to support passenger information and entertainment systems. But new aircraft designs use TCP/IP technology "in a manner that virtually makes the aircraft an airborne interconnected network domain server", notes the agency. Kontron now Banner_Avionics-300x300The types of data transmitted over this interconnected network can range from customer profile, inflight entertainment content, navigation, and aircraft health monitoring. But as with other TCP/IP applications, "a real threat exists that may be intentional or unintentional with a detrimental effect on system performance", says the FAA in explaining the rationale for the new AC. "These effects may range from reduced performance, denial of service, or criminal activity." Developing a comprehensive ANSP for e-enabled aircraft, "ensures network security onboard the aircraft, the off-airport supporting infrastructure (corporate offices), and everything in between", adds the agency. The AC describes an acceptable means of obtaining operational approval for an aircraft certified with a Special Condition related to security of the onboard computer network. It doesn't only apply to new types like the 787, as TCP/IP can be found in post-delivery modifications. And it has been released at a time when the FAA is already establishing an industry working group to provide guidance on how to enhance aircraft cyber security. Addressing security vulnerabilities in ACARS, including on legacy aircraft, will surely be on the agenda for the working group. ACARS has long been a point of concern, as it's quite conceivable to originate false ACARS messages that would be accepted as legitimate. Moreover, the industry is now looking at moving non-safety ACARS traffic over broadband connectivity pipes, and graduating more fully to ACARS-over-IP, which opens up further security considerations. "When I receive an [ACARS] message it is based on trust on who sent me the message, but there is nothing in the message necessarily that is giving me that confidence to the level that we would be satisfied with," notes industry expert Peter Lemme, who chairs the AEEC subcommittee that builds standards for broadband satcom systems. "Yes there are bits and pieces in there but not to the degree that would pass the security audit. So we have a lot of work to do to build up the infrastructure in an IP framework to make sure this is going to work but the wheels are moving and I think ... it is going to happen because the economics are there." Comprised of technical experts, the FAA industry working group will be tasked with developing recommendations for the industry. But in the meantime, the FAA's draft AC represents an important step in bolstering system security of e-enabled aircraft in the face of hacking threats. http://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2015/07/01/faa-takes-important-steps-toward- ensuring-security-of-e-enabled-aircraft/ Back to Top Transport Canada fines Air Transat for safety oversights Air Transat (TS, Montréal Trudeau) has been fined CAD150,000 (USD122,000) by Transport Canada for safety violations that occurred during 2014. The Canadian leisure operator said in a statement that it had authorized six engineers to sign off "for technical work without having updated their mandatory non-technical training, due to procedural shortcomings." The deficiency was subsequently corrected, the airline added. Air Transat operates a fleet of nine A310-300s, six A330-200s, four A330-300s, and four B737-800s on flights from various Canadian cities to Mexico, the Caribbean as well as to Europe. http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/38462-transport-canada-fines-air-transat-for- safety-oversights Back to Top Pilots say they're contending with lasers pointed at cockpits Laser light can prove a dangerous distraction for pilots During the early hours of May 27, a crew member of a Boston MedFlight helicopter reported the flash of a green laser aimed at the aircraft's cockpit as it descended toward Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with a patient. State Police scoured the Storrow Drive area near the Esplanade, searching for the laser's source and finding nothing. The tiny laser pointers for sale in office supply stores can cause big problems for pilots, who are increasingly encountering their disorienting light in Massachusetts and around the country - through mischief, malice, or accident. While no one was injured on that May morning, Boston MedFlight later decried the laser incident as a "terrible thing" that put its crew and patient at risk. Between 2008 and 2014, the number of reported laser incidents in Massachusetts climbed 175 percent, according to a Globe analysis of thousands of Federal Aviation Administration laser incident reports. Nationwide, it grew by 327 percent. In Boston this year, pilots have reported 16 laser events, including the May incident, through June 5, said FAA spokesman Jim Peters, already surpassing last year's total of 15. The FAA attributed the rise in reports to the increased availability of inexpensive laser devices and greater awareness among pilots of their danger. The FAA says a laser can be as distracting as a nearby camera flash or the high-beam headlights of an oncoming car. While pilots are unlikely to suffer permanent eye damage, it may take them a few minutes to adjust, which is particularly dangerous during a flight's takeoff and landing. "At 35,000 feet, you have time to react," said Patrick Murphy, who tracks laser incidents on the website LaserPointerSafety.com. "At takeoff or landing, you may not have time to recover." No aircraft accidents have been attributed to lasers, but "given the sizeable number of reports and debilitating effects that can accompany such events, the potential does exist," a FAA report said. The FAA began formally tracking laser events in 2005. The number of annual reports climbed steeply over the next six years. In 2012, George Johnson, a supervisory federal air marshal, said the number of attacks had almost reached an "epidemic level." Since then, the number of annual reports has leveled off. Across the country, pilots reported 3,894 laser-related incidents in 2014, according to the FAA records. Through June 5 of this year, 2,285 laser events in the United States were recorded, said Peters. Almost 70 percent of these laser events occurred between 2,000 and 10,000 feet, according to the FAA. Most took place between 7 and 11 p.m. and involved a green laser. Green lasers are more visible than other colors, the administration found. Laser incidents were more densely located on the West Coast, particularly in California, which had 888 reports in 2014. The most reports in 2014 came from the Los Angeles area, which saw 107. Officials warn that thousands of incidents each year still go unreported. Murphy said pilots may have tired of reporting these incidents, particularly in cases when the laser did not pose more significant danger, like when their airplanes were at cruising altitudes. The light from laser pointers can radiate for miles, growing in size and scope at longer distances. Murphy said there are two types of people who shine lasers at airplanes. The first group do so inadvertently, not realizing how far their laser extends. But the second group, what he called the "criminal and antisocial element," flash lasers at aircraft cockpits to distract pilots. According to federal law, anyone who knowingly aims the beam of a laser at an aircraft could be fined or face up to five years in prison. Prosecutions of laser events are rare, and convictions even more so. The technology publication Ars Technica tallied 134 arrests made in connection with the incidents nationwide from 2005 to 2013. Eighty of those arrests led to convictions. "It's difficult to locate the person doing it," said State Police spokesman David Procopio, noting that there's often a lag between the time of the incident and when it is reported. Even so, each Massachusetts report is forwarded to the Boston's joint terrorism task force and investigated, said Procopio. Incidents are reported to State Police by airports, airlines, the FAA, and witnesses, he said. Procopio said the vast majority of the local incidents were considered "nuisance activities," where terrorism was not the aim. A Medford man was sentenced to 36 months in a federal prison in 2011 for shining a powerful green laser beam into a State Police helicopter that was escorting a tanker through Boston Harbor and then lying about the incident. His conviction on the charge that he pointed the laser at the helicopter on purpose was vacated upon appeal. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/01/mass-pilots-reports-laser-strikes- have-increased/NKqoTGNAo1mtJahmms04bM/story.html Back to Top Back to Top Navy Spy Jet Takes Final Flight Military News Minute: After 45 years of service, the Navy EA-6B Prowler has been officially retired. After 45 years of service, the Navy EA-6B Prowler has made its final flight and was officially retired. The Prowler was utilized by the Navy and Marine Corps to perform electronic surveillance and jam enemy radar. Since it's first flight in 1968, it has seen action in Southeast Asia in 1972, Operation Desert Storm in 1991, supported NATO operations in Eastern Europe and enforced no-fly zones around Iraq. The Prowler will be replaced by the high-tech EA-18G Growler aircraft. To the prowler and all who flew it, we thank you for your service. http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1560065-navy-spy-jet-takes-final-flight Back to Top Sundance Helicopters Implements FAA's Aviation and Maintenance Safety Action Programs Source: Air Methods Corporation LAS VEGAS, July 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sundance Helicopters recently became the nation's first helicopter tour operator and Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS) member to implement the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and Maintenance Safety Action Program (MSAP). ASAP and MSAP are voluntary, self-reporting programs designed to identify and reduce safety concerns. "We are proud to participate in ASAP and MSAP; they support our just culture," said Jay Francis, president of Sundance Helicopters. "These programs have a long history and proven success in the aviation industry, and will complement our safety initiatives." ASAP and MSAP use employee input to identify safety concerns, operational deficiencies, non-compliance of regulation, deviations from company policy and unusual events. In partnership with all relevant company departments and the FAA, each report is investigated and corrective actions determined, based on a non-disciplinary approach to flight safety. All of the elements of ASAP and MSAP are set forth in the FAA's Advisory Circular 120-66B and an approved memorandum of understanding between the FAA and Sundance Helicopters. Archie Gray, senior vice president of Air Methods, added, "The bottom line in helicopter operations, and in aviation, is safety. Sundance's ASAP and MSAP participation gives us an opportunity to work collegiately with the FAA and to promote safety." Sundance Helicopters puts pilots and maintenance technicians through extensive education and training that goes beyond FAA requirements. The quality of training is verified through rigorous testing and followed up with performance monitoring systems. Sundance is also among the first in the industry to adopt the new global standard in aviation safety with a helicopter specific Safety Management System (SMS). Sundance Helicopters, part of Air Methods' Tourism Division, has been operating in Las Vegas and Grand Canyon for close to 30 years and carries over 160,000 customers every year. http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/07/01/749217/10140426/en/Sundance- Helicopters-Implements-FAA-s-Aviation-and-Maintenance-Safety-Action- Programs.html#sthash.eVLE1U7l.dpuf Back to Top Boeing Boosts 2015 Jet Prices 2.9% as 777X Jumps to $400 Million Boeing Co. raised the cost for the largest version of its updated 777X jetliner to $400 million as it boosted 2015 aircraft prices 2.9 percent across the board. The redesigned 777-9X, a twin-aisle jet that will seat more than 400 travelers, debuted last year as Boeing's priciest plane at $388.7 million. The second-costliest model this year is the 747-8 freighter, priced at $379.1 million, according to updated prices posted on Boeing's website Wednesday. The world's largest planemaker adjusts prices once a year to reflect an internal formula that takes into account increases in the costs of goods, services and labor, Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said in an interview. Prices rose 3.1 percent in 2014. The catalog prices don't reflect the discounts that are customary in the industry. Boeing has 286 orders for its 777X series, which was introduced in late 2013 at the Dubai Airshow and won't begin commercial service until 2020. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-01/boeing-boosts-2015-jet-prices-2- 9-as-777x-jumps-to-400-million Back to Top AN-132 Light Multipurpose Transport Aircraft, Saudi Arabia An-132 AN-132 is a new light, multi-purpose transport aircraft to be jointly developed by Antonov and Taqnia Aeronautics Company. The aircraft will be based on Antonov An-32 (NATO reporting name: Cline) twin-engine turboprop. The light transport aircraft is primarily intended to transport cargoes weighting up to 9.2t, while its secondary roles will include aerial delivery of cargoes on parachute platforms, airdropping of paratroopers, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, maritime surveillance, and other military and civilian missions. Antonov presented its AN-132 project at SITDEF 2015, one of the biggest exhibitions of Latin America, in May 2015. It estimates the market demand for the aircraft to be 900 units, and expected to begin production in 2017. AN-132 development programme Antonov An-178 Transport Aircraft, Ukraine An-178 is a short-range medium-airlift transport aircraft currently under development by Antonov. A contract signed by KACST and Antonov in April 2015 marked the beginning of the AN- 132 development programme. The An-32 platform was preferred after studying the requirements of Saudi Arabia and the global market for light transport aircraft in the military and civil sectors. Taqnia Aeronautics Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Company for Technological Development and Investment (TAQNIA), signed an agreement with Antonov in May 2015 to develop and manufacture the AN-132 light cargo planes in Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Taqnia Aeronautics Company and Antonov will redevelop the existing an-32 aircraft to produce a new variant with improved payload and range characteristics. The agreement will also enable transfer of the technology to Saudi Arabia. The programme will also encompass the development of a new cockpit with state-of-the- art US-made navigation systems, which will allow the crew to efficiently operate the aircraft in adverse conditions. Additionally, new equipment and systems will be integrated into the aircraft to significantly enhance its capabilities. The intellectual property rights and the inventions for the aircraft will also be owned by Saudi Arabia. An-132 production In June 2015, Antonov signed a participation agreement for the design and construction of an aviation plant in Saudi Arabia. The plant is to be furnished with modern equipment, allowing the implementation of new aviation technologies in the aircraft production. Taqnia (Saudi Arabia), the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Aviation Technology (UkrNIIAT), Altis Holding (Ukraine) and Broetje-Automation (Germany) will involve in the development of the aviation plant. AN-132 light airlifter will be the first aircraft to be built at the new aviation complex under the finalised arrangements. AN-132 design and features The AN-132 will retain the best characteristics of AN-32 including high thrust-to-weight ratio for operations in hot and high conditions. It will also offer reliability and flexibility to operators. "The light transport aircraft is primarily intended to transport cargoes weighting up to 9.2t" The transport plane will integrate in-built cargo handling equipment for loading / off- loading of payloads, while an auxiliary power unit aboard the aircraft will allow autonomous operations when operating at poorly-equipped airfields. AN-132 will have the capability to land on unprepared runways where other transport aircraft fail to operate. It will be used for the transportation of troops and light vehicles in standard configuration, but can be configured for airdropping of paratroopers or cargo and MEDEVAC roles. Cockpit The AN-132 will be equipped with an advanced glass cockpit accommodating two crew members. This cockpit will integrate navigation systems from Honeywell and systems and equipment aboard the aircraft will meet all the modern standards. Engines The new Saudi-Ukrainian aircraft will be powered by two turboprop engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney Canada. Each engine will drive a Hamilton Sundstrand propeller. The power-plant will offer AN-132 an extended range compared to An-32. http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/an-132-light-multipurpose-transport- aircraft/ Back to Top U.S. Airlines Face Antitrust Probe Into Possible Price Collusion U.S. airlines face an antitrust investigation by the Justice Department into whether they are discussing how to control the supply of seats, a crucial factor in determining fares. American Airlines Group Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. confirmed receiving Justice Department requests for details of conversations, meetings and conferences where industry capacity was discussed. The department said an inquiry was under way into possible coordination among carriers but wouldn't give details. Airfare decisions normally are among the most closely guarded secrets at airlines before they're announced, and upon announcement they trigger intense scrutiny by competitors and bargain-hunting travelers. The Bloomberg U.S. Airlines Index tumbled immediately after the probe was disclosed, then pared its decline to 2 percent. "I certainly haven't seen any outward signs of collusion," said Joe Denardi, an analyst with Stifel Financial Corp. in Baltimore. He questioned the Justice Department's timing in bringing an inquiry when in fact airlines have been adding more capacity than many investors would like to see. Seating and fares are closely intertwined, because companies lose pricing power when the industry's capacity outstrips travel demand. Airline stocks have been under pressure this year on concern that their seat growth is expanding faster than the U.S. economy. The index is down 19 percent in 2015. As part of the Justice Department's request for documents, airlines were asked for materials involving the "need for, or the desirability of, capacity reductions or growth limitations by the company or any other airline," according to a letter sent to carriers requesting the information. Capacity Details The agency's letter also sought details on each airline's capacity for every month -- a figure each carrier reports routinely -- since January 2010. Concern that airlines may have been coordinating on fares led the U.S. to sue to block the American-US Airways merger in 2013. Before that case was settled, the Justice Department's antitrust division said the biggest airlines "increasingly prefer tacit coordination over full-throated competition." That tie-up capped a wave of consolidation that swept up five of the 10 biggest U.S. airlines since 2005. The squeeze left American, Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. as lone providers of full-service cabins and international networks. Southwest is the dominant discounter. All four major airlines promised their cooperation with the antitrust inquiry. 'Compete Vigorously' "Our members compete vigorously every day," said Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. carriers. "It is customers who decide pricing, voting every day with their wallets on what they value and are willing to pay for." Domestic fares are down this year, the group said, citing the U.S. Transportation Department, and capacity is at a post-recession high. Seating capacity was widely discussed during the International Air Transport Association's annual meeting in Miami last month and has been a primary topic during recent airline conference calls and presentations. After a 2 percent increase in airlines' available domestic seating in 2014, carriers are piling on seats at a 5 percent clip, Stifel's Denardi said in an interview. Competition also has increased in many key U.S. markets, he said. American Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker said in a Bloomberg interview on May 20 that the world's largest carrier wouldn't lose customers to capacity additions by low-cost rivals. Customers Choose "To the extent capacity comes in and results in lower prices, we'll match those prices because we have to," he said. "All we can do is run our own airline and compete against those that chose to grow and we will compete aggressively." U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, urged the Justice Department last month to investigate what he called "anticompetitive, anti-consumer conduct and misuse of market power in the airline industry." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-01/u-s-justice-department-opens- antitrust-probe-into-airlines Back to Top Flight Safety Foundation to Hold First Focus Groups in July for Global Safety Information Project Alexandria, VA, July 1, 2015 - The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) announced today that it will hold an initial series of focus groups this month as part of a multi-year study concerning safety data collection and processing systems within two key regions: Asia- Pacific and Pan-America. The first Asia-Pacific workshops will take place in Wellington, New Zealand (July 2); Sydney, Australia (July 6); Singapore (July 8); Hong Kong (July 10) and Tokyo, Japan (July 13). Pan-American focus groups are scheduled for Mexico City, Mexico (July 20-21) and Panama City, Panama (July 23-24). Additional dates and locations are available from the Flight Safety Foundation. In addition, informational sessions aligned with regional aviation safety groups throughout the two key regions will be held to promote all aspects of the project. One was held in Medellin, Colombia on June 22-25, with a second planned for Lima, Peru on July 9-10. The Global Safety Information Project (GSIP) is a first-of-its-kind effort that seeks information pertaining to safety data collection and processing from aviation industry stakeholders within the key regions. "GSIP represents an initial strategic attempt to apply the best practices of knowledge management on the critical challenges of flight safety data," FSF technical vice president Mark Millam said. "Current efforts, such as this month's focus groups, are part of a preliminary discovery phase. They can serve as the building blocks for a future system in which all data pertinent to flight safety, regardless of the geographic location for collection, can be collated with similar types of information and formatted into useful intelligence." The key outcome from the focus groups will be to identify how many entities collect safety data, how the data is collected and processed and how the results of that data collection and processing are applied to promote aviation safety. "As the number of flight safety statistics increases, improved collection of and access to data becomes more imperative; however there isn't really a comprehensive knowledge management approach yet to correlate worldwide flight safety data," Millam said. The collection and analysis of safety information is a key component of the Federal Aviation Administration and the International Civil Aviation Organization global aviation safety plan. Funded through an FAA cooperative agreement, GSIP seeks to establish what types of safety information and data are captured by each of the key stakeholders within the two study regions and how this is managed to enhance aviation safety. Project activities will include the development of a globally focused toolkit to be used by states to develop and implement voluntary safety reporting programs that include protections against punitive action by regulatory agencies and/or employers, as allowed by the respective national law. Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation's mission is to be the leading voice of safety for the global aerospace community. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12088866/flight-safety-foundation-to-hold- first-focus-groups-in-july-for-global-safety-information-project Back to Top Controversy Flares Over F-35 Air Combat Report A Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) was outperformed in the type's first basic fighter maneuvering exercise by a 20-plus-year-old F-16 fighter, according to a leaked Lockheed Martin report prepared by the pilot who flew the mission. Inferior energy maneuverability (EM), a limited pitch rate and flying qualities that were "not intuitive or favorable" in a major part of the air-combat regime gave the F-16 the tactical advantage and allowed its pilot to get into both missile-launch and gun parameters over the F-35. Another drawback was that the large helmet and F-35 canopy design restricted the pilot's rearward view. Lockheed Martin and the JSF Program Office confirm that the document, originally leaked by the War is Boring website, is genuine but says "the interpretation of the scenario results could be misleading." Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, director of the U.S. Air Force F- 35 integration office, says that it is "too soon" to judge the F-35's maneuverability. JSF risk reduction and development have been under way since late 1996 and more than $80 billion has been spent. F-35 in high-angle-of-attack testing. The fighter has a combat advantage in that area, but it takes too long to get in and out of it, a pilot reports. Credit: Lockheed Martin/Tom Reynolds The test mission in the report was carried out on Jan. 14. It could have been one of those flown from Edwards AFB in California by Lockheed Martin site lead test pilot David "Doc" Nelson and reported by AW&ST in April. At that time, however, the question of which aircraft had the advantage in the engagement was not discussed. The author's name has been removed from the copy of the report obtained by Aviation Week. F-35 Flies Against F-16 In Basic Fighter Maneuvers The key performance parameters set for the JSF do not call for the aircraft to be superior to the F-16 and F/A-18C/D in air-to-air combat, but they demand comparable performance in terms of sustained and instantaneous g and acceleration. However, Lockheed Martin executives and pilots have stated that when including sensor fusion, stealth and other attributes, the F-35 will be superior in air combat, by margins of 400- 600%, to so-called "fourth-generation" fighters (a term coined by Lockheed Martin to denote both older U.S. fighters and current non-U.S designs). The F-16 that outmaneuvered the F-35 in the January test was an F-16D Block 40, one of the lower-performing versions of the family, delivered between 1987 and 1994. The Block 40 was beefed up to carry more weapons than the preceding Block 30 and incorporated Have Glass radar-cross-section reduction measures, boosting its empty weight, but lacked the higher-performance engines introduced on the Block 50. The F-16 retained its two 370-gal. external fuel tanks during the engagement and was limited to 7g until they were empty. Lockheed Martin notes that AF-2 is an early development aircraft without stealth coatings, although those are not relevant in within-visual-range (WVR) combat and their absence would make the airplane lighter. It was also not equipped with simulated air training missiles, but neither was the F-16. Lockheed Martin says AF-2 lacked "software that allows the F-35 pilot to turn, aim a weapon with the helmet, and fire at an enemy without having to point the airplane at its target," but this capability is available in clear daylight on any modern fighter, and was not used by the F-16 in the test. Also, the F-35 cannot exploit this capability in stealth configuration because there is no suitable high- off-boresight air-to-air missile planned for internal carriage on the aircraft. The report identifies changes to F-35 flight control software that could mitigate some of the problems found in the test. However, none of them can correct the deficit in energy maneuverability, which is defined at any given airspeed by the aircraft's available thrust, drag and weight and indicates its ability to accelerate, climb or change maneuver state. The F-35 has higher angle-of-attack (AoA) limits than the F-16, which should normally be an advantage, but a combination of factors, including a limited pitch rate and the inferior EM, made it less useful. It took too long to reach high AoA, and the lack of energy maneuverability meant the F-35 could not quickly re-accelerate into high-speed maneuver states. The sortie included 17 engagements starting between 18,000 and 22,000 ft. with a 10,000-ft. floor, with starting speeds between 380 and 440 kt. indicated airspeed, the report says. The test was primarily designed to "stress the high AoA control laws during operationally responsive maneuvers utilizing elevated AoAs and aggressive stick/pedal inputs," the report says. The pilot judged the test as being "extremely effective at providing data that are not achievable with scripted test cards," it adds. The first observation in the report is that "the most noticeable characteristic of the F-35A in a visual engagement was its lack of energy maneuverability," and the pilot notes that the F-35A has a smaller wing than the F-15E, similar weight and 15,000 lb. less thrust. The "insufficient pitch rate exacerbated the lack of EM" the pilot reported, because energy would bleed off continuously as the pilot tried to get the nose up. The F-35 would have had more shot opportunities in some cases if the pitch rate limit (imposed by control laws rather than aerodynamics) had been more relaxed, the report says. Offensive and defensive gun moves were slow and easily detected and countered, the report says, and the highest g loading was around 6.5g in breaks or on entering a turn, decreasing as the aircraft slowed down. The F-35 airframe is designed for 9g. High AoA flight allowed "a few offensive opportunities" against the F-16 (which is AoA- limited and roll- and yaw-limited towards its maximum angle of attack). For instance, a long full-rudder input could yaw the F-35 sharply enough to cause the F-16 to cross its nose and get a missile shot, the report says. But this maneuver "required a commitment to lose energy" with the F-35 headed for the floor, and "meant losing the fight unless the bandit made an error." The F-35 has a sophisticated flight control system (FCS) that changes the response of the control surfaces to stick and rudder commands as the airplane moves through its flight envelope, with low- and high-AoA regions and a "blended" region between them, at 20-26 deg. This was the area where the aircraft "fought best," the pilot reported. But it was not easy, because flying qualities "were neither intuitive nor favorable" and "the lateral/directional response was often unpredictable." The problem, in the pilot's view, is the way that the FCS adjusts response according to AoA. In flight test, the pilot aims at a specific AoA and expects a certain response, but in a dynamic flight "attention is focused on the bandit rather than the specific AoA [and] the response was often confusing," the report says. The pilot was left waiting for a roll rate that did not happen, or expected yaw and got sideslip. In one case the pilot applied full rudder to no immediate effect, then tried a stick input - just as the rudder kicked in. The pilot added more rudder and got a "fantastic yaw rate" that was promptly quashed ("immediate, abrupt and forceful") by the anti-spin logic in the FCS. Both the anti-spin logic and the slow pitch rate meant that the F-35 could not escape a gun attack by the F-16. "No successful guns defense was found," the report says. For instance, a standard escape maneuver - unload, roll and pull to change the plane of the aircraft's movement - was bogged down by pitch rate, so "the result was an out-of-plane maneuver that was easy to track." The size of the helmet-mounted display system presented a problem. "There were several occasions where the bandit would have been visible, but the helmet prevented getting in a position to see him," the report says. The "eyebrow" formed by the visor assembly also blocked the tally at times. Some mitigating measures are advocated in the report, such as relaxing restrictions on AoA onset and pitch rate. Both would let the pilot move more quickly into and out of the higher-AoA regime, where the F-35 has a controllability advantage over the F-16. The pilot also advises expanding the "blended" control regime, avoiding shifts in control laws in a key part of the combat envelope and giving the pilot more yaw authority versus the anti-spin logic. In the pilot's view, the F-35's departure resistance is good enough to allow more latitude. Other aircraft, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, have benefited from flight control software changes over time, which have allowed pilots to better exploit the aircraft's strong points and mitigated early problems. However, the basic energy maneuverability deficiency is more difficult to address, and most contemporary fighters are much less restricted at high AoA than the F-16. ("Drag him into the phone booth" has long been the adversary's best way to fight the F-16.) "The F-35 goes out against something like a Sukhoi or a Typhoon and they're going to eat his lunch," remarks an experienced military pilot. "They have the advantage in turn rate, [specific excess power] and energy bleed rate." Pilots who talked to Aviation Week about the leaked report - some but not all of whom work or have worked for other fighter manufacturers - were surprised by the magnitude of the shortfall in energy maneuverability but not by its existence. The limitations of the Block 40 F-16 and the fact that it retained its tanks "should have been a plus for the F- 35," says one, and the engagement altitude - "above mid-range" in terms of within visual range combat - should have favored the F-35 because of its modern, powerful engine. "People all need to look at what F-35 really is," another aviator comments. "A stealth A-7 bomb truck, capable of first-night suppression of enemy air defenses, with limited self- escort. It is, as software-configured right now, not a light air-combat-maneuvering- capable platform. This is what we saw with the early F/A-18E/F blocks: millions of lines of code, and in need of constant update. But, in this case, it's becoming increasingly easier to rewrite the code laws to allow for those changes." "Anyone can see that it is not a very agile aircraft," a third pilot comments, pointing out that changing flight test laws may be more of a problem if - as some operators expect - pilot flying hours are reduced and training is transferred to lower-cost aircraft and simulators. Part of Lockheed Martin's response to the release of the report is to downplay the importance of maneuvering combat. "The F-35's technology is designed to engage, shoot, and kill its enemy from long distances, not necessarily in visual 'dogfighting' situations," the company says. But as one of Aviation Week's sources says, reliance on deciding the fight beyond visual range may not always be possible in the early stages of a conflict (power projection, show-of-force) or where rules of engagement limit BVR shots. "My belief is that the tactics against the F-35 will be something which we are not used to saying: If you see one - get close." http://aviationweek.com/defense/controversy-flares-over-f-35-air-combat-report-0 Back to Top Infrastructure And Safety Summits McAllen, Texas July 20 - 24, 2015 Summits offer you a variety of training opportunities across multiple disciplines. To save you time and money, we offer nearly 400 hours of training during approximately 20 classes, all offered at one location. We understand today's economic challenges and know that continuing education is essential for field experts, managers, supervisors, and technicians. We continuously work to ensure our training and curriculum are current and relevant to meet your training needs. We are able to provide these training summits across the state at a reduced cost per class through general revenue received through the state of Texas. McAllen Infrastructure and Safety Summit Brochure Register at TEEX.org/itsi Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 Infrastructure and Safety Summit Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service July 20-24, 2015 McAllen, Texas http://TEEX.org/itsi 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 Regulatory Affairs Training Course September 15 & 16 Fort Worth, TX http://jdasolutions.aero/services/regulatory-affairs.php Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUPS) Training Course September 15 & 16 Fort Worth, TX http://jdasolutions.aero/ Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Internal Evaluations Program Auditor Allegiant Airlines http://www.allegiantair.com/careers Air Safety Investigator Textron Systems http://www.textron.com/careers/ Curt Lewis